Meet the Gurry Family
Kris and I have been married since 2009. We had June in the summer of 2011 and Sadie was born in 2012. We spent four years in sunny Dallas, Texas where Peter received a masters degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a severe hankering for sweet tea. Here you can learn a bit more about us and why we’re excited to be living half way around the world.
Peter
Just a week before my first year of high school, the school counselor told me I had a choice between taking Spanish and Greek. I never liked going with the crowd, so I picked Greek. I’ve been hooked ever since. After high school I headed to Moody Bible Institute where I discovered the fascinating world of Greek New Testament manuscripts. After graduation I worked for a year as a youth intern at my home church in Cincinnati, Ohio before leaving for more school at Dallas Theological Seminary. While there I began working with Dan Wallace and the Center for the Study of the New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM). That work that took me to Greece, Romania, Italy, and Ireland. Along the way we discovered some uncatalogued New Testament manuscripts and even one Gospel forgery. Last year gave me the opportunity to join the Green Scholars Initiative as a junior scholar working on an unpublished Greek fragment. My current research focuses on understanding how the New Testament was transmitted over the centuries and how we can best get back to the original text (more details below).
Kris has been my steady companion for almost four years now and people often ask if she is in school too. I’m often tempted to answer Yes. Even though she’s not getting a degree, it really is a joint effort.
Kris
The summer before Peter and I began dating, I had no idea he had a crush on me. I told my girlfriends, “I know he’s way out of my league, nothing will ever happen, but finally I know exactly the kind of man I want to marry!” I’m amazed at the Lord’s goodness in giving me the man of my dreams. I’m so proud to have walked beside him these last few years in seminary and watched him prepare diligently for the work the Lord has called us to.
While in Dallas, several opportunities arose to serve using my loves of cooking and hairstyling. Poor seminary students have great appetites and are very appreciative haircut clients! I am looking forward to being able to continue using those gifts as needed. Some of my favorite things include Food Network, The Voice, knitting, cooking, picnics, and delicious coffee.
June
June turned two on May 19, 2013. She charms everyone with her big blue eyes and blonde pigtails. She tends to do whatever it takes to have fun, and it has been a blast to watch her interact with other kids, conquer any challenge put in front of her, and do it all with a wild grin plastered on her face. A lady at the park saw her climbing the two-story slide and commented, “Wow, she’s brave!” I responded, “No, she’s reckless. She just doesn’t know what she’s risking!” Her favorite things include muffins, swings, chasing Grandma’s cats, helping Mommy cook, and getting tickled by Daddy.
Sadie
Sadie celebrated her first birthday on August 26, 2013. She and June are just 15 months apart and we love that they are so close to each other. Sadie can hardly contain the smile and squeals when people talk to her; she’s a sweet, exuberant little baby. Like June, Sadie was born at home with a midwife attending; as we have been living with Peter’s mom for this past year, she was actually born in Grandma’s home. At the moment, Sadie’s favorite things include scooting backward, eating paper, bouncing, sucking her fingers, and Mommy (sorry, Dad).
Common Questions
Q. Where are you going to school?
A. The University of Cambridge in England.
Q. How long will you be there?
A. British doctoral programs are typically three to four years of research and writing.
Q. Why the UK?
A. We were attracted to the UK because their PhD programs are more concentrated on research. After eight years in the classroom, I’m ready to research and write.
Q. What will you be researching?
A. My focus is on the text of the New Testament. Behind our English New Testament is a printed Greek New Testament. Behind our printed Greek New Testament are thousands of handwritten Greek manuscripts. I’m interested in how we get from those thousands of manuscripts to the printed Greek New Testament that pastors, scholars, students, and translators will use to bring us our familiar English New Testament. I’ll be examining a a new method that claims to improve the move from Greek manuscripts to printed Greek text. This new method is already part of the latest edition of the Greek New Testament that is used all over the world. Further study of the method could develop its strengths, mitigate its weaknesses, and expand its use to scholars in other areas of study.
Q. Where are you living?
A. We live at a great place called Tyndale House. It’s an Evangelical study center focused on fostering good, Christian Biblical scholarship. Aside from their research facilities, Tyndale also has affordable housing for select number of students and researchers.
Tyndale House has one of the finest libraries for biblical research.
Q. Where and what do you want to teach when you finish?
A. Ideally, at a college or seminary, somewhere that trains students for Christian ministry. I’d love to teach Greek courses and anything related to the Gospels or Paul’s letters. And I’d certainly like to teach about the New Testament text.
Q. Will Kris be working?
A. We’re hoping she can cut hair on the side while staying at home with the girls like she did while we were in Dallas.