Friday December 18, 2009

Alternative Christmas Gift Edition 2009

This Christmas season please consider giving some of the wonderful gifts listed here in the eSpirit. “Alternative Gifts” is what we are calling it, but they are more than a gift found under a tree in the living room. They are special, life changing gifts of love…special gifts of life through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and their many programs; special gifts of joy, through Wyoming Wilderness Camp & Thomas the Apostle Center; special gifts of hope through the many global mission projects in the Diocese.

All are important and all need our support. It isn’t hard to do, either. By going to the Diocese website, www.wyomingdiocese.org, click on Donate Online and select the project in which you wish to give. The donation comes right off your credit or debit card and right into an account for that mission. It is a secure and safe way to donate money. If that is not your cup of tea, and you prefer the less technical approach to giving, that is fine, too! Please make a check out to the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming and in the memo section, indicate where your gift should go. Both ways, electronic and traditional, are tax deductable contributions.

If you are mailing a check, please send to:
Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming
Attn: Mission
123 S. Durbin
Casper WY 82601

If you are donating online, please go to: www.wyomingdiocese.org

If you have questions/problems/or just need more info, please call: 307.265.5200 or email: info@wyomingdiocese.org

We hope you enjoy this edition of the eSpirit and see many of the wonderful missions that the diocese engages. Contact information for each project is listed and we encourage you to learn more about each project and if the Spirit moves you, get personally involved.

Merry Christmas and God’s blessings upon you this joyous season!

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At Christmas time I am particularly drawn to the prologue of John’s Gospel. John draws the incarnation and light together in an almost haunting way. The darkness will not, John proclaims, overcome it. As light bearers, none of us should be overwhelmed by the darkness. In fact we might even want to go poking around the darkness this Christmas season. Maybe we can fearlessly shine the light into the darkness. The dark places are places where the hungry are not being fed. They are places where prisoners stay in chains, the naked are not clothed, and not even the little ones receive a cool drink. We can change all that. I have asked Andy to put this alternative Christmas edition of the e-spirit together so that you and I can spread the light. Please pray over our list of places and people who need our help and make a gift in honor of Jesus Christ.

Faithfully Yours in Christ,

Bruce E. Caldwell
Bishop of Wyoming

Throughout the year, the Bishop often has requests that may not fit in the regular budget. For those things that arise, he has a discretionary fund. Often this fund is used for mission, locally, nationally and internationally. To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Bishop’s Discretionary Fund

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It is the time of the year when we most of begin to think about giving to others. What a great opportunity to think about giving a gift that will last a lifetime to a young person. That would be the gift of a week at Wyoming Wilderness Camp, where they can have the chance of a lifetime at an experience that they can carry with them all rest of their lives.

We often just give young people "things" that they soon get bored or tired of and place them in a box in a closet, or hang it up after only wearing it once or maybe twice. The gift of a camp experience has the chance of transforming that young person in a very significant way.

I ask the people of the Diocese of Wyoming to think about giving some young person a chance for a truly awesome experience.

Thank you and God Bless!

Pat Walsh, Director
Wyoming Wilderness Camp
HR Camp Foundation - Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming
Email: pat@wyomingdiocese.org

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Hank Raymond Scholarship/A kid to camp

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Thomas the Apostle Center (TAC) in Cody is known for many things, like warm hospitality, spiritual retreats, stunning scenery...and Connie's kitchen! Connie Moody has taken her world famous (well, Wyoming famous anyway) granola, packaged it up, and is selling it as a TAC fundraiser. The granola (aptly named, Free Spirit) is 100% organic and a delicious blend of oatmeal, honey, canola oil and assorted dried fruits & nuts (a nut-free variety is available, too). Help support TAC and get you and your family some of the best granola around. Enjoy it as a breakfast cereal, snack food, and even ice cream topper! Prices are:$4.00 a 1lb bag with fruit$4.50 a 1lb bag with fruit and nuts
Contact Thomas the Apostle Center at thomap@tritel.net to get your bags ordered!

