Home Sweet Home

Sorry reader.... for being MIA for so many days. We apologize that we've not been updating the blog during our trip. Main reason to it is because of the tight schedule we had and we hardly had a chance to go to an internet cafe... even when we have a touch on a computer, the internet speed isn't fast enough for us to blog within the short amount of time we were given. So we sincerely apologize for that.

To my friends, I've safely arrived in Singapore yesterday morning. Had a long rest yesterday and am back to work today. Piles of work waiting for me to finish.. but well, I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me! So not too worried about them.

Many things I've learned and experienced from this trip and I wouldn't be able to share everything in just one post. Gonna be busy the next few days. So I shall summarize my experiences in few words and I'll update more when I have a chance to.

This trip have been fruitful, empowering, insightful.... (probably the others can add in more) long traveling and rushing from one place to another had been a little tiring to most of us. Great friendship was built. We were well fed and we were covered with flower fragrance all the time.

Stay tune. More to come!!

Day one and the gang's all here!

God is good all the time...

We arrived in Hyderabad safely and without a hitch at 1:30am. I am writing you from the home of Sunitha Mortha's (ELCA Global Mission staff) parents for lunch and time to get to know one another. Saturday in the city is a sight to see: mopeds and little yellow 'rickshaws' that look like a cross between a moped and a mini Cooper among huge buses and ox drawn carts. There is an unbelievable dialogue to the traffic mixed with hand signals that keeps things moving at a fast pace. Women in brightly colored saris on the back of mopeds are busy about the day as women are everywhere.

Our group of women from the U.S., India, Singapore and Japan grew by one today: Mani Kumari Christopher, the wife of Bishop Christopher of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, who will join us for the journey. Day one thanks for your prayers... more to come.

Valora

Newsletter!

Dear Readers,

Here's a brief information of the trip. Click on the images to view. Do keep us in prayer =)

Tentative schedule for Women Building Global Community

This schedule will give you an idea of pace, content, and plans for our journey. In the spirit of accompaniment, it is imperative that we are flexible and use this as a guide for our journey. Our hosts continue to work as we are making our way to make this program happen. We will trust the spirit and remain open to all that we experience.

Wednesday, 14 February: Chicago
Travel to Chicago from your home city. Arrive at hotel for dinner and rest.

Thursday, 15 February: Chicago/Amsterdam
Breakfast and orientation begin at 8:30 a.m. at The Lutheran Center.
Lunch
Depart for airport

Friday, 16 February: Amsterdam/Hyderabad

Saturday, 17 February: Hyderabad
Orientation to India
Shopping
Learning opportunity: A.C.T.C. "Bible Women"
Birla Mandir - Temple visit
Dinner at Ghazal Place (traditional Indian meal and music)

Sunday, 18 February: Hyderabad
Travel in smaller groups to four different congregations for worship and to get acquainted with the Hyderabad.
Learning opportunity: overview of women's issues in India, Japan, and Singapore

Monday, 19 February: Hyderabad/Guntur
Day spent at the Henry Martin Institute, a hub for interfaith and ecumenical dialogue, as well as raising the awareness of women's issues and gender bias.

Tuesday, 20 February: Guntur
Get acquainted with Guntur and issues here. Over time, the Ashrams have become centers for lower caste and casteless women seeking refuge from violence, abuse, and abject poverty.
Tour Andhra Christian Theological College
Learning opportunity: Ashram ministry to women

Wednesday, 21 February: Guntur
A full day of program visits.
Tour the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Women's Wing.
Learning opportunity: Visit with women and meet Subhashini Bondu, director of the AELC women's program.

Thursday, 22 February: Guntur/Chennai
Another full day of program visits.
Visit the offices of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)
Learning opportunity: women's evangelism program
Take the train to Chennai.

