True Prayer

“True prayer is the breath of life, 

of radical abandonment to God, 

the heartbeat of a life of radical abiding in God, 

and the action of a life of radical availability 

to God in the world.” 

In my childhood my family didn’t pray.  And, in my 38 years of meditation, as silent prayer, it is my breath of life and a radical abandonment to God — and from this came a natural underlying feeling of “all is well” even though it appeared not to be at times.  

In my marriage to Steve, we pray every morning and evening, at meals and whenever the occasion should arise.  This has been the first time in my life I actually prayed out loud.  At first the words took a while to come.  But, as we are here in Uganda, during our morning devotions, a deep expression of the Heart is coming quite naturally. 

The accomplishments here in Mityana, by the Bradshaw’s, have been over the top.  They have given the credit completely over to the support of prayer from those who have supported their endeavor financially from Maine, USA and of those directly involved here. 

“The life of true prayer releases the Presence of God 

into the world and that world is shaken to its very depths.  

This also suggests that those whose prayer is true, whose prayer emerges from a life of radical abandonment to God,  

whose prayer is a life of radical abiding in God, 

that these persons themselves become the agents of God’s Presence through a life of radical availability to God.”

It feels, to me, that we have opened a door with you in these communications that is releasing the Presence of God into the world.  It is intrinsic.  Yes.  But, while here we can actually see the affects that true prayer is having in Mityana.  You may also see some shifts and changes in your part of the world and in your life.  It is very powerful when you have hundreds of people coming together like this.

Here is a picture from the opening ceremonies of the music school that the Bradshaw’s (and contributors) have created on the campus of the Diocese of Mityana.  I wish you could have been here to see these children come alive through music.  We even saw Henry dancing the traditional African dance.  The school has trained teachers and staff to carry on what Beth & Chuck have started.  Mukama Yebazibwe!  Praise the Lord!  

One small but significant place in Uganda and in the entire continent of Africa where a light is shining bright.  Yet, there is so much that is happening here that we certainly don’t hear about in the news at home or read in books about Africa.  We are seeing this first hand.  Bringing our love and Awareness into this part of the world is key.

“True prayer is a life of radical availability to God in the world.”

Pastor Lazarus told us (recently) of a family in his church.  Both parents have HIV.   The man cannot work because he is so weak, so the family has no food.  The Pastor and his wife have shared food with them, but it’s not enough.  They have five children — the oldest is 7, and a baby due in two months.  Some, maybe all of the children have HIV.  Maybe the new baby will.  The man wishes to send all the children to live with his wife’s mother, but doesn’t have the money for transport.

Money will not fix this.  It would feel good to give money and not have to feel the desolation of this family any longer.  I do not know what is best.  Would the grandmother be the best care taker for these children?  If money was given, would it go for the intended purpose?  Should this family stay together?

We have money.  We are so very wealthy compared to all those here.  Sometimes a gift of money can help a specific situation.  Most times it is more complicated.  Even when money can help,  the needs are vast and way beyond our resources. 

What do we do?  Most of the time what seems best is simple companionship.  To be with others in their need.  To sit with the discomfort and not try to fix it.  This is hard, and requires Grace beyond my capacity.

We pray.  We pray for God’s mercy for the millions in need here.  Those in refugee camps.  Those who will die today.  In the amount of time it takes to inhale, someone in the world will die of starvation.  God have mercy.  We pray for wisdom to work and live in sync with the will of God, a God whose wisdom doesn’t make sense to our understanding at this moment.

This was just one conversation we both have had about what is happening for people here.  It’s beyond both of our experience and comprehension.  We wanted to bring you here to be aware of this.  Thank you for being with us.

… those whose prayer is true, 

whose prayer emerges from a life of radical abandonment to God,  

whose prayer is a life of radical abiding in God,  

these persons themselves become the agents of God’s Presence 

through a life of radical availability to God.”

Love,

Elizabeth & Steve

P.S.  The quote in italics was written by ~ M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.

Beauty in Bleakness

“What is deepest within us is the image of God.”

