New England Friends WomenNew England Friends WomenUnited Society of Friends Women
Fall 2002
Message from your Presiding Clerk
Minga Claggett-Borne, clerk USFW NE
Dear Sisters everywhere,
Bend your hearts most on lifting others up, give wide latitude and tolerance to those which you have not personally met. Don't spend time in idle speculation of others, especially if you have not visited personally with that person in their own home meeting.
I have spent much of my life as a Friend visiting among Quakers in different lands, sometimes with a traveling minute. I've been to Quaker homes in 5 countries in Central America, a few homes in Switzerland and Britain, many times to Cuban homes and most recently to our dear sisters in Kenya. The Kenyan FUM Triennial was delightful with its many opportunities to mix and talk with African Friends, but even more precious was visiting in the homes and village meetings of Friends. We were in Kenyan homes where my two boys were afraid to go to the bathroom and homes that had servants and high security. I met widows that could barely walk; young students who could barely talk looking at my strange, blue eyes; and many toddlers who were barely clothed. The trip is something I will not forget.
Especially moving is the Kenyan singing with abandon. They sing of the great love God has for us. Despite all miseries I heard Friends complain about with ravaging of AIDS, starvation, unemployment, petty jealousies; still I saw women in Meeting who cast aside all hard feelings and sang and prayed fervently to our Sovereign who delights in us. This is a deep lesson to me.
Despite these travels, I'm more committed to bringing my lessons home. I need to act locally more, although informed by Friends globally. The fear of terror, and threat of our country initiating war weighs on my mind. Why do we rely on killing and maiming in order to do justice? We as a society seems to be bent on destroying our children's future. We have not yet made the shift in our thinking or practice that violence can save us. In order to make our prayers for a new world possible, we need to shift our orientation: a paradigm shift. As the social activist and minister Jim Wallis said in 1994 "America today lacks any coherent or compelling social vision."
As a Quaker we cannot leave the visioning to prophets or geniuses or ideologues any longer. Here are some ideas I feel Friends need to speak about to help bring about a just and nonviolent society.
1. Friends can share the idea that no child is born bad. When children act bad, that does not mean they have become bad. An uncle of mine used to point to a child and tell me how they come from 'bad seed.' That idea is unacceptable in God's eyes. Children who experience chronic stress and fear without social support and love, will act out.
2. The systematic misuse and abuse of power creates both victims and perpetrators. Bullies and gangs and criminals are people who have learned to abuse power rather than be abused themselves. We need to encourage cooperation and not allow certain groups to assume dominance over other groups to the point of exercising physical control over them.
3. We who experience hurt from war, or sickness or loneliness; we need to wrestle with healing and forgiveness more than with hate and revenge. When we feel victimized, we often use subtle ways to victimize others emotionally or cave into helplessness or self-destructive behaviors.
4. A major task that Friends can lend a hand in is to stop any word or action that humiliates another. The philosopher Margalit describes civilization as happening when members of a society do not humiliate one another, while a decent society consists of institutions which do not humiliate people.
Each of us must begin to envision what God's new covenant (Jer. 31) is and can be. This will be a great antidote to war.
I look forward to seeing you all at our October gathering in Durham ME.
Read more about Minga's experience in Kenya later in this newsletter.
Please support the Ramallah Friends School and Ramallah Play Center.
Checks should be made out to USFW of NEYM and earmarked for
either Play Center or Ramallah School.
Send to USFW Treasurer,
PO Box 1401, Shirley MA 01464.
Other contributions to USFW of NEYM are always welcomed Several years ago we made a commitment that at least one woman in each meeting of NEYM would receive the newsletter. It costs approximately $2 per recipient per year to print and mail the newsletter.
See the minutes for notes from NEYM sessions program on the experiences of Ben Richmond and Paul Hood when they visited Palestine and Ramallah this year. Also later in this newsletter news about the Play Center and School.
Afternoon Program
We began with singing Shalom Chaverim led by Marian Baker and a welcome and introductions led by Minga Claggett Borne.
Myrna of Holguin Mtg., Cuba Yearly Meeting prayed with Susanna McCandless translating. Jilma of Puerto Padre Mtg., Cuba Yearly Meeting was also welcomed and introduced.
