Funding

Our proposal was submitted and we received the full amount requested from the Synod of the Northeast. It will fully cover the cost of lodging for the four of us for 3 full weeks in India. The proposal to the Presbytery of Long Island has not been reviewed yet. Update to follow.

Buffering, buffering...

Every day I go to the mailbox hoping for a letter from Etah. It was only just today that I checked to see when I had mailed the last letter, and it was a scant 4 weeks ago. Hardly enough time to reach its destination and elicit a response. So I just need to chill for a couple more weeks.

In the meantime I've worked on proposals to various bodies of the Presbyterian Church, USA. The Session (governing body) of the Smithtown church has pledged $3300. towards airfare for Pastor Jimmy Hulsey, me and Deacon Lois Netter. The Baldwin church has pledged $250. towards travel expenses for Elder Margaret Cook. Tomorrow is the day two submissions will be made; one to the Presbytery of Long Island, hopefully for the balance of the travel costs and one to the Synod of the Northeast, hopefully for lodging costs.

This Sunday Lois, Margaret and I are going in to the city to see a program of Indian Classical Dance. One of the performers, Satya Pradeep, and her students presented an outstanding dance program at our church and is willing to do so again. we are looking forward to some good Indian food afterward. Seeing as how we will probably be sharing a room for three weeks in India, some bonding time beforehand is a good thing.

The Blog, Resumed

Hello Friends,

It has been a very long time since the last post and a lot to catch up on. I have been troubled about the upcoming trip this October, as a different opportunity was presented. And it has taken some time to come to terms with the change because of the commitment I made for a group trip in October 2010. I am now convinced that the change will benefit the group and the mission.

Jimmy Hulsey, the Pastor of my church, and I have been invited by the Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India (CNI) to spend time in Delhi in October. I expect we would stay at the Bhavan, which is headquarters for administration and has housing for visitors. We would meet with staff of CNI and become more familiar with the Church mission and outreach. This opportunity is most important as Rev. Pradhan is retiring. During the time of transition, Presbyterian partners are welcome to maintain and build the relationship which has already been established.

We have contacted partners in Etah to determine the possibility of spending about a week there. Relationship building is critical to our ability to go forward with meaningful support of education for dalit children. The community in Etah is involved in other outreach such as

the Christian Hospital in Kasganj, and we would be able to visit there. Hopefully we will visit rural villages and learn firsthand the circumstances in which village folk live.

The third and final week of the trip will be to Darjeeling to visit Rev. Pradhan at his home. His retirement plans include vocational training, so we will become familiar with those efforts. Darjeeling is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a very beautiful and serene place. It will give us a chance to digest some of what we will have seen and learned.

We are in the process of seeking grant money from our church, and the Presbytery of Long Island. And we are partnering with another Presbyterian church in Baldwin. We have identified a group of 4 people representing both congregations to participate in this mission trip.

For those who planned to go to India this October, I hope you can adjust your plans to October of 2011. That trip will be all the more meaningful for the relationships to be developed this year. And you will still get to see the Taj and much, much more.

On a personal note, November through the present has been a good and interesting time for me and Gerard. We enjoyed a family vacation with our daughters, son in law and grandchildren in Cancun over an extended Thanksgiving vacation. While we enjoyed the sun, the first phase of kitchen renovation, demolition, was accomplished. We spent the next month confined to our small (but cozy) den. nevertheless Christmas cards were sent out, gifts wrapped and preparations made for guests to arrive on Christmas day. The job was 97% complete two days before Christmas, leaving time for clean up and minimalist decorating.

The following Monday Gerard and I drove to Bloomington, Illinois to visit the Jones family and new puppy Snoofie. We stayed a week and went up to Chicago to the Art Institute which neither of us had previously visited. We spent the day, saw much of the collection and were able to join two tours, one of Asian art and the other of Modern. Then homeward bound, staying one night in Indiana.

Now we are back in the bustle of lessons, meetings, choral groups and the like. We have joined a bridge group and did pretty well on our first time out. I am a member of Bread for the World and we are preparing for the annual Lenten soup supper. Gerard is now working for the Census, an eight week full time stint. He is enjoying going out to different group living to verify the presence of residents in preparation for the actual census. A cell phone is a job requirement, so believe it or not, he now has one.

As of yesterday, the kitchen was 100% complete, and the dining room which had collateral issues will be 100% again by tomorrow afternoon. After the back fence gets painted I will turn more focused attention to India. I want to be able to speak at least a little Hindi before we go.

And let's not forget the Rev. A. G. McGaw. Upcoming posts will share more of his story.

Catching Up on AG's College Years

September, 1889 begins junior year at Wooster. AG is boarding at Miss Alexander's club. He has to walk four block for meals: "exercise is a good thing and don't make the beefsteak any tougher." Nor more tender, apparently. Summer vacation was spent at Herseman, Illinois, and the surroundings on certain occasions were very agreeable. "I embraced some very precious opportunities in trying to better the conditions of a poor fellow."

