Dinners & Perspectives

Unlike previous weeks here in Mizoram, this past week seemed to move by very slowly. Of course, considering that the summer is suppose to be my break from the stresses of academic life I can't really complain. The ease of the week was due in part to my supervisor, Rev. Zolawma, being gone and Principal Hnuni leaving as well. As a result, I spent most of my week meeting with people and preparing for my classes.

Although I was sad to see Principal leave, her absense has opened new doors for me. While she was at AICS, Principal always had me join her and her family for meals. Now that she is gone, other faculty members and even students are inviting me to eat with them. So that's been a fun experience. Everyone here is so impressed that I'm able to eat Mizo food without problems and that I take my meals by using my hands like everyone else.

One night, Professor Ronmingliani had myself and another student over for dinner. She studied for about 5 yrs in the UK so she made a "Western" meal for us one night. We had chicken, mashed potatoes, corn with green beans, and peas. For a moment I thought I was back in the South haha. Afterwards, the three of us had a long discussion on the role of women in the church. I never realized how much of a feminist I am until I arrived here and have been an advocate for women in the ministry. I also didn't realize how much random information is stuck up in my head. I feel like the computer who wore tennis shoes. Students will ask me about the history of the decline of the church in Europe, my theology of Scripture or missiology, the changing view of marriage in the US, etc. I'll begin to answer talking about cultural trends, theological shifts, key leaders, etc. then stop and think to myself, "how did I know that?" Guess I actually did pay attention in class all those years at Baylor. Naw, I probably just saw that stuff on TV haha.

I've also eaten with the students in the dorm (or "hostel" as it's called here) a couple times. That's been an interesting experience and opened my eyes up a lot. The first funny thing is how quiet the students are when they eat. Mizos, as I've noticed, are much more comfortable sitting in silence with one another than Americans are. The cafeteria is no different as students eat silently then rush off to the next event. The daily schedule here is so packed that student eat very quickly (15-20 mins) then head off to class or worship service.

In the States, I think students really take for granted all the services that are provided for them. At PTS, I've really made it a point to get to know the cafeteria staff, cleaning people, etc. because I am thankful for all their work. But being here takes my gratitude to another level. Students at AICS are responsible for serving the food, preparing and cleaning the dining hall, and washing dishes. That's on top of the gardening (which entails literally cutting the grass with knives because there are no lawn mowers here), picking up trash, helping with building projects, and more. I would imagine that US students would not attend a seminary where the students did all the maintenance work (admittedly I might not be soo keen on the idea) but here everyone does the work because that's what you have to do in order to get an education.

So the next time you're walking around the office, at your house, the mall, or wherever, stop and take the 30 secs required to say hello and thank you to the people who make your life work. The security guard, the cleaning people, the gardeners, etc. Just like you, they're doing a tough job and probably so you don't have to. So say thanks at least. But even better if you get to know them. When you treat everyone with dignity and respect, the world will look a whole lot different.

Anyways, aside from my sermonette, this week Rev. Zolawma has returned so life might return to a quick pace. I have a lot of trips to make in the next 3 weeks before I leave. I hope to visit some rural villages and also visit the social work programs around Aizawl. Also, I need to finish editting my paper for the faculty-student seminar. Then in a month, I'll be standing in front of the Taj...my life is ridiculous. Well, I guess that's all the updates I have for you. Have a good week.

pax et bonum

Fresh I Stay

So another week has come to a close here in Mizoram. As I think about what to write, I feel as though all I have to say is "same old, same old." But perhaps that thought is the new topic to write about for the week. It seems that after about a month and a half, I have slowly become adjusted to my life here in Mizoram. Driving through the streets of Aizawl, eating in local resturaunts, no A/C, showering with a bucket, etc have all become part of my normal life. It's crazy to think that many things I felt were standard parts of my lifestyle have become non-essentials now.

I've grown accustomed to concrete walls, Indian television stations, daily monsoon rains, and broken english. But I've truly enjoyed my time here thus far and it is still shocking to think that in 4 weeks I will leave here for mainland India. My time here has been filled with lots of self-reflection which has provided me with a better understanding of myself and my interactions with the world. After my first year of seminary I had a lot to process, I think I finally got a chance to do that which has been a blessing.

In the past month I've read the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and Obadiah. I've been challenged by their social vision, words on forgiveness, and boldness in truth. I think their words have shaped my outlook as well and I have to be thankful for that.