Ben Richmond, FUM staff visitor to New England Yearly Meeting shared that after September 11th FUM staff wrote all member yearly meetings reminding all to follow Christ teaching to love our enemies and to keep our peace testimony. He went on a Christian Peacemaker team to Palestine this February to monitor and accompany those in Ramallah and surrounding towns. He stated that we need to witness and be willing to die as much as military "peace keepers", It was a heartbreaking experience to be in Palestine, the problems seem so insolvable and the conflict is so deep. He was grateful for the chance to meet many wonderful people who have committed to being in Palestine. He stressed the need for all of us to stay in contact with those living in Palestine and at the Friends Schools in Ramallah. He shared how some from Ramallah are not willing to go and submit to the humiliation at check points, which cause what is usually a few minutes commute to one of hours or days. Palestinian women and Israeli women have both tried to work together to solve problems.
Paul Hood shared how he felt called to go to Ramallah in response to Colin and Kathy South's visit to our yearly meeting sessions last summer. He first expected to go last fall, but illness prevented it. He was then scheduled to go in March, but the Israeli invasion of Ramallah caused his travel to be delayed until May/June. He has attended a local synagogue in Burlington, VT for several years out of a love for Jesus and an interest in learning more of Jesus' heritage. A letter from that synagogue enabled him to get through customs in Israel.
He was in Ramallah in a small apartment next to the South's, from which he could see both Jerusalem in the distance and a Jewish settlement. He wanted to go to an Israeli settlement and to a refugee camp, but travel was difficult. He interviewed and videotaped many different people. The principal of the girls school shared how her daughter remarked with surprise when she saw some Israeli soldiers drinking beer.- she had thought soldiers were not human. Soldiers came to their house one day and the daughter hid in fear. The mother invited the soldier to "come in and let my daughter touch your hand" to demonstrate to the child that they are humans. This small gesture responded in a talking at length, a tendril of hope and concern. It is a depressing situation. Reconciliation seems so impossible. A 24 hour curfew caused him to miss his returning flight. He also spent four days in Jerusalem. He learned there of "women in black" and "women in blue and white" both witnessing and vigiling in city squares in Israel. Palestinians in this country as well dress in empathy with these women. There is an ocean of darkness. Let us look inside ourselves to better understand where others are coming from, and to take moments to share with each other.
We ended with prayers from all of us.
Business meeting- held during supper.
Introductions. We introduced ourselves and shared some of our major concerns that we are each involved in including: Working against Jr. ROTC, Anti casino work , Concern to start Friends school in Dominican Republic, Silent retreats, Trauma for abuse women, Support of Aquavis, Rural Service Programme or Kakamega Aids orphans/widows projects in Kenya, Travel in ministry, etc.
Treasurers Report Clarabel gave a treasurers report which was accepted.
YM budget for speakers. It was decided to ask Ben Richmond and Paul Hood where $100 of our budgeted honorarium should go and to offer $100 towards the transport of Becky Williams to come share with us about Jamaica at our fall meeting.
Financial Accountability of Kakamega project Concern arose over no report received from Kakamega of how the money which we had sent had been spent. We approved asking Marian Baker to send an e mail letter requesting a written, auditable report for the money already received, which report must be received before we are willing to authorize our treasurer to transmit any remaining funds that have been raised.
Thank you letters for large donors. We must send thank you notes to all donors of $250 or more. Clarabel Marstaller and Sukie Rice will write these. They will keep sensitive information such as names of large donors confidential.
Fall Appeal It was suggested that we might want to invite the Spanish speaking Friends church in Boston to our next meeting and see if they need our support in some of their projects. Jeanne Kinney and Sara Hubner will contact them to explore these issues.
Since we will not know the response to this soon, it was decided to have our fall appeal be in support of Ramallah Friends School or the Play Center. Minga will talk with Ben Richmond and Paul Hood to see how we can have solidarity with women's peace groups like the "women in black" or "women in blue and white".
Nominating Committee Report. Sarah Hubner and Margaret Wentworth suggested that all the previous officers be continued in office as last year, with Marian Baker added as Recording Clerk. This was approved.
