Quoting the Rolling Stones for Christmas is inarguably unorthodox, to say the least. But that theme (rather than the song) has been heavy and prominent in this, our second Christmas in Indonesia. Things don’t go according to plan. Sometimes you don’t have a plan. Other times you have a plan and it doesn’t matter because it isn’t going… Continue reading You Can’t Always Get What You Want….
Category: Life
Never Say Never
If three years ago or so someone had told me I’d soon be an expert on airports throughout Southeast Asia I would have laughed in their face. Sure, I might visit occasionally if the opportunity arose, but an expert? Ha! What are the odds of that? Still incredibly slim but, in this case, God held… Continue reading Never Say Never
Flight Adventures
Today I left Nepal and headed back to more familiar stomping grounds of Kuala Lumpur. Hard to believe I can call Kuala Lumpur “familiar” at all when I couldn’t have found it on a map just a few years ago! I was nervous about my trip to Nepal. Nervous in terms of safety. It seems… Continue reading Flight Adventures
Mission Accomplished!
We concluded our training in southern Nepal today. The participants really enjoyed it and appreciated the opportunity to study the Apostles’ Creed in greater depth. Of course there were other conversations and questions and discussions over the four days as well. These people are hungry for the Word of God, and to understand it and… Continue reading Mission Accomplished!
Worship
It was an early morning today. The first worship of the day was at 7am. Michael has come down with a head cold so I volunteered to preach at the earlier service so he could sleep in. Rabindra drove us out of the city and into the countryside. The ever-present dust and smoke and pollution… Continue reading Worship
Traveling
The trip to Kathmandu was uneventful. We visited two more churches on the way. And arriving in Kathmandu around 6pm which I presume is some sort of rush hour, it took us another hour to crawl across town through traffic to our hotel. Then yesterday we clambered back in the 4×4 for a 6.5 hour… Continue reading Traveling
Wrapping Up and Moving On
Tomorrow we’ll conclude the training on the Apostles’ Creed in this area of Nepal. After lunch somewhere between three and seven of us will clamber into a 4×4 vehicle and make the 3+ hour drive back to Kathmandu. There we’ll stay the night. After teaching today we were able to visit two more local churches.… Continue reading Wrapping Up and Moving On
Packed and Ready – Sorta
Today will be my last day in Indonesia and Medan and my home for a month. I depart today for Kuala Lumpur, where I will catch a flight early tomorrow morning for Nepal. This will be my first visit to Nepal. I never thought I’d see that country but, never say never I suppose. For… Continue reading Packed and Ready – Sorta
Singapore Connections
I continue my work in Singapore, seeking to build (and rebuild) relationship with the Lutheran Church in Singapore. Relationship is a key thing at the personal level here in Southeast Asia before it ever progresses to the institutional level. However on this visit it’s a diplomacy of a different kind, welcoming Rev. Dr. James Baneck… Continue reading Singapore Connections
Angels Unawares
They shuffle into the line for lunch just ahead of me, a younger man guiding (presumably) his aging father. We make some polite conversation. The older man cannot see or hear so well anymore but otherwise seems fine aside from some unsteadiness. The younger man it turns out serves on the board of directors for… Continue reading Angels Unawares
The Nelson Family Indonesia 