My Mozambican Sunday

It is hard to believe that one week ago, I was just arriving in Nampula, sleepy-eyed from the over thirty hours of travelling. I feel like I have been here a very long time—so much has happened in the past week! 

My bedroom- I pretend I am a princess with a canopy over my bed- but really it's a mosquito net

Yesterday, I went to church with two other young women who arrived here from the U.S. a couple weeks before I did. I think it was a very Mozambican experience. Just getting to church was a new experience for me. We walked down the dusty road to meet the chapa on the main road.  Chapas are the public transportation here. They are vans with five rows of seats. The seats are more like benches, and of course there are no seatbelts. After all, the point seems to be to fit as many people as possible in one chapa!  On the way back from the church, the chapa was very crowded and I was next to the door, which is not always closed when we would start to move. There is nothing really to hold on to, so I was afraid I would fall out! I didn’t though, and we arrived safely to our destination, all for the price of only five metacas (metacas are the currency here; one U.S. dollar is equal to about thirty metacas). While the chapa is not what one would call comfortable, especially on the bumpy roads here, it certainly is affordable!

So, we got to church safely. The church building was not a building, per se. I would call it a shelter. There was a roof made of grass and half walls also made of cement blocks. The floor was dirt. Soon, though, the church will construct a building. They have already built the foundation. The pastor, who also works at the SIL centre in the print shop, seemed really excited about the new building. Everyone in the current church sits on benches, but since we were guests we got to sit in chairs in the front. We were also asked to introduce ourselves. I have never been to a church service in a different language before so that was very exciting for me. Something I liked about it was how much singing there was! There would be various singing groups come to the front of the church, and while each one was getting ready to go up, a member of the congregation would start loudly singing, then everyone would join! No PowerPoint necessaryJ.  

One of the many choirs at the church. The women are wearing capulanas

Another very African thing I noticed about the church was the way they prayed sometimes. Everyone would pray at once. Also, the way folks treated money and giving seemed different than at home. The offering basket was at the front of the church, so giving was a far less discrete thing than it is at our churches in North America. When it came to be the time of the sermon, Pastor Vicente spoke in Portuguese, and another man translated into Makua, the main regional language here. They both had voices so loud that there was no way they would need a microphone. From what I could catch of the sermon, it seemed to encapsulate the entire Bible. It went from the fall of man, to Jonah, to the Prodigal Son, to Philippians. It turns out the book of Jonah is one that Mozambicans particularly like, due to its narrative nature. Story is a really important thing in this culture. So there were many stories and illustrations in the sermon. At the end of the service, I think there must have been an altar call or something. Lots of people came to the front of the church kneeling, and crying and wailing. After the service ended, everyone wanted to shake our hand. Everyone was very friendly. I really loved my experience at church—probably because I love singing so much! None of this just mouthing the words—these people were belting out songs of worship. I loved it and I can’t wait to learn the words to some of the songs so I can join in.

Nampula sunset from my front yard. The sun goes down between 5 and 5:30 each day

The gospel of Mark in Chuabo, a language spoken in Quelimane, which is south of here. Made me think of MarkEast!

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:8

This is the prayer I have for my time in Mozambique: that in my heart it will become my possession, a place dear to my heart, as dear as the Bay of Fundy or Malagash. I pray that one day I will have a special attachment to mango trees and capulanas as much as to apple trees and parkas. 

Canada

If everything goes according to plan, this will be my last night in Canada for a while.

The past 30 days, doing the Halifax Urban Partnership with InterVarsity have been some of the most life-giving days. I have thought about so much that I find it difficult to pick and choose what to share with you.

SO.

I thought I would just let you know what a typical day would be like for us, if there could be such a thing as a typical day. One thing I learned on the HUP is how to be more flexible.

But. If you could walk in my shoes for a day...

Breakfast is ready!

I wake up to the sound of the leader perhaps, or a friend, waking the girls up. It is a windowless room in a church basement and we are sleeping on air mattresses. We learn we have to move our stuff out of there because the room will be used for church activities that morning. So we get up, some quicker than others.

Then we walk down the hallway to the small gym of the church adjacent to the kitchen. There the table for 17 is set up and hot baked oatmeal is served to us. We drink a lot of coffee and tea.

