Final Stages

Well it is the final stage of the journey. I am worn down and mising each of you. I would not change this for anything, but I am very tired. Happy Birthday Jordi I wish I could kis you and hug you. We were able to see Sister Pushpa Joseph yesterday, and I am still buzing from that experience. She explained that in India there are still what they call Dowery Debts. Murders of Wives that owe a dowery. Here is the reality within this culture and it must be sen and taught. Today in the paper there was an article that one farmer every thirty minutes commits suicide. There is a need for people to learn and assist this culture. I am profoundly touched by reading the strength of the Dalits and the intentionality which many of the Dalit women show by coming forwaRD in order create a voice for their people. I have so much to share with you when I return, and I thank all of you fopr your support and prayers throughout this journey. Love John

Starting to wind down

Well this evening we return to Chennai. I am not looking forward to the train trip, but it is part of the experience. Yesterday we went to the Mar Thoma seminary and it was a great lecture about the tradition and the present. This is atruly sacred place which God has created. we talk about interfaith in our culture, but here there is a definite day to day experience with it. I am profoundly inspired by what we have been blessed to be a part of at this place, and I know that it will resonate within me for life. Last night we engaged in our devotion and discussion within the group and it was wonderful to hear each of us discuss the importance of this trip. each one of us has experienced these events differently and completely unique to the individual. We have had fun, and been extremely serious. the theological dialogue has been riveting at times, and the bond that has been created is one that I see lasting. The poverty here is very real, and the wealth is very real, but the wealth is ssuch that only a small percentage of people have it. yet, they interweave within the culture next to one another. the dnamism within the sacred it so powerful here that it whips through you and grabs hold of you as you simply walk through the streets. I keep reflecting on the Dalit village we visited where the matriarch was so wore from the harshness that life hit her with, but still did so much to make each of us feel welcomed. I cannot help but feel spoiled by all that I have. We to often take for granted al that God places in our lives, and we do not reflect upon all the blessings that surround us each and everyday. I continue to see the parable o9f the Rich man and Lazurus in my head. Here I have been forced to work with the reality of poverty, and caste. here I cannot look away from the lazurus' of the world. I am humbled by this place each day. God Bless, and I will write again if I get access.

Kottayam

First, I do not know if I spelled that correctly on the title but that is how it sounds. Where do I begin? Well, we had a wonderful dinner with a few of the seminarians at TTS before we left. One of the other students is doing his thesis on Interfaith Dialogue and a Christian perspective, and we discussed that topic for a long time. I gave him a few suggestions on books to read and he shared with me the research which he had already completed. What a wonderful discussion. He is on facebook so we intend to continue the conversation and I may send him some books since they do not have the access which we do. The trip from Mandurai to Kottayam is about two and a half hours, and we stopped at a spice field and were able to ride the elephant which was fabulous, and I got pictures. Amanda turned a year older yesterday so be sure to tell her that I say Happy birthday. We stopped at the tea plant. it is funny to watch tea being made. I will write later as soon as I can since I have people waiting to use. it was a very long day. Today we visited it another CSI church which was very high church and we were able to receive communion. This was a great experience for me. We visited the Dutch Palace today, the oldest Synagogue, and the crooked cross. the last brings a story with it. It is said that when the Portuguese came to force the Thomas church followers to Catholicism they tied themselves to the cross and they pulled the cross so it would not lean towards Rome. Fascinating story yet I saw no lean to the crooked cross. I will try an update again tommorrow. God Bless.

Mandurai

Today we finished the MAndurai leg of our journey and we are setting off for Kottya. Tommorrow is Amandas birthday so I will be thinking a lot about her and missing her. Today we heard three lectures and went to Rural Theological institute. The lecture on Dalits was given by a Dr of Philosophy and it was very impressive to hear his viewpoints on the issue. I was impressed by his explaination of Jesus being with the Dalits and I will explain more when I arrive home. Two of us were able to meet the head Dalit advocate in India, and converse with him for two hours. I cannot wait to share that with everyone. He knocked my socks off. We were allowed to see the cases of all the Dalit influence for the past three years, and he was a hord nut to crak until we proved to him that we were knowledgeable of the situation. this was a transformation in front of our eyes. By the end we exchanged contact information and he gave us a book on the political strife of the Dalit women. This was a wonderful moment that was a revelation. he told us so much that we never would have heard in the larger group. So far the trip has been everything that I hoped for. Rob and I continue have theological dialogue as we get ready for bed. He fell asleep on me last night in the midst of our Cain and Able debate number two. All is well I will continue to update as often as I can. God bless.