It’s been one week since leaving our home in Maine and coming to Uganda.  We are in Mityana, a little village about 2 1/2 hours from Entebbe (where we flew into).  Our elevation is 3,000 feet and close to the equator.  But, the weather is much like it was in Maine before we left — 75 - 80 degrees.  Nice.  Not what we expected.

The  drive here was crazy with lots of vehicles all over the road and holes and dust — everywhere dust.  But, in the vehicle there was only beauty and love as we got to know our new friends.

As we woke up the next day, we heard lots of sounds from something in our back yard.  We realized later there are hundreds of weaver birds nesting in the trees there.  They build their nests upside down and enter from a hole in the bottom.  Beautiful!  Yes?  Chuck told us that weaver birds destroy the trees here.  

So, we have been seeing a contrast here … it’s somewhat paradoxical.  Where we are staying we do have a lot of creature comforts but it certainly is a contrast from the way most people live here.  Here is where we are staying …

My sister sent me a lovely blessing: 

❤ You can't be safer than being in the place God ordains you to be! 

We are finding places where we can serve.  The Bradshaw’s are leaving here in October after three full years of mission work.  So, they are quite busy closing up things and packing.  I am finding it quite easy to assist in the packing and around the little cottage where we are staying doing whatever is needed in the moment.  Steve is enjoying working in the music school making shelves for the instruments.   Yesterday morning we were with the children in the school giving a lesson to the children.  I had so much fun teaching them a favorite song from my childhood: “This little light of mine … I’m gonna let it shine … let it shine! … let it shine!  Remember?  We are so grateful to be here and have this experience with open, receptive and loving people.  More beauty in this place of poverty.

Red dust, everywhere.  It gets in your eyes, your mouth, your clothes.  Poverty is pervasive.  Even those of somewhat higher status live below the lowest level of poverty at home.  There are no jobs in this rural area.  Everyone gardens and has many (hand made) jobs.  Survival is a full time job.  Even the scrawny chickens scrounge all day for a few seed.  What a bleak picture.  Yet, they appear happy.  

For the last 2 days I have been building shelves in a cabinet.  This is to hold musical instruments for the new music school the Bradshaw’s have built.  I am used to using a variety of power tools, dimension lumber, quick access to whatever I need for woodworking.  Here I have a hammer, a hand saw, rough cut warped lumber which exudes sap.  I make many mistakes and progress is slow — “mpola … mpola”.

Henry has been working alongside me.  he has not asked for any money and is cheerfully giving his time.  He is quiet, but always looking to make my part of the task easier.  Yesterday, he took several 8 foot long boards on the back of a hired motorcycle (boda boda) to town to be cut.  Amazing!

Henry is missing six of his front teeth.  it would cost about $50 to get his teeth fixed here.  That might as well be a million dollars for him. 

I have been so blessed by Henry’s beautiful spirit.  He is a skillful dancer too.  When he dances, joy fills him and everyone around him.  

P.S. Henry will get his teeth.

That is the nature of our days — beauty in the midst of bleakness.  We pray for the Grace to see the beauty and not be blinded by what is bleak.

“God, light our way … let us see with new eyes.”

Today is the dedication of the music school and the farewell gathering for the Bradshaw’s.  We will send pictures in our next message to you.  

Love,

Steve & Elizabeth

Welcome ... Welcome ... Welcome!

We arrived in Uganda yesterday after three days of travel.  It was quite comfortable considering the 19 hours of flight time and lots of waiting time in airports.  The stewardesses on each leg of the trip made sure that Steve and I had seats with lots of leg room.  And, when we spent the night in the airport in Doha, we were lucky to have found a quiet room with lounge chairs to stretch out in and sleep quite well.  We were so grateful!

Chuck and Beth Bradshaw met us at the airport in Entebbe and we drove to Mityana where they live.  Everyone is being so gracious to us. 

Right away we felt the “Welcome” from everyone.  Each time we would meet someone new they said it at least three times.  The Africans sure know how to make us feel right at home.

We are settling into our new space for a little while here in the Bradshaw’s home before we move into Mama Victoria’s boarding home just a short distance from here.  They will be leaving to go back to Maine, USA the first of October.  So, in the meantime, we hope to be of some help in their transition of moving after three years of being here in service to the Episcopal Diocese of Uganda, and whatever else we are being given to do — taking each moment as it comes.

