Companion Synod Covenant

Photos from the trip

Photos from the trip

Reflection on India experience

Pastor Rick Meier, Alpine Lutheran Church, Rockford

Helen and I had a head start on our synod group, because we had planned to travel to India in January 2008 for a couple years. Our daughter, Rebecca, married a young man, Sunil Rao, whose father is originally from the Bangalore area, and we were invited to meet the extended family as their guests. So when the invitation came to join the synod group during the last half of January, we jumped at the opportunity and took a sabbatical month from the congregation. Leaving on Jan. 2, we were warmly received by our "family" in Bangalore, where we spent ten days traveling in and around SW India. We received incredible hospitality, visited temples and historical sites, and made friends with many people along the way. One of our relatives by marriage is a young Hindu priest, whose home we ate at, and who conducted a special "pooja" (worship) in our honor! At the same time, I found Christian communities to worship with on Sundays, both in a local congregation and a seminary. And, to no one's surprise who knows me, I even played a round of golf at the Bangalore Golf Club!

On January 14th we met our synod delegation in Delhi, where we experienced the trip to the Taj Mahal together. It was a wonderful highlight to see one of the wonders of the world with these friends from Northern Illinois. Soon we were off to Chennai, where we would meet Esther and John, and begin our tour of the Tamil region of India. Wherever one goes in India one is struck by the quantity of people, scary driving experiences in which motorcycles and cows must be dodged, and the colorful nature of people and sights. Most of all, we were struck by the extent of warm hospitality we received wherever we went.

The highlights for me involved visiting people related to the work of the Arcot Lutheran Church. We visited churches, schools, and hospitals. We were privilged to participate in the signing of the covenant with Bishops Wollersheim and Devanesan, in which we formally established a companion church relationship. Along these lines, I established a companion relationship between my Alpine Academy school and a primary school in a remote rural area run by the church, called Kattumailur. The children from each school will now learn about each other and exchange greetings and ideas. It was also my honor to preach at Saron Lutheran Church in Thiruvannamalai (I can't pronounce it either!), where the pastor translated my messages (one to children, one to adults) into Tamil. Like the rest of the congregation, I was barefoot. There was standing room only, and I was privilged to also baptize a child, participate in distributing Holy Communion, and offer prayers for healing (anointing with coconut oil) to many in the congregation. Afterward, I played some cricket with boys from the boarding school and hit a "6-pointer"!

Though I've traveled the world over, this was one of my most profound and inspiring travel experiences ever. It will take me some time to grasp the impact of it all, but it was one of the greatest months of my life. While the sights, sounds and smells were fascinating, it was the people who made the difference. I loved all the beautiful children, and gave at least 1,000 personal blessings to them! The people of Arcot Lutheran Church, the schools and institutions, our synod delegation, and the folks to whom we are now related by a daughter's marriage were all a special blessing to us. Also, it was a joy to travel with our wonderful bishop and wife, Gary and Polly, who Helen and I hold dear and who we all hold in such high esteem. Thanks be to God for such a marvelous experience, which will hopefully bear fruit for years to come!

Photos from George Sanchez

from George Sanchez

Friday, January 25, Communion worship at New Jerusalem Church in Tranqubar. In the afternoon, Bishop Gary climbed into a fishing boat as the fishermen gathered their nets to set out for the sea. He climbed out before members of our Pilgrim group helped to push the sea worthy craft into the Bay of Bengal. About 90 new boats andmotors had been purchased by Arcot Lutheran Church after the Tsunami in 2005.

We toured the site where 72 beautiful block homes were built by the church to replace the destroyed homes. We dedicated a newly built home, sponsored by Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA.

Saturday, January 26, was an historic day in the life of NIS and the Arcot Lutheran Church! What a joy to sign our covenant agreement . /This is our opportunity to strengthen each other’s commitment to mission. We shared a joyful luncheon prepared by members of Arcot Lutheran Church.

We divided into 4 groups to tour the outreach ministries, supported by Arcot. What a delight.
Our choices were Danish Mission Hospital, Arcot School Project activities, Teachers’
Training Institute and to the Vagiri Ministry, assisting gypsies.

Pilgrims are on the Move!

from George Sanchez

This has been an eye opening experience for all of us.

As we drive along the country roads, livestock (oxen carts, roosters, goats, cows, dogs) meander along the roadway. Amazing that we haven’t hit anything or anyone!

Tues, & Wed, we were in Tirunelveli where we visited a school for the deaf (enjoying a group of dancers and receiving another set of garlands for everyone.)

At the school for the deaf, we watched students weave cloth, use the science lab and math board, engaged in classes for each age level from age 3 and older.

