janebbearden@gmail.com
Two b's in the center!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
To Kacheney
Hey! I got your mail and and was excted. I am in MA today and just came back from our convention where the bishop told 800 people how wonderful you guys are. We had pictures of you and all. AND we raised money for BANA and the next trip.
I met a young woman today who is from Jackson but her Grandmother goes to Main St. Her name is Esse James. Firstname may be wrong. Anyway she is th eoldest member of Main St according to her granddaughter.
Write to me on my email so that I can email you back. I will pray for those for whom you asked prayers. I am so proud of you and I want to see you also. Hapy Birthday. Write to me.
I met a young woman today who is from Jackson but her Grandmother goes to Main St. Her name is Esse James. Firstname may be wrong. Anyway she is th eoldest member of Main St according to her granddaughter.
Write to me on my email so that I can email you back. I will pray for those for whom you asked prayers. I am so proud of you and I want to see you also. Hapy Birthday. Write to me.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
This will be the final post in this journey. We end the story of this first leg of the journey with before and after pictures. But our BANA journey will not end here. If you would like to learn more or if you would like to be a part of BANA you will be welcome. All it takes is a commitment to listen, to learn, and to work together to Build A New America.
Onward!
Yesterday BANA Mississippi rolled back into town. We were tired and smelly, but we were and still are filled with the joy of having toiled together, laughed as one, struggled with relationship, stood together in adversity, and emerged a cohesive and committed community where difference is a cause for celebration rather than separation and unity means that we are one in Christ and in our commitment to justice and peace for all human beings. We are BANA and we know that by telling our stories and listening to each to each other, we will build community and that through serving others, we serve Christ.
Our last days in Boston flew by all too fast. We left on Tuesday for NYC and a Yankees game. Much to Malcolm’s dismay the Yanks lost, but even so being in Yankee stadium was a real treat and we all ate way too many hot dogs. We were not in NYC long, but we did have a chance to go to Battery Park and see the Statue of Liberty. At one point some walked over to see Ground Zero and rode the subway to the Bronx while others rode the bus up the East side and saw a lot of the city.
At the beginning of this journey we talked a lot about the difference between a trip and a pilgrimage. We learned that when one undertakes a spiritual pilgrimage of the pilgrim is intentional about observing, listening, and understanding the experience through an awareness of God’s action in our lives. We are conscience about asking ourselves what is God’s role in each encounter, each story, and each opportunity. How is God presence in the lives of those we meet and in our lives as we reach out to serve others? As we listened to each other we came to understand that even as different as we were from each other, we have a lot more in common than we have in difference. We began to look at barriers that our history, our culture, our habits, our privileges, and our self-centered needs and wants set between us. We named those barriers and we began to try to understand the hurt and sorrow that they cause. We named barriers that exist in our culture that we sometimes don’t even see until we are the targets of the oppression. We looked at how unearned privileges such as being male, being white or light skinned, speaking English, being thin and fit, being young, being tall, being right-handed, and on and on give us an unfair advantage over others in the day to day life and most importantly - how we might interrupt that privilege by standing with those who are marginalized.
We are grateful to all of the leaders and supporters who made this possible and to all of the donors who supporters us financially, including private donors, The Diocese of Mississippi, Main Street Missionary Baptist Church and the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Biloxi. We also want to express our thanks to The Museum of Science for a great afternoon of fun and learning, The Companions of the Holy Cross for providing us with such luxury and comfort at their retreat house, and for providing lovely meals, a place to play, to sing, and to pray and companionship in our journey, Our thanks also go to Youville Hospital for hosting us in MA, to St Andrew’s, Methuen, St James, Cambridge, Christ Church, Cambridge, MS Joan Cammett, St Stephens Kiswahili Congregation, and Bishop Bud for feeding us and to Holy Trinity, South River for providing a night’s rest and a delicious breakfast to send up on our way home.
This is not a one time learning. Rather it is a new way of being in community. It is a journey that began with a vision for service in the context of a youth mission trip and continues as a hope for what our society can become. BANA Fellows are the key that will open the door to understanding and empowerment. They are the leaders who will make Biloxi, Mississippi, America, and beyond a better place to be by being God’s instruments, by being the Body of Christ in the world, and by praying, serving, teaching, and leading others to bring about God’s Kingdom here in this place.
