The big event for the end of August and early September is a trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG). A legendary locale of Lutheran mission work going back 80 years, it’s also one of the most challenging places to get to, get about in, and get out of. It’s also a personal frontier of sorts.… Continue reading Papua New Guinea Arrival
Category: Current Events
Leading in Sri Lanka
With the departure of all the executive leadership in the Asia Region, I and my colleagues Rev. Steven Mahlburg and Rev. Matthew Wood, as the Asia Area Facilitators, are tasked with holding down the fort, so to speak, as the search for new executive leadership begins. It will likely not be until early next year… Continue reading Leading in Sri Lanka
Adventures
When we were recruited to join OIM back in 2021 and discussions of where we might be placed in Asia were underway, very early on Medan, Indonesia was a front runner. My boss had lived and worked there for four years. There was another LCMS family already stationed there. We’d have some support locally. And… Continue reading Adventures
Back in the Saddle
Our family enjoyed a couple of week of R&R at the end of last month, a much needed breather and time together for which we are very grateful. But now it’s back to work. This month, work means a visit to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for Word & Sacrament and partnership opportunities. I’m writing this… Continue reading Back in the Saddle
Back in Baguio
Not quite as catchy as Back in the USSR, but c’est la vie. I have been back in Baguio. It’s becoming a second (or maybe third?) home for me over the past few years. This time I’m back to coordinate and assist in a training and review week for deaconesses of the Lutheran Church in… Continue reading Back in Baguio
Three Keystones
Organizations rely on a variety of tools to help maintain focus. Truth be told, I can’t remember any of the vision or mission statements created by the various companies and organizations I’ve worked for over the years. Most likely a failure on my part, given the substantial resources poured into the creation and selection of… Continue reading Three Keystones
The Good News in Schools
I wonder what type of student Jesus was. Knowing practically nothing of his youth (because first century concepts of biography differed considerably from our 20th and 21st century psychology-dominated concepts of biography), we have to guess at what that education consisted of. Training in the Scriptures leading to his welcoming into the Jewish community at… Continue reading The Good News in Schools
Necessary Evils
I have learned and maintained over years of experience in a variety of vocational fields that meetings are a necessary evil. At best they accomplish some imperfect good. At worst they are a perfect waste of time. I like to think this attitude is not evil in itself, though I’m sure there are folks who… Continue reading Necessary Evils
Community in KL
Today I joined James, the young man I baptized about a year ago, for worship. He attends Good Hope Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia. We were also happy to make a new acquaintance with Tiffany, a recent transplant to Kuala Lumpur from Taiwan. She’s moved to KL to work… Continue reading Community in KL
Oh, the People You’ll Meet!
I had the opportunity to meet an unexpected visitor this week! A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a man at one of our first supporting congregations, Peace Lutheran Church Camarillo. Our connections with this congregation go way back – to my first pastoral Call just out of seminary. I was called to… Continue reading Oh, the People You’ll Meet!
