Today during a lecture by Dr. P.T. George (professor of missiology here at UTC), he shared some of the practical challenges for Christian mission in India. Some of these challenges had to do with interfacing with the legacies of [ancient] Syrian Christians, Catholic and Protestant missionaries throughout India's history, "competing" with active Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist missions, and being culturally sensitive while doing contextual ministry. One comment that he said struck me...
He used the example of Christian missionaries introducing the Eucharist, among other things, to the native, mostly Hindu (and therefore vegetarian) peoples. He said, imagine you're being given education and health care and being told about a loving God, and then you hear that you are supposed to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus... How offensive for a vegetarian, who seeks to preserve all life! He said that Gandhi once said, 'I don't want your salvation if it comes at the cost of the life of another!' Wow! Talk about a vivid example, one that had never occured to me, of how important it is to be aware of our local ministry contexts!
Can't wait to see what other ways this trip will open me up to new thoughts, ideas, and ways of seeing the world...
~Alexis
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Spices in the Air
What is the spice of Life? Waking this morning, evening, or mid morning, (Jet lag has taken over), well we're on " Dr. Sebastian time", Marsha and I were greeted with pleasantly scented air. Even more enticing was the warm smiles and greetings bestowed by all. Together, warm liquid smiles and scents create a seductive drink to consume.
As guests in a strange land, the scent of the welcoming spirit quickly dissolves the Vail of intimidation. Once open, we anticipate the hiddeness of God working here! May the scent's presence be the ever elusive One?
Peace, Scott & Marsha
As guests in a strange land, the scent of the welcoming spirit quickly dissolves the Vail of intimidation. Once open, we anticipate the hiddeness of God working here! May the scent's presence be the ever elusive One?
Peace, Scott & Marsha
Introduction and early first day
Hi, folks. Someone said we should each introduce ourselves.
Just to let you know, I'm Becky Howell, a doctoral student in Historical Theology working on theological controversies about usury in 16th century Germany. Which has nothing to do with being in India, but I started falling in love with India about two years ago when I realized I needed to learn more if I was going to teach Great World Religions responsibly, which is one of a number of things I am likely to do with my Ph.D. once I manage to earn it. The stories of Hinduism, Indian history, Indian movies, and a number of other things have become a great fascination of mine, and this is my first chance to actually see the country.
What have I actually seen so far? A few random glimpses of what struck me:
Dr. Sebastian greeting everybody from the people who clean the rooms to the professors (and everybody delighted to see him, which is no surprise).
Wonderful library archives that include books written on narrow strips of palm (wood I think). These are etched into the wood. They look a little bit like a pile of rulers strung together with string to keep them in order. Very fine handwriting. They have some of these in 9 different languages. We also saw a letter written by Gandhi, and Dr. Sebastian's Bachelor thesis, on the Heart of God in the Old Testament. I think most of us were as excited to see Dr. Sebastian's work as to see Gandhi's letter. Not perhaps as historic, but we have more personal connection.
There is an amazing sculpture on the lawn of the seminary commemorating a historic meeting of Indians and Pakistanis. I missed the year that this happened. The sculpture is a bunch of heads, piled into a wall. There are faces on both sides, in a sense both sides of the wall are the same, though different. While the sculpture is about partition, it also made me think about how we are living stones.
--Becky
Just to let you know, I'm Becky Howell, a doctoral student in Historical Theology working on theological controversies about usury in 16th century Germany. Which has nothing to do with being in India, but I started falling in love with India about two years ago when I realized I needed to learn more if I was going to teach Great World Religions responsibly, which is one of a number of things I am likely to do with my Ph.D. once I manage to earn it. The stories of Hinduism, Indian history, Indian movies, and a number of other things have become a great fascination of mine, and this is my first chance to actually see the country.
What have I actually seen so far? A few random glimpses of what struck me:
Dr. Sebastian greeting everybody from the people who clean the rooms to the professors (and everybody delighted to see him, which is no surprise).
Wonderful library archives that include books written on narrow strips of palm (wood I think). These are etched into the wood. They look a little bit like a pile of rulers strung together with string to keep them in order. Very fine handwriting. They have some of these in 9 different languages. We also saw a letter written by Gandhi, and Dr. Sebastian's Bachelor thesis, on the Heart of God in the Old Testament. I think most of us were as excited to see Dr. Sebastian's work as to see Gandhi's letter. Not perhaps as historic, but we have more personal connection.