This week my life in Mizoram takes a shift as Principal, her son John (whose become a good friend of mine), and her daughter Judith (who has been a new friend as well) all leave to travel to Canada for Judith's wedding. Since I have shared almost every meal with this family, it will be quite different to not have them around. In addition, Judith lives in Canada so today will be the last time I see her. Principal and John return the first week of August which happens to be the last week I am in Mizoram. I am sad that our time together is coming to a close but I am very thankful for all the time we have had together. Principal took me into her home like family and I am grateful for that.

The rest of my week finds me going about the usual itinerary. I have four English classes to teach, a pre-emptive sermon to prepare, and a backpacking trip to plan. English class is still going well, I've now started to switch the focus from grammar to speech so hopefully the students continue to grow from that. Also, in about 2.5 weeks I'm suppose to present a 10-11 page research paper at the AICS Faculty-Student Day. Since copies of my paper will be given to all students and faculty in addition to it undoubtedly being used as a model for everyone, I've decided to edit a research paper I wrote previously so that my work will be good quality.

So as you can see, a "normal week" actually encompasses a lot. Yesterday I counted that in the month I've been here I've spoken 13 times(7 sermons, 6 messages). Rev Zolawma told me that I've spoken more times in one month than he has in a year haha. Come to think of it, I probably need to prepare for my classes tomorrow. I hope all is well back in the states. And if you're a Spanish futbol fan or a Miami Heat fan, I'm sure you're week is going very well.

pax et bonum

Life Moves Pretty Fast Sometimes

Well, it certainly has been a busy time since my last post. Let's see if I can bring you up to speed without writing a book:

This past week we had a seminary volleyball tournament. Each class year formed a team and played each other over the course of the week. The probationary pastors (graduated students returning for a semester of classes after doing a year of ministry before ordination) needed some players so I got drafted to help play in a couple games. All the students enjoyed watching me play as I have very little actual volleyball skills. Granted, I can jump to block and from time to time can set someone up but I have no understanding of the rules or strategy of volleyball. At any rate, I enjoyed playing and I got some good time just hanging out with students which was good. The students are finally comfortable enough to sit and have conversations with me so I am really enjoying their insights and thoughts.

Classes are going well and I am gaining a new respect for teachers. Jamie, Sara, & Co. wow, you have a much tougher job than I expected. I mean, I've always had respect for teachers but you don't realize how much time it takes to plan, teach, and do the grading for a class until you actually do it. But I don't mind as I really enjoy my classes and teaching. Learning English for these students is a tool to greater empowerment so I'm happy that I can offer something to help them achieve their dreams (as sappy as that sounds). It's crazy to think that I only have five more weeks of teaching classes though. Time is flying by.

The past four days here have been a marathon of speaking engagements. On Friday, I was asked to speak at Divine Intervention School. DIS is a non-denominational school teaching over 200 students from levels ranging from 1st grade to 12th grade. Before arriving I had intended to share the same message I did with the high schoolers in Lunglei. However, when I stepped into the room I realized that the students were mainly elementary school. So I quickly had to make up a 20 min speech off the top of my head that would be engaging to children. I managed to pull that off and to teach some kung fu as well which the kids loved.

Sunday I spoke twice: once at Gilead Church to about 30 people and then another time at DIS again. At Gilead I preached about forgiveness in the church, based upon Matthew 18:21-35. Rev. Zolawma said my sermons have been getting better and that I did a great job of contextualizing my sermon. I think my sermons have improved because I finally feel like I have a sense of the people here in Mizoram so I'm more comfortable in letting myself speak more directly to them rather than a very neutral message. At DIS, I spoke on Rom 12:2;9-21 and about not allowing the images of success we see in the media (sex, drugs, money) make us chase after lifestyles that are damaging to us. If I get enough requests to see the sermons I can post them for you but since they'd be so long for this post I just decided not to since I wasn't sure how many people would be interested. Again at DIS I had to change my sermon on stage since I had planned for young kids again but the weekend crowd was mainly JHigh and HS. If you speak in international contexts, always be quick on your feet because you might have to change your sermon as you preach.

Tonight I'm scheduled to preach again, this time to the High School students at Rompelnaut. Last time I put them to sleep talking about the ressurection of the dead so hopefully this time my message will keep them awake. Lately I've been doing well keeping the young people engaged so let's hope I can redeem myself here. Other than that, I have a full week of teaching classes, preaching on Sunday, and will probably start some para-church ministry visits in the next week or so. Looking at the calendar, July feels like it's just going to fly by. I'm both sad and excited about that. I'm sad because I really love being here and have really enjoyed my summer at AICS. On the other hand, ending here means I will begin my 3 week tour of mainland India which is incredibly exciting. But I'm trying not to think about all that too much. As a wise man once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop every once and while to take a look around, you might miss it."

