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Pastor Meyer in India

by | Jan 12, 2025 | Global Missions

January 12, 2025

Have you ever had flowers thrown in your face by strangers for a solid minute? I have.

Today I had the opportunity to preach at the Lutheran church in the village of Illavaram. I was picked up at 10:30, and we began to head that way. We arrived promptly at 12:30 for the service that began at 11!

As we pulled up to the church, the entire congregation was waiting outside. Music was blaring through the loudspeakers that were fixed onto the roof of the building. Stepping out of the vehicle, I began walking forward and noticed some of them had what looked like flower petals in their hands, some had bowls full of them. And as I proceeded forward, they started showering me with flower petals. GOBS of flower petals coming my way!

Some gently tossed them my way. Some threw huge chunks right in my face. And I quickly learned that they weren’t all just flower petals, but actual full on flowers sometimes being hurled at me. They guided me through the gauntlet of garnished greetings into the church where more congregants armed with flowers awaited. I had flowers everywhere! In my hair, in my shirt, covering my backpack, wedged behind my ears, and even in my mouth! It was quite a welcome!!

After getting vested for service in another room, I returned to the church building and was immediately thrust into preaching. At the end of the service, most everyone came forward for a brief blessing and prayer. They fed me a meal reserved for special occasions (sorry, forgot to take a picture, but it was great!), and then we walked around the village for a short time. We returned to the mission house where we are staying two hours away in Guntur. It was a great day!

It was a busy traffic filled drive today, though I’m told it’s actually lighter than usual due to the “festival season.” People are away, so the roads clear up a bit. Here is a family of four, with luggage, out for a Sunday drive on their motorcycle.
A heavy load of rice, carefully stacked and tied down with just ropes. Nothing hazardous about that, I’m sure.
I thought four people was a lot for a motorcycle—this is a family of 5! The mother is holding a sleeping baby in her left arm.
A herd of goats walking down the road.
Arriving at the church. The posterboard reads, “HEARTY WELCOME Rev. Dr. Jonathan C Meyer USA.” They are misinformed on the Doctor part, but a very hearty welcome indeed.
Sermon selfie!
Following the sermon there was a special prayer for those impacted by the fires in LA. A beautiful moment of the church of God united to lift up the needs of others—even those they’d never met, with lives vastly different from their own. Lord, have mercy.
Evidence of my flower shower.
A view inside the church before leaving.
Some water buffalo being guided along to pasture on the road outside the church area.
The pastor of the church. I failed to write down his name—I’ll try to come back and record it.
Walking through the village.
Rice is the main crop in the area. Here’s a head of rice that will be shaken out, separating the chaff from the grain.
Several children joined our walk. At first it was two or three kids, but gradually they all crept out to see this weirdly tall American.
Another path down the village. There are around 500 homes in this village, I’m told.
Rice fields.
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