When I passed through immigration control at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago (first time I’ve gone through immigration there), the immigration officer asked me where I was headed. When I told her Ft. Wayne, she made some sort of exclamation which I took effectively to mean thank-goodness-I’m-not-there-because-it’s-colder-than-Chicago.
She was not incorrect.
I arrived on the 15th of January in time to secure the rental vehicle, check in to my hotel, and get my feet under me. The following night at midnight I picked up the Filipino delegation to the annual Symposia conference held at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne. It was indeed a bit colder than Chicago – and planning to get colder yet.
Fortunately the Filipinos had basic winter gear. And a lot of heavy bags! I got them loaded up and after a stop at McDonald’s to get them some food after their long flight, I got them ensconced in their dorm rooms on the Seminary campus. The next morning we agreed I would pick them up for breakfast, where we would be joined by Rev. Dr. Walter Steele and his wife Robyn, who will be joining our Asia team this year. Where should we go for breakfast?
The answer seemed obvious – a thick slice of Americana for breakfast, please! Courtesy of The Cracker Barrel.
That’s Rev. Ehican, Rev. Ilaga, Rev. Walter & Robyn Steele, Arlene & Rev. President Antonio Reyes, and yours truly. It was a great opportunity for the Steeles to get to know some of the folks they’ll be working alongside in the Philippines as of this coming summer. Lots of laughter, shared stories, and general getting-to-know-you kind of stuff that best happens around food.
By the next day, however, the Filipinos were a little desperate. The seminary commissary provided breakfast and lunch for them, but it wasn’t, shall we say, very Filipino food. Or even Asian. And they were dying for some rice! I found them a Chinese restaurant in town and transported them there for an infusion of rice, which was greatly appreciated. Travel is hard. Travel when you don’t have some of the foods that comprise your core diet day in and day out is even harder. Note to self – next year bring a rice cooker along so they can provide themselves a taste of home!
The following week Symposia began. The Filipinos were busy networking as well as attending theological presentations, luncheons, and other events. I had my time scattered with various meetings pertaining to current, upcoming, and future plans in the Asia Region. It was a busy week. Temperatures dipped below zero several times, both actually and from wind chill. I broke down and bought a pair of gloves, which were invaluable. But I soldiered on stubbornly sans hat. I regret nothing.
When Symposia drew to a close it was time to start turning my eyes back towards the other side of the world. But not before a quick trip to St. Louis.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 