Day 22 1 Samuel 27:5 - 2 Samuel 11:9
Day 23 2 Samuel 11:10 - 2 Samuel 21:13
Saturday - Took the morning in Kandy enjoying the sights and sounds of this vibrant provincial city, which must also boast as one that never sleeps.
Small street vendors cram into deep narrow shops, I peer in, haberdashery and stitching repairs, ironmongery and household goods, car parts and motorcycle accessories, hair dressers, clothing, shoes, bags, shoeshine and shoe repairs, electrical and electronic goods, telephones and sim cards. You name it, it's all here, one after the other, like little Aladdin's caves every one of them.
I enjoy a coffee at the 'Secret Alley Cafe, (which ain't so much of a secret) chatting to and smiling at the backpackers and tourists who have also sought out this little oasis, they too have TripAdvisor! It's the place they use to regroup and check the next move. Many are only here for two or three nights.
Lunch was taken at Kandy City Centre, a four floor shopping centre with a dining restaurant on the top floor serving a variety of foods from around the nations. So it was the turn of the Italians and I had pasta.
http://www.kandycitycentre.lk/
Sunday - went to worship at St Pauls Anglican church this morning - 7.45am morning worship, no not a special service this is the regular time - cooler you see!
The church stands on land gifted by the government of the day and opened for worship in 1846 the building work was completed and consecrated in 1853.
Celebrating in 2018, 175 years of ministry and worship they launched their theme of 'Remember, Renew and Rejoice.
As a matter of interest the stained glass window was severely damaged in a bomb blast in 1998 creating around 33,000 pieces and fragments. It was fully restored by a team of Buddhists
Breakfast was taken at the Empire Cafe, before returning to TCL
https://www.empirecafekandy.com
This evening Anne (Methodist church mission partner here for three years) and I were invited by Arun and his wife to supper. Arun is a 4th year student and takes up his post next month. This was a lovely meal, easily one of the best I've had during my stay here. It takes a little to get used to, for as guests we sit and eat, the family will eat after we have left.
Arun comes from a family with a long history of Christianity, and as with so many, suffered in many ways with the war, he was born in1985, the war having begun in 1983. He remembers running from the house into the forests to escape soldiers who had entered the village, spending days at a time, living under trees waiting for the opportunity of returning home, which they did, until the next time. The extended family did lose members to the war, and whilst they don't have any 'missing ' ones, he knows of several familes that do, and the answer as to what happened to them is not forthcoming.
This blog is not the place to go into detail - you can do your own research if you're interested.
What is plain to see is that ministry here for many is not easy, Christianity is a minority faith with pockets of persecution and challenges from the majority Buddhist who can make life difficult simply through governance and process. The work it appears, especially in remote rural areas is one of getting alongside the community. In Aruns case, the church farms several acres, so his ministry is very much one of building and rebuilding community working the farm and showing Christ by action first.
To be continued....
I invite your prayers for Arun his Wife and 2yr old daughter as they prepare for ministry in the northern province.
Day 23 2 Samuel 11:10 - 2 Samuel 21:13
Saturday - Took the morning in Kandy enjoying the sights and sounds of this vibrant provincial city, which must also boast as one that never sleeps.
Small street vendors cram into deep narrow shops, I peer in, haberdashery and stitching repairs, ironmongery and household goods, car parts and motorcycle accessories, hair dressers, clothing, shoes, bags, shoeshine and shoe repairs, electrical and electronic goods, telephones and sim cards. You name it, it's all here, one after the other, like little Aladdin's caves every one of them.
I enjoy a coffee at the 'Secret Alley Cafe, (which ain't so much of a secret) chatting to and smiling at the backpackers and tourists who have also sought out this little oasis, they too have TripAdvisor! It's the place they use to regroup and check the next move. Many are only here for two or three nights.
Lunch was taken at Kandy City Centre, a four floor shopping centre with a dining restaurant on the top floor serving a variety of foods from around the nations. So it was the turn of the Italians and I had pasta.
http://www.kandycitycentre.lk/
Sunday - went to worship at St Pauls Anglican church this morning - 7.45am morning worship, no not a special service this is the regular time - cooler you see!
The church stands on land gifted by the government of the day and opened for worship in 1846 the building work was completed and consecrated in 1853.
Celebrating in 2018, 175 years of ministry and worship they launched their theme of 'Remember, Renew and Rejoice.
Breakfast was taken at the Empire Cafe, before returning to TCL
https://www.empirecafekandy.com
This evening Anne (Methodist church mission partner here for three years) and I were invited by Arun and his wife to supper. Arun is a 4th year student and takes up his post next month. This was a lovely meal, easily one of the best I've had during my stay here. It takes a little to get used to, for as guests we sit and eat, the family will eat after we have left.
Arun comes from a family with a long history of Christianity, and as with so many, suffered in many ways with the war, he was born in1985, the war having begun in 1983. He remembers running from the house into the forests to escape soldiers who had entered the village, spending days at a time, living under trees waiting for the opportunity of returning home, which they did, until the next time. The extended family did lose members to the war, and whilst they don't have any 'missing ' ones, he knows of several familes that do, and the answer as to what happened to them is not forthcoming.
This blog is not the place to go into detail - you can do your own research if you're interested.
What is plain to see is that ministry here for many is not easy, Christianity is a minority faith with pockets of persecution and challenges from the majority Buddhist who can make life difficult simply through governance and process. The work it appears, especially in remote rural areas is one of getting alongside the community. In Aruns case, the church farms several acres, so his ministry is very much one of building and rebuilding community working the farm and showing Christ by action first.
To be continued....
I invite your prayers for Arun his Wife and 2yr old daughter as they prepare for ministry in the northern province.
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