Blunder Repair

I made myself crazy after I sent for and recieved a birth certificate from the New York City Dept. of Health. It included very little information and I was afraid that it would not be accepted by the Indian Embassy. So I emailed the company I got the certificate from and I emailed the company that handles the visas for India. My "issue" was that the visa instructions said information on the certificate must include parents names, date of birth and nationality. My interpretation was that date of birth and nationality pertained to the parents. But it didn't and all went smoothly. (After I had to call Gerard two times; once for the exact address of where I was going and the second time for a telephone number where I can be reached in India. Good thing he decided not to go with me.)

I was lucky that Lois was in Manhattan that day as well to visit the Met with a friend, so I joined them for the costume exhibit and lunch. It made the day go quickly in a very pleasant way.

Earlier in the week our group of four met Professor Richard Young at Princeton Theological Seminary. He teaches World Religions and is extremely knowledgeable about Christianity in India. He had many insights to share about political situations that could affect our reception in Etah and about the plight of Indian Christians in general. so many Christians have converted from Hinduism where they were Dalit or Outcaste people. Indian laws have penalized these people in terms of educational opportunities and government job set asides that they no longer qualify for once they convert. Unfortunately conversion alone does not magically raise them out of dire poverty. The situation now with fundamentalist Hindus and the Hindutva movement also present potentially life threatening challenges to Christians as well as to Moslems. We don't know of this type of violence in the Etah area to date.

Professor Young also expressed concern about groups who do mission without connection to the established churches of India. There is no communication between these groups and the indigenous churches. This is not only disrespectful, it can be dangerous to those they are converting and is illegal. Two groups in particular enjoy the support of PCUSA, even as they disregard basic tenets of working in foreign cultures. We hope that our reports upon return can help alleviate some of these tensions.

A Blunder

Today I planned a trip to the city with Lois and Jimmy to get our Visas at the Indian Embassy. You drop off your passport and assorted other things in the AM, per a pre arranged appointment and pick up the passport with visa in the afternoon. One of the assorted other things is a birth certificate, which of course I have and had no need to check on in advance. Sure enough, that attitude led to disaster; the birth certificate was no where to be found. So Jimmy and Lois went in without me and I ordered a new one. I'll let you know if the old one turns up in the meantime.

On the plus side, I will receiving reimbursement for airfare in the mail in a day or two. And reservations are made for two nights in Darjeeling. Of course Lois had a lot of info to go over with us on the train, but she and Jimmy can make decisions on our behalf.

Sunday's Sermon

During the Sermon on Sunday Jimmy talked about our upcoming trip and how we would be extending the hand of love and friendship, deepening relationships with our sisters and brothers. He relayed a conversation he had with his dentist, who is of Indian descent. The dentist talked about the huge contributions Christian missionaries had made to India through schools and hospitals. These institutions trained and cared for anyone who came to them regardless of caste, creed, race, etc. And it was within these institutions that the caste system began to be broken down as people were forced to be in the presence of people they would not otherwise have tolerated.

Christians, Buddhists and Moslems raised people from untouchable and outcaste to children of God. Imagine learning that you are a person of worth and loved by the God who created you. A powerful message to people suffering on the edge.

Today I completed my application for an Indian Visa. I'll be going in to NY to submit it on August 2nd with Jimmy and Lois. Now all I have to do is remember the safe place where I put my pictures.

India in the News

It seems India is everywhere. Today the Times had two articles. Protests there against an honor killing made page one and further on there was an article about two Americans of Indian descent. Both of them are in elected office and both had converted to Christianity before their political lives began. It seems like the opposite poles.

I remember a young woman I used to work with who converted to Christianity in order to make herself acceptable to her future husband's family. They were Greek Orthodox. She did not want her family to know what she had done and so she did not wear the new gold cross in their presence. No religion is without adherents who cannot accept deviations from custom.

It Counts as Progress

Letter written to Pastor UR Jacob. He is the Pastor of the McGaw Memorial Church, or at least he was six years ago. We never met him as he had to attend a meeting in Agra when we visited Etah.

Enos said he would work on arrangements with Etah from his end, but I figure another letter couldn't hurt, expecially since I already have the stamps. And I'll send a copy to Bishop Cutting of Agra.

It all sounds so simple except that the printer hasn't been working ever since we had a paper jam. That got cleared up and it still didn't work. Turns out I had reattached a cable that came loose, but I put it in the wrong place. All is well now and I am very sorry for the big chunk of Erica's time I wasted.

Self Discipline

Every day I think about the Blog. do I have something to say? Is is important enough to write about? Clearly, this line of thinking is not productive.

Every day should be moving forward towards our trip, making it more productive, educational, fun, etc. And most days we do move forward, especially if you count tangential contacts. For example, I met with Arvind Vora, Chairman of the Multi-Faith Forum of the Long Island Council of Churches. Through him I have met other members of the Council, some of whom are Indian. Every new contact has the potential to open new doors.

Yesterday I spoke with my dear friend, Shaan Mehta. Shaan's mother, Birjees and my mother were very close friends so we are family to one another. Shaan tells me her mother will be thrilled to see me when we are in Delhi, which is very good news. And she has messages for me to share with a shopkeeper or two in Darjeeling.

Jimmy has made some wonderful contacts for us and we will be meeting with educators in the US and in Delhi who are well known for their knowledge of Dalit Theology. We have much to learn.

And now I must reach out again to see if I can connect with someone in Etah. Even though the General Secretary of the Church of North India is trying to help, I think I need to give it another try.

I am reading a very good book lent to me by my sister, Eleanor. "The Age of Shiva" by Manil Suri has many references to Hindu beliefs and traditions and to the effects of Partition. It is the human story of love and desire, motherhood, and all the nuances of familial responsibilites and relationships. A great read.

Self Discipline

Every day I think about the Blog. do I have something to say? Is is important enough to write about? Clearly, this line of thinking is not productive.

Every day should be moving forward towards our trip, making it more productive, educational, fun, etc. And most days we do move forward, especially if you count tangential contacts. For example, I met with Arvind Vora, Chairman of the Multi-Faith Forum of the Long Island Council of Churches. Through him I have met other members of the Council, some of whom are Indian. Every new contact has the potential to open new doors.

Yesterday I spoke with my dear friend, Shaan Mehta. Shaan's mother, Birjees and my mother were very close friends so we are family to one another. Shaan tells me her mother will be thrilled to see me when we are in Delhi, which is very good news. And she has messages for me to share with a shopkeeper or two in Darjeeling.

Jimmy has made some wonderful contacts for us and we will be meeting with educators in the US and in Delhi who are well known for their knowledge of Dalit Theology. We have much to learn.

And now I must reach out again to see if I can connect with someone in Etah. Even though the General Secretary of the Church of North India is trying to help, I think I need to give it another try.

I am reading a very good book lent to me by my sister, Eleanor. "The Age of Shiva" by Manil Suri has many references to Hindu beliefs and traditions and to the effects of Partition. It is the human story of love and desire, motherhood, and all the nuances of familial responsibilites and relationships. A great read.