In our morning meditation and prayer time, Steve used the Celtic Benediction to begin our day.  The closing prayer seemed to fit quite nicely to set the context for the days to come:

In the busyness of this day

grant me a stillness of seeing, O God.

In the conflicting voices of my mind

grant me a calmness of hearing.

Let my seeing and hearing, 

my words and my actions

be rooted in a silent certainty of your Presence.

Let my passions for life

and the longings for justice that stir within me

be grounded in the experience of your stillness.

Let my life be rooted in the ground of your peace, O God,

let me be rooted in the depths of your peace.

~ J. Phillip Newell

More to come …

Love,

Elizabeth & Steve

Discovering More About “Loving Our Neighbor”

“The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others.”

~ Thich Nhat Hahn

This summer we were at a camping retreat in the Rangely Lakes just north east of us, here in Maine.  Our group chose to contemplate the essence of the teaching of St. Frances.  It was a great opportunity for all of us to be with the life of someone who  lived what Thich Nhat Hahn referred to above.

Near the end of the retreat, we were sitting by the lake reading an article on compassion.  The author revealed a deeper meaning of compassion and loving our  neighbor.  He said, “… the self-denial necessary for compassionate living, for recognizing and responding to the suffering of others, isn’t necessarily a heroic self-giving, a complete divestment. For me, at least, it’s more often going to be the daily, almost hourly, dying to my own childish preferences and shallow agendas that keep me from being fully available to others and to God.  When I’m blinded by my need to have things my way, how can I, in Nhat Hahn’s words, “recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others”? (by Roger Owens in “Weavings” Journal)

We both realized that the message in this article was for us.  We have been given so much in the preparation for our trip to Africa.  This message fine tunes the way in which we relate with each other on a daily basis.  Are we willing to surrender our own preferences to then be empty and open to receive the true direction and “lead from our Heart” as St. Francis did in his mission?  We each have a strong independence and have our own sense of guidance from our Heart.  Working out things at home is one thing, but traveling in a foreign country is another.  

When we went on with the article, the author revealed a process to use in the moment, when our preferences are up and conflicting:

Breathing in, I see my attachment to ___________ (fill in the blank)

Breathing out, I let go of my attachment to ____________.

Breathing in, I see my neighbor.

Breathing out, I love my neighbor. 

We have used this process a number of times as we were making choices in the final preparations for our trip to Africa.  One such example had to do with how to keep safe as we travel in Africa.  When we applied the process a number of suggestions were revealed — Staying with the feeling “all is well” and also “having a dependable and well recommended driver.”  We realized that the Bradshaws, who now live in Mityana, Uganda, will be introducing us to a driver and translator, as well as other friends they have come to know well in Mityana — this is our “bubble of safety and reliability.”  We realized that it would be essential to rely on our “bubble” when we travel away from Mityana to Rwanda later in our trip.  

This process has also worked very well with some basic choices in our daily lives.   Each time we’ve discovered a choice that was no longer interrupted by our preferences, but a choice or direction coming from the Heart of God.  Also, we have found we are more available to each other in a more compassionate and sensitive way.

So, we are right down to the nitty gritty of preparing for this trip.  Two more weeks to go.  Thanks for being with us each step of the way.

Blessings to you, dear friend,

Elizabeth & Steve

Ubuntu

One evening, just recently, we had a couple over for dinner.  They were from Burundi, Africa.  As the evening progressed, we talked about our going to Africa and they began discussing something very important for us to hear — “Ubuntu.”  We felt to share it with you as we continue to awaken to it’s full meaning in our own lives.  This information was collected mostly from a communication by Jen Boudreau in “Words to Live By.”

A person with Ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming of others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole. They know that they are diminished when others are humiliated, diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than who they are. The quality of Ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanize them.”

Desmond Tuttu elaborates further on this ...

“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.” 

So, now we know why we are going to Africa.  We have a lot to learn from these beautiful people.

When we shared this with Mom just recently she said, “Wouldn’t it be lovely if the whole world had “Ubuntu.”  Yes, Mom, it would.  