The Industrial School received the President’s Award for all of India! Practical computer hardware and software, carpentry and housekeeping skills are taught.

A highlight was visiting to Christ Church where Esther Prabhakar’s father had served as a pastor. Three bishops met us there and together with our pastors conducted a worship service with communion . Our group sang a traditional song in Tamil Afterwards, gifts were exchanged and we were garlanded by our hosts.

Another highlight was a visit to Esther’s sister’s home. We brought her gifts, prayed with her and sang in Tamil. (Our singing improves with each performance!) She experienced heart problems. We continue receiving good news from Pr. Bill and Isabel Wittig. Our hope is for them to be able to travel back to the U.S. with us next week.

Dr. John & Esther have been the EXCEPTIONAL HOSTS guiding us around their home town and surrounding areas. Dr. John has been using his medical skills with various illnesses.

Today is Thursday, Jan. 24 and 6 members of our group are en route back to the U.S. as pre-planned; 2 new members have joined us, also pre-planned. Now we are a 22 member delegation/family, interacting in southern India.

After a six hour train ride, we arrived at Trichy Junction where we were met by Bishop Gideon and members of the Arcot Lutheran Church. Our transfer to a van took us over meandering roads of various surface types. WOW! We arrived in time for supper on the patio of our hotel (beside a swimming pool). Wake up tomorrow at 6 am for an 8:00 departure.

Signing off from the India Pilgimage….

from Polly Wollersheim

Dear "armchair" pilgrims to India,

First, let me begin by thanking you for your prayers. Please know that we have felt them across these many miles. We have truly needed the strength that only prayer can bring as we have struggled with some unforseen difficulties anhd unfortunate events.

It is Wednesday morning, January 23. Two nights ago most of our group went on a sleeper train to John and Esther Prabaker's hometown. Because we have had some sickness in our group, six of us have stayed in Kochi until all are able to travel again.

Our pilgrimage in India has been rich with sensory immersion! Sight--Sound--Smell--Touch--Taste. We have seen hundreds and hundreds of street people living and begging and sleeping on the sidewalks of Dehli. There are entire families gathered around a small fire eating in the same space as they will sleep that night. There are individuals sleeping, wrapped from head to toe, in a blanket, as in a cocoon. I have thought so many times of Mother Theresa and her ministry to the poorest of the poor and now I understand.

We have seen the Taj Mahal in Agra, ever more majestic than the many photos one has seen in a lifetime. We have sampled and enjoyed the wonderfully spiced food of India.

In Chennai and Craganore, we have "walked where St. Thomas walked"! In 52 AD, he took seriously the words of Jesus to go and make disciples of ALL nations. We know of St. Thomas as "doubting" Thomas because he demanded to see the wounds from the crucifixion of the risen Christ. Last year, we read of the journals of Mother Theresa that revealed her doubts of faith. But my fellow pilgrims, when I see how St. Thomas and Mother Theresa used their doubts and turned them into servanthood to bring the faith to India, I am overwhelmed. Their courage and commitment through their hard, hard work and ministry in God's name and for the sake of the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has and will continue to make a difference to the Indian people for generations to come. Those of us who sometimes struggle with doubt now can know we are in GREAT company!

We have experienced the innate graciousness of the people of this country through their friendliness and hospitality. Though most of them are Hindu and Muslim, as we put our hands together to pray, they put their hands together to greet you and "honor the god in you". To these non-Christians we are known as "the people who send the blankets." Thanks to so many Lutheran Women of the ELCA, many quilts dot the landscape of India. Another interesting gesture we have seen is a kind of head bobbing, that looks like they are nodding their head to say "no", but actually it means "yes" or "I understand". Try it, we find it's not easy to emulate!

Driving is an auditory as well as a visual sensory experience as horns are used repetitively and even encouraged by emblems on the backs of cars, trucks, motorcycles and auto-rikshaws (a 3-wheeled contraption) that say "Please sound horn". Many of us had a chance to ride in these rikshaws and it was hair-raising! At any given time there is vehicle traffic 6 abreast and people traffic 8 abreast and that is just on one side of the street. We have seen ox pulling carts, bicycles pulling carts and people pulling carts. The "sacred" cows walk wherever they want to and are given deference to by all. The sheer multitudes of people--1 billion-- generates lots of congestion, confusion and litter. but because of the great numbers, the people of India have an inborn sense of symbiosis, living alongside of one another in a continuous quest for peace and harmony.