Who knew helping support a wonderful resource like TAC could be so delicious!

You can also support Thomas the Apostle Center and insure the education programs and spiritual messages they promote through the Diocese continue to be expanded through addtional donations. To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Thomas the Apostle Center

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Located in west-central Wyoming, the Wind River Reservation has a long history with the Episcopal Church. Please help the diocese continue supporting programs and services by donating to the Wind River Reservation Fund.

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Wind River Reservation

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Feed The Children of El Cedral

The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming has had a long relationship with the people of Honduras having done many, many mission trips over the years. A wonderful program grew out of those missions in the village of El Cedral.

El Cedral is in the Copan region of Honduras, an area marked by extreme poverty due to its remoteness. The mission, Feed The Children, provides funding to give each child at least one hot meal every day. Because of the generosity of the people of the diocese, 210 children in a small village, worlds away from Wyoming, are spared the horrors of malnutrition and the diseases that come with it.

What does it cost to feed one child for one year? $70. That’s right, the cost of a nice night out with the family...dinner and a movie...can feed a child for a year! Not only does the money you send provide for meals, but also helps pay for a teacher and school supplies for a high school program in the village. High school for children that normally only attend school as far as the mandatory 6th grade. The Diocese is not just providing meals and some school supplies, but they are helping provide a future for 210 kids in a little village a world away. Please consider giving $70 (or whatever you can afford) and help the diocese keep this very worthwhile program going.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!
¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Thomas the Apostle Center

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Another wonderful project in Honduras is a medical clinic in La Ceiba, El Centro Medico Bendicion. The doctor of the clinic, Dr. Elmer Mejia, was introduced to the diocese, via The Rev Gus Salbador. While Gus was working as a missionary in Honduras, his assistant was a young combat nurse (Honduran Navy Seal), Elmer Mejia. Together they worked with decompression medicine, helping the local divers that would often succumb to “the bends” from poor equipment. Over the years (and through the support of Rev Gus and Bishop Bruce) Nurse Elmer became DOCTOR Elmer. This past summer, Elmer was able to open his clinic in La Ceiba (with both Gus and Bruce in attendance) thanks to the support of the Diocese and the Foundation.

The Foundation was able to pay for a hyperbaric chamber for the clinic and the picture attached shows two men whose lives were saved from the treatments just last week! In addition to treating diving injuries, the chamber is able to help with many other ailments, including burn victims and some cancer patients. This chamber is only one of two in the entire country, and the only one dedicated to serving low income patients.

The work is ongoing, and the patients of the clinic are very low income and only pay what they can afford, which is often not enough to run a clinic. Dr Elmer Meija could have gone to work for the government or a private practice that would make him very wealthy. Instead, he chose to open a clinic in a poor part of La Ceiba and serve those most in need.

Please help Elmer and his family continue to offer services to the people of La Ceiba, Honduras that need it most.

Feliz Navidad y Vaya con Dios
Merry Christmas and go with God

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Mission of Mercy

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No frills mission that changes lives...

St Peter’s Church, in Sheridan, has been undertaking very exciting mission projects to Juarez, Mexico to assist with building houses for families in low-income areas. Through the Casa por Cristo (http://www.casasporcristo.org ), St Peter’s arranges the projects in advance and spend all their time on the ground working to provide a home (or homes) for Juarez residents. They have a no-frills approach that keeps costs down so that everyone who wants to participate has access to the trip. By no frills, they drive to Juarez in church vans, sleep in churches along the way, and stay at a mission on site in Juarez. This also keeps more money in the projects at hand, equating to more houses built each year. For more information, contact The Rev Kevin Jones, at: kncjones@yahoo.com or call 307.674.7655.

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Global Mission: Mexico

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So how does St Andrew's In the Pines Church in Pinedale get to Tanzania? It is all about relationship, and in this case the passion of parishioner Tom Davenport. Tom’s passion is expressed in his blog: http://kaributanzaniawyoming.blogspot.com This isn’t just Tom’s project, though. It is the project of many people that grew out of Tom’s love for the people of Tanzania. It gives a great overview of the many things that a church in Wyoming can do thousands miles away in a vastly different culture.

