|
Friends United
Meeting |
 |
January/February 2009
Sacred Moments by Sylvia Graves, FUM General Secretary
Preparing for Belize
Chain of Prayer Has Begun
Look Where YOUR Feet Have Been
Ramallah Friends Schools Exchange Program: My Year at Westtown School
Life in Kaimosi with Friends United Meeting
Pennies for Postage: A Success!
Sacred
Moments
By Sylvia Graves, General Secretary
The woman who called was from somewhere in Texas. Her question was about the integrity of her Friends meeting receiving money to support a missionary from the missionary’s relatives and friends and then sending it on to the missionary. Would those collections be tax deductible? “If your monthly meeting has approved supporting the missionary in this way, the donations would be tax deductible,” I said. “How do you know that?” she asked. I responded, “It’s what we do and have been doing for over 100 years. It is our business to know about the legality of organizing overseas ministries and supporting the staff people who serve in those places. FUM is registered to work in the countries of Kenya, Belize, Jamaica, Palestine and Cuba.”
Jesus’ last message to his disciples was clear: “Go, make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19 “Take the message of redemption and forgiveness to all people.” Luke 24:47 “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17 Many Christians take those instructions to heart, making the work abroad their own in response to Jesus. Though most of us cannot leave our homes and families to make it happen, we can participate by combining our efforts to participate financially and prayerfully with our fellow Christians. Usually our monthly meetings are too small a group to make it happen, and it’s likely that our yearly meetings are limited in the required resources, too. So, one significant reason Friends came together in 1902 to form Five Years Meeting (now FUM) was to affirm and support efforts to follow Jesus’ Great Commission.
How many lives have been empowered and equipped by God because people, both Africans and North Americans, in Friends United Meeting established the Bible College (now Friends Theological College), the hospitals of Kaimosi and Lugulu, the missions in Turkana, Samburu and Lindi Friends School? What about the thousands of Muslim students learning about and making friends with Christians at the Ramallah Friends Schools? What lives have been transformed because of the second chance given to students at the Belize Friends Boys School? These are just some of the current ministries of FUM. There are others in the past that have now become the opportunities of the local communities.
One elderly Kenyan man who attended the FUM Triennial sessions in 2008 told me he also came to the United States to see and honor several of the missionaries to whom he attributed his own success and that of his family members who are now productive adult members of the Kenyan society. “Because,” he said, “without FUM and these good men we would be nothing. God has come to us, showed us the way of Jesus and blessed us through Friends United Meeting.”
That’s why FUM.
Preparing
for Belize
By Sam Barber
Hello Friends! As first time missionaries, we are learning so much about what it takes for us to begin our ministry in Belize. In efforts to raise financial support, we have begun to travel and speak among Friends.
Following the FUM Triennial in North Carolina and our accepting the call to Belize, we had about a week at home in Iowa before we were on the road again to Western Yearly Meeting. We had to rely on God to supply our needs to travel there since the faith institution we work for is going through a difficult financial period and we’d had to go a month without a paycheck. While at WYM, we met several Friends and witnessed how they already support Friends Boys School.
Next was Iowa Yearly Meeting, in which we are members. During yearly meeting sessions, it was officially announced that we were going to Belize. All missionaries from the yearly meeting were called one-by-one and prayed for together. What a memorable experience!
In September, traveling slowed down, the kids started school and we were back to work, both at Vennard College and with youth at College Avenue Friends in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Becky and I were also preparing a PowerPoint, display table and brochures for our travels among Friends.
October took us to Westfield Friends and Plainfield Friends meetings in Indiana. There we, our four children included, shared our vision for the Friends Boys School and our work among families in Belize. We were received warmly and had a great time.
In November we shared at several meetings in Iowa: Grinnell First Friends where Becky’s family attends, Salem Friends where I grew up and Motor Friends.