It might be our group's turn to wash dishes. We turn the radio on and clean the kitchen and sing along... "I knew you were trouble when you walked in...."

Soon it is time for Bible study. We are studying passages from the book of Luke this month, and we are doing manuscript study-- we read the passage and ask any and all questions we have about it, then try to answer those questions and find out what Jesus is trying to say.  Today the passage is challenging. It ends with Jesus saying "You cannot serve God and wealth." We wonder if we have been serving wealth. We make connections with the book we are reading together, Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. We make connections with the things we have been seeing on the streets of Halifax and in our lives.

After Bible study, we usually prepare and then eat lunch together. Today there is a lunch guest. It is a woman who works at the methadone clinic. She explains to us what methadone is and how the clinic helps drug addicts have a normal life. We listen intently as we eat our soup and bread. After asking her some questions and listening to her response, lunch is over and we split into groups to go to different places for the afternoon. Some people are helping to plant a community garden in a low-income neighbourhood. Others are hanging out and helping to plan a variety show at a rescue mission. As for my group, we walk across the Commons and downtown to a church basement where there is a daily drop-in program.

Safety is an important thing at the drop-in

 There is a nun who helps quite a bit with the drop-in and she believes that the guests should be given beauty, choice, and safety. That is why the space is bright and there are flowers on the tables, why there is a bulky male volunteer at the door and why there are a number of different sandwiches, not to mention clothes at the boutique. Beauty, choice, and safety are things that the folks at the drop-in may rarely receive. As we plan a boutique fashion show, we sit among the guests and strike up conversation. Many are mentally ill. All have been at better places in their lives. For many people, this may be the only social interaction they have in the day. It may be the only time in the day they receive a smile, eye contact. It may be the only time they are served by someone else. As Mother Teresa said,

The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love.

I feel very blessed to help cure loneliness for some of the friends I have made there.

We walk back to the church in which we stay, the three of us ladies who went to the drop-in, and we talk about the things we saw that afternoon. Arriving back at the church, we talk to other groups and see where they have been in there day and what they have learned. We may read a bit of Under the Overpass. Some of us may help prepare supper. 

We have another guest for supper. This time, it is a woman who is a former inmate and who has since begun a ministry to prisoners. She brings with her a friend, a friend who has been victimized and who has experienced God's grace in restorative justice. By the end of the evening-- we are at the table long after we have finished eating, listening to these women's story-- these ladies have become friends. 

After cleaning up the kitchen, always with much joy and laughter, the night ends with small group. We say a liturgical prayer together, and we discuss what we have learned that day. 

So that's it. Each day had many things to think about and many things to learn. Each day had more than enough laughter, love, but also new awareness of dark things in this city. 

At the end of the month, I can say this.

God cares about the poor, the marginalized, the downtrodden. As humans, we want to avoid uncomfortable, painful things. Jesus never did this. If we want to truly follow Jesus we need to be willing to love people with all of their pain, hunger, and neediness, without worrying what this will do to our social standing.

 For the last will be first, and the first last.

Peace and love, Canada. 

12 Days In

Happy Mother's Day everyone! Especially my own Mom who is particularly special. Also, congratulations to all the grads who are convocating this weekend. I am praying for the family and friends of Sydney Taylor, whose life was so tragically taken from her earlier this month.

I have very limited computer and internet access this month but I wanted to use this opportunity to let you know what I have been up to.
As you know I am currently taking part in the Halifax Urban Partnership. We are a group of student leaders who are trying to discover God's heart for the poor. We spent the first week of May with other university students at a retreat where we studied the book of Mark, manuscript-style, all week. I so much enjoyed that week of studying God's Word, connecting with lovely friends, singing in the woods, watching stars and just basking in the freedom that Jesus allows.
As for being a leader, I learned a lot at MarkEast. I learned that Jesus wants us to give up our whole, entire lives to him (OK, so maybe I already knew this. I guess I just did not ever think of the consequences of that). BUT we can trust him  because he does love us, so much that he adamantly went to the cross even when everyone either betrayed, denied, or mocked him. I learned that the sin in my life, even if I don't think it's hurting anybody, could be hindering folks from the Kingdom.
My prayer for this month, for this summer, for this life, is that I have the kind of love Jesus has, the kind of love that loves the very ones who deny him, and who even chooses to use these ones to begin the church. A quote that has entered my mind is this one by the late Brennan Manning: "I have been seized by the power of a great affection." Yes. Yes. Yes.

