Today we spent looking over the grounds of Timothy Lutheran Seminary in Birip, and doing a bit of touring in the nearby towns. The seminary is situated on expansive grounds that are lush and, due to our visit no doubt, neatly kept! Visitors are a big deal here in the middle of the middle of… Continue reading September 4 – Touring
Category: Life
PNG Domestic Travel
Today was the first of three major transitions we’ll make in Papua New Guinea. We flew from the capitol of Port Moresby, where we initially landed in the wee hours of Friday morning, to the city of Lae. Port Moresby is kind of center on the map above. Look directly north (up) from it and… Continue reading PNG Domestic Travel
Connections
Six years ago Gena visited Papua New Guinea with her father. It was the first time they returned to PNG after departing in 1983 for the US. During her visit, while at an outstation in the Highlands, Gena was befriended by Bella, a 16-year old PNG girl. She tried to teach Gena some pidgin, the… Continue reading Connections
Papua New Guinea Arrival
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
Supporting Staff
A large chunk of my responsibilities as an Area Facilitator (AF) is to be the main connection between our deployed staff in the Region and Regional leadership as well as leadership back in St. Louis. In that capacity I’ve been involved with assisting Rev. Dr. Walter Steele and his wife Robyn, who decided to transition… Continue reading Supporting Staff
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
Vending Options
Just a pleasingly organized vending machine right? This one is at the airport in Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). But if you’re able to zoom in a little closer, you’ll see that these are not juice boxes or candy or other snacks. Rather, they’re a variety of self-tests to check if you contracted… Continue reading Vending Options
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!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 