The meeting ended with a prayer led by Barbara Sturrock.
Our next meeting will be held in Durham on Saturday, 19 October, 2002, with Becky Williams as our speaker.
Marian Baker
Recording Clerk
Thank you for your very encouraging e-mail. It was timely because we have just finished our orphanage building committee. I want to inform you that our chairman Crispus Khamala is a retired Accountant with the Government of Kenya. Our treasurer for USFW is a retired Headmistress and she is doing a very good job.
Before I thought of putting up the orphanage, I prayed hard, because I am aware many people in Kenya have missed their time, talent, and money and I would not want to be one of them. I need your prayers and many other friends. This was my calling from God and I am doing it fearing God.
We are putting up A double story because of the space in Amalemba Friends Church. The woman refused the new space and wanted the orphanage to be at the head quarters of the yearly meeting. I am sorry that I did not inform you in time but bear with us. The women are working very hard towards the project. We received US$6443 [Kenya shillings 489,668] from Clarabel. The bank deducted Kshs 2,000 commission and for every withdrawal we make the Bank takes Kshs 3. We will continue to inform you of the progress.
Thank you for your encouragement. It is rough going but because I am determined I will accomplish the job through God's guidance.
The list below is the expenditure as of 14/08/2002.
Cement 200 bags @600 =Kshs 120,000
Concrete 70 tons @1,000 =Kshs 70,000
Sand 60 tons @3,000 =Kshs 180,000
Reinforcement bars:
Y-16-60 pieces @800 =KShs 48,000
Y-12-40 pieces @480 =KShs 19,200
Y-10-30 pieces @300 =KShs 9,000
Y- 8-30 pieces @250 =KShs 12,500
Clay bricks 5,000 pieces @10 =Kshs 50,000
Softwood 1,000 ft @20 =KShs 20,000
Hard-core 10 tons @2,500 =Kshs 25,000
Nails 50 Kilos @ 50 =Kshs 2,500
Hoop iron 100 mtrs @ 70 =Kshs 7,000
Murrum 50 tons @800 =Kshs 40,000
Labour = Kshs 50,000
Total expenditure Kenya shillings. 653,000
We need an equal amount like what we have spent to finish the ground floor.
We have heard from Dorothy Selebwa that the kitchen/dining hall is well underway. At this point the foundation has been poured and the walls are going up. They have great hopes that much of the building will be done by their USFW- Kakamega Yearly Meeting in early December.
The feeding project now serves 120 children each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Because there are so many children who have come to them, they have had to be selective to who are the very most needy. With every meal that is served, each bowl is licked clean and children leave with good fellowship, hope, and a full stomach.
This is truly a GRASSROOTS effort. The women of Kakamega bring rice, beans, maize and vegetables to the church on Sunday and that serves the children that week. Each meeting, quarter, and regional meeting are contributing to the building as is each building committee member. Plus they are holding a big yard sale in a month to raise money for the project. Their accounting system is overseen by Crispus Khamala, a retired accountant of the Kenyan govt. and is set up to be fully auditable by an outside auditor.
They are extremely grateful for all the support Friends in New England have sent to make this building become a reality. The plans for the building have expanded so that the kitchen/dining hall (that we have all been sending money for) will have walls strong enough so that next year a second story can be added onto it. The Friends of Kakamega plan to sponsor a "workcamp" trip next summer to build the second floor which will have bedrooms for 48 children. Along with the construction work, the group will spend significant time with the children and get to know the people and the area. Visits to Lake Victoria and the Kakamega National Game Preserve/Rain forest will round out the trip. If people want to learn more about the trip, please contact Sukie Rice at 207-865-3768 (ricesukie@aol.com).
Molly Duplisea, Sharon Salmon and Sukie Rice plan to visit Kenya for the USFW- Kakamega Yearly Meeting to participate in their worship, ceremonies and great praises and offerings. They can't wait to go! Friends of Kakamega is still trying to raise money to complete the building so if you wish to send a contribution, PLEASE do so. Money can be sent to USFW Treasurer, PO Box 1401, Shirley MA 01464, with checks made out to USFW NEYM and earmarked for Kakamega.
