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Friends United Meeting |
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July/August 2006
Sacred Moments by Sylvia Graves
Youth Raises Over $11,000 for Turkana
Changing Faces
FUM General Board Met in June
Workteam Activities at Gibara, Cuba
Kaimosi Hospital Responds to Outbreak
News from FTC
Sacred
Moments
By Sylvia Graves, Interim General Secretary
Sharing Your Faith in Teachable Moments
She was eighty-something when I heard one of my favorite relatives say, “I have spent my whole life learning and getting wiser and now nobody wants to hear what I want to teach them.” How often have we thought that our younger friends and family members really didn’t care what we wish we could teach them? When it comes to our faith walk, our spiritual struggles or the belief systems that guide us and give us hope, we probably assume no one wants to hear. Yet the world is hungry for the lessons we have learned and we can teach our profound lessons in subtle ways.
When I was about 10 and helping my grandparents prepare strawberry crates for market, I watched as Grandmother carefully placed the berries in the boxes. I offered to get her some especially nice and big ones for the top. But her response was, “No, that would not be truthful. We must put nice berries all through the box and not just on top. We don’t want people who buy these to be disappointed when they get below the top layer.”
My mother took my six-year-old brother on a train trip with her. At the ticket window, the cashier offered to give him a free ride if Mother would say that he was five. “How can I expect my children to learn to tell the truth if I don’t tell the truth? How much is the ticket?” was her response.
There are special times when we see parents, grandparents, older brothers and sisters patiently and gently spending time with young children. You can probably name some you have seen. Dad might be out on the lawn with a little girl or boy pitching the ball in the first lessons of batting. Little Joe or Josie is standing on the kitchen chair helping Mother place the cookie dough on the baking sheet. We once captured a photo of our five-year-old son on his tricycle riding with an 80-year-old man on his tricycle in the parking lot of the retirement village. Those are the teachable moments when we have the opportunities to pass on our faith, tell something we have learned about how God works or build a relationship where teaching and learning is likely to continue. We may not realize it, but children are listening, children of all ages.
Many people think that being generous means you give away money or gifts. A deeper meaning of generosity is when you talk about how your faith works, you contribute your experiences and life lessons to those who need them and you give the time to build a relationship where your examples will be noticed and cherished. Let’s be generous and share our faith.
Youth Raises Over $11,000 for Turkana
Dustin King exceeded his second goal of $10,000 with a new total of $11,444.77! In the last Quaker Life, it was reported he had surpassed his original goal of $2,000 and had raised it to cover five months’ expense for Turkana Friends Mission, Kenya, Africa.
Needing a senior project at his high school, he selected the Turkana Friends Mission. “Even though the project is finished,” Dustin said, “the effects of project will go on for a long time.” Traveling to local Friends meetings in North Carolina, he found a warm welcome and generous response to his presentation.
Jesus’ words that “if you do it to the least of these, you do it to me” have taken on a fuller understanding for Dustin and have become the bedrock of his ministry. Through his project, he was able to put into practice these words as he visualized the Turkanan people as being like Jesus to him.
Laid upon the foundation of the generations of Friends before him, Dustin is proud to be a Quaker and follow in their tradition. He realized “how important Quakers are to these people” as they build communities and a nation.
Dustin learned three things about developing a project: how to communicate and present effectively, that follow-up is required for success and if you work hard, it pays off in a big way.
North Carolina Friends Meetings that participated in Dustin’s senior project are: Asheboro, Bethel, Cedar Square, Holly Spring, Poplar Ridge, Randleman, Rocky River USFW and Hopewell. In addition, a donation was made from the Lindley-Murray Fund by Friends from Monroe, New York. Donations are still coming in to FUM from Quakers in other yearly meetings as well as his own.
See the earlier report in the May/June issue of Quaker Life magazine.
At the close of this school year, we are saying goodbye to three field staff.
Andy, Lisa and Spencer Stout have taken a leave of absence from Belize due to a back injury Andy sustained while in Jamaica two years ago. He has undergone surgery and is doing very well, but has been advised to remain in the U.S. for the time being. He has taken a position at White’s Family Services in Wabash, Indiana, where he is a Clinical Supervisor in the Wabash foster care office. Andy and Lisa felt strongly about their responsibility to be a good role model for the children in Jamaica and in Belize, and they did this very well. We will miss their gentle leadership.
