There are some events and experiences, which stay in our minds as seminal events or turning points. Let me share one of them.
I met Rev. Graham Nichols in Adelaide when I went to attend the Friends of Vellore meeting on behalf of the Christian Medical College, Vellore in 2002. Graham began his professional journey as a porter in a hospital at the age of thirty years after a successful innings as a foot baller representing his state and an actor in a popular theatre group. It was during his time in the hospital he felt called for theological training and moved on to become an effective pastor. While being a vicar at Adelaide, he came across faculty from CMC Vellore, who were on sabbatical leave in Australia working at the local hospitals. He developed a special friendship with some of them and felt drawn by the story of CMC.
When he retired from his pastorate, he came to CMC Vellore on the invitation of the Director, who was his former parish member, to help in the Chaplaincy services, particularly in mentoring the faculty. He came successively for four summers spending each time about six months. During his time, he brought much encouragement to the Chaplains and the faculty. The students and post graduates were fond of him for his friendly approach in difficult situations.
One of the special contributions he made was to pastor patients coming to the haematology department. He became friendly with some of them and parents who lost their children due to chronic illnesses. Having developed a net work of friends in different parts of India, he decided to return to india one more time to visit these friends.
This visit to our home at PIMS, Pondicherry was on that occasion. Graham mentioned that, ' coming back to meet with a few friends was his missionary vocation'.
Anna and I had benefited from the friendship of another family, Frank and Val Garlick , who returned from Australia to visit some of his friends in India, after their departure in 1976. They continued coming to India almost every two years till 2002 to keep in touch with some of us. Later at the occasion of the marriages of Arpit and Anandit, some friends made exclusive trips to be with us from three continents.
Anna and I feel humbled at the thoughtfulness, we have witnessed in such acts of kindness.
We currently wonder whether, travelling to meet with friends to present them the gift of our presence, is a 'missionary vocation' we are called to consider!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
When he retired from his pastorate, he came to CMC Vellore on the invitation of the Director, who was his former parish member, to help in the Chaplaincy services, particularly in mentoring the faculty. He came successively for four summers spending each time about six months. During his time, he brought much encouragement to the Chaplains and the faculty. The students and post graduates were fond of him for his friendly approach in difficult situations.
One of the special contributions he made was to pastor patients coming to the haematology department. He became friendly with some of them and parents who lost their children due to chronic illnesses. Having developed a net work of friends in different parts of India, he decided to return to india one more time to visit these friends.
This visit to our home at PIMS, Pondicherry was on that occasion. Graham mentioned that, ' coming back to meet with a few friends was his missionary vocation'.
Anna and I had benefited from the friendship of another family, Frank and Val Garlick , who returned from Australia to visit some of his friends in India, after their departure in 1976. They continued coming to India almost every two years till 2002 to keep in touch with some of us. Later at the occasion of the marriages of Arpit and Anandit, some friends made exclusive trips to be with us from three continents.
Anna and I feel humbled at the thoughtfulness, we have witnessed in such acts of kindness.
We currently wonder whether, travelling to meet with friends to present them the gift of our presence, is a 'missionary vocation' we are called to consider!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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