We landed in Kenya and headed directly to the Maasai Mara which is the Kenyan extension of the Serengeti game reserve....
From the expanse of the rolling savanna we traveled all day until arriving in Kisumu at the airport. Kisumu is the 3rd largest city in Kenya at the edge of Lake Victoria in the east. Kisumu is also a few kilometers from the equator, hot sticky with high rates of malaria and many tribes. We were waiting at the tiny airport which was closed with only one taxi man left. We had sent e-mail to them twice as to our arrival, but we had heard no word. Jonathan was sure that they would meet us, but after 30 minutes waiting I doubted it. It was dusk and we needed to find a place to lay our heads. I was cranky and not thinking clearly. I thought of asking God, "Now what?" but didn't take time to listen carefully to an answer. I only heard from Kenyetta, our taxi driver that it costs 4,000 shillings to Kakamega. We had loaded our baggage in the taxi, when Dorothy drove up with 2 other Friends, one the driver of Edith Radcliffe's truck. God is gracious even when I had lost faith. Later Dorothy told us it costs only 2,200 shillings for that taxi ride.
Our hosts were Dorothy and Evans Selebwa whose 4 children were grown and working in Nairobi. Our hosts were caring for two grandsons who went to school in Kakamega.
We met Kikuya, Luo, Taljenin and Luhya peoples. Each tribe has its own language and even within the Luhya tribe are distinct dialects. The Selebwas came from one tribe and had resettled in a different Luhya district so they spoke Swahili at home. Their dialect was too different from the neighbors' to be understood well. The two boys were totally entranced by our 'big' boys from America. Elias asked them questions about their school and got back answers in stilted English. "I-go-to-Form-3." The four were giggly trying to understand such funny pronunciation. The house is in the country 10 kilometers from Kakamega, a bustling town with internet service and lots of commerce. Yet there was no electricity, nor running water. The toilet was a cement hole on the floor of the outhouse. Some in our family didn't have a bowel movement the entire time there. Jonathan hadn't shaved without a mirror since he had lived in Cuba.
Our first morning after breakfast we left to visit Meetings. Dorothy handed me a very full itinerary of places to visit. But for every planned worship time, we made spontaneous stops. Every Thurs. USFW groups have prayer meetings, and we stopped at the village meeting where a woman about 60 years old was asking for prayers. Her husband was drinking last night and had threatened her so with a knife that she fled to a neighbor's house. The women prayed and it sounded like many could offer her refuge. I felt a wave of power as people prayed and nodded and a baby crawled on his mother's lap. Dorothy said half of the women in Meeting are widows. Drinking and drugging is a problem, just like in US Meetings, but there's no AA meetings or batterers' programs. Still the old woman who spoke of her fear, smiled at the sister who prayed, showed interest in me as I told the women why I was visiting. She wiped a muscular hand over her face, then straightened her elbow and the tears and sweat lay between the palm of her hand and the bench of prayer. This community offered her refuge.
Our planned engagements were at Musingu, Chebuyusi and Navakholo all are USFW (women) regional meetings. Most Kenyan YM s (about 14) are structured with regional meetings, which are divided into quarterly meetings, then into monthly meetings, and lastly the village meeting. Regional meetings in Kenya can include up to 1,000 members. The meetings started late, because we arrived one or 2 hours late. There was a lot of official greetings: the local woman's clerk would welcome the regional clerks, the visiting pastors and presiding clerks (mostly men) and then vice versa. All YM women officers were introduced.
The superintendent would offer a short message based on a Bible reading. Then Dorothy, as USFW YM clerk would speak. Then I would speak as USFW clerk of New England, and lastly Jonathan would speak (honorary guest). At the end they gave us presents and food. Dorothy would speak about the orphanage and the feeding program in encouraging words. A short story of how God provided corn or a ride just when she needed us. "God knows better than we do, isn't it?" She'd ask. And the women would murmur. "And God will continue to provide for our orphans, isn't it?" and the assenting women would speak louder. "And we will do our part in feeding the children, is it so?" And now the congregation would be animated with clear affirmations.
