Thursday, July 26, 2018

No Going Back...


The phrase “no going back” when considering my 20 years of work in Haiti has taken on quite a few meanings for me in the past few weeks. Taken literally, there may be “no going back” at this point in time because of the extremely volatile and dangerous political situation coupled with the possibility that the priest in charge of Martel, where we are now working, may be moved, leaving this community under the guidance of a new priest – one who has yet to form any relationship with our team, or with the community to which he is assigned.

Martel is hours from civilization – we go there only confident in the safety that the current priest in charge, Pere Phanord, provides. Without his presence, work in this tiny, remote community may not be possible for us Americans.

That brings me to another “no going back.” We have established a strong relationship with Martel. We have been in partnership with them for over five years, with multiple visits each year. We have provided much needed prevention education and healthcare to over 2000 unduplicated community members. There is most certainly “no going back” on our commitment to Martel.

Our commitment in this work has always been to develop a locally sustainable preventive health and primary health care program. While doing this work, we have tried to imagine, with them, the end-goal of what will happen when “we are no longer here.”

With this in mind, from the outset we identified and incorporated into our team well-trained and very talented Haitian doctors and nurses. These men and women are now trusted caregivers in Martel, and they are committed to providing ongoing monthly visits to this tiny, remote community. They are quite clear that, for them, there is “no going back” on their commitment to the residents of Martel, just as we are quite clear that there is “no going back” on our commitment to continue to fund the costs of this modest but critically important healthcare program.

So, while there may be “no going back” physically, there is most certainly “no going back” on our commitment to these brothers and sisters who live in Martel and the brothers and sisters who have vowed to care for them. We will continue to send the funds required to maintain an effective level of prevention education and primary health care in Martel, Haiti.

We love so very deeply our companions in Haiti. It is a love that burns in our hearts and humbles us in all ways as we consider our great fortune as citizens of the United States of America. More importantly, our Haitian companions have taught us to see God through very different lenses, and to experience a way of walking with Christ that has been life changing. For us, this a truly another, and perhaps the most important, “no going back.”



Thursday, July 12, 2018

Why engage in global mission?

Why Engage in Global Mission?

The Rev. Deacon Clelia Garrity

"Why engage in global mission when there are so many needs all around us in our local community?"

Most of us have been asked this question and perhaps have struggled to answer it. Our nation grapples on a daily basis with issues of diversity, multiculturalism, immigration, religious apathy and isolationism.

Why are intercultural relationships so essential to our Christian discipleship? Global Episcopal Mission Network has gathered ten quotes from their recent conference held at Virginia Theological Seminary and from other sources that will give you food for thought as you answer this question for yourself and for others.

Ten reasons to engage in global mission:

1. "We go into mission to meet the other, where God is present. Not because there are needy people, or to plant a church, or to teach. But we go to meet Jesus there. Thinking we are missionaries, we become disciples. We go to meet God, who is already present in the other."
2. "No single part of the world contains a complete understanding of God - only together do we have it..."
3. "It takes the whole world to know the whole gospel."
4. "We can never know how fully who God is, we can never understand the mission of God, until and unless we are able to hear it from those in other contexts..."
5."To reduce mission simply to a local or even national context is to isolate ourselves from the voice of God's grace across difference."
6. "We are looking at mission as pilgrimage - seeing Christ in the other."
7. "The 'other' is part of our family that we do not already know."
8. "To know only one's own church, diocese or nation is to limit oneself to an incomplete revelation of the vast and varied witness of the full body of Christ - gifts that we all desperately need to receive from one another."
9. "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ...the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
10. "I have gifts you do not, and you have gifts I do not. We need one another to be fully human. We lose our strength if our diversity is taken away."

A June 2018 Haiti Medical Mission Team member & her new friends



Monday, July 9, 2018

Don't Let Your Boat Rock


SERMON
St. Simons on the Sound
July 8, 2018

Mark 6:1-13

Two weeks ago, I was in Haiti, where our medical team spent five days in the remote areas of Bondeau and Martel. Let me stress the adjective remote.Bondeau and Martel are not towns or villages; there are no cars, buses, motorcycles or bicycles; there is no electricity; no TV, radio, or newspaper; and, of course no Internet. In Martel there is no water - none at all.

