During this past Advent season, I decided to start a new blog. In previous years, I have used this particular blog space for all sorts of things. Writings, ramblings, sharing personal pictures and stories, sharing pictures and stories and poems and artwork from others...
And in Advent, I decided that it might be nice to collect all of my church-season blog posts in one place. So I started a dedicated blog for poetry, music, pictures, and reflections on the liturgical season. It's called Keeping the Season.
In Advent, I cross-posted those items there and here, but I'm thinking that for Lent, I'll post liturgical season sorts of reflections over there, and other stuff over here (personal stuff, sermons, general thoughts and writings and rantings, etc.) Also, as of yesterday evening, I finally finished transferring over all of the rest of these similar posts from Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Holy Week from years past, so they are now all in one place.
I've put a link to Keeping the Season in the sidebar, so you can always see what's going on in that space. I posted over there yesterday, and am planning to post again today, with further reflections on Ash Wednesday.
2.23.2012
2.12.2012
But it's not always easy: ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering day 4
It has been an absolutely inspiring past few days, full of new learnings, creative ideas, energetic fellowship, and sparks of inspiration. We ended Gathering with conversation in affinity groups and closing worship this morning, and I'm taking a little space to reflect and write over lunch (while waiting to head to the airport), because I ended up in an uncomfortable situation this morning.
I went to an affinity group about HIV/AIDS and hunger in Africa. I'm not experienced in affinity group models, and was comfortable (for the most part) with the simple model for our groups: simply to gather with others on topics interesting to us, to talk about our experiences, hopes, ideas...very open-ended.
We had one man - the one who had proposed the topic - who dominated the conversation. He has an interesting lens, being a professional economist focusing on health and public policy, and spent significant time in Africa researching effectiveness of various HIV/AIDS development and relief work. Unfortunately, he did not leave much room for others to talk. I think he was approaching the group as a teaching session rather than a discussion.
He said some interesting things, but seemed to believe that his research and his preferred methods of relief and development (through large government programs and broad global initiatives) were the right way to do things. Others in our group started trying to talk about their own experiences (we had all traveled to Africa), both to challenge and to support what he was saying. We had one member get frustrated and fume in the corner, and two or three of us who tried to ask questions and tell stories and bring things to a middle ground, and a couple people who didn't get to speak because we were all working so hard to force our way in.
Things were a little heated, a little frustrating, and a lot awkward.
There were interesting fundamental differences at play: On the one hand, the idea that we can study large groups of people, figure out what is the best way to help them, and then to build programs and incentives around those best methods. On the other hand, the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and individual countries and communities will adopt practices in different ways - or resist these practices!
And I thought about Mama Sara. We who traveled to Tanzania this summer were all absolutely moved by the ways that she influences her community through of her relationships, her passions, and her cultural capital. I know that the Fribergs benefit from large programs, broad initiatives, government funding, global projects and initiatives. But on the ground, they approach their work in a very different way, taking into account particular needs of the community and working with particular people like Mama Sara.
I don't think it is one-or-the-other. We need the big programs and cost-benefit analysis and all of that. This is one way of measuring effectiveness. But we also need the on-the-ground solutions, and people who know their communities, and know how to be effective in the small-scale.
I wish we could have talked more about that, rather than fighting one another and giving up on group process. I was sad that one of our members disengaged, got frustrated with both the topic and the group process itself, without taking the time to listen to others' ideas and experiences nor putting effort into helping our group process. And I am reeling a bit because I even tried reconciling with her after the fact and she blew me off.
I think that I need to use today to remember that big issues of hunger, poverty, health, and development are complicated. There is no one right answer. There might be many conflicting ideas...and they all might be right given particular places or circumstances. And I need to remember that things get heated because we are all passionate about making a better world.
But still. It is a sobering end to a fantastic weekend to leave feeling unsettled. Even if being unsettled is probably a good thing.
I went to an affinity group about HIV/AIDS and hunger in Africa. I'm not experienced in affinity group models, and was comfortable (for the most part) with the simple model for our groups: simply to gather with others on topics interesting to us, to talk about our experiences, hopes, ideas...very open-ended.
We had one man - the one who had proposed the topic - who dominated the conversation. He has an interesting lens, being a professional economist focusing on health and public policy, and spent significant time in Africa researching effectiveness of various HIV/AIDS development and relief work. Unfortunately, he did not leave much room for others to talk. I think he was approaching the group as a teaching session rather than a discussion.
He said some interesting things, but seemed to believe that his research and his preferred methods of relief and development (through large government programs and broad global initiatives) were the right way to do things. Others in our group started trying to talk about their own experiences (we had all traveled to Africa), both to challenge and to support what he was saying. We had one member get frustrated and fume in the corner, and two or three of us who tried to ask questions and tell stories and bring things to a middle ground, and a couple people who didn't get to speak because we were all working so hard to force our way in.
Things were a little heated, a little frustrating, and a lot awkward.
There were interesting fundamental differences at play: On the one hand, the idea that we can study large groups of people, figure out what is the best way to help them, and then to build programs and incentives around those best methods. On the other hand, the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and individual countries and communities will adopt practices in different ways - or resist these practices!
