CNH LHM India Mission Trip

Two-Fer-Tuesday...Home Again...

2009-08-26T10:40:00.001-07:00

We are all home from India!

The four of us left our hotel about 12:30am Tuesday morning. We had no real problems at the airport... just the many different lines (or queueueus... or however they spell "cue", which means "line that moves ever so slowly" in British)... our flight to Dubai left about 1/2 hour late... but three of us (sorry, Glen) got a free upgrade to Business class! As soon as the wheels left the ground, we had our chairs stretched out full length and I know I only woke up to eat breakfast and when the wheels touched down in Dubai.

In Dubai, we had enough time to wander and get a few Dubai-ese trinkets before taking off to SFO, again about 1/2 hour late--no upgrade for this flight, although I did offer to switch with a guy who wanted to turn down his upgrade so he could sit with his family in economy. The flight was long and uneventful.

Here is how to spend 16 hours: watched "The Wrestler", ate breakfast, slept for 4 hours, watched "The Devil Wears Prada," "He's Just Not That Into You," & "Gran Torino", ate lunch, read and stared blankly ahead for 3 more hours... the guy sitting next to me must have a bladder as big as an elephant because he only got up once in 16 hours... not me that's for sure!

Upon arrival at SFO, we passed through Immigration and then waited forever for our bags (forever is relative when needing to make a connection to continue the journey). I gave my one tag to Dan. We had checked two boxes filled with Hindi language Bibles and they were taking forever to arrive. I left the other three waiting for the Bibles and headed through Customs and off to the Delta counter to check in for my next two flights... at this point, I will assume they got the Bibles, got Glen's pick-up started, and made in home to Paso with no further problems...

My flight to Salt Lake was quick and easy. I then had about 2 hours to enjoy a couple Whoppers from Burger King and a cup of Starbucks coffee (it ain't Indian, but...). The flight to Hailey was also uneventful. It sure was good to see Zane and Mallory and Wendy!!

Back in the day, radio stations used to play "Two-fer-Tuesdays"... I think we had a "Two-fer-Tuesday" yesterday because, if my math is near correct, the day about 36 hours in it... talk about a long day... but definitely worth it!

Now it is time to catch up on some game playing with Zane... more posts reflecting on the trip will be forthcoming of the next few days...

Update on Pastor Gary Bell

2009-08-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Sherry Bell sent me an email updating me on Gary's status. I shared her message at our church yesterday, but realized that many of you would like to know how he is doing as well. Sherry wrote:
"On Tuesday we went from the airport to kaiser. Of course with the traffic we were not able to get there for his 4:30 appt.so we went straight to the ER which was probably just as well. He was admitted to the hospital that evening and spent until Fri. afternoon there. The MRI done there showed no structural damage to the knee. It is mainly a soft tissue injury with an extreme amount of blood in the knee and upper leg. The doctor stopped the blood thinner for now. So he is home recuperating. The knee and leg are still very painful and walking is very difficult. He has a walker to help him get around when necessary. So he will be kind of out of commisison for awhile. He is very glad to be home."

Imagine that, an MRI machine that works when you need it! Praise God that no surgery is required, but I do suspect Gary's visit to the ER and three nights in the hospital might cost a little more than they did in India. It sounds like he has a long road of physical therapy ahead of him, and we remember him in our prayers.

Sherry's message continued:
"Gary is so glad to have had this opportunity. He came back with some great pictures and we look forward to seeing Josh's pictures. Gary speaks so fondly of the people he met there, Pastor David and the staff at the CMC, people at the seminary, people at the site of one of the wells built by LHM, so many fantastic experiences. One thing he is not missing however is Indian food! He is still reluctant to use tap water!"
I encourage you to drop the Bell's a card or note to let them know we are all thinking of them.

Further Update on Pastor Gary Bell, Wednesday 8/26
I received an email from Sherry today with the following additional information:

I wanted to let you know that Gary has been readmitted to the hospital. He started running a high fever. It seems that the blood that collected in his leg has caused an abscess to form in there so he went to surgery last night to clean that out and also is on IV antibiotics. He will probably have another surgery on Friday for further cleaning out of the area. We don't know how long he will be in the hospital-he will most likely have a lengthy time of healing once he gets home because the wound will be open and will have to heal from the inside out.

He is in good spirits except when he had to be stuck 9 times for an IV yesterday!

We do appreciate everyone's prayers.

This is going to be a long road for our friend Gary, and for Sherry. Please remember to drop them a card or email to let them know they are being thought of.

Getting Ready to Leave India

2009-08-24T03:07:00.000-07:00

In a couple hours, the four of us will go back to the Christian Media Centre for one last get-together/ dedication/ farewell. Then we will finish packing, settle our hotel bills, and get ready to head to the airport at about 1am.

As you know from the first group's trip home last week, the airport in Chennai can be interesting (we do all have itineraries with our name on them, so we should be able to enter the airport, at least!). At least their delay was only 2 hours and the flight did take off... yesterday's flight (Sunday) was delayed 7 hours (with no communication from the airline or airport) before being cancelled.

According to today's paper, there are tighter restrictions causing more planes to be held for "minor technical issues." I think "minor technical issues" are like "minor surgery"... it is minor when it is your plane with the issue... but major when it is my plane with the issue...

PRAY that our plane has none of these "minor technical issues"!
PRAY that we have a completely uneventful trip home!

Hot Idea To Tackle Terror

2009-08-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Another beaut from the Sunday Times of India--

"For those planing a terror attack or a riot, here's a hot tip: Don't. You could be hit by worse than water cannon--a chilli bomb, which would have the potency of the world' hottest pepper. Naga jolokia or bhut jolokia, meaning "ghostly chilli," gets its name from its deadly bite. It is reportedly 1,000 times hotter than the ordinary kitchen chilli.

"In 2007, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the Naga jolokia as the hottest in the world. It has more than 800,00 Scoville heat units, which indicate the amount of capsaicin it contains. Capsaicin, an active compound in chilli peppers, is an irritant that produces a burning sensation on tissue that comes in contact with it.

"From the kitchen and the record books to fighting riots? The Defence Research and Development Organisation in New Delhi is testing a grenade that will have the pungency of the bhut jolokia. 'It occurred to us that the chilli could be used in hand grenades,' says RB Srivastava, directore of Life Sciences at DRDO...

"The new 'hot' bomb is being tested and the DRDO is reluctant to give details.

"Ordinary tear gas, which is used to disperse rioters, affects the eyes and can be tolerated by holding a wet cloth to the face. But 'the chilli bomb would choke the respiratory system too,' says Srivastava. 'The person can even go into a semi-conscious state.'

"With low-intensity conflict on the rise, this could be a non-lethal way to tackle insurgents and movs. 'One hand chilli grenade would be enough to make an impact in a room. The after-effects would be felt for about 20 minutes,' he said."

So much in this article begs for comment, but I want my passport stamped on the way out of the country and then again back into the US, so...

Rash Drivers Could Attract 10 Years In Jail

2009-08-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

That is what the headline says. Right now anyone caught "causing death by rash and negligent driving" can receive a max penalty of 2 years. The Law Commission has framed this "set of drastic recommendations" partially in response to the report last week that 13 people a minute die in car wrecks in India (see Josh's "Duh Headline" blog).

Says the Law Commission--"Keeping in view the present day practical reality, the punishment should be increased to 10 years' imprisonment." And, the offence should be made non-bailable which means the police would have no power to release the accused on bond.

Say the Times of India in an editorial response--"The Law Commission seems to have fallen into the common error of believing that extreme measures are a sign of acting tough on an issue... If the idea is to minimize reckles driving, much more can be achieved by simply enforcing existing laws more rigorously. That include acting against semingly minor traffic offences like jumping lights or crossing the yellow line."

Sounds like positions to be taken in response to most laws proposed by the US House & Senate...
Reminds me that God got the laws right with only 10 and ever since man has been expanding and confusing them...

What a Trip!

2009-08-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

In about 24 hours, the four members of Group B will begin their journey back home. Monday about noon our time here on the West Coast (1:00 in the morning in Chennai) Dan, Drew, Glen and Steve will be collected from the hotel and taken Chennai International Airport.

As the members of Group A found out last week, much can happen that adds stress and excitement to an already long journey. Please keep the guys in your prayers as they wrap up their final day at the Christian Media Centre, and pack and prepare for their flights home.

The actual flight time from Chennai to San Francisco is about 22 hours. Glen, Dan, & Drew will be met at SFO by a member of Trinity Burlingame with Glen's truck, and the three of them will then drive themselves the 3-1/2 hours back to Paso Robles. Sounds like lots of LOUD prayers will be needed to keep them awake and alert during the drive. Steve proceeds through passport and customs, then boards 2 additional flights to Salt Lake City and on home to Wendy and the kids at Sun Valley airport late Tuesday night.

You will be able to follow their journey through a link on the home page of our team website, www.cnhindiamission.org. Click on the Emirates Flight Tracker icon to be taken to the tracker for their flights home (almost) to SFO. As Josh and I said last week, we get to SFO and we could at least walk home if we had to!

EMERGENCY NEWSFLASH!!!

2009-08-23T04:37:00.001-07:00

JOTHI EATS BEEF!!

Today at lunch, Jothi ate one piece of Beef Tenderloin (and a couple bites of Kashmiri Lamb Rib)!!

Now back to your regularly scheduled blogposts...

Sunday Worship

2009-08-23T04:29:00.000-07:00

Today we wer privileged to worship twice. Our mornig began at the Christian Media Centre worshiping with the Vaan Malar congregation. Instead of their "regular" liturgy, today they used a worship form that utilized traditional Tamil music. This form involved a cantor chanting and the congregation echoing.

Previously, the liturgy was, more or less, a "Tamil-ized" version of The Lutheran Hymnal's old order of Matins. Today's worship seemed more "foreign"... outside the Scripture Readings and Dan's sermon... oh, and the Offering... nothing could be equated to a Western/Lutheran liturgy.

After a cup of Indian coffee and a bit of fellowship, the four of us and the Davids headed about 35km out of Chennai to worship with the St. Luke congregation, a mission plant from Pilgrim Lutheran in Chennai.

Over the past couple years, Trinity Lutheran, in Paso Robles, has sponsored ten mission planters through Mission India. Seven of these mission plants have become Independent congregations and three have become Lutheran congregations.

St. Luke worships in a 20foot by 40foot thatch building. After three or so years, ther are 26 families celebrating their life in Christ. They own the land they are on and are hopeful of building a more permanent building soon (after all, during the monsoon season snakes sometimes join them for worship... though the pastor assured us no one had ever been hurt... Thank You, Lord, for widely scattered thunderstorms today... very widely scattered!)

The pastor's mesage was based on Ephesians 5:1--"Be Imitators of Christ." Seeing the joy of Christ on the faces of the folks at St. Luke as they celebrated Holy Communion and on the faces of the people at Vaan Malar as they sang traditional Tamil music is the highest reward for the "imitations" being made by the people in these two places... and by the people of Pilgrim, Chennai, who are planting congregations... and by the people of Trinity, Paso Robles, who are supporting and sponsoring the mission plants!

May God be praised and His children served as each of us seek ways to "Be Imitators of Christ!"

Random Thoughts From Today's Passing Scenery VIII

2009-08-23T04:23:00.000-07:00

While in Nilgiri's (think Albertson's... just a wee bit smaller) yesterday, the power went out... and absolutely no one said a word... most didn't even break stride in their shopping... two ladies in the "Coffee & Tea" aisle with me whipped out flashlights and kept right on shopping...
Today, we passed the "Real Taste Restaurant"... this could be SAMCO in a few years... now "Taste is Their Concept"... tomorrow, after solving the taste concept... they could be the next "Real Taste Restaurant"... stranger things have happened... (speaking of stranger things, I think Chuck is looking into franchising rights to bring a "Barbecue Nation" to Paso Robles...)
Driving around earlier, we passed an oxcart being pulled by (oddly enough) an ox... but not just any ox... this ox was large... and had blue horns... I think we found Babe... Paul Bunyan's famous blue ox!
All of our trips hither and yon and we finally(?) passed the Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency... I am just guessing... I don't think much of their budget is allocated to the development of a beef program...

That's all... just four quick thoughts...

Speed Bumps

2009-08-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

India is filed with many things that appear totally random to American eyes. For example... SPEED BUMPS...

Normally, an American would expect a couple speed bumps in a parking lot. Not in India... because there are virtually no parking lots and there seems to be a better place for speed bumps... like... the middle of the road...

Every so often, with no apparant scheme or plan--just randomness at its most random--speed bumps suddenly appear in the middle of roads--in towns and out of towns... on back alleys and multi-lane roadways... out of nowhere: speed bumps...

One theory for their placement (at least those appearing in shopping areas or in small towns) is that they are constructed in front of the business that made the largest donation to the Downtown Business Association last year...

Even what these cement impediments are called appears random. I have sen them called speed bumps... speed bumpers... speed rollers... and speed checks... all with equal randomness...

Totally a Tangent...

2009-08-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is a complete and total tangent to this trip. I just saw this article on espn.com and couldn't help myself. There are consultants who help prepare you for life behind bars? Can this be a sign of the apocalypse?

from espn.com--

NEW YORK -- Plaxico Burress' lawyer says a prison consultant is preparing the former New York Giants star for life behind bars.

Benjamin Brafman tells the New York Post in a story published Saturday that the wide receiver is getting advice on "how to use his period of confinement as productively as possible."

The 32-year-old Burress pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He had accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub in November.

His plea deal calls for a two-year prison term. Burress is to be sentenced Sept. 22.

Consultants are popular among celebrities and other high-profile people facing incarceration.

FWIW, today's The Times of India is ripe with great headlines and articles. Later on today I'll get some of them up for your entertainment and edification...

What An Evening!

2009-08-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

We just returned to our hotel from a wonderful evening spent at the Davids's home. Rev. David and Jothi invited the four of us to their home for dinner. We were joined by their oldest daughter and family and we met their second daughter and her two children.

We relaxed on the roof of their building as we enjoyed a (for Chennai) cool breeze. Then we were treated to a table full of Jothi's home cooking! Forget all the restaurants! We need to eat at "St. Jothi's Grill & Grub" more often! Wow! I want to bring her back in my suitcase!

I would tell you what we had but (1) I can't spell most of it; and (2) I can't do it justice by just giving you the names. Awesome dinner!

Afterward, we relaxed and laughed as we looked at some of their wedding and family photos. It was a very special evening, spent with very special friends!

As I said to David, it was a privilege to be able to share an evening in their home... and that is what it is--we weren't invited over to their house... we were invited into their home... and the difference is in the laughter and memories!

Thanks, David & Jothi, for a memorable evening!

Justice... Indian Style

2009-08-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

If you thought Old West justice died with Judge Roy Bean and the Texas Rangers, think again...

From today's The Times of India--

"In a second such startling ruling in two months, a district court in Krishnagiri has handed over a state corporation bus as compensation to the family members of a bus accident victim, who died nine years ago.

"A semi-deluxe bus headed for Chennai from Bangalore was stopped by the staff of the Krishnagiri district court on Friday and the passengers were asked to get off. Then, the bus was taken to the house of 48-year-old woman... who lost her husband in a bus mishap in October 2000 and is still awaiting compensation from the transport corporation.

"The Tamil Nadu state express transport corporation owes compensation running to several lakhs (1 lakh = 100,000 rupees = about $2300) of rupees for families of scores of bus accident victims. On July 24, the Krishnagiri Additional district judge... ordered the attachment of a state-owned bus for the transport corporation's failure to pay 6.5 lakhs of rupees (about $15,000) compensation for the widow. The judge also said that the widow could keep the bus in her custody till September 4, 2009 pending payment of the due compensation."

Just a couple thoughts...

Can you imagine the arguments between Justice Scalia and Justice Sotomayor when the case came to the US Supreme Court...
I bet the widow has a swinging good time on her bus between now and September 4th!
If you were the bus company, you probably are relieved because that is one less bus that will be running late for the next couple weeks...
What would you be thinking if you were one of the passengers told to get off the bus?

That is justice... Indian Style...

Bet 'Cha Didn't Think You'd Hear That

2009-08-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

"You are just too fast for us."

I'm willing to bet you didn't think you'd hear that said about the four of us over here still working at the CMC! I know I wouldn't have put money on that one

Just a refresher on who is still here--

Drew Rowe--confirmed slacker
Dan Rowe--pastor, by definition gifted with gab
me...revinboots...Steve Barckholtz--ready to skip work and blog at any time
Glen Butler--dedicated worker

Add all that up and being "too fast" as a paint crew doesn't seem possible, yet that was the refrain for most of the week. Here is what we've gotten done...

On Tuesday, the downstairs hallway got painted
Wednesday got the last of the downstairs rooms finished and the upstairs started with a couple small rooms painted
Thursday saw the upstairs continued: 2 small + 1 large room
Friday it was 1 large room + 3 small rooms + about 1/4 of the upstairs hallway

Not bad for a group of workers who should have raised your eyebrows at whether we would get anything done or not!

We are off in a few minutes to see what we can get done this morning...

