Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest

The Rev. Paula M. Stecker works with the Lutheran World Federation Haiti office in communications and ecumenical relationships. To support Paula, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

The Haitian Pine Forest was once so thick you could not see the sun.

I just returned from what is left of the Pine Forest, a few hours west of Port au Prince high in the Haitian mountains, at 6230 ft. It is still beautiful, but much thinner. Residents easily remember when if they stood in the forest, the trees were so thick that you could not see the sun. Today, that is not a problem. The forest has shrunk from 32.000 hectares to 9,000 hectares.

There is a whole sector of development and humanitarian aid that is called disaster risk reduction, which works with communities to be prepared for disasters that are likely and to mitigate the risks they would bring by altering the state of the environment. For example, in Haiti, that has meant planting trees, protecting remaining cloud forests and assisting those in the mountains (two-thirds of the nation) to terrace fields and build drywalls to conserve the soil. Even offering alternative livelihoods is a great means to protect the environment by discouraging people from cutting down slow-growing native trees to make charcoal or planks. Avocado trees and coffee trees can be planted to help hold the soil and to offer other revenue sources.

Unfortunately, the politics and economics surrounding these lands get complicated and often the environment gets the short end of the stick.

Not long ago, I read in a local newspaper that the North (U.S. Canada, Europe, China, Japan…) have finally figured out that it is worth paying the poor nations, in which these cloud forests are found, to rebuild healthy forest cover to reduce the ecological damage of the North’s destruction of the ozone by their industrial pollution. That’s probably not enough in itself. There are still companies from the North exploiting woods and metals in this tropical zone, ripping open the land where there had been rich ancient forests. But it helps us see that the cloud forest is not just Haiti’s problem, it is the world’s problem. What are we going to do about it?

Peace,
Paula Stecker

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Patrick and Jacqueline Bencke serve at Kyushu Lutheran College, a college of the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kumamoto, Japan. Patrick teaches English and Jacqueline works in the music program. In their recent newsletter, they offer some thoughts on respect for the elderly. To support the Benckes or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Mr. Taniguchi, senior, gave a testimony at a recent outreach concert where Patrick and I performed. As a youth he experienced the typical raw anger toward Americans during World War II, but after receiving Christ and the gift of baptism, he has become a rock of faith in the Kumamoto community.

September is the month when Japan observes Respect for the Aged Day. Elderly people are respected for their wisdom and experience, and this holiday (yes, it’s a national holiday, so there’s no mail service) is usually celebrated on a small scale within the family, with kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids coming together to honor the more mature members of their families. Often, the traditional Japanese foods are served for meals instead of relying on the more recent additions of fast foods and more highly processed foods.

At our church’s observance this year all the members of the congregation who are 75  or older were recognized and given a small gift at the end of the service. Interestingly, I was shocked to learn that some of the women who were honored were 75 or older – not just because they have a good hair-coloring jobs but because they are so healthy and active!

One thing I appreciate about Japan is how every day is sort of Respect for the Aged Day. This is evidenced by the polite language used to address older people and how so often students or young adults will give up their seats on the bus for folks who are a little older. It is heartening to see this, despite the ever changing society that seems to be drifting from its traditional values. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have such a holiday in the U.S.?

Patrick and Jacqueline Bencke

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The Rev. Arden and Janna Haug are ELCA missionaries based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Arden is the ELCA’s regional representative for Europe. They have two sons, Vitali and Alexei. To support the Haugs, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Arden and Janna Haug and their son , Alexei, their most recent high school graduate.

Dear friends,                            

For the Lutheran high schools in Slovakia, the beginning of the school this year was a particularly momentous day. September 2011 marked the 20^th anniversary of the reopening of the schools. During the early years of communism, the government closed all religious schools. Church supported schools would allow too many questions to be asked of the communist state.  When the Evangelical Lyceum in Bratislava was re-opened in the fall of 1991, ELCA volunteer teachers were invited to teach English and share the gospel through the English language worship. For 20 years now, ELCA volunteers of all ages have been welcomed to share their gifts in the Slovak Lutheran schools. Today, an entire generation of students has been raised with no memory of communism.

September was also  a new beginning for me personally.  In addition to my work in Bratislava, I am the director of the ELCA Wittenberg Center  in Wittenberg, Germany. As we near 2017, the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation, it felt both important and timely for the ELCA to re-establish our presence at the “birthplace of the Reformation.”  I have been traveling frequently to Wittenberg for years, but during the course of the fall, the office of the ELCA Regional Representative will be relocated to Germany. On Reformation Day, October 31, I will preach at the Castle Church, where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses. Luther is buried in the church. This can make the preacher a bit anxious about the “sinner/saint” turning over in his grave.

We are thankful for your prayers, your interest and your financial support. These continue to be difficult economic times for many ELCA congregations and for many personally.  It is hard to make financial commitments in a time of uncertainty.  But as we pray for the ELCA Global Mission, let us remember the historical tradition of service around the world which has been at the very heart of our call as a church.

Peace, Arden and Janna Haug

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David and Mary Kuck are serving in Jamaica. David is a lecturer at the United Theological College of the West Indies in Kingston, and Mary teaches English at the college and for the Jamaican vocational training agency. To support the Kucks, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Kelly and Kraig are returning students.

Dear Friends,

We are settled back in Jamaica after spending most of the summer in the U.S. Our time spent visiting churches, family and friends was refreshing. To all who provided hospitality and assistance, we say thanks. We’re sorry that we couldn’t visit all of you who sponsor our mission, but we hope to see you on our next summer leave.

