This story also came from an email that Andree sent me. I had to include it.
And as Susan Rodgers said "send prayers - and shoeboxes!" Adrienne
THIS WILL TRULY LIFT YOU UP SPIRITUALLY.
ENJOY & BELIEVE
Isaiah 65:24
This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough,mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?' 'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
When you receive this, say the prayer. That's all I ask. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on.
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another.
This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.
Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them, where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to them Your courage.. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Inspirational Stories of Authentic Charity
Andree asked me to post links to some incredibly inspriational videos showing the story of Narayanan Krishnan of India, who in every way exemplifies Christ in love for his neighbour. Check these out ... you will be moved and inspired.
Andrée
Hi Adrienne,
Here is more videos about human charity..very touching.
This represents very well the world wide suffering and the beauty of human love responding in actions.
Here is more videos about human charity..very touching.
This represents very well the world wide suffering and the beauty of human love responding in actions.
Andrée
Help for Haiti: BOTH AUTHENTIC CHARITY AND JUSTICE
<some reflections from Adrienne>
Last week at our CLC meeting, my group discussed the materials from Session 21 in the new manual. I thought that Jack Milan had captured very well the need for both charity and justice, and how I feel we are called to respond to Haiti and all the poor and suffering.
"De-humanization is experienced in daily living. When we intervene in the concrete de-humanized life situations of others, we are performing acts of charity. ...
Charitable acts affirm the worth of persons who live within structures which convince them otherwise. Our charity is authentic and humanizing when it enhances the self-esteem and independence of those who are the beneficiaries. Our charity is a sham when it reinforces powerlessness and degradation because it is paternalistic, dominating or self-serving. ...
Justice and authentic charity, then, have important similarities - the liberation of people from de-humanized and de-humanizing circumstances. Only the means of achieving the goal is different. Charity requires that we respond to concrete persons in concrete situations with concrete caring. Justice requires that we change those societal "rules of the game" that make so much of our charity necessary. Mahatma Gandhi, the great apostle of non-violent social change taught that both charity and action for justice are necessary. The Christian and CLC believe the same."
Jack Milan, CLC Leaders Manual
I have a friend who has little patience for acts of charity - her passion is social justice. She feels Haiti's pain - and as a mother and grandmother she asks " would I accept my children and grandchildren being treated this way'. She sees our lifestyle and our governments' choices as being responsible for contributing to the terrible condition that Haiti is now in. I agree with her. I think she is right.
But does recognizing the atrocity of Haiti's history and their current situation lessen their need for help now? How can we not respond to the Haitian people who have been so severly dehumanized not only by the earthquake, but by all foreign involvement in their 200 year history as an "independent" nation. Do we have any choice but to move forward the best we can as Gandhi suggests ... with "both charity and action"?
Thoughts/comments?
Last week at our CLC meeting, my group discussed the materials from Session 21 in the new manual. I thought that Jack Milan had captured very well the need for both charity and justice, and how I feel we are called to respond to Haiti and all the poor and suffering.
"De-humanization is experienced in daily living. When we intervene in the concrete de-humanized life situations of others, we are performing acts of charity. ...
Charitable acts affirm the worth of persons who live within structures which convince them otherwise. Our charity is authentic and humanizing when it enhances the self-esteem and independence of those who are the beneficiaries. Our charity is a sham when it reinforces powerlessness and degradation because it is paternalistic, dominating or self-serving. ...
Justice and authentic charity, then, have important similarities - the liberation of people from de-humanized and de-humanizing circumstances. Only the means of achieving the goal is different. Charity requires that we respond to concrete persons in concrete situations with concrete caring. Justice requires that we change those societal "rules of the game" that make so much of our charity necessary. Mahatma Gandhi, the great apostle of non-violent social change taught that both charity and action for justice are necessary. The Christian and CLC believe the same."
Jack Milan, CLC Leaders Manual
I have a friend who has little patience for acts of charity - her passion is social justice. She feels Haiti's pain - and as a mother and grandmother she asks " would I accept my children and grandchildren being treated this way'. She sees our lifestyle and our governments' choices as being responsible for contributing to the terrible condition that Haiti is now in. I agree with her. I think she is right.