We hope you will follow along with us on our journey, invite us to your meeting and learn more about our hopes for FBS and the Belize City community. We trust our need will be supplied and that we will raise enough funds for our ministry account to take our family of six to Belize in August 2009. Our annual budget is over $80,000 a year and half must be raised before we can go. Please give as you are led. We want you to partner with us in this ministry. We cannot do it alone. We hope that Belize becomes your ministry too.
One way FUM shows their support for field staff is by not taking any administrative fees out of donations to field staff accounts. That means 100 percent of what you give goes directly to our ministry account, making it possible for us to move to Belize, rent a house and meet the physical needs of our family. Your prayer support is essential as we make all the preparations needed to leave our home in Iowa and follow our call to Belize.
Editor’s note: Since the writing of this article, Vennard College has had to close down for financial reasons. While this news was heartbreaking for Sam and Becky, not only because it meant they would lose their jobs but because they had personally invested so much in the institution, it also frees the family to begin their ministry in Belize sooner rather than later. The initial plan was for their ministry to begin in August. The date has been pushed up to April, provided they are able to raise at least $50,000 of support by that time.
The annual Chain of Prayer began January 1 and continues through Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009. Meetings in North America, Africa, Cuba, Jamaica, Ramallah and Belize make a “Chain of Prayer” by signing up for a day to pray for the ministries of FUM as well as its member monthly meetings. Some meetings have special prayer gatherings, others ask individuals to sign up for half-hour time slots and many take up a special offering for the ministries of Friends United Meeting. The Chain of Prayer is an annual event that engages FUM constituents in global partnerships through prayer. For more information or to sign up your meeting, visit FUM’s Web site: www.fum.org or contact Kim Schull: (765)962-7573.
Look
Where YOUR Feet Have Been
By Kim Newlin, FUM Development Officer
You reached out to the people of Kenya, finding a way to peace in the midst of hatred and violence. You helped a mother to care for her newborn child. You gave comfort to the sick. You encouraged a young pastor in his journey to theological maturity. You offered a Palestinian student the opportunity to excel in an environment free from the bigotry of the outside world. You brought water to a desert community allowing nomadic persons to find a home. You gave a young Belizean student hope for a future with gainful employment and the joy that comes from achievement. You sent much needed educational materials to Friends who yearn to know more. You kept thousands of Friends informed and connected through Quaker Life magazine and Friends United Press books.
How have you been able to serve so many different people in so many different ways? Through Friends United Meeting. Friends United Meeting is your ministry — your heart, hands and feet in the world. When we come together as Friends United Meeting, we are able to serve God’s people in a way more powerful and more meaningful than any one of us could do alone. Together we can transform lives, energize communities and serve God’s people.
Because you care, all these things are possible. When you support the General Fund of Friends United Meeting you are connecting with many other Friends worldwide to ensure that this work can continue. Call the FUM offices (765)962-7573 or e-mail Kim Newlin to find out how you can support Friends United Meeting through monthly giving, special gifts or planned giving. Staff members are also available to speak to your meeting or worship group about the work you do through FUM.
Ramallah
Friends Schools Exchange Program:
My Year at Westtown School
By Mayse Jarbawi
Westtown School is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. It was exactly what I needed. When I think of Westtown now, it makes me feel sad that it’s all just a memory that makes up a huge part of who I am and what I believe. Sometimes when I’m alone I find myself thinking, “Why did it have to end?”
When I first arrived, I didn’t like the school that much. It was very difficult for me to learn how to adjust and live in an extremely different way. I cried myself to sleep many nights. I was always missing home and wanting to return to my family and friends. I spent the first few months going from my dorm room to my classes, from my classes to the athletics center and dining room, then back to my dorm room to call home.
That routine changed though. I learned to break that wall I always put up for myself. I just let myself go, didn’t allow myself to worry about what people might think or say or how they might judge who I am. Breaking the barrier changed my entire life. It showed me that it’s okay to take chances. Things may go wrong, but that’s how you learn.
I became part of the Westtown community. Westtown is very family oriented, even when it comes to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. It brings all the students together and creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Westtown is also a very diverse place. My closest friends were from Jamaica, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. I made amazing friends that I am still in contact with today.
