Mike preaching about 'power' in Christchurch this morning.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Keep out
A very common sign in Christchurch today. Sad to see it attached to Methodist churches. One church will find, however that the hundreds of homes around it will be demolished and no rebuilding allowed, but the church may remain and have to redefine its mission. Conversely the city mission is being demolished and the nature of a future presence in the city is wide open for debate. The minster, Mary, is here explaining to us that only 2 members at the church actually came from the city centre. Steve
Christchurch
Mike King has begun his official visit here with a visit to Church HQ, temporarily located in a private house as the city centre is still sealed off. He also joined an ecumenical meeting of those with responsibility for earthquake response. The map shows in red the area where people have been told they must leave their homes. The stories shared at the meeting were very moving. So was the deep sense that people here are weary, stressed, uncertain and over-stretched. Quakes are expected to continue - as they have in the last 12 months - every few days for the next 30 years. Steve
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
New Zealand
Today, Wednesday, is the anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake. Here in New Zealand these is a sense of solidarity with a city still experiencing major quakes and full of uncertainties. Mike King, Vice President Designate, is on his way here and together we will reach Christchurch on Friday for an official visit to the NZ Methodist Church and over three days we will express the love and concern of British Methodists. Pray for the families of those who died here and the very many who struggle with the uncertainty of life in this city. Steve
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Samadhi
We drove further into the forests to the village of Samadhi to visit one of the Diocese of Durgapur's smaller projects.
The church here is the biggest building in a pretty village of blue and ochre thatched mud houses. I spoke to one of the residents Subrato Soren about the origins of Christianity in the area.
Methodist Missionary Revd Pocklington is still a legendary name hereabouts. Around 1914 he set off from Serenga (see previous post) on horseback and headed into the jungle There were no roads and he was armed with a rifle to keep the tigers (as there were then) and bears at bay. Having learned the local Santali language he stopped at every settlement he came across and preached.
So it was that Subrato’s grandfather became the first Christian in Samadhi.
Subrato’s father helped build the church here with a later Methodist Missionary Revd Hastings. There have been a few incarnations of the church, the latest built after it had been demolished by an elephant. Elephants are a local garden pest here. Apparently you keep them out by stringing a wire horizontally about 7 feet up.
Other Methodists who are remembered here are Miss Bird and Miss Hewell who preached and helped the village. Many souls were saved, says Subrato.
These characters are remembered so well, and moved people to become Christians because they came not just to talk about the gospel, but to help people, to serve without care for themselves.
The Diocese now runs a health centre, with a team of female health workers in easily identifiable blue saris. They provide health education, look out for signs of developing illness, identify treatable eye cataracts, and do pre-operative preparation for patients about to go to Serenga hospital.
There are other community development projects going on here under the leadership of Rajmohan Murmu. Training is given in skills that can make money, like bicycle repair. Education is given for younger children , there is micro funding and a cooperative is run for growing buhia grass, which is then plaited into rope and sold.
So the work the missionaries started continues, sharing love in word and action.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Everyday miracles at Serenga
We drove through miles of dusty rural India to visit Serenga Hospital for the inauguration of a new conference centre / library for the student nurses that are trained there.
Our bus was escorted by a jeep full of armed guards as we got near. Communist rebels / terrorists.are active in the area.
This is one of the challenges the hospital has had to face. They have a new boundary wall around the grounds because the rebels had been hiding out from the police in there. Although no-one had been hurt or threatened this fact had put of essential staff like trainers from coming here.
Serenga hospital is 99 years old, and was set up by a Methodist Medical Missionary, and is the biggest free hospital for a long way around. It is looking its age, but it works thanks to the dedication of staff who largely work for no or very low wages sometimes with the most basic equipment. It gives the local tribal people hope and saves lives. For life in the idyllic looking countryside is not easy. Malaria, anaemia malnutrition simple diarrhea claim many lives. If the wet season isn't quite wet enough people starve to death.
It is doing impressively well. The neo-natal unit has exceeded the millenium development goals target, and whereas a few years ago 12 women a year died in childbirth at the hospital that is now down to one.
There are plans and more plans to improve the infrastructure of the hospital and serve the population better. They are saving for a new ambulance so that more people can be reached and they want to build an extension to the neo-natal unit so that mothers can be beside their ill babies.
The hospital is totally dependent on outside support to function. The conference centre / library (and the boundary wall) was funded by The Methodist World Mission Fund, and the staff showed true gratitude for that gift from Methodists across Britain.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
40 years of struggle and a bright future
Today we all attended a service celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Durgapur, Over 1000 people attended in a huge marquee, along with guests from partner churches across the world, from neignbouring Bangladesh to as far away as Australia and Canada. It was a strange mixture of the familiar and the exotic, with the bible processed into the centre of the congregation on a huge flower-decorated drum, and familiar hymns given a haunting Indian flavour.
It was moving to hear the prayers of the congregation spoken simultaneously in different languages, the sound of devout humanity united despite it's surface differences and strangenesses to one another..
A recurrent theme was thanksgiving for the way this diocese has been turned around in recent years. This is thanks largely to the dynamic Bishop Probal Dutta's leadership. There are now numerous projects really making a difference to people's lives especially the poor, the sick, the excluded and the vulnerable.
There are many challenges facing the Church here, corruption, violence and discrimination are all part of the 'background noise'. The sermon compared the Diocese with a boat making its way through rough waters, and encouraged us all to always focus on the face of Jesus Christ, and his loving promise to us all, rather than getting dragged down by worrying about the storm around us.
The focus is now on the future, wihile still honouring the roots of the Church here, including its Methodist Roots. The Church in India has a chance to be a radical force for good as India becomes more developed. Perhaps it can help the country avoid the pitfalls of Western capitalist culture with its greed and individualism. India can teach us a lot about what community really means.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Dancing in Durgapur
Yesterday visitors from overseas churches, including me, took part in the 40th anniversay celebrations of Durgapur Diocese. They started with performances of traditional dances from across India by children from some of the projects the diocese runs. These children are from disadvantaged backgrounds and would otherwise have no access to a good education and little hope of escaping a future of poverty. They are the children of leprosy suffers, or low caste rickshaw pullers and maids, and often suffer discrimination. They are taught dance as well as literacy, numeracy and languages.
The dancing was really fantastic, and it was moving to see how poised and self-confident the children seemed, as well as graceful and beautiful. This self-confidence means that the teenage girls will be less vulnerable to trafficking.
The day finished off with a garden party, great food and county and western music for a change...
Today we watched another ceremony, this time of the annual Tribal Awards that the diocese runs. Awards were given to tribal people involved in writing, education and social work. Again there were dances and music.
The social work award was given to Mr. Bhim Sen Hembrom (pictured at the microphone). He tours tribal areas performing dramatic puppet shows in the Santali language that raise awareness and counter some of the serious problems arising from long-held superstitions. In some cases women have been publicly murdered in remote villages, as they are believed to be possessed by evil spirits.
Dave Webster
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Getting ready to go to India
Flying out to Kolkata tomorrow to visit the Diocese of Durgapur. Will be visiting several projects working with tribal and Dalit communities. Hope to blog more as the trip unfolds....
Dave Webster
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