But does recognizing the atrocity of Haiti's history and their current situation lessen their need for help now? How can we not respond to the Haitian people who have been so severly dehumanized not only by the earthquake, but by all foreign involvement in their 200 year history as an "independent" nation. Do we have any choice but to move forward the best we can as Gandhi suggests ... with "both charity and action"?
Thoughts/comments?
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Some Haiti Resources - 1 Yr After the Quake - Jan. 12, 2011
In recent weeks, there has been much media attention on the tragic situation in Haiti, one year after the earthquake. For over a million Haitians, conditions have improved very little as they continue to be homeless and lack basic resources of food and water.
Below are just a few resources that I know of. If you know of other resources, please add these by responding to this post.
Video Documentaries
CTV Craig Kielburger
shows the lives of Haitians almost one year after the earthquake,
questions lack of aid that has arrived in Haiti - despite government promises,
shows projects in Haiti funded by Kielburger's Free the Children.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFiv/20101230/w5-haiti-a-year-later-110101/
TVO Series - Inside Disaster Haiti
Three part series, shows challenges faced by Haitians and the relief agencies (Red Cross) who try to provide humanitarian aid in the crisis.
http://www.tvo.org/TVO/WebObjects/TVO.woa?videoid?712520258001
Articles and Websites
Development and Peace
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/partners/sif/dp/
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/hope-resilience-and-joy-among-a-nations-rubble
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/canadian-engineer-to-oversee-haitis-church-rebuild
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/dp-funded-program-provides-pro-life-solution-to-haitis-sexual-violence
Below are just a few resources that I know of. If you know of other resources, please add these by responding to this post.
Video Documentaries
CTV Craig Kielburger
shows the lives of Haitians almost one year after the earthquake,
questions lack of aid that has arrived in Haiti - despite government promises,
shows projects in Haiti funded by Kielburger's Free the Children.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/WFiv/20101230/w5-haiti-a-year-later-110101/
TVO Series - Inside Disaster Haiti
Three part series, shows challenges faced by Haitians and the relief agencies (Red Cross) who try to provide humanitarian aid in the crisis.
http://www.tvo.org/TVO/WebObjects/TVO.woa?videoid?712520258001
Articles and Websites
Development and Peace
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/partners/sif/dp/
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/hope-resilience-and-joy-among-a-nations-rubble
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/canadian-engineer-to-oversee-haitis-church-rebuild
http://www.catholicregister.org/features/dp-funded-program-provides-pro-life-solution-to-haitis-sexual-violence
Pilgrims on a Journey CLC help to host Evening of Prayer for Haiti/Jamaica - Nov. 2010
Prayers for Haiti and Jamaica - Sunday Nov. 28th
Two members of Pilgrims on a Journey CLC - Tarcia Gerwing, and Adrienne De Schutter teamed with Holy Rosary Music Minister, Mary Lynn Woods to create an intimate evening with Blessed Sacrament, Word, prayer, song, pictures, reflection for our brothers and sisters of Haiti and Jamaica. Fr. JP Horrigan, Ecclesial Assistant for Central Region CLC helped to celebrate and shared his expereiences meeting Jesuits and migrants from Haiti in his recent trip to the Dominican Republic in August of 2010. Cecilia Meiering of City of God CLC also shared experiences from her March 2010 visit with other members of Holy Rosary Church to St. Anne's Parish in Kingston, Jamaica.
Two members of Pilgrims on a Journey CLC - Tarcia Gerwing, and Adrienne De Schutter teamed with Holy Rosary Music Minister, Mary Lynn Woods to create an intimate evening with Blessed Sacrament, Word, prayer, song, pictures, reflection for our brothers and sisters of Haiti and Jamaica. Fr. JP Horrigan, Ecclesial Assistant for Central Region CLC helped to celebrate and shared his expereiences meeting Jesuits and migrants from Haiti in his recent trip to the Dominican Republic in August of 2010. Cecilia Meiering of City of God CLC also shared experiences from her March 2010 visit with other members of Holy Rosary Church to St. Anne's Parish in Kingston, Jamaica.
Fidelis Community Shares Haiti Mission and Raises Funds at UW Catholic Community, Advent Retreat - Nov. 2010
Every Advent, the University of Waterloo Catholic Community women hold an Advent Retreat morning at Notre Dame. This year, Fran Morrison approached the organizing committee to allow CLC to speak about our mission to Haiti Dominican Republic Fruitful Garden
Three KW Communities: Companions of Jesus, Fruitful Garden and Fidelis Support the People of Haiti - Nov/Dec. 2010
Report Submitted by Fran Morrisson, Jan. 2011
(1) In the K-W area we decided to have a joint "cluster" meeting to brainstorm ways to act on the common mission for Haiti.