There is an amazing sculpture on the lawn of the seminary commemorating a historic meeting of Indians and Pakistanis. I missed the year that this happened. The sculpture is a bunch of heads, piled into a wall. There are faces on both sides, in a sense both sides of the wall are the same, though different. While the sculpture is about partition, it also made me think about how we are living stones.
--Becky
Where am I?
Here is a post lacking significantly in substance. :)
The experience of traveling to the other side of the world (economy class) is the first of our new experiences! Highlights of our journey: Comparing Lufthansa airline food with LTSP Refectory food, Built-in tv monitors with on-demand movies on the first flight, German chocolate, the bus ride from the Bangalore airport ;) oh and the cute doggies at the airport that we could not touch! I'm not expecting to know what day it is or time it is for another day or so. It's fascinating that we can hop into a big machine and wake up on the other side of the world. Mind boggling, really.
The experience of traveling to the other side of the world (economy class) is the first of our new experiences! Highlights of our journey: Comparing Lufthansa airline food with LTSP Refectory food, Built-in tv monitors with on-demand movies on the first flight, German chocolate, the bus ride from the Bangalore airport ;) oh and the cute doggies at the airport that we could not touch! I'm not expecting to know what day it is or time it is for another day or so. It's fascinating that we can hop into a big machine and wake up on the other side of the world. Mind boggling, really.
We have arrived
To be more accurate we arrived very early this morning after about 20 hours of traveling. We are approximately 10 hours ahead of our friends in the Philadelphia area. As I write this it is almost 10am here on the 5th of January but it is only about midnight or a little before at home. We all seem to be adjusting to the time change pretty easily. By that I mean i haven't seen anyone walking around looking like they were still asleep.
We are in Bangalore at the United Theological College. The campus is wonderful and there are many people taking pictures. I expect at some point for someone to post some pictures for you all following our journey. Today holds for us a tour of campus and then worship with students. I know I am looking forward to it. We will stay in touch.
Steve
We are in Bangalore at the United Theological College. The campus is wonderful and there are many people taking pictures. I expect at some point for someone to post some pictures for you all following our journey. Today holds for us a tour of campus and then worship with students. I know I am looking forward to it. We will stay in touch.
Steve
Introduction and First Impression
Hi. For all of you followers I am Mandi the sole Wartburger on this excursion to India. This is my first visit to India and I am beyond excited to be here. At first I was nervous joining up with a group of seminarians from Philadelphia because I had never met any of them or even talked to them on the phone prior to meeting up with them at the airport in Philadelphia. So far though they have turned out to be a very friendly group of individuals who have been very welcoming of me which has gotten this trip off to a great start.
Though the flights seemed endless at times- two flights, eight hours each- and jet lag is starting to hit a little bit, this experience so far has been great. Stepping out of the airport in Bangalore, the first thing I noticed were the wild dogs. Wild dogs running around without leashes in public areas with people around is not something that I am used to seeing everyday.
The bus ride to the UTC was bumpy and I found it interesting that even though it was four am in the morning, almost all the cars honked at each other when passing one another. Though it was dark we were able to get a glimpse of the different housing accommodations that people around this area live in- it was the beginning of the culture shock which I am sure we will encounter more of on this trip.
This morning some of us went for a nice short walk around campus enjoying the sun and the seventy degree weather. It is absolutely lovely here on campus and I hope to start posting pictures in the near future.
Until next time....
Pax,
Mandi
Though the flights seemed endless at times- two flights, eight hours each- and jet lag is starting to hit a little bit, this experience so far has been great. Stepping out of the airport in Bangalore, the first thing I noticed were the wild dogs. Wild dogs running around without leashes in public areas with people around is not something that I am used to seeing everyday.
The bus ride to the UTC was bumpy and I found it interesting that even though it was four am in the morning, almost all the cars honked at each other when passing one another. Though it was dark we were able to get a glimpse of the different housing accommodations that people around this area live in- it was the beginning of the culture shock which I am sure we will encounter more of on this trip. This morning some of us went for a nice short walk around campus enjoying the sun and the seventy degree weather. It is absolutely lovely here on campus and I hope to start posting pictures in the near future.
Until next time....
Pax,
Mandi
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Don't even know what to expect...
My favorite thing about traveling is that it totally and utterly destroys my preconceived notions of... well, most things! It blasts open my suspicions of who "they" are and often debunks my own understanding of who I am.
So, that said, I don't even know what to expect with this trip to India. I've read a bit and have had friends who were either from there, lived there, and/or visited there, but I think I will be pretty surprised when I arrive. And that's exciting! I just hope I packed well enough and prepared well enough to enjoy the ride... :-)
peace,
Alexis
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