Favorite Photos from Chittagong

Our last few days in Bangladesh were spent in and around Chittagong, in the southeast part of the country. The contrasts were extreme. We started in the Bandarban Hill Tracts, visiting K.L. and Jasmine, some of our first IGSL students from Bangladesh.

This is a tribal area, and is totally different culturally from the rest of Bangladesh. The tribes in this area are ethnically related to the Chin tribes in Northwest Myanmar, and both their language and their appearance is more similar to what is found in Myanmar. This photo is from a village school.

We also visited a Christian boarding school that was established to educate children whose home villages have no schools. When we arrived there, the kids were all lined up to perform for us and present us with flowers! Celebrities . . . again!

One of my highlights was meeting K.L.'s father-in-law, an old pastor who told us stories of how the Gospel came to their area.

It was encouraging to see how the tribes who have already been Christian for many years are now taking the challenge to bring the gospel to unreached tribes. K.L.'s tribe (Bawm people) are one such group. In this photo, you can see K.L. and Hirak along with two young Bawm evangelists who have started a church in an unreached Mru village.

K.L. is showing me the correct way to play the drums.

This elderly man and his family are the first believers in the Mru village. Reaching this village entailed a lot of hiking!

We did our women's conference for the third time, this time in a very old Anglican Church in the city of Chittagong. The plaque on the wall said that it was built in 1844. It had high ceilings, stained glass windows, wooden pews -- all very British and very traditional.

And then . . . we raced to the airport for our trip home. It was a wonderful twelve days. I am so grateful to God for letting us take this trip and experience the world of our graduates.

Favorite Photos from Dhaka

We only spent two days in Dhaka, the capital. It's a big city with lots of traffic, lots of buildings, lots of history, and lots of lovely people. This is the sister of one of my current IGSL students.

We were able to spend time with two recent graduates (2007), Ishan and Sandhya Biswas and their daughter Allyne.

It was fun to go with Sandhya to meet some of the girls in her Bible study. These girls put on a special program just for us. We felt like celebrities!

The instrument being played by the girl in the middle is a harmonium. It's sort of a cross between a keyboard and accordion. She is pumping with her left hand while playing with her right. Many churches had this instrument, usually accompanied by drums.

We did our Women's Conference in Dhaka too.

Another highlight was visiting the parents of Karim and Eti, who are currently studying at IGSL. It was fun to see their world, and to tell them about how their children and grandchildren are doing in Manila. It brought tears to their eyes as we told them about Karim and Eti's life. These grandparents have an 8-month-old grandchild in Manila whom they have never seen.

You might be wondering why I am talking on the phone at the dining table? Eti's dad has just placed a long-distance call to Eti in Manila so we could say, "Hi Eti, we're sitting in your parents' house!" Of course then everyone had to say hi to everyone else, so it all took a while.

We also visited the Martyrs' Memorial, a tribute to the 3 million Bengalis who gave their lives during the 1971 War of Independence. Bangladesh has only been a nation for 38 years. Before that it was part of Pakistan, and before that, part of British India.

The memorial was very beautiful and very touching, as we learned about the price that was paid for freedom in this country.

Other sights around Dhaka:

Tomorrow: Photos from Chittagong, our last stop.

Favorite Photos from Khulna

I've been home from Bangladesh for over a week, but then had to leave again for our annual IGSL retreat. Now, at last, the promised random favorite photos. With my random thoughts about the trip.

I loved traveling with Gerri, my friend and colleague. Some parts of our trip were exotic and elegant, some parts heavy and heart-breaking, but it was all good, learning together, widening our world.
.The time in Khulna with Hirak and Metali was the best part for me. Metali and I cried like babies when we had to say goodbye. She sent a text message a few days ago and said, "I miss you. Can you come again next year?" I don't even get to see my own children once a year! But I don't want to wait seven years again to visit this dear family.
.We loved going with them to their ministry sites and meeting those who have believed through their faithful witness.

The lady in the white sari (below) was a young bride 20 years ago, living in a big city and expecting her first child, when her husband demanded that she have an abortion. She refused, and ran away (something almost unheard of in her culture). She returned to her own village, gave birth to a son, and raised him alone, working hard to earn enough to care for him. Now that son has a wife and child of his own. This small family became the first believers in their village just a few months ago. Both ladies attended our women's conference, and they were delighted that we visited them in their home. The young man has been sharing his new faith with others in the village.

The girl in the photo below, second from the right with the pretty smile, was the first believer in a different village. I asked her (through a translator) why she decided to follow Jesus. She said, "He's the only one who can forgive me, and the only one I can trust."
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The rest of the people in the photo are not believers yet, but they attend the meetings and have been listening for several months. The kids sit in front and participate, with the moms behind them, while the dads sit in back or stand outside. But they are all hearing. And we know that faith comes from hearing! I look forward to visiting this village again on my next trip, whenever that might be.

The remaining photos are just sights around Khulna. I tried hard to take lots of photos this trip! Gerri took a lot too, so between the two of us we have a pretty good record of our experience. Tomorrow: favorite photos from Dhaka.