I
depart Wednesday, February 19 for a mission trip to the Philippines to work with a colleague of mine, Rev. Dr. Matthew Lewis from my
Wisconsin days. Matt is part of an organization that provides training
for clergy both in the US, Africa, and Asia. We will facilitate a
second of two retreats to help clergy develop spiritual practices and
communities of support to help sustain their ministry over the long
haul. The Filipina clergy women specifically asked for a mature woman to
work with them and apparently, I fit the bill. I don't know whether to
be insulted or honored!
You might wonder why in the world I’d travel halfway around the world to visit a third-world nation that was hit by a Category 1 hurricane on Christmas Eve, followed by the eruption of the Taal Volcano with over 300 earthquakes recorded since it’s eruption, especially with COVID-19 far from being controlled.
Well, its personal. Shortly after I moved to Hawaii in 2001, I met Fe Nebres, Hawaii Conference UCC Associate Conference Minister. Fe was ordained to ministry some 35 years earlier in the United Church of Christ Philippines. She was incredibly generous in her acceptance and nurture of me as I sought ordination. She modeled the extravagant welcome of the UCC and mentored me through that process. She developed cancer and her final public act of ministry was at my ordination in Hana, Maui. At the end of the service she came forward, stood face to face with me, removed her beautiful, hand-woven stole, and placed it on my shoulders. The stole was made by women in the mountains of the Philippines and presented to her at her ordination. In giving it to me she passed on her blessing and affirmation of my call.
When Matt contacted me two years ago to see if I’d be interested in helping him lead a group of clergy women in the Philippines, I didn’t have to think twice. Unknown to Matt, I’d traveled to the Philippines with a group of clergy from Hawaii in 2009 with Compassion International. Rod and I have sponsored Vhea Domoral since then as a result of that visit. And Matt had no idea about Fe Nebres. After all those years I had the opportunity to pass that stole, with its blessing and affirmation, back to her own sisters in ministry.
Last February I returned to the Philippines and met the cohort of women clergy I’d be working with for that week-long retreat and then for the next eleven months virtually. I brought out Fe’s stole, and the women immediately identified the specific mountain group that made the stole. I shared my story about Fe, and one woman boldly said, “That’s for me.” Of course, I gave it to her, and then she told me she’d lost her husband who was also a pastor to cancer 5 months earlier. Although they were both pastors, that denomination didn’t accept her because she was a woman. She had to move out of the parsonage and without a home or job she was desperate. She had found a home and ministry in the United Church of Christ Philippines. She’d been praying for a sense of affirmation and peace, and the stole was her answer
.
One of my names for God is “The God of it just so happens.” It just so happens that this year I’ll be able to meet Vhea, who will be 16 years old in August, in person during this trip. She was 5 when we began to sponsor her. I ask for your prayers for safety, good health, a quick adjustment to jet lag, patience in the midst of language challengers, and above all sensitivity and attentiveness to the movement of the Spirit in our work together. I am sure I will receive far more than I can possible give! Please know that I will also be praying for you!
You might wonder why in the world I’d travel halfway around the world to visit a third-world nation that was hit by a Category 1 hurricane on Christmas Eve, followed by the eruption of the Taal Volcano with over 300 earthquakes recorded since it’s eruption, especially with COVID-19 far from being controlled.
Well, its personal. Shortly after I moved to Hawaii in 2001, I met Fe Nebres, Hawaii Conference UCC Associate Conference Minister. Fe was ordained to ministry some 35 years earlier in the United Church of Christ Philippines. She was incredibly generous in her acceptance and nurture of me as I sought ordination. She modeled the extravagant welcome of the UCC and mentored me through that process. She developed cancer and her final public act of ministry was at my ordination in Hana, Maui. At the end of the service she came forward, stood face to face with me, removed her beautiful, hand-woven stole, and placed it on my shoulders. The stole was made by women in the mountains of the Philippines and presented to her at her ordination. In giving it to me she passed on her blessing and affirmation of my call.
When Matt contacted me two years ago to see if I’d be interested in helping him lead a group of clergy women in the Philippines, I didn’t have to think twice. Unknown to Matt, I’d traveled to the Philippines with a group of clergy from Hawaii in 2009 with Compassion International. Rod and I have sponsored Vhea Domoral since then as a result of that visit. And Matt had no idea about Fe Nebres. After all those years I had the opportunity to pass that stole, with its blessing and affirmation, back to her own sisters in ministry.
Last February I returned to the Philippines and met the cohort of women clergy I’d be working with for that week-long retreat and then for the next eleven months virtually. I brought out Fe’s stole, and the women immediately identified the specific mountain group that made the stole. I shared my story about Fe, and one woman boldly said, “That’s for me.” Of course, I gave it to her, and then she told me she’d lost her husband who was also a pastor to cancer 5 months earlier. Although they were both pastors, that denomination didn’t accept her because she was a woman. She had to move out of the parsonage and without a home or job she was desperate. She had found a home and ministry in the United Church of Christ Philippines. She’d been praying for a sense of affirmation and peace, and the stole was her answer
.
One of my names for God is “The God of it just so happens.” It just so happens that this year I’ll be able to meet Vhea, who will be 16 years old in August, in person during this trip. She was 5 when we began to sponsor her. I ask for your prayers for safety, good health, a quick adjustment to jet lag, patience in the midst of language challengers, and above all sensitivity and attentiveness to the movement of the Spirit in our work together. I am sure I will receive far more than I can possible give! Please know that I will also be praying for you!
