Wrapping it up and heading home

Last nights sleep in Nagercoil is over.  Bags are packed with just a few loose ends and a couple of hours left until the trek home begins.  Its a long journey back of course but I will do my best to make the most of it.  Three legs:  Mumbai (Bombay) landing at 3:30 pm local time and leaving for Newark at 11:00 pm.  Landing at 5 am Tuesday and getting thru customs, boarding another flight to LA arriving at 10:30 am.  Where Cindy will be waiting for us.

Long, but, a bit of me time.  Lots of reading or watching movies or sleeping.  You now know my travel plans.  Fun isn't it?

I have been thinking about lessons that I have learned about my time here.  I want to spend a bit of processing some of the deeper things within me. But just a few from the top.

-  I realized more than ever that we do have a very special teaching within our 'tribe' and that is the doctrine of holiness.  We have basically put it up on the shelf because we can't either comprehend it or we think we cannot live up to it.  But as I spent time here I find that those excuses are really no excuses at all.  To seek to the live the life of Christlikeness is not impossible but really needed.  I am committed more than ever to live it, preach it, teach it, promote it.  Not flawless but maturing.  I think in North America we might be more relucant because we might be afraid of being convicted of the things we have to give up.  I rubbed shoulders with people who have just enough to survive.  They seemed very happy and very holy.  Lesson learned is I will be putting more of an emphasis on this.

-  Our world wide efforts are amazing.  We stood before a memorial at the tip of India that had been made in memorial of the thousands of people's whose lives were lost on that December morning in 2004.  On one side of the memorial was a list of the agencies that were involved in the relief efforts that went on for years.  As a Rotarian I was proud to see Rotary International listed.  But as a Salvationist, I was even more proud to see the name of the Salvation Army listed at the bottom, as the foundational organization that coordinated the massive project to restore so many broken lives.  With me were two of the officers that played a significant  roles in restoring a community and many lives.  They with great humility told us briefly of some of the things they had to cordinate.  The SA was the group tasked with taking care of the bodies for burial.  Mass graves.  The rebuilding of homes, giving families two months rations of food, etc.  I explained to them my commitment to teaching Cadets EDS and this moment in time confirmed to me how much of a vital role the SA plays in all of this and how much of a real ministry that is.

-  The Joy of the Lord truly is my strength.   I will be sharing a few videos I was able to take when the people were praying and singing.  Great passion.  The volume was great but then again this place is filled with noise and congestion.  I have never seen such intensity in worship.  And its simple songs.  It wasn't a show.     It was pure joy.  It was connected.  It was real.

I am going to mull over a few more of my thoughts but that will suffice for now.  I must finish packing and head to the airport within the hour.  Will write more later.  Again, thanks for your prayers and your comments.

A Sunday at the Dennispuram Corps & the tip of India

Our last day of ministry has come and gone now as I reflect back on this day.  My morning started just fine as I finally slept in past 7 am.  That is just super fantastic that it took 6 days for my body clock to adjust.  Just in time for my return trip home!

The TC picked me up at 9 am and we drove to the Dennispuram Corps.  The tradition when special guests come to visit is that there is a little parade through the village.  It brings a blessing to the people living there, as they holy guests are visiting.  Pretty humbling to be walking with all of these folks, they were beating the drums and carrying the Army flag. 

We got to the rustic Corps building.  Basically an small chapel with a bell tower which they are very proud of.  The DC and his wife arrived for the parade.  On a motor scooter!  Scooters are hip here!  They are everywhere.

We had a lovely worship service that lasted about two hours.  Every person in the Corps came to greet me on the platform with pieces of fruit. Three home league ladies sang a welcome song to me and they shot off these confetti guns and I was covered in glitter. 

I preached a very simple message of holiness and three quarters of the Corps responded.  The mercy seat was filled and even people were kneeling in the aisle.  I will never forget that moment.

We had our last lunch with the TC and his wife.  He wanted to take us on a little tour of the tip of India so we traveled with him and two other officers to the place where the Sea of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea all converge.  It was a nice time of fellowship and enjoying a bit of the local flavor.  We had tea and then stopped in a shop in Nagercoil for a few things before coming back to the hotel.