The train rides will surely go under the aformentioned "unforseen difficulties" as our overnight train rides meant sleeping in open cubicles-8 people to a cubicle/8 cubicles to a train car/3 tiered bunk beds-so many train cars I couldn't see the "caboose". And all this with people we had never met! It was like something from an old black and white movie except it was real. Our anxiety must have shown on our pale faces, because the Indian people were so friendly and accomodating. We exchanged names and shared our stories with each other. Many Indians showed their kindness by offering to sleep "up high" so we could be more comfortable and in most cases we ended up not sleeping alongside "strangers" but those we had come to know and appreciate.

Whether from food or water, virus or bacteria, a third of our pilgrims have taken sick. One among us is at the hospital across the street. We know it was a "God thing" that we happen to be at a hotel where the hospital is directly across the street. Our pilgrim Doctor John Prabaker and pilgrim nurse "Sister" (the Indian people call their nurses this) Helen Meier have provided great medical consultation and care. We give God thanks for John and Helen. In India the family must stay with the patient and so we have taken turns at the bedside. Our guide, John Califf, has worked hard to balance all of these unforseen matters and as a result our pilgrimage continues to be fulfilling. Our Bishop has provided wonderful spiritual direction and inspiration at every turn of events. We have had devotions on a rooftop in a Dehli hotel, riding in a bus, on a boat in the Kochi bay(of course he used a fishing parable!) and even in a men's room--well, not a men's room like you think, not a bathroom--but a motel room where the men could freshen up. Many have shared devotions and we have heard their thoughts, feelings and prayers during this journey.

In Chennai, we were welcomed so warmly by John's brother and Esther's sister, Pastor Vansanth and Elizabeth(who are married) at their Shiloh Mission Church. One of their ministries was to adopt 20 young girls who were orphaned by the Tsunami. The Shiloh people and the NIS pilgrims worshipped together and then we broke into groups. Jeanna Fors and the women lead a craft project making kaleidoscopes with the girls. Kevin Rogers met with the young men and the others heard a lecture about th Shiloh ministries. We left being filled with joy, their enthusiastic faces alive in our memories, giving us strenth for our journey. We now look forward to our experience in John and Esther's hometown and with our companion synod, the Arcot Lutheran Church.

Well my friends this has become more than a blog, it has become a BLOOK! And I still didn't cover everything. I trust my fellow pilgrims will fill in the empty spaces along the way.

Until we meet face to face on the great soil of our beloved Northern Illinois Synod, I send you my love and thanks.

Your sister in Christ,
Polly Wollersheim

Tuesday Jan 22, by Art Milton

The day was interesting and quite moving at times!

The train got in to Tirinvilli on time, nearly, at 7:30 am. Most of us seemed to sleep ok.

We missed all we left behind for healing and care in Kochi. Bishop Wollersheim and Polly and Helen Meier stayed to care for Bill and Isabel Wittig, and for Jay.

A pleasant morning as we walked down one platform under repair and then back on another one under repair, to the station itself. Not nearly as busy as the Chennai Central station. We got into a collecton of vehicles made it to the hotel. Termperatures reached about 85 today.

I napped a bit, then grabbed a veggie burger and coke for lunch. At 1 pm we bused through Tirinvilli, seeing where John and Esther Prabhakar grew up. They both came from well-established families here, with the many Christians with schools and churches. A very good place to grow up.

We went to a Church of India [a amalgamation over about 40 years of all native protestant churches, except for the Lutherans], which followed a fairly standard liturgy, similar to the Episcopal form. The church was beautifully designed, and all white; it glowed in the sunshine. The Bishop of this area and the priest of the church held services, along with Pastors Rick Meier, Kim Lee Brown, and Bob. The organist was good, obviously enjoying his work. Our group sang the hymn we have done before, with good effect. Communion was very meaningful, and the welcome juice and cookies were good too.

We then went the a 100 year old school for the blind, originated by one the the churches years ago, and on land still owned by the church. The classes of 4-8 kids, ages 4 to 22, set up in the standards and forms, all were working very hard. They and their attentive teachers were working with abacus-like boards for numbers, plastic geometrical shapes, braille in English books, reading aloud....all quietly efficient and intent, ...and blind.

We then went to the weaving building, where again blind adults were spinning thread and weaving beautiful cloth. Dave Lonsway bought a tablecloth 100" x 60", which the headmaster said would take about two days to make. Students stay in this school until they are able to find work.

We then took the flower leis given at church to Esther and John's family cemetary. Originally in the jungle, now it is surrounded by houses and is closed to more burials.

Again today, I am very conscious of the importance of family and the tradition of working actively in the church and its missions. I am seeing more and more how much the Christian churches in India do and have done for the poor and helpless, as Christ charged his followers. Somehow, we in the US have become used to letting institutions work for us, and we just pay, rather than practice what we are preached. Hmmm...