I would speak of Dorothy's visit among us and how well received she and Leunita were. I would tell amusing events: how Americans welcome the Kenyans like other guests by giving them a tour of the house: bathroom, kitchen, garden, back hall. In Kenya guests stay in the parlor and that's it. If you are shown the kitchen, you're expected to do the work. When Dorothy comes into a house, she didn't expect a tour, she expected to pray. She had big suitcases to carry, but she still wanted to carry them on her head. Also I'd say something about Cambridge meeting: I'd talk about the teenagers or about our work to become anti-racist or work to stop the war. Somewhere in there I'd talk about God's promise, how we are called to be a community of God. The orphanage is a part of that call. Jonathan played a terrific role. He'd talk about being a 'helpmeet' to a spouse who's busy doing ministry. He exhorted men to help the women. He talked about how Jesus calls us to feed and clothe and visit the least of the children, for so we are doing it to Jesus. As a man he spoke to the equality between men and women.
Collection was not taken during the meeting, but when the treasurer of USFW was introduced, then members were encouraged to visit her and offer something. Many times women gave food instead of money. Edith Radcliffe, a white woman who has worked in Kenya for 60 years, says that in Musingu region people can go for weeks without ever seeing a 50 shilling bill (60 cents) in their pockets. People are poor.
It was exhausting traveling and speaking, but they were so happy to see us. They wore special dresses, they served us strong tea and fresh fruit, we saw lots of schools, a group of girls did an elaborate dance which got Leunita and Dorothy to their feet dancing there among the schoolgirls. The boys were bored without friends to play with. We got home after dark. The stars were brilliant, the darkness vast. In God's womb there are constellations of hope.
The only access to the island of Lamu is by boat: except a native told me a wild story that on special low tides there is a land bridge which elephants have been known to cross at night. ....
From Lamu we traveled to Nairobi for the Triennial. Ah, the 2002 Friends United Meeting Triennial held for the first time in Africa and also the centennial celebration of the first Friends arrival in Kenya. It was the impetus for me to go and thus for the entire family. We'd been preparing for a year, going to meetings, taking shots, reading books on Friends in Africa. We were ready for a life-changing event. But the 5 day conference offered for me mostly quality hangout time with Africans. I liked many of the speakers and the singing performances. The theme of the Triennial was "so now finish the work" from Paul's letters. Some Kenyan Quaker controversies are: HIV+ crisis, war among tribes, superstitions & belief in black magic, whether women must wear scarves when leading worship, disaffection of the Quaker youth, polygamy.
There was no business meeting, and I missed substantive issues for all to pray and act on. One festive moment was welcoming five (maybe six) new yearly meetings as part of FUM. If my notes are accurate, the new YMs include Chavakali, Elgon East, Lugari, Malava, Kakamega and Central. Greetings from all YMs, including NEYM's were read aloud. My favorite speeches were by Oliver Kisaka of Kenya, Colin South of Ramallah and Evelyn Gonzales of Cuba. I also loved the Buruburu young Friends singing after worship ended, the singing outside of the formal sessions, seemed much more spirited with drums and dancing.
I spent a lot of my free time getting to know women in leadership in the 14 (15?) different Kenya YMs. They are doing fantastic work raising food, clothes for the northern tribes like Turkana, medical clinics & dispensaries, guest houses and canteens. The women's groups are leading the way of reconciliation among the YM factions since they have offered Kenya wide USFW meetings. The next Kenya-wide woman's meeting will be in the spring of 2003.
Jonathan and I got to visit in two Quaker homes for lunch in Nairobi. At Judith L'Wangu's 6 of us white-faces ate a delicious meal with fish and giggles from the Kenya girls. The day waiting for the airplane we went to Florence's son's house, which was upper-class, rather a wall-in and guarded community. Many issues arose at the Triennial which I'm still processing: what is institutional racism across borders and how can we at FUM stop the racism among our constituents, how do we address the homophobia? How much do I voice opinions of struggles among Quakers in the US, knowing that this is distant from reality among Kenyans? What way can US Friends participate in good works in Kenya without corruption?
My last hours in Nairobi were at the city market goggling at the crafts, which delighted my heart. Then the exhausting 18 hour trip back to Boston.
