The Episcopal New Yorker |

Mission to Juarez and the Copper Canyon of Mexico

By KATIE BARTON

For me, the trip to Juarez and Creel really started out as a way to get community service hours - I knew that we would be making an impact on the Mexican children, but I really didn’t grasp the big picture. When we boarded the plane (after some substantial delays), I had mixed feelings about the trip I was embarking on. I was scared of the conditions and situations I was going to be faced with, and I really did not know what to expect. I had faith that everything would work out for the best in the end, but I really did not know how I was going to last seven days with a group of people who were mostly complete strangers in a country so different
from our own.

As the days went on, and we branched out from simply painting a church to actually reaching out to the children, I understood that our trip was about more than physical renovation and building. It was a meaningful experience on an emotional level too, seeing those who have so much less and are still willing to give back to the community as we were doing. The children at the second church we visited were so friendly and energetic that it was hard not to love them and play along with them as they helped us paint. The language barrier was not an issue - getting to see the people we were helping and interact with them first hand made the painting process seem worthwhile, even if we weren’t speaking the same language.

Our eight-hour bus ride (that turned into a 15-hour series of events involving more churches) brought the whole team together and I made friends with people I would never have gotten a chance to meet, let alone share a bus seat with for a couple hours. We did not know what to expect in Creel. Our sleeping arrangements
consisted of a shed with a concrete floor, made comfortable by some of the mattresses we dragged from our cozy-by-comparison compound back in Juarez. Here we got the chance to see Mexico in all its beauty but we also got the chance to help those in need. We visited an orphanage of the Tarahumara Indian tribe, and were able to play with the children there. One girl, Juanita, made me an anklet out of hemp. The children there were not as playful as the ones that helped us paint the church, and much less responsive. It was a stark contrast that everyone noticed, but we still managed to get them to play and leave behind a lot of toys.

The last church we painted provided the real lesson of the trip, in my eyes. After six days of being with the same people, it was easy to have pent-up emotions that need to get out, and after painting this last church, we had lunch and a de-pressurization period. We talked about going back to visit the second church and the children, especially a much loved little boy named Chewy, and many people thought this was a good idea. However, as our debate/talk went on it became clear that sometimes the best thing to do is to “let sleeping dogs lie,” in a sense, and not try to re-create the past. The hardest thing to do is to love something and never get to see it again, but the memories we have of the children, the place, and Mexico in general will always be with us. To try to re-live these memories only sets us up for disappointment and hints that it is best to leave what has happened in the past. This revelation stuck with me as we had our last night at a Mexican Fiesta Restaurant and eventually boarded the plan the next morning.

Would I say the trip changed me? Tough to say. I think every day life can potentially change us, and I see it more as personal growth and a learning experience to be treasured. Mexico took me out of my element and challenged my views. I definitely plan to take another trip like this either in college or before, because I feel like the experience would be different every time.

A Personal Reflection on our Partner, the Diocese of Madras

By Charlotte Patton

During January to April, 2006, while I was a Visiting Scholar in Residence at Lady Doak College, Madurai,
Tamil Nadu, I had visited the Diocese of Madras, Church of South India (CSI), as their guest. The purpose of my visit was to renew and deepen the partnership between the Episcopal Diocese of New York (EDNY) and the CSI Diocese of Madras. I was pleased to observe how the EDNY parishioners through their generous and prompt donations to the Madras Diocese after the December 2004 tsunami made a difference in the lives of some of those so badly affected by the tsunami along the coast of Tamil Nadu.

The response to the tsunami devastation by EDNY was instantaneous. CSI Madras and the government of Tamil Nadu chose to work together to build 200 houses in five villages in the CSI Diocese. The Madras Diocese supplied 36 new boats, as well as nets and outboard motors,so that fishermen could begin to earn their living and feed their families.

EDNY had immediately contacted Madras CSI to ask how to assist in the wake of the tsunami destruction. The diocesan response to help Madras Christians survive and begin anew after the tsunami built on the partnership and its projects underway since the 2004 pilgrimage and prior visits in 2002, and the 2003. Several parishes have taken an interest in supporting Madras Christians, many of whom are poor and Dalits (outcastes), in education, agriculture, and health. Parishioners at Regeneration, Pine Plains, led by Johanna Shafer and her husband, the Rev. Michael Shafer, have held book sales to raise money for Ewart Women’s Christian College, Melorosapuram,whose priority is “the education of the poor, oppressed and less privileged women, especially village women....”

Farming is the way of life for many Christians in rural Madras Diocese which promotes organic farming, supporting university graduates in agriculture in residence to assist farmers and funding the construction of bore wells. Regeneration and other parishes have made ongoing contributions to this work of Madras Diocese. The Sunday School of Heavenly Rest, Manhattan, has sent cards and greetings translated into Tamil to a CSI partner church school. St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s has forged a strong relationship with a matriculation school, K-12, in CSI Madras. Their assistance has made possible the rebuilding of the school’s 19th century school building.These relationships have been very welcomed by Madras CSI.