People live in one room dwellings. Frequently they have no beds, only the dirt floor to sleep on. For the most part, people have enough food for only one small meal each day. They walk miles whenever they need to access civilization and the meager services it offers in rural Haiti. The nearest resources such as a grocery store or medical clinic (that may, or may not be open), are 10-15 miles away. A long walk in 90 plus degree heat.

The people of Martel live in a world far different than ours. One that is literally impossible for us or, at least for me - to comprehend.

It was in that world that I began the journey of writing this sermon.

We arrived in Haiti on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday morning, bright and early it was already 90+ degrees we attended Bon Samaritain Church in Bondeau, where I acted as both deacon and preacher. Directly following the two plus hour church service we began preparing for our three days of clinic. We sat outside in a partially shaded area packing pills and sorting through medical supplies, such as surgical trays, bandages, etc.

After lunch, I spent my time on the guesthouse porch drinking water and cooling down. I had become very overheated during church and directly after as we began the clinic preparation process. Something inside me said - “take it easy…”

As I sat in a rocking chair contemplating the trees swaying ever so slightly in a most blessed breeze and watching small whitecaps bounce on the aqua green Caribbean Sea less than a mile beyond the tree tops, I began the work of reflecting on todays Gospel reading. I felt guilty about not being with the rest of the group while they continued to prepare for the clinics. And, me, being me, - I needed to work on something. So, why not begin to sort out my upcoming sermon.

Just that morning I had been given the honor of preaching, in French, at Bon Samaritain Church. The Gospel for the day was Marks story of Jesus falling asleep in the boat as his disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee. If you remember the reading, you recall that when a storm suddenly blew in, as so frequently happens in that particular sea, the boat they were managing began to rock wildly. The disciples were terrified. They looked over at Jesus for help and could not believe that he remained sound asleep amidst the turbulence of the sea and the howling of the wind.

In a panic they cried out, Jesus, dont you care that we may die in this terrible storm?

Once awakened Jesus calmed the sea and looked over at his disciples saying, Why are you afraid Do you not have faith?The disciples looking out at the becalmed sea were stupefied stupefied by the instant calming of the sea - stupefied by the power of Jesus.

The point that I made in my Haitian sermon was that when we have faith, the power of Jesus to light our way, to calm our rough seas is stupefying absolutely stupefying. But, it is also stupefying how easily we lose sight of that power when, in the face of life’s challenges, our boat is rocking wildly. It is so easy to lose faith in the power of Jesus so easy. And, when we lose faith, we lose the power that lights our way, that calms our rough seas. When we lose faith we enter darkness, uncertainty, anxiety, anger we fall away from God.

So, it was there sitting on the porch, slowing rocking and cooling off, that I began to seriously reflect on the phrase - the stupefying power of Jesus.

Fast forwarding to todays gospel reading, Jesus continues to astound to stupefy.  Today, we find Jesus teaching in his local synagogue. The crowd is noisy and disrespectful. They shout comments of disbelief that this carpenters son this common person - could possibly have the authority with which he speaks and the power to heal the sick that he has demonstrated.

They are stupefied by his wisdom and his healing powers. Yet, they take offense at him - and they are threatened by him - by his power and authority. They criticize him and belittle him. They reject him as a sham and a threat to their comfortable position of power and authority within both the synagogue and the community.

Looking around at villagers that he has known all his life, Jesus also was stupefied. He was amazed at their disbelief at their lack of faith. After doing what little he could by healing the few who had opened their hearts to his power, he made the decision to move on. His mission from the Father clear bring the Good News to all. Never looking back, he moved on to other towns, other places to seek out, to teach, and to heal those who would open their hearts and their minds to his message. To the love, forgiveness, and salvation of God.