We then came back to hotel. I went across the street for "barbecued chicken pizza." which was ok. Typing this, and then to shower and to bed.

Tomorrow we travel south to Cape Cormorant. We will eat lunch at a good resort, maybe swim, and then return.

I am in Kochi

I am in Kochi on the west side of south India, at 12:30 pm. Sunday, 1/20

Yesterday we had a busy day in Chennai At 4 pm we went to the Gurukal Seminary to meet with Bishop Gideon. Since some of our group had gone shopping, they arrived eventually with our bus. The rest of us came by the 3-wheeled auto taxis, buzzing to the campus. John Califf bustled us into these vehicles. He set off in the lead, with the Wittigs and me crowded into the second taxi. At the first corner, John's vehicle turned left, correctly as I remembered from before. Our driver, however, went straight on, then followed several main streets, spiralling around the campus, peering into lanes to see if they went through, and so on. We did arrive, finally.

Bishop Gideon arrived, welcomed us all, and seemed happy to see me and Bishop W. We then all went upstairs to an airconditioned room.

Bishop G gave a brief but good history of Arcot, from its original Danish missionary being kicked out of the local church for insisting that even the dhalits/the unclean could come to church, and sit with all. Before, they would not let them in, just as the Hindu temples treat them. Denmark commissioned this missionary in 1837 to continue with his work. He founded more churches, a hospital, and so on. Arcot, then, sees its mission focused primarily on the untouchable and those w/o caste. Bishop G said that 80% of all Christians in India are from that caste; in Arcot, the figure is 98%.

Then he referred to the schedule. I got up and passed around the Kinko copies I brought. Bishops G and W went through the schedule, and we set up seven churches for seven of our pastors to preach at on the 27th. Gideon has Bishop Wollersheim preaching at the Arcot equivalent of the Jenny Lind Chapel, a small country church, one of their oldest. The two Bishps spent several hours at Jenny Lind last March, when Bishop Gideon visited NIS. Several of our pastors will preach at some big 200+ congregation. 15 min sermon, with 15 min translating time.

Then Bishop Gideon thanked us for sending him the Covenant document. We discussed when/where we sign. Then I worked with the Arcot "document writer" on how to reproduce, what paper, etc. I gave him my key drive with the documents.

Then we were rushed back to the hotel, where we left our big bags for storage/transport to where we will be on Wednesday or Thursday. We took our carry ons and went to the train station.

Wow! the train station was busy, loud with train sounds, many tunes played simultaneously, filled with rushing passengers and porters....you know, a train station. I was reminded of Paddington or Paris or the old KC Union Station. But busier!

Our first class sleeping cars were spartan and not private, but ok. One one side of the aisle were two bunks above and below, parallel to the rails. On the other side, going across the car, were two walls of 3 bunks each, facing each other. The lower bunks were set up as seats, and the upper bunks were folded up. At bedtime, the two uppers were let down, and the lowers had seat backs which dropped to form the bed platform. No curtains. Each car had 8 of the "compartments."

We were scattered across two cars, mixed in with Indian passengers. We all have stories about our new friends. Sleeping was not too bad, except of course I am 1" longer than the space! Still, I slept well except when the train would stop, from 10:30 to 5 am, then until 7 am. Our car only had eastern toilets.

The train was about 45 min late getting into Kochi. We got to the very nice ac hotel, had a brunch [I am eating a lot of omelottes!, this time with home-made grape jam!], and then time until 3 pm. Then we have a cruise, supper, and bed.

Tomorrow is a day trip to the south, and then...hotel? train ride? I lost my schedule!

Another exciting day in India!

We started our day with breakfast together and then visit to museums. Afternoon choices.

In the late afternoon, we took motorized rickshaw taxis to the seminary. We toured the campus with our bishop, amazed at the buildings. One building is a shelter for homeless women, another for working women. Married students housing, and single students housing. Our bishop was honored and the group was recognized. We each received a beautiful gold & sandalwood garland. Our bishop received a shawl.

We repacked our suitcases to enable us to take an evening train to Prabhakar's home town. There all 8 pastors will lead worship services in 8 different Lutheran churches in the area.

We may not be near internet service for the coming 3 days.

Linda Patterson and the Arcot Mission Tour.

Two Truths learned:

Alone again, I realized that I had missed the 3:45 time for the group to meet and leave. I started looking for this group of Lutherans, but realized that now, the Taj Mahal area had many more people at 4 pm than it did when we walked in at 1:30. I could see no one I knew! Oh, oh, I was messing up the schedule of the tour group!

I moved out of the main court through the big arch into the outer court, and again saw no one I knew. I checked back into the Taj main plaza, changing position and looking everywhere, and still saw no one familiar.

