Sunday Morning at Iglesia Cristo Salvador and an Afternoon With Family

“I think this is a new section of pavement,” Eleanor said, “I don't think this store was here two years ago,” I added. So was our conversation during the first drive across the bridge and up the hill to the little community of Pastor. Even though some things have changed there is so much more that is familiar that it feels like coming home. It certainly felt that way as we walked into the Church, hugging adults and children alike as there was mutual recognition. As Father Hipólito, the acolytes, and I prayed before beginning the service it felt both like being home at St. Anne's and preparing to lead the service again at Cristo Salvador. It is a joy and a privilege to preside at the Eucharist with this wonderful congregation, and my Spanish is getting better!

Sunday afternoon conversations.

Yum!

We were invited to a fabulous lunch at the home of Fr. Hipolitó and the wife Dulcina where we also watched the final game of the World Cup. Even though the Dominican Republic is a fanatical baseball place, the strong connection of a common language and heritage created a vocal fan base for the team from Spain and shouts of joy reverberated though the neighborhood when the game was won in overtime.

Spain! ¡España! ¡Campeones! Champions!

While we were at the Church this morning we stopped in to check out the school which is being built across from the Church. It is up, the concrete block walls and the roof, but just. There will be plenty to do. It's really exciting to see Fr. Hipólito's dream come into reality. Within the next year there will be a thriving school for kids from the barrio.

A first look at the shelter project.

It feels good, to see this neighborhood, and the Church become a better place. Tonight we walked to San Lucas, the beautiful church we worked on for several years. It is a thriving community, someday Cristo Salvador and the school will be just like it.

St Paul said in the letter to the Romans: "Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Paul's right, you know, in the end it's not about being right, or successful, or powerful. it's about being faithful, and hopeful, and loving.

DR20

Care and Feeding of Missioners and the Blog!

Good morning from Santiago! This is Martha writing.

The 2010 Dominican Republic team has arrived on site! We had a very smooth trip from Dulles through San Juan, Puerto Rico to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. While in this current age of travel there is not much "feeding" done by the airlines, we were well taken care of! All bags arrived with us, customs and immigration were cleared with no problems and we were met on the sidewalk by a grinning Father Hipólito.

I know that part of Father Hipólito's smile came from seeing the familiar faces of Jim Papile, Art Light, Eleanor Ware and myself. The other part came from realizing that when I told him were were bringing "tall guys," I really meant it! He looked waaaay up into the faces of Brett Nelson, Ben Webster and Bob & Jack Van Hoecke and welcomed them to the Dominican Republic.

As I write this, we are assembling for a quick breakfast and then headed up to church at Cristo Salvador. By day's end we'll have more stories to tell and maybe a picture or two. For now, know that greetings will be offered on behalf of all the people of St. Anne's and we will think of you all as we worship here today.

So, we'll try to "feed" this blog more regularly as we progress through the week! Keep in touch!

Day 7-Our Last day

Our final day at Stenton Family Manor held mixed emotions. While we were all ready to journey home to see our families and get some rest, it was very difficult to say goodbye. We knew that we probably would never see these particular children again. They, too were aware that we would be leaving. We all made the most of the time with lots of hugs and piggy back rides. I think the favorite activity however was the relay races and water balloon toss!

Before we left, we had the opportunity to talk with the staff to ask what particular items were most needed for each age group and we left behind not only all of the equipment we brought, but lots of ideas for activities for the summer.

Our trip home was smooth, with lots of chatter, laughter and sleeping! Several of the missioners talked about their experiences and how much perspectives were changed. It was a wonderful week for all of us and many are already looking forward to next year!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and contributions. Everything we brought was in full use when we left Stenton Manor and now we know what things to bring for our next mission!!

The Philadelphia Mission Team 2010

Day 5!