Joshuah Lilande has concluded his term of service at Ramallah Friends School. Joshuah spent the first semester teaching in the Boy’s School and the second semester helping with the Girl’s School as Friend in Residence. As the first Kenyan Field Staff, FUM has learned much about international placement and we look forward to working with another Kenyan in the future. Joshuah has been a great help in understanding the differences in educational systems. He will be missed.
Tim, Lisa and Paul Lowe have resigned their positions at Ramallah Friends School. Tim served as a teacher for the Boys School. Lisa was the Administrative Assistant to the Director in the fall and then stayed home to educate their son, Paul. We appreciate their sense of humor and their love for the people of Ramallah. We are saddened by their resignation, but wish them well in their future endeavors.
Each of these field staff has brought their gifts to share with the missions of Friends United Meeting. Just as we have been blessed by their gifts, we send them forth with our blessing as they carry out the good work God has given each one of them.
Strategic Plan Process Begun
Prior to the regular General Board meeting, the FUM General Board/Richmond
and FUM/Richmond staff met for two days in June to begin the process of
strategic planning for the future. The Ernie Thompson Group served as
able facilitators as they stated our purpose: to create a future for future
generations with the focus on the outcome, not the problem.
Questionnaires had been sent to participants and the answers discussed. One evening, a panel discussion by people involved in strategic planning included, Dave Phillips, Wabash Friends, Indiana (church); John Porter, North Carolina Yearly Meeting and Doug Bennett, Earlham College.
The second day, the group began moving from “Where Are We?” to looking at the questions, “What Do We Want to Be?” and “How Do We Get There?” People divided into four interest areas: Identity, Evangelism, Administration and Communication.
Additional questionnaires will be sent to all field staff and yearly meetings worldwide. The results from the discussions and further questionnaire answers will be tabulated and action plans will be devised; these will be discussed at the October General Board meeting. A final strategic plan will be presented to the full General Board, Richmond and Africa, in February 2007 for approval.
A vision statement was written by 10 Board members: “FUM—passionate and growing as witnessed through lives transformed by Christ.”
If you are interested in completing a questionnaire and having your voice heard, please contact the FUM office for a copy. Instructions for submission to the Ernie Thompson Group will be included.
General Board Action
The 2006-2007 budget was discussed and approved.
Approval was given to apply for ASHA grants for Kaimosi Hospital, Ramallah Friends School and Belize High School. A position for an ASHA grant manager has been added to staff/Richmond.
Ad hoc advisory committees for field staff are to be formed and begin operations with a review at the June 2007 Board meeting.
The General Board/Richmond reaffirmed the decision to join the General Board/Africa in February 2007 for the first mid-triennium full General Board meeting.
Workteam Activities at Gibara, Cuba
Once again, the bleak midwinter months were broken up for many folks as participants in FUM’s annual workteam to Cuba. Eight travelers from FUM, joined by another from EFI, enjoyed the warm Caribbean hospitality graciously extended by Friends in Cuba Yearly Meeting. The project had been in the works for many years, as funds raised in 2003 VBS offerings were used to begin work on a second-story addition to the Gibara complex. Along with being a lively monthly meeting, Gibara also has adequate dormitories which make it a comfortable site for many Cuba Yearly Meeting activities. Gathering together, however, was often a challenge, because there was no inside space beyond the sanctuary or small dining hall. The additional space provided by the new brick construction will be very useful for committees and small groups.
In particular, workteam participants carried thousands of bricks multiple times, moving them from one pile to another, as space and work necessitated. Windows from a razed building were refitted for use in the new construction.
There were many painting jobs as well, which spiffed up the buildings for the annual Yearly Meeting sessions which are held in Gibara in February.
