VBS @ Hyderabad

I was in Hyderabad a few weeks ago to lead a Vacation Bible School program for kids at the Ascension Mar Thoma Church. Somehow, last year and even a month ago when achen had invited me there were some other activities in place which didn't make this VBS look possible. But, thanks to the way God turns things around, I got to make it to Hyderabad.

I need to say I had a great time with the Kids and teachers. Some of the parents showed up everyday to cook meals for the kids. Twas awesome! I enjoyed the hospitality of Mathew achen & family who treated me like royalty!

My experiences with certain people...

a. Luke! : Ok...Luke is 5 years old. But he can talk like a 15 year old. In my first session he surprised me with the kind of answers he came up with. Young chap with an excellent smile. So was this other guy Shawn (4year old)... major smiles and man therez so much radiance on their faces!!
(Luke & Shawn were, I guess, the names I called the most during my sessions... they were so coool!!)

b. Achen & family: If you have been brought up as a syrian christian, there is this reverence & respect you have for the priests/bishops or clergy in general that is kinda ingrained in your system. I have always pictured myself on the giving side when I meet the clergy ( ie: give respect/honor etc.).
Here, in Hyderabad, I have this achen & family who turn the tables. I am suddenly on the receiving side. =) Yea... I was treated as a Bishop! lol! The love, care and responsiveness they showed were amazing. They'd go out of their way to serve. God bless their serving hearts!

c. Youth band =) : When I got to Hyderabad, I had brought a guitar assuming that I am gonna be doing a lot of singing alone. And when I casually check with Achen, they even have a drum kit at church. Wow! A traditional church having a drum kit??? hmmnn...not so common. Well to my surprise I had a lead guitarist, a drummer, a keyboardist and a bunch of vocalists...what more did I want?? =) There were these guys called Rubin, Wilfred, Sunil, Tobin, & Jewel who turned in for practice in the mornings before the day started - some of them driving 45 mins to get to church. Wow!

d. The Cooking team : I dont know why but I was really happy to see a good bunch of parents and church members coming in every morning to cook food for about 70 people. The food was amazing!

More than that, it was just the thought that these folks could get together to cook and also discuss their worlds with each other. I have heard of corporates taking their managers to a cooking workshop to improve team dynamics. A lot of things happen when we do things together... and it was just beautiful to see that.

with the Team @ Ascension MTC, Hyderabad

Writing Skills with CTS

Last week I was at CTS, Siruseri with a batch of new hires. This is a new project I have taken up in collaboration with ReThink Solutions. Thanks to Mike!

Twas a great time with a nice bunch of youngsters.  On Friday, the group surprised me with a bunch of roses. Really sweet of them. Itz in a real long time, that I got over 7 days continuously with the same bunch of guys. Good time of learning & engagement.

Herez us.

Isaiah 30:19-21 & 23

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious, he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.
(Isaiah 30:19-21 & 23) the Bible.

Wow! What a word! Quick thoughts when I read the last verse...
1. Man, God will send the rain in! Yea... for the seed you sow, the rains are coming!

2. Wow! The reward for your labour is gonna be plentiful! (ur gonna forget the days of lack)

3. In those days...think about it... the cattle will scream "Luxury!... I'm loving it"... Lol!! =) yea...seriously!
Thank you God!

Travel Week!

I have been on the road since last thursday... been great.

Started off with the Alpha retreat on Friday and Saturday in Vellore. Good times with the group and Mathew. Then met Suma aunty at the Guidance Centre. Later in the nite, had to board a train to bangalore at 1:10am from katpadi. woke up at 1am... and received calls from Stanley saying that they are already at Katpadi.. Have a gr8 auto driver who takes me there in a jiffy... I run to the station, the train honks to leave... and i manage to run into a compartment... whoa... that sure was a BIG miracle!

Sunday morning was in Bangalore... thanks to the kindness of Henry, the band has an apartment to refresh before heading to Lemontree for the service. Was great being at Bangalore, seeing Henry and his son helping us out with equipment.. I was reminded of earlier days in college...when we used to assemble and dismantle the drums regularly..and.. here i am at Ashraya Bangalore...what a blessing to play the drums with the band! was a gr8 service! Mike's message was super coool... dunno if i have a better word... so timely! Bert led the ministry time... wow! Blessed!
(was great to jam with Marcus, Kavi, Hans, Sneha and Stan the Man!...  and oh my,.. the TAMA kit was amazing... i am always inspired by the tone of instruments... the tom-tom tones were excellent... i guess whenever the instruments sound gr8... i get to express myself a lot better =)  Bob did a gr8 job on sound too!)