Spend some time living in the present this week friends. Go to a park, go dancing, have an adventure. Until next time...

pax et bonum

Gotta Keep It Movin

So life is really switching into gear here in Mizoram. This past week I went to a wedding, spoke at a business presentation as a creative consultant, preached, and taught classes. Now it seems I'm always moving, especially after being informed that in the next week I will deliver 4 messages in 3 days.

I also had some fun last week at a special event the seminary puts on for "freshers" (new students). During the event, upperclassmen present songs, skits, and even do stand-up. During the program, each fresher is called up to be introduced and to draw a random upperclassmen's name from a hat. The upperclassmen who gets picked then asks the student a funny question. For instance, one guy asked, "So, do you like me?" When the student said "yes," he just stood there in awkward silence then smiled and passed the mic. We all bust out laughing because it was so awkwardly funny the way the guy pulled it off. I really enjoyed the time to gather and have a good laugh at ourselves. That's something I appreciate about the approach to seminary here: full of laughter and fun. Which isn't to say they don't take studies here seriously. Principal Hnuni runs a tight shift but the school is well respected and students move on to great positions so I guess it works out in the end.

I was also presented with gifts from the seminary including a nice Mizo necktie, Mizo bag, and hat. I was very thankful and continue to feel slightly bad about my celebrity status here. Everywhere I go I'm invited to speak or stay. Some times I'll speak at the churches where my fellow AICS-ers are interning before they've recieved a chance to speak. Hopefully these churches provide them opportunities to do so because I feel as though I'm taking people's spots. No one seems too upset so I guess that's good, but still.

On another note, this week marks a full month I've been living here in Mizoram. That's a crazy thought, but I've really enjoyed my time here and I'm sure the next month will go by quickly. I'm still loving teaching english and my students are enjoying all the funny english slang I've been teaching. Last week we learned "what's up?" before moving on to Present Verbs. I think tomorrow will be "high-fives."

I use slang and other items to share about American culture then draw connections with Mizo culture. I've also been assigning free write topics to give my students an opportunity to talk about their culture. This week's question was about gender roles and how the sexes are treated (I gave a talk about the history of gender roles in the US before giving to topic. I saw a couple eyes with glimmers of feminism. Wonderful.)

Well, that's all I have for you now. I'm sure this week will provide enough for me to write about later. It'll give you a chance to catch up on some of those long posts if you hadn't made it through. Hope your summer is going well and I've enjoyed hearing from all of you!

pax et bonum



SHOUT OUT SECTION:
Kirsten- Yea, apocalyptic literature is very interesting and incredibly complex. I bet that was a cool class. Glad to hear your trip is good to go! I've always wanted to go to Egypt so I'm a little jealous. You'll have to take a lot of photos for me and tell me all about it!

Preaching in Mizoram is Easier on TV

So I've met one of my first big challenges that I'll have to overcome during my time in Mizoram: preaching. For those who know me, the challenge might seem odd as I am quite comfortable speaking in front of large crowds. The difficulty comes when I have to speak with a translator, especially if the translator is not fluent in english. As a result, it's tough to build momentum in a message because I have to wait for a minute after each sentence for translation. In addition, to help with translation I've been writing manuscripts. But I really hate manuscripts because I become very mechanical as I read what I wrote and my style of preaching always relies upon the fluid expression of ideas (so I most often preach from an outline).

It's good though, I'm glad I have a challenge I can work on while I'm here. I have all this in mind because last night I was asked to speak at Romplenot (sp?) church in Aizawl. Romplenot is the second largest church in Aizawl with about 700 members. Last Sunday, one of the elders asked that I speak on the "resurrection of the dead" at their Wednesday night Bible study as part of their series on the Second Coming of Christ. I accepted the offer although I knew I would have some difficulty writing the message.

My main difficulty comes from two main points: First, many Christians today are pretty entrenched into whatever ideas they have about the Second Coming. Most people get their ideas from books like Left Behind or some supposed scholar who wrote a book on the subject. As a result, when you preach about this issue everyone feels that they are a scholar on the matter and are deadset in their ways. For instance, many Christians might be upset if I told them that most of the imagery in the book of Revelations has to do with the Roman empire and nothing to do with some future evil political leader. Although I am the one with a bachelor's degree and soon to be masters in the subject who quotes PhD scholars, you'd be surprised how many people want to correct people like me (and quite passionately I might add). So needless to say, I'm always hesitant to speak on such matters.