Our journey home begins in the morning at 9:30 am as we head to the airport.  Its a pretty long trip home, almost 40 hours if my math is right.  Its just long.  I am looking forward to a fresh salad and a hot shower, maybe even a hamburger.

I will have a bit more time to put down some of my thoughts of all I experienced in the next few days.  My day is ending now but I feel like I have turned a new page in my life after my experience here.

A Holy Saturday in Nagercoil

I am not sure what you did with your Saturday, but God sent me half way around the world to preach a message of holiness to people whom in my line of thinking are both pretty special and pretty holy already.

Today was the last time we had to share with the Brengle delegates. Major Steve Bradley poured his heart out in two sessions dealing with holiness doctrine and holiness in every day life.  I had the opportunity to bring the closing bible message.  My message was "On the pathway to holiness."   Six simple thoughts:  Conversion. Conviction. Confession.  Consecration.  Claiming. Continuing.   And then the added seventh - Covenant.

We closed the time with a very special covenant service - we are a covenant people us Salvationists -  as Commissioner M. C. James made the plea for commitment, all 40 delegates came flooding towards the altar, all kneeling.  The women quietly on one side, the men on the other.  It was truly a beautiful sight as these individuals were devoting themselves once again to God.

We were given a few gifts - a gold peacock desk decoration from the women and an wooden carved elephant from the men.  We had an opportunity to express our thanks for all the wonderful hospitality.  We gave the TC and our translators gifts and then we had enough little things for each of the delegates.  Broaches, tie clips and baseball caps.   Each of them came smiling and shaking our hands and giving us their thanks and smiles and tears:  Nande.  Thank you.   Several of the men wanted to take their pictures with us both.  We must of have done that about 20 times.

We had a final tea time with the TC and his lovely wife who dutifully served us our meals the whole time.  Both Steve and I were truly spent.  All the energy had flown out of us.

After our tea we went on a brief tour of the Fredrick Booth Tucker hall.  The largest Corps in India with 1200 people attending each Sunday.  We met the Corps officer and several other officers from the area.  An interesting thing they do in each Corps here is put up the giving record from each family in the Corps in an outside display case to see.  The motivation that creates is amazing. Most of these Corps have no money other than what their people can give.

On our way back we were asked if we wanted to visit the training college.  Its about 300 feet from the hotel but you would never know it.  I cannot describe it.  I wanted to cry.

We visited the compound and were quickly greeted by staff officers and the principal.  I took several pictures that I will post when I can get coverage to upload them.

I just want to warn my Cadets.  I am serious about this.  I really never, ever, want to hear you complain about a single thing about living at Crestmont. Ever.  You have nothing to gripe about. Nothing.  Is that clear?

I met a very happy couple who were cleaning their one room apartment.  There are 10 couples there.  They take no singles.  Married couples only.  There are no children there.  They leave their children at home for two years with family. Its just the way its done in their culture.

We visited the humble dinning room and I peeked into the kitchen.  A very old indian man was cooking over an open campfire.  It is not Culin Art.  It was an incredibly humbling moment.  Smiling for my camera it was all I could do to hide my tears.

I instantly thought of all the wasted food that must come out of our dining room every day. The choices we have. 

They continued to show us around at the building that are running down.  The one room apartments for the Cadets have holes in the roof so they have major leakage issues.  The Cadets go out every Sunday from 8 am to 9:30 pm for ministry at surrounding Corps.  They go to class Monday to Friday from 9 to 4 and do chores and what not.  Its not accredited.  Its not the beauty show case we have at Crestmont.  But God was there in all that squalor. 

I asked the Training Principal if I could pray with him.  I sensed he was greatly burdened.  So we lifted his load to God in prayer.

Steve and I got back into the car to head to our hotel shaking our heads about what we had just witnessed.

I am of the belief that an officer should experience time in another culture than what they are accustomed to sometime in their officership.  Cindy and I spent four years in Maui, far from home, in a different world and were forever changed by that.  Going to a third world country even for a week does something to ones soul that is too difficult to describe.  I know I am not cut out for life here, but you can bet that I will do all I can to help raise awareness and give what I can.