Jesuscampaign to spread the Good News the Gospel ramped up quickly. He entered many towns, teaching and healing all the way. Soon, he saw that it was time to send forth his disciples to augment his work to reach as many people as possible. Jesus understood that his own time in the world was short and his message urgent. he needed to keep moving and he needed help - he needed the hearts, hands, and feet of his disciples to participate in this mission of spreading the Good News, the Gospel, far and wide.

Jesus gathered his disciples and instructed them in their new task, and ordered them to travel light - no frills, no extras - just the bare bones of a travel kit - nothing to slow them down. He sent them in pairs so that they could support each other in this perilous and uncomfortable journey. And, finally, he ordered them not to waste time with those who had hardened their hearts to God. He commanded, "If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

In other words, don't let your boat get rocked - stay calm, experience peace, and get on with your job of proclaiming the Good News.

The disciples obeyed. "...they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons and anointed many with oil who were sick and cured them.”

These brave souls, sent by Jesus with supplies barely sufficient for more than a day or two at a time - these brave souls, Christ’s first disciples - and Christ himself - are models - models for all of us who sit here in this church and in churches throughout the world.

We are here to follow in their footsteps - to take hold of the stupefying power of Jesus and to use it to calm the waters of a very troubled world. A world experiencing very rough seas. We are the ones to calm the sea, to bring love and peace, to support those who have no faith and those whose faith is troubled and staggering as their boat rocks wildly in turbulent times.

We are the missioners - the disciples - of the here and now.

Christian mission - the activity of sending and being sent in Christ - is grounded in the missionary nature of God as revealed in scripture. In creation, God reached out to create communities of life. With Israel and throughout history, God has moved to restore people to unity with God, with one another, and with all creation. In Christ, God is still on mission in the world through the Holy Spirit. Our call as disciples of Christ is to join God in that mission.

The central act in Gods mission is Gods self-sending in Jesus Christ, the word made flesh and dwelling among us in love. The reign of God that Jesus announced: this we are called to proclaim and enact in mission. The love of God that Jesus expressed in presence, compassion, healing and justice: this we are called to live in mission. The reconciliation that God offers a sinful and broken world in Jesusdeath and resurrection: this is the hope we offer to the world in mission.

Sitting on a rocking chair in the 100-degree heat, sipping a warm bottle of Culligan water, and looking out at a community of people who literally have nothing made it far easier for me to imagine Jesus and his disciples in the deserts of Israel.

Being with the people of this barren community as they worshipped in church earlier that day, singing and praying loudly and with such fervor. Listening each morning as our Haitian doctors together with their patients sang prayers praising Jesus prior to receiving medical care. All of this made if far easier to understand the concept of looking to Christ for calming one’s turbulent seas, for experiencing peace, and for maintaining faith that God is always present with us - always there to lean on, to be loved by, to give strength to those who suffer.

All this brings me to my final moment of contemplation as I sat on the guesthouse porch rocking and thinking about the uncomfortable heat and the myriad of hardships that we would all experience in the next few days. As I sat there, finally cooled and ready to rejoin our team, it struck me that Jesus never experienced the fears and anxieties of a rocking boat. And, I thought to myself - of course, that is what Jesus was asking of his disciples and is asking of us - don’t let your boat rock as you go into the world to spread the good news - be calm, have courage, experience peace, give and receive love, have faith.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. BCP


Monday, July 2, 2018

Quand le mer est agite


SERMON
Eglise de Bon Samaritain
Bondeau, Haiti
June 24, 2018

Bonjour mes amis. Je suis tres heureux d’etre avec cette communaute de Bondeau encore une fois. Comme toujours j’ai amene de nouveaux amis d’Amerique. Sam, Michelle, Parisa et Pam. Je pense que vous conaissez tres bien Dr. Pej qui a ete ici en avance beaucoup de fois.

Bien sur, nous avons aussi nos members de l’equipe Haitienne – Dr. Rudy, Dr. Rolph, Dr. Nerly, Richard, Sissi, Jessica and les etudiants de l’ecole d’infirmieres, FSIL – Rebecca et Diane.