Most recently, St Andrew’s used their Mustard Seed Mission money from the Foundation to help support their mission efforts in Tanzania. Part of that money is being used for relationship. In this case, to fly a seminarian from Tanzania to meet folks in Pinedale, Big Piney and the surrounding community. This is not any seminarian, however. This is a person that they are helping put through school! So in a couple of weeks Stephen Mnubi will be leaving warm Tanzania for Wyoming to help the people of Wyoming understand the needs of Tanzania. He will be bringing the mission home.

St Andrew’s can’t do this alone. They need help to keep kids in schools, seminarians in college, and providing many basic necessities for our Anglican brothers and sisters that we often take for granted. Please contact Tom for more information: tdavenpo@wyoming.com  

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Tanzania

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Saipan is home to many immigrant workers from the Philippines that work as laborers, domestic helpers (maids), hospitality, etc. Although Saipan is in the US territory, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), it had control of its own immigration and minimum wage. As a result, working conditions and pay scales that would be considered unacceptable anywhere else in America (or anywhere else period) were common practice in CNMI. Recently the Federal government has intervened, taking control back of immigration and a minimum wage is slowly being raised to US standards. In the mean time, many of the “guest workers” as they are called, are still living in poverty and still working 6 day a week, 10-12 hour or more days.

The world for many of these guest workers is very dark. Women are often brought to Saipan under the false impression that they will be working in a restaurant, only to find themselves forced into prostitution. It is common to meet “guest workers” that have lived in Saipan, the United States of America, for over two decades and still not be considered for permanent immigration. They live on a contract-to-contract basis, never complaining about unfair treatment or conditions in fear that they will be sent home. In the midst of this darkness is St Paul’s Episcopal Mission. The Rev Irene Maliaman and her husband Alfred Maliaman are beacons of light for the many guest workers of their small parish. St Paul’s is located in the midst of the “red light” district of Saipan and reaches out to all walks of life, all races, all religions. All are welcome at St Paul’s. It is an oasis in the desert.

Several people from all over Wyoming have been very supportive of the mission, sending clothes and materials for the little church that struggles to survive in the midst of the chaos and oppression it is faced with each day. Because Saipan is in a US territory, they use the US postal system and domestic rates apply to the priority, flat rate boxes! Because the CNMI is a territory, though, a customs form is needed. Those are available at the post office and are very easy to fill out. If you have clothes, books, children’s DVDs or other things you feel St Paul’s could use, please mail them directly to Saipan:
The Rev Irene Maliaman
St. Paul's Episcopal Mission
P.O. Box 506610
Saipan MP 96950 US
Or…if that is too much trouble, drop off or send items to the diocese:
Andrew Kerr
Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming
123 S. Durbin
Casper WY 82604

The needs of St Paul’s are always great, but this Christmas season, things are especially desperate. The economy in Wyoming has taken a noticeable downturn, but in Saipan things are much, much worse. The children of St Paul’s are especially wanting this season, 5 girls: ages 12, 7, 5, 4, 2 and 5 boys: ages 8, 5, 4, 3 and 9 months. While it is too late to get gifts to Saipan in time for Christmas, gifts would still be welcome anytime they come. A donation given online will go immediately into the Saipan account and we can get the money to St Paul’s before Christmas to purchase gifts locally to make a child’s Christmas brighter.

For more information on Saipan and St Paul’s Episcopal Mission, please contact Andrew Kerr at: andrew@wyomingdiocese.org or 307.265.5200

Maligayang Pasko
Merry Christmas in Tagalog

Narang-ay a Baro a Tawen kadakayo amin!
Merry Christmas in Ilokano

Felis Påsgua yan Magof na Åñu Nuebu!
Merry Christmas in Chamorro

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: St Paul's Mission

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Rekii Chuuk: "Our Future, Our Kids, Our Responsibility!

