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Letter from Sophie Stevens in Uruguay (April 2005 edition of the magazine) 3 March 2005 I thought it was time to send you an update about what is happening in my part of the world. I've had quite a long day, starting off at the British Hospital where I go to help with the service and accompany some of the patients and their families. There was much excitement as Prince Edward was visiting the hospital. He came to greet us after the service and asked me all about what I was doing in Uruguay and gave a nod of acknowledgement when I said I was from Chesterfield! I spent the afternoon in Colón planning the group for 12-14 year olds which we are trying to start along with a children's group. The Church has undergone many changes in leadership and Tito (the current rector) has been there just one year. It is a million miles away from what I know at home, with a congregation of around 10 people, with services mainly relying on The Book of Common Prayer. PRAY that as the groups begin we will have the support of the parents and that the children and young people will be enthusiastic about participating. PRAY that God will equip those leading the groups and that he will build up new leaders to support the work. At C.A.S.A, Centro Anglicano de Solidaridad y Ayuda, we held our first Bible study last week and only a few turned up. It is difficult, both practically and spiritually, because despite being a project run by the church it has continued for a long time without any "spiritual" input. PRAY that Daniel and I would be able to witness to the young people and encourage them to meet with us and work with them to make it possible. PRAY that we would have the support of the individual parishes as we plan Diocesan youth events, as they often see it as a threat to their individual ministries. By Sophie Stevens Uruguay with S.A.M.S. (December 2005 edition of the magazine) My name is Sophie Stevens and I returned to the UK at the end of August after spending 9 months in Uruguay.
During my time in Uruguay I worked in C.A.S.A. (Centro Anglicana de Solidaridad y Ayuda), a project which helps young people to find jobs. I accompanied those who were also studying alongside working, and helped to develop a space where they could receive support in their studies. I really enjoyed my work in C.A.S.A. It often seemed quite disconnected from the church, so I could see that there was a real need to have people from the church working there. I found it fulfilling helping out with English and being able to see the results of that, especially how relationships developed at the same time; many of the young people still email me to tell me how things are going. I worshipped in the parish of Colon, in the outskirts of Montevideo. At the beginning of the year the church decided to undertake some Christian education so we went door to door introducing the church and inviting children and adolescents to participate. As a result a group was formed which met every Saturday. It wasn't always easy. Colon is a very poor neighbourhood. There were lots of kids from broken homes and many not enrolled in school. They found it hard to sit down and listen and so we really had to concentrate on building trust and respect within the group through games and activities. The churches in Uruguay are much smaller in numbers than those in England and the social projects are often bigger than the congregations themselves! In June, I was able to go to Buenos Aires with a group of young people and leaders to take part in EJE, an evangelistic weekend involving over 200 young people from the Southern Cone. This was a huge eye-opener to them, for many simply because it was their first time outside Uruguay but moreover because it was a huge encouragement to their faith. I am presently living and studying in London and despite giving it much consideration and having many opportunities to share, I cannot claim to be anywhere near understanding the significance of everything that I did during my time in Uruguay. However I have never doubted the fact that God placed me there for a reason, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't learn a lot about myself, other people, and God, and perhaps even a few things about the link between the three. I can testify to a recurring feeling of a distinct lack of "soul-saving" on my part throughout my time in Uruguay. More importantly, I can testify to the power of witnessing through accompanying people and sharing in their everyday lives. In nine months I was never going to change the world so I had to believe this was a powerful way to bring people to Christ or I was wasting my time. I stand strongly in favour of the first option. I would encourage you to do the same. By Sophie Stevens Christmas in Uruguay (December 2005 edition of Spotlight) When I arrived in Montevideo on 14 December last year [2004] the temperature was about 30 degrees, the beach was full of people, particularly children as the academic year finishes in December. There was overwhelming feeling of the Latino laid-back attitude was a perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle I had just left in England. It didn't seem like Christmas at all! I am Sophie Stevens and I am 18 years old. I had just arrived from the UK to spend nine months in Uruguay. I was to work as a volunteer for the Anglican Church and my main area of involvement was to be with young people. I got a bit more of the festive feel s I went into the city centre, although Santa seemed somewhat ridiculous to me dressed in orange shorts; but then I have to ask myself, is that more ridiculous than being dressed up in a hat, suit and boots in the scorching sun? Christmas music was playing in the shops, not carols. It was more along the lines of 'Frosty the Snowman', which seemed rather strange as 99% of the population have never seen snow. However a man did sing 'Silent Night' in Spanish on the bus which made me smile! I spotted some Christmas trees, which people were trying to sell me. Also 'Budin Ingles', traditionally eaten at this time of year. A bit like a fruit cake but not quite! Uruguay is mainly a Catholic country due to Spanish and Italian origins of the population but the church has been separate from the state for over 100 years and so there is no compulsory religious education in state schools. I learnt more on Christmas Day. When after spending