Moving to the other side of the world necessitates choices. What to take, what to leave behind? There was no shortage of advice from people on both sides of the world about what they found invaluable or what they realized they could do without. But at the end of the day we had to decide… Continue reading Merry Christmas!
Category: Travel
Standing Out
We’ve been in country now for nearly 11 months. I’ve learned to ignore the stares (mostly) and turned heads from locals amazed at seeing a bule (Caucasian) way out here in Medan. We have routines of a sort, places we usually go, and after a while you stop thinking about it. This is partially necessary… Continue reading Standing Out
Chiayi City, Taiwan
My time in Taiwan was highly productive. Firstly, I was able to see the LCMS SE Asia headquarters. It’s nice to be able to visualize the place and the people there a bit better. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a bit more concrete-ness in a job that is at times highly intangible. Secondly,… Continue reading Chiayi City, Taiwan
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
As I was off traveling, the family needed to renew their visas. Currently because of travel we are staying in Indonesia courtesy of Visitor on Arrival visas. These are good for 30 days from the date of entry into the country, and can be renewed once for another 30 days. While there are other, more… Continue reading Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
New Ground
Yesterday for the first time I covered new ground, literally. I left Singapore headed not back to Indonesia or Malaysia, but north and east to Taiwan for my first visit to LCMS headquarters in Chiayi City, Taiwan. As it’s the rainy season for many places on this side of the world, it was cloudy and… Continue reading New Ground
Sharing in Singapore
My second visit to Singapore was a bit sooner than I expected. But with Christmas season coming, and then January busy for many people over here recovering from the Western New Year celebration and preparing for the Chinese New Year celebrations, folks there wouldn’t have been available until February. And when I realized I could… Continue reading Sharing in Singapore
A Long(er) Trip
Today I head out for a week-long trip, the longest of my travels thus far in Southeast Asia. Although there will be longer trips ahead, this is an important start. It’s a testimony to how far we’ve come in the last nine months. I can leave Gena and the ‘kids’ here in Medan knowing they… Continue reading A Long(er) Trip
LCS & TTC
Gotta love acronyms, right?! This afternoon I was blessed to meet with Bishop Lu Guan Hoe of the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS). Bishop Lu assumed his position in 2021 and I was happy to congratulate him in person. While the LCMS and the LCS are not in formal partnership, we have a shared Lutheran… Continue reading LCS & TTC
Singapore Connections
For the next few days the family and I are in Singapore. I’m meeting with another Lutheran denomination there as well as see a seminary campus they draw pastors from. The family is coming with us as part of our continued home schooling for our younger two (paid for from our personal funds, not from… Continue reading Singapore Connections
Fall in the Tropics
It’s that time of year again. Leggings. Sweaters. Scarfs. Hints of cool weather turning less subtle, leaves on the trees yielding to mortality in blinding beauty. Pumpkin spice…well…everything. It is that time of year, but you wouldn’t know it here. Same heat, same humidity, same sun, same rain – and palm trees are not deciduous,… Continue reading Fall in the Tropics
The Nelson Family Indonesia 