These Sacred Threads...Living in the threads of life that hold us together
Apr 22
by Elpis in Places 1 comments

Hello Darkness, my old friend…

“For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.” Vincent Van Gogh I may have driven to a lodge in Africa. At least, that’s what the last 3 miles felt like. Dark sky. Rocky road. Middle of nowhere. And then an old, well-maintained building marked “office” with my key in an envelope by the door.  That’s when I knew I was still in Texas – in Tanzania, someone always greets you. The key led me up the hill, to the room/cabin, and came with a small attached map. And the encouragement to keep your lights off or dimmed. This is dark sky territory. That’s a piece of why I picked this space: dark skies.  I love going out to the small town where I grew up and standing out in the yard at night and seeing far more stars than shine through “in town.” At first glance, that’s what you see here: a simple map of familiar stars. It’s what I see now, with a computer screen open. But turn off the screen, close your eyes, let them adjust, and an entirely new map of worlds appears. The stars are just a […]
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Apr 22
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It’s been a while…

After being unable to update in Tanzania, I came home to pandemic. Time to start writing again!
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Jan 20
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Karibuni!

That’s plural for welcome! Welcome – as in welcome to the Northern Illinois Synod 2020 journey to Tanzania. Welcome to this shared experience of the vast, amazing, faithful Body of Christ. We arrived late Sunday evening at the Corridor Springs Hotel in Arusha. The hotel was built by the North Central Diocese as a supplemental income stream – it can service tourists and others coming to Tanzania, and the income from the tourism industry finances some of the needs of the church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) has a similar project at the New Safari Hotel, where previous delegations from Northern Illinois Synod have stayed. By late – we’re talking most of us weren’t in our rooms until after midnight, after a travel time that ranged from 27-30 hours. The first group was supposed to leave for worship at 5:30 a.m., and all 3 pastors were preaching. But it is now Sunday night, and all went well. It was a full day, and pictures will follow. Choirs, auctions, chai – and incredible hospitality met us all. We will meet, share pictures, pray and probably utterly collapse in bed shortly. Blessings to you all and hold us in your […]
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Jan 17
by Elpis in Places 1 comments

Coming Soon…Tanzania

Join the Northern Illinois Synod ELCA visitors on their companion visit with the North Central Diocese of Tanzania.
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Feb 21
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Mountaintops and Taj

Before leaving India, I did not get an opportunity to post about our last day with the ALC, Wednesday. It was a mountaintop experience. Literally. I had asked about their perspective on the missionaries who planted the church in India. I have always struggled with the work of missionaries in the world – they are portrayed as abusive, insensitive, culturally obstructive. The arch of conversation paints a negative picture. Not here. So I asked. I was given a response that was reverent and thankful. It was filled with awe and gratitude for the risks and the gifts they brought. As I posted earlier, it was the protestant missionaries who brought the opportunity for freedom from caste oppression. They lived their faith – they did it right. Loving. Respecting. Healing. Pastor Theophilus basically said: Missionaries came here when there was nothing – they brought roads, health care, English, hope for escaping our status.They lived the sacrifical life. They took care of us holistically. They gave their lives for us. We have highest regard for the missionaries. They came, they lived, they loved, and they stayed. And then he showed us. Helga Johansen was a missionary for 31 years. She was the […]
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Feb 13
by Elpis in Places 2 comments

Tuesday Tidbits…

Good evening from Siloam Guest House! Everyone is ok, though the dehydration/exhaustion/travelers fun stuff is making the rounds. Fortunately, we have Dr Alan, Dr John, and, of course, super nurse Karen. They make room calls. Tuesday morning we worshiped in a local congregation, but those pictures and stories will need to wait a bit (see previous post, Soap, Soup, and Salvation). Another sst of beautiful schoolchildren greeted us with all their hearts. At Siloam Boarding School, the girls put on a program for us, complete with singing and tumbling. That’s Pastor Janne, who many in Northern Illinois know, in one picture; Bishop Clements in another. Pastor Janne and Pastor Theophilus at Siloam have been our day to day guides-caretakers-question answerers-and all around wonder workers. Most of the group went to a church/boarding school this evening, and our medical team did a clinic of basic checks for a number of the children. Karen reports that they were not malnourished – a tribute to their teachers and caregivers, who are making the most of very tough conditions. Pastor Reed and Deaconness Cheryl led the other kids in singing and playing with the soccer balls we brought. Another region of the diocese tomorrow. […]
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Feb 13
by Elpis in Places 1 comments

Justice and mercy…

If any of you thought this group was going on vacation: sorry. There is an intensity to these days that is hard to describe. We are visiting as many places as possible and trying to take in the stories, the longings, the hopes, the celebrations, the fears. Bishop Socrates said several times yesterday that the ALC and Church of India had two gifts to teach the rest of the church: ecumenism and dialogue. Just from what I’ve seen, I’d add justice. One way to pursue justice is through education, and the Danish mission did that. Educating everyone. The DM Sec School at Thiruvannamalai has been respected as one of the best schools in the state for decades. It is the biggest school in the region (and in the Arcot Lutheran Church) with 1500 students, less than half of what it has had in the past. A priority on education has spread, and the number of schools has increased. The school is run by the ALC, the teachers paid for by the government, with Christianity as part of daily life there. Only 5% of the students are Christian. The church’s Office of Dalit Concerns is right by the school. Look up […]
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Feb 13
by Elpis in Places 1 comments

Some pictures…

because I’m too exhausted right now to post…
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Feb 12
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Soap, Soup, and Salvation

(Reposting from day 1 – it got lost somehow) Soap. Soup. Salvation. That’s what the pastor at Broadway/Arcot Lutheran Church in Chennai told Karen today. It is what our Grandfathers did. We do the same thing. Soap – provide healing, care, personal needs, loving our neighbors as Christ told us to do. Caring for them in the most basic of ways. Soup – feeding the body, and so many of them around Chennai need food. Living authentic, genuine love for others. Salvation – and when they ask why, telling them it is because Christ told us to. It doesn’t have the fancy affect of lights and music and big, publicity laden plans. Soap, soup, and salvation. It is simple. It is hard, because it involves genuine love and relationship and ongoing commitment. There is no hook. It is for the long haul, because you aren’t tricking or demanding anything in return; you are just being who you are. A follower of Christ with a genuine heart for the world. It took years for Arcot Lutheran Church on Broadway (the congregation after which the diocese is named) to receive even one person by baptism. Those same 5 initial missionaries simply kept […]
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Feb 12
by Elpis in Places 0 comments

Companions on the road…

All over the place! My impression is that Sunday was a great day for all. However, the schedule has been so full that we haven’t had a chance to tell stories yet. And – yes – some of those stories must wait. But there are some pictures that don’t have to. Karen and I worshiped at Bethesda in Kallachuruchi; Elyse needed a breathing day. The afternoon brought a visit to Danish Mission Hospital, once the largest hospital in the region. For a variety of reasons, it has since fallen on hard times. It is a priority of the current to resurrect this ministry, and whenever someone visits, he takes them on a walk through the entire campus. It gives one a sense of just how large this place once was, and the massive task before them. We left some medical donation supplies The partner church of Faith Rochelle, Jubilee Church, welcomed us all, but especially John and Esther Prabhakar, who have worshiped there when John volunteered at the hospital. If all of the welcomes and flowers and gifts and drum parades hadn’t already shown us, a reception in the evening made it completely clear. It was formal; every pastor of […]
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