Dream with Me

As we explore the possibilities of forming a coalition or joining with some UM Churches in Florida and S.Dakota, God tempts us with a proposition that seems like getting our cart before our horses, so to speak.

We have an opportunty to purchase a brand spanking new land rover possibly one similar to the photo. They sell for $64,000.00 new and we have the opportunity to purchase (with our friends in mission on La gonave) one for $20,000.00.

We recently paid $800.00 to get a very old land rover repaired for AAPLAG so we would have transportation on the island. Old land rovers are not risky as they do seem to last "forever"..and beyond. The older they get the fewer ammenities they have and the more limited the usage. The one we now use seats four inside and has a short bed where 4 more can bounce around. It does go more easily to places nearly impassible to the GBGM Toyota pick-up we had when we lived on LGN.

As we look to the future of joining with others, doing similar projects, expanding what we can do, and expanding our mission and ministry on La gonave, transportation is, as it has always been, a challening issue on La gonave. We have paid for use of World Vision land rovers to transport Haitian leaders for training. Often we load, or "overload" a small pick up and abuse bodies bouncing over the rocks.

We have been concerned about safety issues since the Catholic church pick-up did not navigate a steep hill and curve and several Haitian workers were killed and injured. Travel on the island is risky even tho a social event. My feelings after a trip was as I imagined the feelings of one who just successfully rode a rodeo Brama bull! Of course, my body didn't boast!

Our account is ear-marked for water, education and industry and resourses are limited since we returned to the US. What an offer to come at such a time.

The Wesleyan Hospital is getting one land rover, but there is room on the container for two (for the same price). The decision has to be made by November 28th.

Join us as we "dream" of the possibility...there is a door open, but is it a tease, a temptation or a test of our mission future?

Come dream with me at least for a few days.

Randomly Repeating

Randomly Repeating: I have been reading about and downloading images related to the issue of “chaos theory”. Since January 12th it seems our friends in Haiti have gone from chaos to chaos. Yesterday on NPR radio there was a projection that 200,000 people in Haiti may suffer from Cholera in the next year. Port au Prince Hospitals serve 1000 people and they are over-flowing.

We communicate by email and phone with young leaders on La Gonave. They have been frightened but hopeful since the earthquake. Water and food have been more an issue than Cholera. The Norde winds more an issue than the passing of Tomas. This week the tone of emails changed. A young man who frequently discussed theological questions said some are losing faith and question what they have been told of Jesus.

Reading Christian history, and a study of the Psalms, is a journey through chaos. From Genesis to the current political elections and blog battles between liberal and fundamental, the theme is one of absolutes that aren’t, and positives with more question marks than aha’s.

It’s interesting that Google images of “chaos”, with game advertisements ignored, all seem to have some vague but persistent pattern. Chaos is never completely without some form, randomly repeating itself.

Following Katrina, we were asked if God had punished Bay St Louis because of casinos. Presentations relating Haiti’s history of years of violence and corruption, raise the question if God causes the suffering of hunger and water because of a violent nature of people and Voodoo?

Peter J. Gomes, in “The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus”, 2007, ends with a chapter titled “gospel of hope”. He understands the book of Revelation as a call to hope for the end of oppression and injustice. Yet, what New Testament writing has more chaotic narrative? Is perhaps the random pattern within the chaos of life, hope?

Joe just told me the US is sending 125 million dollars for cleanup of debris in Port a Prince, to be managed with the help of the international advisory committee. There’s a bit of hope!

Pastor Admirable has asked for teams to work in Anse a Galets, to complete a church with a history of conflict. To move forward we will have to address those issues. There’s hope in that.

Yet, where is the wisdom in building a temple in AAG while millions are homeless? What was the wisdom in Jeremiah purchasing a field as Babylon was conquering Jerusalem? Is hope randomly being repeated? God doesn’t “cause” the chaos, but is always there within it. Must we seek the pattern, randomly repeated, in the chaos? Could that be God, or hope, or justice, or….?

Pastor Shirley, November 13, 2010. Web: www.centralumclawrence.org

Hello Again

Have not blogged here for a very long time.

Moved back to the US in October 2009 with no replacements. In September some GBGM consultants and staff visited the island and were not too impressed with our living conditions and access to health care...or lack of access. I thought I was doing quite well with my Merck Manual and some very competent internet consultants.

Three current projects are still in place and running: drilling and repairing wells and cisterns, industrial development through APG / AAPLAG, and, educational sponsorship for young adults in university and vocational training. We had committed to assisting the Methodist Youth Group with an annual rally and the Annual Methodist Women's Conference in Anse a Galets.

We met with new President Gesner Paul and agreed to continue to support the ministry on the island as he developed leadership for La gonave following Circuit changes in 2010.

We returned in January for Roundtable discussions with the EMH, GBGM, UMCOR and other participating parties. Shortly after the end of the first days sessions, Jan 12th, we experienced the destructive earthquake with our friends at the guest house. That is subject for another blog. But, it was a God thing we were there to suffer with and for our friends, both US and Haitian.

We continue to visit the island every 3 months or so and stay in communication with leaders of the church, the Association for Peasants on La Gonvave (APG...the industrial group) and Haiti Outreach on water projects.

When we moved home we were invited to share our ministry with KEC congregations who had been supportive while we lived in Haiti. Following our experience with the earthquake, many more wanted to hear the first hand story that was not part of media coverage. We have been VERY busy for 10 months doing presentations in churches, prisons, community groups plus attend to issues on the island.

We sell Haitian Prayer Angels and goats for the goat park to assist APG provide materials for fishermen, gardeners and livestock owners. We continue to fund educational programs for Methodist Youth and Methodist Women. We receive requests from the new La Gonave Circuit Superintendent for projects on the island.

We share the suffering of our friends in the aftermath of the "tremblement" that wrecked such havic in the land and now the Cholera epidemic destined to kill thousands more, and Tomas with such winds and rain. Our friend, Antoine, has been there working with the French Red Cross for 6 months and we welcome his contact and worry for him as so many worried and prayed forus.

I will post my infrequent blogs here in the future. And for a time play "catch up" with the events of life and mission since leaving Haiti. I will address the earthquake and our Conference attempted response; where KEC is in the Disaster Recovery process, and, where we are and our hope for the future mission on La gonave.

I invite you to follow our friends, Ed and Sally Ritter's mission on blogspot.