We have not left for India yet (departing LAX 1:05am, July 2, 2007).
We have not even left Pasadena yet (sometime in the morning June 1, 2007; first stop Carson City, Nevada, on a trip through central California, to Oregon to Washington and back again concluding June 30 with one night at Brandon’s, our youngest son, in San Juan Capistrano, CA).
But the journey is definitely on!
This portion of our life journey may have begun at the end of November, 2006. That’s when the pieces began to almost visibly (for us, anyway!) move into place and toward one another. Some of this current journey's key pieces probably entered our lives last summer when we visited India for three weeks. Back then we thought they were incidental and impractical.
But something changed last November when we returned to Pasadena from a Thanksgiving visit in Seattle with our girls. We were challenged by a couple, who are friends and co-workers, to re-think those pieces.
As we did, their incidental, impractical appearance began to fade as we considered the ideals of:
• advancing the kingdom - especially at the edges - and
• essential mobility.
We were inspired by a distant vision of the possibility that we, in our going, could contribute to the kingdom's advance in distant, uncharted, spiritual realms of North India. Some have said this region of India contains the largest concentration (number and variety) in the world of unreached peoples. One could perhaps make a similar case for the largest concentration in the world of bypassed peoples – those who have heard the claims of the kingdom, but not in a thorough enough way to effectively challenge their allegiance. This, combined with the unique combination of our interests in education and in art, led to exploring roles in what was already being done and in what has never been done.
Heady stuff – vision and dreams!
And then came the checks and balances of practicalities. Things like initial inquiries and introductory applications. And eventually came approval paths and questions of, “Yes, but how?” (not to mention, "Why?").
The cascade of practicalities has turned into myriads of details in which we are now deeply immersed. As I (Chuck) write this I’m surrounded by boxes and piles of things being sorted for an upcoming yard sale, for give away, and for “temporary babysitting.” A couple crucial components in the approval path are still pending – one being the final paperwork for our visas. Each day, it seems, new details and tasks surface, and before any of them are completed, even newer ones demand attention!
Amidst all the trees, it’s often difficult to see the forest. But it’s there. We’re at that stage of our journey of having to regularly remind ourselves the forest is there, and that the forest is comprised of these thickets of individual trees. There are kingdom purposes for what we do, even when we're heavily occupied with practical, everyday matters.
Speaking of which, this week...
1. We're busy packing, sorting, and preparing things for the yard sale.
2. Janis presents a seminar on her topic of interest to the community this Wednesday (5/16) morning.
3. Janis and I share with the community on Thursday (5/17) afternoon about what we will be doing in India.
4. Yard sale Saturday (5/19) from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
5. 3rd LA Regional Art Consultation also Saturday (5/19) from 7:00-9:00 pm.
6. Mosaic, our Local Fellowship, commissions us for foreign service Sunday (5/20) from 2:00-5:00 pm.
Trying not to miss any trees while keeping the forest in view while we travel there and back again...
Monday, May 14, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tension Mounts, Anticipation Grows
The time of departure is drawing closer each day. With each day's advance, we feel the tension rise. There is so much to accomplish in:
> wrapping up job responsibilities,
> closing up a household,
> preparing for a month on the road sharing with family, friends and supporters, and
> final preparations for at least 3 years of life and service in India!
To complicate matters, Janis was sick two weekends ago - possibly related to the intensity of the conference on human trafficking. In her distracted state, she washed her cell phone in the laundry! Consequently, she's without cell phone use, probably for the remainder of our time in the U.S.
A growing concern for Chuck is the timing of his application for an employment visa in India. The usual length of visa is only 1-year, and begins from date of issuance, not the first day on the job. So there is value in waiting to apply. But, because we'll be on the road in June, our applications will probably need to be done this month (May). However, there are a few crucial documents still in transit keeping us from starting that process.
A short information letter from us will be coming out sometime this week. Some will receive it by U.S. Mail, others by email. If you don't receive our letters, and would like to, please email either Janis at janis.lindley@wciu.edu, or Chuck at chuck.lindley@wciu.edu.