Second, my personal theology doesn't really emphasize eschatology. Don't get me wrong, I believe in the resurrection of the dead and Jesus enthroned in power. I just don't find conversations about who the anti-Christ is all that important. Jesus, and the rest of the Bible, seems more concerned with how you treat the poor, how we act toward one another, and who God is rather than on the end of time. So I tend to speak on these issues rather than speculating on things we just can't know.

Whew, okay, enough of my soap box. At any rate, I prepared the message for wednesday night with the idea that I'd have about thirty 40-50 yr old church leaders in the crowd. Rev. Zolawma said the crowd would be small with the World Cup going on and few young people would be in attendance. Also, the pastor fancies himself an eschatology expert (go figure) so even Rev. Zolawma told me to be careful in how I crafted my sermon.

But when we arrived, I was informed that over 100 high school students were going to be in attendance (students here stay in dorms like boarding schools so I guess they just invited the dorms or "hostels" as they're called here.). "Perfect," I thought, "I've just written a dense Bible study for old folks and now my crowd is 99% teenagers who could careless about the subject I was given." But when life gives you lemons, some times things go sour.

I'm grown enough to admit that by the end of my 35 mins, many students were snoozing. Even amongst the first 7 rows of all girls (students divided themselves into sections by sex. also, why does God like to mock me?), who were quite interested in a young western man preaching, I had some closed eyes. My 30 or so old folks, who the message was for, seemed to be with me right until the I made my third turn in the message. See, I'm a social justice minded preacher who reads the prophets and doesn't think you should give a message without some practical point. So when I started on the "quit oppressing the poor" and the "go seek forgiveness from someone you've wronged" points, the old folks were not so happy. They wanted to hear about what the new bodies of the resurrected in the future were like, I told them to go clothe the naked bodies that were here. Nevertheless, all the old folks thanked me afterward and I think I'll get a chance to redeem myself with the teenagers later. Rev. Zolawma told me next time he'll have them tell us who will be in the crowd so we can give the proper message. I was thankful for his understanding.

At any rate, below I've posted my message from last night for those avid readers who want to read more. For those of you who are worried my blogs are getting too long, this is the point in the post where you can move on to YouTube or Facebook. So like a nervous singer, I've given you all the reasons why if you don't like the performance not to be too harsh haha. But I'd love to hear feedback on the message if you feel so inclined. Until next time, pax et bonum.




Resurrecting the Dead to Lives of Love and Justice

Tonight we continue the series exploring subject of the Second Coming of Christ or, as theologians would refer to it, eschatology. For those of you unfamiliar with the word, “eschatology” is a term which literally means “the study of the last things.” To be more specific, eschatology studies the end of history. As Christians, we believe that history will conclude with the return of Jesus the Christ. As a result, Dr. Bob Patterson of Baylor University favors referring to eschatology as “the study of Christian hope.” Indeed, the book of Revelations (where Christians draw much of their imagery for the end of time) is a letter written to provide hope to the persecuted Christian community during the first or second century. Tonight, may we find hope in our study of one topic involved in Christian eschatology: the resurrection of the dead.

When we think about what the Bible says about the resurrection of the dead, we often think about the book of Revelations. We might also think about Jesus debating with the Sadducees or Paul writing his first letter to the Corinthians. But I think that few of us think about the prophets Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. As a matter of fact, the idea of the dead being raised at the end of time originates in the Old Testament. Although we often associate the discussion of the resurrection of the dead with Paul or John of Patmos, our study tonight begins with the prophet Daniel. In the book of Daniel chapter 12 verse 1b-2, the prophet writes,

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

In the passage from Daniel, we see very clearly the prophet writing about the “awaking” or rising of the dead at the conclusion of history. For Daniel, at the end of time all the dead will rise to either punishment or reward. Although the passage seems very clear, the proper interpretation of the writing was a debated issue around the time of Jesus.

The debate about interpretation was among the three major schools of Judaism that existed in first-century Palestine: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. Much of our knowledge of these schools of thought comes from the ancient Jewish historian Josephus. Josephus tells us that among these three schools, only the Pharisees and the Essenes believed in the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees, on the other hand, believed “that souls die with the bodies” and therefore rejected the Pharisees’ belief in the resurrection of the dead. As a result, it’s important to keep in mind that the belief in the resurrection of the dead has a long, yet hotly debated history. This history dates back long before Jesus teaches about the end of time or Paul and John of Patmos write about it. In addition, the early Christian teachings concerning the resurrection of the dead develop from a tradition in which the issue is not agreed upon by religious leaders.

