Because We Are

Faster? Extremely. Cheaper? No question. Greener? You bet. In this case, it is a newspaper that a recent college graduate is intrigued by but couldn’t afford everyday unless the guy before him left it on his seat on the train. Instead, I turn to the online version. In today’s New York Times there is a fascinating article written by a well-known “Guest Columnist.” Whenever I see an article with something as vague as “Africa” in the title I am naturally skeptical. Having served on the continent more than once, I scoff at the idea of talking about all of the problems of Africa in one fell swoop. It’s like writing about fishing on the entire East Coast in three pages. Rhode Island fish are different than those in Florida. Aside from commentaries on current political visits, music, and the need for more aid, there is an interesting idea for moving forward. Bono writes: “Amid poverty and disease are opportunities for investment and growth – investment and growth that won’t eliminate overnight need for assistance, much as we and Africans yearn for it to end, but that in time can build roads, schools, and power grids and propel commerce to the point where aid is replaced by trade pacts, business deals, and home-grown income.” This gave me pause for reflection and reminiscing on this July afternoon. This seemed like a great broad stroke to me (as much as I hate those). It is a view from the sky of the moving parts and the goals of the future. We zoom in to two small cities in the western horn of Africa to serve in the best way we can, wholly. The article closes by using a word used by Desmond Tutu: “ubuntu” : I am because we are. As a ministry and as a parish we are indeed investing in the members of these communities. As we continue to grow, our relationship with the people of Abuja and Jos grows exponentially. We are investing in them with time, money, goods, services, and most importantly: hearts.

B

Vitamins!

Background: Every year, NATIVITY:NIGERIA organizes a Vitamin Drive for the parishoners of Church of the Nativity. A little background first: due to current airline regulations, each minister who will be traveling to Nigeria this August is allowed to bring two pieces of checked baggage with them. As in the past, these ministers will only be checking one personal bag and then will check a 50 lb. box of vitamins, which will be transported for Faith Alive Hospital in Jos. Over the past two years NATIVITY:NIGERIA has collected, transported, and donated hundreds of pounds of vitamins to Faith Alive Hospital. The only completely free hospital in Nigeria, Faith Alive Hospital uses these vitamins to aid in the recovery and treatment of patients.

This Year: Beginning this weekend, July 10/11, and continuing through July 19th the NATIVITY:NIGERIA ministers will be collecting vitamins in the Narthex before all weekend Masses. This means multivitamins, children's vitamins (please stay away from the gummy ones as they melt), supplemental vitamins (calcium, vitamin B, etc.). Also, feel free to drop them by the Parish Office throughout the week.

Rules: While we would love to take any and everything, there are some rules that we must follow for the safety of future patients as well as due to customs regulations. All items must be factory sealed (no opened bottles or leftover pills). All items must have an expiration date of Dec. 2009 or later.

Each year, this has been an awesome way for Church of the Nativity to get involved on a very real, grassroots level. Parishoners have always been extremely generous and we look forward to providing this much needed donation to Dr. Chris and Faith Alive Hospital each year. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity and support of this ministry and those whom we serve.

Prep, Prep, Prep

July 8, 2009

The Nativity Nigeria (NN) team gathered in the cafe tonight. Our travelers have received their immunizations and other shots, obtained their passports and tonight they applied for their visas. We're so fortunate to have Tina Borden capturing all the critical contact information for our travelers, and tracking all the important data on passport numbers, whose gotten their shots, etc. Mary Stefanski is spear-heading a vitamin collection from parishoners, and made a special appeal to our Vacation Bible School (VBS) attendees with a creative brochure in keeping with the program's theme. Nineteen bottles of vitamins were received from the kids. Collections of vitamins will also take place after weekend masses over the next two weekends. The "education subcommittee" pooled resources to put together some great lesson plans and worksheets to help the NN travelers in their teaching efforts. They focus on basic language, writing and math skills for young elementary school grades. These extra resources will help our NN team deliver some great educational sessions during their visit. Bob reviewed some of the important things for travelers to pack, and some tips were shared on where to find or get "great deals" on these items. The team is starting to collect small toys to give out as gifts to the Nigerian children. The enthusiasm is growing - the whole team is excited about the trip and all that our NN team has to offer. Departure date is approaching! We meet again next Wednesday night at 7pm.

