Singapore: A Very Short History: From Temasek to Tomorrow by Alvin Tan As a history lover, one of the side benefits of working on the other side of the world is a very real need to learn a bit (lot?!) more about the history of Southeast Asia. This is a topic that was barely touched… Continue reading Suggested Reading: Singapore
Author: mrpaulnelson
I've been blogging for over twenty years on one platform or another, and my favorite topics are cross-sections of faith and culture and everyday life. I'm an ordained minister with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod - among other things. Welcome!
Building Relationships
Today I was blessed to meet with Bishop Lu Guan Ho of the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS). I had the pleasure of meeting with him late last year as well, and it was nice to build on those initial introductions to one another. We were also joined by his assistant, Martin Yi. While the… Continue reading Building Relationships
We’re Not in Kansas Anymore…
Is it harder to talk with people about Jesus if those people don’t believe in any God, or a different god? I won’t try to answer that question, I’ll simply note there is a difference. The above photo is an item found in the seatback pocket on my flight today to Singapore. Lion air Group… Continue reading We’re Not in Kansas Anymore…
Seka
I arrive in the capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo. I don’t speak either of the two major languages here though there’s a fair amount of refined as well as rudimentary English here. As I do in Indonesia and everywhere else I travel to on this side of the world I rely on ride-hailing services… Continue reading Seka
The Small Catechism
I was commenting to a colleague of mine this week that the more I teach Luther’s Small Catechism the more I appreciate it. The simplicity in presentation of concepts and truths that have occupied theologians for thousands of years is remarkable. If you haven’t looked through your catechism in a while I strongly recommend it.… Continue reading The Small Catechism
Off to Sri Lanka!
But first, a Superbowl watching party with some other expats in Medan. I’m up at 5am to bake the wings and make the buffalo sauce for them. We walk to their house and arrive just as kickoff happens. It’s an enjoyable time for the next few hours even though I know it’s going to be… Continue reading Off to Sri Lanka!
One Year-ish
We celebrated our one-year anniversary in Medan today. If you go by days of the week it works out because we arrived in Medan on a Sunday evening. But if you go by dates, like any civilized human being, then tomorrow, February 13, is our one-year anniversary. We’ll celebrate a little bit tomorrow as well… Continue reading One Year-ish
The Sun Is the Same, In a Relative Way…
…but we are older. This was us one year ago today – younger, tired after being up until 2am and then having to get up VERY early. Freshly dropped off at Sky Harbor International Airport (I defy anyone to name a more beautiful airport name) in Phoenix to begin our long-awaited departure towards a new… Continue reading The Sun Is the Same, In a Relative Way…
First Teaching Gig!
The bywords of living overseas are adaptability and flexibility. These are essential just to handle all of the changes in culture and ways of doing things one encounters regardless of where they decide to move to. They are also essentials for my unique position in the Southeast Asia Region, as I’m deployed as a regional… Continue reading First Teaching Gig!
Goodbyes
In just under two weeks we’ll celebrate our 1-year anniversary of our arrival in Medan. Hard to believe it’s been a year. Also hard to believe it’s only been a year! We’ve met a lot of people in this year, and continue to meet new folks regularly which is a joy and blessing. But there… Continue reading Goodbyes
The Nelson Family Indonesia 