March 5, 2012

We greet you, our family and friends, as the AIAIA delegation prepares to return to Minnesota. Our lives have been enriched by our experiences and we acknowledge our mixed emotions as we leave our South African family.

This is our thirteenth mission in twelve years. We have continued to maintain our outreach by expanding our food distribution, increasing our hospice presence, as well as providing much needed medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. AIAIA continues to identify improved education as key to improving conditions here. We are looking to commit our time and energy to focus on leadership training and skills. This expansion is a result of discussions with Reverend Xapile as well as other leaders in the South African community. We celebrate the improvements we have seen in the last twelve years and we recognize the many challenges that lie ahead, many of which will take multiple generations to improve.

Ironically, during this mission trip, Matisse Xapile, the mother of Reverend Spiwo Xapile, the pastor with whom we partner here in South Africa and a well known friend to past delegations, died while staying with her daughter in Port Elizabeth. Matisse was a proud African woman who experienced firsthand the pain and struggle of apartheid. She raised a family of seven in rural South Africa. On behalf of Arm in Arm in Africa we extend our condolences to the Xapile family; we were honored to share in her life.

This will be our last blog post for this trip. It is important for this delegation to express our gratitude for the support and prayers that you have offered during our time away. In particular we would also like to express our gratitude to the community of St. Joan of Arc and for the privilege of being one of your four sustaining partnerships. Your encouragement and financial support have empowered us to make a difference in the world.

If you have journeyed with us through this blog, we invite you to share our web site and blog with your families and friends, to financially support the work of Arm in Arm in Africa, please go to the home page and click on "donate now."

Again, we thank you for partnering with us in joining with us, arm in arm.

In closing, a Prayer for the Decade of Nonviolence:

I bow to the sacred in all creation

May my needs be few and my living simple

May my actions bear witness to the suffering of others

May my hands never harm a living being

May my steps stay on the journey of justice

May my tongue speak for those who are poor

May my prayers rise with patient discontent

May my life's work be a passion for peace and nonviolence.

March 4, 2012

Our South African journey continues as we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Lent. We are reminded of the power of Transfiguration.

A quote from Pat Cane:

We join with the earth and with each other
to bring new life to the land,
to create the human community,
to provide justice and peace,
to remember our children,
to remember who we are...
We join together
as many and diverse expressions
of one loving mystery,
for the healing of the Earth
and the renewal of all Life.

It is Sunday afternoon and our delegation is about to celebrate Eucharist. We continue to be transformed by the many human encounters. Our brothers and sisters continue to share the wealth of their joy, deep faith and overwhelming hospitality. We are welcomed and affirmed every day in countless numbers of ways.

Tomorrow we will choose to begin to think of our return to our families and friends, but for today, we share a variety of photos of our journey here.

Thank you again for your continued support.

March 4, 2012

Our South African journey continues as we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Lent. We are reminded of the power of Transfiguration.

A quote from Pat Cane:

We join with the earth and with each other

to bring new life to the land,

to create the human community,

to provide justice and peace,

to remember our children,

to remember who we are...

We join together

as many and diverse expressions

of one loving mystery,

for the healing of the Earth

and the renewal of all Life.

It is Sunday afternoon and our delegation is about to celebrate Eucharist. We continue to be transformed by the many human encounters. Our brothers and sisters continue to share the wealth of their joy, deep faith and overwhelming hospitality. We are welcomed and affirmed every day in countless numbers of ways.

Tomorrow we will choose to begin to think of our return to our families and friends, but for today, we share a variety of photos of our journey here.

Thank you again for your continued support.

March 1, 2012

A Program for Happiness

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable;

and wealthy, not rich;

to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly;

to listen to the stars and the birds, to babes and sages with an open heart;

to bear all cheerfully, and bravely,

await occasions, hurry never;

in a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious

grow up through the common.

-W. Chandler

Our day began with a much awaited return to Itipini. This us a community of 3.000 people living in a garbage dump, with no electricity, sanitation, public transportation and two water spigots for the entire village. Arm In Arm In Africa joined in a partnership with the African Medical Mission as a way to embrace this community. We continue to provide assistance with the lumch program for the children's preschool, as well as providing medical supplies and newborn clothing for the one and only clinic in Itipini.

Father Jim was able to check in with Jenny McConnachie, the nurse who manages the clinic. Jenny reports that a few families have been able to find more secure housing outside of Itipini, however it continues to be the only choice for many coming out of the rural area of the Eastern Cape. AIAIA is hopeful of securing additional donations to assist this most impoverished community. Our visit concluded with sharing some songs and Mother Bears with the preschoolers.

We returned to Malungeni to celebrate and conclude our last evening with the community. As a gift of thanks for annually preparing the meal for the entire village, we brought AIAIA aprons for the cooks.

AAIA has traditionally purchased this meal as a way of celebrating our 12 year relationship. Our evening ended with the beautiful sounds and sights of the young people and members of our delegation sharing music and games, a true vision of a world that can come together in peace and love.