Our last days in Boston flew by all too fast. We left on Tuesday for NYC and a Yankees game. Much to Malcolm’s dismay the Yanks lost, but even so being in Yankee stadium was a real treat and we all ate way too many hot dogs. We were not in NYC long, but we did have a chance to go to Battery Park and see the Statue of Liberty. At one point some walked over to see Ground Zero and rode the subway to the Bronx while others rode the bus up the East side and saw a lot of the city.
At the beginning of this journey we talked a lot about the difference between a trip and a pilgrimage. We learned that when one undertakes a spiritual pilgrimage of the pilgrim is intentional about observing, listening, and understanding the experience through an awareness of God’s action in our lives. We are conscience about asking ourselves what is God’s role in each encounter, each story, and each opportunity. How is God presence in the lives of those we meet and in our lives as we reach out to serve others? As we listened to each other we came to understand that even as different as we were from each other, we have a lot more in common than we have in difference. We began to look at barriers that our history, our culture, our habits, our privileges, and our self-centered needs and wants set between us. We named those barriers and we began to try to understand the hurt and sorrow that they cause. We named barriers that exist in our culture that we sometimes don’t even see until we are the targets of the oppression. We looked at how unearned privileges such as being male, being white or light skinned, speaking English, being thin and fit, being young, being tall, being right-handed, and on and on give us an unfair advantage over others in the day to day life and most importantly - how we might interrupt that privilege by standing with those who are marginalized.
We are grateful to all of the leaders and supporters who made this possible and to all of the donors who supporters us financially, including private donors, The Diocese of Mississippi, Main Street Missionary Baptist Church and the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Biloxi. We also want to express our thanks to The Museum of Science for a great afternoon of fun and learning, The Companions of the Holy Cross for providing us with such luxury and comfort at their retreat house, and for providing lovely meals, a place to play, to sing, and to pray and companionship in our journey, Our thanks also go to Youville Hospital for hosting us in MA, to St Andrew’s, Methuen, St James, Cambridge, Christ Church, Cambridge, MS Joan Cammett, St Stephens Kiswahili Congregation, and Bishop Bud for feeding us and to Holy Trinity, South River for providing a night’s rest and a delicious breakfast to send up on our way home.
This is not a one time learning. Rather it is a new way of being in community. It is a journey that began with a vision for service in the context of a youth mission trip and continues as a hope for what our society can become. BANA Fellows are the key that will open the door to understanding and empowerment. They are the leaders who will make Biloxi, Mississippi, America, and beyond a better place to be by being God’s instruments, by being the Body of Christ in the world, and by praying, serving, teaching, and leading others to bring about God’s Kingdom here in this place.
Monday, June 2, 2008
In the news
We made the paper in Massachusetts! check out the article and pictures...
http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_152012156.html
http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_152012156.html
Ka`Cheney
My time on this trip has had it`s ups and downs.Mostly up I enjoyed doing something that made a differance in our world. What i really liked was spending times with the girls at Esperanza they really loved what we did for them. It would be great if we were to keep this wonderful thing and experiance going. When I saw how greatful they were just because we planted some flowers ,it made me want to keep BANA alive.So i just want to thank Rev.Jane for letting be apart of this spectacular jublulent experiance. This mission trip really changed my life.
Jeroid
My time up in these different states were great because we got to work with great people and make new friends .
Monday AM
Today is Monday June 2. The kids are still asleep and Faye, Lina, and Malcolm have gone to wash our shirts for the trip home. Yesterday we spent the day with the BANA Fellows of Massachusetts. We began in Lynn , MA at St Stephen's. Lynn is a working class, traditionally immigrant city with multiple drug and gang problems. St Stephen's has a long history of being a diverse parish with a commitment to youth and to building community. Interacting with the young people there gave our kids and opportunity to hear the stories of what life is like in the intercity. Brother Ruffin and I vested and participated in the service and the kids all went to Sunday School Episcopal style. That means doughnuts and orange juice for all. We sang at the offertory and everyone was amazed. I even tried to clap and sway at the same time. LaShonda said that I did well. She is my choir buddy.
After the service we all went upstairs to another service. This one was in Kiswahili. The preaching was a whole lot more animated, but we did not understand much of what was said. Dorothy figured out that we he said "Alleluia", we were supposed to say "Amen" so we were able to join in! We learned to say "Jambo", which means Good morning and "Amani" which means "Peace". After the service we had a meal prepared by the Kiswahili congregation. It was everything from meat pies to mashed up black-eyed peas, to white sweet potatoes, to goat meat. The kids and adults chowed down and thoroughly enjoyed it. No kidding the kids really did not only eat it but thought it was very good. A change from pizza!
