Bangalore 2007

2007-03-28T07:08:00.000-06:00

Business Meetings

2007-02-28T07:18:00.000-06:00

As a team we had two very distinct parts to this trip:

First, to meet and fellowship with the students and staff here at the school. We have been with them for two chapels and spoke just this afternoon to them after "tea" about our ideas and thoughts from the trip.

Second, to meet with Christian business people. Bruce conducted a seminar last night for 68 of these business people, and we were able to engage them in a round table discussion on employing Christian principles in our work.

Today, as an added surprise and a pleasant one indeed, Bruce and I had the chance to meet again with four of these business people to go more in-depth. A plastics tool and die partner, a man his management team in IT, and a water fountain, recreation facility designer. Man, did we get to do deep! 6 hours worth. I think we all walked away touched.

Tonite dinner with students and then off at 3 a.m. to head to London and back home in 36 hours!

I will post a bunch more photos upon return, the web speed is a bit slow.

Some photos, sorry I tried earlier

2007-02-28T07:12:00.000-06:00

Cabbie Story

2007-02-26T02:09:00.000-06:00

We got all our signals crossed. So my ride didn't show and I had only one phone number on my blackberry. The "big chief" here at the school. I called him, now you have to realize that it was 5 a.m.

He and I agreed that I would get a cab. Now, the cabbie didn't speak English and I of course don't speak any Hindi. We took an hour and half to go the 45 minutes because we got lost and weren't communicating well.

He has two children (2 and 4) and is a practicing Sunni Muslim. We even went to the wrong school and had to get redirected. You gotta see the way they drive, much worse than Scott. I tried to take photos but that seemed to distress my new Sunni friend, a bunch.

So frankly I stoked a Hoyo and laughed to myself and the fact that God has a big time sense of humor.

Got to the seminary in time for breakfast and then spoke to a class on ... you guessed it Romans Chapter One. "Paul couldn't get to Rome"

Monday Update2

2007-02-26T02:01:00.000-06:00

I sent one update by email, so this many double up

I am here, safe, and busy already today. Breakfast and chapel and speaking to classes and lunch with a tour thrown in.

Funny story about cab driver, if it doesn't pop up from email I'll key back in tomorrow.

Leave comments or email me, I'll check every couple hours now that I know my way around.

Great place ... to visit.

Monday Update

2007-02-26T01:57:00.000-06:00

Ok, lots of wacky stuff.

Everyone got their signals crossed and there was no one at the airport to
pick me up at 5 a.m.

So, I ended up hiring a cabbie. He didn't speak English and I of course
don't speak Hindi. We communicated by gestures (he has two kids 2 and 5
and is a practicing Sunni Muslim). We drove 45 minutes and got lost a
couple times. Frankly I thought I might be looking all over India until
Thursday ... but alas we finally found the seminary.

Wonderful place. Beautiful in the center of not so beautiful. 120
students and 40 staff. We did chapel and we spoke in some classes. Just a
few minutes ago had lunch (it's now about 90 degrees and we're very close
to the equator) and I'm gonna do some blogging for a few.

Yes, Jul I'm blogging from 11 time zones away.

Still bummed Dave and Jon couldn't make it, but we're doing what we can,
I've taken a couple hundred pictures to try and fill in. I tried to get a
shot of the sun coming up this morning, but man you've got to see them
drive! Worse than Scott.

Gotta fly, more later tonite.

Sunday

2007-02-25T05:27:00.000-06:00

Arrived in London 5 a.m. Chicago time
Have two hour layover

Update again

2007-02-24T21:10:00.000-06:00

I have boarded
So far the bonus is I have three seats to myself!

I will try and send out right when we taxi to takeoff ... Takeoff

I'm off
Steve Dalton
Synergy Homes
steve@synergyhomes.com
219-464-8888

Update

2007-02-24T19:23:00.000-06:00

Wacky nite

Dave and Jon still can't get out of indy so they're bagging it, looks like they would miss both flights

I'm on track still to board, we'll see if we take off, I'll email one more time when we're taxiing
Steve Dalton
Synergy Homes
steve@synergyhomes.com
219-464-8888

Our Itinerary

2007-02-24T17:23:00.000-06:00

Provided we get out of Chicago tonite here's the plan:

British Air flight 298 to London at 7:55
Then British Air flight 119 to Bangalore at 1:40 London time

Return March 1st from Bangalore 6:45 a.m. in India fly to London
London to Chicago same day leave London at 3:30 p.m. arrive 6:10 p.m.

Update: Snow hit at 5:05 at O'Hair. I'd say an inch an hour right now at this pace.

Saturday Update

2007-02-24T16:54:00.000-06:00

Dave and Jon sat on the runway for over an hour in Indianapolis. It looks like they are underway after a de-icing. Now the next problem is that the same storm that hit them in Indy is now headed right at Chicago. And our flight out of Chicago is still three hours away.