The next day I was in trivandrum... dont ask me how... last minute bus journey =)... oh i love these last minute adrenaline rushing life... itz so so coool!! Thanks to Tomz kindness I have a place to refresh and sleep... Wow! the water was amazing... kerala is the place... ur body will thank you for it!
Later...I attended Donnyz wedding. Met up Ishana at her Big Big house =)... went to meet Abraham.

Had a hilarious dinner with Tom later in the night. We have this waiter who responds to our malayalam words with highly accented english words... whatever we ask in malayalam...he responds in english... gud enough to cease our hunger for the nite! finally... tom says..." chetaa... the chicken was spicy"...  and our waiter in sudden surprise says .."Thaney...."!
oh we laughed!! all the major english words had jus disappeared for the poor man.

The next morning... we had a get to-gether at Ishanaz place with a time of singing and worship with Abraham and two of his UK cousins... if you dont kno....Abraham is like Father Abraham.... he has like endless number of cousins =)...yea...no joke... everyone happens to be his cousin!! lunch courtesy - ishanaz mom =) great lunch!
met Vijichan later that nite. Was great meeting him after a long time. Also met Tomz friends Hari and Hisham.

Ystrday I got to Cochin. Went for worship service at Exodus... was great! Chinnu was leading worship...nice to see him after a long time... he also invited me to sing a song during offertory. Wow! What a blessing to sing at church after a long time... I used to be a part of Exodus btwn 2003-2006... I enjoyed singing 'Lord I am amazed by You'... (again excellent sound... good sound appeal a lot to me!) Thanks to Bibin who helped me on the keys! Gr8 guys @ Exodus!

Now... I am sitting at home...listening to Mikez msg again from last week. Jus happy and blessed at what God is doing in my life! =) Thank You God! You're amazing...Words cant tell it enough!

Welcome Ford India!

I am back after an introductory session with the employees at Ford India. I am on a panel of trainers for a Language & Communication workshop scheduled for the next 3 months.

(Thank you God for new opportunities! And Lord, I love the new Ford Edge, please let it come to India.)

Respect the Kids

One day, early 2007, while working with one of my students at the Performa Lab, I heard him utter loads of words under his breath. These words sounded more like curses. 

Some of the words sounded like he was echoing them just the way he heard it. He was literally imitating the tone of the voice and the facial expression that came with it.

Speaking to his mom, I found out where all this came from. As the young chap was difficult to handle at home, he used to be sent for tuition classes as soon as he got back from school. The tuition teacher couldn't give the attention the boy needed and used to give him a share of bad vocab and also beat him up. And... yes our young man hated his tuition teacher.

At such young age, this boy was filled with hurtful memories and was also prone to Attention deficit problems that affected his learning capabilities. I remember when he used to be at the office, he had the power to charm anybody...engage u in a few of his favorite questions (ie: hav u watched dhoom 2?) lol!!... but get him to sit and give you five minutes of his attention that would be very difficult.

For any child, early foundations are so critical (developmental psychologists agree)... the words he/she hears have the power to influence his thought and action.

Do u find people dis-respecting kids?... Speak up!

being Khalid...

Last month while visiting Muscat I met Khalid.

Not everyone can be Khalid.

He consented to meet us one evening at the Chedi Hotel. May be if you havent met Omani nationals, I need to tell you that they are some of the most hospitable people on the planet. They'll make you feel so warm and so welcome! Khalid was no different.

Simplicity, Humility, and just the openess to talk and converse... I was taken aback.

You need to know ... Khalid is no ordinary guy.

Khalid is the first person from Oman to climb Mount Everest.

I should say we had a great conversation. We spoke for close to 2 hours. He brought with him an album containing pics of his Everest feat.. It was beautiful. He shared that the mountains were always his passion. He shared about the importance of both mental and physical training in mountain climbing. Also that thesedays, corporates invite him to share his stories.

Again... what stands out to me most among everything - Khalid has no airs about him... Nothing at all. He seemed so human. He wanted to know about what I was doing... I shared about my work... gave me some insight about how to go about things.. man.. He was genuine!

I have met 'few' people who have made it real BIG... but yet live ordinary lives and are willing to catch up with you over a cup of coffee =)

I'd say it takes character... being Khalid!