Indeed, our only knowledge of Jesus’ position on the issue comes from a dialogue with the Sadducees recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 20 verses 27-40, Luke writes:

27There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30And the second 31and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32Afterward the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."

34And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." 39Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

In verses 34-38, Jesus provides details about the nature of the resurrection of the dead which the apostle Paul will expand upon in his first letter to the Corinthians. Amongst these details, Jesus teaches that those who have been raised to new life can no longer die because they have been made like the heavenly beings. Indeed, those who have been raised from the dead will be equal with the angels and become members of God’s family. Jesus frames his argument in the context of Moses’ confession that the LORD is a god of the living. As a result, those whom God has called his own cannot die because the LORD is not god of the dead but the god of those who live to him.

The information given to us by the prophet Daniel and by Jesus provide a source of great hope. They tell us that God will deliver his people by raising them to new, everlasting life. For God’s chosen, there truly is no “end of time” because they will live forever. But some of you may wonder if it is necessary to believe in the resurrection of the dead considering that the early Jewish teachers in Jesus’ own time did not agree on the subject. Indeed we are left with the question, “do we have to believe in the resurrection of the dead?” If you are secretly asking this question or something like it, then you are not alone. The same question appears to have been asked by the Christians in Corinth during the time of Paul. The apostle addresses the issue by telling the Corinthian church that belief in the resurrection of the dead is essential for Christians. Paul explains his position in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, selected verses beginning with verse 12. He writes:

12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised...17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished…20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Paul instructs the Christian community at Corinth that if they do not believe the dead are raised, then they do not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. Yet such a claim goes against the teachings of Christianity since the belief in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the central teaching and foundational belief of the faith. Indeed if we belief anything which contradicts the teaching of God’s resurrection of Jesus from the dead, then we have rejected the rest of the faith because all other beliefs come from the confession of Jesus’ resurrection. As a result, believing in the resurrection of the dead is incredibly important to our faith and to our understanding of our identity as Christians. As Jesus says, we are sons and daughters of the resurrection. We are the people God will deliver from the grip of death. Since Christ was raised from the dead, so we also look to God’s raising us to everlasting life.

Paul continues his discussion about the resurrection of the dead by addressing the nature of those who will be raised. The writing found here is very similar to the teachings of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke. If you are interested in further study on the nature of the resurrection of the dead, I encourage you to read the entirety of chapter 15 in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. You will find the way in which the apostle provides hope to Christians based upon faith in Jesus’ overcoming death. But for our time here tonight, we will move on to other issues.

We have now seen that the resurrection of the dead was prophesized by the prophet Daniel, taught by Jesus, and written about by Paul. Each teacher believed the resurrection of the dead was an essential belief of the faith demonstrating God’s love, justice, and promise of hope for his people. But perhaps some of you are still not satisfied with simply the promise of the dead rising. Some may say, “I am not dead or dying so what does this have to do with me?” Or maybe since you cannot experience resurrection until the end of time you might wonder if the belief has any significance for your life today.
For those of you wondering what practical importance belief in the resurrection of the dead has for you, let us turn to Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 6 verses 8-13. The apostle writes:

8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Paul’s message to the Romans tells us that the resurrection of the dead not only gives hope for tomorrow, but challenges us today. If we are raised in Christ from the dead, then we are raised to a new life as well. Such new life begins here and now, given to us upon our baptism in which we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus. By participating in the death, we no longer allow sin to rule over us; by participating in the resurrection, we live out the teachings of the gospel each day. Therefore, as those who have been raised to new life in Christ, Paul challenges us to daily embody the love of Christ to others. We must not practice corruption, deceitful dealing, and oppression. We must not forget the poor and the needy in their time of trouble. We must not refuse to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the prisoner. Indeed, if we have been raised from the dead then we will daily “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, [and] plead the widow’s cause,” just as the prophet Isaiah instructs us. Indeed, the resurrection of the dead is not an empty promise for the perishing but it is a challenge for the living. The resurrection of the dead is not a far off hope for some future time, but a hope to be lived today. As the church, we are the community of the resurrected ones; we are the people whose mission it is to bring new light into an often dark world.