I'm happy to speak more about my trip to any group. Asaalam.
For more information about peace making activities in Israel/Palestine check out these two groups that AFSC has been working with: The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions: write to them via e-mail Everything seemed backwards. Maybe the problem was... I read my fortune before I ate my Chinese dinner. We had asked for some crackers to entertain our 18 month old granddaughter who was a little boisterous that evening. When the waitress suddenly appeared with a large plate of fortune cookies. It was a stunning sight -- all those little fortunes piled for the taking. Before I knew it a crumbling cookie lay in my hand (not exactly the freshest) and the fortune read, "you are about to experience the family reunion of your life, it will be more successful than your wildest dreams!" What an odd thing to read I thought, as two weeks before, I had returned from just that -- a family reunion on the west coast to celebrate the 95th birthday of my Swedish Aunt Alice. Now don't jump to conclusions my friend, I am a good Quaker. I don't believe little computer generated shreds of paper with black letters printed on them determine my future, or in this case m past, but it was "odd". The Chinese restaurant was in Bartlett, New Hampshire, known by some as "the top O' the notch". The night was the last of a five-day camping vacation with our children and one grandchild. In truth, it had been an emotionally draining experience. Our "party" of eight had dwindled to five due to work schedules and various other worldly responsibilities. We had completed our tour of Santa's Village and were settling into our last night before saying our final good-byes. In those few moments between reading my fortune and watching my granddaughter pull a framed picture off the wall to land unceremoniously on my son-in-law's hand, an inspiration came forth. Somewhere within the suddenly silenced restaurant, the stoic contained agony on my sons-in-law's face and my memory of the family reunion I had just returned from, the strange irony of the universe and the silent but poignant voice of God was once again present to me... yes on a meaningless shred of computer generated paper. Paradox? Perhaps.
You see, I come form a fragmented family, as fragmented as the cookie that lay in my hand. One hundred relatives came to honor my aunt that day, most from love. There was Swedish food, Swedish musicians in folk costumes, beautiful flowers, a glorious sunny day, great conversations and all those hard memories my brothers and I share of a broken family. It seems this little fortune cookie might be very flawed as I looked at it's crumbling molecules of flour, sugar and egg, and yet looking deeper here is a truth hard to dismiss. The word 'success' can mean many things. The 'family reunion of my life' can be interpreted more than one way. Life is so full. Keeping our own families healthy and whole is a creation in process. It is hard to know how our family of the past was supposed to be, whole and prefect in God's eye; we never experienced our family that way. Through the joy and pain of my family reunion, I was able to hear God speak softly to me saying, "it doesn't need to be mended: like the fortune cookie the memories are old and stale, just let it go, let the past go, just keep loving your brothers." It was a re-union of my life, successful beyond my wildest dreams.
Friends can and should be using modern methods such as the media and the internet as ways to promote peace, provide a positive image, and give people hope.
A great alternative news resource is Amy Goodman's award-winning ''Democracy Now,'' a one-hour war/peace report from NYC five days a week from Pacifica Radio. Mt. Toby Friends Peace and Social Concerns Committee got the local community access TV station to carry it, and it is also available via computer reel radio. We are working to get it on our local NPR station. It can also be accessed on the web at www.Democracynow.org. See www.pacifica.org for stations and times in your area.
There is a large collection of video tapes of eloquent speakers on peace and justice issues, such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn Barbara Lee, Helen Caldicott, Cornell West and others for $5, each, available from Democracy University: Ralph Cole/Justicevision, 1425 W. 12th St., #262, Los Angeles CA 90015. These can be shown at colleges or churches, where you can hand out literature, involve people in discussion, and promote alternative websites such as www.afsc.org or www.gjf.org.nbordc. They can also be offered to local TV stations. Local access channels are often open to these programs and, once scheduled, they can be publicized in the local paper. Our committee now has six hours a week of programming on our local access TV channel.
One especially good video is ''A Force More Powerful,'' a two-part documentary on how nonviolent power has overcome oppression on every continent and in every decade of the 20th century, including against segregation in the US, apartheid in South Africa, colonial rule in India, Nazi and Soviet oppression, military dictatorships in Chile and Yugoslavia. Call 800 257 5126 for more information. Our committee sponsored a public showing of it which was well attended.
