Israel/Palestine Sunday January 27

Shalom from Jerusalem!  We have experienced so much in the past few days that it is hard to take it all in. We continue to meet wonderful people both Arab and Jew. It is an interesting time to be here as they just had their elections this past Tuesday -lots of conversations with Israeli's about this. 

We spent Friday morning at the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem - Yad Vashem -Memorial and Name. This is a memorial to those who lived through and died during the holocaust along with those who risked their lives to help the persecuted. Our tour of the museum told a story of the lives of the Jews before the Nazi's came into power. What struck us as we saw the holocaust unfold was the millions of lives that were exterminated and never allowed to begin - the generations that would never be.
 We then spent the afternoon in old Jerusalem and prayed at the Western (Wailing) Wall. It was a holy experience. It was fascinating watching all of the religious Jews and their different degrees of orthodoxy. We spent the evening with a local family for Shabat dinner.  Shabat is the Jewish Sabbath which lasts from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. They had a traditonal Shabat dinner with all of the blessings, singing, and the following of the laws required by observant Jews. This family opened their home and welcomed 14 of us to share in this ceremony that they joyfully embrace each Friday evening.

We spent today in Bethlehem meeting with Palestinian Christians. People, who over and over again have experienced oppression; injustices that have made their everyday life difficult. But what we have heard over and over again was a hope, a hope that comes out of our Christian values of equality, justice and freedom. A hope that comes out of God's call to be peacemakers. A hope that we can love one another as Christ told us to do.

We started this trip with a devotion from Matthew 22:37-39, " Jesus replied, ' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  With every story we hear, our hearts return to this commandment.

Shalom, Salome,

Debbie Manning

Israel/Palestine: Blessed Are You

We began our day in the coastal city of Haifa, reconnecting with our dear friend, Archbishop Elias Chacour of the Melkite Church. He had visited us in Minnesota in September, and so having the chance to pay him a visit in his own context was an immense privilege for us. Following our time at his residence, we spent time at the House of Grace, a ministry to former prisoners run by the Shehada family, a Christian Israeli Arab family. In addition to hearing about this unique 30 year-old ministry, we were also given a glimpse into the unique challenges of being Arab, Christian, and Israeli.

We then embarked on a drive that took us on a loop that would eventually culminate in an evening arrival in Jerusalem.

Much of our time was spent around the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, and the Mount of Beatitudes...places with familiar names that now take on a new sense of fresh, palpable reality. The juxtaposition of the ordinariness of the places we saw with the holiness and significance of their history was at times overpowering. Interspersed throughout the day were readings from the gospels that connected the ancient story to our current story. Whether it was the place in Luke chapter 4 where Jesus taught in the synagogue, or the hillside where he delivered his Sermon on the Mount, or the place along the shore where, according to John's account, following the resurrection, Peter was restored, we were drawn into a whole new appreciation of "incarnation."

At nearly 700 feet below sea level, the Sea of Galilee is in some ways symbolic of the ironic movement of Christ's incarnation and atonement.

I end this entry with what for me is the quintessential text of St Paul, describing the mystery of the incarnation.
"Have the same mindset as Christ, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
~Philippians 2:6-11.

Israel/Palestine: the journey begins

We begin our journey to the Holy Land in much the same way we begin most days: waking up, checking off items from our To Do lists, doing triage to determine which unfinished tasks will just have to remain unfinished until we return.
We are a group of eleven very different people, all committed to understanding with an open mind the context of Israel and Palestine. Although we're all well read, our aim is to set aside our preconception of the situation, and learn.
Farewell, Minneapolis.

Paul Tshihamba

Israel/Palestine: CPC Travelers depart soon!

This month Christ Presbyterian Church (CPC) will travel to Israel/Palestine with a group comprised of CPC leaders. The purpose of the trip is to learn from organizations that are seeking to build peace in the region. The team will leave on Tuesday and be traveling through January 31st.

The group will post updates, photos, and reflections throughout the trip. Stay updated by following this blog. 

Zambia: What a Difference a Dish Rack Makes!

What a Difference a Dish Rack Makes!

Posted on November 12, 2012 by emansfield

A dish rack in Moyo

You’ve heard the expression, “What a difference a day makes”?  I believe its origin may have come from Dinah Washington’s 1959, top 10 hit, which dons the same title – or maybe that’s vice versa – but you get my point. And if you haven’t heard the song, please take a moment to listen and appreciate it because it’s truly a classic.

Mechanized water

In Moyo Zambia from where I recently returned and am STILL suffering from a major case of jetlag, comes my own take-off on the expression/song.  A simple thing like a dish rack can make a world of difference in a place like Moyo.