The question for tonight’s Bible study is this: are you still living as one who is dead? Are you still without the life-giving breath of love in your life? If so, the apostle Paul calls you to rise to a new way of living found in Christ. Indeed, God is persistently inviting us to participate in his present, yet coming kingdom. The question we must ask ourselves is whether or not we will accept his invitation. Perhaps that means for you that tonight you need to seek forgiveness from a person you have wronged, or to grant forgiveness to a person who has wronged you. Each of us still has times in our lives where we live as those who are dead rather than those who have been raised. So tonight I challenge all of us to awake to new life and to live as those who have been resurrected. We are no longer slaves to sin and bound by death, but have been delivered by God into new life. Now our great hope is in Jesus who is the Christ, the lamb of God, who rescues us from sin. May we also live a life which rescues others from the death of poverty, injustice, and oppression. For in this way we live as true sons and daughters of the resurrection and awake to everlasting life.

Rock n Roll & Mizoram

I thought for a post I'd talk a little about what life is like for people in Mizoram so everyone could gain some perspective on the region:

As I have said before, Mizoram's population is 86% Christian. Further, most of the non-Christians in the region are non-Mizos. Some are mainland Indian working for the government or doing business while others are laborers coming from Burma and other regions to find work. As a result, there is enormous social pressure to be a part of the church. Much like in America just a few decades ago, a person who is not a member of a church is often outcast. Indeed, political leaders make sure to be seen at church on Sunday morning for fear of losing votes if Mizos discovered their leaders were not church folk.

As a result, the church dictates the lives of the people both directly and indirectly. For instance, I was talking with a young teacher during my time in Lunglei about the social lives of young people in Mizoram as compared to the United States. I explained that in the US, it's quite popular for young people to meet at coffee shops, bars, or concerts during the evening to socialize. In sharp contrast, I've discovered that in Mizoram there is virtually no such thing. Around town, shops close down about six or seven leaving the city to look abandoned. Granted, the sun sets early here and family structures guiding dating aren't keen on late night dates. Nevertheless, I expressed my fascination with the lack of social outlets for young people.

The teacher replied that not only did shops closing down affect night life, but the church did as well. "On Wednesday night there will be a special service," she said, "the same with Saturday and all day Sunday. Then there might be a committee meeting on Tuesday or Thursday. The church has so many events that no one has time to do anything at night because they must be at church or they will be looked down on." Perhaps the issue wouldn't be such a point of growing tension in Mizoram were it not for the influx of Western media and a growing number of students being educated outside Mizoram.

As the teacher told me, "many students are now leaving Mizoram to go study at schools in India or elsewhere. These places are very different then Mizoram and have many things to do at night. Not only that, but in TV, movies, and music from the West the young people are seeing people like themselves out dancing and doing things. But for us, it's just a dream or something we read about in books. I am not from Mizoram, so I am use to a night life. But many of my fellow teachers are not so some times I try to ask them why they do not go out. But the thought never crosses their mind because they have never experienced it. The young people who are coming back to Mizoram, however, do know about these things and are frustrated."

Indeed, in the past week I have heard at least two sermons about how the young people are being lost in Mizoram. Low attendence and high dissatisfaction with church services by young people is becoming an increasing issue for the church. Furthermore, many young people are professing faith in different religions (even Satanism). The church has a problem yet most of the heirarchy are unwilling to change in order to reach the young people. For instance, the worship songs sung during service are the same traditional hymns that were song by the old heads way back when. These songs are wonderful for the older generation but the younger generation finds no meaning in them. As is a struggle in the US today, churches find themselves singing in a language that the young people do not understand. Furthermore, the young's experiences of different cultures make them unwilling to perpetuate certain modes of living so popular in Mizoram.

In essence, you can think about Mizoram and the problem of the young people like you can the US and rock n roll during the 1950s. These kids have just listened to Elvis and been to a rock n roll concert only to return to a place that says rock n roll is evil. But the church cannot simply outright reject everything the young people are bringing or it will be cast off because it is no longer relevant to the people. Granted, not everything from the West or other cultures is beneficial to the young people. Trying to imitate rappers talking about "smacking hoes" isn't exactly what we want our young people doing. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that rap music is bad or Western culture is evil. It does, however, mean that everything must be filtered. The church must quickly learn to be a filter rather than a stop valve or risk the pipe bursting.

But only time will tell in Mizoram. The hierarchy of the church is unwilling to change because they don't see the need to meet the demands of young people. The young people are unwilling to listen to the older generation because they feel they know more. Some one has to give somewhere. But perhaps this is the story of the world: the older generation perserving tradition while the younger generation seeks innovation. I just hope the narrative turns out well here in Mizoram.

