Monday, March 30, 2015

Dedication of the New Mission Home

For the past 18 months, we have been involved in construction and finishing of the new mission home. This new home occupies the top floor of the same building which contains the mission office and the administrative offices for the Church in India.


Mission Home living and dining room
About a month ago, we moved into the new home, even while the last of the finish work was completed. One of the great advantages is that our commute time to the mission office dropped from 75-90 minutes to less than one minute. 

Today we gathered to dedicate the new home. We invited the missionaries who are working in the Bangalore Zone, the staff who work in the Service Center, and the district presidency of the Bangalore District. A wonderful group assembled for this very historic occasion. 
Gathered for the dedication
Brother Dinesh Joginder, the recently hired project manager offered a few words on behalf of the construction staff. He commented that sometimes it was difficult to get the contractor to finish the project to the level of quality desired for a mission home - between a meeting house and a temple. He was persistant, and the quality of the results reflect his efforts. 

He was followed by Brother/President Robert William, a counselor in the mission presidency and the manager of the service center. He spoke of the beautiful facility and how it will be a wonderful place for many mission presidents to come. He spoke of the day when native members will be called and will reside in this home. He even suggested that one or more persons in the room could be called as mission president and could live in this home.

I then offered a few words of thanks for all those who worked to complete the project. I read from D&C 94, commenting that the home mentioned in that revelation, this home was to be wholly dedicated to the work and ministry of the mission president. There is nothing which happens in a mission home but what is to build up the kingdom of God. 

Then, acting under the direction of the Area Presidency, I offered the dedicatory prayer. In addition to blessing the structure, the mechanical systems and the physical facilities, I felt impressed to dedicate the work to be conducted here. Missionaries will counsel together and will be trained here. From this home they will carry the message of the restored gospel to all of Southern India. Heaven's blessings were invoked on those efforts. I called for the assistance of the Lord in establishing stakes in Bangalore and elsewhere, that there might be places for defense and refuge for the saints. The home was blessed that it might always be a place of cleanliness where the spirit of God may reside and be felt. If persons come who are burdened down by transgression, they may leave having been lifted by the power of the Spirit. This home was blessed to be a place of happiness for all who dwell herein.

At the conclusion of the dedication service, we enjoyed a buffet lunch prepared under the direction of Sister Berrett. We are grateful for the assistance of Sisters Suma and Judy of the Service Center, and Sister Bedke, one of our senior missionaries. 
Enjoying lunch
Elder Stephen with members of the district presidency and family
Suma and Judy were a great help with the lunch


6 comments:

  1. We wish we could have been there! We miss everyone there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a glorious day! What a powerful prayer. What a blessing this will be to all future events that will be held in that building. I for one am thankful you and sister BERRETT accepted the call to serve these amazing saints in India!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, what a wonderful occasion! Such great experiences you are having! Thank you for this blog so that we may keep up with you both. Our prayers are with you!
    Bob and Pat

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for sharing this experience. I made a copy of your post and uploaded it to our Asia Area SharePoint site as a historical document for the India Bangalore Mission.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello! Thought this may be of interest to your followers. The book A House Called Askival is written by Merryn Glover, who is a committed Christian and the child of missionaries. It's about missionary life in India, and all the trials and tribulations and joys of being a missionary's child told in a sensitive and complex way. It's very beautifully written. I'm trying to spread the Word.

    It's currently on sale for only £1.09 on Kindle. http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Called-Askival-Merryn-Glover-ebook/dp/B00KV2US8Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

    'The book drips with local colour and nostalgia, and yet the central themes — about love, parental influence, hidden secrets, loyalty, and the importance of faith — produce a gripping storyline.' Church Times

    ReplyDelete
  6. Zmoleks, here. We see you -- like our own mission pres -- have become too busy to post. We have totally enjoyed glimpsing your work there. We are on our 2nd mission in the Czech Republic -- a dream come true. You can see us (after your busy work is over!) at:
    wherearezmoleks.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete