News reports indicate Indonesia is adjusting foreign visitor quarantine requirements in light of the newly discovered Omicron Covid variant. What was a three-day quarantine period for a short period earlier this month is being expanded to a seven-day quarantine. It is still possible to enter the country (at least from the US. Citizens of countries… Continue reading Shifting Sands
Category: Vocation
Calvary Lutheran, Aberdeen, WA
We were blessed to spend Thanksgiving week in Tokeland, WA, a small fishing community on the edge of the continent a little south and west of Aberdeen, WA. From the small cabin kindly donated to us by relatives of long-time friends we had a fantastic and up-close view of the incoming storms and rain. At… Continue reading Calvary Lutheran, Aberdeen, WA
In Faith Dependent Lutheran Church, Anderson – Redux
Our time in the Pacific Northwest is drawing to a close. For the past two weeks I’ve been able to share the Word and Sacraments of our Lord with the people of In Faith Dependent Lutheran Church. This morning we talked more specifically about our upcoming work, gathered e-mail addresses and reluctantly left this tiny… Continue reading In Faith Dependent Lutheran Church, Anderson – Redux
Partners & Experience
As we meet with congregations to share what the Holy Spirit has Called us to in serving overseas, I always highlight four major roles our partners play. They aren’t mutually exclusive by any means, but it helps to give people a way of grasping how they can partner with us regardless of their giftings and… Continue reading Partners & Experience
While You’re Waiting…
No new news this week, which is frustrating but all part of the process, apparently! Our eagerness to deploy doesn’t necessarily translate into other entities moving at the speed we’d like them to. A good reminder we’re not in charge of all of this. In the meantime, here’s an article about LCMS work in Washington… Continue reading While You’re Waiting…
A Promising Start!
This afternoon we had a Zoom meeting with the owner of a language school in Medan. This school was utilized by the Woods when they deployed to Medan a couple of years ago and comes well-recommended. The owner outlined the process we’ll go through to be admitted to Indonesia on a short-term basis. Visitor visas… Continue reading A Promising Start!
Starting the Process
We have a path forward – trying to secure tourist visas to Indonesia for the first of the year. How do you start down such a path, though? We know one other LCMS family that has deployed there (and hopes to again in short order) but they have a work visa, something that isn’t an… Continue reading Starting the Process
A Path Forward
Thanks to a great conversation with the Regional Director for Southeast Asia (now my boss) this morning, we have a roadmap and timeline of how to proceed. For the first time since June and our physical departure from the place we called home for 11 years, we feel like we can begin tangible planning for… Continue reading A Path Forward
Book Review – Muslims, Christians, and Jesus
Muslims, Christians and Jesus by Carl Medearis Gifted to us by life-long Bible translators, this book offers personal insights in how Christians can meet and build relationships with their Muslim neighbors. The author speaks with confidence and experience in this regard, sprinkling the book with real life anecdotes about interactions with a variety of people in… Continue reading Book Review – Muslims, Christians, and Jesus
Book Review (Partial) – Healthy Resilient & Effective in Cross Cultural Ministry
Healthy Resilient & Effective in Cross Cultural Ministry by Laura Mae Gardner, D.Min I call this a partial review for two reasons. The first is the copy I was gifted from long-term overseas Bible translators is a pre-release copy that only has the first eight chapters – roughly the first half of the book. Secondly, I… Continue reading Book Review (Partial) – Healthy Resilient & Effective in Cross Cultural Ministry
The Nelson Family Indonesia 