After dinner we went to another church in wealthy, mostly white Marblehead, MA. There we helped the BANA Mass kids set up for a fund raiser. They had planned an art shoe (for sale) and a talent shoe for entertainment. Let me just say that they were amazing. Our kids got into the music and dance and had a wonderful time. We were there until about 6 and than drove some of the BANA Mass kids back to Lynn. The laughter from the back of the bus filled the air with the joy of kids getting to know one another and sharing dreams for what America can be without prejudice, privilege, and misuse of power. Jason Cruz, the leader of BANA Mass said it all when he called out Who are we? And the kids, black , white, and brown – Episcopal, Baptist, and whatever, northern and southern, girls and boys - thundered back in one voice across two thousand miles of difference "We are BANA"
Now I have filks upstairs who are wondering where I am and who want to head out to meet Bishop Bud and go to the Museum of Science. I apologize for not having more entries from then kids but internet access is spotty. I am in the Clinical Lab where I used to work right now and kids are not allowed in here. On the way home we will get them to write and I will post it upon our return.
Thanks for journeying with us. God's Peace be with you.
Jane+
After the service we all went upstairs to another service. This one was in Kiswahili. The preaching was a whole lot more animated, but we did not understand much of what was said. Dorothy figured out that we he said "Alleluia", we were supposed to say "Amen" so we were able to join in! We learned to say "Jambo", which means Good morning and "Amani" which means "Peace". After the service we had a meal prepared by the Kiswahili congregation. It was everything from meat pies to mashed up black-eyed peas, to white sweet potatoes, to goat meat. The kids and adults chowed down and thoroughly enjoyed it. No kidding the kids really did not only eat it but thought it was very good. A change from pizza!
After dinner we went to another church in wealthy, mostly white Marblehead, MA. There we helped the BANA Mass kids set up for a fund raiser. They had planned an art shoe (for sale) and a talent shoe for entertainment. Let me just say that they were amazing. Our kids got into the music and dance and had a wonderful time. We were there until about 6 and than drove some of the BANA Mass kids back to Lynn. The laughter from the back of the bus filled the air with the joy of kids getting to know one another and sharing dreams for what America can be without prejudice, privilege, and misuse of power. Jason Cruz, the leader of BANA Mass said it all when he called out Who are we? And the kids, black , white, and brown – Episcopal, Baptist, and whatever, northern and southern, girls and boys - thundered back in one voice across two thousand miles of difference "We are BANA"
Now I have filks upstairs who are wondering where I am and who want to head out to meet Bishop Bud and go to the Museum of Science. I apologize for not having more entries from then kids but internet access is spotty. I am in the Clinical Lab where I used to work right now and kids are not allowed in here. On the way home we will get them to write and I will post it upon our return.
Thanks for journeying with us. God's Peace be with you.
Jane+
Saturday, May 31, 2008
On to Boston
It is Saturday morning and our first day to sleep late. Kids have worked hard (adults also!). The end of our service at Esperanza was joyous. Bishop Gayle Harris joined us for the late morning as we put the finishing touches on the picnic table. The garden is lovely. The 6th grade class prepared an ethnic lunch for us that we delicious. The BANA Fellows sang and we showed some slides of the Gulf Coast. Then out to the garden for a blessing. Bishop Harris sprinkled life sustaining water on the garden and all of us and we celebrated together the transformation of a dark, dingy place into a place of beauty. Neighbors came out to admire and to help. All in all it was a powerful experience for us all. At the end of the day the teachers took all of the kids for a softball game and gave the BANA adults and hour of free time. That too was great!
Last night we moved our crew to Cambridge MA and Youville Hospital. Our quarters are cramped and the showers are few but we are making it OK. It is supposed to rain on our parade today but we will do the tourist thing anyway!
Everyone is waiting for me and as I have to come to a coffee shop to get on line, so I better close this off and get back. We are safe. We are happy. We have had very few disruptions. As Sunday approaches we will hold you all in our prayers, I hope you will do the same for us. Please pray also for my Bishop (Bishop Shaw) who has gone to Zimbabwe to stand with the bishop there in the face of governmental threats to slaughter the Anglicans in Zimbabwe for opposing his oppressive government. He is witnessing to oppression in that part of the world.