Well, that's all you get for today. An update about my weekend and preaching will come later in the week. Maybe today you can, like me, think about whether your church/tradition/faith/group is being a filter or stop valve. What would you do to reach the young people where you live?

Austin, motivational speaker

I'm standing in the middle of a dirt road looking off into the distance as UGK plays on my iPod. I can't help but admire the sun setting behind the mountains. Mountains, which are so numerous the landscape looks like green waves of jungle rolling off into the horizon. Behind me is a small waterfall the construction workers use to cool off from the hot summer sun. I've been walking up and down this narrow dirt road loving called an express highway for about an hour now. Landslides, which are frequent in the rainy season, have a way of holding up traffic. This won't be the last time that my travels will be haulted for a time because of falling rocks. In fact, any time I'm traveling around Mizoram I can see sections of the roadways blocked by rocks who have inconveniently fallen where cars should pass. I never really see any damages or injuries from these landslides (deaths rarely occur here from them), they just stop traffic for a while. As if Mother Nature wanted us to stop for a second to admire her. The road I'm standing on leads from Mizoram to Lunglei, a journey of about 100 miles. However, the trip will take about six hours to complete because there's no such thing as a straight road in Mizoram. The only roads that exist are the kind that snake through the mountains making their way in zig-zag fashion to whatever destination. I'm also traveling to a higher altitude making the trip more difficult on our tired wannabe-jeep with a new tire.

I'm headed to Lunglei to visit the Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) headquarters. Unlike other Baptists, the Baptists in Mizoram have centralized themselves to this southern city. Thinking about the US, I wonder if Baptists just like southern places naturally. The next day is an important day for Principal Hnuni, filled with meetings for various church government groups. I have been informed that my day will be spent visiting classes at the local school.

In non-chalant fashion and without any big announcement, construction vechiles begin leaving the area signalling the road has been cleared. We make it to Lunglei in time for a late meal and time to watch a World Cup match. And so begins a hectic week of traveling and speaking for me.

Wednesday morning I am woken up to a knock at the door to my guest room on the top floor of the BCM. Luckily, I slept in my clothes so I answer the door to find Principal Hnuni informing me of my itinerary for the day. At 6 am, I'm not fully awake but I am able to catch "go to my daughter's house for breakfast" and "you will speak to students at the secondary school." And just like that, my day begins.

After a quick breakfast I'm lead into the Principal's office of the high school attached to the BCM. He is happy to have me and would like for me to speak to two classes (one 11th grade and the other 12th grade). I'm happy to oblige and am told to say whatever I would like. That seems to be a theme here, "say whatever you like," as if no particular direction is needed to talk to high school students or large congregations in Mizoram.

After meeting some faculty members, I am lead to the 11th grade class. A shy class, all sitting on long benches in front of their shared wooden tables. There are three columns of five rows filled with students. I begin to talk about the importance of education and how "education is something no one can take from you" (thanks Mimi). I talk about how "knowledge is power" and how they can achieve whatever dreams they want if they work hard. I can't help but feel like a corny motivational speaker. The kind that comes to your school trying to convince you not to do drugs or have sex. But I do my best to use the opportunity to open their eyes to the possibilities of traveling outside Mizoram or even India for school. I remind them that everything from the West isn't great and to never forget where they came from. I don't want them to forget that they have a rich culture and history even though the West seems so appealing. Apparently something works, as after waiting for a bit during Q&A time I get a question on how scholarships work. How do you get one? Where can I go? Success.

Instead of two classes, I end up talking to three. Every class gets the same speech, same message. Value your education and your heritage. I'll probably never know, but I hope one of them pursues a scholarship somewhere. Now I know how all those motivational speakers felt standing before a large group of blank faces hoping something you say matters to someone and will make a difference. Afterwards, the Principal will give me a small plaque from the school given to teachers and visitors for my work. I'd trade it to know the future of just one kid I talked to but the universe doesn't work like that.

Next I visit the junior school where children from first to seventh attend. I'm really there just to meet up with Principal's daughter so I can go rest but that doesn't happen. I meet up with the daughter but out of courtesy she introduces me around the office. As soon as "Princeton Theological Seminary" gets dropped, I am now getting firmer handshakes and more interested looks. I get asked to speak to a class of fifth graders on "whatever you like." So in a flash I am walked over to the class, handed a piece of chalk, and left in front of 30 tiny fifth grades in school uniforms eagerly awaiting the final bell which will sound in thirty minutes. The class is very shy to talk to me, as most Mizos are with Westerners even if they speak some English, so I begin to talk about whatever I want. I tell them that I'm from Texas and talk about all the wonderful things found there. How we have cowboys and cows with huge horns, how we helped put a man on the moon, and have a basketball team called "the spurs." Surprisingly, it all seems relatively cohesive. I ask who they want to win the World Cup and poll the class. Brazil is surprisingly popular, followed by Argentina. But, the most popular was the USA (course, only because I was asking). The bell rings and the children rush off to enjoy their childhoods.