I also realized that I had no way to call anyhone, did not know the name of the bus group, nor even the name of the restaraunt for dinner. I was on my own, and completely flummoxed! Ron Henning certainly had material for his devotion tomorrow on the Parable of the Lost Sheep!

Should I go out past the security gate and make my way through the pestiferous souvenir hawkers to where the bus might be? Should I stay in one place?

I finally checked with a security officer, who told me to go check on the bus, but return to him if I could not find the bus. A plan, though somewhat flimsy!

The souvenir hawkers came onto me the instant I came through the gate. I waved and nodded "No" repeatedly, and walked faster up the road.

One of the hawkers, a young man with wildly tousled hair, the sort of kid I would make sure to watch if he came into my classroom, burst through the rest of the merchants, waving and cursing them away. Dispite my trying to avoid him too, he grabbed my elbow, all the while saying, "Come with me. I know where your people are. Come with me...."

He propelled me to the next exit gate and waved up the slope, saying "They are out there!"

I looked at the incoming crowd, where he was pointing, and suddenly, I saw Bishop Wollersheim and then our guide, Mr. Singh!

I shouted, and the Bishop saw me. We embraced as Mr Singh swept us up the ramp.

As we followed, Bishop Wollersheim said that we would rejoin the group at lunch. He added that they had started the meal with prayers for my safety.

I looked back for the young man who helped me, who had disappeared...without asking for money ...or anything! And Mr Singh had not paid him either.

After one of the fastest, even for India, taxi rides through streets which certainly not wide nor uncrowded, we were at the restaurant.

Two Truths learned:

The Taj Mahal is a place so beautiful, with so many individually beautiful parts, each complete in itself, but with all these parts coming together into one beautiful and transcendent whole. It has beauty in the Greek Classical sense of beauty.

The lost lamb rejoined with the flock, so that the flock is made whole by its Shepherd, also has its truth, spiritually and religiously.

Praise to God!

Art Milton

It started like a joke:

I was looking at the Taj Mahal, and three men walked up to me, a physician, a physical therapist, and a psychiatrist. The physician said....

And we had a most interesting conversation.

I was sitting on the step/wall by the seft side mosque on the Taj Mahal platform, just gazing at the overwhelming building.

Suddenly, a man resembling a tousled version of Groucho Marx popped up next to me and said, "What do you thing of it?" His two younger companions stood by.

"I have no words to describe this sight," I said.

"But what do you think of it?

I just nodded and shrugged helplessly, and said again, "I have no words to describe this beauty."

He started to walk away with the other two, but then he popped back to me, again looking me in the eye: Why can it do that, make you withou words? How does it do that?"

I thought a minute, then said, "Well, the design is unbelievably wonderful, not just of the building but of its whole surroundings. The concept behind the design is too. The organizing of any big project is amazing! The marshaling of the materials and the workers and the artists....all is amazing, but understandable. But then to have all come together, each part of all this....I have no words I can use to express my wonder!"

The man looked at me again, and said, "I agree! I too am wordless." He then darted away.

I talked with his two companions and found out that this man was a physician, and the other two a physio-therapist and a psychiatrist. They also apologized for their friend's "odd" [with some eye-rolling].

Two days later, I remembered Keats "Ode to a Grecian Urn" which he ends with the lines..."Beauty is Truth, and Truth, Beauty; That is all ye need to know."

Art Milton

Friday Jan 18th

On Friday Jan 18th we visited Manohar and Mahema Devadoss, John Prabhakar's
cousins. They are from Chennai. They lived in America and then returned to live in India.
They were in their car, and Mahema was driving. The car in front of them wouldn't let them pass. She tried again, and the car ran them off the road. They crashed. She's been paralyzed from the neck down for over 30 years.
During that time he went blind - and became an artist. He creates beautiful Greeting cards, drawing places in Chennai.
Wnen we came she was sitting in her wheelchair. I shook her hand. It was cold. We filled their living room as we sat around the room on their furniture and floor.
She said to us, "I thank God for his mercies and his blessing - and that is you. I thank God for
you, and for your being here."
We were so humbled by her gratitude in so much suffering. Some of us wept as we sang, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.

John Prabhakar told us about visiting his cousins who are married to each other, Manohar and his paralyzed wife, Mahema Devadoss, at their hom e in Chennai, India, as Manohar was going blind. They were going to a restaurant, but the driver didn't show up.
So Manohar got behind the wheel of their car, with her next to him, and their little girl on his lap. She'd say, "Turn right here, Daddy. Daddy, watch out for the bike. Daddy, slow down!"
All the while John was in the back seat praying harder than he ever had in his life - and they made it safely.

