Four In One

“Four in One” May 2, 2013 by Shirley Edgerton

In January of 2010, Joe and I were meeting students on the patio of the Haitian Methodist Guest House, when the earth began to shake; buildings tumbled down; 200,000 plus people died; and millions of lives were rearranged forever.  Three of our friends and colleagues were trapped for more than two days under tons of concrete and ruble; two died; one survived; and, all over the world people where pondering the “will of God” related to a Christian culture uncommonly poor in the midst of developing nations.

This week I prepare a sermon with lessons from the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John. The Revelation of John lurks in the background, confusing a simple message of mission and peace spread to “the ends of the Earth”.  I question if there is a “simple” message in God’s creation.

Three “men of God” whose lives were spent working to make life better for broken people all over our world, were crushed in a natural phenomenon of horrid magnitude.  One survived to relate the story of “peace in the ruble” as they sang hymns and praise; prayed and even laughed at times before one heart became still; one mind was numbed by pain; and, yellow helmets accompanied light in a dark place. 

The Gospel of John tells us of Jesus trying to prepare his disciples for his death.  Some of it sounds like “double talk” but he promises they will be helped by a spirit that will continue to teach them and be a constant reminder of his time with them.  They take little comfort in that and feel the fear and anxiety that all of us feel when someone we love dearly is dying.  Jesus promises a “non-anxious presence” that will give them a type of peace which provides “thin places” where God’s presence with mercy and grace are experienced more easily.  Our colleague who survived in Haiti, is witness to that “thin place” opening to God’s presence, holding them as they lived and died, sharing love in a complex culture.

The Apostle’s Peter and Paul plus John of Patmos, all shared “visions” or encounters with God. These experiences resulted in reconciliation of diverse cultures and peoples; and the message of God’s love, mercy and grace beginning it’s journey to the ends of the earth.  

I seldom preach Revelation but as John envisions the New Jerusalem, I think of the “evolution” of the church.  I’ve known it from childhood dreams of African adventures and missionary friends, to my own adventures in the bush of Africa and the slums of the largest city in the world.

I’ve represented the church at bedsides of dying children; the gravesides of the saintly and the “not so” and searched with my Haitian brothers and sisters through the ruble for their families and for my friends.

On a motorcycle I have climbed to the highest peaks, where the air was thin, and at the top of my lungs sang “How Great Thou Art.” I have held in my arms a child dying with cerebral malaria, and prayed over a skeletal young woman on a beach in Haiti, as she smiled goodbye to her 12 year old daughter, soon to be orphan.

For many, I have been the “non-anxious presence” in the chaos and crisis of their lives. I have been blessed by those times.  Preaching my sisters’ funeral tested the “non-anxious” part but grief makes one vulnerable to the thin places  when God can reach in and touch ones soul, so that also was a blessed event.

Jesus told the disciples they would know a “helper, an advocate, a comforter, a teacher” who would lead them to the thin places where they would know God was actually present.  Peter and Paul and John of Patmos, in dreams and visions; on journey’s, imprisoned and before the religious tribunal of the temple, were guided and empowered to speak words to “the church” that changed the churches understanding of who was acceptable, who just might be “members of the elect”, and what the will of God for all of the world just might be.

“If” the New Jerusalem of John’s vision is a metaphor for “the church”...and what “the church” is to be, it seem far from “the church” in our violent, greedy, power hungry, contemporary world.  It’s a city of light with a tree of life; “on both sides of the river” that is flowing to the ends of the Earth. God is there. The Holy Spirit is there, drying tears, making thin places, and reminding all of Jesus’ ways with empires.  Can it be?

Tuition Tension

November 5th I began the shortest visit to Lagonave I have ever made.  Reports of damage to gardens and communities along with struggles getting students back in school were a call I could not resist.  We have delayed travel as it takes funds that we need to pay entry fees and tuition for students so it had been a 6 month separation. The longest since 2007.