Westtown taught me a lot about Quakerism. It showed me that it’s a way of life that seeks peace, simplicity and fairness. Being a Palestinian was difficult at times — I come from a completely different world. On the other hand, people were very friendly and interested in knowing about where I come from and what it is like. Towards the end, there was a complete change in the community as they knew more about the tough situation in Palestine and what it’s like to live there.
Westtown helped me grow; I learned how to deal with life on my own. It taught me how to organize my time, handle responsibility, organize myself and be independent. Westtown is one of my favorite experiences. I would give anything just to go back for one day. It’s hard to know that it’s over, but I am so thankful that I got the chance to be a part of that community.
Mayse Jarbawi is an 11th grade student in the international baccalaureate program at Friends’ upper school (FBS) in Ramallah, Palestine. Westtown accepts one RFS student each year and provides him or her with scholarships to spend their academic year abroad. Mayse shared this report with fellow RFS students upon her return to Ramallah.
Life
in Kaimosi wtih Friends United Meeting
By Irene Gulavi
Kaimosi Hospital was established in 1911, “built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20
Our vision is to restore Kaimosi Hospital to its lost glory of the 1950s and 1960s and exceed that. Our purpose is to proclaim the Gospel in order to deepen the Christian spiritual life, to provide the appropriate health care services in accordance with Christian values and professional ethics and to maintain the highest standards of medical care.
The Kaimosi Hospital community has appreciated the great concern and support of Friends United Meeting (FUM). The hospital was unable to accomplish the above vision and purpose for several years until January 2006 when FUM stepped in.
There are many areas in which FUM has supported this hospital: Since 2006, staff salaries have consistently been paid at the end of every month. This has increased staff morale and created teamwork amongst all the members. FUM has employed the services of an experienced and long serving chief nurse whose presence has enabled the nursing department to improve on the patient care. Because the outreach services have been intensified through community mobilization, work with HIV/AIDs patients has begun and immunization coverage is high.
We thank FUM for providing a small car. Referral of critically ill patients is nowadays possible.
One side of the hospital has been renovated and that beauty has attracted many individuals. Patient flow has increased. Inpatients receive a good diet, care and most patients are able to pay hospital bills. Those who are completely unable are supported by the Adopt-A-Bed project which was initiated by FUM.
Through FUM there is a hospital administrator. This is a great achievement.
The hospital has employed a full-time radiographer. There are 17 trained nurses supported by the Adopt-A-Nurse project, 10 registered and seven enrolled community nurses. All hospital staff received uniform allowances this year (2008) which boosted their morale.
Through FUM, medicines and other essential supplies are regularly available. National hospital insurance fund rebates have been increased and more people are enrolling in the insurance plan.
FUM supported hospital staff to take medical care to Turbo (an internally displaced persons camp) in April 2008. Many patients were supported physically and spiritually. Through FUM the hospital has received funds to purchase refrigerators and generators. Collectively the hospital has received a face lift. Our success is thanks to the spirit of willingness to work.
Kaimosi Hospital is not without shortcomings. There is a mass exodus of nurses. Most nurses cannot be retained due to low salaries. The government offers better rates and benefits. The hospital requires its own medical doctor who will be available on a 24-hour basis.
God bless you for your support of this ministry.
Irene Gulavi is the nursing officer in charge at Kaimosi Hospital in Kaimosi, Kenya.
Pennies
for Postage: A Success!
We asked for Pennies
for Postage this year.
You gave us your change
With gladness and cheer.
We needed $5,000
To ship books and more.
You gave so much extra
It’s hard to ignore.
We’ve shipped many books,
Thanks to your assistance.
You made it happen,
You made the difference.
The dollars amounted to
Six-Thousand Three-Hundred.
(We wanted to tell you
In case you have wondered.)
So, to you we offer
These two simple phrases:
Thank you and bless you
Your love does amaze us.
— Terri Johns