But know this.  My heart has been touched.  I will not forget this people.  I will be even more passionate about our world services effort.  I will continue to pray that I can become more holy and humble like these blessed people I rubbed shoulders with.

Our last day of ministry is tomorrow as we both will be preaching at different Corps.  The TC is picking me up at 9 am and going some place not far away.  We will then return to the retreat centre for our final tea with Commissioner James. He wants to take us to some of the local tourist places after lunch. We leave here at 8:30 Monday for our very long trek back.

I do thank those of you who have been praying.  Keep doing so.  We will be having a special chapel or program sometime in March to try to explain all that we both experienced.

I will make another journal entry after our time tomorrow.  Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Friday musings from Nagercoil

Today was our last full day of teaching here.  I presented my last lecture on the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.  I found that it worked better to not use any sort of computer presentation.  The power goes off at certain times in the state here I have learned.  In a twenty four hour period, there are 8 hours that it goes off staggered throughout the day.  There is not enough power for the region so there are these rolling blackouts.  The compound where we are teaching has a generator that kicks in but it still causing some glitches.  I also found that most of the students don't understand english anyway.  I had the portion of the course where we were digging deep into the scriptures.  So writing down a passage on the board and listening to the students battle it out to see who could read it aloud first in Tamil was actually fun.

We decided to do a question and answer period in our combined class on Holiness Doctrine.  It was interesting to hear their questions regarding water baptism and speaking in tongues.  Problems that the officers were having in their areas of ministry with other churches attacking the SA's position.  We had several of them ask these sorts of questions and attempting to get them back on the theology of holiness.  It was a good portion of time with the delegates.

The thing here is that the students do not mingle with the teachers.  So for us to actually open up and ask them to ask us anything seemed to be a huge deal.

We finish our time here on Saturday with two final classes and a time of covenant in the afternoon.  Steve and I will be preaching at seperate Corps on Sunday.  They are going to take us sight seeing on Sunday after church services.  Then, its over.  We head back to the airport at 8:30 on Monday which is 7 pm Sunday night LA time.  We will be traveling till 10:30 am Tuesday morning LA time. I am trying not to think of that.

Things I have experienced....

constant horn honking

cold showers

sleeping on a bed that is as hard as the floor

smiles...lots of smiles

the figure eight formations of head twisting

goats eating in the street and everyone stopping for them

oppressive heat

power outages. constantly

incredible hospitality from the Salvationists here.

trash and the burning of trash filling the air with constant smoke smells

not one misquote bite to date

a body clock that doesn't know what time it is.

Devotion.  Devotion to God like I haven't seen or experienced.

Students who are paying attention to every word and movement we make all day long.

This has been a great journey.  The feeble attempts to write here cannot capture all that I am experiencing.  But I do share with you my deep appreciation to those of you who have not forgotten us in your prayers.  Your prayers are working and the people are appreciating them.

Time for dinner.  We order room service.  Tonight, KFC. Not like USA KFC but, well, its a mystery really.  Chicken.  Rice.  And a bottle of pepsi.  For about 3 US dollars.  And all will be well with the world.

More later.

cheers!

Thursday Feb 24

The second day of our teaching is now over.  I am reflecting on the day.  Its pretty amazing to be here actually.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would step foot in this beautiful country.

I have a different perspective and appreciation for the people of this land.  We have been treated so well.  I do not deserve  any of it.

Some observations of my day:

I have been sort of stuck in my teaching mode by using power point slides all the time.  I was having some issues with the slides at the start of my class today.  I am teaching on the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.  Instead of fighting with the machine I decided to turn it off and simply go old school.  I used a white board and pen.  I would write key thoughts up on the board in english.  The main language here is Tamil:  this is a simple example - நான்   Which means hello.  
It really doesn't matter what I write up on the board for most of the people don't know what I am writing.  But if I put up a simple scripture verse they are right on it.  I have never seen such passion to read the scriptures.


I did two lessons today with a shared lesson tomorrow with Steve on SA doctrine and one more lesson on the Holy Spirit then I am done with my lectures.  I am giving the message for the closing covenant service on Saturday afternoon.  I will also be preaching at a local Corps Sunday..


