Day 8
Day 8 already. I should have been in India already, but the visa didn't make it here in time for me to catch my flight on Sunday. That's a story all to itself, but I'll catch it in the proper order.
First I need to give Sunday more than the cursory note that I posted last. Sunday was packed full of interesting happenings. Saji was guest preaching at a church near here, so I had the unusual position of being a guest of honor at this church. In addition to that, Saji suggested that I wear an Indian kurta instead of a dress shirt (I wore slacks as I normally would). Naturally, since I was wearing such a conspicuously unusual garment, I attracted quite a few questions and had plenty of chances to tell what God has been doing of late. It was really good.
After church, we were invited to eat at one of the church member's house - which was especially nice because Sunday was Mother's Day. Our visit didn't upset the proceedings too much... the whole family showed up and we had a great time. Then in the evening, some new friends came over for dinner... a couple whom Saji had recently met, who have a ministry that does or could dovetail with RIMI. We had a good time with them... lots of good food and fellowship.
(My time here in Chicago has been really good in that respect. I've been meeting new people almost daily. People who have a large vision of what God is trying to do in the world. That has both encouraged me and helped stretch my own perspective of what is and what may happen.)
Not a whole lot happened on Monday, except that we finally found out what happened to my visa application. The Indian Embassy in Houston had lost it. We don't know how, but apparently someone put it in the wrong stack or some similar problem, and they didn't even know they had it. When we finally did get hold of them (through several layers of intermediaries), the did find my application and uttered a giant "Oooops!" They, of course, made all due haste, finished it up, and sent it by FedEx (I had included a "forwarding" airbill). Currently, said package is en route from Memphis, TN to here. The latest it should arrive is Thursday, so I will be on a plane Friday at the latest, Lord willing.
Well, that's about all for now. Good night, all.
First I need to give Sunday more than the cursory note that I posted last. Sunday was packed full of interesting happenings. Saji was guest preaching at a church near here, so I had the unusual position of being a guest of honor at this church. In addition to that, Saji suggested that I wear an Indian kurta instead of a dress shirt (I wore slacks as I normally would). Naturally, since I was wearing such a conspicuously unusual garment, I attracted quite a few questions and had plenty of chances to tell what God has been doing of late. It was really good.
After church, we were invited to eat at one of the church member's house - which was especially nice because Sunday was Mother's Day. Our visit didn't upset the proceedings too much... the whole family showed up and we had a great time. Then in the evening, some new friends came over for dinner... a couple whom Saji had recently met, who have a ministry that does or could dovetail with RIMI. We had a good time with them... lots of good food and fellowship.
(My time here in Chicago has been really good in that respect. I've been meeting new people almost daily. People who have a large vision of what God is trying to do in the world. That has both encouraged me and helped stretch my own perspective of what is and what may happen.)
Not a whole lot happened on Monday, except that we finally found out what happened to my visa application. The Indian Embassy in Houston had lost it. We don't know how, but apparently someone put it in the wrong stack or some similar problem, and they didn't even know they had it. When we finally did get hold of them (through several layers of intermediaries), the did find my application and uttered a giant "Oooops!" They, of course, made all due haste, finished it up, and sent it by FedEx (I had included a "forwarding" airbill). Currently, said package is en route from Memphis, TN to here. The latest it should arrive is Thursday, so I will be on a plane Friday at the latest, Lord willing.
Well, that's about all for now. Good night, all.