Follow our international volunteer in Peru

Carmelle Mohr is volunteering in Peru on behalf of CLWR. Photo: CLWR/J.Clark

CLWR volunteer Carmelle Mohr is on her way to Peru today! She will be working in Lima for the next six months with Diaconia, one of our Peruvian partners. You can follow her progress – and contribute your own thoughts – on her blog: theperuviansquare.wordpress.com.

Carmelle writes: “The Peruvian Square is a space where all are welcome to share in topics and experiences of faith-based development and stewardship. These topics are extremely important to discuss with open minds and hearts. It is our hope that ‘The Peruvian Square’ will be a common place where we may do just that.”

The blog contains links to conversation themes and a chronological journal of Carmelle’s experiences in Lima. When you click on the links, you can scroll to the bottom of the page and post your own responses, thoughts, questions and stories.

You can subscribe to receive blog updates by scrolling to the bottom of the blog and entering your email address.

You’ll also find a link on CLWR’s blogroll at clwr.wordpress.com.

The latest news briefs from CLWR

 

Read our latest News Brief, published February 23.

Contents:
-Lenten litany: Prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East
-Meet Doris Rodriguez and Judith Tembo Zulu – International Women’s Day
-Resource for World Water Day
-Help us continue to End Hunger
-Welcoming Carmelle Mohr to CLWR!

Judith Tembo Zulu, from Malata village, Zambia, was elected into her local government following leadership training supported by CLWR. CLWR/E.Oduro

Your September news briefs from CLWR

CLWR news briefs is back after a summer break! In this edition:

-we welcome Tyler Gingrich, our new youth engagement coordinator,

-we launch new confirmation resources, and

-we announce some free events in Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

Click here to read the September 5 news briefs.

New youth engagement coordinator Tyler Gingrich (second from left), with fellow CLWR staff members (l-r) Gerlinde Berglund, Jennifer Clark, Jenny Steinke. Photo CLWR/T.Gingrich

 

Lutheran & Anglican youth explore their connections at national gathering

In the Facebook-It event, participants had to find guests of CLAY in downtown Saskatoon. This group found us! On left, Heather Pryse and Tyler Gingrich of CLWR. Photo by CLWR/Jennifer Clark

Did you know that over 750 youth “hyperlinked” this past August in Saskatoon?

The ways that technology connects people was the theme of this year’s Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering, which brings together young Lutherans and Anglicans every two years.  CLWR staff members Heather Pryse, Jennifer Clark, and Tyler Gingrich – new Youth Engagement Coordinator at CLWR as of July 30 – attended CLAY as CLWR’s representatives.

We were invited to connect with youth, share the work that CLWR does around the world, and raise awareness about social justice.  We joined in an opening game called “Face-book-it,” where youth and their home team leaders had to find disguised and strategically placed guests of CLAY in different parts of downtown Saskatoon.  We positioned ourselves somewhat inconspicuously by the Saskatchewan River, and enjoyed meeting the youth that found us!

There were six different keynote addresses following a common theme at each of the large group gatherings.  Following the theme of the gathering – “Hyperlink” – the sessions used terms from our computer and cell phone age to address the youth, like “Join the network,” “There’s an app for that,” and “Attach/Send.” Of the speakers, three were Lutheran clergy: Anne Anderson from New Hamburg, ON, Tim Wray from Millet, AB, and Dennis Hendricksen from Regina, SK.

Together with representatives from Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, we presented a workshop on food insecurity to gathering participants. We joined Sheilagh and Evan from PWRDF to share

The band at one of CLAY’s Large Group Gatherings. Photo CLWR/J.Clark

information and lead some games that invited thought about access and availability of food around the world.  In all, about 100 young people participated.

We really are connected by food, whether we have enough of it, whether we have it available to us, and whether it provides adequate nourishment.  Did you know that approximately one billion people struggle with food insecurity in the world?  CLWR works to address this in a number of ways that include providing food aid and training in sustainable agricultural practices.

Some short videos have been uploaded to CLWR’s YouTube channel as follow-up “webisodes” from CLAY.  View them online: youtube.com/CLWRvideo.

Follow further CLWR work as it pertains to youth and young adults on our Facebook page, facebook.com/CLWRyouth, or by emailing tyler@clwr.mb.ca.