I will never forget the passion of their prayers for me and Steve this morning.  The whole room burst out in a chorus of united prayers for us and our teaching today.  I was very moved by their words that I didn't understand.  But the spirit helped me greatly to make sense of it.


Many lessons I am taking away from here. Too many actually to even comment on.  Its nice to have simple internet service again.  I have been staying in touch with home and work situations.  So that makes it all since less so far away.


One of the translators today thanked me after my first session.  He said that he was touched deeply by what I had to share.  That even older officers needed to hear once again about the 'ruah' of God.  Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life aknew.


I want to thank those of you who are following this journey.  I wish I had a way to post photos but there is no wireless connection here for my iPhone which is my camera.  I also don't have iTunes set up on this laptop so I can't transfer the photos.  I will see what I can do with that.


Keep praying.

Wedneday Feb 22 - Holiness teaching begins

We are located in the southern tip of India.  The weather is tropical.  Litter is every where.  People just dump their trash in piles and it is set on fire.  Stray dogs fight off the lame and crippled for the remnants found in the piles of rubbish.  These are not extras from Central Casting for some movie scene.  These are real people.  Real life. Right in front of my eyes.

We are seeing and experiencing the real India.  We are not tourists.  This journey we have made is one of pilgrimage.  We are joining our brothers and sisters in Christ to go deeper into the life of love and joy.  We come as strangers, teaching in a strange land, to a group of strangers.  But once we connect by God's spirit, we are no longer strangers.  We are at home in fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

God is His word tells us that Holiness is needed in our lives.  I have been studying this from all sorts of aspects over the years.  I know all of the debates, the problems with the systematic theology, the differences amongst us, but that all goes out the window this day.   We need purity.  We need power.  We need this so our lives of character will shine forth.

I had been reviewing my notes for the two sets of topics I am teaching on today.  The Holy Spirit and Holiness, and basics of holiness theology.  The one word that keeps coming to mind is not perfection or flawless.  The word is love.

Perfect love.  Love that God can give us to share with others.

We are located in the area where Ghandi was laid to rest.  These people for generations have been exposed to this concept of holiness.  People are holy to them.  Animals and artifacts are holy. But do they know that they can too be holy?  And that sense of holiness that they can experience is needed for them to change their worlds   The holiness God wants to perfect (mature) in them and me is a deep abiding basic way of love.

I am excited about this day. Perhaps that is why I couldn't sleep.  I am eager to get going.  We would have been in the hotel for 24 hours by the time we leave.  My body is at rest.  My soul is at ease.  My spirit is longing for this experience.  Humbled.  And very very honored.

Reflections after the first day....

We were greeted again by Major J and whisked away to the compound that is about 5 minutes from the hotel.  I would have no clue how to get their so its good to be in a car. 

We arrived at the Home League Centre, a place that is a very nice conference center by their standards.  Our territory has funded the construction of this place over the years.  India South East and the Western USA territory shared a very good partnership over the years.

I was impressed with how clean the place was.  Upon our arrival we were ushered into a private room with the TC.  I could hear some very loud and devoted singing occurring in the room next door.  After meeting the TC's wife we went into the meeting and were introduced. Warmly greeted and wrapped in some sort of shawl and flowers given, I felt like a king for if only a brief moment.

Before me were about 45 students.  Officers, soldiers.  In their uniforms clean and pressed.  Smiles on their faces.  Note book and bible in hand.  Ready to learn.

Major Bradley brought the message of how holiness in our lives drives us to make changes around us.  We had a time of worship then private tea with the TC and his wife.

I taught the first lesson on Holiness and the Holy Spirit.  Major Danny is my translator.  He is a very powerful speaker I noticed, he would follow my voice influctions.

The day was filled with good teaching.  The TC at the end of the day asked for feedback that might help us.  One officer appreciated what we had to say but asked if we could slow down so they could take better notes!  Another young gal mentioned how she had been taught she needed to be holy and separate herself from unholy things but how she is starting to understand holiness is not just about her, its about changing her world.

A light bulb went on.