Actually, our team of trip participants learned of the 5 simple things Moyo residents are being encouraged to set-up in order to “earn” World Vision’s installation of Mechanized Water.  A system that provides “nearby access” to clean water within their community.

1)  a dish rack,
2)  a trash pit,
3)  a shower area,
4)  a pit latrine with a “tip-top” (a mechanism rigged for hand washing),
5)  and a generally clean an tidy living area.

Pit latrine with tip-top for washing hands

These 5 things have so much impact on their living conditions, just hearing about it alone is not enough. You just have to meet the people it impacts to truly understand.

With a surgically created anus, because this child was sadly born without one, she is now able to thrive because she has nearby clean water to drink.

Not only does it decrease deaths from waterborne disease, the children are able to focus on things like attending school because they no longer have to walk miles and miles just to carry dirty water from a stream for drinking/cooking/bathing.

There is still much work to be done but it was exciting to see first hand the impact World Vision child sponsorship can make by not only addressing the immediate physical needs but also the transition toward the behavioral changes that must also occur in order to make a sustainable difference. If interested in learning more, please do not hesitate to ask about how you can make a difference in Moyo.

Just one (of many) examples of the impact…  Since our first visit in May 2010, World Vision and CPC (my church) have helped make Malaria, fall from the 1st to the 4th position in terms of cause for disease related deaths.

Upon delivering new bed linens to nurse Katherine in the Moyo clinic on behalf of CPC, it was a total blessing to see the once full clinic beds bringing new life instead of the alternative!

Mother and newborn in Moyo clinic

 
I feel so blessed to have been able to visit a second time to see my amazing, hard working, friends at World Vision Moyo ADP as well as my sponsored child, Beene!

World Vision Moyo ADP Team and CPC Go-Trip 2012 Team

God bless them all!

Eli

PS:  Please stay tuned for more Moyo stories to come!

Zambia: Time to Process

Lots of mixed emotions among Team Moyo as this trip winds down. We've seen and done a lot during our visit and our hearts will never be quite the same.

We are taking a little time on safari to process what we've seen and learned with discussion and prayer among God's amazing African creations before returning home.  Our team has already identified the "gifts" shown/given to us during our time in Moyo.  Among them are generosity, relationships, humility, hope and an appreciation for "just being" in the moment. 

I know I speak for the team when I say that we already miss the WV ADP team we left in Choma and it has truly been a blessing to travel with Mike Owen of World Vision. We are all bonded by new friendships solidified by sharing such an amazing experience together.  

Brianna Gustafson writes;  I love the simplicity of life here. In fact, I slightly envy the people of Choma & Moyo that we've met. Unfortunately, this type of life is so foreign to us in the States.  The landscape is so pure and untouched - absolutely amazing!  The people of Moyo are a beautiful people - so much happiness and so many smiles in the midst of such extreme poverty.  Zambia and Moyo will forever be in my heart and this will definitely not be my last trip here.  

This will likely be the last post before we return home on Sunday morning.  Many thanks again for your continued prayers for safe travels on the long journey home which begins tomorrow morning.   

God bless, 

Eli & Team Moyo

Zambia: The Moyo Clininc and the Ndondi High School

Written 10/30/12

Yesterday we visited the Moyo clinic and the Ndondi High School (a work in progress).  The high school is now far beyond the few concrete blocks it was just 2.5 years ago - a very exciting site (sight) to see!  That said, the clinic hasn't changed much structurally but the walls and beds that were once lined/filled with Malaria and HIV patients waiting to be treated were all empty. Now there was only one open air waiting room full of patients waiting to see sweet nurse Katherine. Thanks to her loving care and the hard work of World Vision, we learned that Malaria has fallen from the 1st leading disease for cause of deaths to the 4th position.  There was one exception however, the one occupied bed was that of a mother with her new born baby which Katherine helped deliver the night before.  What an amazing blessing in contrast from previous trips!

One of many highlights; WV facilitated the planting of trees for us.  Each of us was able to plant a tree on the Nodondi High School grounds to signify CPC's contribution to the school.  A few of us are already talking about seeing how much they've grown when we return.

A message from Tim MacPhail & Jennifer Daugherty:  Seeing and experiencing Moyo has brought to life so many complex but spiritually uplifting issues and emotions.  We're so grateful for the opportunity to walk with and learn from such a strong community of people while seeing and gaining awareness of the World Vision ADP aided by CPC and others.  Our sponsored child's family was gracious and a lot of fun - including being very comfortable laughing at our attempts to cook with them!

We were very blessed by our experiences thus far.  No one will go home the same person as we came.  Thank you World Vision and CPC!!!

Eli & Team Moyo