We're looking forward to seeing many of you in the month of June, and our anticipation of starting the journey in India grows daily!
> wrapping up job responsibilities,
> closing up a household,
> preparing for a month on the road sharing with family, friends and supporters, and
> final preparations for at least 3 years of life and service in India!
To complicate matters, Janis was sick two weekends ago - possibly related to the intensity of the conference on human trafficking. In her distracted state, she washed her cell phone in the laundry! Consequently, she's without cell phone use, probably for the remainder of our time in the U.S.
A growing concern for Chuck is the timing of his application for an employment visa in India. The usual length of visa is only 1-year, and begins from date of issuance, not the first day on the job. So there is value in waiting to apply. But, because we'll be on the road in June, our applications will probably need to be done this month (May). However, there are a few crucial documents still in transit keeping us from starting that process.
A short information letter from us will be coming out sometime this week. Some will receive it by U.S. Mail, others by email. If you don't receive our letters, and would like to, please email either Janis at janis.lindley@wciu.edu, or Chuck at chuck.lindley@wciu.edu.
We're looking forward to seeing many of you in the month of June, and our anticipation of starting the journey in India grows daily!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
PREPARATIONS FOR INDIA
JANIS
Janis attended the first ASHA Forum Consultation in North America – a 3-night and 2-day conference hosted by the Asha Forum (www.asha.viva.org) and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena dealing with the global issue of children who have been sexually exploited or trafficked.
Some Things To Know About*:
Q. What Is Child Trafficking?
A. It is when children are recruited through force, deception or kidnapping, and transported within their country or across borders in order for them to be exploited. Most countries in the world are involved – they may be a source for trafficked children, a place where they pass through, or a destination for trafficked children.
Q. Where Is The Problem?
A. Every year at least one million children are estimated to be trafficked around the world and that number is growing. Hot spots include the Asian region – countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, children are also trafficked across the world, in Europe, the United States and Africa.
Q. Why Does It Happen?
A. Child trafficking happens because there is a demand for children’s bodies and labor in a range of industries. Children are more vulnerable than adults, because they often do not know their rights and can be more easily tricked or coerced. Factors like war, family breakdown or lack of employment opportunities also make trafficking more likely. The situation is worse in countries where the rights of children are not adequately protected by authorities.
*[adapted from Justice for Children International, “Child Trafficking: What You Should Know,” and information from onebigvillage.com]
Some Basic Statistics on Human Trafficking*:
• Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.
• It is estimated that at least 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world, many who have been enslaved through being trafficked. This is more than double the number of Africans enslaved during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.[emphasis added]
• UNICEF now believes that the number of children trafficked annually, internally and externally, is between 1 and 2 million.
• It is estimated that two children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
• Up to 50% of people trafficked are children. (estimate US State Department, 2006)
• In 2006, at least 600,000 to 800,000 persons were trafficked across transnational borders. (estimate US State Department)
• In 2006, 14,500 to 17,500 persons were trafficked in the United States. (estimate UN Office on Drugs and Crime)
• UNICEF estimates that human trafficking generates between 10-12 billion dollars a year in illicit profits for organized crime.
• In 2006, the profits will surpass that of the sale of illegal arms. The profits from human trafficking will be second only to the trafficking of drugs. (Europol)
*[Justice for Children International, “Basic Statistics on Human Trafficking”]
Aside from hearing more facts and heart-rending personal accounts of this evil, Janis also met a number of people involved with discovering and addressing the roots of this pervasive human problem in preparation for her studies in India.
MOVING & TRAVELING
We are in the midst of disposing of our household, wrapping up the multitude of loose ends with bills, changes of addresses, and paperwork for residence in India.
During May we have the following commitments:
Friday and Saturday May 11,12 Janis attends Hindu seminar on campus
Wednesday, May 16, Janis gives seminar on human trafficking
Thursday, May 17 Janis and Chuck report on new assignment in India to FMF
staff
Saturday, May 19 garage sale to dispose of final things
Sunday, May 20 commissioning service by our church, Mosaic
Thursday, May 31 WCIU Convocation service on human trafficking.