Without holiness no one will see the Lord.  Its not about us not getting a glimpse of the divine, its about others who need to see God.  They only way they will see is through our love.  Our holiness.

We were exhausted at the end of the day.  We spent sometime with their IT guy who set up our computers with a wireless connection we can use at the hotel...thus this entry.  And he fixed my computer that had a virus in it!  Double bonus!  I didn't even have to put in a help desk ticket in on it!!

We had a light supper and then rest for the next day.  I am pretty sure the schedule stays the same.  We will go to two different Corps on Sunday to preach. That will be interesting.

Thats it for now...thank you to all of you who are taking time to pray for Steve and myself.  Its truly appreciated.  We are missing home, our families and our ministries, but making the most of this brief ministry opportunity here.

8:30 am Tuesday Feb 21

I went on a car ride of my life today.  I am not quite sure how to describe it.  All I know is that I didn't sleep through it!

We landed at 3:45 am local time in Triaandurm (sp) under very dark skies.  The plane was interesting. There was a camera we  had access to that would allow us to view what it is like to see from the cockpit.

They also did something that I have never seen.  Prior to take off the flight attendants came down the asile walking at a very rapid pace holding what seemed to be cans of insecticide in their hand, spraying it over their heads.

Upon arrival we waited in a very long line to gain entry into India.  We stood out in our uniforms and pink skin!  It was interesting to observe this one woman who seemed to master the art of cutting into the line.  She slowly wormed her way up and then cut right in front of me when it was my turn.  She waved to her husband and they proceed to take my spot.  It was funny and I wasn't going to fight it at that point.

We were joined up once again with our luggage and stepped out of the safe doors of the terminal into a foreign world.  Even at 4:30 in the morning there was a  very large crowd waiting for loved ones.  We waited maybe 18 seconds before we were mobbed by Major J and his driver, who handed us some plastic flowers, greeted us and swept us away to the waiting car.  The driver had been hired to pick us up and take us on an 80 kilometer wild ride to Nagercoil.

First impressions in the dark:  smokey.  I couldn't believe how strong the smell of smoke was hanging in the air.  Honking horns.  Our driver beeped his horn every 13 seconds on average during the entire trip.  Narrow, winding and a very bumpy road.  Driving down the wrong side of the street, fast and whipping along as if it was a wide open freeway.

I decided to roll the window down and just take it all in..  There were some putrid smells, sounds of music blaring and all along the road it seemed like there were people going everywhere at 5 am.  Colonel Hudson told me when he made this trek he slept during this time, but I am not sure how he did that.

We were able to observe the sun coming up over a banana plantation.  It was odd to think that here it was rising and at home it was setting.  We arrived at the hotel around 7 am.  Its a basic hotel, luxury for the standards in this area but not based on US standards in the least.  But the room was pretty clean and the A/C was on.  The heat isn't overly oppressive at the moment but one can see how it would be.  We were told to rest and that we would have a meeting at 6 pm with the TC in the hotel lobby.

Major R has been very good to us. He went to buy some fresh fruit and bug zappers.  A device that plugs into the wall that kills misquotes.

We have learned very quickly that the power goes off without warning.  I brought a very small flashlight with me that I keep pretty close by.  I lost count of how many times we have lost power.

We were told over and over again how excited the people were happy about this holiness institute.  The last one occured in 1994.  Later that evening the TC shared his burden how he felt the younger generation is abandoning the walk of holiness and that our teaching was coming at a vital time in the history of their territory.  The delegates would be a mix of younger officers and young adult workers in a variety of Corps in very difficult places.  Some would travel eight hours to get here.  They are hungering for this.

It truly is a privilege to be here to be a part of this thing God is doing here, in a land I do not know, in a culture I cannot comprehend and to a language(s) I cannot speak.

More to come.

Major T's blog - Trip to India...first days

Leading up to the departure was for the most part uneventful.  I have learned over my brief life time of international travel that one thing I need to give myself up front end is more time.

The advantage that I had going into this trip from the start is that I already have six pretty solid biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit.  I had the privilege last June to teach at the National Brengle Institute and have a bit of experience with the material under my belt. I have spent some additional time working on some aspects of holiness from a doctrinal point of view, writing a few devotionals and a new sermon to give if needed.