Today was another day full of smiling faces and laughter. A woman from the Wissahickon Nature Center came and took the kids on nature walks around the shelter. She gave them all bug boxes that they really enjoyed playing with! They loved walking around and finding interesting bugs in their own backyard. Others made animal masks out of paper plates, construction paper, and feathers. Some of the kids played with balls while others drew themselves in chalk on the pavement. After a full day of playing with the children, the group went into the heart of Philadelphia and ate some delicious Irish Ice in Mango, Cherry, Lemon, and Blue Raspberry flavors. After the Irish Ice, we travelled to Pat's for some delicious Philly Cheese Steaks, except for Mike and Kelley who are vegetarian, and Hayley who doesn't care for Cheese Steaks. They ate Chinese food instead. Overall, we had a full day of fun with the kids and stuffed stomachs.

Mike Sills and Kelley Ficklin

Day 4

Today was a very eventful day at the Stenton Family Manor. For some reason there were about 70 volunteers and about 50 kids. We don't have the excuse to say that we were outnumbered anymore! The biggest reward of the day by far was seeing the happy, smiling faces of the young children we helped. During the afternoon we all played outside with the kids that ranged from about 5-12 years old. We drew pictures with sidewalk chalk, and enjoyed games of basketball, soccer, football, and four square. Overall, by the end of the day we were all extremely tired but walked out with smiles on all our faces. :)

Sam Allen, Kyle Jeffries, and James Allen

Day 3

After an early rise of 7am, the group all piled into the kitchen. There we ate our cookie crisps and frosted flakes then packed our lunches for the long day ahead of us. Once we arrived at the Stenton Family Manor shelter, we met up with the Clayton United Methodist church volunteers. We learned that this shelter was one of two in the entire country that grows their own vegatables in their "Hope" garden. After sketching out our day, we met some of the wonderful children. Finally after a few hours of intense outdoor play, it was time for lunch. We went inside and enjoyed our nicely packed lunches in the "employes" room, while the kids devoured their hot dogs with gusto in the back lawn. Next we ventured out to the pools while some stayed back with the preschoolers. After a funfilled day it was time to leave. On our way back we were hit with an enormous rainstorm, in which Grace and Hailey sprinted about. For dinner, Kyle, James, and Sam prepared a magnificent feast of salad, fruit salad, bread, and chicken alfredo. (With a little assistance from our Tunisian chef friend who's also at the hostel.) All in all it was a fufilling day. Off to compline now.

-Emma Toomer & Grace Gillen

Philadelphia Mission Day 1&2

The first two days of the Philly Mission Trip were very entertaining. The car ride there was 3.5 hours and we made it in time for Ghana's last goal. After we became aquainted with the Chamounix Mansion, we went shopping. Groups of 2 and 3 went shopping for various supplies we needed to get through the fun and exciting week! Our dinner on the first night was make-your-own pizzas, and it was a mess. Then we had fun with compline lead by the fabulous James Allen, and it was truly inspirational. Day 2 we went to church at the Philadelphia Cathedral, and it was a "different" approach on church. There was a lot of movement from the baptismal font to the lectern to the altar and lots of singing! After, we went to the Reading Terminal Market to eat our lunch. Then we traveled as far as New Jersey to experience the Historic Philadelphia area (i.e., we got lost). The two days that we have been on this mission trip have been great! Tomorrow we start to help at the homeless shelter, so we did a lot of planning tonite.

Written by,
Scott Waters

Reflections while waiting for a plane

This time the scene was so different. And it lifted my heart.

Driving to the airport after the first St. Anne's Mission to New Orleans in February, 2005, I was numb. A week of shoveling three feet of mud, pulling down mold-ridden drywall, and sifting through families' treasured belongings, ruined by the flood waters had been too much for all of us.

One of my last views of the city, and one we witnessed all week, was the mounds of debris outside every home that had been gutted. Driving down a residential street felt like floating down the Grand Canyon, only rather than beautiful sculptured cliff faces, we experienced cliffs of ruined appliances, sodden clothing and broken toys. It was awful. How could they ever clean up such devastation? How could they ever recover emotionally? Each of the four of us returned sick and depressed.