Our June travel is looking tentatively like this:
June 1, Carson City, NV
June 2, Sacramento, CA
June 3, Roseburg, OR
June 4-5, Eugene, OR
June 6-8, Tacoma, WA
June 9-11, Seattle, WA
June 12-17, Tacoma, WA
June 18, Portland, OR
June 19-20, Paisley, OR
June 21-23, Watsonville, CA
June 24-30, Santa Cruz [Band Barnabas annual conference]
We return on the 30th to stay the night with our son, Brandon, in San Juan Capistrano, who will take us to LAX on Sunday, July 1. Our plane departs at 1:05 AM July 2. We arrive in Delhi on the evening of July 3. We’ll acclimate for a few days, then begin on July 9 intensive Hindi lessons at East West Language Institute for a month.
Whew!
Janis attended the first ASHA Forum Consultation in North America – a 3-night and 2-day conference hosted by the Asha Forum (www.asha.viva.org) and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena dealing with the global issue of children who have been sexually exploited or trafficked.
Some Things To Know About*:
Q. What Is Child Trafficking?
A. It is when children are recruited through force, deception or kidnapping, and transported within their country or across borders in order for them to be exploited. Most countries in the world are involved – they may be a source for trafficked children, a place where they pass through, or a destination for trafficked children.
Q. Where Is The Problem?
A. Every year at least one million children are estimated to be trafficked around the world and that number is growing. Hot spots include the Asian region – countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, children are also trafficked across the world, in Europe, the United States and Africa.
Q. Why Does It Happen?
A. Child trafficking happens because there is a demand for children’s bodies and labor in a range of industries. Children are more vulnerable than adults, because they often do not know their rights and can be more easily tricked or coerced. Factors like war, family breakdown or lack of employment opportunities also make trafficking more likely. The situation is worse in countries where the rights of children are not adequately protected by authorities.
*[adapted from Justice for Children International, “Child Trafficking: What You Should Know,” and information from onebigvillage.com]
Some Basic Statistics on Human Trafficking*:
• Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.
• It is estimated that at least 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world, many who have been enslaved through being trafficked. This is more than double the number of Africans enslaved during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.[emphasis added]
• UNICEF now believes that the number of children trafficked annually, internally and externally, is between 1 and 2 million.
• It is estimated that two children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
• Up to 50% of people trafficked are children. (estimate US State Department, 2006)
• In 2006, at least 600,000 to 800,000 persons were trafficked across transnational borders. (estimate US State Department)
• In 2006, 14,500 to 17,500 persons were trafficked in the United States. (estimate UN Office on Drugs and Crime)
• UNICEF estimates that human trafficking generates between 10-12 billion dollars a year in illicit profits for organized crime.
• In 2006, the profits will surpass that of the sale of illegal arms. The profits from human trafficking will be second only to the trafficking of drugs. (Europol)
*[Justice for Children International, “Basic Statistics on Human Trafficking”]
Aside from hearing more facts and heart-rending personal accounts of this evil, Janis also met a number of people involved with discovering and addressing the roots of this pervasive human problem in preparation for her studies in India.
MOVING & TRAVELING
We are in the midst of disposing of our household, wrapping up the multitude of loose ends with bills, changes of addresses, and paperwork for residence in India.
During May we have the following commitments:
Friday and Saturday May 11,12 Janis attends Hindu seminar on campus
Wednesday, May 16, Janis gives seminar on human trafficking
Thursday, May 17 Janis and Chuck report on new assignment in India to FMF
staff
Saturday, May 19 garage sale to dispose of final things
Sunday, May 20 commissioning service by our church, Mosaic
Thursday, May 31 WCIU Convocation service on human trafficking.