More to come

2007-02-24T14:57:00.000-06:00

Just talked to Dave and Jon they are on their way to Indy airport

We're grabbing dinner in schaumburg prior to dumping me at the airport

Lots of fun ahead

We had a terrific party last nite at our house. Thanks to everyone who came and those who couldn't too.
Steve Dalton
Synergy Homes
steve@synergyhomes.com
219-464-8888

2007-02-23T18:32:00.001-06:00

One last test

Steve Dalton

President Synergy Homes LLC (www.synergyhomes.com)

Northwest Indiana Real Estate and Building(http://synergyhomes.blogspot.com)

Testing

2007-02-23T17:49:00.001-06:00

Testing the system for remote posting

Steve Dalton

President Synergy Homes LLC (www.synergyhomes.com)

Northwest Indiana Real Estate and Building(http://synergyhomes.blogspot.com)

India's Great Treasure?

2007-02-23T17:46:00.000-06:00

Not real fond of wild animals? Well from what I understand it's the monkeys that are abundant. I'll let you know

Meetings in Bangalore

2007-02-10T15:36:00.000-06:00

Letter today outlining out activities while in country:

Following program has been tentatively arranged for your team. If you want to have additional involvement, please let me know and I will try to address that. Please note that we could get two or three team members get involved in sharing in our classes. I am teaching Biblical Theology of Mission class and two of the members can share 45 minutes each from 9:20 to 10:20 and 1030 to 11:20 on Monday. I have also arranged one lecture for one of you in the class called Models of contextual theology where you can share about what does it means to be a Christian in the business world.

One of you will be speaking in our chapel on Tuesday morning for 25 minutes. We also have arranged a community session on Monday afternoon where couple of you could speak on the topic Christian business and ministry. You may share how your Christian values influence your business and business people.

On Tuesday we have three hour seminar with dinner with Christian business people where John Deal is going to speak. I have put his name and assume that he will come prepared on the topic of Doing Business from Biblical Perspectives. He will be the main speaker but one more of you could also share your experience there. If you have another speaker in mind, please let me know immidiately, since we are in the process of finalizing the invitation cards. We will have dinner with the Christian business people after the seminar. We are expecting about 50 to 60 Christian business people for that and it will be held in the city.

Then on Wednesday we will have one of you speak in the neighboring AOG seminary in their chapel. That morning we will also give you exposure trip to the city where Christian business people are may want to discuss possibilities of knowing about your business and explore possibilities of partnership. To finalize this phase of program I need to know if your team members are interested in exploring possibilities of partnership with Bangalore business people. If so then they should come prepared with the brochures and proposals that may be discussed.

We are also arranging some slots for the students to interact individually with the team members to enable them to get to know the kinds of students we have here. You will also have one session with faculty around dinner to interact with them.
Looking forward to your coming.

In Christ,

Atul Aghamkar

Themes for Trip

2007-02-04T13:48:00.000-06:00

We were working today, by email, on some themes for the trip, here are the top five:

Sausages to India - a veiled play on words to famous book entitled Passage to India.

Travels with Feck and Ruth - another play on words featuring ruth instead of the more famous ruthless and feck again instead of the marginally famous feckless. Rough expository translation, heading to Bangalore with Purpose and Mercy ... wonder which one is Feck?

Lastly, we argued and debated on the relative merits of a few kinds of snacks. Ho-Ho's and Twinkies and Choco Dongs and Moon Pies. It was suggested that a general principal or two can be garnered from even our snack choices ... Pies far outweigh Choco Dongs or frankly any other choice in any situation that we could foresee.

Please click comments below and leave us your vote for best theme for the trip

Our flight and equipment

2007-01-30T10:58:00.000-06:00

The Boeing 777 has a similar range capability to the 747-400. These operate to the Middle East, the Americas, the Far East and Africa.

Movies on the flights

2007-01-29T07:03:00.000-06:00

Preview – February 2007 Link to British Air site
Below is a list of the movies available on flights with 18 channels of entertainment in February 2007. If you've seen one of these movies, send along a short comment so we know which ones to waste our time watching on the flights.

Movies are subject to change.
From the UK
Flushed Away
Babel
Marie Antoinette
Flags of our Fathers
The Guardian
The Illusionist
Pierrepoint
Open Season
LA Story
Employee of the Month
This is Spinal Tap

To the UK
A Good Year
Man of The Year
The Prestige
Running With Scissors
Gridiron Gang
All The King's Men
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
Shrek
Trading Places
The Mistress of Spices
Holes

New Short Term Site

2007-01-29T06:33:00.000-06:00

I'm going to use this short term site for journaling before and during our trip to India starting on February 24. Part of the Facilitators team will be heading to Burma early, and we'll meet them in Bangalore upon our arrival.

Dave and Jonathan Maurer from Bargersville Indiana, will travel with me both to and fro. We'll also be meeting Bruce Richardson and Oomen Cherian from Greenwood when we arrive.

Over the next week, I will post a list of books I'm reading. Some maps and iteneraries. As well as some of the key things I look forward to learning while there.

While in country I will attempt, when I have web connections, to post photos and updates.

When I return i'll post the remainder of my photos with daily journals of activities.

That's the plan. I'll invite Dave and Jonathan to join me on this site as writers too so we can complete a thorough digital journal of the trip. Dave's one heck of a photographer, so expect to see some great shots from him.