Update on Gary Bell

2009-08-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here are two messages received from Benicia Lutheran Church concerning Gary:

Wednesday, August 19th

I thought I'd give you an update on Pastor. He arrived back from India yesterday afternoon about 2 pm. By a miraculous set of circumstances he was allowed to upgrade to business class where he could put his leg up for no additional charge! What a blessing. His leg is in very tough shape, very swollen and lots of bleeding into the bottom of the upper leg. The doctors have stopped the blood thinner medication, are doing xrays this evening and we will see what can be done to help him heal. He is in Kaiser Vallejo in room 442 on 4 West. He would welcome visitors. We appreciate your continued prayers for him. He is very worn out by this whole ordeal but also very thankful for the chance to have travelled to India where he had some amazing experiences.

Thanks.

Sherry

Friday, August 21st

Hi Everyone!!

Sherry has just called the Church and said that the hospital will be releasing Pastor Bell today from the hospital and that no surgery is needed. He will be sent home with a walker and will have a Physical Therapist visit him. He is to rest up for the next couple of weeks while he heals.

Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers for Sherry and Pastor Bell.

Sincerely,
Donna Noska
BLC Secretary

Barbecue Nation: The World On A Grill

2009-08-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Rev. David, Pastor Rowe, the Pastor from VaanMalar Lutheran Church and his wife, as well as, your humble correspondent, just returned from Chennai's greatest culinary experience: Barbecue Nation.

The rest of the folks (those now at home) went there one of their first nights in India (the fact that Glen opted out of a second trip should already be telling you something... and Drew decided to go over the Andrew's house for dinner... one word for both of you: Cowards!) and made Rev. David swear to take the rest of us (especially me--the one with the cast-iron stomach and high spice tolerance) there.

I will share the event with you by quoting from their placemat, liberally sprinkling my own comments and interpretation in parentheticals...

So here it is, revinboots' take on "Barbecue Nation: The World On A Grill...

Barbecues Stake Their Claim (I wish that was "Steak", not...)
The day the Turkish nomad discovered the art of grilling, the world changed forever. (Don't try to tell anyone in Texas they didn't invent grilling).
In culinary history, barbecues staked their claim. The charm of open fire cooking trespassed (word choice kind of brings pictures of fire walkers to mind) all racial, linguistic and gatronomic borders to find welcome adoption in every cuisine of the world.
Seasonings (the only one I could find: red chillies... hot red chillies... really hot red chillies...), herbs and marinades (there might have been a guy named Herb at the next table) contributed to seared, chargrilled, tandoored, tossed and sauted variants (almost picturing a Burger King commercial aren't you...)
Barbecue Nation invites you to an epicurean tour de force (I just hope the tour doesn't end sometime around 3am, standing next to an empty Tums bottle).
Drawn from Mediterranean (if you say so...), American (no brisket... no ribs... no tri-tip... where again was the American part... oh, right, the brownies on the dessert tray), Oriental and Asian origins, this earthy (grilled mushrooms were the earthy part) experience of open fire cooking comes with a grill, right on your table (pretty cool set up... I wouldn't mind a table like this at home...).
Skewers settle on red hot embers. Baste them with your favorite marinade (although they all come soaked in red chillie sauce and all other marinades run away in fear).
Finish them to your preference (maybe with some ketchup or something like that to put some of the fire out).
Sense the sizzle, soak in the aroma, tuck in the treat (lose your lips to numbness... fondly bid farewell to your tastebuds...).
Epicurean Abundance. Fixed Charge. We encourage you to indulge in unlimited abundance (this is most certainly true).
From our prix fix fare of five vegetarian and five non vegetarian delicacies (all ten soaked in red chillie sauce before and after roasting... and possibly again while the waiter is walking them to your table).
Followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner (the grill on the table part is only the warm-ups... after searing away your lips and tastebuds you can eat all the "regular" Indian food you want... it also is largely soaked in red chillie sauce... except for a couple dishes that were soaked in green chillie sauce for a variation...).
And desserts (Praise the Lord for the desserts: brownies... gulab jamun [sweet balls in syrup]... ice cream...).
At a fixed charge of 450rupees per head (about $9).
Tariffs, service time and portions do not restrict you. Eat as much as you enjoy. Bon Appetit!
For more information about this epicurean adventure, you can find Barbecue Nation located in Mumbai, Thane, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chennai, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Pune, Kolkate, Jalandhar, & Amritsar... or you can check them out at: http://www.barbeque-nation.com/. (Perhaps the entrepeneurs in the audience want to contact them about franchising opportunities...)

It really was a wonderful meal, except as Dan pointed out on the comment card--the tables could use candles...

Random Thoughts From the Passing Scenery VII

2009-08-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

A few ponderables from a ride around Chennai on a Thursday evening...

Down by the beach is a place I want to try--"Funk Jazz's Donuts & Hot Dogs"... sounds to me like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air must own it... wait that is "Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles" (which if you are ever in Pasadena CA, near the Fuller Seminary Campus, is a must the chicken and waffles are out of this world!)
We also some a block or so away--"Somethin' Fishy"... absolutely no desire to go there...
Another store--"Jolly Store"... no idea what they sell but it sounds like a happy good time awaiting...
Cute names abound for hair styling... here are just two seen tonight--"Lovely Lady Salon" (begging for a chauvanistic comment, but I will refrain) and "Cut It Out Hair Center" (please, cut it out with the Indian puns!)
Also, a bumper sticker--"Justice is a Birth Right"... I really have to think about this one...
Finally, there must be a chain called, simply enough--"Fitness Center"... somehow, I don't really envision all these skinny people who walk or ride bikes everywhere needing to go to a gym or club to sweat away anything...

That is a Thursday evening in Chennai...

Did You Hear The One About...

2009-08-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Rev. David's "Joke of the Day"--

When God created man it took Him three tries... first He made a man and put the clay form in the oven to bake, but this one He cooked too long. Thus, we have Africans. Then, He made another man, put this clay form in the oven to bake, this one He did not cook long enough. Thus, we have Caucasians (including half-baked Americans). Finally, God made a third clay form that He cooked just right producing...

(scroll down...)

...Indians!!!

Blaze, Spirit, Blaze!

2009-08-20T03:32:00.000-07:00

As we were winding up our work today, the former Director of the CMC, Rev. Dr. Suvi, stopped by. In the course of the conversation, he told a story about the way the Holy Spirit is moving among the Hindus in India...

It seems that out in one village, there was a Hindu man who was illiterate. By the grace of God, he learned about Jesus and came to faith in the Lord. Being illiterate was not going to stop him from learning more about this newfound faith. He bought a Bible and had friends teach him how to read it. As he learned more about the Bible and about the Gospel, he knew he wanted to tell others this Good News.

This man gathered seven children together and began teaching them Bible stories. After a period of time, five of the children and their parents and families left their Hinduism behind and became Christ-followers. With the little band of five families, the once illiterate man began teaching and preaching and worshiping.

Over the course of the past several years, what began with one illiterate man learning about salvation through Jesus Christ has become a worshiping group of 54 families. All the families live in the same village--even the Hindu priest has become a Christ-follower!

Brothers & Sisters, we have pretty much everything at our fingertips and in our bank accounts. What we need to be praying for is the passion of the Holy Spirit to cause us to stop thinking we are small and that we don't know enough! If an illiterate guy in India can be used by the Holy Spirit to change the eternal destiny of 54 Hindu families, then there is no limit what the Holy Spirit can do through you and me!

Breakfast at the Raj Park

2009-08-19T19:38:00.001-07:00

Back in the day, I had a Men's Group that met at a local restaurant on Friday mornings. We always knew business had been slow on Thursday nights when the breakfast special was prime rib hash. Business must have been slow at the Raj Park last night.

This year at breakfast, we have seen no ham or bacon--staples of last year's breakfast. Instead we have been treated(?) to chicken livers, chicken meatballs, chicken wings, chicken winglets (there is a difference, you know), chicken sausage, chicken-in-many-forms.

This morning featured--Beef Lyonnaise! Which near as I can tell is Beef Stroganoff without the sour cream to thicken the gravy. I could get used to this breakfast! Tender (relatively speaking) chunks of beef... onions... au jus... the perfect topping for the hash brown potatoe disks that are an entity to themselves (they really can't be described, so just plan to come on the next trip over here so you can experience them yourself!)

I think I might go back for another breakfast...

Waiting & Painting... Or Is That... Painting & Waiting

2009-08-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today have been spent waiting and painting... followed by painting and waiting...

Tuesday, we got to the CMC and they had no paint for us...finally, after twiddling our thumbs until lunch time... we left for lunch... and paint arrived while were gone... to the amazement of the contractor the entire hallway got painted in just a couple hours... then we ran out of paint again... with only a few feet left in the hallway...

Wednesday, we got to the CMC and they had new paint for us... different than what we needed to paint the hallway... this was oil-based paint to paint several partition walls in a couple rooms... we got right on the job... and promptly ran out of paint with one wall left... again, we left for lunch... and found paint waiting for us on return... we finished the remaining wall... and now had no paint to finish the hallway from yesterday...

Evidently, the contractor has a fear of getting stuck with a lot of leftover paint or something, because he only buys it one can at a time. Seeing as how we have a whole lot of building to do, I don't think he needs to fear leftovers at this time! What he needs to realize is that, in spite of how we look (remember the crew is Drew, Dan, Glen, and me--probably not the most awe-inspiring groups of painters ever assembled), we can cover some walls in pretty short order. We came halfway around the world and are ready to work!

Oh well, hopefully tomorrow will dawn with buckets of paint waiting for us...

Water Shortages

2009-08-19T03:54:00.000-07:00

From today's The Hindu newspaper--

Headline: "Over 3000 rural habitations face drinking water shortage"

"About 3300 rural habitations in [Tamil Nadu] require relief measures for drinking water supply in the wake of the failure of the south-west monsoon...

"The relief works will be taken up in areas where the service level has declined below 10litres per capita per day, or is expected to go down in the coming months. The ultimate purpose will be to ensure a minimum supply of 10litres per capita per day in rural areas...

"Under the normal circumstances, the government norms stipulate that rural habitations have the service level of 40litres per capita per day...

"Digging new borewells/infiltration/open wells, deepening or desilting of existing wells and replacement of pumpsets are amont the measures proposed..."

There is much more detail in this article, mostly about funding and beauracratic oversight, but the main point is this: large parts of rural southern India are living on less that 2.5 gallons of water per person per day.

Here is an exercise for you--try to visualize yourself drinking... cooking... cleaning... bathing... doing everything you do each day... and now visualize yourself doing in on only 2.5 gallons... oh, and don't forget... you have to walk upwards of 3-10kilometres each way just to get the water...

Even more challenging, forget the visualization--tomorrow why not walk to the nearest river, pond, or fountain... fill a bucket... carry it home... and drink... cook... clean... and bathe on that water...

This is the reality of life for millions of people around the world... and for thousands here in southern India...

This is also just a thumbnail sketch for why drilling new borewells is so crucial to improving the quality of life for people in rural India...

Pray about how you can join me in figuring out a way to bring some cool... clear... water... to southern India!

Group A has Made it Home!

2009-08-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

Our Tuesday started at 12:30 am in Chennai (12:00 noon Monday in CA) when Rev David and Jothi arrived at our hotel with two SUVs and an oversized van to haul us and our luggage to the airport. For some, there was no sleep Monday night at all. Following the edifying Thanksgiving service with communion at the Christian Media Centre for our send-off, we didn't arrive back at the hotel until close to 10:00. Packing, settling our hotel accounts, transfer of medical supplies and finances to the four members of Group B (who will return home next Tuesday); it made little sense to try to sleep for just an hour or so.

Luggage and Gary carefully loaded in the vehicles, we left for the airport a few minutes past 1:00 am - plenty early for a 3:15 am flight, or so we thought. The Chennai airport seems to be pandemonium no matter what hour of the day or night. We pulled up as close to the terminal as possible, and sent Rev David into the terminal for a wheelchair for Gary. Security is so tight, the first checkpoint is before you reach the front door. No one is allowed in unless they have tickets or an itinerary - no family or well-wishers, only those flying. Since Rev David didn't qualify, he couldn't get in to get a wheelchair. So when he came back, we sent in Josh.

Five of our six tickets were purchased at the same time, on the same itinerary. And although each team member was given a copy of their own individual itinerary before heading to SFO, in the ensuing 2-1/2 weeks, with train travel down south and 6 different hotel rooms, some no longer had their own and would be entering under the group itinerary. If Josh used that to enter the building, others wouldn't get in later. So then I was sent in on my own itinerary to procure said wheelchair. Simple enough, right? We've all seen flocks of wheelchairs at every airport in the U.S., I'll grab one and an attendant and be back in a flash. Ah, but this is India.

It seems the 2.5 wheelchairs (in various conditions) at the Chennai International Airport were in use by some of the other several thousand people attempting to fly out at this dark hour. It took dealing with 8 different people before finding an employee of the airline who took the task on as a personal mission to help get the Rev Gary Bell out of the parking lot and on to a plane. And get the large, sweaty, irate, and frantic white guy out of their airport.

But first, a problem. We may have arrived at the airport 3 hours prior to departure of our flight, but every one else arrived 3-1/2 hours early. And were all standing in line ahead of us. In a line that was NOT moving. Seems all the Emirates Airlines computers were down, and had been for at least the previous 36 hours. So the staff were processing each person manually; issuing hand-written boarding passes to a packed jumbo jet. Ah, but we had a secret weapon - Gary in a wheelchair! We asked and got permission to have all six of us in a much shorter line designated for Executive Class check-in. Our helpful assistant kept wanting to move Gary and his wheelchair off to the side but we wouldn't let him; we needed the person checking us in to see Gary's condition in hopes of getting him upgraded to executive class seating. Several attempts had been made by phone and on line to do this in the previous 2 days, but due to the computer problems the local Chennai Emirates office couldn't help us. And on-line Emirates wanted up to $7000 for an upgrade.

The staff looked at our pile of medical papers, looked at Gary, and put him in an Executive Class seat with out any extra charge whatsoever! Praise God! This seat allowed Gary to recline and more importantly, elevate his leg during the flight. This upgrade was only for the Chennai to Dubai 4 hour flight; due to the computer outage they could do nothing for us about the 15 hour haul from Dubai to SFO. The rest off us were assigned the very last row on the plane. With our hand written boarding passes in hand, we then went through the next 5 or so security check points to the waiting area by the gates. And wait we did. We could see our plane, but there was no information available as to why or how long the delay might be. It was over two hours before they finally started to board our flight; and again thanks to Gary and his wheelchair we made it to the head of the line. Down the jet way and past the final security check point and intimate body frisking. We were on the plane! The flight took off just over two hours late, and we had exactly a two hour layover scheduled in Dubai. Three possibilities: overnight in Dubai, Emirates reroute us some other way back to SFO, or the next flight would also be delayed. No sense worrying about what we couldn't change; it was all in God's hands.

The flight made up 15 minutes on the flight to Dubai; our next plane was still on the ground. But we had Gary who needed a wheelchair, and as such would be the last off the plane. And with the rest of our party in the back, we weren't much ahead of him. We were whisked away to a special counter for helping passengers from our delayed flight make their connections. Still the next plane remained on the ground. We again asked for and received an upgrade to Executive Class for Gary with out any extra charge whatsoever! Praise God some more! The last to be issued our boarding passes for the SFO bound plane, we made a dash and breezed through security once more. Emirates continued to hold the plane to allow all the delayed passengers to board. Gary actually beat several other folks on the plane due to his handler taking behind the scenes short cuts. Josh was the last person to board, with the cabin door hitting him on the butt on his way in.

There was no time in Dubai to get Josh's laptop connected and make a blog post on our status, or even send an email. But our flight status was available on our website, and our families could see what the flights were doing, even though they weren't sure if we were on the plane. Heck, we weren't sure our luggage was on the plane! We lifted off about an hour behind schedule. I got Gary as comfortable as possible; we settled in for our 15 hour flight. Due to favorable tailwinds and the flight crew "puttin' the pedal to the metal", we landed at SFO at 2:05 pm, only 20 minutes behind schedule. Another wheelchair awaited Gary; then off to collect our luggage and a quick trip through passport control and customs. Down the hall and out the door to reunions with our families. Gary was transferred to the backseat of his wife Sherry's car; I went with her through all his medical paperwork, x-rays, and meds; he was then whisked away to a 4:30 appointment at Kaiser Hospital. We ask you to continue to lift Gary and Sherry up in prayer for God's peace and healing.

Our luggage arrived with us, mostly. Only 1 piece of Dana's didn't come down the carousel. We hugged and headed for our homes with our families. Josh and I were met by his wife Dana, and hit the highway for our final leg home. We arrived in Paso Robles about 6:30 pm to a joyful reunion with our weiner dogs. My wife Lynne was away at a meeting for Relay for Life, where as Accounting Chairman she was accepting the final team donations prior to this Saturday's annual 24 hour fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. After showering and unpacking, my reunion with her came about 9:30 when she got home. A simple supper of tacos (funny how bland mexican food tastes to me right now) and off for a long sleep. Well, for me anyhow. Lynne was up early to head off to her first day of fall classes for college, followed by a first aid class this evening. I'll see her again about 10:00 tonight. At least we're in the same hemisphere.