Our June travel is looking tentatively like this:
June 1, Carson City, NV
June 2, Sacramento, CA
June 3, Roseburg, OR
June 4-5, Eugene, OR
June 6-8, Tacoma, WA
June 9-11, Seattle, WA
June 12-17, Tacoma, WA
June 18, Portland, OR
June 19-20, Paisley, OR
June 21-23, Watsonville, CA
June 24-30, Santa Cruz [Band Barnabas annual conference]
We return on the 30th to stay the night with our son, Brandon, in San Juan Capistrano, who will take us to LAX on Sunday, July 1. Our plane departs at 1:05 AM July 2. We arrive in Delhi on the evening of July 3. We’ll acclimate for a few days, then begin on July 9 intensive Hindi lessons at East West Language Institute for a month.
Whew!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Paperwork!
Ohhh, yes! the Paperwork! don't forget the paperwork!
As we write this, it is coming together. We have in hand a nearly final version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our parent organization and sending agency, and a nearly final version of a contract with our receiving organization. As it turns out, this path with each organization is proving to be a first of sorts. Hence, the paperwork.
Nonetheless, we appear to have almost completely navigated this step of our journey of emerging discovery - discovery of a frontier in our experience, and discovery of frontiers in the combined experiences of our organizations. Through it all, there is One who is sufficient.
Something else, however, we're beginning to encounter in terms of paperwork is, "What will be our U. S. address while we're in India?"
This is turning out to be a bigger question than expected with implications for the car we will entrust for three years with our son, Brandon, not to mention communications with IRS, Social Security, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
As we write this, it is coming together. We have in hand a nearly final version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our parent organization and sending agency, and a nearly final version of a contract with our receiving organization. As it turns out, this path with each organization is proving to be a first of sorts. Hence, the paperwork.
Nonetheless, we appear to have almost completely navigated this step of our journey of emerging discovery - discovery of a frontier in our experience, and discovery of frontiers in the combined experiences of our organizations. Through it all, there is One who is sufficient.
Something else, however, we're beginning to encounter in terms of paperwork is, "What will be our U. S. address while we're in India?"
This is turning out to be a bigger question than expected with implications for the car we will entrust for three years with our son, Brandon, not to mention communications with IRS, Social Security, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Monday, April 16, 2007
TRAVELING
Pismo Beach
We've been traveling a lot the last two weeks. We spent four days with Chris, Nicole & Esther, several families from Band Barnabas, and several families from the Center in an annual camping excursion at Pismo Beach on the South Central Pacific Coast (April 6-9).
Back to Pasadena
We returned to Pasadena for a day and a half so Chuck could take part in the quarterly William Carey International University (WCIU) Stakeholders/Board meeting. Chuck presented a brief summary of developments in delivering our program online and moderated a panel of community members who have had personal experience in some form of distance learning. WCIU is uniquely poised to provide a powerfully effective Masters Degree to distant students with a special emphasis on: 1/ proven leaders in the Global South, 2/ bicultural scholars in the Global South, 3/ cross cultural workers for NGOs in the Global South, and 4/ members of churches in North America who have a passion for equipping others, or being equipped themselves, for cross-cultural service.
Chandler, AZ
We left Pasadena Wednesday (4/11) afternoon to travel to Chandler, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix, to meet with John and Debbie Hervey, veteran cross cultural workers. John and Debbie facilitate listening prayer (sometimes referred to as "inner healing prayer") - a tremendous personal resource for cross cultural workers and a proven way of engaging those who are genuine God-seekers who are not Jesus-followers yet. We stayed with them until Saturday morning (4/14) when we traveled to Globe, AZ.
Globe, AZ
In Globe, we met my sisters, Joyce and Janet, and Janet's husband, George as we explored our family roots in this mining town (today's population about 20,000) that was once a bustling boom town of 60,000! It appears our mother's grandfather was one of the earliest settlers. Kellner Canyon is named for the area where he operated a sawmill.
My mother's father operated a general store with his brother for a number of years. This is how the store front looks today.
My mother's brother, Billy, in a photo overlooking the city of Globe from the plot of land where much of the family lived for a number of years.
My mother, her sisters and parents. Billy had died at age 18.
To Summarize...
