Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

Carol Sack, right, preparing for a scene in the movie

Yoji Yamada is best known in Japan for directing the popular “Tough Being a Man” films, themed on life and lost love. His latest film, inspired by a book written by a Christian who started a hospice, examines the themes of death, dignity, and hope.

Enter Kibo no Ie (House of Hope) and Lyra Precaria. Kibo no Ie is the hospice in Tokyo from the book. Part of its work includes Lyra Precaria, a pastoral harp ministry supported by the Lutheran church in Japan. Through this, a prayerful presence with voice and harp is offered at the bedside of the dying or seriously ill. This is a Japanese and pastoral adaptation of the clinical-musical field of music thanatology.

With Kibo no Ie as the setting for Yamada’s new film, ELCA missionary Carol Sack and her participation in Lyra Precaria, became part of the message. Originally scripted to be in the background, Yamada was convinced that Carol and her harp had to play more of a central role. The scene was changed to have Carol strumming her harp and offering gentle songs to the dying right at the bedside.

Whether the scenes with Carol will make it past the cutting floor in the film edits is unknown. But the gentle ministry she and other Lyra Precaria volunteers offer has made an impact on one of the most prolific Japanese film directors. And this impact continues to happen in real life for those facing death and their families, bringing the hope and joy of God into their lives.

Franklin Ishida
Director for Asia and the Pacific, ELCA Global Mission

• » Comments (0)

Here’s an excerpt from the September 2009 Newsletter of Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen, ELCA missionaries serving in Tanzania.  Jean is the Mentor of Christian Education at the Maasai Girls Lutheran Secondary School and Marv works with English teachers in the Arusha diocese.–Sue Edison-Swift

We thought we’d take the mystic approach to the water situation (also a very African approach), the problem might go away. Their solution is to not mention it and hope the problem would vanish. Well, that partially worked. The problem didn’t go away but the water did. For the entire month of August not one drop of water passed through our pipes. Instead we fill our car with empty buckets, we go elsewhere to find water and fill the buckets, then we get home and empty the car and, too soon, empty the buckets. Sigh. The Deputy Head of School directly approached Marvin and said, “Do not get involved with the water.” Apparently it’s OK to get involved with the electricity because that’s only physics, but water is political. It is MOST POLITICAL. That explains why our neighbors have water (some of it from our old water line) on all four sides and we do not.
–Jean Wahlstrom and Marvin Kananen, Tanzania

• » Comments (0)

As a member of a Lutheran World Federation World Service visitation team, Pastor Stephen Deal, ELCA regional representative in Central America, visited indigenous communities in Guatemala to evaluate progress in development of organic agricultural techniques.

In the photo at the left, Deal meets with farmers from the Santa Elena community in northern Guatemala to discuss the positive impact of the LWF World Service support for crop diversification and soil rehabilitation.
– Twila Schock

• » Comments (0)

The Spirit leads a faithful heart in surprising ways.  The Rev. Viking Dietrich responded “Here am I,” when called to serve as an ELCA Global Mission regional representative for West Africa and move from Senegal to Ghana.  The Spirit is also present as Pr. Dietrich ventures into a new virtual world to “tell the story” through his new blog:  vikinginwestafrica.wordpress.com.  Find an excerpt of his first blog, below. 
–Sue Edison-Swift

Getting started
By vikinginwestafrica
I wish I were more at ease with this. I have wanted to start a blog or a facebook page or something in order to share some experiences with friends, but I am on new terrain here. 

I remember 16 years ago, moving to Dakar, Senegal and feeling like I didn’t know where any road would lead me. If I turned or went straight where would I end up?  Day by day, month by month, I explored more and more of the city, learned more and more of its people and culture, felt more and more comfortable; in fact, I eventually felt at home. Sixteen years later, I knew the roads in Dakar: from the Almadies to Yeumbeul, Sacre Ceour to Malika, the Plateau to Keur Massar; Sangalkam to Mboro, to Tivauane to Louga, to Linguere, to Dodji.   From Senegal, I traveled across the Sahel to Bamako to Douentza, Niamey to Maradi, Ouaga to Bobo, Ndjamena to Tibati, Jos to Numan.  A lot of cities, a lot of villages.

But today I am in a new city in West Africa, in Ghana, in Accra.  A place I’ve never been before. New roads to explore in my 2002 Hilux, new intersections to discover like the Tetteh Kwarshie roundabout and 37, new people, new day. I miss the comfort of familiar terrain, familiar languages and conversations. I miss driving the Avensis, the ceebu jeen (rice and fish) and friendly salutations in Pulaar. Mi haali tigi.

Today I am in a new city but not a new place. This is a place where grace is encountered; where the past is little to be counted and the future, unknown as it is, is all; where God rearranges our lives and requires us to question our dependencies and personal merit, and to put our trust in Him, our Creator; to jump off the structures we have created and into the life that God intends for us.

So, boldly go I into this new terrain of blogs and wikis. I have a lot to learn. If I do this, or click on that, I will probably hit some potholes, but I hope to be driving comfortably in this new format, sharing with you our new adventures and from time to time some of the old. 
–Viking Dietrich, ELCA Global Mission Regional Representative for West Africa

• » Comments (2)

Kaitlin Nelson, a new ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission serving in Mexico, writes of her recent transition from college graduation to ELCA missionary in the latest edition of Cafe, Women of the ELCA’s e-newsletter.  Below, find brief excerpt from her article.   After reading the excerpt, consider these two questions (and share any thoughts they spark as a comment).
1.  When have you faced the need to “let go” to go?
2.  After a major sort of stuff, what are you glad to have shed, grateful to have kept or sorry to have tossed?
–Sue Edison-Swift
Mountain of stuff
Since I can take very little with me, I am going to have to get rid of stuff.  Sorting through items from my apartment at college (that now line the walls of my parents’ basement), I realize that the objects are valuable because of the memories they bring. They are reminders of gifts received from family and friends, quirky purchases, and hand-me-downs.  The items that I have to donate will go into one bin, things that will be discarded will go into another, and those that I will save are going into a third container.  Even though I will not bring this collection of stuff along, it has been a part of me and discarding it is not easy.
 As I wrestle with questions about what it means to be transformed by the new realities I will face, I trust that my faith journey could not be whole without doing this.  –Kaitlin Nelson

• » Comments (0)

ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission Class of 2010.
(Click on the image to view it full size.)

Fifty ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission gathered in Chicago to prepare for their year of service.  Go with God, YAGMs!   You are blessed and you are a blessing.  We hold you close in thought and prayer.    For the names of the YAGM Class of 2010 listed by country of service, click on the link below.  To learn how to be part of the YAGM class of 2011, visit www.elca.org/globalserve/youngadults.    –Sue Edison-Swift

• » Continue reading or Comments (0)