And I thought about Mama Sara. We who traveled to Tanzania this summer were all absolutely moved by the ways that she influences her community through of her relationships, her passions, and her cultural capital. I know that the Fribergs benefit from large programs, broad initiatives, government funding, global projects and initiatives. But on the ground, they approach their work in a very different way, taking into account particular needs of the community and working with particular people like Mama Sara.
I don't think it is one-or-the-other. We need the big programs and cost-benefit analysis and all of that. This is one way of measuring effectiveness. But we also need the on-the-ground solutions, and people who know their communities, and know how to be effective in the small-scale.
I wish we could have talked more about that, rather than fighting one another and giving up on group process. I was sad that one of our members disengaged, got frustrated with both the topic and the group process itself, without taking the time to listen to others' ideas and experiences nor putting effort into helping our group process. And I am reeling a bit because I even tried reconciling with her after the fact and she blew me off.
I think that I need to use today to remember that big issues of hunger, poverty, health, and development are complicated. There is no one right answer. There might be many conflicting ideas...and they all might be right given particular places or circumstances. And I need to remember that things get heated because we are all passionate about making a better world.
But still. It is a sobering end to a fantastic weekend to leave feeling unsettled. Even if being unsettled is probably a good thing.
2.11.2012
Sustainable development: ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering day 3
There is a huge disclaimer that I need to put on this post as I get going. I spent the day listening to an inspiring morning plenary about meaningful international engagement for both relief and development efforts. I sat in an energizing afternoon plenary that overwhelmed me with good news about the work of ELCA World Hunger and challenged me to commit to taking action in my church and synod. I went to a workshop on domestic disaster relief that made my heart break (in a good way). I went to a workshop on advocacy that stretched and challenged me to be more courageous in my public witness. I went to a workshop on international development and decided that the new "only thing I've ever wanted to do" was to do work with international development partnerships (and it gave me a serious case of international wanderlust!) I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner with new colleagues and partners in ministry. I learned about other hunger leaders as I sat next to them on the bus. In short, it was a FULL day, and my head is filled to capacity. I could write from now until next weekend about all I learned - even the "quick" summary of my day is already a giant paragraph! So my disclaimer is that this post isn't a full summary of my experiences, it is merely a reflection on one tiny sliver of the day.
One of the highlights of my day was my last workshop of the day on international development.
We talked about six principles of sustainable development. Sustainable development is the process of engaging international communities at a local level to work toward development goals such as improving hunger and nutrition, improving poverty, improving class and race relations, and helping communities work toward sustainable self-improvement. These six principles all get at the idea that we don't just go in and fix things for communities, but that we help communities develop themselves and understand themselves as agents of change. This is how development continues past missionary or World Hunger involvement.
After we did an overview of the six principles, we were each given two or three pictures from various global communities that the ELCA has been working with. We were asked to tape each one to the wall next to the principle we thought the picture best expressed. So here are the six principles, and bad pictures of our work. :)
Participation: this has to do with intentionally inviting active involvement of all - development leaders, community leaders, community members - in every stage of the process, planning through evaluation.
Empowerment: this has to do with helping people build strengths, investing in local, long-term solutions, and making informed decisions as a community about the community's development and future.
Sustainability: this has to do with working toward localized activities, stable funding, and sustained results; that is, this is all about setting the stage for ongoing development rather than one-time projects.
Rights-based: this has to do with helping communities understand that they have a right to know (and exert) their own human rights (such as the right to basic needs such as food, water, shelter, clothing, safety, etc.); this comes from an understanding of development that sees people as capable participants in development rather than objects of charity.
Asset-based: this has to do with recognizing and utilizing community strengths, and helping community members see their own useful gifts and talents.
Transparency & Accountability: this final principle has to do with being good stewards of the time, effort, and money that are invested into development projects, and keeping open and honest about the process to both participants and donors.
All of these principles drive home the point that ELCA World Hunger, and other relief and development organizations in our world, are doing the best work in the world when they accompany the communities that they serve, and help lead those communities into self-sustained development rather than simply offering charity, imposing structures from outside the community, and focusing on one-time projects. I am quite interested in international development, and curious about ways that individual congregations and the larger church can get more involved.
One of the highlights of my day was my last workshop of the day on international development.
We talked about six principles of sustainable development. Sustainable development is the process of engaging international communities at a local level to work toward development goals such as improving hunger and nutrition, improving poverty, improving class and race relations, and helping communities work toward sustainable self-improvement. These six principles all get at the idea that we don't just go in and fix things for communities, but that we help communities develop themselves and understand themselves as agents of change. This is how development continues past missionary or World Hunger involvement.
After we did an overview of the six principles, we were each given two or three pictures from various global communities that the ELCA has been working with. We were asked to tape each one to the wall next to the principle we thought the picture best expressed. So here are the six principles, and bad pictures of our work. :)
All of these principles drive home the point that ELCA World Hunger, and other relief and development organizations in our world, are doing the best work in the world when they accompany the communities that they serve, and help lead those communities into self-sustained development rather than simply offering charity, imposing structures from outside the community, and focusing on one-time projects. I am quite interested in international development, and curious about ways that individual congregations and the larger church can get more involved.