We met on Nov.18 at Fran's home. Three communities were represented: Companions of Jesus, Fruitful Garden and Fidelis - all from the K-W area with 9 CLCers present.
We prayed together, then Mary Stevens along with Phyllis Porter and Michele Willoughby (who had been present at either the Reg. Council or Reg. Assembly) gave info on the Common Mission to Haiti and what it could entail.
Although there were some hesitations from CLC members who are heavily involved and have made long-term commitments to work for Africa and other parts of the world, all agreed they could accept the "Communal action of the heart does not mean community uniformity in action" statement which Mary, Phyllis and Michele explained.
A number of suggestions for proceeding were put forward:
Cards with details of the women's collective in the DR who make the jewellery
Advertising where the funds from the sale are to be used
Places where jewellery could be offered for sale - and in particular we noted the University Catholic Community's Advent retreat morning on November 27 (Mary to report on this, Fran contacted the organizers for the go-ahead)
That it would be important that ongoing information on the project in the DR would be vital to keep up interest in Canada
Agreement that gatherings of this sort could include a donation box for Haiti.
Donations were forwarded to Marilynn Heaton, CLC Canada and marked for Haiti
_________________________
(2) The Fidelis community had discerned that they would forego their normal Christmas gift giving and instead send monies to help Haiti. Members of this community have been generous in giving to the CLC/SJ initiative in the DR and decided that for this gift they would prefer their funds be sent to support medical aid. Their funds were sent to:
Dr. Philippe Craan, who is Haitian born and who operated a successful Dermatology practice in Kitchener-Waterloo prior to his retirement last year.A number of years ago Dr. Craan had established a small Clinic in Port-au-Prince with a resident doctor and beds for 20 persons. This Clinic had survived the earthquake. Last year some members of Fidelis had sent funds to support Dr. Craan. This year he sent a report, plus photographs of the Clinic and this has been circulated to our members and friends. As a result members of our families and also some friends have supported Dr. Craan.
(1) In the K-W area we decided to have a joint "cluster" meeting to brainstorm ways to act on the common mission for Haiti.
We met on Nov.18 at Fran's home. Three communities were represented: Companions of Jesus, Fruitful Garden and Fidelis - all from the K-W area with 9 CLCers present.
We prayed together, then Mary Stevens along with Phyllis Porter and Michele Willoughby (who had been present at either the Reg. Council or Reg. Assembly) gave info on the Common Mission to Haiti and what it could entail.
Although there were some hesitations from CLC members who are heavily involved and have made long-term commitments to work for Africa and other parts of the world, all agreed they could accept the "Communal action of the heart does not mean community uniformity in action" statement which Mary, Phyllis and Michele explained.
A number of suggestions for proceeding were put forward:
Cards with details of the women's collective in the DR who make the jewellery
Advertising where the funds from the sale are to be used
Places where jewellery could be offered for sale - and in particular we noted the University Catholic Community's Advent retreat morning on November 27 (Mary to report on this, Fran contacted the organizers for the go-ahead)
That it would be important that ongoing information on the project in the DR would be vital to keep up interest in Canada
Agreement that gatherings of this sort could include a donation box for Haiti.
Donations were forwarded to Marilynn Heaton, CLC Canada and marked for Haiti
_________________________
(2) The Fidelis community had discerned that they would forego their normal Christmas gift giving and instead send monies to help Haiti. Members of this community have been generous in giving to the CLC/SJ initiative in the DR and decided that for this gift they would prefer their funds be sent to support medical aid. Their funds were sent to:
Dr. Philippe Craan, who is Haitian born and who operated a successful Dermatology practice in Kitchener-Waterloo prior to his retirement last year.A number of years ago Dr. Craan had established a small Clinic in Port-au-Prince with a resident doctor and beds for 20 persons. This Clinic had survived the earthquake. Last year some members of Fidelis had sent funds to support Dr. Craan. This year he sent a report, plus photographs of the Clinic and this has been circulated to our members and friends. As a result members of our families and also some friends have supported Dr. Craan.
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