Looking around the room during our meetings, I'm continually impressed by the commitment of our young adults to ministry. Many of our NN team members are (or nearly are) young enough to be my children. I was raised as a practicing Catholic. I went to Catholic school from first grade through college. I don't recall any of my friends making that type of commitment in their 20s, and I know I was pretty focused on my own life rather than ministry. Our team leaders are young men who not only volunteer their time but commit to leading the charge. It's a lot of responsibility, and they handle it like pros. Three of our young travelers are siblings and I love that they're sharing this experience as a family. I find it so inspiring to see such commitment to Faith and Ministry in all of our team members, but especially the young people. It fills me with hope and makes me want to be a better person and a better Christian. It reminds me why I wanted to be part of this team, even though it's not always easy to get to the meetings.

Periodically I've mentioned the NN project to my kids, either to say where I"ll be for a couple of hours one night, or to share something exciting about the NN project. I think the casual mention of ministry is paying off; yesterday my nearly 24 year old son called to say he wanted to get involved in volunteering in the community. Like many young people today, he's not practicing his Faith formally. We talked about opportunities that would have particular meaning for him, and we plan to embark on the journey together. What a bonus to know that my son is answering a call from God (whether he acknowledges it or not!) and we'll enjoy the experience together. With my youngest heading off to college in a few weeks, God knew I needed some extra "bonding" with my older kids! I'm having a bit of trouble transitioning to an "empty nest", especially as a single mom. It really is true that it's in giving that we receive. With just a few hours of ministry over the last couple of months, my Faith has been strengthened. I am filled with Hope and Awe as I witness God working through my fellow NN members. As Father White told us, surrounding ourselves with "Friends in Christ" really does help with the journey toward hearing God's call and figuring out how to move closer to Him.

Stay tuned for more exciting news about NN, there's more to come!

Betsy Good

Lots of Children and Green Turtles

We had a great time at church last week! I wanted to share my VBS experience - Crocodile Dock with all of you. All of the children (hundreds) who participated, really did ROCK at the Dock! There was so much excitement, singing and dancing.



I want to tell you about the turtles that were made that we are taking to Africa for the children there. Sue Zawodny and I were station leaders for crafts. I want you to know how lovely the children were. They were told they were making comfy critters and were given fluffy green turtles to stuff. We wanted them to know that God cares. It was explained how the children in Africa, where we are going, have very little - not only toys, but food, clothes, electricity and even clean water. There was a pocket on each turtle for the children to put their own special message/note. For those too young to write, we asked them to put in signs or symbols of love. I saw a lot of hearts, sunshine, flowers and crosses. We explained how the children in Africa could hold the turtles and be reminded that someone cares - that God cares about them.



When the children prayed, they closed their eyes tight and their little faces were squeezed up to God! It is so awesome to be reminded of children's innocence. They do want to know about God. They have so much love to give! I'm so happy the NN team will be taking the turtles to the children in Africa. The whole week was wonderful and I am grateful that I was able to be a part of it.



I joined the Children's Ministry (I am a Time Travelers Crowd Minister) right after returning from Nigeria last August. I was so moved by the children in Africa and I just thought - children - I want to help in this ministry. It has brought many special blessings, joy and new friends into my life. I will be taking the wonderful experience of this ministry with me when I return to Nigeria this August. We can make a difference. Our church can make a difference in the children's lives there.

Sara Groves is a young woman who is a contemporary Christian music artist. Her music tells the spiritual journey of her life. She is now involved in helping the children in Africa. I can remember a story she told at a local performance that I attended about four years ago. She was touched by the life of her Aunt Esther,who was unable to have any biological children. Here's the story:

Esther
by Sara Groves

I have a picture of Esther and David
She is a young bride and he is a soldier
They didn't know then that David was dying
They couldn't have children
Alone with a life time, Africa called
She went for the first time, it grew in her heart
All of the children, so many children

Now Esther has 2.4 million children
She writes us and asks us to pray for them all

She's compelled, she's compelled by what she's seen
And she tells us, she tells us do anything you can
To help, oh please help, there's so much to do
And I'm just Esther

She visits her homeland, she fights with her words
She comes to the courts of the kings of the earth
Who don't understand their inherited power
To answer her question



Please remember how much we have to be thankful while celebrating this weekend.