The beginning of each academic year is challenging and exciting, as we create our new schedules and start working with incoming students. We have a small entering class of those preparing for the ordained ministry, but the graduate programs that David coordinates continue to attract a good number of students. These graduate students come from Evangelical and Pentecostal churches as well as from the mainline denominations, so that the ecumenical nature of our institution is expanding. It’s a great opportunity to help all the students explore and deepen the foundations of their faith.

Mary has been asked to take on a new project this fall. For a number of years United Theological College has had an ongoing training program for ministry to those affected by HIV and AIDS. Out of these seminars grew an outline for a handbook for pastors and other church workers to help their congregations understand HIV and AIDS and minister to those affected. In August, Mary was asked to edit and expand the outline into a full handbook. It is interesting and challenging work, involving research, getting in touch with other folks in Jamaica who are involved in HIV and  AIDS work and just the difficult task of writing. You will hear about the project again when the book is finished.

For now, however, we wish you all a renewing start to the academic “New Year” with every blessing!

David and Mary

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Steven and Bethany Friberg are ELCA missionaries in Tanzania. Steven is a physician. They have helped establish rural clinics for the Maasai. Bethany also works with Maasai women in their income-generating projects, which mostly involve beadwork. To support the Fribergs, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

The Maasai women make beaded bracelets to raise money to build homes.

Sixty Maasai women in northern Tanzania have a goal — that each one will build a two-room permanent home with a roof of corrugated metal roofing sheets, called “bati” in Swahili. These would replace primitive, thatched-roof huts. Building houses has traditionally been women’s work so this idea came naturally when a supply of beads was donated to Naapok Project. By making and selling extra bracelets, the women have money to put aside for bati and trusses.

With the help of family and friends, the walls are made of termite-resistant cedar poles, horizontal branches, small stones and plaster of ash, dirt, sand and manure. Once the roof is on, the local evangelist is called to dedicate and bless the home.

So far 15 houses have been built. Many of you have been crucial in the process of turning bracelets into bati.

Thank you for buying bracelets!

Bethany Friberg
bethany.friberg@gmail.com

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Kyle Larson is working in Mexico as an ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission. He writes in this excerpt from his blog about his assignment, which is not what he had expected. To support YAGM coordinators, or any of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

Kyle Larson

In July, I got an email detailing what my job would be for the next year. As I read, I had overwhelming thoughts of whether I could actually step up to the plate and do this job. Instead of working in a school as I had planned, I was going to be working at an HIV and AIDS organization. Wow. I thought to myself, “What business do I have working with HIV/AIDS patients?”

After talking to some people at camp and my parents, I emailed  back and gave the go ahead.

The organization is called La Casa de La Sal. They are involved in all aspects of HIV and AIDS, ranging from prevention to terminal care. It’s worth checking out the website even though it’s all in Spanish. Hit up Google translate. You can at least get the just of what the organization is about.

My job is in the prevention area. I have a team of five other volunteers that I work with. We go to schools, usually in teams of two or three and do workshops — very frank and honest workshops —  about HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention.  Education like this isn’t prevalent in the school system, and without this workshop the kids would never be exposed the concepts we talk about.

I love what I’m doing and I really feel like it’s making an impact, however minimal it may be, in the community.

To read more from Kyle, go to his blog, “The Mexico Chronicle.”

The Rev. Justin and Kari Eller are ELCA missionaries in La Paz, Bolivia. To support the Ellers, or another of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship. Justin writes in his blog:

Kari and Justin Eller

Most of my students are second career and are taking classes at night during the week. This often means that they arrive to my class tired, hungry, thirsty and not in the mood to hear an hour and a half lecture.

The first class I taught here in 2010 I lectured and they listened for that was the way I had learned. However, I quickly realized that when students are bored out of their mind, they are less apt to learn. Also they didn´t read the assigned readings or turn in assignments, and what they did turn in was often plagiarized. So I asked them what was going on. They told me I was giving entirely too much work for them to realistically do in their free time. Ah, I remembered uttering those words to my friends in seminary.

I am a trained biochemist and pastor, not necessarily a teacher or seminary professor. So I had a thing or two to learn and, thanks be to God, Kari taught me everything I know as a teacher-professor. She taught me about effective lesson plans that should guide the lesson, not make it rigid and inflexible. She taught me about objectives and how to create assessments to make sure I had reached my teaching goals. She taught me how to have fun with my students and be dynamic and spontaneous.

Now in my second year as a seminary professor, every class I teach incorporates activities (most with movement) that make the subject matter apply to the daily lives and situations of my students. So now, my seminary professor colleagues here are asking about mine and Kari´s teaching methods because they have heard from our students that they´re staying awake in our classes and having fun while learning. I have plans to incorporate even more popular education and dialogue education models than I have been using thus far. As I believe and tell my students, “In this class we are all co-learners, the only difference is that we´re learning different things from one another.”

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Prior to becoming a pastor, Richard Young had a full-time private practice of obstetrics and gynecology in Nevada and traveled around the world giving seminars to OB/GYN doctors. After practicing for 14 years, he felt the call to ministry and was ordained. He immediately accepted a call to be a missionary in Guyana as a doctor and a pastor in 2001. Richard is  known for being dedicated to holistic ministry; using health care skills within the context of ministry as a witness and service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Guyana. He completed service in 2011. 

To support any of the ELCA’s nearly 250 missionaries, go to www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

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