Going around the world is no longer a new idea. Astronauts on the international space station go around the world 16 times a day. On my next trip to NE India, I will travel 17,594 miles on United—from SFO to EWR to DEL to SFO on Boeing 787s. At the beginning of my trip, United would not have been approved to fly directly from SFO to DEL but on my return to SFO, I will be able to fly directly home from Delhi—going completely around the world in 7 days!
Jules Verne in 1873 wrote Around the World in 80 Days featuring Phileas Fogg of London waging a bet that he can do this in 80 days. With the completion of a railroad section in India, the new Transcontinental Railroad in America and the Suez Canal, Fogg traveled by trains and steamers inaugurating the beginning of global tourism in comfort and safety. Contrary to the myth of balloon travel, the story ends when Fogg thought that he was late by one day until his partner told him that he was traveling eastward and therefore he still had a day to win the bet! The International Dateline wasn’t set until 1884.
When I arrive in Delhi, I’ll lose one day but when I return home, I’ll gain back the day. With our smart watches and phones, setting the right time and date is automatic with GPS. But it still requires diligent planning to know what time it is when there are more than 24 time zones in the world. If one is not careful, you can miss your next flight!
Today the world is getting ever smaller than the 19th century of Jules Verne. When there is still a lack of Christian liberal arts education in NE India, I travel to prayerfully make a difference. While American Baptist missionaries over 180 years ago introduced Jesus Christ to the people of NE India, there is still a need for people trained in all kinds of professions and vocations to support a sustainable society. Our mission is not finished. When NE Indian Baptist leaders launch a vision to establish the Northeast Christian University, we who are descendants of missionaries of old need to do our part today.
Going around the world is indeed fun and now possible. But I plan to descent 30,000 feet to walk with our Baptist brothers and sisters to ensure that a new university is achievable because the world is small enough for us not to look away. When this happens, we reflect a closer image of the Body of Christ on earth as we know is already in heaven.
(Being the first one in my family to graduate from college, education is a life-giving opportunity. If you are interested in supporting a Northeast Christian University college student with a scholarship of $500 for one year, please contact me to bring our world closer together!)