Chuck Olson

Click on the photo for a larger view

Christian Community

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together that genuine community is a gift from God. People are too self-centered to achieve mutual sharing and caring without the power of the Holy Spirit.

God has graciously granted the gift of Christian Community to the NIS India Pilgrims. This "life together" is illustrated by St. Paul in I Corinthians 12, Community is to function like a human body. All parts are different (eye, ear, nose). Each part is important. When one part suffers, all suffer. When one part rejoices, all rejoice.

It is the calling of Christian Community to witness to Christ in word and in deed. Indeed, “we’re called to be the Body of Christ and individually members thereof.”

Please keep us in your prayers so that we might prove to be faithful to this Holy Calling throughout our time in India.

- Bishop Gary Wollersheim -

Today is Thursday, Jan. 17th. We flew from Delhi to Chennai to the welcoming arms of Dr. John and Esther Prabhakar. In the white bus rented for our visit, we traveled to the mount of St. Thomas for a breathtaking view. We traveled on to Shiloh Evangelistic Mission in Adambakkam, Chennai.

It was a wonderfully warm welcome - and then what I learned broke my heart.

Our bus came to Shiloh Church in the south Indian city of Chennai. Church people stood around the front steps, and little girls stood in the center. As we each came up the steps everyone applauded and a different little girl put a lei made of fresh flowers around our necks. Mine hugged me.
Then we went to the lower level - ard it's an orphanage. These 19 girls had lived through the tsunami three years ago, but one or both of their parents had died.
At first they were grabbed up and became slaves. The Indian government found out, released them, and placed 34 girls to here. 15 have graduated from school or adopted.
Now these 19 girls are sweet, beautifully dressed, happy kids singing praise songs and going to church and school. They're receiving medical care, love - and salvation.
And they regularly return to their tribe in their island south east of India and tell their surviving relatives - that Jesus loves them.
Chuck Olson

Thursday, January 17th

On Thursday, January 17th(2008) our group was waiting for our flight to Chennai from Delhi. I sat down between a young woman and a businessman.
I asked him what he did for a living. He's a banker and CPA in Calcutta. I told him I'm a Lutheran pastor. He went on to say he's Hindu. He said it helps him when he's sad or upset.
The girl said she is a college student. Her name is Lea, and she was born Hindu, but now she is a Christian. There are just 2 Christians in her class. Had she always been a Christian ?
No, she said. Her father died when she was a young teenager. Later her mother was dying.
Her younger sister told them that if they trusted Jesus, their mother would be healed. So they did.
The banker got up and offered her his card. She wasn't interested.
I told her about the 55 poor kids in my church's Jesus Club who eat, learn and worship. About the lonely elders I serve, and the caring Barnabas ministers I serve with.
I asked her if the Lord had placed a mission in her heart. Not yet.
She asked me how she could contact me. I gave her my card.
I asked if her mother was healed. She is.
Lea's last words to me were, Would you pray for me? We closed our eyes. I prayed for her safety - and for the Lord to place his purpose in her heart.
Chuck Olson

Wed January 16th

On Wed January 16th 2008 our group visited Taj Mahal in Agra(India). I saw Buddhist monks in their bright orange robes and sandals. One young monk was wearing a thick dark blue wool ski cap.
I sat down next to a monk. I asked him where he was from. He said, Thailand. He said they were vacationing in India and going back to Thailand soon.
I told him that I'm a Christian. The beating heart of my life is knowing I am loved.
As we sat there I looked deeply into his eyes and said, Tell me about your spirituality. He looked deeply into my eyes and said, Huh?
I said, Tell me what you believe.
He said, No comment.
I said, Like are you seeking enlightenment? Oneness?
He answered, No comment.
He lit up and said, Ah, there's our leader. Ask him.
I did. He looked at a complete loss for words. He told me about their daily schedule. Period.
I think I'm seeking enlightenment - about how to talk with Buddhist monks.

Impressions from George Sanchez

We left O'Hare on time and we had a layover in Frankfort of 5 1/2 hours. while we were waiting, the Bishop and some of us went and had a cold German beer. While we were gone our group moved. They changed our gate. It took us a while to find them, but we did. We left Frankfort at 3:35 local time. we arrived in Dehli at about 1: 20 local time, but we had to wait for a place to park. We made it through customs quite easily, even though were was a lot of people going through at the same time. The bus drive got lost and could not find the hotel. He called a couple of times and we finally arrived at our rooms atabout 4:30 a.m.local time. Here are some pictures.they are from O,hare , frankfort , and the Delhi airports. Our group of 25 stayed in 2 hotels a few blocks apart. We checked in about 5 am for a leisurely sleep until noon.