God Bless,
Jane+
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pictures and More Pictures
Tomorrow is our last day at Esperanza. It has been "wicked awesome". Today we planted the last of some 60 plants, loaded the last of a 10 foot pile of dirt and rocks, and painted another area. We also finished doing laundry. Two unexpected encounters happened. Early this AM the person living in the house next to Esperanza come out. He had been watching our work for two days. He joined us in the alley, picked up a shovel and began to clean up with us. Making things beautiful is contagious! Then this afternoon an Indian gentleman came over and asked us what we were doing. LaShonda and I talked to him for a while and his eyes welled up with tears. "I have lived here for ten years. I have never seen anyone come to help us." We went back up stairs and when we returned to work he showed up with a plate of brownies. He could not thank the kids enough. Our scripture lesson tonight was the Mustard Seed.
All of our encounters have not been as pleasant. We have had a store owner slam the door to the coke case and explain that people hide bottles under their shirts. We have been charged more than the price on the product and then when we questioned it been told that the price was wrong on the package. We have even had an encounter with a Rhode Island State Trooper in which he was about as rude and inappropriate as a police office can be. This was actually a serious incident and so I want to share it in its entirety.
After leaving DC we were delayed in traffic around NYC. As a result we found ourselves in Rhode Island about 6 PM and hungry. We stopped at a Wendy’s. They were out of several products but we got enough to eat and sat down. Then three Black teenage girls came in and went to the counter. Soon we began to hear raised voices. Our guys wanted to stand up to see what was happening but we encouraged them to finish eating. Then out of nowhere two state troopers came in from either side of the restaurant. Then two more came in. Then a fifth came in and approached one of our young girls. He wanted to know who she was and what she had done. Her answer was polite and accurate – his sarcastic. By the second sentence I had crossed the room and inserted my body between the officer and my youth member. I introduced myself and offered to answer his questions. He wanted to know why I came over and I said “Because I do not want you to talk to my children.” Upon which he told me that he would talk to whomever he pleased. Then there was a sort of standoff. I did not say anything but I did not move either. The officer finally walked away and Lessie and the others ushered the children out of the door and onto the bus and we left.
Once on the bus and settled we talked for a long time about what happened. The young people were able to see the role of prejudice and power in the encounter and to name the ways in which the officer had acted inappropriately. They also named the way in which the other girls at the counter were rude and aggressive. I have never been prouder of a group of young people. They acted with poise beyond their years. The next evening the adults had time to do some process also. One of the learnings is that experiencing what it is like to be singled out, profiled, and intimidated is not familiar to white people in the same way as it is for people of color. We shared the fear and the anger together and it just made us more committed to the work that we are about. I have not ever worked with a more dedicated, wise, and compassionate group of adults. And the kids are pretty cool also.
I know that we will have much more to talk about in the weeks and months to come. For now we are looking forward to building a picnic table tomorrow and meeting Bishop Gayle who will bless the garden. Then it is on to Cambridge and Boston for the weekend. Tomorrow a couple of the guys will add their posts. Thanks of for reading our stuff.
Jane+
Brianna's Blog
My Experience
My experience on this trip has been amazing. I have met people I have never met before and got to know them very well. The trip to Washington, D.C. was very interesting. I was happy that I got to go back because I haven’t been there since I was two years old. I saw the White House including the snipers that were watching people from the roof of the White House. I also had the opportunity to ride on the Metro (I was kind of scared). I got to go up to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The most amazing thing about this trip was I got to meet a group of girls. I went to their school called Esperanza Academy of Hope. These girls and I have created a wonderful friendship and I am going to be very sad when we have to leave.
My experience on this trip has been amazing. I have met people I have never met before and got to know them very well. The trip to Washington, D.C. was very interesting. I was happy that I got to go back because I haven’t been there since I was two years old. I saw the White House including the snipers that were watching people from the roof of the White House. I also had the opportunity to ride on the Metro (I was kind of scared). I got to go up to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The most amazing thing about this trip was I got to meet a group of girls. I went to their school called Esperanza Academy of Hope. These girls and I have created a wonderful friendship and I am going to be very sad when we have to leave.
Brittany's blog
My experience
My experience on this mission trip has been very superb! I got to see things that I had never seen in my entire life. I got to make new friends and meet people who spoke different languages and it was very fun to learn Spanish.