2.10.2012
Scarcity to abundance: ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering day 2
I am proud to have received my first sunburn of 2012. This happened while I was on an afternoon field trip to the ECHO Global Farm and Research Center here in Fort Myers.
As an organization, ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) is an organization that does hands-on agricultural development and education. It dedicates itself to developing farming techniques and simple innovations, as well as agricultural development and know-how, in order to help communities across the world learn how to farm well in their own specific climates. They prove that anyone – and any community – can do simple things to create abundant and sustainable food sources. It is an amazing way to address hunger in the world, and to help fix the hunger problem rather than just offering relief. It is real change, in garden form.
I had the opportunity to tour the Global Farm and Research Center here in Fort Myers. They literally simulate climates and soil conditions from all over the world, and learn what plants grow, and how to irrigate, and how to adapt farming for best yield. It is a demonstration farm, where staff and interns develop farm plots, play with simple and innovative technologies, and then teach what they discover to mission partners across the world.
I learned many things during my visit.
I learned about how you can take any variety of container, and with a little knowledge, you can grow anything from lettuce to butterfly weed to a starfruit tree.
I learned about this crazy Moringa bush, which is truly a miracle plant. It grows easily and quickly. Its leaves are edible (tasty – sort of like extra-peppery arugula!) and contain a ridiculous number of vitamins and nutrients. You can dry the leaves, which will retain most of the nutrients, and then crush them up to use as a nutritious additive to food and baby formula. Its seeds can be crushed up and – get this – they can purify water! They can remove nearly 95% of bacteria in water, and if you they put the water out in the sun and let UV rays get to it, you can get that water nearly 99% clean!
I learned that you can take common “found items,” in any community, in any country, and build tools, irrigation systems, rain barrels, trellises, stakes, and any other number of agricultural tools.
I learned that you can be smart with how you raise animals so that you can make the most of the circle of life…and, to be honest, how to harness the power of poop. ☺
I learned about how you can use plants as tools and architecture: living fences, deep-rooted plants on hillsides to build tiers and to prevent erosion, taking advantage of acacia trees that shed leaves in the spring and grow shade in the winter under which to grow sun-sensitive plants.
One member of our group talked about the experience in terms of “abundance out of scarcity.” And it’s true. ECHO showed us that you can take the worst of the worst “soil” and to turn it into an overflowing bounty. It taught us that with dedication and ingenuity, you can do simple things to create sustainable gardens and farms in any climate, for any people. All it takes is one seed to create more seeds, and you are off and running. One tree becomes many. And you can feed a village!
As an organization, ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) is an organization that does hands-on agricultural development and education. It dedicates itself to developing farming techniques and simple innovations, as well as agricultural development and know-how, in order to help communities across the world learn how to farm well in their own specific climates. They prove that anyone – and any community – can do simple things to create abundant and sustainable food sources. It is an amazing way to address hunger in the world, and to help fix the hunger problem rather than just offering relief. It is real change, in garden form.
I had the opportunity to tour the Global Farm and Research Center here in Fort Myers. They literally simulate climates and soil conditions from all over the world, and learn what plants grow, and how to irrigate, and how to adapt farming for best yield. It is a demonstration farm, where staff and interns develop farm plots, play with simple and innovative technologies, and then teach what they discover to mission partners across the world.
I learned many things during my visit.
I learned about how you can take any variety of container, and with a little knowledge, you can grow anything from lettuce to butterfly weed to a starfruit tree.
I learned about this crazy Moringa bush, which is truly a miracle plant. It grows easily and quickly. Its leaves are edible (tasty – sort of like extra-peppery arugula!) and contain a ridiculous number of vitamins and nutrients. You can dry the leaves, which will retain most of the nutrients, and then crush them up to use as a nutritious additive to food and baby formula. Its seeds can be crushed up and – get this – they can purify water! They can remove nearly 95% of bacteria in water, and if you they put the water out in the sun and let UV rays get to it, you can get that water nearly 99% clean!
I learned that you can take common “found items,” in any community, in any country, and build tools, irrigation systems, rain barrels, trellises, stakes, and any other number of agricultural tools.
I learned that you can be smart with how you raise animals so that you can make the most of the circle of life…and, to be honest, how to harness the power of poop. ☺
I learned about how you can use plants as tools and architecture: living fences, deep-rooted plants on hillsides to build tiers and to prevent erosion, taking advantage of acacia trees that shed leaves in the spring and grow shade in the winter under which to grow sun-sensitive plants.
One member of our group talked about the experience in terms of “abundance out of scarcity.” And it’s true. ECHO showed us that you can take the worst of the worst “soil” and to turn it into an overflowing bounty. It taught us that with dedication and ingenuity, you can do simple things to create sustainable gardens and farms in any climate, for any people. All it takes is one seed to create more seeds, and you are off and running. One tree becomes many. And you can feed a village!
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