We praise God for the safe travel home for the first 6 team members; and for Pastor Gary's "as comfortable as can be expected" flight. We ask that you continue to lift the 4 remaining team members up in prayer as they labor in fairly challenging physical conditions on the tasks they have yet to do (but I expect we'll be hearing quite a bit from Revinboots this week). Also prayers for the staff at the Christian Media Centre working in the midst of such major construction; and for the mostly Hindu laborers we worked along side with as they complete the project. But most of all, remember to pray for all God's children in India, that they might come to know true peace and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Moving Mountains

2009-08-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Chinese proverb--"The one who says it can't be done should get out of the way of the one who is doing it."

What do you see when you look at the pain and suffering in the world? Do you se a malnourished child--or a future farmer? A child without schooling--or a potential teacher? Do you see a frightened child huddling in a refugee campt--or do you see a prospective leader? When you look into the faces of the poor, the marginalized, and the downtrodden, do you se hopelssnes--or people made in the very Image of God, with the prospects of a hope-filled future ahead of them? We, as Christ-f0llowers, can look at our broken world, shrug our shoulders, and say, "That's just the way things are." Or we can instead embrace a vision of what could be--if we would each pitch in.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to ther' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20).

I always thought this verse was just an exaggeration that Jesu was making in order to make a point about the power of faith. We can't literally move mountains... can we?

But what if Jesus means for millions of His followers to each put their faith into action by grabbing a shovel--and challenging the mountain one shovelful at a time? Any mountain CAN be moved--even the ones called Poverty, or Hunger, or Injustice--if we have enough people "shoveling".

Robert Kennedy once said, "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"

Perhaps, it is all just a matter of perspective.

Random Thoughts From The Passing Scenry VI

2009-08-18T01:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few signs and such from our wandering around Chennai the last couple days--

"Ethical Hacking... Buy 1 Seat Get 1 Seat Free... Limited Seating Available"--Can there really be such a thing as this?
"Coherent Consulting"--I so much prefer the incoherent kind of consulting... I wonder wher they are located?
"Hotel Runs"--We are all beyond glad that we are not saying at this place! Instead of a mint on your pillow, you get a pack of Immodium...
"It's not what you play, it's what you play with"--this slogan was seen in a music store... perhaps this is the way band directors try to convince musicians to join the marching band?
While in the same mucis store, the owner's phone rang. Wann aknow his ringtone? "Oh, Susanna"--Now the yodeling train porter doesn't sem so outlandish... wait... yes he does...
One hotel advertised: "Smoke Rooms Available"--Is that a light hint of mesquite or maybe applewood that I smell?
There are pieces of wisdom painted all over the road offering driving insights. We saw this one yesterday: "Driving Faster Can Cause Disaster"--slamming on your brakes and short-stopping can also... we know... after almost 4 weeks in this country (last year and this), we got nailed in the right rear by a motorcycle (If I were as good as Josh, I could add the picture of our tail light... but I'm not, so imagine paint scrapes... a little ding... and a cracked tail light...)
And, finally--"Decorate Your Home With Handicrafts Bring Divinity Down From Heaven"--I almost bout a 1.25 million rupee elephant after I read this one...

Thanksgiving Prayer Worship

2009-08-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

Monday evening, we gathered with the folks from the Christian Media Centre and the Lutheran congregation for a dinner and Thanksgiving Worship. Several local Lutheran clergy joined us in a festive evening of prayer and thanksgiving.

The sermon was based on II Corinthians 8, the event wherein the Macedonian Christians are held up as examples of giving first to the Lord and then giving beyond their means to help those in Jerusalem who were in need.

The most powerful event of the evening was the celebration of Holy Communion. Usually Holy Communion is only celebrated once a month, so to share the Table of Eucharist--the Table of Thanksgiving--as friends from east and west was a definity joy!

As the worship time drew to a close, we were put on stage as each of the clergy said a few (or not so few... you know what happens when you give a pastor a microphone... you better get comfortable... whether in the States or in India!) words expresing their gratitude to us.

The Staff at the CMC then gave ach of us a going away gift (even those of us who are staying for another week). We each received a beautiful set of bed linens with traditional Indian designs on them.

After returning to the hotel, Chuck, Josh, Dana, John, Todd, and Gary finished packing in time for their 1am ride to the airport. If all is on schedule, they should be about 4 hours into their 16 hour flight from Dubai to San Francisco as I type this.

That leaves Glen, Dan, Drew, and me to keep on painting. Not being anywhere near the photographer Josh is, you will have to get your visuals on this week's work from the vivid and poetic nature of my words...

Thoughts on "The Feeding of the 5000"

2009-08-16T23:41:00.000-07:00

There is an African saying--"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito."

If I am not mistaken, the Feeding of the 5000 is the only event (outside Jesus' death and resurrection) recorded in all four Gospels. Perhaps one reason is that it shows us how God uses underwhelming resources to address overwhelming challenges. Here is what I mean...

You know the story well... remote place... large crowd... late in the day... grumbling begins...

Have you ever noticed how Jesus and the disciples view the situation very differently? The disciples see only a very large problem. Jesus, however, looked at the exact same situation and saw an opportunity.

Bridge to our world: When we see poverty and sickness, hunger and famine, cruelty and abuse, do we see them as problems? Or are we, like Jesus, filled with compassion and a desire to seize an opportunity to make a difference?

Back to the disciples: They thought they were facing an overwhelming predicament... 5000 men plus women plus children... no chance... Jesus couldn't expect them to the impossible, could He? Jesus, however, does not fall into the same trap that snared the disciples. Jesus was not overwhelmed by the size of the problem. He didn't ask about magnitude or strategy or feasibility. Jesus not how much it would take to solve the problem, but only how much THEY had to offer.

After surveying the crowd, the disciples had found just one boy who was willing to give what he had. Perhaps there were others in the crowd who had some food, but instead they kept it to themselves. Perhaps there were some who rationalized that someone else would respond. Perhaps there were some who didn't want their food noticed lest others try and take it from them.

Regardles, one responded... just one... a boy... with five small loaves and two small fish. So Jesus received the generous offering--meager, but generous--and He showed the disciples what God can do with even the smallest gift offered in faith.

This miracle shows God's power to overcome huge obstacles, but there is also another miracle involved. When the disciples were confronted with an overwhelming problem, Jesus did not ask them to do the impossible. Jesus only asked them to bring to Him what they had. Jesus multiplied the smal offering and used it to do the impossible.

The same is true for you and me! Whenever you are overwhelmed by the immensity of human suffering and need in our world... and it is impossible to spend a day (let alone two weeks) in India and not be overwhelmed by that suffering... God never asks us to give what we do not have! But He also cannot use what we will not give.

Think about that little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. Think of the joy he must have felt seing his gift multiplied by God to feed thousands of hungry people! This little boy's "piece of the puzzle" allowed God's miracle to come about.

When we, as Christ-followers, are willing to lay our pieces on the table, we, too, can take part in God's miraculous multiplication proces. But if we are unwilling, God will probably find another way to solve the problem, but we will most assuredly miss out on the opportunity to be used by God in a powerful and amazing way.

Rest assured, your resources will always be underwhelming... but God's power can overwhelm any challenge!

Rainy Days and Mondays

2009-08-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

Click for more pictures

Today, Tamil Nadu is getting some much needed rain. Thee whole of India faces drought and food shortages as the monsoon rains typical of the beginning of August never came. We read newspaper articles about farmers who had taken out loans, then committed suicide when they realized that their small crops would not enable them to repay those loans. India is on a precipice, but God provides relief.

The soil here is medium brown, but when it rains the puddles are a yellow brown, like curry itself is wicking out of the soil with the running water. Our taxi driver this morning tried to argue that the established rates of 40 rupees for the ride to the CMC was null and void with the weather, but there wasn't exactly a line for his cab and he relented. I don't like haggling over what is about 20 cents, but I also know that we're paying more than the locals pay and when the rain stops, the new rate won't.

The team is still painting. Gary remains back at our hotel, and Dana has stayed behind to take care of him if he needs anything. He remains in good spirits but has some pain after he attempted some late-night acrobatics. Nothing another steak won't fix.

I am reminded of our second-to-last night here last summer. After our celebration dinner at the CMC, we shared a drink with Ron who was departing early the next morning. Thunder shook the building, and we climbed to the open air covered restaurant above the hotel to watch the storm. This rain is becoming a sort of tradition, as though Chennai is performing some trick for us before we leave.

Today is bitterweet. Those of us who are leaving will be happy to return home to our families and our normal routines, but will miss our friends here and meaningful things we have done. Glen, Steve, Dan and Drew will see that the work is finished, but the work will never be finished in India or anywhere else until we are all reunited with our Father on that day...

The "Well, Duh!" Headline of the Day

2009-08-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

“India Leads World In Road Deaths”

After spending almost a month total time in this country, this headline strikes me as nothing but hilarious. I’d love to ask the reporter one question: “Ya think?” Here’s some interesting facts from the article:

13 People die every hour due to accidents.
The highest deaths are to truck occupants, followed by motorcycle riders and passengers, with pedestrians at a surprising fourth place with only 9% of the fatalities.
114,590 people died in road accidents in India in 2007, the highest in the world. We’re number 1! We’re number 1!
To put it into perspective, the US has ¼ of the population of India and had 42,642 road deaths in 2006. This calculates out to about 1/12 of the road death rate per capita.
Tamil Nadu is fourth in India states road death rates, but with some effort, I think they can make number 1. Come on, guys, let’s pull together!

This is kind of like the article we read right before we got onto the train for our journey south that said about 10 people die every day on the Mumbai commuter train system alone. Most of those deaths are from overcrowding: people are either pushed out of the train or are hit by poles as they hang out the side of the train. The second leading cause of deaths on the train is from people injured crossing the tracks. Big surprise!

This article also illustrates a point I’d like to make about perceived danger vs. actual danger. India has experienced about 30 deaths from swine flu, and every day we see more and more people with masks on out in public. But they don’t stop hitting the streets, they don’t stop piling onto the motorcycles 5 at a time, with mom on the back, sitting side-saddle and cradling an infant. The article blames speeding and lack of restraints as the problem for the deaths, and only one person quoted in the article points out that India’s transportation authority lacks any kind of traffic safety department. So India will keep on keepin’ on, throwing resources at a swine flu panic while its citizens smash themselves to bits on the roads.

It Could Even Be A Glass Of Water

2009-08-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Times of India had an interesting article entitled "It Could Even Be A Glass of Water." This article became the basis of my Message at our Worship yesterday. In part the article says...

"The nationwide Joy of Giving Week [is] to be held from September 27 to October 3, 2009... The Joy of Giving Wek is a new national movement that aims to engage every single Indian in giving back to society in a way that she or he chooses--money, time, skills or resources. So far, 35,000 schools, hundreds of colleges, governments, corporates, celebrities and sportspersons have signed up, and the fellowship is growing every day. Why do we need this?"

The article then tries to answer its own question in four ways: Because giving "unites people"... because giving is an "eclectic function" (allowing people to do whatever they are able)... because India "needs more Bill Gateses and more Warren Buffets" (more wealthy philanthropists helping the poor by addressing justice issues)... and this fourth reason--"the Joy of Giving Week is an opportunity to redeem ourselves."

As Christ-followers, we know better. We know no amount of giving--joyful or grudging--can amass enough tally marks to redeem ourselves. We know redemption comes solely through the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary's cross... redemption is solely the gift of God's grace to undeserving people like you and me...

As Christ-followers, we know the true Joy of Giving--because God first gave to us His only-begotten Son, we can joyfully give anything and everything to others. We can live giving joyfully in the spirit summarized by former President Jimmy Carter--"My faith demands--this is not optional--my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference."

This "demand" of faith is not Law. It is the purest response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus first loved us... we love one another... and as the title of the article says, "It Could Even Be A Glass Of Water."

Sunday

2009-08-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Despite being in the country so long, we finally got to worship at the Christian Media Center just this morning. Vaan Malar Lutheran Church is the church that operates out of the CMC facility. Before the service began attendance seemed pathetic, to be frank, but like good Lutherans people drifted in slowly after the service began until the sanctuary was overflowing. Most of the service was held in the Tamil language, but John and Chuck read the Bible passages, Steve gave the sermon, and the team sang a song for the service.

At the end of the service, the team was honored with gifts from the church. We all received wall hangings adorned with pictures of horses, camels, butterflies, and elephants. After the service, we had the pleasure of visiting with the congregation, eating idly and sambar, and having delicious south Indian coffee.

After church, the team went back to the hotel to rest. The David's and Chuck sprung Gary from the hospital. I won't go into our final costs for the hospital stay, but I will say that if "Health Care Reform gets us these prices, bring it on! Once Gary was comfortable and we had ordered him a steak from room service (I've stayed at this hotel for a total of 3 1/2 weeks and I just found out they have steak!) the rest of the team joined the David's at a local hotel for a Kasmir-based buffet lunch.

After lunch, Steve wrangled the forces of Emirates Airlines to try to get a better seat for Gary on the plane. Because his leg must be elevated during the flight, we were trying to get him into business class. Unfortunately, an upgrade was cost prohibitive, but we think we have him in a seat that is going to work for him. Promises won't be made by anyone at Emirates until we get to the check-in counter, so prayers are needed still. Pray for safe travel for all of us, but especially for comfortable travel for Gary.

In the afternoon, we went out for more shopping, once again hitting the clothing stores for sarees, salwars, and kurtas. At this time, we're just hanging out at our hotel, resting up for a final half day of work before six of us prepare to leave in the early hours of Tuesday.

Malaria Pills

2009-08-16T06:24:00.000-07:00

Each of us is required to be taking malaria pills while in India. While reading The Hole In Our Gospel, I came across this description of malaria. Thank God it has been largely eradicated in the developed world! This is one messed up disease...

From The Hole In Our Gospel--

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 500 million clinical cases of malaria each year, resulting in 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths. A 2007 cover article in National Geographic featured the extent to which malaria has plagued the human race over the centuries:

"Few civilizations, in all of history have escaped the disease. Some Egyptian mummies have signs of malaria. Hippocrates documented the distinct stages of the illness; Alexander the Great likely died of it, leading to the unraveling of the Greek Empire. Malaria may have stopped the armies of both Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan.

"At least four popes died of it. It may have killed Dante, the Italian poet. George Washington sufferd from malaria, as did Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. In the late 1800s, malaria was so bad in Washington, D.C., that one prominent physician lobbied--unsuccessfully--to erect a gigantic wire screen around the city. A million Union Army casualties in the U.S. Civil War are attributed to malaria, and in the Pacific theater of World War II casualties from the disease exceeded those from combat. Some scientists believe that one out of every two people who have ever lived have died of malaria."

Despite the scope of malaria's impact on the world today and on human history, most of us know nothing about it. The one-celled parasites that transmit the disease, known as plasmodia, are carried by mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Just one drop of water the size of the period at the end of this sentence can contain as many as 50,000 plasmodia--yet it takes just one to kill a person...

...Thankfully, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has reignited efforts not just to control malaria but to eradicate it. They are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into research on both treatments and the development of a vaccine. In October 2007, Melinda Gates addressed a large gathering in Seattle on the issue of malaria and made this bold statement:

"The first reason to work to eradicate malaria is an ethical reason--the simple human cost. Every life has equal worth. Sickness and death in Africa are just as awful as sickness and death in America. In Africa and other areas of the developing world, malaria keeps adults from going to work, students from going to school, and children from growing up. Any goal short of eradicating malaria is accepting malaria; it's making peace with malaria; it's rich countries saying: 'We don't need to eradicate malaria around the world as long as we've eliminated malaria in our own countries.' That's just unacceptable."

--from The Whole In Our Gospel: The Answer that Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World," by Richard Stearns, Thomas Nelson, 2009, pp. 143-145

All the Comforts of Home

2009-08-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Got bored last night and started to look around our room. Here are a few things I hadn't noticed before...

Our Gideon's Bible was placed by The Gideons International in India Madras South Camp. If you are ever looking for an outreach ministry to support--send your money toward the Gideons... they are all Bibles, all the time... it doesn't get much better than that!
In our bathroom are two little jars. One is labeled "Soap Sud"... it has what looks like crushed peppermint candies in it. I'm not sure if it bath salts... toothpaste... or something else... The other is labeld "Cotton Wool"... am I dense (don't answer that!)... what kind of sheep does this material come from... or is it a crop picked in the south... I am so confused...
In the desk drawer was an "Executive Kit" containing everything the traveling executive might need: four rubberbands, three paperclips, and three nails... I guess, if you can't band it or clip it together, you just pound it into the guy you are meeting...
When we arrived, the floor lamp in our room didn't work, so maintenance came and fixed it. Now, in India, you have to place your room key in a slot in the room to activate all the lights and the air conditioner (a pretty good way to regulate electricity and people [like me and Tom Bodet] who always leave the lights on). Ever since he fixed it, when we put the card in... all the lights in the room come on... except that one... but when we take the card out... and all the other lights in the room go dark... that one comes on... just another example of the wiring issues over here... that email you have seen is more true than you realize!

Mouth-watering...

2009-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

While eating lunch today, I realized what I want when I get home...

