Hyderabad HMI

Greetings now from Tirvuvannamalai ready for a day of learning about Hinduism and visiting a Temple today.  Recently we were in Hyderabad at the Henry Martyn Institute learning about Islam.  One of our speakers spoke of community development between the Hindu and Muslim communities. We experienced this community first hand as we visited a sight where the young women are learning together the skill of tailoring and the art hena.  The men are busy with pottery wheels creating all types of vessels to use.  Often it is hard to load up photo's so please visit the Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry Facebook page if you are able. 

Golden Temple

On Satruday we spent part of the day at the Golden Temple.  Washing our feet and hands, heads covered, shoes off we headed into the Temple area with our guides.  Thousands of people are here at the Temple to work and wash themselves in the water around the Temple.  Sikhism is a religion you are only born into and cannot become by conversion.  Our guide offered many thoughts along the way as we were pilgrims in this new land.

This Sikhi Temple serves food to thousands of people daily and never purchases anything.  The needed supplies are brought by pilgrims, beans, flour, chai......volunteers create the meal.  We had the opportunity to try our hand at rolling chapati.

We were able to enter the Temple but very quickly and spent only time moving halfway around the altar area.  Personal space is not an option.  The chanting of their sacred book was being offered up inside the Temple.

Outside the Temple so we were offered communion, a ball of dough made of wheat and gee.

We have yet to process the experience.  More caught up in fashion of color and turbans and bangles for now.

In Amritsar, India - First Day

Here we are our first full day in India, which included a flight to Amritsar.  Tomorrow we head to the Golden Temple to serve and see.  Wonderful group of wondering wanders!  Wonder how God will lead us and what we will learn. 

Sojourn to India 2016

Sojourners:  Connie Hanson, Sandra Anderson, Melissa and Paul Steen, Tania Haber, Mary Barber, Terry Lohmann, Bob Wertz, Julie Rogness, Mary Peterson

O God, 

you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  

Give us faith to go out with good courage, 

not knowing where we go, 

but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.