Teresa Pompa

Finally

The words to this song are posted tonight in honor of fathers all over the world - for those who are mourning the loss of their fathers, and most of all to God the Father. In Nigeria, it seems the people know that they don't have to earn God's love, but they do want to please Him.

Finally Home

by Mercy Me

Gonna wrap my arms around my Daddy's neck

And tell Him that I've missed Him

And tell Him all about the man that I became

And hope that it pleased Him

There's so much I want to say

There's so much I want You to know

When I finally make it home

When I finally make it home

Then I'll gaze upon the throne of the King

Frozen in my steps

All the questions that I swore I would ask

Words just won't come yet

I'm so amazed at what I've seen

So much more than this old mind can hold

When I finally make it home

When I finally make it home

And the sweetest sound these ears have yet to hear...

The voices of the angels

When I finally make it home

When I finally make it home

Teresa Pompa

Time & Mercy

My thoughts this week have been about mercy. Part of what we do as a team for Nigeria is to show mercy. We believe in giving mercy to the two locations in Nigeria that our church is active in. We try to reflect Jesus Christ's love to the poor, sick and suffering there.



I've had several conversations with friends this week about the words mercy, evangelism and leadership. Everyone seems to agree we tend to want to put labels on people. We want things in a box. It's easier for us to understand that way. The English language seems so limiting. Or maybe it's the connotations that always pop in our heads instead of the definitions.



Jesus Christ defined who He was. He knew who He was because he defined himself as God did, not how other people did. Other people tried to label Him. But this did not get in His way. He knew His mission. He knew God's purpose for Him - and it wasn't in a box.



Jesus was sent to us by God to be a blessing. He came to heal us - to give us LIFE. He did not come to curse us. He wanted us to live our lives to the full - to have joy in Him. Another new definition for me, from scripture study, is for the word blessing - "to be blessed". I was told it meant - "to be joyful in the Lord". We cannot be truly joyful without Him. We get mixed up on this stuff.



When our team traveled to Nigeria last year, we noticed how the people we met at the Anawim Home and Faith Alive were so joyful. They felt they were blessed because they were joyful in the Lord. We go to support and encourage them in this both spiritually and physically. We want to help them take their joy to places more remote than their own communities, where people do not know true joy.



There was the popular saying awhile back, even on bracelets, "what would Jesus do?" "WWJD" I remember the response - it's not what would he do - it's what did he do? Just look it up some would say. It's all there.



I'd think. It is?!



Well I've been learning that it is true. And what I've learned is:



He was not a go with the flow kind of guy. He did not wait for what was politically correct.



He saw people as His brothers and sisters. As if they were His own family.



He spent His time with the rejected, left out, feeling like they don't belong people. He came for them. He came to save the lost.



Anyone who has ever made a difference in my life has shown me mercy, including a lot of people at Nativity. Mercy, to me, was when anybody gave me maybe a little extra of their time. People who gave me encouragement and support. People who recognized the lost little girl. People who just knew somehow that I was feeling enormous pain. The list is way too long. These people were merciful, even if they don't see themselves that way. They were evangelizing, even though they would never think of it this way. They were definitely showing leadership by stepping out of the crowd, even if they never think of themselves that way.



A recent example - someone just gave me some time - someone who doesn't have a lot of time. He doesn't think he's especially merciful. He knows he's an evangelist and he is a leader. I have been told I have a lot of mercy. Yet here was this man at Starbuck's meeting with me. He listened to me, offered me support and encouragement and even connected me to other people for my passion to help the Nigerian people. I am no one in worldly success - in the "world's eyes" nor am I a best friend, yet he gave me the same time, respect and consideration as if I was a CEO. Remember our church's added value homily? It's one of my favorites. Can we treat people as if we know they will add value to our lives? Can we stop seeing people as "needy" and taking away from our time? Can we appreciate people who are not just like us and who are not already our friends? The Nigerian trip definitely helped me with this - on an every day basis.



I think I've learned what real mercy is.



