Discipleship Program, Vashi, New Bombay

Final overseas mission for the year at Vashi, New Bombay

I had planned on taking a three month long break from missionary travel after my trip to the United States, but I had committed to doing a Discipleship Program in Vashi whenever it could be arranged, so when I was told that dates were fixed for October 24-26, I didn't back out. I was glad I didn't, because it was a wonderful mission that ended with yet another invitation to start an HSI Community.

The enemy, of course, promptly went into action with whispers emanating from certain leaders about how I was a divisive force in the Catholic Church and other such rubbish, but then he has to do what he has to do and we have to do what we have to do—which is continue our work in the vineyard—though I believe at some point I may have to take steps to stop the slander.

With this mission—which was made possible largely due to the efforts of Blazie Shetty—completed, my travels come to an end until the Lenten season, though I plan on using the time to write about the many things I have learned over the past couple of years and also build up the existing Communities we have running.

HSI Sharjah is 2 Years Old

Happy Birthday HSI Sharjah

Our prayer family in Sharjah completed two years this week and they celebrated it by throwing a party, with the kids and youth putting up skits, mimes and other assorted entertainment. Members from other families, even some as far away as Fujairah, came for the celebration and it so great to see the love flowing.

Holy Spirit Interactive, itself, completes five years this December. May the Lord continue to bless us and grow us.

New HSI Community in Jebel Ali

We launched our fourth Community (after Dubai, Fujairah and Chembur) in Jebel Ali today. We had Fr. Eugene Matioli, parish priest of St Francis of Assisi Church, bless us. The HSI Communities are our success story with new ones to begin in Dar es Salam, Tanzania and Houston, Texas shortly. All the communities have the blessings of the local bishop and are under the supervision of priests. For more information please visit the School of Discipleship website.

Silent Retreat

Mother Nadine and Yours Truly

Fr Pasquale, the Ninja Healer, my Retreat Director

The Intercessors of the Lamb are a group based in Omaha, Nebraska comprising a group of contemplatives - brothers, sisters and priests. I decided to spend a week with them before I returned home. I had visited 9 countries in 9 months and estimate I spoke to over 20,000 people in nearly a hundred different places. I was pretty much exhausted and believed I needed a full recharge of my spiritual batteries. Hence the retreat. It turned out to be the best thing that I did all year long! Not only did I get rejuvenated in body, mind and soul; I also learned (and relearned) a lot of things during the time I was there.

It was a silent retreat, but guided. Fr. Pasquale was my retreat director. Originally from Surinam, he was affectionately referred to as the Spiritual Ninja Warrior by the Community members and by the third day I could see why. Before I left, I spent a few minutes chatting with a few of the brothers in the Community (I lived with them but because the retreat was silent didn't do much by way of communication except nod!) and a litle time with the founder of the Community—Mother Nadine. She is a wonderfully blessed person and shared a beautiful vision she had of me before she said bye.