Every morning, we gathered for devotions, and at each supper hour a list was made to help us recall the important activities. Most evenings, we attended church services, either at the Gibara meetinghouse or the Pueblo Nuevo mission meeting in an old part of the city. It was a pleasure to again enjoy a day trip visiting other meetings and greeting the groups who interrupted their daily schedules to pray and sing with us, as well as inform us of the ministry opportunities God continues to open to them.
Cuba Yearly Meeting faces many challenges. Some of these are: training, securing and supporting pastoral leadership with adequate salaries and housing; vigilantly maintaining a Christo-centric yearly meeting; seeing to the construction and upkeep of many buildings; and equipping members to reach out to family, neighbors and friends with the gospel. Continue to pray for this body of believers.
Kaimosi
Hospital Responds to Outbreak
By James Grace
During a March dysentery outbreak at Friends Hospital Kaimosi, people’s health and even lives were endangered, and I found myself suddenly in a position to make a difference in ways I could not have anticipated.
Early March 16, a text message from hospital administrator, Gabriel, said a bloody diarrhea outbreak was swamping the resources of Kaimosi Hospital. Over 40 school children and college students had been admitted, 19 on the previous day. Outbreaks of dysentery in Kenya are not expected to be this large, and the hospital was not equipped to handle incoming patients.
The two national daily newspapers, “The Nation” and “The Standard,” visited on March 15, along with a camera crew from Kenya Television Network. Some emergency medical supplies were provided, but more were needed. Gabriel asked the government officials to help with food, dishes and utensils, linens and blankets to put on the beds (many beds were being shared by two patients). They said the government couldn’t provide this kind of assistance; Gabriel should look to the hospital’s sponsor, Friends, for help.
That morning, I talked with a Kaimosi Hospital Board member and trauma surgeon who, like me, was dropping off her two children at school. She had surplus Ciproflaxin and phoned the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) to begin making arrangements to test the stool samples to help determine the cause and best treatments. When she asked the outbreak coordinator how often they had seen an outbreak of this size, the answer was, “never.” She also phoned the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu to ask for help with supplies and nursing assistance.
Later that evening I was at a social event for Kisumu business owners. At 11:07 another text message came from Gabriel thanking God that so far nobody had died. He also emphasized the urgent need for food and bedding supplies since many beds were now being shared by three patients.
A friend got everyone’s attention and read the text message to the crowd. He then asked who could help. One businessman donated sheeting material. Another two offered 90 blankets. Others donated chlorine for treating the water, detergent for washing the linens, and money for buying food, dishes and utensils.
The next morning, my Kisumu friend and I gathered the donated supplies, and stopped at Aga Khan Hospital for donated intravenous fluids and IV kits, syringes, needles and three nurses. We then headed for Kaimosi.
As I arrived, another truck was unloading emergency supplies from CHAK, the Christian Health Association of Kenya who was donating IV fluids and other supplies to help with the outbreak.
On March 17 alone there were 55 dysentery admissions, bringing the total admissions to 118, but discharges were also starting to increase. In the following days, admissions dwindled off, then stopped; all patients recovered and were discharged. To our relief there were no deaths.
The full story with photos is found on the FUM Global Ministries blog.
Please join the Friends Theological College (FTC) community (Kaimosi, Kenya) in thanking God that in mid-May, after many weeks of adjustment and negotiation with architects, contractors and government departments, we signed a contract to begin construction of the new Meetinghouse funded by a generous anonymous donor from Indiana Yearly Meeting. The construction began the first week of June and is scheduled to take 16 weeks. We hope that the project will be complete by the end of September. Please pray that things go well and smoothly!
Please also thank God with us that two new tutors have joined FTC. Angeline Savalla, formerly the academic registrar at Kenya Highlands Bible College, has joined us as academic dean. Angeline is a minister in the Free Methodist Church of Kenya, and has a master’s degree from the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology.
Jacob Asige, currently pastor of Kisumu Friends Church, will join FTC as a tutor in September, 2006. He graduated from FTC and completed a bachelor’s degree at Kima International School of Theology. He taught at FTC for one term two years ago as his internship at Kima.
Finally, in May we held the first two of our four interview days for new students in the September, 2006 class—and filled all the places! Remaining students will be wait-listed or offered places for September, 2007.