Teresa Pompa

Team News

Wed June 17th

The Nativity Nigeria (NN) team met again tonight to keep fine tuning the logistics of the NN 2009 trip. To help build the connection between the children at Nativity and those we'll visit in Nigeria, the children attending Vacation Bible School (VBS) next week will be making toys to send with the NN team. Each child at VBS will make a stuffed, green turtle, and include a personalized message in a pocket sewn on the turtle. The children who attended Nativity's Whoobilation celebration also made bracelets to send with our NN travelers. We're also collecting vitamins - for both adults and children - during the 2nd and 3rd weekends in July after every Mass. We will send eleven fifty pound boxes with our 12 travelers - the 12th box will be filled with toys. Look for more information in the bulletin.

Our travelers are working on passports and immunizations, and will soon be filling out applications for visas. Flights are booked, and teams have been formed - one team will travel to the Anawim Home and another will head to Faith Alive hospital, while the "home team" helps with all the coordination efforts here at Nativity. Last year's NN travelers participated in some impromptu class room teaching and asked the home team to assist with that effort by gathering some lesson plans together for this year's team to take with them. The home team also helps by tracking lots of paperwork and information to be sure everything is in order for the August 1st departure. Our travelers will return on August 17th.

I was first introduced to the NN program through a fellow small group member, blogger Teresa Pompa, who traveled to Nigeria last year. We were fortunate that Teresa shared her excitement and reflections with our group and in her blog entries. Hearing about the experience got me interested. I'm a divorced mom of three, but my youngest is heading off to college this fall. I've always been active in volunteering at my children's schools and in their extra-curricular activities. I'd done some ministry work with my kids as they completed their volunteer commitments, but hadn't really done much in the way of parish ministry. A couple of months ago, Father White challenged us to take the next step in our commitment to God and our Faith. Inspired by the call to action, I decided it was time for me to start participating in ministry at Nativity. Teresa's experience moved me to volunteer for NN. I knew I wasn't able to travel to Nigeria, but I've managed hockey teams, tournaments and trips for 20 years for my kids. I thought I might be able to transfer some of those organizational skills to help out with the NN team. I'm thrilled to be part of the team supporting the amazing volunteers who will make the trip. There really is something for everyone when it comes to ministry at Nativity, and I love the way Nativity's children have been brought in to the NN effort through VBS and Whoobilation.

Betsy Good

In Our Prayers

Today, we received word from Abuja that the father of Sister Oresoa, Daniel Selo-Ojeme passed away on Monday 6/8/2009. Sister Oresoa's father was a farmer and the High Chief of his tribe. He was about 86 years old. Last year the team that served at the Anawim Home met him and stayed a night in the family home about an hour from Benin City. He served his family, tribe, and country as a leader and an inspiration. We pray for the repose of him and his family.

To Be A Gardener

We are officially entering the summer season now. Schools let out - schedules change. Many vacations will begin.


I just want to tell everybody how well the NN team is doing. We had our third meeting last week. A Nativity parishioner, who is a nurse, spoke to us about how to take preventative measures against contracting illnesses such as HIV, malaria or tuberculosis. In general theses measures are the same that we take here in the U.S. - and it is all about good hygiene. A very good point the nurse made was that we need to realize that we can make others sick when we visit another country. Their systems do not have strong enough immunities to ward off our diseases.


I hope people will keep wanting to read this blog as our team meets and plans for this summer's trip to Nigeria. It is an exciting time for us and I hope you will want to share it with us.


The Church of the Nativity has inspired me. Stories of Sr. Oresoa have inspired me and Dr. Chris's story has inspired me. For me, a picture has been painted by our Church over the past year. Really - so much clarity has come to me ever since I first attended The Church of the Nativity which was @ 3 and 1/2 years ago. For me, the picture is about a mission - the mission of Jesus Christ. In a passage in one of her books, author Laurie Beth Jones states about Jesus, "Everything He did made a statement about what He saw His mission to be. He did not wait until He had the total picture. He did not wait until there was a cloudless sky... He took the canvas of his life and painted a message big enough, bold enough and bright enough for everyone to see."