I have found always preparing for a trip is worse than the trip itself.  The nice thing on the home front is that being at the college, I have excellent staff who know how to work and know how to get things done.  If there are problems, those problems will be handled by them and not by me.

On Saturday I took Cindy to the airport to start her journey on her Arrow Leadership education.  The exchange for that is that she doesn't get to come with me on this trip.I wold have loved to journey here with her but maybe one day again.

I spent most of Saturday packing and going over my list to make sure I wouldn't forget anything.  I have a tendency to always leave something.  What's worse is at the airport I tend to lose my boarding pass or belt!

Our journey started on Saturday morning at LAX.  Major Steve Bradley and I are doing this together.  We left at 12:30 pm local time and arrived in Washington DC at 8:30 pm local time after an uneventful trip. We found someplace to eat (Wendy's - we both assume we won't be having an American hamburger for a while.)
Our plane to Dubai boarded two hours later and we were off.

That trip was 13 hours.  It did get a bit long but I was able to sleep a good part of it off, with occasional interruptions from a screaming baby two rows behind me.  I drank lots of water, walked a few times and before you know it were in Dubai.

When we landed in Dubai we were rushed.  First, we must have walked a mile if not two to find where we were to get our boarding passes.  We were both pretty tired but wanted to take a shower and were prepared to do so.  That took a bit as we had to wait and work within confined places.  The power on my razor had drained in flight but at least I got most of my body looking good.  My black socks are in my main bag.  So a TP arriving in brown socks with his uniform on should be ok, right? Steve reminded me that we were boarding as I was finishing up, so we walked another mile to the gate.

My bag wouldn't fit in the over head compartment and that was a bit of a stir.  As the doors closed I had forgotten my promise to Laura to get post cards from Dubai.  It had completely slipped my mind.  So I felt bad already and hope she won't be too disappointed.  I will make up for it in Mumbai on the way back.  This stop was just too quick and jet lag already hit my weary head so my tendency to forget is amplified.

I am writting at 35000 feet some where over the Arabian Sea.   Its 11:10 pm on Monday turning into Tuesday soon. Its 13 1/2 half hour time difference from home.  Its very odd to be half way around the world from my family and my ministry.  But I am never one to turn down an adventure, especially to bring encouragement to fellow believers.  I love to teach and feel gifted to do so and that I do it well.  These are moments that I will never have again. I am determined to make of them.  This time next week I will be making an entry from Mumbai after we have started the trek back home.

This will go fast.  I will be blessed.  And I hope to be a blessings.

It wasn't on the bucket list but is now

Leading up...

A few months ago I was notified by our Chief Secretary that I had been invited to be an instructor at a Brengle Institute in South Eastern India near the end of February 2012.  

That time is now here.  On my door step.

I have the privilege of going with my good friend Major Steve Bradley to team teach anywhere between 45 and 60 officer and soldiers.  The details have been a tad sketchy.  We do know we are going to Nagacoil (sp), staying in a hotel and teaching at a Salvation Army facility.

There are two unfortunates for this pending trip. The first is that my wife doesn't get to journey with me.  Before you feel sad and mad, she will be at a dude ranch in Texas for Arrowleadership Training during this time.  Its the reason she doesn't get to go.

The other unfortunate is that traveling to India was never on my bucket list. I never had a desire nor interest to travel and see this country.

Although while at the Kroc Center, we did host an Indian cultural festival and were invited to join the Ambassdaor from India of the UN for dinner.  It was a wonderful event that displayed all of the cultures, dances, religions of this beautiful country. 

I am getting nervous and excited.  Nervous because leading up to this my schedule has been very busy and I am sure I wont get everything done before I leave.  I am excited because its really an opportunity of a lifetime, not afforded to every officer.

I am planning to use my blog spot to share some of my experiences.  I hope to take photos, share my new friends with you and share what God is doing in my life along the way.

Watch for updates as I ramp up for our 32 hour journey there and our 6 days teaching and sharing on the doctrine of holiness with the faithful Salvationists in that land.

Your prayers, will be very special to me.

More to come.