I return to my guesthouse for some much needed rest before being informed I'm due at HATIM professional school to talk to a small group of twenty-somethings working for degrees in business and computer science. After a full tour of the new school, I deliver a speech about how they are the next leaders of tomorrow and in charge of leading Mizoram to a brigther future. If only I had gold stickers to hand out at this point. Although I feel like a sappy speaker, every time I speak people are happy with what I said. That's good I guess, I just wish I knew the people better so I could speak more specifically but you make lemonade when you have to. Now I know what all those commencement speakers feel like when trying to imagine what encouraging words to say before a group of fresh college grads eager to begin adulthood. But I'm happy to get the chance to speak in front of people and hopefully at some point they realize that despite the articulations of helping the system they are probably given everyday, they truly are the shapers of tomorrow. Lets hope we make it a good one.

Afterwards, we head to a relative of Principal Hnuni's house for dinner. The next morning begins promptly at 5:45 with a knock on the door from a nice AICS graduate in charge of walking me over to the Assistant General Secretary's house. I have tea there (a reminent of British occupation) and move to shake more hands before we head south again to visit Principal Hnuni's mother-in-law's home. It's a two hour journey but an important one to make.

Judith, Principal Hnuni's daughter who's been traveling with us, is in Mizoram for the first time since 2007. She lives in Canada now, where she just completed college and recently got married. The cost of travel means she can't visit often so this may be the last time in a few years she'll be able to visit. Her grandmother is so old that traveling to Mizoram for the wedding ceremony just a couple weeks ago was impossible. As difficult as it is to realize, we all know this may be the last time she sees her grandmother amongst the living. The reality makes me feel like a true foreigner for the first time since I arrived. No longer was the food different, customs different, language different but now I felt as though I didn't belong. Course, Mizo culture is so hospitable no one minded.

In fact, my entire time there everyone was delighted to have me. Family members took pictures with me and invited me into family photos. I made sure enough got taken without me in them though just so years from now when Judith is looking at her photos a random Texan isn't all of the sudden inserted into a memory of her grandmother. I enjoy a good time there although most of them don't speak English. My time in Mizoram has made me a much quieter individual. I sit in silence as people talk around me in a language that sounds quite fun. I'm constantly reminded of Shifu Jia's comment to me when I was in China, "Austin, you are always thinking. I always see you looking off thinking." I guess that's never truer than here. But I enjoy it and at times Principal will turn to me and narrate the conversation thus far so I can laugh about whatever joke has been told. Although we don't share a language, everyone does their best to incorporate me and show me kindness. Americans might remember their codes of hospitality now long forgotten.

We spend the night there and at 6:30 head back to Lunglei. There we eat a late breakfast with a professor before taking a tour of the BCM. I am introduced to just about every worker there and share the same small talk with everyone. It's a quick hour trip in total before we are back in the car headed to Aizawl. We reach AICS just before 6 and needless to say I am exhausted. In four days I've traveled more than 300 miles of mountain terrain, met almost every key leader of the Baptist church, spoken to over 100 students, met at least 30 family members, and never eaten more than 2 meals in the same place.

If you come to Mizoram be prepared for travels. Also, know that road side vendors in villages sell really great fruit for real cheap. And "hotel" in some places just means a restaurant. Well, I think I've exhausted the majority of my travels for the week in this post. Look forward to another post on some insights into Mizo culture and my sermon for Sunday. Hope all is well in the States. This week, go have an adventure or eat at some hole in the wall restaurant. Adventure is confined to Mizoram, it's all around you. Go find it.

pax et bonum

SHOUT OUT SECTION:
Mom- Wow, didn't know my blog was so popular. I'll have to make sure I keep doing interesting things then haha

Mamaw & Papaw- Yes, my students are enjoying themselves. They love to hear trivia about the US and to learn kung fu!

Sara- Well maybe when I get back to the US I can teach you some kung fu moves so you can get another job teaching English. Teaching English is very little grammar and lots of kung fu I've found haha