Reflection and Travelogue ……….US and Canada Trip
Reflection and Travelogue ……….US and Canada TripRosy ManokaranGreetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.By the grace of God, we are completing 24 years of ministry. Most of my ministry was limited to India. This year God enabled me to go to US with Mano (Manokaran). This was a new experience. I thank God for that. New JerseyThe first place we reached was New Jersey. We stayed with Mano’s cousin sister Vineta Livingstone. I have to thank her for accommodating us. I enjoyed my stay with the family of Vineta and Jay and especially with the children: Jayden, Ethan and Karen. Vineta and Jay were very helpful in receiving us at the airport, dropping us and driving us everywhere locally. It was like home away from home. I felt at home in their home. This was my first experience to see Indian children growing up in US. It is different from India. Children do not speak any Indian language, speak only English. By speaking with Jayden and Ethan I learnt a lot of vocabulary that is commonly used in US. That was of great help in my whole journey. Chennai, South of India is warm. I felt cold in US. It was a similar experience like that of our first trip to North India in 1986. We went there in winter and felt very cold. So, I bought American style dress. Global Cities Initiative, New YorkI had an opportunity to participate in the Global Cities Initiative conference in New York. Rev. Tim Keller message was very nice. During the conference, Mano had accommodation in New York itself, while I stayed in New Jersey. He spoke in the breakout sessions on Global Urban Trends. I had to travel between New York and New Jersey which was comedic experience. I had to change two trains: one in subway and another in the main rail road. From New Jersey I took main train and reached New York. In the station, I had to walk long distance. There were helpful directions (like turn north, or go south etc). In India, we can see the sun easily. In New York, you see only tall buildings. I am very short compared to American standards. One building is so long it covers the whole street. Then there is signal. When I walk, this signals provides breathing time for me. During the conference, the main meeting place and the venue for break out session, was far away. We had to walk every day for break out session. The Break out session was held in the Jewish history centre. I assisted Mano in selling books, sharing about myself and ministry and taking photos. Many leaders appreciated Mano for taking me along with him. One couple from Cairo came to me, and prayed for me. One funny train experienceSince I had to walk long distance and standing for long, I had leg pain. When I returned from meeting in New York to New Jersey, I took the subway. There when I flashed the ticket, the gate did not open. It was good another lady also had similar problem. She asked me to go and complain in the counter. The man in the counter, asked me to tear the ticket, and asked me to open the emergency gate and go inside. I searched for garbage to throw the torn ticket, did not find any, put it in my handbag. From the suburban station I had to walk a long distance to the NJ transit to take another train. Walking I became tired and had pains in my legs. When I was climbing the steps slowly, behind me, people would say… ‘excuse me, excuse me’. For all were in a hurry. Every one was running. Even old woman, old man were running. I reached NJ transit station where display board was. Very big crowd was watching the board to find out their train and track number. When one display appears on the screen people started running. I did not know which train was mine. Then I saw two young men speaking in Telegu (Indian language). I asked them, “I have to go to Middle Park station in New Jersey’ (Instead of Metro Park I said Middle Park – my tongue slipped.) They saw my ticket and understood, I have to go to Metropark. Immediately, the track number was displayed. Both of them almost pushed me inside the train and made me sit. When I sat, I thanked God. I also decided never to travel in US like this alone. I got down at the Metro Park station and followed the crowd. But they were all going down in the stairs. I know that I should not go down, so I walked ahead in the platform. As I walked, I searched for EXIT sign. There was none. Few steps ahead, I saw “End of the platform”. I was afraid. It was dark. There was a young Indian couple, I asked them. They dropped me home in their car. After I reached home, I trembled with fear. I got fever. Immediately, I took phone, called Mano and said I will not attend the conference tomorrow. I cried. I had dinner and medicine and slept. I could not belief myself. Morning I woke up, had bath and I said to Mano’s sister, that I wanted to go. Everyone wondered. They dropped me at Metro Park station. I wore the American (formal) dress, which was very comfortable and I reached conference on time. Sharing gospelOn the second day evening, while returning I saw one young man from India. I borrowed his phone and called home stating, I have boarded the train (so that they could pick me up at the Metro Park station). I spent some time talking with the man. I discovered that he was also from Tamil Nadu, belonging to the same family background (Devanga Chettiar). He was shocked. We spoke in our mother-tongue Kannada. He has not met any to speak in Kannada. I shared my testimony and also the gospel to him as he was not a Christian. He was very happy. All my physical pain disappeared as I was able to share the gospel. How God is wonderful?Since we stayed in New Jersey, one sister Deepa, friend from Tamil Nadu had requested to visit her friend there who was not a Christian. I was able to contact her over phone, then we visited her home. She was also from our family clan (Chettiyar) from my home town and a distant relative. There also I shared my testimony, gospel, and prayed for her in Kannada (home dialect). We have put her in touch with Mano’s sister Vineta family and another evangelist. Urban Strategists ConferenceWe attended another conference in New York. Urban Strategists Conference, where 35 Pastors in charge of Church Planting of Southern Baptist denomination participated. I thank Rev. Steve Allen for inviting us. I shared about our ministry to many. They all gathered around us and prayed for us. It was really a wonderful experience. While returning from the conference, we