I visited Delsie where a team from Kansas West / Andover is planning to work in March.  Sandy had washed large slabs of road bed down the mountain and upended some big trees with shallow roots.  The major issue was fruit trees stripped of their crops and sweet potatoes, critical to both people and goats, washed from the ground.  AAPLAG was trying desperately to locate sweet potato seed and did by the end of the week.

When we moved home the last of 2009, we elected  to keep 3 projects alive on the island.  The Association for Peasants South Lagonave, or APG was designed to eventually become self-sustaining with help from AAPLAG providing training and eventually micro credit as needed.  Progress has been very good with no help from the weather-man!  The goat park has thrived with 13 new groups trained and receiving goats from the park.  Several venders have been trained and financed and an agriculture program for peanuts did reasonably well, again, no help from weather.

I guess it is no wonder the students all chose technological education or service as agronomy just seemed a losing battle.  Engineering, accounting and computer science and medicine were primary choices and they certainly have the skills and quick intelligence to do well. Now, they are just concerned there will be positions for them when they graduate.  They are hoping the NGO;s do not get discouraged and leave too soon.  Most indicate a desire to make a difference on their home island, Lagonave but will need employment before they can become independent.

Nov 8th I met with 7 of the 17 students at he Methodist Guest House and took new photos.  Several are in the last year of 5 year programs and one nursing student graduates at the end of this current semester.  Two engineering students graduate the next semester and one has been 1st in his class of 129 for the 4 and a half years he has been in school.

When the program began 5 years ago, entry fees ranged from $15.00 US to maximum of $25.00 for registration photo and entry exams.  Today we are paying as high as $435.00 for entry fees and clinical experience for professional nursing students and $350.00 for engineers and science majors.  tuition also has increased from $250.00 or $350.00 per semester to $400.00 to $500.00 per semester.  As students advance there are tools and equipment they must supply and clinical experience at additional cost.  The individual amounts seem small but the total cost has begun to max the amount of funding we have available.

I feel a bit silly typing these amounts sitting in Lawrence Kansas where university students pay $4000.00 a year OR semester just for board room!!  I have lost track of the cost per collage hour but realize many graduate with debt that will take years to pay off.

For several years we have depended on funds from Kansas East Conference Roundup funds to pay student tuitions in university with left overs to pay educational funds for adult industrial training.  A couple of our students have been assisted by congregations and special offerings at Annual Conference, various Church programs and projects have helped with educational project costs and training plus pay our travel to and from Haiti.

We began alternating trips nearly two years ago to cut expenses but living in the US and not being good at marketing our mission has decreased  income, significantly.

We have committed to see these 17 students through their advance education.  The fact that bright students from the island of Lagonave could attend university and manage to stay in the upper 5% of their class is a miracle made possible by our Kansas East Connections..

Actually, over 40 students have received funding for education with Mitchell South Dakota taking on 13 students, including a med student now studying in the Dominican Republic. The universities have welcomed the students and encouraged these young adults that would never have had the opportunity except for this mission.

Once again I serve a local congregation and my desk is covered with year end requests for donations for a myriad of worthy programs that provide service to children, frail old and people in need in America. I preach mission and generosity and believe strongly our Christian mission is that of Jesus' mission.

Living and working in Haiti, with no particular skills, was a matter of a growing faith in God. Believing  that God  cares about all people and offers liberation and salvation to those most in need was obvious in so many ways.

I'm not asking for anything, except prayers at this time; for wisdom to manage our resources to see this project through; that we might let go of other projects that have made no progress at great expense, such as water and wells, which others are addressing;  prayer for APG, that from this 3 year "start" they now have the desire and skills to progress and grow without our support; and please pray for the students who have spent these last 5 years living with little food,  sharing apartments with no electricity, sharing lap tops and what small resources they could find.  The other prayer request would be for a few congregations to  get excited about transforming the life of one Haitian young adult by sponsoring their education for one or two years.

'Tis the season I believe that creates many "thin places" where prayers are on  express delivery to the one who opens doors.  May Christ "occupy" your heart for a time, and give you peace.  Pastor Shirley

Talking Expectations

It is the season to get many calls from La Gonave.  It is "back to school" time there as it is here and anxiety is raised as crops have failed and expenses rise, and  nothing works right.  Monday we again do a skype conference with Partners for Haiti and EMH representatives.  The talk there is about short term projects and teams and how to "work" without creating dependency.  Talking, expectations.

