In Nepal there is one day off each week – Saturday. So people worship on Saturday, and on Sunday schools and businesses are once again in full swing. So we are starting our training today, which seems strange but really doesn’t make too much difference. After our training concludes about 4:30pm we head back to… Continue reading Sunday as Monday
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
Teaching in Nepal
Rev. Dr. Michael Lockwood and I are here in Nepal at the request of a rapidly growing network of Christian churches. They desire good theological teaching for their church leaders, many of whom do not have the benefit of any level of theological education. They have specifically requested we teach on the Apostles’ Creed. Rev.… Continue reading Teaching in Nepal
Nepal Arrival
I arrived safely in Nepal after a five-hour flight from Malaysia. The flight was pleasant and uneventful – my favorite kind of flight! I was able to meet up with Rev. Dr. Michael Lockwood Saturday evening. He was in another part of Nepal the previous week doing some teaching. He’s the reason I’m here –… Continue reading Nepal Arrival
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
Moving On
Today I depart for Singapore. There I will meet a visitor from the US, Rev. Dr. James Baneck. He’s the Executive Director of Pastoral Education for the LCMS, and he’s coming for his first visit to the Southeast Asia Region where I serve. After a couple of days of recuperation in Singapore (and preaching for… Continue reading Moving On
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 