Breakfast/brunch was on the roof, 5 stories up, overlooking the city of Dehli. We gathered at 1:15 for devotions and then off sightseeing around old and New Dehli. Time to walk around the gardens of an old stone worship temple, at least 1000 years old. Driving the highways brought interesting views.

A white horse carried a rider with a red jacket en route to a wedding. A white horse is a big expense; however Indian weddings are big & expensive. We saw horse drawn carts and bicyles, scooters, all among trucks and cars and buses. People drive with their steering wheel and their horns blaring. We saw Brahman cows attempting to cross the highway. We made a stop at Trans Asian Industries Exposition. After sampling tea & biscuit, we were shown a demonstration of rug knotting. Afterwards, we had an opportunity to purchase a Kashi carpet. Several of us did!

On our return home to the hotel, traffic made for a tedious, long trip back. As they say in India, time is stretchable. We returned home to a authentic Indian meal in the hotel, all together.

Going out into the world with Good Courage!

Years ago at Holden Village, an often idealized Lutheran retreat center in Washington state, this theme guided the activities and studies of the whole village, visitors and staff, for the summer. At Holden one could live close to nature, to your faith, and with each other, without the distractions of the world "outside." The difficulty lay in living the Holden life outside the Village!

I live in the Northern Illinois Synod, certainly not an idealized retreat from the world, but still a comfortable place for me and my congregation.

Going out to India, a completely different part of the world, presents all sorts of challenges to my comfortable way of living. Companionship with the Arcot Lutheran Church presents challenges to my comfortable way of believing, and to our Synod's.

Our mutual faith Christ, though in our different locations, will extend our understanding of each other and influence the way we act in faith. This belief gives us the courage to look for these new experiences.

And we learn to sign our blogs, as we travel!

Art Milton, NIS Global Mission Chair

Message from Bishop Wollersheim

Dear Fellow Pilgrims, Epiphany 2008

I am just now beginning in earnest to prepare for our trip together to India, finally. I would imagine that most of you are far ahead of me in this organizing and packing phase. Polly and I have an aversion to packing! So if you feel this way too, you are not alone.

As I reflect on our journey, it is almost overwhelming what we will see and what we will do. First we will be visiting one of the most important countries on the planet. India is the largest democracy in the world, has the second largest population, and the culture is so deep that it is the founding place of two great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. We will see beautiful sites of historic significance from the Taj Mahal to the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle. Then we will be hosted by our dear friends Dr. John and Esther Prabhaker and their gracious families. Next we will see first hand the powerful witness to the Gospel of our companions, the Arcot Lutheran Church. It is our prayer, that the relationships made in this visit between our two Churches will lay the foundation for many years of mutual support for the sake of God’s mission. And finally there will be more; friendships made, faith strengthened, spirits renewed, horizons broadened.

I have found that on pilgrimages such as this, not everything goes exactly as planned. The bus gets a flat tire (Laos). The Land Rover breaks down (Tanzania). The luggage is lost (Dar es Salaam). “Now you tell me!” Not to worry, we will help and care for each other. God will be with us. And besides, often it is in the surprises along the way that the greatest blessings are discovered.

This prayer is found in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship:

“Before travel”

“O God our beginning and our end, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the people of Israel through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the magi to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now as we set out to travel. Make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with our Lord Jesus Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”

I am looking forward to seeing you in a few days. God is with us.

In Christ,

Bishop Gary Wollersheim

India Pilgrimage - Phase One

Nehemiah, Ezra, Daniel and Psalm 137 describe the longings of the people of Israel for their homeland. Many immigrants to America, love to trace their roots in Europe. The same way we, John and Esther Prabhakar had a dream to take our children Larry and Lorra and our grand children Nicholas, Hannah, Sophie and Lily to India so that they can see the land where the husband/father Larry was born, to meet their relatives they have only heard about and experience the culture and diversity of India. Preparations got underway for more than six months in both India and USA. A German American family of 8 involved with Shiloh ministry also joined our group to swell the number to 16. Prayers and commissioning services preceded our departure on Dec 18. Many stumbling blocks moved away to make room for pilgrimage. Our excitement was coupled with nervousness. We claimed Ps.121 as our pilgrimage Psalm.

The Air France flight smoothly touched down on time at Chennai airport in the early morning hours of Dec. 20. Vasanth (John’s brother) and Pappa (Elizabeth, Esther’s sister) and their son, Paul Divyan welcomed us with open arms and tears. The loving Shiloh children (Tsunami orphans) welcomed us with jasmine and rose garlands. Our stay at the Guindy race club guesthouse was very comfortable. We had breakfast by the pool every day! Vasanth’s granddaughter Chrissy swam with her cousins in the club swimming pool. John was able to play tennis with Nicholas and Larry – another dream realized. Vasanth and Divyan arranged a cricket match. Both Larry and Nicholas played well and received applause at the end of the match.

