Chris Nelson's blog

UTC Seminar GroupThe second seminar of this trip finished this afternoon. Another wonderful three days: each session was started with singing and prayer, there was good dialogue about what we were working on, and for the most part (the exception was late Tuesday afternoon - it was quite hot in the room, the fans created a peaceful, droning sound - to go with the droning of my voice...zzzzz...heck, it was hard for me to concentrate!), the pastors and leaders were very engaged. When the seminar was over, many stayed to ask questions, to offer thanks, and to share about their own settings. They asked about Bethlehem, and I just "happened" to have some photos to share with them! I also shared my email address. I have found that the dialogue continues when I come home: there are questions; I am able to coach, and to learn from the questions asked.

Both seminars were quite successful. The TAFTEE folks are already thinking about the next round (please, let me catch my breath!) from Punjab in the north to Uti (another hill station in Tamil Nadu) in the south, and Andhra Pradesh in the middle, they are planning for next year!

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We began the second seminar this morning. We actually started close to on time, at 10am. We are meeting at the United Theological College, known as UTC. A good group assembled, with a good group of pastors from independent, slum churches. These pastors have little formal education, and are eager for anything that will help them grow as more effective pastors. I am in awe of them when I think of all the resources we at Bethlehem have- and all the opportunities I have had over the years, in terms of my own education. It is a humble conversation that I share with them when I talk about you.

They are also not too fluent in English, which has necessitated translation of the material. It took us three tries, and three different translators, but finally a young man named Suresh stepped up and was terrific. He had little trouble with my accent, and I was able to figure out short and succinct sentences. Together, we found a rhythm that was fairly easy for us, and which made sense for our listeners. He was even able to make my jokes work - a remarkable feat, indeed...

On Wednesday, April 23, it was off to Kodaikanal in the Western Ghats. My host, David Samuel, Executive Director of TAFTEE (The Association For Theological Education by Extension) managed to twist his back (it's amazing: turn 50, move wrong, and the whole world comes to a screeching halt! I speak from personal experience...), and elected to return to Bangalore rather than endure the four hour drive into the hills. Good choice- it was a long trip, but at least the roads were bad...

Where in the world is Pastor Chris? 

I arrived in Bangalore at 10:35 this morning. David Samuel (the Executive Director of TAFTEE) and some of his  staff were waiting for me. We went to the Whitehead Ecumenical Center- those of you who did the St. Olaf year abroad could well remember it- for the conclusion of a meeting with all the TAFTEE regional coordinators, from all over India. I led a devotion on Ephesians 3:14-20, focusing on a God who can do so much more than we can imagine, and encouraged them to dream big in their work. THEN- plans changed rapidly...

I am in Mumbai overnight. Made the acquaintance of a devout Moslem man who works for Continental, and was on his way to Gujarat to visit his brother dying of cancer. We had a wonderful conversation about our faith traditions, and it was impossible not to see God at work in both of our lives. I am praying for Ahmad and his family, especially his brother and his wife, and their four children at this difficult time. I encourage you to join me!

You are all in my prayers! More from Bangalore, I hope, starting tomorrow!

Blessings, Chris

I am pounding away on an ancient keyboard in an internet cafe in Pondicherry. It was once a French colony, and now is a tiny state - part of Tamil Nadu - and yet with some degree of autonomy. We are meeting at a Roman Catholic retreat center, St. Xavier's, and we have three churches represented here: the Arcot Lutheran Church, which Bethlehem knows well through LPGM (Bishop Gideon sends his best to you!), the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, founded by Swedish missionaries and the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, founded by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod missionaries. They have had little to do with each other over the years, so it is good to have the younger leaders meet, work, and get to know each other. The seminar we are leading provides the perfect opportunity for just such sharing.

Who needs an umbrella?The monsoons have started. This means copious rains with intermittent thunder for hours at a time! But it has little impact on the people here unless it floods. They simply wrap themselves in plastic and continue on. I am missing my umbrella, and have not found one to buy, but of course, I won't melt. Earlier today, I watched two girls from St. Xavier's School, maybe ten years old dancing in the rain, and one finished with a flourish in a huge puddle. It was hilarious; they were having such fun.