Our experience has been long term and some issues have become non issues as we built relationships and tapped the desire of young leaders who want knowledge and independence.  The culture and multitude of challenges make independence difficult.  History does not help, but we have watched the planted seeds begin to grow.  Our dream of their self-sustaining role is perhaps too enthusiastic for Haiti, but "push" we do.

A great need for our manager, "animator-Louis" is an ATV that is available from Mr. Bee, but is in need of tires and a plan for use and maintenance.  We have received some generous donations, and give thanks for those. Louis is a "big boy" and tap taps do not like to transport him.  He can ride a motorcycle but manages to hurt something most times he goes far.

Louis manages reports and tuition schedules for most of the students. He and Joe maintain an excel worksheet and Louis often receive funds for some of the students and distributes it to them.  Most students want to talk directly to us as the "source" but Louis interprets needs.

 He also is secretary of the industrial association APG and helps Davilma manage training of groups, the goat park and projects for vendors and gardeners.  They have developed programs for planting 7000 trees, a small micro finance plan for gardeners and training programs for groups. I wish I could say "all is working well" but it is Haiti with many challenges. We are at least on the same page, as their desire for independence will hopefully overcome the challenges in time.

One project with the La Gonave Circuit involves First Saints Community Church in Maryland.  They have sent teams to Trou Jacques for repair of cisterns and are now looking into beginning a micro lending program for the community.  The teams are pleased but UMVIM has changed protocols and tell us they are no longer approving projects on the island.  So, we work directly with commuities and US congregations for the time being.

Water remains a critical issue with Concern WW, WASH and Haiti Outreach waiting on project funds to continue searching for water on the west half of LGN.  We have invested without results and as we wait we are repairing community and church cisterns.

Joe and I continue to alternate quarterly trips to reinforce programs and projects.  We welcome individuals and small groups interested in meeting with the leadership of the island and getting a taste of the culture in the most remote area of Haiti.  Anyone interested please call as I will soon be making arrangements to return in October.

I have been preaching a sermon series from the Book of Ephesians.  Paul calls for unity in ministry by all who believe and accept compassion of Christ is the way to do ministry that moves all people toward God's plan for Shalom / Well-being for all God's people.  He says it takes those mature in faith to be apostles, prophets, evangelists and effect the lives of those outside the community of God.  Thinking expectations, I pray for maturity of all in our two diverse cultures.   Pastor Shirley

Thinking Sunday

It’s Friday, and Sundays coming. I’ll preach my second sermon at Vinland UMC, “my church” just down the hill.  I like it. They don’t lock the doors because locals use the basement as a storm shelter.  It’s a nice church with nice “stuff” and a mix of members.  Some people are “country” and some are “city, professional” with a “county attitude”.  I’m a small part of their history from the 90’s, and the “feel” is there, when you first walk in.

“The feel”. is like you’re on your own, to do what you do, but do something, and remember some of us  “go way back.” Like Haiti, they have used the same hymn book 40 years, but when the choir “is on” its’ new stuff is approached seriously. And, from the pulpit; keep it simple, but make it mean something. Last week was work.

That “First” Sunday, I stumbled through an unfamiliar “order of worship” with Eucharist, Did remember to serve myself before covering the elements. I talked about what miracles “are” and ‘aren’t”. Then I “called” the congregation to a “healing ministry” letting miracles be the natural bi-product of meaningful communication.

 This week, Marks’ gospel leads to a discussion of the stifling effects of rejection with no pity party response.  If you can’t “light a fire for the Kingdom with wet wood” then get some help and go somewhere else to do damage to demons.  Various commentaries call it the start of ministry or Jesus style mission; some talk of repentance and/or salvation and even Barbara Brown Taylor has the nerve to use the word evangelism!

