I was pleasantly surprised to have time with Bishop Lawrence, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malaysia (ELCM) today. While we have been in touch via e-mail, this is our first in-person meeting in almost a year. During our time together we discussed the possibility of restarting deaconess training in Malaysia, something that has… Continue reading Unexpected Visit
Category: Partners
Broadening Relationship Circles
Living overseas as an expat and minority of a larger culture and nation means you think about things you wouldn’t at home. How’s that for the understatement of the decade?! 🙂 For one thing you tend to notice other expats, others who obviously (or less-obviously) are not native to the local culture. Those relationships become… Continue reading Broadening Relationship Circles
Updates
It’s the beginning of the month already here in Medan. It’s hard to believe how quickly time passes in weeks and months and years while at the same time dragging by in terms of seconds and minutes. When we last heard from our intrepid heroes….no wait, that’s the wrong update. Never mind. Word has it… Continue reading Updates
Grounded
I returned from Singapore last Saturday evening. It had been a long day and I was tired. But the day wasn’t over yet. After paying for a Visa on Arrival I waited in the foreign passport line to process through immigration. However the agent who I handed my passport to was concerned about all my… Continue reading Grounded
Off to Singapore
I leave this evening for Singapore. I’m eager to meet at least one of the two newest additions to our group, expanding our fellowship slightly. One of them, Hayley, is recovering from Covid after returning to Singapore from China. She shared she never had Covid the entire last three years, but now that it’s no… Continue reading Off to Singapore
Prayers & Prepping
Back in Medan after nearly three weeks away. It’s good to be home, which is what Medan has become over the past 15 months. But it’s not a long time to rest and recover. Next week I’m back to Singapore to visit Lutheran friends there. And plans are finalized for a week-long trip to the… Continue reading Prayers & Prepping
Okinawa
With the blessing of LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces, I was asked to make two trips a year to the island of Okinawa, south of the Japanese mainland. Rev. Dr. Daniel Jastram has worked for the LCMS in Tokyo for seven years and visits Okinawa throughout the year to provide Word and Sacrament ministry… Continue reading Okinawa
Upcoming Journeys
Tomorrow I leave for Hanoi, Vietnam. My work there is to spend time with the staff of the Concordia International School Hanoi (CISH). Work, but great joy. We have an amazing staff there who share the love of Christ through their love and concern and attention daily to the students entrusted to their care. Next… Continue reading Upcoming Journeys
Ministry of Presence
Many Christians I talk to worry about their faith. The primary worry they express is feeling ill-equipped to minister to others. They are firm in their faith but worried somehow the Holy Spirit has neglected to give them what they need to minister to others. They oftentimes discount or ignore or are unaware of the… Continue reading Ministry of Presence
Baguio City
We had the opportunity to celebrate Matins with the seminary community this morning, and afterwards sit in on several of their classes. The professors are knowledgeable and the students are eager to learn. One student has traveled all the way from Mongolia to study here. Another student is from North Sumatra, Indonesia! I had the… Continue reading Baguio City
The Nelson Family Indonesia 