Video of Blessing of IMPACT Center

Here is a video of the blessing of the IMPACT Center in Kerala by His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the major archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. We visited this center a week before its completion. We hope to return another year and teach there. Our good friend, Fr. Jose Palakeel, is the one handing flowers to the archbishop in the opening scene.

Blessing and Dedication of IMPACT Center

Good News from Fr. Jose (our host in India and our partner in mission):

"It is a matter of great joy for me let you know that the IMPACT missionary animation and communication centre was blessed and dedicated by His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the major archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. On this occasion 500 invited guests were present. There was an entertainment program for the guests together with the tea party."

Our Lady of the Sari

The clothes that Indian women wear are stunning. I have never seen so many beautiful, flowing fabrics worn with such grace. Rich or poor, the women in India all look elegant.

So naturally I wanted to bring something home, but after a brief time shopping on our third day in India, as part of our tour of Jaipur, there was never time or opportunity. Plus, I really needed help and though Fr. Jose has many gifts, shopping for women's clothes is not one of them. So I pretty much gave up on that idea.

But, while Jose may not be into fashion, he does know how to make things happen. Once my paper was over at the Scholar's Conference, on our last evening in India, Jose told me he had arranged for me to go get a sari.

Sr. Jacintha Prakashappa, SMMI (pictured with me above) took me out for a wonderful shopping adventure on Commercial Street in Bangalore. It started with a ride in one of those little 3-wheeled open-air taxis I'd seen so many of but not yet experienced. I hung on for dear life as we rounded the corners and swung through the traffic. Like all the driving experiences I'd had in India, it was a thrill.

Once we were deposited on a side street, I honestly didn't know how to act. The street was like a pedestrian mall full of people coming and going, except there were also cars and scooters coming and going! Only the terror of losing track of Sr. Jacintha got me moving. If I lost her, I had NO idea how I'd ever re-connect with my group--I didn't even know the name of the place we were staying as it was a rather obscure Indian name. I was ill-prepared to get lost.

I walked down the street praying I'd not be run over. No one else seemed to worry about the traffic, which of course was their secret. I did kind of get the hang of it and so much wanted to look around at the fascinating sights I'd seen only from a vehicle before. I'd take a glimpse of the stores and then look back quickly to make sure I was still following Sr. Jacintha. I began to get the hang of it and looked down another narrow cross street and there was a huge Brahman cow! Just not Dayton at all.

Sr. Jacintha was a masterful negotiator and knew all about the stores and fabrics. After being disgruntled by the first sidewalk shop, she took me to a Western-type store where I got a tunic and tights outfit, then it was back to the sidewalk shops for a sari. I eventually did get one and the accompanying skirt and "sari fall." (Sr. gave me one of her blouses the next morning, since the lady who makes them at the shop was on holiday.) Then we went to have marsala doce and tea at a wonderful eatery in the midst of all the shops. It may have been the best meal ever (I was famished) and definitely the most amazing shopping I ever enjoyed.

Fran Plude took the full-length photo of me in my sari and dubbed me Our Lady of the Sari. I like that title!

By the way, Sr. Jacintha holds a diploma in Communications from Lyon and Rome and is currently working on a PhD in Christianity at Mysore University. A member of the congregation of Selesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, she is Director of Vijayavani Kalavidaru, which presents multimedia, folk and popular theater presentations. She attended our 2-day workshop at United Theological College and the 3-day Scholar's Conference where we presented papers. She has published articles on the Creation and Fall stories in a book of feminist writings, Envisioning a New Heaven and a New Earth. I am honored to call her "friend" and I hope she will take me shopping again someday.

Back in the USA

After what seemed like an interminable night (because we were flying backwards in time into the night and also because I didn't sleep at all during the 14 hour flight) we landed in Newark at 4am EST. As we waited for our 7am flight to Dayton, the sun FINALLY rose. What a welcome sight.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

The second day of our workshop on "Biblical Stories in the Digital Culture" here at United Theological College began with a video meditation on the story of "Paying Taxes to Caesar." It was the section of the story that the participant had chosen to learn and tell in today's epic telling of Mark. So last night he produced a video for our morning prayer! It was very good and so was his telling. This is his picture (he took his wallet out as a prop in the story).

Our program here concluded with a public lecture that Tom gave entitled "Experiencing the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Digital Culture." The hall was full, which was very gratifying and the lecture went well with thoughtful questions afterwards.

Tomorrow early a.m. we head for our last venue: the Navaspoorthi Kendra (NSK) also here in Bangalore where we will all present papers at a 3-day Scholars' Conference for Bible professors from the many theological colleges in Bangalore.

This is definitely not a Liz Rand cookie

Okay, I'm really pretty adventuresome with the food here and have even learned to eat with my hand in proper Indian fashion. (Though I still do sometimes scandalize Fr. Jose by wanting to put rice in my soup. I have to do it when he's not looking.)

However, today during the afternoon break I happily got my tea (made with hot milk and sugar--yum) and saw to my amazement little plates with large cookies. Or so I thought. I took a bite and went to warn Tom, as you can see in the photo, "These are NOT Liz Rand chocolate chip cookies." Not even oatmeal. Not even close.

Actually, the "cookie" was really quite tasty once someone informed me it was a lentil treat (with lots of other food things in there and of course spices) and I got my taste buds straightened out about what to expect.

I really love the food here and eating is definitely a three-times-a-day adventure.

Lion Hunt

Today was the first of a two-day workshop Tom and I are leading on "Biblical Stories in Digital Culture" at the Church of South India United Theological Seminary in Bangalore. Did I mention Bangalore is the high tech center of India (and to some extent of the world). But here, it is known the "The Garden City" of India, and indeed it is lovely with its many trees and large parks. It is the most Western feeling of the cities we have visited.

But as to our workshop, you can see Tom faithfully begins each biblical storytelling workshop in true Boomershine style, with a Lion Hunt. Though I sometimes have to convince him to do it, even when he thinks there won't be time. It always works, even in these highly academic settings.

And did you know the lion is the national animal of India? (I guess I wrote that in a previous blog.) So a Lion Hunt is most appropriate here.