I have a warning for all of you: we now expect to be greeted by a drum corps, dancers, songs, and flowers everywhere we go. If you can make that happen, feel free.

That was, in essence, our day. In between we heard stories of schools and building churches and faith and hope and possibility. We saw boarding homes for orphans or semi-orphans where the children are loved and safe. We were delighted by dances at the teachers college run by the Arcot Lutheran Church. We were given sugar cane. We paused at a church that is finishing its building and one that is just starting. And each place came with a story.

Can you imagine what it takes for the poorest and lowest caste people of a society to raise the money, buy land, and set about building? Holy Cross can. The cornerstone was first laid 10 years ago when Bishop Wollersheim was here. The layout of the coming building is now set, markers and signs designating every room and wall laid out carefully in a field. With pride they showed around this dream, and with pride they told us how hard it has been to get to this point.

Can you imagine being is school without computers and technology resources? Nearly everyone here can. But at least 2 schools that we visited today have new Resource Rooms filled will technology to grow learning. They have them because of donations to the Polly Wollersheim Fund, established when Bishop Wollersheim retired. They beamed as they showed the bit of robotics they have been learning.

Can you imagine…

Sometimes we get lost in our own comfort, and we can’t imagine the needs or hopes or longings of others. If we are lucky, we get reminded, hopefully we can begin imagining with them. What a gift that is.

It’s also a gift to remember that it isn’t all about us. Bishop Socrates said today that he wanted to show us stories of accomplishment – that there are plenty of stories of pain. He wants us to look and see edifices of hope. Edifices of faith and determination and sacrifice. These are stories of encouragement.

And it occurred to me even more deeply that this is part of why we are here. To be part of the encouragement. To be part of the cloud of witnesses that says “well done faithful servants. To give thanks with them in their joy and to promise to remember that we are on this journey together.

Can you imagine what that means?

There will be more stories and amazing video when the time is right, including the sound of 740 boarding school girls singing. An angel chorus. Bandwith prevents tonight. Pray for is as we each journey to different churches tomorrow.