Day one was the worst it was the worst because I thought none of them liked me, but as I got used to them I got more acquainted to them all. The first day was in Washington D.C. and the people there were very different the talked very proper. In Washington I got to see a lot of things like the Washington monument lots of memorials and many others.
My experience on this mission trip has been very superb! I got to see things that I had never seen in my entire life. I got to make new friends and meet people who spoke different languages and it was very fun to learn Spanish.
Day one was the worst it was the worst because I thought none of them liked me, but as I got used to them I got more acquainted to them all. The first day was in Washington D.C. and the people there were very different the talked very proper. In Washington I got to see a lot of things like the Washington monument lots of memorials and many others.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Our first day of work
We arrived at Adelynrood at 10PM last night. Traffic in NYC held us up. Sleep did not come until 1 or so so today was a very tiring day. Three of the crew made it to chapel this AM at 7 to pray with the Companions of the Holy Cross who are hosting us. They keep the prayers several times a day and we are invited to join them.
This morning we arrived at Esperanza for the first time. Much of today was spent reconoitering and gathering supplies. We met with the student first and shared Katrina stories. Then the 5th grade class took us on a walking tour of their neighborhood and to see the Textile museum. Finally we were together enough to begin some work. We have 70 plants to put in the ground and a lpicnic table to build. We are also repairing flooring and ceiling and ripping our old stuff for new to go in. Planting 70 bushes in 4 days may not eem like very much but digging in NE is not like digging in Mississippi mud. There are ROCKS! We have a long metal pipe that we drive into the hole and loosen the rocksso that they can be lifted with a shovel. It takes two - working as a team - to dig the hole.
Please know that we are VERY aware of God's action in our lives on this pilgrimage. Everyday I am more and more amazed.
Tomorrow kids write - I promise!
Jane+
This morning we arrived at Esperanza for the first time. Much of today was spent reconoitering and gathering supplies. We met with the student first and shared Katrina stories. Then the 5th grade class took us on a walking tour of their neighborhood and to see the Textile museum. Finally we were together enough to begin some work. We have 70 plants to put in the ground and a lpicnic table to build. We are also repairing flooring and ceiling and ripping our old stuff for new to go in. Planting 70 bushes in 4 days may not eem like very much but digging in NE is not like digging in Mississippi mud. There are ROCKS! We have a long metal pipe that we drive into the hole and loosen the rocksso that they can be lifted with a shovel. It takes two - working as a team - to dig the hole.
Please know that we are VERY aware of God's action in our lives on this pilgrimage. Everyday I am more and more amazed.
Tomorrow kids write - I promise!
Jane+
Sunday, May 25, 2008
This is going to be short as we have had a full day. The service at the cathedral is on line at the cathedral website. I have not seen it yet either. Tomorrow we leave for Boston. Today we saw Linclon Memorial, Arlington, Air and Space Museum, Viet Nam Memorial and orean War Memorial. It was a powerful day of being tourists.
Thanks for journeying with us. Tonight we will pray for those who have died in the service of our country. We will pray for peace and for justice. God bless...
Jane+
Saturday, May 24, 2008
IN A WIFI CAFÉ
What a day. I am so exhausted that I can barely sit up. We slept about 3 or 4 hours on the bus. It was an exciting trip - absolutely as smooth as silk. Today we got unloaded about 1 PM and after a brief attempt to clean up we headed for the Metro and the Smithsonian. We walked and walked. Washington Monument, Reflecting Pool, and to the Museum of Natural History. Then back to the hostel for Joe’s spaghetti and Dorothy’s salad. What a treat to get home and find supper cooked! Now young and old alike are ready for bed.
Some of the learnings today… We are building into a cohesive, strong group. We have each other’s back. Respect is a key ingredient in building community. And most important of all – we have much much more in common that different. Each evening we begin with music, then a sharing time, a scripture reading and reflection, and Night Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book. Faye prepared journals for the group – complete with markers and pens for personalizing them and for journaling. The group is doing that now – well some of them. Our music is getting so good that I called and volunteered us for the Offertory next Sunday at St Stephen’s.
While in the WIFI Café I noticed a man in an Episcopal hat. I spoke of course - in true Mississippi fashion. Turns out he is the Verger for tomorrow’s service. We will see him at the National Cathedral. We are all excited about tomorrow.
