October 6, 2008

Patience is the companion of wisdom.
- St. Augustine

Dear Friends,

The Hudson family has been undergoing “patience training”! During our wait for Indian visas we had many unexpected opportunities to spend time with family and friends in the United Sates and give God the glory for spontaneous memories we created together.

Mary plays in her last high school volleyball tournament in Bangladesh.

Since our last letter we put Mary on the plane to Delhi by herself. The family of her assistant volleyball coach at the American Embassy School offered to let her live with them until we are able to return to India. The Indian Embassy granted her a student visa, and the school agreed she could reside with the Andersons. She made it back in time to participate on the varsity volleyball team and get caught up with her academic coursework. The SAISA (South Asian International School Association) volleyball tournament was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mary’s team was undefeated and carried home the first place trophy!

We have some more good news to share. David has been appointed area coordinator for Asia and the Pacific for the PC(USA)’s World Mission program. The Reverend Insik Kim is retiring after 35 years of service in that position. As I write this letter, David is accompanying Insik on a month-long trip in East Asia and the Pacific where Insik will introduce him to our partners in the region and pass on the baton for this ministry. Their travels will take them to Philippines, Thailand, Japan, China, and Korea.

We both attended a training in Louisville for regional liaisons. The announcement of David’s new position was made there. I will continue as the regional liaison for South Asia and hope to get back to Delhi for the remainder of 2008 and 2009. David has been given permission to reside in India with us, but will relocate to Louisville when Mary graduates in June. He will spend time in Louisville, but his home base will remain in Delhi until that time.

My appointment as regional liaison continues until 2010. I continue to welcome your prayers and financial support for my ministry. The Indian visas are still not in hand, but I have a ticket to Delhi on October 12 and am the PC(USA) representative at partnership meetings for the Church of South India and the Church of North India in October. David hopes to join us in Delhi by November. He hopes to use this year in India to nurture important relationships with churches, schools, hospitals, and mission initiators in South Asia as part of his ministry as area coordinator.

During our time in Louisville I sensed a renewed sense of urgency for World Mission in the PC(USA) and am inspired by the life and witness of Hunter Farrell, the director of World Mission. His daily Bible studies underlined the importance of our engagement with people of other cultures and our own need for transformation and change as Americans. Hunter’s service in Africa (Congo) and South America (Peru) helped him discover the spiritual depth and richness of people most Americans would call poor. He got in touch with his own “brokenness” while ministering alongside African and Peruvian Christians.

As a regional liaison, my job is to build relationships. I’m committed to strengthening relationships between the PC(USA) and our partner churches in South Asia, where Christians are minority communities. That includes the Church of North India, the Church of South India and the Presbyterian Church of North India. Last year the CNI warmly received the Hudson family as a member of their faith community. It made all the difference as we were integrated into their culture! In addition to our partner churches, there are church-sponsored institutions—primarily schools and hospitals—which have long-standing relationships with the PC(USA).

The Hudsons enjoy dinner in Agra after visiting the Taj Mahal. Please remember to pray for the Hudsons (and Sue’s Dad) to be reunited in India in Christmas 2008.

Regional liaisons also stay in touch with PC(USA) mission personnel in our regions. Now we have a new family in Lahore, Pakistan, several families in India, and a medical doctor in Nepal. There are some YAVs (Young Adult Volunteers) in South India as well. Les and Cindy Morgan, who have served for years in Bangladesh, are taking a year off to be with their son, Everett, who has a life-threatening medical condition. We welcome your prayers on their behalf.

Regional Liaisons also work with “mission initiators” in our region—the Outreach Foundation, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) and presbytery- or congregation-sponsored groups who fund projects or travel to the region. We can offer resources, guidance, and introductions to Christian partners in the countries where we serve. How can you pray for us in this ministry?

• Please pray that both David and I receive Indian visas as soon as possible.
• Please uplift the Christian communities in South Asia, particularly Christians in India who have experienced persecution and Christians in Pakistan, whose lives and institutions are impacted by the political instability of their country. Surround Kinnaird Academy, a school for girls in Lahore, Pakistan, with your prayers, as this school and its supporters celebrate an important anniversary on October 25.
• Please support Presbyterian World Mission as a whole. Your gifts and prayers make an incredible difference!

I am grateful to be your partner in Christ’s mission worldwide,

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 87