Friday, 23 February: Chennai
Early morning arrival in Chennai.
Learning opportunity: UELCI AIDS desk
Lunch at the Women's Center
Learning opportunity: visit to Slum Women's Advancement Center
Free evening for rest or shopping

Saturday, 24 February: Chennai
The focus today is on women in society.
Learning opportunity: round table with women in various professions.
Learning opportunity: visit to YWCA children and women's project

Sunday, 25 February: Chennai
Travel in smaller groups to four different congregations.
Worship
Lunch with host congregation
Learning opportunities: conversations with host women, city tour, group working session
Dinner and depart for airport

Monday, 26 February: Bombay/Amsterdam/Chicago

For your Monday prayers at noon: global ed seminar in India,
Feb. 15–26
by Valora Starr

Lutheran women have been praying on Mondays at noon for a long time. Have you ever asked what they pray for? Everything! Many have used this appointed time to help center and discipline their own personal prayer life. Some groups began as a way to practice and experience the power of corporate prayer.

The Women Building Global Community International Seminar to India—a joint effort of the Women of the ELCA Global Education program and the ELCA Global Mission Companion Synod program—will host nine young ELCA women and six young women from their companion churches in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. These women ages 21–35 will need your prayers not only on the Mondays of their journey but each day as they meet with young women in India to focus on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, education of young women, and the roles of young women in the church and society. They will work to discover what impact they can make together to make a difference first where each young women lives and then in the world.

The young women called to make the journey are:
Louise A. Brooks, Harvest, Alabama
Rev. Mary M. Finklea, Florence, South Carolina
Vicki Foss, Pine City, Minnesota
Elizabeth Froehlig, Goleta, California
Ralecia L. Hamm, Athens, Georgia
Susan Haukaas, Thief River Falls, Minnesota
Bridget Horan, Los Angeles, California
Karen Morehouse, Spearfish, South Dakota
Sandy Seffrood, South Wayne, Wisconsin

Valora Starr is an associate for programs in the areas of evangelism, discipleship, stewardship, and global education, Women of the ELCA.

Last-minute prep!

The time is slipping by so very fast and I'm already not sleeping well. This is my usual pre-trip problem. I get it from my mom. We're both cronically excited. I wake up much too early and can't wait to get up and do some prep for the trip. The order of the day today is packing! I hope to have everything packed by the end of the day. That will leave me all day Tuesday and part of Wednesday to obsess about everything I've already packed and hopefully I'll be re-packed by the time my flight leaves!

I'm also busy putting all things work related in order before I go. I'm a youth director at a large church and so I have endless details to finish before I leave. It's hard to think of all the things that need to happen while I'm gone and do them now. I said goodbye to my kids (I don't have any of my own so I mean my youth group) on Wednesday and then again yesterday at Sunday school. I will miss them and I know a lot will happen that I'll have to catch-up on when I return.
Mike (my husband) has been a huge help, as usual. He patiently went shopping with me for 2 hours on Friday night for travel stuff. He held the list and pushed the cart and gave opinions while I hemmed and hawed. Many people have asked how he'll survive without me while I leave him behind. To which with both respond, "What else is new". I'm always going on trips with my youth, my parents, for conferences. He does very well by himself, but he's always happy to see me too.

So now I'm off to pack! I can't wait to meet all my travel companions and I can't wait to see India. How did the months go by so fast!!

Susan Haukaas <><

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead!!

Hi Everyone,

Juz a short introduction about myself, I'm Angeline from Singapore. Currently working as a Mulimedia in a primary school. Basically my main job scope is to teach the students and teachers how to use certain computer softwares and also to handle all the IT stuff related.

I'm thankful to God and ELCA who has given me the opportunity to go on this study trip. Am really looking forward to it. Something that excites me in the midst of all the busyness.

Since school started in January, work has been piling up. Before I could finish one, another one came in. It's still piling. Praying for God strength to complete the task before I go.

Will be missing Chinese New Year this year (one of the chinese most important festival). Kind of sad cos I'll be missing the chance to visit my relatives who I only see them about once a year. will be missing all the "ang bao" (red packets) from the elders. But it's ok, cos God has given me an even "bigger" red packet -- that is to go on this trip. Guess I'll visit them before the trip or after the trip. Hope to be able to bring the team some "surprises" for that day! =P

Pretty anxious now as it's the first time I'm travelling all by myself in the plane. =) Guess it would be fun. Couldn't wait to see my new friends! **c ya very soon, ladies**

Agape,
Angeline