I will close with one of the comments from a young person as we walked down the Mall. He said “There is one of every kind of person here.” I said yes, I think God meant for it to be that way. Tomorrow’s scripture is the Pentecost reading. We are in the midst of it. Brother Ruffin did the reflection tonight from 1 Thessalonians, “11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Brother Ruffin reminded us of how we had lived into these instructions on Christian community today. He told us of his reservations about this trip and how he had tried to avoid coming. But Pastor Haynes and others had encouraged him and he told us how much this day had meant to him. He thanked the mentors for their incredible contributions and the young people for their commitment. The room was absolutely quiet listening to him. This work that we are about is hard work. We are going to have fun and we are going to do some work on a school, but we are also going to continue to go about the hard work of living together as people of God – not as Baptists and Episcopalians, black and white, men and women. We are one in Christ.
Thanks be to God. Jane+
Some of the learnings today… We are building into a cohesive, strong group. We have each other’s back. Respect is a key ingredient in building community. And most important of all – we have much much more in common that different. Each evening we begin with music, then a sharing time, a scripture reading and reflection, and Night Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book. Faye prepared journals for the group – complete with markers and pens for personalizing them and for journaling. The group is doing that now – well some of them. Our music is getting so good that I called and volunteered us for the Offertory next Sunday at St Stephen’s.
While in the WIFI Café I noticed a man in an Episcopal hat. I spoke of course - in true Mississippi fashion. Turns out he is the Verger for tomorrow’s service. We will see him at the National Cathedral. We are all excited about tomorrow.
I will close with one of the comments from a young person as we walked down the Mall. He said “There is one of every kind of person here.” I said yes, I think God meant for it to be that way. Tomorrow’s scripture is the Pentecost reading. We are in the midst of it. Brother Ruffin did the reflection tonight from 1 Thessalonians, “11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Brother Ruffin reminded us of how we had lived into these instructions on Christian community today. He told us of his reservations about this trip and how he had tried to avoid coming. But Pastor Haynes and others had encouraged him and he told us how much this day had meant to him. He thanked the mentors for their incredible contributions and the young people for their commitment. The room was absolutely quiet listening to him. This work that we are about is hard work. We are going to have fun and we are going to do some work on a school, but we are also going to continue to go about the hard work of living together as people of God – not as Baptists and Episcopalians, black and white, men and women. We are one in Christ.
Thanks be to God. Jane+
ON THE BUS (Friday Evening)
Two hours ago I was sweating and stressing out over how we were going to get all that STUFF on the bus and now I am sitting here (freezing in the A/C) and looking out hug windows at some of the most beautiful kudzu covered trees I have ever seen. Perhaps one must be from the south to truly appreciate that image. Seriously we are cruising through the Greater Mobile Delta and the landscape is stunning. I suspect we are in for much more as we make our way north along the East Coast.
Our young people have gathered themselves into a rowdy group in the vicinity of the food and drink. As we boarded the bus I called each name and high fived fourteen smiling teens. We are off to a great start. There is a lot of anticipation and excitement.
We will do our best to make blog entries each day. Lessie has a video camera and Dorothy has her camera so we will have lots of pictures and movies to share. This has been an amazing several months of putting together a vision for building bridges across boundaries. Now that we are actually on this pilgrimage I am overcome with joy and thankfulness for all the hands who have worked to make this possible, for the prayers and the support of the people of Redeemer and Main Street Missionary Baptist, and for those who believed that what we are about is doing God’s work in the world. Tonight I will pray for the girls and teachers at Esperanza and for the families and friends that we have left behind. But my prayer will also be for our safety as we travel and for the Grace and Love of God to fill our hearts and our dreams.
Onward!
Jane+
Our young people have gathered themselves into a rowdy group in the vicinity of the food and drink. As we boarded the bus I called each name and high fived fourteen smiling teens. We are off to a great start. There is a lot of anticipation and excitement.
We will do our best to make blog entries each day. Lessie has a video camera and Dorothy has her camera so we will have lots of pictures and movies to share. This has been an amazing several months of putting together a vision for building bridges across boundaries. Now that we are actually on this pilgrimage I am overcome with joy and thankfulness for all the hands who have worked to make this possible, for the prayers and the support of the people of Redeemer and Main Street Missionary Baptist, and for those who believed that what we are about is doing God’s work in the world. Tonight I will pray for the girls and teachers at Esperanza and for the families and friends that we have left behind. But my prayer will also be for our safety as we travel and for the Grace and Love of God to fill our hearts and our dreams.
Onward!