We treated the 19 Shiloh children and the staff to an amusement park outing and lunch. They loved all the rides and bonded instantly with our grand children and friends Mertz’s children. We had a chance to do some crafts with the Shiloh children the next day and had the joy of giving them all the gifts we brought from our respective families and churches. We worshipped with more than 1000 members of the Shiloh congregation at the Carol service on Dec. 23rd. All 16 of us wore colorful ethnic Indian clothes and jasmine flowers on our hair. We enjoyed songs by the English and Tamil Shiloh choirs. Larry gave the message which was translated by his cousin Paul Edward (Vasanth’s son) Larry ended his message with his signature Christmas solo ’O Holy Night’ which touched everyone. John’s solo ‘What shall I bring for this sweet holy child’ was choreographed and the nativity story was acted out. While he was singing, children Kira Mertz, Chrissie Edward and Lily Prabhakar brought gifts for the baby Jesus. Sophie Prabhakar portrayed Mary and our friend’s son Korey Mertz was Joseph. Lorra accompanied John on the keyboard to his satisfaction and delight. The Shiloh children had two liturgical dances prayerfully choreographed. We all sang ‘Silent Night’ in three languages, English, German and Tamil.

Christmas eve was celebrated in our hometown Palayamkottai, by attending the annual Christmas party at John’s ancestral home. John’s aunt Kammie Devadoss and family welcomed us with traditional sprinkling of rose water and sandal wood paste. John proudly showed everyone the room where he was born. Again there was prayer, singing, games and dancing. The contingent from the U.S also participated heartily. John gave the message. The evening ended with gifts, snacks and ice cream.

We worshipped at the English Christ Church (where Esther’s father Rev. Kantayya was pastor) on Christmas day and partook of the Holy Communion. The gala Christmas lunch at Esther’s sister’s house, singing around the piano, gift exchange is unforgettable memories. The US children with their Indian cousins Kenney and Shiny played everything from Field Hockey, Cricket, Card games, Carom to ‘girls chasing boys game’! That night, a family friend gave us a grand dinner and a fantastic fire works display in the open space nearby, as he owns a fireworks factory. On Dec. 26, we toured two Christian institutions - a blind school and a deaf school. The dedication of the staff to these special children of God really touched our hearts. The visit to the family cemetery became more exciting when we accidentally locked inside the cemetery one of the 16! Later that day, we visited the Cape - southernmost point of India, ‘Kanyakumari’ (means virgin goddess) The sun setting over the Indian Ocean was breathtaking!

Back to Chennai, we visited St. Thomas Mount where St. Thomas was supposed to have been martyred, the Basilica where he is buried as well as Dhakshan Chitra which has a collection of old South Indian homes and display of crafts. The children learnt to make baskets there. We visited a snake farm, attended a Bharata Natyam dance recital at Kalakshestra and did some shopping. We lunched with Sandhya’s family at the elite Taj Hotel and hosted a family dinner gathering later that evening for 55 relatives. They greeted Lorra, Larry and the children. We also celebrated Nicholas’s 13^th Birthday a little early. Our dream pilgrimage was now complete with the sharing and laughter of family members from east and west.

North India was purely sightseeing. Jaipur the Royal pink city was fascinating. We felt like Rajas and Ranis as we rode the elephant to Amber Fort. We visited the ghost town/ fort called Fatehpur Sikhri. The climax was the visit to the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was more beautiful than we had ever imagined it to be. The view at the time of the sunset was breathtaking. We have some great pictures. New Delhi the capital of India was cleaner with less pollution but was crowded and we experienced record-breaking traffic jams. But we managed to see all the sights and finished our shopping.

Lorra, Larry and the children left India on February 5, healthy and happy carrying a lot of happy memories with them. The hospitality and love extended to them was overwhelming. They left behind the sweet fragrance of their visit, their love, gifts and laughter. The fifteen fantastic days in India, is now a sweet dream but its effects will be long lasting. A bond has been established and who knows what the future holds! Thanks be to the Lord Almighty, the creator God of Americans and Indians, who gifted us with this family reunion. Thanks also to you our beloved readers, friends and family who supported us by your prayers. The phase II of our India pilgrimage is the volunteer medical mission work at Pillar Hospital in Andaman Islands. We will write another episode then. We wish you all the best in the New Year 2008.

Love. John Prabhu and Esther Kamali.