Tamilnadu Theological Seminary

What an adventure that we have had. Today we heard a lecture from Dr. Carr on Reading the Bible through new eyes. I was fascinating. I had to go back to our room and reread some of the text he talked about. He brought forth a wonderful new thought on Cain and Able. In order to get here we rode an overnight train and that was an adventure one that I am glad that will only happen once more. This evening we saw the MAdurai Palace and watched a light show that told the history of the city and the rulers of the past. Dr. Niles arranged for us to buddy up with seminarians here and I asked two of them if they had read Bonhoeffer and they had not so I advised them of where to start. Ha! I apologize for no pictures we have not been somewhere where we could use our own computers so I do not want to download on another computer. I am getting homesick for the church and family, but we are on the go so much that it keeps my mind off things. Today we also met Drew Seminar students and had lunch with them. this was quite a gift to discuss topics and issues with students taught by other faculty. My roomate and I are having great discussions and dialogue over the days topics and also any other issue which needs to be raised. He is going to read Bonhoeffer also. So far all is well with everyone on the trip, and we are very excited about the next few days. KNow that I love and miss all of you, and cannot wait to share in more detail all that is happening. The pluralism in this place completely meshes. There is a gated house, and a thatch shack right side by side. There are cows walking in the iddle of the road while traffic is four lanes deep going very fast. It is an amazing place. I tink that is all for now I wil try and post again soon.

January 11 Wow

Well this is the first time I have been able to post because of forgetting a password and time restrictions. Where to begin? We arrived in India around 1:30 am on Saturday morning, and arrived at our hotel at 4:00. We did not get to sleep until about 6:00 because we were like schoolkids. My roomate and I are very compatible and we could not stop talking. Saturday we were given the morning to just get adapted, and so we walked around and had a wonderful time talking to the local people. I was able to find some beautiful clothes for my girls, and Amanda. Also, I will be sporting some new fashion ensembles when I get back. HA Ha! The afternoon was wonderful we visited St. Thomas mount, and the shrine to Saint Thomas. The mount is where the local people held off Hindus who wanted to execute Saint Thomas. I went into the cave that they smuggled him through before he was killed. it was an amazing moment to sit in the cave and to contemplate all that happened at this memorable place. At the shrine I was impressed by the mix of the Christian memorial along with the adoration from the Buddhists and the Hindus. they mix their culture so well here. We went back to the hotel after this and had dinner which is another experience in itself. Rob (my roomate) and I have decided as soon as we get to Chicago we are having the biggest cheeseburger we can find. The traffic here is amazing it is ordered chaos at its best. Lanes are just a suggestion. Sunday: this became one of my most memorable moments in my life. We arrived at the Dalit center at 9:00 and had breakfast before worship. Worship was at 9:30 and about 9:25 Dr. Niles called me over and asked if I wanted to preach? I could not say no. I was extremely honored and was able to successfully preach with a few times being told by the interpreter that I had to settle down so he could keep up. this was amazing and I still am processing it through in my mind. We then went to the dalit village where we were welcomed with a ritual that brought tears to my eyes. the people had so little yet they were so compassionate and welcoming to all of us. I was mesmerized by the children who just wanted to touch us. this is because in their workd they are often considered less than and they are never touched by outsiders of the village. There was a three year old girl who took my heart(imagine that) Dr. Niles told me I could not bring her home with me. The village had a matriarch which I saw as quite unorthodox but it was fascinating to observe as she directed everyone. Monday: We met Fr. Felix Wilfred, and I could not speak. we were truly in the presence of pure wisdom. He spoke gently and wisely to us about the interfaith dialogue and the tension theologically between the people here. I was introduced and Dr. Niles gave me his card because she says I will be back and he will mentor me. Have I said how wonderful she is. Fr. Wilfred allowed us two hours to talk with him and open question and answers. this was like being in the presence of greatness. Grandma would be proud he was assigned to the Vatican for some time. We are off to Mandurai in a few hours overnight train. I will try and write soon, no pictures yet because I am doing this at an internet cafe and I cannot download pictures. I miss everyone, but know that I am having an amazing time and realizing how out of shape I am. God Bless, and I will write soon.

Three ddays from take off!

Today I am finishing up all my travel needs. All that is left is to get on the plane. The next post will come to you from India, and I hope to be able to add photos of the trip.