The final trip of the month and the first trip of October was to Okinawa. In partnership with LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, I journey twice a year to Okinawa to provide Word & Sacrament service and pastoral care to LCMS military personnel and their families. They are served also by Rev. Dr. Daniel… Continue reading Okinawa Revisited
Category: Life
Singapore Salvaging
You can see the heat and humidity in Singapore. It hangs over everything, seeps into everything, drains energy and melts ice cubes at a pace that constantly astounds me. Walking just a few steps, not even a city block in a city where blocks can come up short before you know it, walking just that… Continue reading Singapore Salvaging
Heavenly Hanoi
As parents you aren’t supposed to have a favorite child. I can honestly say I don’t. Many parents admit reluctantly in the passing of time that they did or do. It’s in our nature to have favorites, to resonate with the frequency of certain things and places and people more closely than others. So I… Continue reading Heavenly Hanoi
Baguio Wrap Up
A few final pictures of my students in Baguio these past couple of weeks. These are brand new first-year students to the seminary. Nelson (taking the photo) is coming into the ministry after a career in business. Romel, Mateo and Romar spent some time as farmers before the Holy Spirit’s Call on their lives became… Continue reading Baguio Wrap Up
Teaching in the Clouds
Today as I concluded my teaching, I emerged to find the clouds settling on the hill where the seminary is perched. It’s beautiful here!
Jeepney
One of the most distinctive memories I have from my first visit to the Philippines back in March is the Jeepneys. Most countries in Southeast Asia have a form of traditional transportation in addition to more modern taxis and buses. In Medan where we live it’s the becok, a motorcycle or bicycle-powered transport for either… Continue reading Jeepney
Pre-Worship
This morning I am blessed to attend St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Baguio City, a member congregation of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, a partner church body in full altar-pulpit fellowship with the LCMS. I arrive at 8:30am for the Bible study which, typical to Southeast Asian culture, doesn’t really start until 9:00am. Pastor… Continue reading Pre-Worship
Long Time Gone
At least it will have been by the time I return. Today I head out for a three-week stint abroad. Traveling in and out of Kuala Lumpur with buffer time for some catechesis with a young teacher there, the bulk of my time will be spent in the Philippines. The Lutheran seminary I visited in… Continue reading Long Time Gone
Exploring and Celebrating
This past week we celebrated Gena’s birthday by visiting a part of Sumatra we haven’t been before. It’s only about 50 miles outside of Medan, but our drive to Berastagi took nearly 4.5 hours because of rain and it being only a two-lane road all the way up and down the hills. Did I mention… Continue reading Exploring and Celebrating
Busy In Singapore
I still pinch myself. Here I am, sweating my brains out, clothes soaked through, lugging a 60-lb suitcase through the subway system. By all accounts I ought to be miserable, and I certainly do wish it was cooler. But then I remember, I’m in Singapore! That seems almost unimaginable still, even though Singapore is getting… Continue reading Busy In Singapore
The Nelson Family Indonesia 