Summer has always been my favorite season. The cookouts, the pools, the celebrations, the beach and getting to spend the extra time with my children. I know what I want to do this summer. I want to be a gardener this summer. No, not a gardener of flowers ( believe me, you wouldn't want to see my house's garden this summer). I want to sow seeds of another kind. Our team will be thanked so much by the Nigerian people. We will be thanked so much by our church's parishioners. But what I know from my experience of last summer - we will get back so much more than we could ever give. I realize now that what we did give, were tiny seeds that we had sown for love to be shown to the communities of the Anawim Home and Faith Alive. Last summer, our team had hoped the interest in this ministry would thrive in our church. This summer, I want my mission to be to keep planting tiny seeds,while also having the courage to paint a very bold picture - just like our church has done. You never know what will take hold and grow.

Gardener

by Ann North

Some of the seeds of hope

Planted tentatively in the fall

Have not come up

They lie stillborn and unrealized
Somewhere in the spring soil

Decaying

The strongest and best ones

Pushed up through leaves

And layers of cold, hard resistance

Right into clear blue air

And stand there nakedly green

Breathing

It's always that way with growing things

Never knowing at the start

Which will make it and which will fail

But the thing to hold fast to

Never to lose faith in

Is simply

Sowing

Teresa Pompa

We Can

Our NN team had our second meeting on Tuesday evening. Everything is really going well. The team is starting to get some really good ideas going and everyone is so enthusiastic. More people are involved this summer because of the implementation of a home team. It's all very exciting. It was and is the goal of NN to have more people not only aware of the program but who want to be involved in any way they can. As it has been previously stated many times, "you don't have to go to be involved...".


With that being said, I am excited to have the opportunity to return to Nigeria. Both trip teams look great this year. Ed King will be leading the Faith Alive team (the team I am on) this summer. He was part of the Anawim, "Poorest of the Poor" team last summer. Even though we were on different teams, I got to know him at the airport ( lots of waiting!) and on the very long flights. He was so helpful and kind to everyone. He will be a great team leader. Alex Sidlak is the team leader this summer for the Anawim team. He is also a returnee. He is a very nice young man. Please check out the recent posting of the pictures of all the team members - home, Faith Alive and Anawin Home.


I had a lot of response to my prior posting about "feeling like a failure". Many people have shared with me that they have felt this way or are feeling this way right now in one way or another. I want people to know that I do know how hard it is to give right now. Some people don't have enough to even take care of themselves. NN is not really about money. Of course we welcome donations to be able to help the Nigerian people in this way. Our church has an exciting idea for Advent this year. It is about water. It is about clean water. And everyone should have clean water. More about this later. But time is also a way of giving, even if it is just from home. One of the NN goals is to build a personal relationship with the people of the Faith Alive and Anawim Home communities. Whatever you can do is important - in your family, neighborhood, community and beyond. For me, it is always about a personal relationship.

It is also important to me to know I can make a difference as just one person. Don't listen to the voice in your head that tells you this is not true. This is the wrong voice. We need to remember that we are the anointed children of God. He has plans for us and they're better than the ones we come up with on our own. If we can just believe in our heart that because of Jesus Christ, we are already victors.


For anyone who is older - you are not done yet! I realize I am not going to the rocking chair just yet! All we have to do is move a little put of our own safety zone to take a step towards God. And from my experience - He will meet you there - wherever that is. God presents us with so many opportunities in our own life to follow Him, but fear keeps us from moving. Of course we will fail sometimes. It is okay. We just don't want our life decisions to be based on fear. Some of us have been told all of of our lives what we can't do. We are told by the world things like we are too quiet, too shy, too loud, too nice, not nice enough - whatever! For me now, our God is a "can do". It's about inspiration and believing that you are a child of God, not about breaking his rules. We are all part of His great master plan, like a single instrument in a large orchestra. There is a pastor I heard recently who said, "Don't die with the music still in you. You can go farther than you think - no matter what hardship you've gone through or how long. God has put seeds of greatness in you." This pastor asks us to call back the seeds inside of us - call back the relationships we have given up on - and to call back the dreams we've pushed aside.


And to the young members of our NN team - what a blessing to be doing what you are doing with your lives right now! Please keep listening to God's call.


Please pray for our church's Nigeria team - that we may realize that we are a team, and that God can work through us to help one another - just like the different parts of our body. I like learning the origins of the words in our English language, many of which are Greek. At mass Sunday, we were told how the word mass actually comes from "mission - to be sent". The word member comes from the Greek word milos - meaning "to be one part of a whole body".


"In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Romans 12:5



Teresa Pompa