Rekii Chuuk is in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. Rek-a-huh? Chuuk? Micro-what? Where?

Chuuk is a state in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a former US territory in the western Pacific, south of Guam (probably wondering where Guam is now). It is most known by the name Truk and for harboring a large portion of the Japanese fleet in WWII in its large lagoon that was caught unaware by a massive American bombing. Today the main reason anyone travels to Chuuk is to dive the Japanese wrecks that sank in the shallow waters. Chuuk is a tough place. Most of the Pacific islands are not financially well off, and Chuuk is the poorest in Micronesia. Obesity plagues Pacific Islands and the FSM is the 2nd most obese country on the planet, and Chuuk, of course, is the most obese in the FSM. Chuuk has the highest population (52%) and dropout rate (85%), it has the greatest number of students with the lowest English vocabulary and least per capita funds available to educate them ($565 a year), the highest population density per square mile, the highest unemployment rate and lowest wages.

The reality is Chuuk is very poor. The FSM, according to the CIA World Fact book, is #148 of poorest countries per capita. Chuuk is by far the poorest state in FSM. To break it down, Chuuk is actually poorer than all the countries in the Western Hemisphere, except for Haiti. It is often not considered a poor country, as it is a former US territory and still uses US currency. Money just does not go nearly as far on Chuuk as it does in countries with their own currency. The exaggerated dollar makes things very expensive and most of the population lives in poverty. Here are some examples of other countries to help put Chuuk in perspective:
#8 United States of America, #121: Honduras, #133: Philippines, #148: Federated States of Micronesia (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, & Kosrae), #168: Haiti

So, why Chuuk? Clark Graham was a former Peace Corp volunteer that went to Chuuk in 1967…and never left. The same drive for service that led him to Chuuk never left. Clark stayed, married a Chuukese woman, and raised a family. He has started several sports teams, including the first ever woman’s athletic programs on Chuuk. His passion for education and healthy lifestyles has led to the creation of Rekii Chuuk, which means, concern for Chuuk. Rekii Chuuk is a community center that promotes healthy lifestyles, substance free living, and education in a place crippled by obesity, substance abuse, and poor education. Clark is doing this with very little support. It has been a labor of love for his family and the people of Chuuk that keeps him going day after day.

Like every call to mission, several people from all over Wyoming have been very supportive of the program. Sending books, computers, sporting goods, and education materials for a little village, in a little country, far, far away. Because Chuuk is in a former US territory, they use the US postal system and domestic rates apply to the priority, flat rate boxes! Because the FSM is a different country a customs form is needed. Those are available at the post office and are very easy to fill out. A very current and active project that Wyoming is also assisting with is a bicycle ministry. Any bike parts & tools would be very welcome, as would biking equipment like helmets. If you have clothes, sporting equipment, books, children’s DVDs or even old laptops & MP3 players…things you feel Rekii Chuuk could use, please mail them directly to Rekii Chuuk:
Clark Graham
SHIP/HOOPS
P.O. Box 1072
Chuuk FM 96942
Or…if that is too much trouble, please drop off or send items to the diocese:
Andrew Kerr
Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming
123 S. Durbin
Casper WY 82604

A message from Rekii Chuuk Director, Clark Graham to the people of Wyoming:
In Chuuk, the average high school senior has an English vocabulary of a third grader, the dropout rate is 85%, there is no public library, not one playground, no public gym for sports, salaries low, cost of living high... There are many children and youth that need to engage in meaningful activities, be mentored by a caring adult, learn to read, add, and be able to use their God-given abilities. They cannot do this without opportunities. A gift to Rekii Chuuk is an opportunity for you to give and for children to receive.

Pwaapwan Kiriisimas & Merry Christmas
Clark Graham

For more information on Rekii Chuuk, please contact Andrew Kerr at: andrew@wyomingdiocese.org or 307.265.5200

To donate, please mail a check to the diocese or go online to: www.wyomingdiocese.org Donate Online: Rekii Chuuk

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