thought of visiting the Statue of Liberty. There was ferry, they announced it was free. We enquired some passengers, they said yes we can go to Statue of Liberty. But this ferry was going to another place and it passed through Statue of Liberty. We could not get down there. We boarded the same ferry and returned back. That time we were able to have a very close view of the Statue. Free visit – super enjoyment – new experience. So, America means big, everything big, people big, buildings big, anything to purchase big. New Jersey to San JoseWhen we went to San Jose, we had to change three flights. I got always the window seat. I could look down and see the cities. Very nice planned cities. Beautiful as the buildings are in neat rows. In one place, we looked down it was fully rock – horrible. In one airport while changing flight, I saw many people sitting before video screens. I thought they were playing video games like children. Mano told me that they were gambling. That city, Las Vegas is famous for gambling. How sinful life these people are leading. I prayed for them. We reached San Jose. Pastor Ranjan Samuel received us and took us straight to an Indian hotel. In North America, Christ Church of India is considered as largest church. He was very friendly and talked with us cordially. This was the first Tamil Pastor in my life to talk well like this. He was also humourous. I liked the church very much. Church with many Indians from different States and language group united. All church members co-operate, share responsibility and give respect to pastor. Even small children love this pastor. Pastor’s wife was also simple, nice, quiet and obedient. We stayed with Sridevi and Satyadev from Andhra. Both have come to Christ from different religious background. They are blessed with two children. Very clever children. They asked many questions, but I was not able to answer all of them. Mano spoke in the Church annual retreat and we got very good response. I could speak in Hindi with some Hindi speaking believers of the church and in Tamil with others who could speak Tamil. I felt I was in India. Wonderful experience. San FranciscoAfter the retreat, Pastor Ranjan Samuel took us to San Francisco. It was a wonder. One of the best bridges in the world. Very long bridge, without pillars, hanging with cables. The Pastor drove us to the Crooked Street. It was very steep. It was like going on a giant wheel. Good scenario. San Franciso is a sinful city with homosexuals, drugs etc. I prayed for the city. KansasWe went to Kansas city. We were received by Randy and we stayed in his home. This was the first American home I stayed. Randy and Cindy were very kind. They are blessed with four children: Bethany, Hannah, Joshua and Peter. Cindy met us - first Indians she has spoken with. Randy was very tall. Cindy spoke with me, asking many things about India, our family and ministry. I saw her cooking without masala. She cooked rice specially for us. She gave me a glass measuring jar. She also took me out for shopping. Excellent hospitality. They organized three meetings. One meeting was in the home of Paul and Julie which I enjoyed. Their children are: Riky, Jackson, Carter and Truman. I also met Letti Becker whose mother has ministry among orphans in India. St. JosephThen we went to St. Joseph, we stayed with Sudhir and Rachael. Both of them are from Brahmin families. They are blessed with two daughters: Sneha and Roshini. The younger daughter could sing long Tamil songs, which she hears from her mother. Rachael after doing night duty would come and cook and serve us, even without have a wink of sleep. We visited many homes and Mano preached in Representatives of Christ Fellowship. Pastor Diamond invited us to speak. We were able to pray and counsel Sudhir and Rachael. ChicagoWe were received by brother Sagayaraj at Chicago airport. Wife Mary a very fine woman works as nurse in a hospital. Though both were very busy, they spent time with us. God has blessed them with two children: Trinita and Anto. Brother has Kirubai .org one website in Tamil. For that I recorded my testimony and one message. Mano recorded few messages. They also drove us to down town and showed us Michigan lake. We went to North Park University. We met Paul De Neui and his family. Paul took us for lunch – Swiss food. We met Heather also who visited us in India. The academic dean took us around the college. Then we went to Rev. Saji Lukos and Moni Lukos home. Their daughter Marion was excellent host. They drove us to an Apple Orchard, which was a great experience. I was able to pluck apple and eat direct from tree. Also ate doughnuts made with apple. Also we visited Lake Geneva. Next day, we visited Reaching Indians Ministries International (RIMI). TorontoBrother Daniel Ravi from Sri Lanka received us at the airport. Ravi and Vain were excellent hosts for us. We were invited to speak in the Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church. The pastor of the English Chinese congregation is Rev. Francis from Zimbawe. Mano spoke in the English congregation, Chinese congregation, Tyndale university, Sri lankan Tamil church and in Live Springs Fellowship. I shared my testimony in the Sri Lankan Tamil church as invited by Pastor Yoga Thomas. We visited Bencey David and Latha family. Pastor Alvin Koh and Pat Koh were very friendly and took us to Indian restaurant. Brother Hans and his wife Sylva took us for lunch and drove us to airport for our return journey. Dorothy Chee was also very helpful to us. Dead Sea ScrollsWe visited Sarah and her daughter Ria. She gave us a grand dinner. Next day, she took us to Royal Ontario Museum. There Dead Sea Scrolls were displayed. This is once in a life time experience. It will be displayed until January 10 only. God gave me this rare privilege. Niagara FallsMano and I took train to downtown, then bus to Niagara Falls. It was an awesome sight. God’s creation is truly wonderful. We were able to see the Niagara Falls. Crossing the bridge, it is US. Thambos our son has seen from American side last April. Other thingsI was able to encourage many young girls who are facing struggles in their married life in US as well as Canada. The colourful trees and flowers in all places were pleasant to my eyes. These experiences would help me to survive in international contexts. Thank you for your prayers and support.Yours in Christ,Rosia Selvi
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