In the Salt Lake City airport, from Burger King, a Double Mustard Whopper with cheese and extra pickles... and a side order of onion rings...
Then, from Cinnabon, a giant cinnamon roll with extra pecans...
When I get home, regardless of the hour... a big rib-eye grilled with only Lawry's and pepper--NO gravy or sauce...
Also, a baked potatoe with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and cheese...
The next day for lunch, I want to go to the Snow Bunny for an order of fried pickles, their cheeseburger with a grilled hot link sausage on it, and a blackberry shake...
On the Saturday after I get back, my wife's cousin is getting married--they are butchering the fatted calf (almost literally!)... I can't wait...
I might have to call my brother and have him ship me a couple pounds of brisket and some Czech hot links from Kreuz Market in Lockhart, TX...

You know what? I think I'll just go back to my room... put on my headphones... and listen to Jimmy Buffet for a while... "Cheeseburger in Paradise"...

Reprise: How Beautiful Are The Feet

2009-08-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, we spent time shopping. As I sat outside Manuram Silks waiting for the others, I started looking at the feet of those walking by. I was moved to reprise this posting from last year's trip over here...

This is from June 2008--

One thing I have noticed more than anything while in Chennai have been feet. The first day we were working, it struck me that a couple of the women working with us were barefoot--and not because they took their shoes off. They were barefoot because they wore no shoes. Since that day, my tennis shoes have been permanently stained red and layered thick with the gunk and glue we encountered while tearing out the carpet and tile floor. My shoes are stained and gunk-covered. Their feet were bare and were walking through the same stuff.

First off, it struck me how amazing and durable and tough their feet are. Walking barefoot through one day, let alone a lifetime, is truly a feat. I think how soft and pampered my feet are from always being protected in clean socks and whatever pair of shoes I choose to wear at that moment.

A second observation that struck me was how beautiful their feet were. My pampered feet have three ugly nails filled with fungus. Their bare feet have toes pointing properly with no obvious problems. I would have expected cuts or toes all splayed out at wrong angles from old breaks incurred while stubbing them or tripping over things. Yet none of that was evident.

Finally, it really hit me how amazing Jesus actions were when He washed His disciples feet during the Last Supper. The nastiness of walking through the day barefoot or sandal-footed takes on a new level of meaning when you see the streets and ground over here. Jesus' love also takes on a nev level of meaning when you realize He cleaned His disciples' feet with joy and love.

Becoming My Father

2009-08-15T22:29:00.000-07:00

I have become my father--which in this case, I'm not certain is a good thing... or not...

Friday night, I went to my suitcase to pull out a new book to read--Brad Meltzer's The Book of Fates. As I was glancing through the Acknowledgements, some things started seming familiar. Sure enough, I read this book a couple years ago when it first came out. I even had a moment this afternoon when, without realizing it was from this book, I thought of one of the character's idiosyncracies about seeing and counting crosses everywhere.

I gues, in one way, I am ahead of my father--he would often read 100 pages or so, before realizing he had read the book already...

Then again, I don't think he carried an already read book halfway around the world...

Oh well, there are definitely worse things in life than becoming my father!

Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

2009-08-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

It takes some getting used to, but after a couple million kilometers in our van last week, I'm okay with the driver siting on the wrong side of the vehicle and I'm working on realizing right hand turns are across traffice instead of left hand turns...

But... as you have come to expect... there is always a but (or a however)...

Walking down the left side of the hallway and on the left side of stairwells is taking things a bit too far! I think I have had more run-ins (or should that be "runs-in"?) in hallways and stairwells than our driver had in all our goings and comings...

At least, I will be adjusted and ready to go to Albertsons when I get home, because they have the "In" door on the left and I usually walk into the "Out" door on the right. Maybe that is a blessing in disguise?

Sweat Equity

2009-08-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

Friday, we got back to work at the Christian Media Centre. Most of the day was spent painting inside classrooms, offices, and storage spaces. Here are four visuals you probably don't want on how hot it was...

1. I sweat so much that I took off my t-shirt and wrung/wrang/wringed out a puddle of sweat... put the shirt back on... and within ten minutes could have wrun/wrang/wringed another puddle...

2. I had sweat clear below my knees on my jeans...

3. My University of Texas baseball cap had sweat everywher but on the very top button and sweat was beading up and dripping off the brim (Plus, the Bevo logo sweat away the ear tag of paint it got last year!).

4. I set a personal record of 8 liters of water (with my 9th open on the floor next to me as I write) bu experienced an amazingly few trips to the loo...

As I said, visuals you probably didn't want... but hopefully another perspective on what we are doing over here...

Facts & Figures From the Hotel Directory

2009-08-15T22:15:00.001-07:00

While flipping through the Raj Park Hotel Directory, I learned the following fascinating facts...

Under the tab "Places of Worship"--there is nothing... I happen to know where a Lutheran Church is and I am certain ther are about a gazillion Hindu temples in town...
From the Room Service Menu--Pancakes and/or French Toast are served with honey (it ain't Aunt Jemima, but who's criticizing...). Also, there is a desert called "Tarzan Noodles with Ice Cream"... so many images and possibilities come to mind... if I order it, I'll let you know how it goes... (Sidebar for John Hogg--in your honour [spelled like a Brit just for you!] I had beans and toast this morning... no Wheatabix available so far!)
The International Phone Directory has country codes and time zone differences. Did You Know? San Francisco is 11.5 hours behind Chennai, but Washington D.C. is somehow 12.5 hours behind... Interestingly, Montreal is only 4.5 hours behind, but Toronto is 10.5 hours behind... It is possible they consulted my Mom when putting this together... (Sorry, Mom, I should have resisted... "Now, is Tim 2 hours ahead of Jeff, or 3 hours behind Todd...")
Underlistings of airlines, ther is contact information for "Spicejet Airlines"--only India could figure out how to get spices into an airline... I think I will pass on all their food just in case...
Information regarding Consulates is also provided. I'm not sure how comforting it is to know the U.S. Consulate is only open from 8am-1pm, Monday-Friday. On the other hand, the Turkmenistan Consulate is open from 9am-6pm, Monday-Saturday...

WWJD?

2009-08-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning, in Madurai, before catching the train back to Chennai. we visited the Madurai Temple. The oldest portion of this Temple date to the 7th century BC--give or take the time of Isaiah. Unlike other temples, where we only had to remove our shoes, for this Tempel, we also had to remove our socks and hats.

After cruising around the courtyards, a guide took us around the Temple itself. The architecture, engravings, sculptures, colors... all were fascinating.

What was most--I'm not sure what word to choose--unsettling? What was most unsettling was the first step over the threshold and into the Temple area was met with stall after stall of goods and trinkets and foods and bartering and music and noise. The same thought crossed several of our minds simultaneously--didn't Jesus clear all this stuff out of the Temple in Jerusalem? It was a vivid picture of what must have been happening that day when Jesu braided a whip and lit into the merchants.

Jesus' actions then were, of course, in the Temple of His own "religion." Which makes me wonder--in a temple of a religion dedicated not to Him, but to false gods--What Would Jesus Do?

I have a feeling, Jesus' eyes would fill with tears and His heart would brim with compasion as He surveyed these multitudes created in His Image--yet defying Him and even deifying cows and other stone images.

I have a feeling, if Jesus' heart would break over these lost souls, then so should ours...

Defense Mechanisms

2009-08-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

Traveling in a culture as differnt as this requires a few defense mechanisms to help maintain balance--granted a difficult concept for some of us who are imbalanced in our native habitat... but I digress...

Prime Defense Mechanism #1: gallows humor. Everything is fair game and almost all of it is done with neither malice nor forethought.

Prime Defense Mechanism #2: mimicry. Head bobbles and linguistic copying chief sources of material--"Come, come... okay... okay..."

Prime Defense Mechanism #3: blogging. 'nuf said...

Crazy Train

2009-08-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

Just as if we were in a blue house placed by Waste Management, train cars in India have a sticker with the date and signature of the last cleaning. Unlike Waste Management's blue houses, these stickers are not a record of when the lavatory AND car were last dis-infected... they are a record of when the car was last--dis-INFESTED... and there is a difference!

Ours was last dis-INFESTED on 4 August--2009... I think... and ten days in this climate can produce big seatmates! If we could find the cast of M*A*S*H, we might have to set up some cockroach races!

Outside our car, our porter was laying on his bunk... sans shirt (almost certainly a union violation, but...)... picking lint (or something like it) from his navel... he tore himself away from himself long enough to borrow my headphones... playing at the time? A bluegrass song--"Servant for Jesus," by No Speed Limit. Trust me... watching an Indian train porter yodel to American bluegrass should be on everyone's bucket list--it is now checked off mine!

Ozzy got it right--"All aboard... I'm going off the rails on the Crazy Train... I've listend to preachers... I've listened to fools... I've whistled at drop outs... who make their own rules... Mental wounds still screaming driving me insane... I'm going off the rails on the Crazy Train...

Restaurant Tales...

2009-08-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

At breakfast Thursday morning, ther was a group of Aussies sitting across the way from us. All of a sudden, a waiter hurried to their table... stamped his foot down... smiled... and shuffled away... dragging his foot... when he reached the kitchen door... he swung his foot as if he was kicking trash... or, as the case really was, a freshly smashed cockroach--"Honey, the soup sure has extra flavor today!"

A couple hours later, I was standing in the Rainbow Restaurant waiting to pick up sandwiches to take with us on our train ride back to Chennai. The only other customers were an Indian family. Grandma--I'm guessing late-70s, but who can tell... was chewing something... when all of a sudden... she looked up... cleared her throat... and cast a monster loogie across the room... and onto the floor. This happened after every bite and swallow she took: chew... sit back... look up... loogie...

After they left, I wandered to her side of the table and there was a perfect line of loogies--each one about 2" farther along than the previous. Talk about accuracy! I wish I had some watermelon seeds, because Granny and me could have cleaned up in some seed spitting contests!

Cockroaches and Granny Loogie... both before 10am...

Af

South India Tour Map

2009-08-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

We saw a lot during our five day trip through south Tamil Nadu and Kerala. To help put the trip into perspective, I've put together a map of our journey to help you associate locations with our blog descriptions and photos. Click on the photo below to go to our map!

-Josh

Gary Update

2009-08-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

I just got off the phone with Chuck, who is with Gary at the hospital.

For the most part, Gary is comfortable. The doctors entertained the possibility of surgery, but medication Gary is taking will prevent surgery for the next few days. The doctors also looked at the possibility of draining the fluid that has accumulated in his knee, but their tests indicate that it will simply fill up again with more fluid, which will then risk infection.

So the course of action we're going to take is to have Gary reduce his medicine so that when he arrives in California on Tuesday, he can be taken to the emergency room for knee surgery. This is a better option than leaving Gary here a few more days with the four remaining team members. We will need to upgrade Gary's seat so he is comfortable on the flight home (lucky guy!) and then he should be fine for travel.

Gary's spirits are up, and the hospital staff is taking care of him. We will, of course, update as we learn more. Your prayers are appreciated.

Update 12:45pm India: Gary will continue to take all of his medication, and the doctors in California can make their decisions as to the best course of action when he returns

Random Thoughts Form Today's Passing Scenery V

2009-08-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Moustaches over here are awesome! I don't know if it is gray hair against the dark skin, or what... but I have sen some rockin' handlebars and mutton chops!
We may have the "Americans with Disabilities Act" in the States... trust me... there is no "Indians with Disabilities Act" over here... handicap access? Yeah, right... Special toilet? You must be joking... Ramp... slope... fuhgedaboutit...
Headline today: "Funds Dedicated to the Differently-abled"--Some major Indian movie star has dedicated himself to helping those who are "differently-abled"... if you stop and think about it that is an awesome way to describe those we tend to think of a "handicapped" or "dis-abled"... "Differently-abled"
On a menu: U Ring V Bring
7UP slogan: "You look cool when you are hot"--cool is just a look because the 7Up is often served warm (which is good for Guiness... but not so good for 7Up)
Across from one of our hotels was the--"Dolphin Book Store and Marriage Bureau"... with rooms for rent...
My Maria--the elephant--sure left a few sore muscles in only1/2 an hour... I can't imagine what Hannibal must have felt like when he reached the Alps...

That's all for now...

My Maria

2009-08-14T18:45:00.001-07:00

A tribut to an elephant named Maria--

My Maria don't you know I've come a long long way! I've been longing to see her when she's around she takes my blues away!
Sweet Maria the sunlight shorely hurts my eyes! I'm a lonely dreamer on a highway in the sky!
My Maria... Maria... I love you!
My Maria there was some blue and sorrow times! Just my thoughts about you bring back my peace of mind!
Gypsy lady you're miracle worked for me! You set my soul free like a ship sailing on the sea! She is the sunlight where the skies are gray! She treats me so right, lady, take me away!
My Maria... Maria... I love you!

I am absolutely certain that Brooks and Dunn had MY Maria--the elephant--in mind when they wrote their song...

And for some reason, the rest of the team thinks I am out of my mind as our train rolls along with me singing and writing about...

...MY MARIA... I love you...

Blessings

2009-08-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today we rode elephants!
Today we saw monkeys cavorting and playing!
Today we saw bison and deer in the wild!
Today we saw the rugged beauty of the Ghat mountains!
Today we had a satisfying breakfast and an excellent lunch!
Today we didn't sweat as much as previous days!
Today we toured a tea factory and saw a tea plantation!
Today we had adequate toilets available when they were needed!
Tonight I am going to sleep on a nice bed under a cool fan!
Today God has blessed us beyond our needs and dreams!

Constipated Institutional Thinking

2009-08-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER: What follows will probably get me in trouble. It is not meant to impugn anyone's faith, but is meant to challenge the way we think about fulfilling our ministry callings.
DISCLAIMER #2: I have purposefully waited two days before putting these thoughts on paper and now another thre days has pased from then until they are actually being posted.

On Monday, when we visited Concordia Seminary, we saw the vital and critical work of preparing pastors to serve the mission fields of India. We saw the best of theological training at work.

And we also were fed the worst of constipated institutional thinking. We heard--I lost count of how many times--that their buildings were 85 years old and in need of paint and repair. We were all... and we were each... shown holes and peld paint and on and on...

It was clear the groundwork was being laid to play us for a "You-Painted-Theirs-Now-Come-Paint-Ours" pitch.

Is there a need? Clearly. Is this the way to addres it? I don't know.

As we were leaving the Seminary, one of the leaders told us how the ministry in India had been so focused on the villages and the poor that ther was no emphasis on the wealthier clas of doctors and enginers. He had personally benefited from this ministry to the poor vilages, but now that he had a PhD, he felt the focus should be on the wealthy--like him, I guess.

Again, is there a need? Clearly--the wealthy need to hear about Jesus just as much as the poor. Is a plaintive cry to us the way to addres the need? I don't know. (By the way, we received a very similar lecture last year from an aristocratic gentleman.)

A short drive from the Seminary, we visited 16 homes Lutheran Hour Ministries built for families who lost everything in the tsunami. Living in one unit was a lady who lost everything except for her husband in the tsunami. She subsequently lost her husband when he walked out on her. This lady is hanging on by a thread, barely getting by.

The silliest (to my ears, anyway) thing we heard at the Seminary was how they needed a copy machine. Instead of figuring out how to addres this need, the constipated institutional thinking dropped hints to the visitors... please!

Here's my solution--let's raise $2500... buy a Xerox... give it to the lady in need... set her up in business so she can make a living for herself... and she can make the Sem her first client...

Bureautic... institutional thinking... is the worst of what the church has to offer. Changing people's lives is waht we are supposed to be about. And, I would rather do that for a tsunami survivor than for a Seminary building.

Actually, what I would rather do is really irrelevant. What GOD is calling each of us to do is what matters! At some point, we are going to have to take off our institutional blinders and re-vision the ways we go about being church and doing ministry. We can't keep attempting to do 21st century ministry using 19th or 20th century approaches. The world is changing and it is time for the church to change the methods--NOT THE MESSAGE!!--as well.

Now That's What I'm Talking About II

2009-08-14T18:24:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I told you about the thrilling visit we made to the well sight Lutheran Hour Ministries built. 15 life-changing wells wer drilled in the past two years at an average cost of $2000 per well.

When I asked our guide how many wells were still neded in this region alone, he responded at least 40.

That means there are at least 40 villages with families having to walk between 3 and 10 kilometers, twice a day--just for drinking water. Think how little time and enrgy you would have left for your job... your family... your anything... after walking upwards of 20km--just to get a few liters of drinking and cooking water.

I'm no genius, but to see how something as simple as a water well can revolutionize life is one major reason Christ-followers exist--especially, wealthy American Christ-followers. We can quibble, but basically all our neds are met and we have oodles of dollars left over for "discretionary spending." What better way to use our "discretionary" dollars than by loving our neighbors enough to see them drinking fresh water?

I don't know how, but I envision a day when I gather with some of you... visiting this area to celebrate the opening of the last of 40 wells!

Water... cool, clear water...

Pray... and contact me... if you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to join me in changing lives in India by drilling wells!

Water... cool, clear water...

Now, that's what I'm praying about!

Now That's What I'm Talking About!

2009-08-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday saw us driving semingly endless kilometers to nowhere. As many of us said, even if we knew where we were on a map, we would not know where we were. We just seemed to be driving... forever... interminably forever...