Mark does indicate Jesus had attended VIM Leadership training as he told the “sent ones” to travel light. They were to take no carry-on or granola bars or Gatorade, and not to worry about luxury accommodations. Jesus even recommended something to discourage “critters”. He also instructed them on how to interact with the “locals” and if “they” didn’t “buy in” to the God stuff, not to fret, but “shake it off” and go home.  There are more demons out there than apostles.

There is a lot more to Marks story but borrowing from many sources, I think of it this way:

There was to be a new day dawning; Jesus and the Apostles demonstrating                                                                            the power and presence of God.                                                                                                                                        Not a side-show extravaganza or high wire performance without a net;

Not a “now you see it, now you don’t“ illusionist and certainly not a Si-Fi Fantasy!

But signs of the Kingdom of God,                                                                                                                                  where people believed Jesus was different, and his way, too.

If people cared and if the poor had food; the margins were moved and boundaries crossed;

then lives would be changed and the demons would depart.

Call it mission; call it a new ministry; call it evangelism or conversion or repentance if you will.

Some real go getters may call it “saving sinners” from the burning lake of fire!

But when Christians “get it right” (thanks to Adam Hamilton),

we just could maybe,                                                                                                                                                                call it church.

Joe and I, and Kansas East Conference,  continue to invite people to go with us to La Gonave; to listen to challenging plans for water for the masses; to consider partnering with one of many university or advanced education students; or to participate with industrial development groups, planting trees, training groups and giving them goats, or seeds, or small loans. 

The Haitian Church / La Gonave Circuit has accepted a couple of teams for community projects on the island, We have interested congregations exploring ways to help communities, build and repair cisterns, sponsor individual schools, an orphanage or some students. I think I see it as “damaging demons” of poverty, injustice and privilege for the few.  Isn’t Jesus’ mission and ours, STILL focused on changing lives and life styles?

Pastor Shirley Edgerton, July 6, 2012, for Mission La Gonave.

Third Cup #1

As I am on my third cup of coffee this will be short as I hope all in the future will be.  Perhaps more frequent posts and more focused.  
I will be serving a local church half time starting in July plus Joe and I will continue to support La Gonave Haiti projects with visits to the island extended to every 4 months. Projects are water cisterns and wells, education scholarships for university and vocational schools, and APG Industrial Development program.  
My last visit to La Gonave was early March. Flew from Newark and stayed at the new Baptist Mission Center with great accommodations. Was greeted at the airport by 3 students and had a good visit. 
I shared Fifi's & time on LGN with Ed & Sally Ritter from Florida.  
I met with the water committee from Trou Bagay, Concern WW and WASH, the small orphanage in Ansagale and Agonus school to observe the Ritters in action teaching the CEH program.  Considering partnering with WASH/Concern for well at Trou Bagay if can't work something with Haiti Outreach.

Visited Pastor Medina to see church in AAG and talked with the team leader from Virginia with 4th team. He expressed concern for progress. I noted few "hired" Haitian workers. 
Louis Dufrene, our animator left a day early to be a translator for First Saints Community Church team working it's first experience in Trou Jacques. They later reported the project paradigm developed by FSCC with the Haitian Methodist Church and UMVIM is poorly understood and followed by the receiving church leaders. 
We continue to work on EMH projects while managing our own funding and partnering with other agencies on La Gonave. 
Our current water funds have repaired 3 cisterns and trained community leaders in water management and provided a catchments and holding tank for the APG goat park. Water remains critical particularly on the west end of La Gonave. 

First of April we delivered 500 lbs of Layettes and School kits to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham IL and was impressed with the distance, reception and future association considerations.  

GBGM on La Gonave

GBGM on La Gonave

Eccl 3:1 It's Time: The last week in October I was on La Gonave with representatives from First Saints Community Church in Maryland. I was "tour guide" as they assessed 20 plus projects proposed by Pastor Jean Louis Dorsely, Circuit Superintendent for La Gonave.  Although challenging, we visited the majority of communities that have Haitian Methodist churches and or schools.  We provided photos and information for the few we could not reach or speak with representatives. 