the night with a Uruguayan family, eating my way through more rich food than I thought possible and watching fireworks, I went to help visit some people connected to the church through a centre working with people who are HIV positive. None of them had celebrated with family the night before and most hadn't eaten all day. Although it is possible, it is very hard to think about God on and empty stomach; so taking some fruit as we did that day was really important. The cathedral also had a children's day, inviting local families to travel back in time and see the original Christmas story followed by an afternoon of creative activities. The children however didn't expect presents, as the traditionally come on January 6 with the arrival of the Three Kings. As in many places, Christmas seems very commercialised but there is a distinct emphasis placed on the importance of the family at this time of year. In my opinion it is an extremely positive aspect of the Latino culture, and makes the idea of extending the church family there seem ever more possible. The whole experience was very rewarding and will bring a new meaning to Christmas this year [2005] as I celebrate it with my own family here in Chesterfield. Sophie Stevens Mozambique with Samaratan's Purse International (August 2005 edition of the magazine)
In brief We saw: A teacher close to tears at the promise of a football! These people, who have so little, have such gratitude for what we would consider such a small item. We saw: A lady close to tears when she explained how they no longer complain if they are bored, because they consider themselves lucky to have a water filter. (At £40, these completely natural water filters provide safe drinking water for a family, for life - from the dirty contaminated water which is all that's available locally.) We saw: Ladies laugh at us because we couldn't carry a water container 800 metres, (not even by hand, let alone on our heads!) In a month, that easily accessible supply of contaminated water, which humans share graciously with local livestock, will have dried out; and the ladies we met will have to walk 24kms to the nearest river - daily. We saw: Aids victims who thanked us for our visit. Even had we not brought food for them, they kept saying they would have been so grateful that we had taken the trouble to visit them. We saw: School upon school that had been built as part of the 'Work for Food' scheme, so that people eligible for food from the UN World Food Programme felt they had worked for it, and not just been handed charity aid. The food was essential as these people are yet again living through a drought - but self esteem is precious and when that's all you to have left in life, schemes like this make a world of difference! We saw: Children in the bright woolly hats they'd received in their OCC shoe boxes We saw: Fields and communities full of withered wheat - a reminder of the hard planting season, and of the current drought. We saw: Pyramid selling take on a whole new meaning - that of Aids education and spreading the gospel. We saw: People's eyes being opened to the reality of HIV/Aids, and the surprise when they realised that fears of infection, like standing in the same mud, need no longer be a burden. We saw: People's eyes being opened to the gospel, with the new Chronological Storytelling scheme. Pastors who previously didn't possess bibles realised for the first time that burnt sacrifices were no longer necessary to please God. We saw: The surprise and sheer delight of the SPI staff who had no idea that we prayed for them in the UK. We saw: Many people who will remain in our hearts and prayers for a long time and experienced so many situations which we felt so helpless about. We saw: Courage; dedication; obedience; humility; contentment and gratitude to their extreme. Daphne and I thank God for having had the opportunity to meet these people, to share their homes, their joys and their sorrows and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Please pray that the UN would reconsider their decision to cut food supplies to the district of Mozambique which we visited, for with our own eyes we saw that people were literally starving. If you would like to hear more about SPI in Mozambique or other areas of the world, or to find out more about the water filters in operation do contact me. I would love to share pictures; stories and ways in which you might like to help. Jane Simmonds News from Germany (February 2006 edition of the magazine) Viele Grüße aus Marburg
We found a nice flat in a really great location, and having left behind a lot of great friends in Guildford, we are really seeing God providing us with some great relationships with people here, people with similar values and vision. We are both sensing God beginning to shed more light on why he moved us here and what we have to contribute... and that's exciting! Learning the language Liz's main focus since we arrived has been on learning German - attending a course at the Volkshochshule (Adult Education College) for three hours every morning, together with people from over sixteen different countries! On the whole, she's really enjoying the course, and learning really fast - lots of our friends are really impressed! Christus Treff I'm really enjoying being back in Christus Treff. When I was here for the first time in 1998, God really spoke to me and formed me, and I have always looked back on that time as a turning point in my life. It's therefore a real privilege to be back here, and to be able to contribute to the life of the church and the community - a church that is a bright light in Marburg and throughout Germany, with real potential to shine into other parts of Europe too. Working within the team here is encouraging and uplifting and I feel like I will learn a lot and change a lot over the next few years. Last month we started a second Sunday morning service, as there were too many people for the room with just one service. We had over seventy people on our Discover Course - an introduction to CT for newcomers. And the Thursday evening services in the Lutheran Parish church in the old town are packed. It's exciting seeing what God is doing here - and to think what might be next! Andy Goodacre David Sandersons visit to Msalato Theological College, Tanzania (June 2007 edition of the magazine) David is back after spending two months teaching at the college.