After a stop for lunch, around 3pm, we drove some more. We drove into the hills and past the dales and beyond Grandmother's house. At some points, I think we boldly drove where no [white] man had gone before.

Finally, we reached our destination--a village borewell drilled and provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries. We were greeted by a dozen or so women and their children. These ladies were ecstatic to meet us. They gave us each a flower, a smear of traditional sandalwood face paint, two pieces of candy, and a glass of warm Pepsi. These villagers were overjoyed to meet the people (or at least people representing the people) who had changed their lives.

This well provides fresh water to about 100 families.
This well reduced the walking distance of these ladies from about 5km to under 1km.
This well virtualy guarantes them a constant supply of fresh water--as opposed to a prior site dependent mostly upon monsoons and rain.
This well (and 14 more like it in the immediate region) was made possible by a single generous donor to LHM.
This well cost about $2000 and it has forever changed thelives of 100 families.
These 15 wells cost--in total--around $30,000 and have forever changed the lives of upwards of 1500 families... and perhaps 5-10,00 people.

In addition to the gifts given us, these families wanted to plant a tree by the well to mark the occasion of our visit and to show their joy. Some years from now, not only will water be available... so will shade... and so wil a living testimony to the Living Water Who changes physical lives as He nourishes souls!

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Prayers needed!

2009-08-14T10:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning, Pastor Gary Bell took a tumble on some steps as we prepared to board the van to the train station in Madurai. He mentioned to me last night on the train his knee was swollen, so Dana gave him some Tylenol to relieve the pain. She checked on him this morning and found him in a great deal of pain with a LOT of swelling. We needed to get him to a doctor.

Rev. David and Catherine called for a car, took Dana to our hotel, and loaded Gary up for a trip to the hospital. By now it was 11:00 am (here). We got periodic updates during the afternoon, and this evening Pastor Dan Rowe and I went to visit him at the hospital. Here is Gary's status:

They've done an x-ray of his knee, and there is a fracture of a bone in his knee or on his kneecap (my lack of understanding here; the doc knows exactly where the fracture is).
He has much blood and fluid build up on the knee, which needs to be drained.
They tried TWICE, two different hospitals, to do an MRI of the knee to see if there is other damage to his ligaments. But both times, both places, the MRI machines were inoperable. Welcome to India. They'll try again in the morning after the India repair fairies work their magic overnight.
A minor surgical procedure is planned for early tomorrow to drain the knee. Remember we're subject to India time, so it may be much later before this happens.
He has finally (about 7:30 pm) been given several pain relief shots, and is one happy camper right now.
His spirits are good, he is resting comfortably in his private room and is prepared for the night. I had a "come to Jesus" meeting with the Doctor and attending nurse, and they clearly understand Gary's needs and will give him prompt attention.
A cardiologist and hematologist have looked at all his tests and medications, and have signed off on Gary have surgery tomorrow.
Interesting India medical note: there is a cot in Gary's room. According to the night floor nurse, the hospital (a private hospital) REQUIRES there be an attendant stay the night with him in his room. Rev. David is having his son-in-law stay with Gary tonight so someone who speaks Tamil will be there and able to communicate with staff if needed.

Dana did a bang-up job of being with Gary all day, advocating for him and caring for him. We are very blessed to have her as our first aid tech. Thank you, Dana. I'll be heading over to the hospital early in the morning to check on Gary and the progress of the MRI and surgery.

God works His good through all things. We ask you lift Gary and his wife Sherry up in prayer; for peace and healing, for the doctors and staff who care for Gary, for a witness to the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior. We had held off posting this prayer request until someone was able to speak to Sherry and give her an update personally. I'll post an update as soon as we have more news.

What A Crappy Night's Sleep

2009-08-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have a room to myself... heck, I have the entire 4th floor to myself... and a door I never did figure out how to lock...
I have a mattres that is a brick... making me wish I was at camp...
I have a toilet dripping--loud and fast--all night...
I have a blanket thicker than I use in an Idaho mountain winter as my only cover...
I had something called "Afghan Chicken" for lunch and there was a rebel insurgency being fought in my gut all night...
I finally fell aslep soundly... only to have the muzzein scare the Allah out of me at 5am...
I have had one crappy night's sleep...
But I get to ride an elephant this morning!
India Rocks!!

The Missional Renaisance

2009-08-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Something to chew on from Reggie McNeal's latest book--

"Today's spiritual realities call for [a shift] from church-based to kingdom-based leadership... These leaders do not insist or depend on [non-Christ-followers] leaving their own turf to have [a conversation about spiritual things]. They do not need the props of religious authority or church real estate to pursue their passion of introducing people to the revelation of God's heart for the world through Jesus. Their agenda differs significantly from those leaders who se their major task as serving people who come to church...

"Their agends stands in stark contrast to the program-driven church of the modern era. Their devotion to God is lived out in their determination to bless and to develop people who are made in His Image...

"But be careful--once you start down this path [of kingdom-based leadership], it will ruin you to the old world. You wil be faced with choice after choice that will serve to declare your intentions about whether or not you will engage the missional renaissance...

"Those who miss [the misional renaissance] will find themselves... irrelvant to the movement of God in the world. Those who engage [the misional renaissance] will find themselves at the intersection of God's redemptive mission and the world He loves so much He was willing to die for it."

from Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church, Reggie McNeal, Jossey-Bass, 2009, pp. 14-17.

That's Why This Is Important

2009-08-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

There are 1.2 billion Indians
10% is 120 million
1% is 12 million
The country is roughly 3% Christ-followers
That is 36 million Christ-followers
Only 1.1 billion (give or take) to go...
That is why this is important!

Random Thoughts From Today's Passing Scenery IV

2009-08-14T07:51:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at lunch we remembered to ask for a not spicy chicken dish! However--you knew there would be a however--we forgot to ask about the fried rice which was loaded with all maner of sliced chillies... hottest rice I've ever eaten!
Observation of the Day (from two punchy guys in the back row of our 14 passenger van): "There are lots of Indians here," says Chuck. "Yeah," replies Steve, "but not many Cubans."

Signs seen saying--

"Body Freezer"--sign of the Mob... the Cosa Nostra... Jimmy Hoffa's last resting place...
"Browsing OK"-- maybe something will come to me later... it semd real odd and funny at the time...
"Toilet: Plastic Free Zone"--you can refill water bottles to sell water... perhaps there is a market for warm lemonade...
"Toilet To Way"--perhaps, we mean "Way To Toilet"... perhaps, a sign of dyslexia... perhaps, this could also be filed in the "Swing and Miss" category...
We saw real live oxcarts hauling straw and stuff... lots of them... two-up hitches... and even a four-up hitch...
Most vans like ours have a logo in the front window... some of the company... most of Hindu god names... seen today, in succesion, were: El Shaddai... Jesus... & Glory to God... perhaps, the evangelism equivalent of us putting a fish symbol on the back of our cars...
And, finally, the Chamber of Commerce has checked in again with this slogan: "My Town, My Pride"... placed over burning rubbish...

Pop Quiz

2009-08-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Mahershalalhashbaz is...

A. The name of the town we stayed in Tuesday night
B. The Tamil way of saying, "I rode an elephant and you didn't!"
C. The name of Isaiah's son
D. All of the above

Random Thoughts From Today's Passing Scenery III

2009-08-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

We passed both a "Pollution Testing Station" and a "Pollution Automobile Testing Station"--don't know the difference betwen them... do know neither had any customers...
One more from that "Small Town" restaurant--they had a 12" tall--bare--artificial Christmas tre by the cash register... Costco had Halloween costumes out last week... I gues, better early than never when it comes to Christmas decorating...
On a paper plate--"Prevention is Better than Cure"... with a cat looking into a fish bowl--just random... no thought for this one...
Can anyone explain why there would bbe an entire side of a 2-story building painted with the image of Che Guevara?
And... perhaps some of Obama's unused stimulus money could be sent over here to help repave some roads... just a thought from a guy in the back seat of the van...
Which reminds me of this one: On a backhoe was this sign--"Working Government Counted Hours"--of course, the thing was shut down and no workers were anywhere to be found... some things are the same everywhere you go...

Concordia Seminary (IELC), Nagercoil

2009-08-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Today, we had the privilege of visiting Concordia Seminary in Nagercoil. We were greeted by the Principal (we would say President) of the Seminary and quickly introduced to the Dean of Students. When they invited us into the Principal's Office, I just knew trouble was ahead. I kept waiting for Dean Smith or Skip Vogel from Concordia, St. Louis, to step into the room and announce they had reviewed my transcript and weren't sure I had completed enough courses to graduate...

Later, when having coffe with the faculty, the chaiwalla was one cup short... so he took the Principal's cup away... and gave it to me... I can feel my Ordination being revoked as I write...

One final observation--Chapel is held everyday at 6:30am, and as posted--"All students are expected to be in the Chapel by 6:25am." I thought Chapel time (a leisurely 9:30-10:15am back in the day) was either time to cram for a test or time to play cards in Dave Bretscher's room...

Seriously, the enthusiasm and dedication of the faculty and students at this Seminary are contagious! Kep these men in your prayers as they prepare to enter the ripe mission fields all around India!

Random Observations From Today's Pasing Scenery II

2009-08-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

We ate lunch in what Rev. David called a "Small Town." I asked how many people made up a "Small Town." He said, "About 100,000." I gues I'll have to rethink what the Wood River Valley of Idaho (population less than 15,000) is because I considered Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley the "Small Towns" in the Wood River Valley...
Sign on a Driver's Ed vehicle (I know a bit of an oxymoron to start with...): "Good Shepherd Driving School"--I know The Good Shepherd was called on many times today by passengers of our van... being trained to do so as a driver... hmmm...
Did You Know? A "Sanitary Wares" store sells toilets, sinks, and bathrrom fixtures?
The aforementioned "small town" restaurant we had lunch at offered us the choice: "Push OR Pull" on its front door--Choices... there are too many choices...
The motto at the beach we visited in Kerala State said: "Kerala State God's Own Country"--I think someone's tourism director visited Colorado (or any number of other pride-filled US regions)...
Finally, a random sign declared: "You've Arrived at the Right Place"--evidently not... because we kept right on driving...

Break My Heart, Lord

2009-08-14T05:33:00.001-07:00

One of the chalenges Richard Stearns makes in The Hole In Our Gospel is to realize (fairly easy, but takes conscious thought), to believe (a little more challenging, but still basic), and to accept that every single person on this planet was created in and still bears the Image of God.

My parentheticals above point out some of the basic challenges to practicing this most basic part of the Gospel. The lack of any parenthetical beside the third piece of this puzzle is intentional.

To accept that every single person on this planet was created in and still bears the Image of God is incredibly challenging. Let me illustrate with a few reflections from encounters I had just today in our travels--

When I encountered a beggar lady with one tooth sticking out and thought--"Why doesn't she just get rid of that one also?"--what part of God's Image did I think she bore?
When a wandering shirt salesman wouldn't leave me alone on the beach (even though I engaged him by looking at his shirts) and I muttered something about his bare fet and a beached jellyfish--what part of God's Image did I think he bore?
When I saw a lady walk past a painted picture of a Hindu goddess... touch the painting... kis the fingers that had touched the painting... make a sort of genuflection over herself--and I thought--"How can anyone believe in something so silly as a blue god with a severed head in its hand?"--what part of God's Image did I think she bore?

These are just thre examples from a short couple hours. There are more: all the school children waiting for busses... the women washing clothes in rivers and creeks... too many too recall...

Do I really accept that every single one of them is created in and stills bear the EXACT SAME Image of God that I DO?

Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision U.S., made his life prayer be this: "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."

I don't know which comes first--accepting the Image of God in everyone... or a heart broken by seeing with God's eyes...

I do know the two things are a challenge... and they go together hand-in-hand...

I also know by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, I wil view everyone I se tomorrow in a more Christ-like way...

"Open the eys of my heart, Lord! Open the eyes of my heart! I want to se You! I want to see You! To see You high and lifted up! Shining in the light of Your glory! Pour out Your power and love! As we sing holy, holy, holy!"

Break my heart... and open my eyes, O Lord...

Headline News

2009-08-14T05:27:00.001-07:00

The from last Friday's The Time of India: "Chilli Factory too hot for people of Virudhunagar"

"Troubled for years by red chilly fumes from a unit in the heart of the town, residents of Virudhunagar have finally manged to get the state government to consider closing down the private factory which extracts oil from red chillies...

"Based on complaints from residents that the unit was releasing pungent fumes into the air an doily effluents into the ground, turning drinking water red and even giving it the hot chilli flavour, the collector collected samples... and sent it for test to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board...

"The factory owners were not available for comment."

Just a couple observations from your dutiful blogger--

The words "finally" and "consider" in the first paragraph are somewaht troubling, yet consistent with the pace of India.
The phrase "oily effluent" is definitely troubling and should only be found in the fine print of a fat-burning pill's warnings.
Just looking around, I can imagine the caseload at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is rather heavy. I'm not sure roasted chilli fumes are going to be a priority.
The fact that the owners were not available for comment sounds rather typical... some things are the same the world over...
And, finally--could this be the plotline we have ben waiting for? Is Julia Roberts available for Erin Brockovich II: The Case of the Red Chilly Blues"?

Progress Report

2009-08-14T02:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's return to the CMC was a welcome one. We are pleased at the progress since we left last weekend.

The ElastoBond arrived on Tuesday and about 1/3 of the roof has been coated. This is great to see, especially because when we worked on the studio last year, the ElastoBond wasn't applied until after we left.

The building exterior still has some touch up paint that needs to be applied. Glen and Todd took that project over. The rest of the team started painting inside. A crew of locals quickly patched the newer sanctuary room and is repainting it today. Chuck was even able to place another surprise inside the ministry center chapel.

Our trip couldn't have been timed better. Reverend David's office is now torn apart as more wires are replaced. The entire CMC staff is crammed into offices in about 1/15 of the total square footage of the building. It's crowded.

Many of the walls have been patched, smoothed, and primed, but I am still amazed that I hear the pounding of chisels throughout the halls. Still there are conduit channels that need to be cut out. The electricians have begun to run wiring through the conduit now and are even starting to install fixtures, so an end is in sight.

Please keep our team in your prayers as they work. Now that our work has moved inside, the team finds themselves hot and soaked with sweat while working in buildings that have no power so there is no air conditioning or even fans. Today is India's Independence Day (Happy 63rd, India!) so the team plans a half day of work, then a little celebrating and shopping this afternoon.

We'll post an update on Gary's condition soon. Thanks again for the prayers.

The Train Home

2009-08-14T02:20:00.000-07:00

After our temple visit, we stepped on the train in Madurai. While waiting in the smelly station, we made friends again, this time with a young boy who was not content to just have a frisbee. His mother sent him after us to practice his English!

After boarding, we had lunch, which was chicken sandwiches (not sandwitches) purchased from our hotel. Rev. David, Steve, Dana and I raided a local grocery to get some snacks to hold us over for the rest of the day. Vendors constantly walk through the train slinging food and drinks, but most of it is of a quality we cannot tolerate. You don't want to be sick in India, but you really don't want to be sick on a train in India.

There are plenty of toilets on trains in India, two at each end of each car. They never fill up because they dump right from through an open chute onto the tracks. There are signs in the bathroom requesting that passengers avoid the restroom when the train is at the station, but it was clear standing on the platform in Madurai that is is routinely ignored. When you gotta go, you gotta go. We are particularly thrilled that our berth has a western style toilet nearby, a luxury we did not enjoy on the southbound train. It's the little things that make a difference.

Reverend David has his laptop with a cellular data card. I busied myself trying to update the blog, but the connection was too spotty for uploading pictures, so the team passed it around and checked email. Some of us napped, and Chuck spent several hours tossing Frisbees out of the train door to children along the tracks.

We talked and laughed and screamed when the roaches showed up. A certificate told us our car was "de-infested" early last month, but it's clearly due to be "de-infested" again.

When we arrived in Chennai at 8:30, Rev. David paid a porter to carry some of our bags. He carried a half dozen bags - two on his head - and tore through that station faster than the rest of us. Awesome.

From Train to Chennai
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We arrived back at the Raj Park and checked into our rooms. Many of us sent messages to family to catch up and let them know we were safe. After some of our crazy travels and sketchy hotel rooms, it was great to be back in the comfort and familiarity of the Raj Park. We settled in for some great sleep, ready to return to the CMC in the morning.

Madurai Hindu Temple

2009-08-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we awoke in Madurai, ready to catch our train back to Chennai. Before we left, we had some time in the morning so the Davids took us to the Meenakshi Amman temple complex in Madurai. We had asked to see some Hindu temples while we were here to get a better feel for the local religion and how it influences culture here. Many temples do not allow outsiders to visit, but Madurai does.

They don't make it easy though. Lutherans are constantly examining how accessible our churches are to guests. We haven't added armed guards, metal detectors, and pat-downs to our front doors yet. And did I mention the shoes? Indians have a "thing" about shoes. We take of our shoes at the CMC for worship and chapel, we took them off last year at the St. Thomas cathedral and when we entered a music store. The Madurai temple did one better and insisted we take off our shoes and socks. Okay...