Following our return FSCC compiled all information into a survey and draft proposal for future teams from their cluster and future UMVIM teams.  Although I have no specific information from Pastor Dorsely related to the proposal, Haiti Disaster Response / UMCOR reported coming changes for teams in remote areas.  Experienced teams can now work directly with the Circuit Superintendent to work on a specific project in remote areas. The update stated matching grants would apply to area projects with earthquake damage.
Pastor Dorsely requests teams address community issues with long term plans, possibly including micro finance components and other community issues.  Partnerships are encouraged.
The original "package" of projects totaled $950,000.00 US but they had overlooked one community needing a school building and church repair for eq damage.  Projects include the building of a manse in Ansa a Galets for the Superintendent.  There are 3 or 4 teams already scheduled in January to finish the church in Anse a Galets.  FSCC has proposed a partnership with several teams to work on projects at Trou Jacques, accessible only from the sea.  
We are excited and impatient to see how this new program plays out for the communities with so many needs. Housing and transportation for teams will have to be negotiated with the help of the circuit leaders. 
During the week I met with scholarship students, received reports from leaders of the industrial association, APG, and met with the engineer concerning wells and water issues.  Our animator went to Trou Jacques one day while I visited the community of Delsie to see the progress on cistern repair. That project needed an additional $250.00 to complete the task.  
Concern WW was drilling two wells a few miles down the mountain but the community had been without water for two years. Concern and World Vision have been drilling wells and repairing damaged cisterns on the eastern half of the island.  The west end remains dry with damaged cisterns and little or no ground water. Concern did hire our animator, Louis Dufrene and 4 others to survey the communities on La Gonave related to water needs and population.
Our report from APG (Assoc. for Peasants Gonave) was encouraging.  They had provided training and goats from the park for 13 groups and presented a plan to train 35 new community leaders in December. We provide food and housing as our third share in the relationship with APG & AAPLAG who provides the trainers. The group members make a small registration fee or provide produce and some provide labor.
Three scholarship students had either failed the exams or not completed a course.  One retook and passed the exam and one re-enrolled in the class.  Others had excellent grades and all but one university student has received a lap top computer from Church of the Resurrection, refurbishing ministry.
We continue collaboration with AAPLAG and share expenses for their old Land Rover and support of the guest house.  AAPLAG is an arm of Service Chretian, an ecumenical group active on the island for 30 years. They provide limited microfinance program, educational programs for industry, and addresse water and housing issues plus train leaders in agriculture, business, cooperatives, education and animal husbandry. 
While touring Roy and Wendy we visited Sousafilip, where we lived for two years.  Generally we meet people at market mid island. I was pleased to see our donation of $2300.00 last August, had repaired the earthquake damage to the church building and the EMH had installed an indoor toilet in the directors house where we had lived. They also plan flush toilets for the guest house that KS/NB teams refurbished and have put in a ceptic reservoir. 
I had opportunity to meet with community leaders about serious water issues that are not part of the church project. Most southwest islanders live with limited or contaminated water and purchase water from the mainland once or twice each week.  Conversation with Concern indicated they did not think many lived on the west end but they planned to survey the island population.
Access to health care on the south side remains seriously limited and during the cholera epidemic several people in various communities died as tap taps would not transport them across the island.  Louis and nurse Wesline (for APG) provided training programs for hundreds of people during the epidemic and distributed water treatment tablets. 
Joe and I continue to alternate visiting the island every 3 months. We are available for presentations to congregations, church and community groups and civic organizations to raise funds for projects of education and scholarships, water projects and industry. 
Repair of the well at Dent Griern has never been completed and the solar pumping system continues in storage.  We have been using water project funds to repair damaged cisterns. There are options and decisions to be made and we hope the opening of EMH projects will bring attention to this extremely remote part of our world.
February 25th, UMCOR Staff, President Paul from the Haitian Methodist Church and various others involved in Haiti projects will meet at Olathe Grace UMC for a Global Mission Event.  We pray for information and guidance to address recovery issues since the earthquake and renewed focus on the more remote areas of Haiti.

Joyeux Noel