One of the difficulties of studying theology in Tanzania is that hardly any text books for the study of theology at diploma or degree level exist in Ki- Swahili, the national language. Publishing texts in such a language would not be a profitable project of a publishing house. Therefore students need to be able to read either English or possibly German to access serious study texts. The college had an international staff. The Principal and several of staff were Tanzanians, but we had a strong representation from CMS (Church Mission Society) Australia and New Zealand and a number of folk from North America. Two of us were from the UK. While the majority of students came from the local diocese we had some Kenyans as well as folk from other dioceses. There was also an interesting mix in terms of churchmanship. The Australian CMS, the main mission agency working in the diocese of Central Tanganyika had left a strong evangelical stamp on the diocese. However there were some students at the college from the Dares es salaam area where the primary mission agency had been the Universities Mission to Central Africa with its strong Anglo Catholic emphasis, exactly the opposite end of the Anglican churchmanship spectrum. These students were sharing together in the same lectures, seminars, practical work and worship. I worked mainly with two groups of students, one studying mission and the other 1 and 2 Corinthians and urban mission. Leading such seminars does not leave one untouched, especially when one realises the massive task many of these men and women have to face with lack of resources and a church that is growing rapidly. The mission students were grappling with issues like: Which local traditions are to be retained or rejected in an authentic African Christianity? One comment that might sound strange in Western society was: We need to safeguard the way we respect our elders. The students grappling with the Corinthian epistles were aware that many of the problems that Paul was dealing with were real issues today in their parishes. As I have already indicated, the church in Tanzania is growing. There is evidence of this with many new church buildings being erected. Yet there is a desperate need for mature, able and well taught leaders. Competent teachers are required to raise the academic standard of pastors, but there is also a need for pastors to develop other kinds of leadership skills. Clearly leadership is also important for the provision of adequate teaching for the many new converts who are entering the church on a regular basis. There was some opportunity to show the students ways in which they can communicate in a more imaginative way. My black puppet which used to rejoice in the name of Sunshine has become a Tanzanian citizen and is being used by his new African puppeteers to share the good news of Jesus with the vast numbers of children in the remote rural villages. I learnt a number of things while I was there. Here are just a few that emerge from living in Tanzania: Never leave things to the last minute, the electric can go off at any time of the day or night. Belonging to a community is a crucial factor for life enrichment. When you have no material resources, true life is still found in a relationship with Jesus. And finally on a less serious note, I discovered that president Mugabe (of Zimbabwe) is a Yorkshire man. His name is E ba Gum spelled backwards! Thank you all for your prayers and support during my time in Tanzania. David Sanderson More pictures from David's visit can be seen here. Robin Dawson -First Impressions on Coming Home [from Afghanistan] (October 2007 edition of the magazine) Ive just come back from two and a half years in Afghanistan and the Editor asked me to write a short piece about my stay there. That, at present, is impossible because until I have had time to process that very rich experience I wouldnt know where to start. So I told him I could do a piece on first impressions on my return to Britain.
Here peoples road manners are very good, but their day to day manners can sometimes be a bit perfunctory. Out in Kabul it was almost impossible to get an Afghan to go through the door before you and everybody gave a lot of time in greeting each other. But road manners were appalling, Kabul rush hour traffic approximating to a loose maul. There is a lot of money around. My Saturday newspaper has an eight page supplement just telling us how to look after it. Lots of people seem to be desperate to sell you things that you dont need and ring you up at inconvenient times to tell you so. There are no sleepy looking men in Chesterfield sitting on plastic garden chairs with an AK47 rifles dangling across their knees at the gates of the houses of people who think they are important. There is even less worth watching on the TV than when I left. But the remote control casts its insidious spell. Back in Kabul, with no TV, I caught up on all those classics I should have read ages ago. Some really thrilling ones like Moby Dick and the Heart of Darkness. Here, if there is half an hour to spare before bed the time is wasted idly flicking from one uninteresting channel to another. The broadcasting medias news values have deteriorated to those of the tabloid press. They just concentrate on one or two items, normally in this country. I find myself having to tune into BBC World Service to find out what is going on in the rest of the world. In Kabul God does not have to apologise, he is still considered to know what he is up to. Here his perceived (by many) incompetence is seen as a reason for denying his existence, while there is a vocal branch of the intelligentsia that appear to feel that anybody with a belief in the supernatural is well on his or her way to becoming a rabid fundamentalist incapable of making rational decisions. My most pleasant surprise on coming home was the quality of the worship at St Thomas Church. Over the past two or so years I have worshipped most Fridays in Kabul with about 200 or so Christians from many different nationalities and backgrounds. I enjoyed most of the singing and nearly all of the preaching. But when I attended my first service back at St Thomas I heard the Bible being read well, clearly and with the background explained. Our public prayers covered very much more than just our own narrow concerns. The light liturgical frame work that we use ensured that all the bases were touched, confession of sins and belief were given their proper places. And it was all done in language that gave proper respect and importance to God. Its good to be back. Robin Dawson Its good to have Robin safely home. We look forward to reading about his experiences in Afghanistan in later editions of Ploughshare. -Editor Paul and Ruth Lapworth Return to the UK (October 2007 edition of the magazine) Paul and Ruth have left Tear Fund and returned to the UK from Africa. They are both starting to study at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire doing a course entitled 'Biblical and Intercultural Studies'.