Nous sommes ici – l”equipe entiere – pour vous et aussi pour le communaute de Martel. Nous vous apportons des informations sure les maladies dangerouse et des medicaments pour ameliorer votre sante. Nous voulons traivailler avec vous faire des communautes de Bondeau et de Martel communautes tranquil et remplis de bien-etre.

Il n’est pas possible attiendre ces objectifs sans la foi. La foi que notre Siegneur, Jesus Christ, est avec nous toujours – toujours. Il n’y a jamais un moment de nos vies dans laquelle nous sommes seul – Jesus est avec nous – dans la jour et dans la nuit. Il marche a cote de nous pour tout notre vie.

Aujourd’hui nous avons entendu l’histoire des disciples qui sont dans un bateau avec Jesus. Jesus est fatigue, il dorm pendant les disciples font le voyage travers la mer de Galilee. Tout a la fois le mer devient tres agite. Les disciples ont peur. Il croient que ils vont se noyer. Ils l’ont reveiller et lui ont dit, “Jesus, ne vous souciez pas que nous perissons?”

Jesus s’est reveille, calme la mer et leur a dit. “Pourquoi as tu peur? As-tu toujours pas de foi?” Les disciples etait stupefies par le pouvoir de Jesus.

Pour moi-meme, je suis aussi toujours stupefie par le pouvoir de Jesus. Mais, , je suis aussi stupefie a quelle frequence nous obilions ce pouvoir. Dans ce monde qui est si fragile, si remplis avec de pauvrete et de suffrance, c’est tres facile d’oblier que Jesus est a cote de nous, pour nous guider et a nous aime. Et quand nous l’oblions nous sommes perdus. Nous marchons dans l’obscurite.

Etablir une bon programme de soins de sante dans les communautes de Bondeau et de Martel c’est un peu comme voyager dans un bateau sur une mer agite. Il y a beaucoup d’obstacles – d’argent, la distance entre les Etats Unis et Haiti, l’absence d’une systeme medical efficace pour les peoples d’Haiti, etc.

Mais, si nous pensons seulement a nos problemes, nous serons perdus. Il est tres important de reconnaitre nos cadeaux et de les utilizer a la gloire de Dieu.

Si nous nous souvenons que Jesus est toujours avec nous, si nous trailvaillons ensemble dans la foi, la lumiere de Jesus et la puissance de l’Esprit-Sante nous guideront vers le succes.

Dieu a donne a la communaute de Bondeau et a la communaute de Martel des amis qui ont aide a founir l’eglise, l’education, et une systeme de soins de sante. Maintenant ce sera tres important pour ces communautes d’etablir un systeme interne pour s’agrandir ces cadeaux.

Ceci ne sera pas facile. Cela signifie que vous devez travailler en collaboration avec vos dirigeants et Pere Phanord a apprendre bien a prendre soins a vous-memes et a votre voisin. En travaillant ensemble vous devez faire grandir vos cadeaux, quel que soit les defis auxquels vous serez confronte.     

Alors, c’est tres important de vous vous souveniez quand la vie deviant difficile, quand votre bateau bascule dans les mers agitees, c’est tres facile avoir peur – d’abondonner vos projets d’education et de soins de sante – c’est le moment de se souvenir de Jesus.

Quand nous tenons Jesus dans nos coeurs, la foi gagne. Nous sommes en mesure de reussir tous les projets sur lequel nous tralvaillons – meme le projet pour l’education et de soins de sante a Bondeau et a Martel.

Quand je suis chez moi aux Etats Unis, je pense a vous tout le temps. Vous etes dans mes prieres constament. Chaque foi que je rentre a Bondeau et a Martel je suis si heureux.

Aujourd’hui je prie que nous tous – tout le monde, moi aussi – souvenons toujours du pouvoir de Jesus et gardez notre foi dans ce pouvoir dans nos coeurs pour le courage - toujours. AMEN