We returned to Pasadena last night (4/16). Overall, it was great preparation for what we will be doing in India. We expect relationships, family, healing and restoration will play important roles in advancing the Kingdom in our lives and the lives of those around us there.
We've been traveling a lot the last two weeks. We spent four days with Chris, Nicole & Esther, several families from Band Barnabas, and several families from the Center in an annual camping excursion at Pismo Beach on the South Central Pacific Coast (April 6-9).
Back to Pasadena
We returned to Pasadena for a day and a half so Chuck could take part in the quarterly William Carey International University (WCIU) Stakeholders/Board meeting. Chuck presented a brief summary of developments in delivering our program online and moderated a panel of community members who have had personal experience in some form of distance learning. WCIU is uniquely poised to provide a powerfully effective Masters Degree to distant students with a special emphasis on: 1/ proven leaders in the Global South, 2/ bicultural scholars in the Global South, 3/ cross cultural workers for NGOs in the Global South, and 4/ members of churches in North America who have a passion for equipping others, or being equipped themselves, for cross-cultural service.
Chandler, AZ
We left Pasadena Wednesday (4/11) afternoon to travel to Chandler, AZ, a suburb of Phoenix, to meet with John and Debbie Hervey, veteran cross cultural workers. John and Debbie facilitate listening prayer (sometimes referred to as "inner healing prayer") - a tremendous personal resource for cross cultural workers and a proven way of engaging those who are genuine God-seekers who are not Jesus-followers yet. We stayed with them until Saturday morning (4/14) when we traveled to Globe, AZ.
Globe, AZ
In Globe, we met my sisters, Joyce and Janet, and Janet's husband, George as we explored our family roots in this mining town (today's population about 20,000) that was once a bustling boom town of 60,000! It appears our mother's grandfather was one of the earliest settlers. Kellner Canyon is named for the area where he operated a sawmill.
My mother's father operated a general store with his brother for a number of years. This is how the store front looks today.
My mother's brother, Billy, in a photo overlooking the city of Globe from the plot of land where much of the family lived for a number of years.
My mother, her sisters and parents. Billy had died at age 18.
To Summarize...
We returned to Pasadena last night (4/16). Overall, it was great preparation for what we will be doing in India. We expect relationships, family, healing and restoration will play important roles in advancing the Kingdom in our lives and the lives of those around us there.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
QUICK UPDATE 4.5.07
The last couple of posts have mentioned some procedural glitches arising. Here's the latest - they have worked out successfully!
On the same day, within just a couple hours of each other...
* we received formal approval from our parent organization for our 3 years in India, and
* received word from Mosaic, our local fellowship, that they would like to commission us as part of their team of cross-cultural field workers!
These developments will make it easier to move forward in the myriad of details that remain to be sorted through and completed.
On the same day, within just a couple hours of each other...
* we received formal approval from our parent organization for our 3 years in India, and
* received word from Mosaic, our local fellowship, that they would like to commission us as part of their team of cross-cultural field workers!
These developments will make it easier to move forward in the myriad of details that remain to be sorted through and completed.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Answered Prayers
One of the areas where things are developing nicely is arrangements for housing in Delhi.
Rhonda Thorne, a cross-cultural worker in Delhi, had to come back to the States for several months. Providentially, her departure and our arrival almost perfectly coincided. She offered to sublet her flat to us while she is in the States, we gladly accepted relieving us of the need to find a place and furnish it in the first couple of days arriving in Delhi while we're battling jet lag and the initial stages of culture re-orientation.
In the time lapse between her departure and our arrival, the Foundation is actually able to use the flat for some other needs as well. Prayers met all around, and the landlord is very agreeable to the arrangement. Here's our landlady with her daughter and two of her grandchildren, all who live in the flat below ours.
Here's a photo of the Flat:
The procedural glitches that arose last week began to work out with hope and promise. The final details and decision will depend on a series of meetings Monday and Tuesday. We'd appreciate your prayers concerning this matter. Hopefully, by the end of the week, these details will be finalized. Again, we'll keep everyone informed.
This is being written on Palm Sunday...may you have a holy week and a Happy Easter next Sunday!
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