Today, on our way to the New Orleans airport, where I am writing this, things are very different. There is life and energy in the city again. Every year I have seen restaurants, groceries, and schools back in business. That first year, when things were so tough, I remember seeing a child in a coffee shop and thinking, "My God, that's the only child I've see all week." Now, there are kids playing basketball in playgrounds, and riding to school in buses again. We drove past an art festival and I could feel myself begin to smile. Art and music didn't just show up this week, of course, but the symbolism of a city block covered with white awnings, sheltering artists and art lovers alike from the spring sun, was wonderful to behold, life!

Serious conversation continues, the city has just elected a new mayor, the first change since Katrina. What will happen to the Crescent City? Will natives who want to return be able to come home and resume a cherished way of life? Will the new folks that have come cherish and work to preserve the culture of this proud and quirky city, and at the same time come to terms with generations of racism and corruption? Will the developers and speculators have their way and New Orleans become a get-rich-quick scheme or a big theme park, a caricature of its former self?

Last year, getting on the plane to come here, I noticed how it seemed like everyone in line had on work clothes. An army of volunteers, most of them from religious groups, transformed a city. Will the fervor be there? Was this a training ground for Haiti and the next huge disaster after that?

No one knows, at least not yet. But this I do know - today the spring sun was warm, there were bikers and dog walkers and bird watchers in beautiful Audubon Park. Azaleas were popping. I have just spent the week with a part of the beloved community. This city has changed my life forever, and I believe that I, and thousands like me, have changed this city.

God bless New Orleans.

The Road Home

Names matter, they always have. God changes Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, claiming them as His. Some people change their names when they marry, or seek a new identity. So the Diocese of Louisiana changing the name of the Disaster Response Program to Episcopal Community Services is significant. It is also important to realize that the ECS has recently received its 501(c)3 status and become an independent nonprofit, no longer closely affiliated with the Diocese. What started as a grass roots program to help New Orleanians move back into Katrina-ravaged homes has now grown into a new phase. Those involved in the program today understand that with immediate disaster relief coming to a close, and some things like gutting contaminated homes ending, systemic changes must occur for the community of New Orleans to thrive. There are still homes to be made livable, but this cannot be the end of assistance for the poor.

There is a new vision being developed by the young people who continue to staff and support the organization. Katrina-decimated New Orleans is becoming a test tube, a model for how small non-profits can effect important change for at-risk communities, and it's very exciting.

Having said all this I want for you to know that this past week, the 2010 St. Anne's New Orleans Mission Team has worked very hard in helping a family get back into their home. We have spent the week doing the most complicated finishing work inside a home, as well as building a complicated and beautiful handicap access ramp and a set of stairs on the back of a house ruined by the flood waters after Katrina. This has been done on a house some of us did structural work on last spring. There is a family in the Gentilly section of New Orleans who will finally, after five years, be able to move out of a FEMA trailer and back into their home.

I am so proud of our team: Heidi Marggraf, Susan Ficklin, Lorriane Cross, Dina Widlake, Claude Saffer, Jim Hunter, and me. The team's incredibly hard work, and considerable carpentry skills, have made the crucial difference in creating a new life for a deserving family.


Even though some fundamental changes are happening for the program, it is still a constant that the small group of dedicated young people who staff the ECS are working tirelessly, for little pay and recognition. In a time when large entities like federal and state agencies are struggling to help, some committed and exemplary young Episcopalians are making a significant difference. They are to be commended and emulated.

Jim Papile

Our 2010 Mission Roadtrip is Starting!

It's so great to be headed (back) to New Orleans! We're reconnecting with old friends and will make new ones. We have some good work to do - building a wheelchair ramp and outside stairs - to finish a house.

We have a team of 7 going - 4 "old hands" (Father Jim, Jim Hunter, Lorraine Cross, and Claude Saffer) and 3 newbies (Dina Widlake, Heidi Marggraf, me). I'm excited to be going on this trip for the first time and on my first all-adult trip :-)

Please keep us and the family we'll be helping in your prayers this week. We look forward to sharing our adventures during the week and worshipping with our St. Anne's family on Palm Sunday.

Most of all, Thank You, St. Anne's, for making it possible!