Rev. Tyler Gingrich

Youth Engagement Coordinator

CLWR and PWRDF folks at our joint forum on food security. l-r Jennifer Clark, Evan Kenyon, Tyler Gingrich, Heather Pryse, Sheilagh McGlynn. Photo: CLWR/T.Gingrich

Realizing Full Potential in Bolivia

Amid unusually cool and rainy weather, the CLWR Andean Team is meeting in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on April 27th and 28th.  The primary agenda for the meeting is to discuss progress in results to date within the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-supported program in Bolivia and Peru.  An action plan is being developed to ensure the full potential of the project is realized before March 31, 2013(the end date of the current project), and to discuss the project currently being prepared for CIDA.

On Sunday the 29th, Abdon Aguillon (Latin America Program Manager), Fernando Gamon (Andean Region Program Coordinator) and Elaine Peters (Program Director) will travel to Sucre and Potosi to visit two partners, and the municipal leaders and community members involved in their respective project areas.   We are all hopeful that the project visits will move forward as planned given that yesterday the National Government decreed a national holiday for Monday.

Elaine Peters

Program Director

The people in the photo are from left to right back row – Lilian Chavez, Guadalupe Perez Aponte, Judith Torrejon, Elaine Peters
Front Row – Abdon Aguillon, Fernando Gamon (CLWR Photo-E.Peters)

Augusta Victoria Hospital continues to provide essential health care

Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, CEO of AVH, with board members and hospital staff. CLWR/R.Granke

The semi-annual board meeting of the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) finished today in East Jerusalem. The board is chaired by Reverend Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and president of the Lutheran World Federation.

It has been my pleasure to serve as a Canadian board member for the past 10 years. At this meeting we received updates from Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, CEO of AVH. We learned about the many capital projects taking place at AVH. The hospital continues to undergo significant transformations, all aimed at improving the quality of care at AVH and providing essential specialized health services to Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza.

A key initiative which will receive considerable focus in the next few years is the development of an Elder and Palliative Care Pavilion that will be constructed on the Mount of Olives, just behind the hospital. The new pavilion will provide space for 120 patients receiving geriatric and palliative services. This includes skilled nursing, dementia and rehabilitation programming that will eventually feature outpatient support facilities. It is anticipated that the inpatient part will employ about 300 trained personnel. This type of care is not readily available in Palestine today.

It is gratifying to see the growth and development of AVH that has occurred in recent years. The hospital today has an annual budget of $23 million USD and is the primary specialized health care facility providing cancer care treatment for Palestinians.

During the next year, the AVH will undergo an accreditation that will confirm that it operates on the most stringent international health standards. CLWR is very proud to support the life-saving work of the Augusta Victoria Hospital, together with partners from around the world.

Robert Granke, CLWR executive director

Employment Training for Palestinian Women

A classroom for training Palestinian women in computer technology. CLWR/R. Granke

For many years, CLWR has supported the Vocational Training program of the Lutheran World Federation in Palestine. Since 1950, thousands of Palestinian young people have graduated from the Vocational Training Program (VTP) and are gainfully employed with jobs in the trades throughout the West Bank.

Recently, the VTP has taken steps to place a greater emphasis on the training of women. The aim is to provide relevant market related training to women and enable women to secure jobs that will improve their lives and the quality of life for their families.

A new training center has opened in Ramallah, West Bank. It is located in the middle of this growing city, which is the economic and political hub of Palestine. Classes have begun in courses

Yousef Shalian, director of the Vocational Training Program and Thaer Marrabeh, director of the Vocational Training Centre in Ramallah. CLWR/R. Granke

geared to the interests of women and the needs of the labor market. Courses in technical aspects of computers are equipping women to look for administrative jobs and support the growing business sector in Palestine.

Other courses in craft production are planned. Research is also taking place to develop curriculum that will expand into non-traditional skills for women. A new VTP strategic plan has been developed which provides for an expansion of female trainees and new course development.

CLWR is very proud to support the VTP. We rejoice in the opportunity to support the growth of the Palestinian economy through vocational training. This program is critical to the establishment of a vibrant private sector that serves as a foundation for peace and stability in the region.

They Said We Wouldn’t Survive

Lord of All Lutheran Church in Strathmore, Alberta. Photo: T.Brook

Lord of All Lutheran Church in Strathmore, Alberta began life as a double wide trailer hauled in from the BC mountains. Pastor Dawn Nelson told me the congregation wasn’t given much of a chance to survive. But today it has a modern sanctuaryin a new building, busy fellowship hall and a full calendar of activities for an active and growing congregation.