After MarkEast, and after joyfully celebrating with some friends from Acadia, it was off to Halifax where I sleep on a mattress on the floor in a room with nine other girls. 
One day we had a nun visit us who runs a drop-in in downtown Halifax. If I had any stereotypes about nuns, she defied them all. I will get to spend many afternoons this month at this drop-in. She had many wise words for us. She said "Freedom is the most important God-given gift because it allows us to love him back." Amen, Sister. Amen. Freedom is when you can buy an entire bag of your favourite groceries (even Nutella and Vector!) and give it away with a joyful heart. Freedom is thinking of others as greater than yourselves. It is taking the lowest spot at the table and not caring if you get moved up or not. 

I wish I could show you some photos but the photo uploader does not seem to work today.
Love you all and thanks for all your support!
  

Prayer

Hi friends,
Today I am beginning the Halifax Urban Partnership.
Please pray for me!
First we are spending a week doing an in-depth Bible study of the book of Mark.
Here's a link to a prayer calendar so you know what to pray for us each day.
Thanks for your support!
peace&love,
Hannah

Goodbyes and New Adventures

Tis the season for goodbyes and transitions, I think!
One of my best friends left by plane for Alberta early Sunday morning. She will be living out there for the summer.
My aunt left this morning by car to move to Calgary.
On Wednesday, I will be beginning this insane summer by spending one week studying the book of Mark with a bunch of other university students, and the rest of the month in Halifax with the urban poor.
Then before I even know it, it will be time to hop on a plane and go to Mozambique.
Yes, this is the season for goodbyes and transitions. It seems like I am not the only one having new adventures this summer. God is calling us all to different places.

This past weekend I had a dessert night to raise support for my internship in Mozambique. It was an incredible night full of a ton of people I love, way too many calories, and some information about Wycliffe's work. It would not have been possible without lots of help, especially from my mom. I think perhaps I have the most wonderful family (friends and church family included) on the planet.

God is really providing in terms of this internship. I have about a thousand dollars left to raise- the end is in sight! The Halifax Urban Partnership starts in two days and right now I still need about $500. Again, here is the link that tells how to give financially. But besides financial support, I will also need prayer support.

Thank God for:

• His provision so far! I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people. Wow!
• Allowing me to successfully complete my final year of university. I will be graduating in two weeks.
• A good year at Acadia Christian Fellowship. At our final exec meeting we found that the number of people involved in our group had doubled from previous years. Not only that, but students met Jesus for the first time. Cool! There are many of us who will be involved in Christian ministry this summer, so it is great that we are coming from a healthy community.

Ask God:

• For financial support for the Halifax Urban Partnership and the internship in Mozambique to reach 100% (How to give)
•  For my Mozambican Visa to be quickly processed and mailed to me
• To give me a ridiculous love for the people of Halifax and Mozambique 
• To give strength and stamina for me and for the people I will be working with.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
-Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Life Updates

Hello friends,
The month of April has been a very crazy one for me, beginning with sadness at  the death of one of the most important people in my life, my grandmother Ruth. This was a solemn beginning to what T.S. Eliot called "the cruelest month." But, to quote another poet of our time, "O-bla-di, o-bla-da, life goes on."
Life does go on.
And there is always, always something for which we can thank God.
There was the ACF end-of-the-year party, where we dressed up in our fanciest clothes and had a blast dancing, taking silly photos, and enjoying each other's company.

This party would not have been possible without the help of many people, especially the incredible ACF exec team! I definitely thank God for them :)

But although this month has had its fair share of wonderful Christian fellowship, from tremendous support for Martin and me when Grammy died, to sweet prayer meetings together, to coffee dates and frisbee study breaks, it IS university and we do learn once in a while. I have been appreciating the beautiful study spaces here on campus, especially my favourite spot in the library and this boardroom in the KC Irving Centre.