Jane+
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Who? What? Where? Why?
The mission of the BANA Fellows (Build a New America) trip to Massachusetts
At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is a call to serve others and to address the oppressive institutions in society. The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Main Street Missionary Baptist Church are embarking on an ambitious mission trip to do just that. It is a program of transformative learning around the issues of institutional racism and classism in our country. We are 7 adults and 20 young people at this time. The ages of the young people are 13 to 17. The crux of our program is a plan to travel to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to help paint and refurbish a school that is hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in Lawrence. The city is a predominantly, Spanish speaking, immigrant community with limited financial resources. We will help Esperanza provide a tuition free opportunity for young girls to attend this school that promotes excellence in education by contributing to the maintenance of the facility and the beautification of the classrooms. A similar group from the communities of Lynn/Salem/Marblehead, Massachusetts will travel to Mississippi in June to work on rebuilding homes in East Biloxi. Together we hope to learn ways for our young people to Build a New America.
Within the context of a service project, we will begin to engage and to address issues of racism and classism in our society. “Ism’s” are driven by a sense of difference and separation. But the Gospel teaches us that we are all cut of the same Divine cloth, all created in God’s image. It is our life experiences that create the sense of separation. The systems of prejudice and the privilege harbored by those who abuse power in a society are exactly the institutions against which Jesus spoke. To find strength in solidarity, to overcome the loneliness of separation, and to name and address the oppressive systems of power are some of the hopes of our mission. To this end, we have engaged in serious conversation around the assumptions we make about each other and about our life experiences. The common denominator for our young people is that they all want to make a difference in their own lives and in their communities. They know that the crucial element in that vision is their commitment to stand together and to serve others. As we continue to meet in community after our return, we will begin to look at how we can - together - encourage each other as well as other young people to make good healthy choices in their lives and to be a positive influence in their communities.
Our experience will include Mississippi Day at the National Cathedral, the Freedom Trail, the Museum of Science, and a Yankees game in the Bronx . We are grateful to the Companions of the Holy Cross (Adelynrood), Youville Hospital - Cambridge, and the Museum of Science – Boston for offering us hospitality.
As our work begins on May 23 we will post a journal of our travels and experiences. We invite you to enter this journey with us as we follow where the Holy Spirit leads.
At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is a call to serve others and to address the oppressive institutions in society. The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and Main Street Missionary Baptist Church are embarking on an ambitious mission trip to do just that. It is a program of transformative learning around the issues of institutional racism and classism in our country. We are 7 adults and 20 young people at this time. The ages of the young people are 13 to 17. The crux of our program is a plan to travel to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to help paint and refurbish a school that is hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in Lawrence. The city is a predominantly, Spanish speaking, immigrant community with limited financial resources. We will help Esperanza provide a tuition free opportunity for young girls to attend this school that promotes excellence in education by contributing to the maintenance of the facility and the beautification of the classrooms. A similar group from the communities of Lynn/Salem/Marblehead, Massachusetts will travel to Mississippi in June to work on rebuilding homes in East Biloxi. Together we hope to learn ways for our young people to Build a New America.
Within the context of a service project, we will begin to engage and to address issues of racism and classism in our society. “Ism’s” are driven by a sense of difference and separation. But the Gospel teaches us that we are all cut of the same Divine cloth, all created in God’s image. It is our life experiences that create the sense of separation. The systems of prejudice and the privilege harbored by those who abuse power in a society are exactly the institutions against which Jesus spoke. To find strength in solidarity, to overcome the loneliness of separation, and to name and address the oppressive systems of power are some of the hopes of our mission. To this end, we have engaged in serious conversation around the assumptions we make about each other and about our life experiences. The common denominator for our young people is that they all want to make a difference in their own lives and in their communities. They know that the crucial element in that vision is their commitment to stand together and to serve others. As we continue to meet in community after our return, we will begin to look at how we can - together - encourage each other as well as other young people to make good healthy choices in their lives and to be a positive influence in their communities.
Our experience will include Mississippi Day at the National Cathedral, the Freedom Trail, the Museum of Science, and a Yankees game in the Bronx . We are grateful to the Companions of the Holy Cross (Adelynrood), Youville Hospital - Cambridge, and the Museum of Science – Boston for offering us hospitality.
As our work begins on May 23 we will post a journal of our travels and experiences. We invite you to enter this journey with us as we follow where the Holy Spirit leads.
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