I was welcomed warmly and enthusiastically. The congregation and its members have a real heart for mission and demonstrate it through their interest in CLWR activities and their generous gifts.

Today I was able to tell them there were many Doubting Thomases like Thomas in today’s gospel. These people need to see Jesus’ wounds before they will believe. Today, one important way this can happen is if Jesus is seen to be alive in his followers. We can show that Jesus is alive and ever present among us by how we reach out and touch the lives of others who are suffering injustice and poverty; by how we respond in ways that bring hope to those who need hope the most. This congregation does that through CLWR.

I also had fun with the nineteen children who came forward for Children’s Time. We talked about mosquito nets and how a simple $10 net purchased with the pennies that no one thinks are worth anything anymore, saved lives of children like them.

It was a great visit and cupcakes with the post service coffee. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Tom Brook

CLWR Community Relations Director

Arts and Fitness for Palestinian Youth

On April 11^th I travelled to Bethlehem to meet with the Reverend Mitri Raheb, President of the Diyar Consortium. Rev. Raheb is also pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.

Theatre at Dar Al-Kalima College in Bethlehem. Photo: R. Granke

More than one year ago, CLWR received an unexpected donation of one million dollars from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Calgary, which was designated to support two initiatives in Bethlehem. The first was to complete the interior of a theatre at Dar Al-Kalima College in Bethlehem (seating, sound system, etc.) The theatre serves as a lecture hall and arts venue with seating for 180+ people. It is now complete and looks wonderful. It is a modern theatre, which will serve the needs of Palestinian youth for many years to come. What a great way to invest in the arts in Palestine and provide opportunities for young people to pursue their interests and perhaps careers in the arts!

The second and more significant activity in terms of expenditures is the construction of a new sports auditorium or gym, which will be available to students in both the college and nearby high school.

This facility will be the largest indoor sports facility in the West Bank and not only provide a state of the art venue for sports recreation for the students, but also a venue for national Palestinian sports teams, including soccer, basketball and volleyball. There will be seating for 300 spectators.

West Bank gym under construction. Photo: R. Granke

The gym is to be inaugurated November 30, 2012 with Robert Granke and other Canadian officials attending. At this moment the foundation and basic infrastructure is completed and the roof will be installed within the next month, followed by the finishing of the interior.

There remains significant needs for funding of a change room facility, equipment and other interior supports. CLWR has committed to working with Rev Raheb to fundraise for the additional $500,000 required to complete the project. While the gym will be functional in the initial phase, we aim to have the full package in place by early fall such that a grand opening can occur in late November with all aspects completed.

These facilities are essential to the quality of life of Palestinians generally and especially for young people in Palestine. The gym will not only provide an opportunity for physical fitness but also promote healthy social interaction amongst Palestinians and countries in the region, while the theatre will enable further development of the arts in Palestine. It is a pleasure for CLWR to be a part of these ventures and work with Rev Raheb and his colleagues.

Robert Granke

CLWR Executive Director

“Stay with me, watch and pray”

Maunday Thursday services in Garden of Gethsemane, Jerusalem. April 5, 2012. CLWR/R.Granke

On the holiest night of the year, we gathered for worship in the old city of Jerusalem. Throughout the service, we worshipped in 3 languages, Arabic, English and German. Our prayers, in more languages than I could understand or count.

The theme of the service was simple and clear…stay with me, watch and pray. So were the words of Jesus to his disciples then, and to us today. The followers of Jesus at that time were challenged to be alert and stay with the plan. This of course is our story today as well.

This evening, as we processed through the old city of Jerusalem, amid the cars on narrow streets, loud music and people watching our group of 100 as we made our way to the garden of Gethsemane, there were those who watched, who prayed and sought to stay alert to God’s plan for us and for humanity. Not easy to do when there are so many distractions.

We sang, “O Lord hear our prayer”, “Dona nobis pacem”, and “Lord, listen to your children praying”.  Some took note, some even joined the procession. Even in the land called ‘holy’ one cannot assume a rightful place and the attention of the local inhabitants.

We lit candles in the garden, reminding us of Jesus, the light of the world. We heard scripture, mainly from the Gospel of Matthew, and were reminded of what took place in the garden, where “even the olive trees cried for their Lord”.

What a gift to be a part of such a gathering of believers in such a holy place, on this holiest of nights. We gather Friday, 6:30 am on the Via Dolorosa. The night is short, but profound.

Robert Granke,

CLWR Executive Director