Once we were past security, David took us around the temple complex. Wikipedia has some information about the history of the temple in Hindu legend, in you're interested, but I have an easier time following Days of Our Lives. Basically, Madurai is a city approximately 2,000-3,000 years old, and the temple has existed at the center of the city in some form that entire time. The temple as it exists today has been around since the 1600s. Of particular note is the Thousand Pillar Hall, which only has 985 pillars. Another religion coming up short in its promises.

All of the towers, or Gopuram, are covered with small statues and carvings. In southern India, it is a tradition to paint these very brightly. This only began about 150 years prior.

We made our way through the temple, with Rev. David and another guide explaining what we saw. We had been warned that we could experience legitimate spiritual attacks here. This didn't happen to us, but I still felt uneasy and anxious in the temple complex. The interiors were often dark and cave-like. The Thousand Pillar Hall evoked a feeling not unlike the Mines of Moria scenes in the Fellowship of the Ring. Everywhere were stations for worshiping various gods and incarnations of these gods. They were large or small, indoors or outdoors, painted or carved. In corners, priests and gurus counseled people and shared incense. We saw prayers being offered in every direction.

In many of the halls, we saw something very foreign to western churchgoers: vendors. Men selling icons, bracelets, souvenirs and more. There were not, however, bake sales out in the front.

We left the temple and got our footwear back. Some of us used our sanitary wipes on our feet, the modern equivalent of "shaking the dust from our feet."

Journeying through the temple, seeing all the ritual and effort, witnessing the impoverished people inside and out, I wanted to asked, "What has your god done to bring you peace?" All of this time, effort, and money; wasted by a people who will only find true peace in the love of Jesus Christ.

Pray for India.

Hindu Temple, Madurai
Click for more pictures

Sports News From the Weekend Past

2009-08-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

You don't see these things in very many US sports pages--

A full color photo with this caption: "On High Alert: A security personnel [armed with high powered rifle] keps a chose watch at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on the eve of the World Badminton Champtionship. Security has ben beefed up in the wake of media reports about a possible terrorist attack." I am not sure what to say about terrorist attacks at badminton tournaments except... this is what the world has come to? Civilization as we know it is gone... dead... kaput...
And this from New Delhi: "David pips Sandipan and Abhijeet to title: Grandmasters Sandipan Chanda and Abhijeet Gupta tied for the Kavda International Open Chess title but setled for the 2nd and 3rd spots behind Luxembourg's Alberto David following a seven-way tie on Saturday." I just hate getting "pipped" by a Luxembourger!
The previous chess article was on page 15, page 17 revealed: "Bad Day for Sattar: Grandmasters Pravin Thisay and Neelopal Das plotted differenlty but managed the same delightful result against the 3rd-seeded Bangladesh player Reefat Bin Sattar on the opening day of the Asian Zonal chess championship." Folks, not one, but two delightful chess reports... I'm afraid to go to page 18!
I will skip telling you about the match-fixing allegations against the Pakistani National Cricket team because I am sure you have heard all about it on ESPN and read about in your local papers...

Swing & A Miss

2009-08-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

Chuck and Josh coined a phrase that summarizes attempts to translate something into English that doesn't quite connect--"Swing and a Miss..."

Here are some swings that missed from recent days...

The motto of the Raj Park Hotel where we stay in Chennai is: "A Hotel With A Class." By letting us stay here we know it is not a high class... but what kind of class is it?
A Thai restaurant we ate at last year professed to offer: "The Lingering Taste of Thailand." Given the differences in cuisine we are experiencing the taste isn't always all that lingers!
Between the Raj Park and Christian Media Centre is a nice restaurante we have discovered for lunch. SAMCO says: "Taste Is Our Concept." If the food weren't so good and the owner so friendly, I might have some snarky comment to make... plus I'm sure we will be eating there again... and if the owner googles his restaurant, I don't want him conceptualizing any new taste just for us...
Saying what I just did about SAMCO can't keep me from these observations from the American portion of their menu. They offer a line of American "sandwitches." Good witch? Bad witch? I don't know which witch is witch (or should that by which), but I'll have a sandwitch...
And this onw: Good old home cooking--"Cheeseburger." No special sauce... no lettuce... no pickles... no onion... no BURGER... just bun and cheese... just like it says--CHEESE... burger! If you want an all-beef (or whatever other meat they might have) patty, you have to order the "Cheese-MEAT-burger." Duh...

The observation was made that perhaps SAMCO stands for "Swing And Miss Company." I'm certain there will be more swings and misses coming the future days...

6:22am, Monday, 10 August 2009

2009-08-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

The sun just came up over the Indian Ocean. The view out my hotel window is spectacular. Watching the sun make its way from below the horizon... to at the horizon... into the sky... gives a whole new meaning to phrases like--

"Let there be light..."
"I AM the light of the world..."
"You are to be salt and light in the world..."

"Our God is an awesome God! He reigns with wisdom, power, and love! Our God is an awesome God!"

Tsunami

2009-08-13T19:43:00.000-07:00

On 26 December 2004, the tsunami struck and decimated many places in this part of the world. Standing on a rock just offshore at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, is a 133foot tall statue of Thiruvalluvar (sounds just like it looks!). Thiruvalluvar is considered the Homer--as in, The Iliad and Odyssey--of the Tamil language.

When the tsunami struck the wall of water rushing inland was as high as the head of Thiruvalluvar. The water was some 100 feet tall as it swept inland taking the lives of about 8000 local residents.

Seing this statue and visualizing what a wall of water 100 feet tall must have been like gives me a whole new perspective on power... and it also reminds me that no power on earth exists that can compare to the power of Almighty God who creates and sustains all things by His own power and might and majesty!

Unique Worship Experience

2009-08-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

As Sunday (8/9) in the US was beginning, our Sunday in India was ending. We gathered in the evening after a day that began with us on the train to Nagercoil and then saw us visiting several temples and sights on the southernmost tip of India. We gathered--outside our hotel under an awning with the noise of India in the background--to worship the same Triune God you would be worshiping a few hours later.

As the one who delivered some thoughts and meditaitons, I would like to say this Message was the highlight of our worship. In my mind, two other things far surpassed whatever I said.

First, to me, the celebration of Holy Communion was extremely powerful. We used, for bread, naan--a traditional Indian flatbread. And for wine, we used a bottle of Merlot from the Steinbeck vineyards specially labeled for our trip.

As we each ate the naan--the body of Christ--from this Eastern culture and as we drank the wine--the blood of Christ--from our western culture, we had a special and powerful reminder in these elements that Jesus' gift of Himself--on the cross and in this Meal--truly was (and is!) for the whole world.

Second, as our small group was gathered in the midst of this vast people, upwards of 97% of whom don't know the love and grace of Jesus Christ, I was struck by the reality our Indian brothers and sisters face every day.

We were a group of 13 in the midst of many millions celebrating thehope and grace given by Almighty God in Jesus Christ. those of us from the States think we are a religious minority and we think our task is challening--and we are and it is! However, we are nothing of a minority like Christ-followers in INdia. Sitting as a little group on Sunday evening, I was struck by the reality that Rev. David and the folks at the Christian Media Centre--and that all Christ-followers in India--face each day. They truly are a small minority bringing hope and light to the nations.

All in all, this was a fitting and unique way to bring our day to a close... I pray that your worship experience had some special moments for you to treasure also!

Fair Warning!

2009-08-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

Since we have been "down south" for the past few days, wher the Internet was out or inaccessible for much of the time (unless you were Josh hacking your way across India), consider this FAIR WARNING! that your Inbox will be busy with posts catching you up on my perspective on our doings while we were traveling around India!

You've been warned...

Elephants, Boats, and Afternoon Tea

2009-08-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Crawling from our stiff beds on Wednesday, we gathered in the restaurant while our bags were loaded onto our van. We all had interesting stories from our night at the substitute hotel, but no one really complained. We were for all intents and purposes sightseeing on a mission trip, and everyone was told not to expect 5 star accommodations long before we departed.

Our first stop was the Elephant Rides outside of Kumily. When we arrived, handlers were bathing four female elephants. Tied to a tree, 2 ½ year old Khanan rocked back and forth, causing a bell on his neck to ring. Baby was restless.

At the boarding platforms, the handlers brought the ladies over to us; almost entirely via verbal commands. There is a certain sense of awe when a creature of that size approaches you without any kind of restraint or barriers. As I reached up to pet a trunk, I hoped that sense of awe didn’t necessitate a change of underwear, or worse.

Our elephants were saddled and we climbed on. No guides or handlers with us. Instead, the handlers walked along side while guides took our pictures. We rode our elephants up a trail past natural coffee and jackfruit for a half hour ride (which was plenty of time, for reasons which would be inappropriate to divulge here). We took plenty of pictures, enjoyed Indian coffee together, and struck out for Thekkady again.

Unfortunately, our friend – the guard from last night – was not at the gate. I wanted to grab his picture for you loyal readers. Either way, we had no problems entering the preserve today. At the parking lot in the preserve, we saw many monkeys of the same variety we saw last year at Mahabalipuram. We had enough luggage that we normally tied several bags on the roof of our large van. From there, the Davids took us on a boat tour of the great Periyar Lake that the Thekkady preserve centers around. We saw wild deer, plenty of birds, and some bison. We didn’t expect to see tigers, but were disappointed not to see wild elephants. Rev. David says he has been to Thekkady some two dozen times and always seen elephants. Not our trip, I guess. No big deal as we had a close encounter with elephants earlier and still had an enjoyable boat ride.

We followed up the boat ride with lunch. One advantage of Kerala cuisine is the inclusion of beef, which a few of us took advantage of; although in retrospect I think the beef may have taken advantage of me.

Our last stop was a tea plantation. We passed fields of coffee plants, cardamom, and other spices before we reached the hills covered with hedge-like tea plants. We followed the production process in the factory, from the drying of the leaves, to chopping, grinding, more drying and roasting, then more grinding and then sorting. It was fascinating to see how a traditional style tea factory operated. Outside, we had an opportunity to visit with more children. We must have distributed 2 million Frisbees across this country by now.

Thekkady

Please click for more pictures!

But There Was No Room At The Tiger Preserve

2009-08-13T00:11:00.001-07:00

Tuesday night, we went back into Kerala. Our destination was the Thekkady Wildlife Preserve. There, we would stay in the Periyar Tiger Preserve overnight and spend the next day sightseeing. God’s plans were a little different.

It was late at night when we wound our way into the mountains. We informed our hotel that we would be arriving late, but were told it would not be a problem. But when we arrived at the preserve gate at 10:02, we were told that we could not enter the park. It seems the preserve closes its gates at 10pm to allow the tigers, elephants, and other animals to run free at night without fear of getting hit by cars (an understandable concern in India).

Still, we were two minutes late… Rev. David pleaded. Jothi argued. But our fate was sealed the moment we arrived at the gate and they saw me in the front seat. They requested a ~~wealthy foreigner tax~~ bribe. Rs 500.00 per person. Rev. David balked and tried to negotiate. Why not Rs 1,000.00 total? The guard wasn’t having it. It was going to cost us Rs 5,000.00 or we weren’t going to get in. I told Rev. David to tell the guard that I would take his picture, post it on the internet, and tell the world that this is the man who kept us from our beds. I don’t think Rev. David ever played that card, but I’ll bet we would have been sitting pretty if he had.

What the guard at the Thekkady gate may have looked like.

It was pretty clear that we weren’t staying in the preserve. We turned around and search Kumily, the city that boarders Thekkady on the north. The first hotel we found turned us away, but at the second we struck gold. Or, we struck a metal that has a somewhat metallic luster and might be worth something. Maybe. After a long day of driving we stumbled up the stairs into hard beds at almost midnight. Some rooms lack toilet paper, some rooms lacked locks. The doorways were cut low and we had some concerns about our options in the event of a fire, but we didn’t complain. We had a place to sleep!

Apparently we saved some money too! Rev. David tells us we paid only about 1/3 of the amount we would have paid at the in-park hotel.

Not to mention the savings found in not having to pay a bribe.

Where The Streets Have No Name

2009-08-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

What a day. We began in Kanyakumari, and said our goodbyes to Kathryn. She had to leave us earlier due to scheduling conflicts with her holiday in Korea. Kathryn was upbeat and always reliable, and she will be missed. Safe travels, Kathryn.

The remaining ten and the Davids began our journey back north. India needs highways. Everywhere we go is on narrow, winding roads. We are constantly pulling into oncoming traffic to pass other vehicles. I wish my wife could see this, she wouldn't get so nervous when I pass cars on HWY 46. Compared to these drivers, I'm the safest guy on the road. Our big stops today were at specific villages 550 km south of Chennai. On the way, we got out to stretch our legs at Courtallam waterfall, where locals paid to bathe under the pounding water. David compared these falls to Niagara Falls, but said that with the "failure of the monsoon," there was little water. We were even told there would be monkeys here, but the lack of water meant fewer tourists, and fewer tourists meant no food for monkeys.

We pushed north to the Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu. There, we picked up Mr. Ramar, a new convert to the church and a friend of Rev. David. Ramar took us out to the villages on the edge of Virudhunagar District. If the roads before were small, these were little more than alleys. We wound our way down these small streets; as always the people stared while our van passed within a yard of their front door. No addresses or street names here. On government paper, this place doesn't exist. We slipped out of the city, past fields where women walked miles to get water. Finally, we stopped near a cluster of hovels. There, thanks to a donation from a single donor in 2006, LHM and the CMC were able to drill 15 bore wells for the villagers. Mr. Ramar was Rev. David's contact in the area. He personally selected the sites for the wells and found the contractors to take care of the drilling and construction.

I have seen many amazing things in India and expect to see many more, but I do not exaggerate when I say that what I saw today was the most important thing I will see in India. The first village's well now provided water for 100 families, all of whom had to walk a kilometer and pay a rupee for a gallon of water. Every day. Ramar translates and tells us they were grateful for the wells and remembered the gift every day. The next site provided water for almost 300 families. All of these lives changed, all for the cost of $1,500.00 for a well. A single donor did this. His gift of $25,000 bought 15 wells and changed countless lives.

Day 10 - Bore Well Villages
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To show their thanks, the villagers shared what they could: a bright flower, a pinch of sandalwood, a sip of pepsi. Their smiles beamed happiness at us. We deserved none of it - and we are only incidental to the wells; we simply came to witness them – but we accepted them graciously on behalf of the organization we represent. To be honest, the looks of pure joy and gratitude on the faces of the people would be enough thanks for anyone. Even despite the "failure of the monsoon" this season, these people would not want for the basic right of water.

We had a great time in the villages. We brought mini Frisbees from LHM, and Chuck and Steve went to great lengths to show the children how to play with them. John was almost mobbed on the way back to the van because the villagers were so excited to see the little plastic disks. The villagers presented us with a Neem Tree sapling, and together Chuck and Mr. Ramar planted it where the well runoff would provide it with plenty of water. We heard their stories, we played with them, and we laughed with them. We could not speak their language, but we fought to understand what they dealt with. It was, to say the least, an emotional visit.

Mr. Ramar tells us that at least 40 more wells are needed in this area alone. To make a donation to Lutheran Hour Ministries, please contact LHM or chuck@cnhindiamission.org

This evening, we arrived at Thekkaddy. Tomorrow brings us to the Thekkaddy Wildlife Sanctuary, with elephants, monkeys, and maybe even tigers!

Edit - We didn't feel the earthquake, and Rev. David told us there was a tsunami warning yesterday. Nothing's shaking here that wasn't shaking before.

South India Tour

2009-08-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today, Rev. David had us all over lower Tamil Nadu. First, we headed east to see an ancient fort that predated British colonialism, built on the beach to protect the shore. We moved inland to a Hindu temple. We did not enter the temple because men must take their shirts off to do so, and one look at us male team members shirtless is enough to make all of south India ill. Still, it was interesting to see people bathing and washing at the temple pool, and to watch others go to leave offerings at the temple.

Day 9
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After this, Reverend David took us to the Lutheran Seminary in Nagercoil. We were received warmly and greeted as “important guests.” I corrected the seminary principal and told him “We’re not important. We’re little more than tourists. What you teach your students to do; and what they do for the people of India… You are important.” We then visited a Lutheran grade school behind the seminary, where we handed out small LHM Frisbees. They were gone in moments, but I won’t be surprised if more than one of those Frisbees becomes a dish in the near future.

We then moved southwest and saw areas heavily affected by the tsunami. One village lost 300 people as the wave trapped villagers in a local canal, sweeping them out before the water could recede. Near this spot, we stopped to visit a Lutheran Hour Colony, where 16 homes were built for tsunami victims. Some people who get valuable things for free never appreciate them, but that wasn’t the case at the colony. The women kept their homes immaculate, clearly treasuring their value after losing so much in the tsunami. We heard the story of Irene, who lost two children in the tsunami, and then was abandoned by her husband. We can’t even begin to replace what she and others have lost, but we can remind her that she is not alone, and that people – even people as far away as the US – care about her.

After a late lunch, we went into the neighboring state of Kerala. Rev. David took us to “a beach where tourists go.” Sure enough, Coconut Bay had more Caucasians than I’ve seen all over the rest of India combined. It’s easy to see why Coconut Bay is a tourist destination. It is situated in a cove surrounded by a palm forest and flanked by a striped lighthouse to the south. It was a beautiful end to a long day.