Christmas in Kabul (December 2007 edition of the magazine) Robin Dawson has just returned from Afghanistan where he was working as a volunteer. Robin writes about his experience of Christmas in Kabul, the capital. We walk down the road in the velvet darkness. The hum of generators fills the air. This time of year we only get mains power one evening in two, so the generators power the security lights and the TVs. A few Afghans on the ubiquitous heavy duty Chinese bikes ghost past in the darkness. No lights of course. Its cold, so that the men who are guarding the houses of the important people are sitting inside their little plywood guard houses on plastic garden chairs with their AK47s across their knees. Many of them are watching TV. There is sweet wood smoke and diesel soot in the air from hundreds of heating stoves. Those too poor to afford the fuel huddle closer together under their blankets and hope that there will be no cloud tomorrow so that they can stand against a wall in the sun. We live in one of the better off suburbs of Kabul where there are big houses let out to expatriate workers. Afghan houses, for both the rich and poor, sit behind high walls to ensure privacy and safety. We ring at the bell by a gate and the night chowkidar (doorman) opens it for us. Standing in the garden we start up with In the Bleak Midwinter. We are out carol singing. It is just as well the houses have big walls as carol singing in the street by a bunch of foreigners might not go down too well. Inside the house people are enjoying dinner, but one young lady not long out from England is taken aback and bursts into tears. We have been to the houses of people we know, German, Finnish, American, Phillipino and many other nationalities. I spent two Christmases in Kabul in 2005 and 2006. The temperatures are down to -10oC at night and get up to maybe +5oC during the day if the sun shines. Our houses, designed for hot weather rather than cold are pretty chilly. I live in the kitchen in mine and dive into the bed with a hot water bottle, burying my head under the quilt, when it is bedtime. In 2005 there had been no rain at all in the autumn and Christmas was cold and dusty. 2006 was different. There was rain in November. Out in the country where my project was, the farmers ploughed land that they had not touched the year before, because there was enough moisture in the soil for winter wheat to germinate, and if there was some more rain in spring it might even come to ear. These farmers really work on the edge. On the Friday (Afghanistans Sunday) before Christmas we had a carol service at the Community Christian Church of Kabul (CCCK) with a number of Scripture readings, each person reading the passage in their mother tongue. Christmas Day itself brought continuous heavy snow in big flakes dropping through the still air. Off we went to the meeting of the CCCK in a foot of snow. Only us westerners were having a holiday, the rest of Kabul was struggling to work. No snowploughs or gritting and even the taxi drivers were having to slow down. Some Afghans manage to look immensely dignified and also remain upright on their bicycles while holding an umbrella aloft to keep the snow off. On Boxing Day the sky cleared and we were treated to the crystal clear light that Kabul has after a snowfall. Everything is blue and white with the Hindu Kush standing up behind the smoky city like a white curtain. Our Afghan colleagues are quite interested in Christmas and the way we celebrate it. On the day we get greeted with Idetan mubarak! which means congratulations on your festival. It is the same greeting that Afghans use with each other for the Eid at the end of Ramadan. On our various projects we throw a party for the Afghan staff to celebrate Christmas and use the opportunity to explain a little about what it means to us. I remember one party where the children of some of my expatriate colleagues acted out a nativity play. This does not cause offence because both Mary and Jesus are figures accorded great respect in Islam. The difficult bit is to get across the meaning of the Word made flesh, God taking on human form and living as one of us. The Islamic view of the perfection and otherness of God makes that very difficult to take on board. But then we dont find it to easy in modern western society either, do we? Robin Dawson |