"Another year of student life is before me. What will the record be?

My influence may become greater and more for good I believe than it has been in the past.

I sincerely ask God's help to live a pure and holy life, and one that will be helpful to fellow students.

I need to go to work, conscientiously, determinedly, persistently, attentively, systematically and prayerfully.

Oh Thou Triune God, my Heavenly Father, My saviour, my Comforter, my Guide, help me."

The next journal entry is on Jan. 8, 1890 which was spent happily in Herseman with his Uncle and family. With everyone at home, it is likely that more very precious opportunities arose. On January 20th he writes Ella's name in his journal for the first time.

India Mission Dinner

With the help of folks from the Flower Guild and Church and Community Committee, the dinner on Saturday, October 24th went off without a hitch. People liked the food, although there were some who thought it was very spicy. They were encouraged to use more raita to cool things off. The dessert rice pudding, kheer, was very popular and we ran out.

Entertainment was a film, Sita Sings the Blues, a retelling of the classic Indian tale The Ramayana. It is animated and produced by Nina Paley, an American woman who wove her own marital story into Sita's. There was humor throughout and great jazz standards making the film unusual and highly creative. You can find it on the PBS website.

I got a cold while my sisters were here, but it didn't interfere with our good time together. After they went home I took a couple of days to just rest. the body was clearly sending a message. I'm feeling much better and working on communication with the Church of North India. And getting ready for kitchen renovation.

Next post will return to the story of AG McGaw.

India Mission Network Meeting

October 21st and 22nd, 2009 found me in Cincinnatti, Ohio with Jimmy Hulsey, Pastor of the Smithtown Presbyterian Church. Our purpose was to attend the India Mission Network meetings held prior to the Presbyterian Worldwide Mission Conference. Mission Networks bring together Presbyterians from around the United States who share a common international mission focus. Each Network centers around a specific country, people group or program area of ministry.

We used our time together to become familiar with one another and our unique mission outreach. I was delighted to meet Sue Hudson, recently returned from India. Sue has established contacts with members of the Church of North India and will be very helpful in linking us with the staff who will be most able and happy to smooth our way.

Led by Margaret L. Shafer, we examined perspectives surrounding Conversion, and our role as witnesses to the love we experience through Jesus Christ. She helped us to review the Hindutva movement and Hindu responses to religious pluralism. And we examined how our witness can be life affirming in the context of India.

Jimmy volunteered to put together a list of our important contacts in India, along with a description of our mission activities, and contact information for each of us. This tool will be helpful to anyone interested in India and particularly for India Mission Network members as we further develop relationships with one another. Eventually this information will be posted on the PCUSA website.

Preparations continued today for the India Mission Dinner at the Smithtown Church tomorrow. Floral centerpieces are ready, rajma and kheer are made. The program is written and tomorrow final touches (like setting tables, heating food, decorating) will be completed. My sisters, Eleanor and Michelle are coming and we plan to spend a couple of days together after the dinner. Looking forward to it all.

Back to AG at Wooster

Year 2, College of Wooster - Letters from home are noted, including a brief summary of the contents and school life continues much the same. Attendance at YMCA meetings, Mission Board meetings, prayer and lectures and sermons continue to be highlights. His little journal contains sermon titles and reflection on Christ. He is taking Trigonometry, Latin, Greek, Biology and Recitation in addition to religion classes.

AG still rooms with Ed who is in the know about all kinds of campus happenings and has visitors, some of whom smoke. The entry for October 27, 1887 stands out from all the seriousness of other entries. "Sat. eve. Cloudy chilly day - have been to YMCA business meeting had a good one also mission board prayer. Have not studied much today. The excitement following the chicken stealing expedition has run high at times. Since it occurred last night as I became awake, about 1 o'clock last night by the crowd coming in my room to talk over the affair with Ed. I guess the thieves had a spiteful joke played on them, and badly scared. Lively times at table if Prohibition happens to come up for discussion." Concern for the poor farmers, wagons, small buildings and dogs as Halloween approaches.

Nov. 22 '87 Nightly meetings were held at the YMCA for 10 consecutive days. AG was blessed by having his own heart revived, but there were no professions of conversion. He exhorts himself to Be Cheerful, Be Neat, Do everything carefully.

Christmas vacation was spent pleasurably in Toledo with cousins where he enjoyed several handcar (?) rides and learned to skate.

Back at Wooster in January, 1888 AG writes "What the outcome of '88 will be, I know not, but I hope I shall have gained much in Christian life and the discipline of my mind." In February he stood up with 17 other students during a meeting to announce his intention to become a missionary.

The Spring term presents challenges in oration, where he is criticized for his delivery. Overall, he receives a 90 for his course work. Deep appreciation is expressed for the opportunities he has, and his desire to understand the Lord's plan for him and to do His work.