Christian missionaries Keren Madora and Kristene Diggins spoke to students about their lives of service working among the Piraha tribe in the Amazon on Thursday night in the Curb Event Center at the 2013-2014 First Year Seminar convocation. Sponsored by the Office of General Education and Student Government Association, this event addressed the university theme of “Through the Eyes of Others.”
Diggins is the daughter of Madora and Dan Everett, the author of FYS common book, “Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes.” They lived the experiences written about in the book. Madora has worked with the Piraha for more than three decades. Diggins, who grew up as a child with the Piraha, is now a nurse who provides a clinic for the Piraha and other indigenous tribes in the Amazon.
Madora spoke about her experience learning the language of the Piraha. She related her studies to those of the students at Belmont. “[God] is the author of all truth. Whatever we are called to do, we should seek his face. Make prayer a major component of your learning,” Madora said.
Diggins shared with students her experience growing up alongside the Piraha. She spoke of the importance of discovering one’s purpose in life, quoting from John 10:10, “I have come that you may have life.” She explained that God guides us to discover our purpose.
The event concluded with a Q&A with students moderated by Belmont sophomore Jeanette Morelan.
The General Education program at Belmont University fosters the skills, knowledge, perspectives, values and dispositions that will enable students to apply their understandings and abilities beyond the classroom, encouraging them to become responsibly engaged in their community and in the world.
