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Friends United Meeting |
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January/February 2002
News from Friends United Meeting
FUM Announces New Financial Services Manager
Paul Smith began service to Friends United Meeting as the new Financial Services Manager in December, 2001. With years of non-profit experience, Paul worked for the Church of God Anderson (Indiana) for 23 years serving as Chief Financial Officer. He was responsible for all treasury functions including budget and financial development. Recently he has been working with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Madison County, Indiana. Volunteer service has also been a large part of Paul's life.
Welcome to Friends United Meeting, Paul!
Ramallah Friends Schools Hit by Israeli Missiles
At 7:30 p.m., December 13, a building on the Ramallah Friends School's upper campus, was hit by rockets fired by Israeli Defense Force helicopters. The Israeli attack was directed at a nearby police station. No one was in the school building at the time of the attack. Architects are still being consulted to determine whether there is structural damage.
The Ramallah Friends School, owned by Friends United Meeting, was started in 1869. RFS is a prestigious Quaker institution upholding Friends values and excellence in education, as it serves the Palestinian community. Contributions can be made to the RFS Damage Relief Fund via www.fum.org, or by mail: Friends United Meeting, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374.
The Complexity of Hope: A Journey to Ramallah
By Nancy Maeder and Melanie Weidner Watson
"Do people in America really love us?" a young boy asked the principal after receiving a card and candle as part of the 1,000 Candles of Hope project. Diana, the principal, answered by saying, "Tell me, are all Palestinians good?" The boy responded, "No." Diana then replied, "There are good and bad people everywhere in the world. These Americans sent us messages of love because they do care about us and want peace."
As we traveled to Ramallah, we could literally feel the presence of prayers, love and hopes for peace that individuals, churches and meetings from across the United States sent with us. Colin South, Director of Ramallah Friends Schools, reflected, "This was a most moving and profound occasion. As an act, this reminds me most of the oil that Mary anointed Jesus with, it was an act of love."
The 1,000 Candles of Hope project began as a deeply felt desire to offer genuine encouragement and love to Friends in Ramallah, Palestine. Nancy had heard reports of how this past year has been the most discouraging for Palestinians since the events of 1948. She stated, "My heart broke. As I sat at my desk, I prayed and wept, 'God what can we do to support our Friends in Ramallah? What can we do to encourage all of the children and families we know who live with the violence, trauma and despair in the Holy Land, their home?'"
God answered immediately with inspiration to carry symbolic cards and candles to every student, staff and member of the Ramallah Friends Schools, Friends Refugee Camp Play Center and Friends Meeting. From that brief prayer came the 1,000 Candles of Hope project that involved over 2,500 people and 25 local meetings.
The tangible elements of the project were simple, yet profound. First, candles representing Light and Hope were handmade by 25 Palestinian families from villages surrounding Ramallah who have had no income for months. Greeting cards were printed with a message of encouragement and personally addressed and signed to each of the over 1,000 students, staff and families in Ramallah. In addition, those who signed greetings were encouraged to act in solidarity by sending postcards to the U.S. President and Secretary of State asking for protection of Palestinian citizens. Finally, the candles, cards and photographs of those who signed the cards in the States were hand-delivered to Ramallah.
Although we felt certain of God's leading to risk danger and criticism in this simple gesture of solidarity, neither of us expected the warmth, generosity and even hunger with which the candles, cards and connection were received. Again and again students and teachers thanked us for sharing a message of friendship and hope, and for listening with love.
Pain was especially evident during our visit to the lower campus of the Friends School. Their eyes spoke volumes of the fear and trauma being experienced by Palestinian and Israeli children in these days of violence and injustice. Melanie wrote, "If I hadn't had the job to take pictures of the children in the grade school during the assemblies and the passing out of candles, I would have had tears in my eyes all morning. I can't describe how beautiful they are, and how much my heart breaks to hear the preschool boy interrupt his teacher to tell a story of the times he heard shooting outside his home...or the other boy who couldn't come to school when the village roads were closed off. And to see their eyes widen and heads nod when the principal translated Nancy's comments that we knew this has been a very frightening year for them here in Ramallah."
Colin South remarked, "It was 'mind boggling' to the students who had been geared up to think of the USA as an enemy to know there was such love and concern expressed in the smiling warm faces of Friends. Of all the things that have been said and done to express understanding and solidarity, there was no match to these rather precious few days Nancy and Melanie spent with us. This was an immense spiritual boost to the Friends community and all we can do is say thank you."
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
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