Getting Closer

Mityana is where we are going in Uganda.  It's getting closer, so we wanted to check in with you with how the preparations are going for us personally.

We are both wanting to be respectful and in the flow with the culture of Uganda. Looking online I found a good reference.  Interesting … it sounded like something that we would want to have in our regular daily lives.  Here is what they said: (Our comments in brackets)

While serving overseas, remember four important things:

• Have no presuppositions or assumptions about people, places or assignment.  (always live in the freshness of now with no past or future)
• Everyone has flaws; (see “others” as a reflection of yourself and be gentle with “our” mistakes) 
• Places are not what they always seem in pictures (have no expectations)  
• The assignment will not indicate all that you are going to do (be open to what comes and give your best). 
• Have a sense of humor (laugh at yourself and with others).
• Be flexible (changes will come, be patient).

So, what is the major factor from all of this?  Patience … having the capacity to accept what comes, just as it is.  Dictionary definition: “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”

Remembering this may be helpful in our upcoming trip to Uganda.

Our trip is getting closer.  Two months from now we will be in Uganda.  This week we got all of our shots, sent away for our visas, and finished setting aside the money for this trip.

We are reading books to help us understand central African culture — a way of interacting which seems very different from North American culture.  Here, we are very task focused and value self sufficiency.  African and Latin American cultures are more based on interrelationship and prioritize connection over pragmatics.  Our goal oriented interactions, even in stores, would be considered rude.  We value time efficiency (time is money) while they are much more leisurely and conversational.

When I was 14 I got my first job — dishwasher at a summer camp.  I learned quickly that work efficiency was valued and I got good at it.  Over the years, with great arrogance, I have believed I knew the “right” way to get things done.  Crank it out.  Get the most done in the least time.  Every other way of approaching goals is inferior and needs correction.  Speed is everything.

So very much to learn.  So much to unlearn.  At a time in life where I expected to know most of what I needed to know, it feels like starting over.  As Bob Dylan says in “My Back Pages,”  — “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”

Please pray for us both in our new growth and understanding.

Surrendering

Our tickets are purchased!  We will be flying into Kampala, Uganda, on September 9th and staying through November 1st.

As we are beginning to map out our trip, we both are committed to surrendering and listening deeply within for what is God’s direction for us.   In this surrendering process, we each have a particular experience to share. 

Initially, we didn’t know where we were going to go in Africa - just Central Africa.  We knew we were being called and that’s all.  We thought of Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan because some of our friends, from these countries, are  members in our church.  Recent unrest in Burundi and Sudan has made travel there questionable.

A few weeks ago, we travelled to meet with Chuck and Beth Bradshaw.  They were in Cambridge, Massachusetts on leave during a three year mission posting in Mityana, Uganda.  

As we listened to them tell of  their work in Mityana, we heard stories of their experiences and of their network of people there.  We each felt a growing affirmation that this was to be our home base.  It seemed clear that God was guiding us to benefit from the network of drivers, translators etc. 

Madame Victoria runs a small school and orphanage about two kilometers from Mityana.  She accepts guests in her home and orphanage and this seems like a good place for us to stay.

We are continuing to learn what this trip is to be as we explore opportunities in Mityana as well as in Rwanda, Kenya and Burundi.

 In our preparation for the pilgrimage to Africa, I was brought back to my trips to India and the process of surrendering into an entirely different culture to honor the customs as best as I could.  I didn’t realize until now, how significant this experience was.  

On my initial visit, I would walk down the streets and view all of the poverty and filth.  It was a sensory overload.  Initially, I just shut down and didn’t even want to go out of the compound.  That didn’t work, so I began to slowly accept it all as it is.  Then, I began to realize something entirely different.  I realized the native people had a light in their eyes and a genuine happiness with so little. I began to appreciate these lovely people for who and what they are.  They became my teachers in so many ways.  I learned the power and strength in surrender.

I returned each year for four months, for almost 20 years.  It completely changed the way I lived my life.  I didn’t realize all of the many ways it had deeply affected me until I began to prepare, spiritually, for our mission to Africa.  It  is my prayer and intention that this same wisdom and strength be present with us on this mission.