We should be promoting alternative web sites such as:
As the late Steve Cary said to me 50 years ago, ''Friends more often move not as the way opens but as the way closes in behind them.'' Friends, the way is closing in behind us -- it's time to move.
Kathy and I arrived safely in Israel via the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge on Thursday. In Amman we met with Violet [Zarou] and Laila who are preparing to return to Ramallah in the coming week. They had been with their brother Nadeem for 2 months whilst Laila visited the specialists to see what could be done to make herself more comfortable. Her breathing is laboured. She continually feels weak and her stomach is always in pain. Some medication has been changed but no operation as the risks are too high. Laila does look stronger and Violet definitely has benefited from the break where there has been the opportunity to share some of the responsibility for her sister. Violet is anxious to return as the play school at the Amari camp is due to start again soon. The next school year for the play school and Friends Schools will commence on August 31st.
Monday, September 2nd, School is open.
Today was the second day but Day One of classes. The morning started at the Boys School with Chapel and a memorial meeting for a boy who was one of our Grade 10 students who died rather tragically of a heart attack whilst climbing a wall in the summer. It was however so good to see our students again filling the Chapel. We have full classes in all grades from seven through to ten and a good sized grade eleven and twelve. Parents have been registering their children because they feel that they will be safer with us in this situation, some of their previous schools for their children are closed or are very rocky financially, some parents can't continue to send their children to previous schools because of road blocks or village closures and so our numbers have swelled. The same process has meant losses for us too but it looks as though the school has gained in the net change. However, we know many of our parents will have difficulty paying as the year progresses.
Wednesday, September 4th, Scholarship Review
Today we achieved our Scholarship Review committee meeting at long last. It was put off because of the closures, incursions and curfews last semester. At the end of last academic year we were all also very tired through frustration and the struggle for everyday sanity and keeping the School at work. Our last meeting in June went badly. We had decided not to make decisions then but to return to them in September. We had a good meeting tonight in quite a different atmosphere and assigned 90,000 US$ in scholarships to 88 families and over 160 children after some very careful consideration of the data that we had available. We hope and pray that the money will be found. I am sure it will.
Saturday, September 7th, Why new projects
I have been asked why we spend time, money and energy on new projects such as the Swift House botanical garden when there are so many other pressing needs and the community is wrapped in a low level war.
I hope that helps you to understand a little of the passion with which we are pursuing this venture.
Barbara A. Sturrock, 1999
We have gathered in the gifts of field and vine We have seen the hills blaze out with color, In the stillness of autumn nights we have heard geese calling We have seen the days grow short and know that like the leaves Next Newsletter Deadline is January 10, 2003.
The Fortune
Christine Wozich
Christian Service
Using Modern Media to Promote Peace
Frances Crowe
www.commondreams.org;
www.fait.org;
www.indymedia.org;
www.zmag.org;
www.eatthestate.org,
and antiwar web sites: www.objector.com;
www.afsc.org;
www.space4peace.org;
www.pax.protest.net;
www.warresister.net;
www.democracynow.org;
www.nonviolence.org/vitw (Voices in the Wilderness).
Excerpts from Colin and Cathy South's e-mail letters from Ramallah
Saturday August 24th , News about Violet Zarou
Prayer in November
and stored them against the cold days ahead.
Lord, gather us together and keep us safe from the winter of indifference.
each tree finds it shape and color to show its splendor,
each one needed to be part of the whole.
Lord, we too are part of the landscape of life,
all necessary, all beloved, all needing our faithful hand to fulfill
the beauty and destiny you have desired for us.
as they fly toward the renewal and new life they crave.
Lord, in the uncertainty of our world guide us, your flock,
as we move in faith where your love would lead us.
our days and lives are moving toward stillness and rest.
Lord, still we trust, waiting in peace, knowing it is birth and rebirth
through the seasons of life that will return us to you.
For this we give thanks and praise, always, but especially in November.
Please send your articles, thoughts, even graphics to:
usfw@neym.org
or USFW Newsletter, PO Box 1401, Shirley, MA 01464-1401