Semper Gumby

Flexibility on our short-term missions trips is increasingly required as we travel and serve.  I am in the middle of a trip to New Dehli and Dehradun, India and Kathmandu, Nepal from October 31 to November 13.

We are seeking to provide evangelism services in various prisons and to present conferences on building up prison ministries among nationals. I am appreciating every member of our team and our PFC hosting missionaries and pastors.

Our PFC team is Greg and Rhonda Von Tobel, Jamie Neault, Steve Lamken, and me. 

                         Always flexible
We are adopting a Marine Corps slogan, "Semper Gumby," which means always flexible. While guests in another culture, we must genuinely honor and respect their ways.  The first thing we deal with is how nationals deal with time commitments.  We try to be on-time.  Other cultures not so much.  There were numerous flex challenges.

We faced restrictions entering prisons to provide worship services. 

In Dehradun, our team met with the superintendent in his office.  From the outset, he multi-tasked on steroids and deflected our requests to enter inside the facility--we were not getting inside.  Eventually, he allowed a shortened service for 30 inmates and staff.

On Monday, our area representative even arranged to have a select group of politicians and respected officials participate with us attempting to persuade the superintendent. When we arrived, the officer informed us he had orders to not allow us even past the gate. When the officials arrived, they were ushered in an met for close to an hour with the superintendent. They tried but the result was the same.  The American foreigner missionaries did not go in.

In both occasions, our nationals were allowed in and presented services for 225 inmates and staff with positive results. 
                    
                           Massive population

You should see the wall-to-wall people in India, approximately 1.24 billion.  China has 1.43 billion... New Dehli has 18 million, 9 million id abject poverty...Dehradun (pronounced "doon") has 10 million, doubled in 10 years. 

In contrast.... 

Metro Seattle is 616 thousand

Everett-Olympia I-5 corridor is 3.5 million
New York is 8.24 million
Los Angeles is 3.8 million

US is 313 million

The people walk, mostly ride on motorcycles, honk, take bigger taxis, honk to tell you where they are and what they are doing, and forever cutting in front of one another. There are cars for some.  Did I mention they honk more? They drive on the left, all this in warp speed everywhere.  The roads are good but woefully inadequate for the still-growing population.

The physical atmosphere is smokey because they burn trash or let it sit in piles along the road. We witnessed some trash pick-up service. The god-like cows and roaming dogs eat the trash.  In the cities, the dogs do not appear dangerous but are not taken care of.  There are a few pet dogs and fewer cats. Occasionally, we saw monkeys and pigs roaming.

                            Stages of closed

India appears to be developing into a closed and intolerant atmosphere even in policies and laws toward Christian missions.  There are consistent stories of physical persecution during open air preaching. The religious culture is at least 80% Hindu, then Buddhist, and Muslim. Nationals report the Christian presence is greater than the 3% documented but is in pockets with huge areas unreached. 

The culture is polar rich and in staggering poverty.