Kanyakumari

2009-08-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

"Let us never forget, Gogol, that today we journeyed to a place where there was nowhere left to go."
-Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake

Groggy from our train ride and feeling a little dirty from sleeping in our clothes on naugahyde benches, we followed Rev. David, who brought us to our hotel in Kanyakumari, at the southernmost tip of India. Here, the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean all meet. It is considered somewhat of a holy place. Whereas southern Indians must journey to the Ganges to wash away their sins, Northern Indians should journey to Kanyakumari to wash their own away. It’s better if it’s inconvenient to wash away your sins, apparently.

Kanyakumari
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Very near the ocean, our hotel is aptly named “Hotel Sea View.” We’re spoiled with ocean view rooms, but I’ve also seen Motel 6’s in the US that charge more per night than the Sea View. Tomato, Tomahto. The best part of our hotel is that is looks out at the Thiruvalluvar statue, just a short distance off shore. After breakfast and the opportunity to freshen up a bit, the David’s took us out to the town. First, we visited a site that housed Ghandi’s ashes before they were immersed in the sea. It’s a carefully crafted building: the front resembles a Catholic church, the back resembles a Hindu temple, and the inside resembles a Muslim mosque. Every year on Ghandi’s birthday a beam of light shines through the ceiling, down to the marble base that held his ashes. I have to take the guide’s word for this, because Ghandi’s birthday isn’t until October.

After this, we walked along the shore to the very southernmost tip. This is a busy area – not as crowded as Marina Beach – and there are many here who stare at us. We get stares everywhere. Younger people are brave enough to wave or shout “Hello!” and everyone loves to have their picture taken. These people watch us as we maneuver down the slippery steps so our feet can touch three oceans at once.

Later, Rev. David introduced us to his friend, Mr. Justin, a supporter of the Christian Media Centre. Is a pilot of the ferry boats that take people back and forth to the monuments. He gave us the five-star treatment as we walked past lines of Indian tourists, got priority boarding, and personal tours of the facilities. I have to admit, knowing this country’s history with the caste system, I felt a little guilty as this group of whites were led past rows of Indians. I had to remind myself that we were only using a friend’s connection to skip lines, not some kind of unwritten social status code.

The monuments themselves are beautiful, carved out of stone in the last 10 years – this fact disappointed me, as I had imagined ancient Indians somehow dragging massive carving stones across the narrow channels in tiny boats.

The first island is Vivekananda Memorial Rock, a place with two temples. In the smaller, the goddess Shiva supposed left her footprint. It’s there, believe me, but we have no pictures to prove it because if you take pictures of the goddess Shiva’s footprint YOU WILL BE IN BIG TROUBLE. Do not take pictures of goddess’ footprints, that is what I learned today.

The larger temple was a monument to Thiruvalluvar, the saint poet of Tamil language. He supposed swam out to this rock and meditated for a few days. After this, we took another ferry to the other rock island, which featured a massive statue of Thiruvalluvar. It was quite impressive.

As I said earlier, our hotel has a fantastic view of Vivekananda Rock and the Thiruvalluvar statue. In the evening, these at lit up and glow fantastically in the night, another beautiful piece of India.

Sunday Worship

2009-08-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Around 6 PM on Sunday Night, we gathered for worship outside the Hotel. When you are traveling with four pastors, there is no skipping Sunday worship.

Pastor Jim Mackareth of Lompoc, CA once described a “wave of worship” that moved across the globe every Sunday. As each time zone awakes, nations all around the planet begin their week by giving praise to God. We did not plan it to happen, but we did begin our worship at the same time as the churches in the eastern US were singing their own praises. It reminds us that we are one in the spirit.

The order of worship was led by Gary, the message was given by Steve, and communion was given by Dan. For bread we used Indian naan, for wine we had Steinbeck Vineyards cabernet from home in Paso Robles. Though our bread and wine came from opposite sides of the world, it was another reminder that we are one in the spirit.

We know that our family and friends worshipped together and prayed for us, and we thank you for your prayers.

Train to Nagercoil

2009-08-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

We’ve been told that the train ride is part of the authentic Indian experience. Trains play an important role in the plots of my three favorite films about India (Slumdog Millionaire, The Namesake, and The Darjeeling Limited). As we built the itinerary for our trip this year, we knew we wanted to include a train ride.

There were many reasons for our trip south. There is a Lutheran seminary in the city of Nagercoil, which is also where Rev. David is from. We wanted to visit some village churches. We also wanted to get a chance to see Kanyakumari, the town at the southernmost tip of India, where three seas come together.

Rev. David and Jothi picked us up at 6:00 pm last night (Saturday). The three newcomers were still adjusting and had to promptly sort their luggage into smaller suitcases to minimize what we brought aboard the train. We wound our way through Chennai, stuffed into SUVs during rush hour. I don’t know the streets of Chennai at all – after a total of three weeks spent here, I only have a passing familiarity with the streets around our hotel and the CMC – but there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to our route. At one point, we turned a small, plain street corner and there was the Chennai train station, massive and beautiful at dusk.

We offloaded our luggage and followed Rev. David through the station; past unenforced metal detectors, over massive flyovers that spanned several tracks, to platforms that were a half mile long. We crammed into our car, an “AC” that was supposed to have air conditioning. We were about 25 minutes early, and the air conditioning didn’t start up until the train did. To better relate to how we were feeling, climb into a metal garden shed anywhere in Nevada this time of year, close the door, and bring a household vaporizer with you too. Good times.

Day 8 Train and Kanyakumari

Click on pictures for full albums.

Rev. David found us some cold sodas before we left the station, and as we started to move through the city, the car cooled down substantially. The sun was already setting, so there wasn’t much to see. It didn’t take long for all of us to convert our seats into bunks and turn in for the night.

This is where Dan, Drew, and Steve had the upper hand. Already tired and disoriented from their flights, they could have slept like babies on a fakir’s bed of nails. The train rocked around all night, constantly stopping as we worked our way south. No express for us! A few team members - myself included - simply couldn’t get a sound sleep as people moved through the car and the train never kept a steady rhythm to its movements. Dan, Drew, and Steve however, could have slept through Armageddon.

We stayed at one station for a very long time, somewhere in the middle of ~~nowhere~~ India. The sky was just threatening to grow lighter. Dad and I, out of sheer boredom, stepped off the train to stretch our legs and wander the platform in the shrinking darkness. Let me just stay that l think locomotives should louder, so you notice when they start to move. While we were admiring the village we were stopped in, we turned around to see the train slipping away from the station! We quickly scrambled aboard our train, and ran into Jothi, who had no idea we were even outside. I wish I could convey to readers the surprised noise she made! Today I learned: if you walk away from a train you still have business with, do not take your eyes off of it.

As the sun came up, the train came alive. Our team slowly awakened. At various stops, vendors came aboard to sling coffee or breakfast foods. Rev. David warned us not to buy from them, and later he almost missed the train himself as he stepped off to buy “real coffee” at a station.

We started seeing the villages we were passing come alive, too. At each crossing, there were more cars/motorcycles/cabs. We began to notice people doing there “morning business” behind bushes along the railroad tracks; which made me stop complaining about the bathrooms on the train. Wild pigs and peacock roamed small farms.

Soon I moved around to the doorway and rode the train while standing in the open doorway of the train. What a high! The train raced over a bridge that spanned a river. There, a hundred villagers bathed and washed clothing. Children caught my eye and waved. We always waved back.

The sparse savanna gave way to lush jungle. Soon, we saw mountains; craggy mountains near-vertical faces. We passed a forest of turbine windmills, placed to catch the wind that raced down the back of the mountains. We passed soaked lotus fields that nursed India’s national flower. Those fields gave way to rice patties, many with workers tending to the shallow crops.

I witnessed all this from the open doorway of our moving train, an experience I will never forget. But as our train slowed into Nagercoil, the new sights were just beginning.

We're okay

2009-08-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

We've reached Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India, and we're all fine. Internet access is spotty at best, so updates will be infrequent. We're still writing a lot, so when they do come, be prepared for a barrage of posts!

Pictures may be hard to come by as we are often at the mercy of others' computers.

Tomorrow we leave again, traveling north towards Thekaddy. Kathryn will also depart tomorrow, heading back towards Korea. Keep us all in your prayers.

-Josh

Headin' South

2009-08-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

In around 20 minutes, Rev. David and Jothi will pick us up and take us to the train station for our trip south to the tip of India. We have no idea what awaits us, including internet availability. We plan on returning to Chennai Thursday evening, so do not worry if you don't hear from us before then.

Horseshoe Nail Crosses

2009-08-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

At the recent LLL Convention, Chuck was able to get a horseshoe nail cross for each team member. As we wear them, they are a reminder of why we are here--Jesus died and we know it... but so many still need to know this Good News! These crosses also can be conversation pieces as we meet folks along the way.

Maybe some of us will come home with our cross and have it be a cherished story piece that reminds us of this experience.

Maybe none of us will come home with these crosses because we have all given them away to new friends who can use it as a reminder that Jesus died for them.

Pray for how God can use us and these crosses in creative ways to advance His work!

The HOLE In Our Gospel

2009-08-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

A month or so ago, my sister-in-law mentioned to my wife the title of a book she had read. Intrigued by the title, I got a copy and finished reading it a week ago. The book is entitled The HOLE in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, the President of World Vision U.S.

As Luci Swindoll says on the jacket--"Brace yourself... this is one powerhouse book!"

I was asked recently what book--besides the Bible--had most "rocked my world." I have to say it is this one. The HOLE In Our Gospel forces the reader to ask and wrestle with some huge... "world-rocking"... questions--

What if?
What if all followers of Jesus looked beyond the walls of their churches and worked together in reclaiming the world for Christ's kingdom?
What if we actually demonstrated God's love for the world instead of just talking about it?
What if we embraced the whole Gospel of loving God AND loving our neighbors?
What if each of us decided with renewed commitment to truly embrace the good news, the whole Gospel, and demonstrate it through our lives--not even in big ways, but in small ones?
What if we each said to God, "Use me; I want to change the world"?
What if 2 billion people (the number of Christians in the world today) embraced this vision of God transforming our world--through them (us!)?

Over my couple weeks in India, I will hopefully be able to present some posts that cause you to start wrestling (or continue wrestling!) with some of these questions.

As Rich Stearns writes--"What does God expect of us?... It's a simple question, really. But is the answer so simple? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sins--or does God expect more?" (The HOLE In Our Gospel, p.1)

Come along with me as I share some thoughts from The HOLE In Our Gospel and as I draw on our experiences in India to help illustrate the challenges we ALL face living the revolutionary, world-changing, whole Gospel!

On Humidity...

2009-08-08T02:31:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Houston... went to college in Nebraska... and attended Seminary in St. Louis... I know a thing or two about humidity. One thing I know is that humidity sucks and a second thing I know is that I hate humidity!

Last year, I had a Texas Longhorn baseball cap I wore over here. I think it got so drenched with sweat that it did not dry out until February!

For old times sake, I brought that same cap with me this year. Mind you... I have not even put it on yet... nor have I even really started sweating yet... but the hat is already wet--just from collecting moisture out of the air while hanging from my backpack!

Can I just say--it is humid over here!

India Saturday

2009-08-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

As you've heard, our team is now together. The guys got in earlier than expected (how can our plane be 15 minutes late and theirs be half an hour early for the same 4 hour flight?) We stashed one of them in each of our rooms to shower and rest, so the original six males here have been awake since before 4:00 am. While Dan, Steve, and Drew rest this morning, the eight from group A are at work at the CMC... trying to make it look like we've accomplished a lot this week. There is a full crew of the nationals labor working today; for the common laborer work is when you can get it. We'll be knocking off at noon to meet the three newcomers for lunch, then bring them to the worksite for an orientation tour.

Paint on the outside of the building is mostly complete - emphasis on "mostly". This is a big building with lots of nooks and crannies, so when you think a wall is complete you find more yet to paint. And while our crew of mostly Hindu national painters are much faster than us, they pretty much work on the principle of "if you can't see it, I'm not gonna paint it".

Inside, so far we've painted nothing - not a drop. The electrical crew is still chiseling trenches across the masonry walls upstairs, and in the process of patching the same downstairs. But none of the patching has the smooth masonry finish coat, and with the dust and debris everywhere no painting can be done on the interior. Shiny new ceramic tile is being installed in the "Gents" restroom upstairs; all the rough plumbing is in but the rooms look far from ready for tile. We've been told that when we return from our trip to the south next week all will be done and painted. My experience tells me this will be completed in India time, so I have no doubt it will be done - but only when it's done.

I asked Rev. David about building permits for all this construction and he said "not necessary!". Since this is repair work, no permits or government inspections are required; only for new construction is that needed. Imagine, completely rewiring an 18,000 (+/- ?) sq ft commercial building, all in 240 volt, structural modifications necessary, most labor unskilled, and no permits. It seems back home you can't even change a roll of toilet paper without some government agency wanting a permit issued and paid for. Maybe India in some ways is far more advanced and civilized than we think!

From Hailey Idaho to Chennai India

2009-08-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

I kept this running log of the journey from Idaho to India. For what it is worth, some of the times listed I actually knew the time zone I was in... for others, I'm not even sure whether it was Thursday (which I know existed), Friday (which I don't think existed), or Saturday (which I think it is right now). Here goes...

0901(Mountain Time) Kiss and hug Wendy, Mallory, and Zane good-bye at the Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho
0932 (MT) Take off fifteen minutes late after having to rearrange the weight on this twin prop puddle jumper of an airplane
1024(MT) Touch down in Salt Lake City with only 46 minutes of layover
1042(MT) Find Departure screen saying flight to SFO is at D9 and will be delayed 10 minutes--yeah! I have time to go to the bathroom!
1104(MT) While waiting to board I finish reading The Millionaires, by Brad Meltzer
1113(MT) Fake sleeping while watching boarders hoping and praying the middle seat will remain empty... or will one of the three dreaded seatmates arrive? Who might they be, you ask? "Hip-Hop Homey"--the guy who never stgops moving as he listens to his music... "Texas Big Hair Lady"--the woman whose hair is so big it takes up half of your space... or, "The Seatbelt Extension Guy"--sitting in a middle seat and needing an extension is a recipe for great discomfort all around
1121(MT) Crew announces the cabin doors are now closed... and the seat is still empty... God is good!
1127(MT) Push back from SLC
1138 (Pacific Time) Enjoy two bags of Delta's finest peanuts
1243(PT) I am beginning to wonder how many lazy circles we will make out over the Pacific
1309(PT) Rough landing and hard slamming of the brakes signal our arrival at SFO. For some unknown and unexplained reason Air Traffic Control turned our 1hour 38 minute flight into 2hours 35minutes
1329(PT) Meet Dan and Drew at the Emirates ticket counter
1411(PT) Lunch... a tuna salad... quite possibly the last fresh vegetables for two weeks... except this lettuce had seen fresher days...
1504(PT) Call from home... the plumber fixed the garbage disposal... Mallory doesn't have an ear infection... Zane is taking care of our girls... and Wendy even got a nap in...
1639(PT) Welcome to Seat 34H--my home for the next 16 hours
1705(PT) Lift off from SFO... next stop Dubai... only about 14000kilometres to go
1900(MT) According to the flight map we are straight west of Boise, ID... I have made a giant triangle so far today...
2014 (Central Time) I just broke my Emirates issued headset. At least they lasted until I was done watching Slumdog Millionaire...
2027(CT) Somewhere over Saskatchewan (or central Canada if I misspelled Saska...whatever...), I enjoyed a nece dinner of beef tips and rigatoni with cheesecake and berry compote for dessert.
2243 (Eastern Time) Put on my iPod to listen to my "Michael Martin Murphey and Friends" playlist and promptly fall asleep...
0812 (Greenwich Mean Time--I have no idea what this means for where we are...) From my dazed slumber I am wakened for a tuna wrap... yummy in the tummy... back to sleep...
1733 (Iran Time--maybe??) I slept from Greenland to Tehran. Now I am awake for breakfast--a cheese omelet and chicken sausage. There is a lot of chicken sausage over here given pork's bad reputation among Arabs and Jews. Let's just say that Jimmy Dean need not worry about losing market share to the chicken sausage industry...
1831 (DT...Dubai Time??) Fill out H1N1 form to prove to Dubai authorities I am Swine Flue free... given pork's reputation over here, I can see why...
1911 (DT) Land at DXB... 26hours and 6minutes... 13034kilometres (mostly at mach 0.83)... 10 time zones (or is it 11...)
2047 (DT) Board next flight for "short" hop across to Chennai
2053(DT) Put on iPod and continue listening to same playlist. Tucked tightly in with Dan and Drew, I wonder what it means that my first song was by the Bellamy Brothers--"If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)--True! Even I can't make that up...
2215 (UT... not University of Texas... but... Unknown Time...) While flipping through channels I find an episode of Happy Days on Classic Comedy... Fonzie does not want to get his tonsils out...
0022(CT... Chennai Time) Supper (I guess... or is it lunch... or maybe even breakfast...) includes yogurt... but this is cucumber yogurt... and one spoon is enough to verify that is tastes like it sounds...
0038(CT) Just for my son, Zane, I watch the movie Cars. I fall asleep through most of it (but I still manage to say many lines on time!). When Lightning revs his engine in the tractor tipping scene I jump and get scared my out of my slumber... Drew thinks this is hysterical...
0223(CT) Customs forms and H1N1 forms must be filled out
0242(CT) Touch down in Chennai, India...

