The St. Andrews United Church in Arcola welcomed Rev. Koshy David and family to the community on Dec. 26.
Rev. David, his wife Nithya, and children, Amar (gr. 11) and David (gr.9) recently arrived in the cold, which they are enjoying as a new life experience. Coming from India via working in the Soloman Islands and Jamaica the family is excited for their rural Canadian experience.
“We call ourselves nomads,” Rev. David said. “There is so much in the world, so we decided to move around and see different people and cultures.”
“As a minister or a missionary it is our policy to go wherever there is a need. The reason we went to the Soloman Islands was because nobody was willing to go there. They had no basic facilities, so no water or electricity. Our call takes us to where we are needed. Jamaica, too, and Arcola, too, is in need of a minister.”
Rev. David was ordained in 1991 to the ministry of the Church of South India. Here he worked in the ministry, but also completed studies in history and philosophy, while teaching seminaries in universities.
By 2000 he and his family found their calling of travelling to locations around the world where a minister is needed. Thus began their travels, which now includes a change of pace with their first winter.
“Canada is different [than where we’ve lived before],” Rev. David explained. “It’s a new culture and of course a new climate, we’ve never seen ice and snow like this in our life before. We thank God for the ability to meet the people here and to live in the country.”
The idea of working as a travelling minister is well suited to Rev. David: “Being with people is the best thing to share in life, it’s not as easy as sharing other things like money, it’s very different to share your time and your life.”
“And it’s been our calling to share our life with different people and cultures.”
The family is enjoying their time in rural Saskatchewan and are enjoying the small town atmosphere.
“Arcola is a wonderful place, it’s a good community,” stated Rev. David. “Everyone knows each other, we don’t know everyone yet, but people know each other here and it’s a good environment.”
Rev. David and his family are looking forward to getting to know the community better.
“I invite everybody to come out,” Rev. David said of attending the St. Andrews. “You’re welcome: whoever you are, we respect your beliefs, your life, and your space.”
