First Two Months of Deployment

On September 29, 2008 my wife, Mary Ann drove to Philadelphia airport for my trip to India on my first two-month deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. I left Philadelphia on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt for my connecting flight to Chennai, India. I arrived in Chennai in the early hours of September 31. This deployment from ELCA Global Mission for two months to the region was mainly for orientation. During these two months, Rev. Joseph Chu, Director for Asia-Pacific Region met me twice, once in India and later in Indonesia to introduce me to various leaders of our companions and partners in India, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

During the two months of deployment, I traveled by road and air twice to Bangladesh and once to Indonesia, in addition to traveling extensively within India by rail and road to various churches. I met their leaders to learn more about their ministry, specifically in health and development. It was a wonderful experience as I was able to connect with many church leaders, take part in many social and church activities and also dialogue in a spirit of companionship with many partners. I was able to convey the message of companionship and building relationship to do God’s work with our hands.

It was an assignment that opened my eyes and ears towards the brokenness of our world. I experienced that the Holy Spirit is working in most parts of this region. In India and Indonesia, the churches are growing. Many new churches are being built. Small church buildings can no longer accommodate the growing number of believers. So they are building larger churches to meet the growing needs. I attended many worship services during this two months and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in every congregation. The songs and praises inspired me immensely and enriched my life.

In Indonesia, I took part in long term strategic planning meetings for two major programs for our companions. First one was the HKBP committee on HIV/AIDS and the second one was for Center for Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development through Nommensen University in Medan, one of the largest Lutheran Universities in the region.

In Bangladesh, I attended the donors’ meeting for RDRS (Rongpur Dinajpur Rehabilitation Service), one of our companions for many years. It was encouraging that this organization is working in one of the poorest geographical areas in Bangladesh rather than spreading too thinly around the whole country. I was encouraged to witness the affirmation given by many partners who have been supporting this organization for many years. The long term plan for RDRS is to achieve self reliance through micro-credit and other income generating activities.

I also visited Lutheran Health Care, Bangladesh (LHCB) with which ELCA has been in partnership for more than 15 years. In addition to providing primary health care for the people in Dumki, one of the remotest areas in Bangladesh, they are also working to provide safe drinking water and reducing the risk of serious arsenic contamination, which has been a problem in that area for a long time.

They recently started the popular micro-credit program through formation of co-operatives for women. I attended two meetings of these women’s groups and have a sense of satisfaction in what the LHCB is trying to achieve. It was heart breaking to see many men and women who have been affected by the contamination of arsenic in drinking water. Due to ignorance and the lack of early detection of this deadly poison in the drinking water, many lives are in danger today. However, I came back with a sense of relief - it is “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER”

I feel fortunate and humbled by the opportunity to be part of the ELCA-Global Mission to reach to the poor and oppressed who are in need. People in this region may be poor and hungry but they are strong in spirit. They know how to survive in severe adverse situations and how to live with less. Our mission is to walk with them, learn from them and work to find solutions.

Dealing with gender equality is a large part of the work we do with the oppressed and poor. I have come to realize that it plays an important role in our approach to eliminate inequality and poverty in these societies. To quote the former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan: “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a pre-condition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance”

Please pray that everyone in this world may live in peace and, I/we, as God’s people may be the instrument for peace and justice in this broken world.

May the God of peace and mercy be with us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours.

Richard Sarker

New Believers!

New converts in India



New Converts - Mother and daughter

These are two pictures of the new converts in India which I referred to in my previous blog. It is the direct result of the work of Bible Women Group in India.

Deployment in Chennai, India

I returned from a trip to southern part of India. After my orientation to different companion churches, I went back to visit Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church to learn about their Bible Women Group. I visited three different Synods and met the members and leaders of the groups to learn about their ministry. I was really happy to see some of the fruits of their labor.

The Bible Women Group reflects the mission of churches. Most group leaders are trained clergies. They conduct regular meetings where they pray,share each other's joys and concerns together. They try to solve each other's problem by sharing their experience. They also deal with issues such as women's role in family, church and society, atrocities against women, women health and economic development. They visit the homes of the inquirers and preach the good news. I have visited few churches where many of the women came to Christ and were baptised due to the wonderful work of the bible women group. I visited some new converts who were traditionally from the prostitute community. It was only possible for the Bible Women Group to work among this community.

Yesterday I went to three different Lutheran Churches as a guest to worship/bring greetings. Two of these churches were only 500 yards away from each other. I asked one of the pastors the reasons for having two churches so close to each other although both of these churches were not very big. He just smiled and replied "because of the caste system." One of these Churches are made up of newly converts from Dalit (Untouchables) community. These converts are the fruits of Bible Women group's work. Christians from the mainstream population still can't accept the fact that in God's eye everyone is equal. In order to keep the churches together, they have different place of worship. (This reminds me of Gay and Lesbian issues in America which seem to divide churches at times).

This was my first visit to one of the programs after I took over my responsibility as Regional Representative,for Asia-Pacific Region. And my first impression is, I am glad that I am here. God is working here in this part of the world. People are poor but they are very rich in spirit. Many new churches have been built, many old small churches have been rebuilt with local initiative as these churches are growing through new conversions. In one instance, every family donated 50,000 rupees per family(US$ 1200 approximately) although they are not really wealthy.

There are lot of opportunities and also challenges. I see myself in the midst of these, God sent me for a specific purpose. To live among them, walk with them,learn from them and be part of their community to find ways to address common concerns and together do what God has commanded us to do.

I returned to Chennai(Madras) this morning by an overnight train, and could not sleep much. I leave for Bangladesh on the 29th and after two weeks, I will travel to Indonesia for more orientation. But, if you have any questions, please feel free to write to me and I will respond as quickly as possible depending on my time and availability of Internet connection.

God's blessings and peace,

Richard