I am happy to say that I am now finished all my exams. Hallelujah!
I am also happy to say that this is something that happened the other day.

So, now I get to concentrate on getting ready for Halifax and Mozambique. WOO!
There are only TWO WEEKS until the Halifax Urban Partnership and I still need about $1000.
That means there are SIX WEEKS until I fly to Mozambique.
I need prayer. Like so much. It turns out that this is kind of scary. I really am trusting God that He knows where he is taking me, but my, what a ride it is.
So thank you so much for your prayer. I have also been incredibly blessed with your financial support thus far. Wow! It really humbles me to see how you are making sacrifices for God's kingdom.
Here's the link for How to Give if you have not yet and want to.

So, folks, here is something to leave you with. A sweet, sweet song. 

My grandmother Ruth

My Dad's mother was the most inspiring woman I knew. She died on March 30th after suffering from Alzheimer's for several years. I had written about her before and was asked to read the following at her funeral. 
She used to read us a book when were kids called "Love you forever."
"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always."

I wrote a blog post a couple of years ago when Grammy was deteriorating from Alzheimer’s. I am going to read what I wrote in 2011. I have changed a few things, though. So, here it is.

Both my maternal and my paternal grandmothers had dementia.

But I think it would be more true to say dementia had them. I find it hard, now, to remember when Grammy was not like this. She is a world-traveler, a strong woman who raised five children on a farm, besides working as a teacher and taking night classes. She lost her husband about 35 years ago in a car accident. She is a smart woman, with a love for reading, teaching, and music. She played the organ at the church. She spent time in Greenland and the Czech Republic, and traveled extensively in her retirement. She is an amazing cook. She loves opera music, she is a shrewd businesswomen and she has an impressive collection of books. She has only four grandchildren, and she made us each a quilt. To defy her arthritis, she would swim each day, for about five months of the year, in the frigid Bay of Fundy.
I force myself to remember these things, because this is who my grandmother is.

It is funny how fleeting these things are. We treasure things in our minds but in the end, our minds just end up being shrivelled away until we become like Grammy. Lots of people, blessed people, do not have dementia in their old age, staying sharp until the end. But for some people, like Grammy, her brain is the first to go. I miss her. I love her the way she is, but I miss the way she used to be. I tend to be nostalgic and it’s easy to be nostalgic when it comes to Grammy. I miss the days when she would read to us from Swiss Family Robinson, even though at the time we thought it was a silly book. Now, she struggles to read the margarine container. I miss the days when the relatives were all gathered together- a fiddle or two, and Grammy on the piano. I miss the days when she knew my name, for goodness sake, and my gender. Now she calls me a “lovely little boy.” Sometimes she tries to chew on her fingers, even though she used to scold me for sucking my thumb. Grammy cannot form coherent sentences anymore.

But it does no good to be nostalgic. I find it hard to find the balance between helping Grammy with everyday things like getting out of her chair or just holding her hand, and treating her with the dignity and respect she deserves. It’s hard to remember, when I am trying to get her to stop spitting at her helpers, that this is probably the strongest woman I know. I do not know if I will get the opportunity to meet another woman like her. Here’s the other thing: I think she may have sacrificed her sanity for her children and grandchildren. She worked so hard her whole life and I see her influence and her genetics in her children and grandchildren. Both of her daughters became teachers, like her, and both shared her musical talent. Her sons, as well, are multi-talented. As for her grandchildren- my cousin has inherited her business sense, I have inherited her love for literature, my brother has inherited her musical talent and my sister has inherited her sewing and teaching talents. Sometimes I wonder if it was from working so hard that she got dementia. On the other hand, it could be just genetics.

It scares me that I might get dementia in my old age. Maybe it scared Grammy too. Maybe that’s why she lived her life the way she did, enjoying every moment, embracing every adventure. Maybe she knew she would someday forget it, so she made sure to live in the present. I think we can all learn something from that.

So today, as we celebrate Grammy’s life, I just want to remind you that Grammy was taken from us
years ago when her mind was eaten away by this awful disease. I thank God for her presence in my life and her never-failing love for us grandchildren.