Archives: Blog Posts

Friday, February 7, 2025 A visit from an apostle After a hot shower I went down to the living room and immediately got into a conversation about Christianity in Kerela.  Feel free to skip over any of these “Thomas Mathew” lessons.  It’s just that I find them interesting and wonder if you might too.  Also keep in mind that I am relating these stories just as I hear them. Thus, they may be different from what you see on the news, read in Wikipedia, or even hear from someone else … Read more

Friday, February 7, 2025 Where is my stop? The next morning, I started trying to figure out where I needed to alight from the bus.  Stops are not announced and it seems that people were using Google Maps on their phones to know where and when to get off.  This wasn’t an option for me, as I had no network connection, so I tried the next best thing – annoy the driver by asking over and over how long until Thekkemala, my stop.  “Is this my stop?”  “No.”  “Is this … Read more

Thursday, February 6, 2025 Where are the people? Despite attempts to cling to sleep, jetlag had me up in just a few short hours, so I took a warm bucket bath and ventured out into the lush garden of the compound.  There was not a soul to be found.  Oddly, I had come to a country of one billion people, and couldn’t find even one of them.  As I meandered across the garden, soft singing approached my ears; an early morning mass.   At once, I followed it to its source, … Read more

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 to Bengaluru Passport? Check. Visa? Check. Tickets? Check.  India shaped adapters? Check.  Everything else?  Check. Okay, I’m ready for my next trip to meet, learn from, and be inspired by ARI graduates; to see them in their elements as grassroots leaders working side by side with their people.  I am excited! This time my plane will take me to Bengaluru in South India.  Some of you may be tempted to correct my “Bengaluru” to “Bangalore,” and I wouldn’t blame you for trying.  But the fact is … Read more