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you get from Hailey, Idaho, to Chennai, India....

Together at Last

2009-08-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

It's 4:30 am, and Dan, Drew, and Steve have just arrived at the hotel. Welcome to back India, guys.

Finishing Touches

2009-08-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

During our first trip, we used the television studio as our refuge. There wasn't enough time to work on it, so we left it unfinished; only a small portion of it painted. While we were there, it got to be a bit of a mess. We moved furniture and equipment out of the other rooms in the studio building so we could work. We littered it with our water bottles and granola bar wrappers. Plastic chairs were scattered across the floor. A suitcase full of tools brought from the US lay open as we grabbed hammers and gloves out of it. At any given time on a work day, you would find a team member in the television studio. Ron would be meticulously maintaining his first aid journal or I would be trying to edit video. It was our haven within the haven that is the Christian Media Centre.

This year, we once again find refuge in the TV studio, but it has become a completely different space. It is immaculate. The floor glistens with new tile. All of the walls are freshly painted, and the space is kept clear in preparation for the next recording shoot.

Other rooms have also been finished up. We built new walls last year which created new rooms. One of these, a dressing room for the television recordings, has even been outfitted with a lighted vanity. The studio building has a bathroom which we were careful to avoid last year despite its proximity to our work. It only had "squatters" and was dark and smelly. Now we use this bathroom more than the others! It's clean and bright with bright blue tiles and the kind of plumbing we expect to find back home.

Today Chuck, Todd, and John added a final touch to the studio:
Just outside the Suba's sound recording studio, the wall now bears lyrics from the famous song; a tribute to the sweet sounds that will be recorded there. The carefully placed vinyl letters were purchased as a surprise gift before the team left California, and we have plans to place more throughout the CMC offices before we depart.

Swine Flu Frenzy

2009-08-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned in earlier posts, we were screened for Swine Flu almost immediately after we stepped off our plane. It seemed kind of silly: the United States has somewhere in the neighborhood of an estimated 1 million infected with the swine flu, yet the pandemic frenzy has disappeared. I myself journeyed to Mexico earlier this summer with Drew, Glen, and others without any fear of catching a mystery disease. I returned later on vacation with my wife - the locals pleading with us to tell our friends that there is no swine flu; to please come back and vacation in Mexico.

On the other side of the world, India has around 625 swine flu cases. Two days ago, the first Indian died of swine flu - a teenage girl who was not given tamiflu until it was far too late.

So why does does India panic when it has an infection rate of one in every million? Because swine flu would be devastating here. The crowds and (lack of) sanitary conditions make India a prime location for Swine Flu to grow and fester. The devastation this disease can cause here will be catastrophic.

Another reason why India needs your prayers and support!

Slumdog Evening

2009-08-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

We returned to the CMC last night for a special treat: the power was back on and we were going to enjoy a movie together! We gathered in the sanctuary for a special showing of Slumdog Millionaire. While we watched, a catered dinner was brought in for our enjoyment. What a night! Slumdog Millionaire in India!

We have been taking the auto rickshaws back and forth between the hotel and the CMC. It's quite a sight: a caravan of four phut-phut rickshaws weaving through traffic. It's also quite an experience. Last night put a whole new spin on the adventure and we rode for the first time after dark. The e-ticket references in earlier posts are right-on. The auto-rickshaw is an exciting part of the India experience.

No Power

2009-08-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday was our 4th day on the ground, and our 3rd day on the job site. Work is proceeding at the CMC; with much of it accomplished by the crew working for the electrician, and by the crew working for the contractor handling the restrooms, wall repairs, painting, and roof. Our team has been working on some demolition and on some of the painting outside.

We've tried to take precautions to keep our team safe and healthy. We only made the walk from our hotel to the CMC and back on Tuesday. That walk was brutal last year, and although it gave lots of opportunities to see life in Chennai up close and personal (and take some great photos), it was exhausting and dangerous. We dreaded it every time, especially on the way back in the evening during rush hour traffic after working long hard days. This year was even worse with construction along the road blocking our way and causing much more dust. Starting Wednesday morning, we've been using the auto rickshaws. In the morning Josh used his professional negotiating skills and got the fare all the way down to 40 rupees, about 80 cents. For the trip back after work, Sheila (one of our national friends from the CMC staff) negotiated just 25 rupees for the same trip. Gary Bell says riding in the little cabs is like Indiana Jones and more exciting than an E ticket ride at Disneyland.

Other steps to keep healthy included us taking over one of the studios in the building we helped renovate last year. With the main building in such a mess and chaos due to all the construction - noise, dust, debris, and power off with no air conditioning except in one office upstairs at each end of the building - we needed a cool retreat in which to rest and cool down. Let's face it, none of the team is used to doing this amount of physical work in this hot and humid climate, and some of the team (no names mentioned) are creeping up there in age. We keep after the team to stay hydrated with water and electrolytes, wear sunblock and a hat, and take frequent breaks. We all have water retaining scarves around our necks to help keep us cool. We're not even working a full 8 hour day.

But Thursday morning all power was lost about 10:30, and not due to our construction. It was part of (very slow) rolling black outs due to demand out-stripping electrical generating capacity in the city. By 3:30 this afternoon we called it quits; even the staff (which are all crowded into the two remaining offices) were beaten by the high heat. We left them and all the workmen and came back to our nice western-style air conditioned hotel for a shower and rest.

Unfortunately, Josh woke up this morning not feeling well. He toughed it out until after lunch, but decided that without power to run his computer and editing equipment he couldn't work, and without a cool place at the CMC he couldn't rest. So he came back early, where he is still in bed resting, recuperating, and praying this isn't the beginning of something worse. He could use your prayers, as well.

One more prayer request: remember those who are sending us - our families at home. Two and a half weeks is a long time, and lonely. Here in India we are having new experiences and lots to fill our time, but our families are continuing to take care of home, hearth, and kids on their own. Give them a call, drop off a card, invite them to lunch or dinner. As we show Christ to the nationals we come in contact with here in India, please show our loved ones Christ at home. Thanks, that helps us here as well.

Safe Travels

2009-08-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

Steve, Dan, and Drew are in the skies now, about 90 minutes into their marathon flight that will bring them to Dubai. We expect them to arrive at our hotel less than 24 hours from now. Please keep them in your prayers.

Be Flexible

2009-08-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday started with a whimper. We arrived prepared to paint more of the building's exterior. The hired labor had already kicked us out of the bathroom - apparently we weren't pulling tiles quickly enough. We probably weren't. Unfortunately, the remaining unpainted portions of the exterior needed scrubbing and patching before they could be painted. All we could do was wait. I was fairly busy trying to get wireless internet working for the CMC, but the 10-inch masonry walls prevent signals from getting very far. It was becoming clear that we were not meant to be doing much work around the facility today.

I don't mind working in India, and I don't mind playing in India, but I can't stand sitting around doing nothing in India. My time here is limited, and I want to get the most out of it!

So we headed out for an afternoon of shopping. Five of the eight team members with us now are new to the country. So after a brief foray into a WalMart-like grocery, we headed to Pothy's.

If you want to buy a saree in Chennai, Pothy's is the place to go. If you don't like crowds, Pothy's is the last place you want to be. Last year, we shopped Pothy's on a weekend afternoon but it was twice as busy today. That made no sense whatsoever, until we were informed that we are in the month of Aadi, a Tamil Hindu festival period that runs from July 15 - August 15. Like our own holiday season, this festival is coupled with massive department store sales. Nevertheless, we braved the crowds. Dana and Kathryn, with the help of Sheila from the CMC, had a blast picking out sarees and salwars. Most of the men even dived in and purchased gifts for their wives.

For a special treat, we returned to the CMC where they had arranged a performance by their traditional Indian dance group. In exchange for rehearsal space, this group performs at many CMC functions and uses classic Indian dance to relay to gospel. These young girls are incredible dancers! They not only use their bodies, but their hands, facial expressions, and eye movements are all part of the choreography.

You can't communicate if you can't relate. It is a credit to the CMC that they understand the need to be all things to all people and approach ministry with an eye for Indian culture. Which such amazing dancers, the CMC shows that they have what it takes to communicate Christ to the people of India.

Life's a Beach

2009-08-06T08:34:00.000-07:00

After wrapping up our first work day, Reverend David took us to Chennai's city beach. Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world. It also seems to be the widest, as we walked nearly a half mile across the sand before we were close to the water's edge. We visited the beach last year, at Mahabalipuram, but Marina beach was like Mahabalipuram multiplied by a factor of 100. There was the long line of vendors we walked past, forming a narrow corridor stretching the entire distance to the sea, lined with carnival barkers hollering about their wares. Men led horses along a crude boardwalk, trying to solicit rides. And as always, there were the women in their beautiful sarees, refusing to remove them even to dip their toes in the water.

Near the beach are large monuments to Chennai city founders. Veteran team members are used to stares from the locals, but Gary and Dana got a kick out of the attention. We took pictures of and with locals, while others stood at the periphery and watched the whole spectacle.

After the beach, Reverend David took us to a hip restaurant in town for dinner. "Barbecue Nation" features tables with built in removable grills. Throughout the evening, servers brought out skewers racked with various meats and vegetables. There was spicy prawns and not-so-spicy jerk chicken. There was scorching pineapple and "Texas Barbecue Potatoes" that were the size of olives. Still, a great time was had be everyone.

Making Headway

2009-08-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was a busy day. The channels were still being pounded into the walls, both in the hallways and the offices. There is no power in the hallways or the offices on directly off the halls. Only Rev. David's office and the administration office on the other end have power. In the meantime, most of the staff has crowded into the administration office. Raja has relocated his own office, which includes the website servers and the video editing computers into the studio. He doesn't seem to care for the move, but he is now in a clean, organized room after we refurbished it last year.

Our Team began the day with paint and chisels. They started painting the lower half of the building's exterior while the hired painters worked on the upper half, dangling over the roof, standing on narrow ledges, and hanging from ladders made from branches lashed together.

Other team members worked in the women's bathroom upstairs, chiseling away the dingy old concrete tiles to make way for new ceramic tile. On the roof, contracted laborers scrubbed the office building in a repeat of last year's work on the studio.

Dad and I climbed up on the studio roof to inspect it. It was cleared and cleaned last year when we were here, but the specially selected "Elasto-bond" coating wasn't applied until long after we departed. I'm happy to report that the new coating seems to be holding. Our treated white roof is remarkably cooler than the untreated dark tile roofs that are so common here. We're confident that the office building will be substantially cooler when the work here is finished. The contractors we worked with have also been regularly clearing the debris off of the studio roof to prevent the problems that led to last year's work being necessary. It seems we've taught India about "preventative maintenance."

"We have a mess here!"

2009-08-03T22:47:00.000-07:00

Those were Rev. David's words when we arrived at the Christian Media Centre, and he was not kidding.

The main offices of the CMC are dark and covered with dust. Down the great hallway which runs the length of each floor, deep channels have been cut in the masonry walls to house the conduit for the new electric lines. For a month, workers have been pounding out these channels by hand in an effort to replace all of the original aluminum wiring that was placed in this building some 42 years ago. The halls echo with their pounding. Some of the CMC employees say that they hear it in their sleep. Once this electric work is done and the channels are patched, we can finish our work of painting and flooring.

There's still more work we can do in the meantime. Tiles on the upstairs bathroom need to be pulled from the walls so the bathrooms can be re-tiled. The exterior of the building is being cleaned so it can be repainted. The roof of the main building needs to be cleared and scrubbed - though it is not in as bad of condition as the studio roof was last year.

We'll keep you updated on our progress, and will continue to relay the experiences we have here.
We crave your prayers, comments, and feedback, so please keep them coming!
-Josh

Welcome back

2009-08-02T23:33:00.000-07:00

We're in Chennai.

After the marathon 16 hour trip from San Francisco, we took our final leg, which felt like a short four hour flight from Dubai to Chennai. I have decided that its easier to get on a plane to leave India than it is to get off a plane and arrive in India.

While on the plane, the flight attendants handed out customs forms and H1N1 forms a mere twenty minutes before landing. Then they promptly told us to put our tray tables away. So much for filling out the forms... After deplaning, we were diverted to a long line, where masked attendants collected our H1N1 forms and shot our foreheads with infra-red thermometers. I guess we're healthy enough, because all made it through.

After that, we went through customs, who collected our customs declarations, our now-stamped H1N1 forms, and scrutinized our passports. Then we left customs, had our passports checked again, and were allowed downstairs to collect our luggage. Finally our passports were checked one more time as we left the terminal and pushed our way out into the heat and crowds. We quickly spotted Rev. David and his wife Jothi. It was a great relief to find our friends waiting for us.

A short (and exciting, for the new team members) cab ride over to the hotel, and here we are. We've showered, had breakfast, rested, and are about to join Rev. David and Jothi for lunch.

Gary Bell and Rev. David returned to the airport to pick up Kathryn, who has joined us from Korea. Our clocks haven't adjusted yet, so we're all about taking it easy today. After lunch, we'll spend the afternoon at the Christian Media Center evaluating the work we have before us.

-Josh

Middle Eastern Layover

2009-08-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

We made it to Dubai safely. The longest leg of our trip is over.

We had been led to believe that our 777 from San Francisco would be only 2/3 full, but we were packed in! The flight crew kept us comfortable with two delicious meals and an unbelievable amount of in flight entertainment. Something new: the view screens on the seat backs gave us the option of a forward camera and a downward camera. It's pretty cool to watch takeoff and ladings with a cockpit-eye view.

We're all a little out of it. Our flight path took us north through Canada, over the northern coast of Greenland, then Scandinavia, then Russia and directly over Moscow (!) and down over to Dubai. We flew so far north that the sun didn't actually ever set for us last night, reminding me that I never want to live in Alaska.

It is now Sunday night in Dubai, and we did not get to see this city on the rise in daylight, but we will on our return home. We board in about 25 minutes for our last leg of the trip. The next time the sun rises for us, we will be in India!

All Aboard!

2009-08-01T16:27:00.001-07:00

We're about to take off, so this will have to be a short post. All seven of us are aboard our flight, with Kathryn meeting us in Chennai.

We'll try to update in Dubai. Keep us in your prayers.

Praying, Packing, And Preparing

2009-07-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday evening, about 10:00. So many details to see to, so many things to cross off the list, so much work I still need to get done for my job. Oh, and pack my bags, too. But I have a rather strange sense of calm about it all. Is that faith, or is it foolishness?

To the world, it probably seems foolish to invest the time, effort, and expense to travel halfway around the world to work our tails off- and take vacation days to do so. To the world, it is foolish to leave behind my wife, my home, and my little Abbie dog to go serve people in a dangerous uncomfortable place. To the world... well, I don't really care about what the world thinks. I place my faith in things other than the world. But I still have bags to pack, details to check, and a list to check off.

I will kiss Lynne goodbye and pat Abbie on the head, and leave Paso Robles Saturday morning at 8:00 with Josh and Glen to head up to San Francisco, where we will meet up with 4 other members of our team - John, Gary, Dana, and Todd. The seven of us, and our senders, will gather at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlingame, where we are being hosted for lunch, commissioning, and communion. We'll be stuffing our bags with books called "Changeless Christ", 80 lbs worth, for the Christian Media Centre, toys and goodies for the kids, and gifts for our hosts.

We'll fly out of SFO at 4:45 pm, flying for 16 hours solid to our connecting flight in Dubai, then another 4 hours across the Arabian Sea and southern India to Chennai, on the SE coast of India. We arrive at 3:00 am local time on Monday. We'll be joined later that morning by Kathryn, who will be with us for a week and a half while on leave from her teaching job in Korea. The following Saturday morning the remaining three team members, Steve, Dan, and Drew arrive.

We'll be working with Indian nationals to help refurbish the 50 year-old Christian Media Centre, and also be visiting and learning more about the Indian culure, and the difficulty of spreading the Gospel in India. We hope you'll join us on this mission journey; we'll be blogging quite a bit about our experiences and impressions, posting pictures and video, and asking for your support and prayers. There will be ways for you to send comments and questions back to us, from the comfort of your home or office. It'll be a hoot.

On our return, we will be bringing back catachisms and Bible study materials in Hindi and Tamil, to be sent to a Lutheran pastor, from the state of Tamil Nadu no less, who serves as a missionary in New York. I get more than a little awestruck at how God connects us to others.

Watch this space for more posts in the days to come.

Training Day

2009-07-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! We are only a few days away from heading to India!
The first group leaves three weeks from today!
The rest of us leave a few days later!
All the team members have been spending today in a training session--learning about the Christian Media Centre and about cultural differences. We've also discussed individual responsibilities and ways to grow our relationships with each other.
It is pretty cool that I can be included in this training even though I am sitting in my home office in Idaho. What an amazing thing technology is...as long as it works! Beyond technology, what an amazing thing to know that the same God who we worship here is the God served and loved by our brothers and sisters in India!
It might be hard to concentrate on the "regular" things that need to get taken care of over the next three weeks!
As Chuck is fonding of declaring--"We're going to India! Can you believe it! We're going to India!"
Wow!