Author: David Grisanti

I am in the airport in Lima, awaiting the boarding for the flight to Cajamarca. On the flight yesterday from Houston, as we were flying over Ecuador, the pilot reported that there had been a massive earthquake there. I found out today that it was felt at the Bible College n Cajamarca, but no damage. Praying for the people of Ecuador.
I’m looking forward to a good 2 weeks in Peru.
Thanks for the prayers!

Now that I am back home, I have had time to reflect on this recent time in India and Nepal. So, for what it’s worth, here are some final observations:

** No matter how many times I go to India, I am always reminded of just how little Americans know about Indian culture. I see American Christians, including me, constantly imposing OUR way of doing things (though with good intentions) on how to “do ministry” in India. Much of Indian culture does not make sense to us. WE think that our way is logical, that it will be most effective, that this is how it should work in India, because, well, it all works in the U.S. But, nothing could be further from the truth. We need to answer their request for help and ministry, then, once there, defer to their structure, their cultural distinctives, and work within that paradigm. We will be MUCH more effective in our efforts there (or, really, in most other cultures). Otherwise, we will have nice pics and slides to show the folks at home, but we will be largely ineffective.

** Jet lag is unavoidable. If I allow it, it will stop me dead in my tracks for a week after returning home. I need to keep pushing ahead, knowing it WILL fade away.

** I notice that the disciplines of extended times of prayer and fasting are an integral part of the Christian life in many places I visit in India and Nepal. It is at the same time inspiring and frightening.

** I love Indian food! Except for breakfasts and one dinner, every lunch and dinner was Indian or Nepalese food. It was very spicy, delicious, and terribly addicting! As long as the meal includes naan bread, it is all good!

** I want to help establish Pastor’s Training Centers in India and Nepal. I have been asked to not only help establish them, but to be a big part of leading them. Yikes! I keep thinking, how can that happen? How do we obtain land or buildings? It is hugely daunting to me. I can only pray, plan, and work with people who can help make it happen. Then, we’ll see what God will do.

Thanks again for all the prayers. There were times when I said to God, “I am too spent to pray much right now, so I will rely on the prayers of my friends. Please hear THEIR prayers!” He did!

Well, I’ve now been home for 24 hours. I want to tell you all about the last couple of days of this great adventure.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I participated in the conference of pastors in Nepal. There were 52 pastors in attendance from all over the country. I recognized many of the faces, and there were some new guys there as well. The location was where it had been the past couple of years, in the hills outside of Kathmandu. It is about a 45-minute to an hour’s drive, depending on traffic. Our driver on Tuesday got a bit lost as we got closer to the venue, so he pulled over to ask directions from 2 men standing behind a gate. I then realized it was the gate to the hotel/resort I stayed at the past 2 years, where the building that held both my room and the restaurant was completely destroyed during the earthquake, killing the occupants. The gate was locked and I asked if I could get inside in order to take a picture. But they said, no, it is destroyed and closed. I could see single-story lobby building was still standing, but couldn’t see beyond it. Neither of the 2 men, nor the driver could understand English while I tried to tell them that I had stayed there. Anyway, it was a bittersweet moment for me, a reminder of how uncertain life can be.
Anyway, we shortly arrived at the destination and enjoyed 2 days of being with the pastors. By the second day, I was running on fumes and my voice was kind of shot. By my last session on Wednesday I was ready to go home!
One of the great things about being there and working with HMU is that the HMU leaders, as well as the pastors, want to establish a Pastor’s Training Center in or near Kathmandu. It would be different than a Bible College, focusing on training pastors how to study and teach the Bible, how to lead, and much more. I tried to think of someone who might have the time and ministry to do that! Actually, they are very interested in me being an integral part of it. Also on this trip, when I was in Mumbai, a pastor expressed to me how that what I do is definitely needed in Mumbai and would I consider having a training center in or near Mumbai. The young man who I worked with there for the men’s conference, Jose, told me the same thing. Something to definitely pray about.
So, I left Nepal on Thuesday morning, flying direct to Mumbai. I checked in to the hotel by the airport and shortly thereafter was met by Jose and his wife Sarah. We spent an hour kind of debriefing about the men’s conference. He also asked if I would be willing to invest time in helping him learn to teach the Bible. Good thing we can Skype!
So, my plane lifted off at 4:30 the next morning. I am now safely home.
I will write one more blog tomorrow with some final thoughts. It was a wonderful trip and I am thankful every day that I get to do what I do.
I have included a pic of the pastors in Nepal, as well as a pic of Pastor Baburam and his wife. He is the man who received our relief donation money last year and traveled to many villages, coordinating relief efforts.
David