Education is the priority for Madras Diocese. St. Michael’s, Manhattan, led by Colleen Berge-Barr and Lauren Attinello, has supported both boys and girls in hostel (boarding school) education over several years. A sum as small as $200 supports one child for a year.

In October 2006 there will be a second EDNY pilgrimage to Madras Diocese. The Indian Network Committee invites individuals with an interest and skills in medicine, education, or agriculture to join in special projects recommended by the Madras Diocese. For more information contact the Rev. Margaret Muncie, the chair of the India Network Committee.

A Visit To The City

By the Rev. Scott Barton

Twenty-nine senior high youth and their adult companions descended on Grace Church City Island in the Bronx during the week of July 17-21. The Rev. Patty Alexander and the people of Grace welcomed a team of 14 from Christ Church, Warwick (Mid-Hudson Region), and a team of nine from Grace Church in Syracuse, diocese of Central New York. Despite record high temperatures and five straight days of back-breaking physical labor, the multi-day, multi-diocese mission trip exceeded all hopes. “The trip was a phenomenal success,” said the Rev. Scott Barker, rector of Christ Church. “Our worship was awesome, we managed to do some lovely building rehab for Grace Church, and the folks from City Island could not have been more welcoming and kind.”

The Rev. Jennifer Baskerville Burrows, rector of Grace, Syracuse, was also delighted by the trip. “It was great to see youth from our urban, historically black parish, interact with kids from the very different social and economic setting of Warwick. There was some real learning and growth on the part of the kids this week.”

The youth from Warwick and Syracuse helped construct new, hardwood benches in the Grace parish hall, and new custom-built radiator covers. They also rehabbed a giant walk-in closet, demolished a shed and deck that were past their prime, and did substantial clean up of the church and rectory grounds. Worship highlights included a late—night Taize-style Eucharist on City Isle Ave., and “biblical backrubs” after one particularly hard day’s work. On the social side, the missioners were treated to beach-side hospitality every evening of their stay, including a sunset cruise at mid-week from City Island to the Stature of Liberty.

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Section	September/October 2006
Pilgrimages Byline

Mission to Juarez and the Copper Canyon of Mexico By KATIE BARTON For me, the trip to Juarez and Creel really started out as a way to get community service hours - I knew that we would be making an impact on the Mexican children, but I really didn’t grasp the big picture. When we boarded the plane (after some substantial delays), I had mixed feelings about the trip I was embarking on. I was scared of the conditions and situations I was going to be faced with, and I really did not know what to expect. I had faith that everything would work out for the best in the end, but I really did not know how I was going to last seven days with a group of people who were mostly complete strangers in a country so different from our own. As the days went on, and we branched out from simply painting a church to actually reaching out to the children, I understood that our trip was about more than physical renovation and building. It was a meaningful experience on an emotional level too, seeing those who have so much less and are still willing to give back to the community as we were doing. The children at the second church we visited were so friendly and energetic that it was hard not to love them and play along with them as they helped us paint. The language barrier was not an issue - getting to see the people we were helping and interact with them first hand made the painting process seem worthwhile, even if we weren’t speaking the same language. Our eight-hour bus ride (that turned into a 15-hour series of events involving more churches) brought the whole team together and I made friends with people I would never have gotten a chance to meet, let alone share a bus seat with for a couple hours. We did not know what to expect in Creel. Our sleeping arrangements consisted of a shed with a concrete floor, made comfortable by some of the mattresses we dragged from our cozy-by-comparison compound back in Juarez. Here we got the chance to see Mexico in all its beauty but we also got the chance to help those in need. We visited an orphanage of the Tarahumara Indian tribe, and were able to play with the children there. One girl, Juanita, made me an anklet out of hemp. The children there were not as playful as the ones that helped us paint the church, and much less responsive. It was a stark contrast that everyone noticed, but we still managed to get them to play and leave behind a lot of toys. The last church we painted provided the real lesson of the trip, in my eyes. After six days of being with the same people, it was easy to have pent-up emotions that need to get out, and after painting this last church, we had lunch and a de-pressurization period. We talked about going back to visit the second church and the children, especially a much loved little boy named Chewy, and many people thought this was a good idea. However, as our debate/talk went on it became clear that sometimes the best thing to do is to “let sleeping dogs lie,” in a sense, and not try to re-create the past. The hardest thing to do is to love something and never get to see it again, but the memories we have of the children, the place, and Mexico in general will always be with us. To try to re-live these memories only sets us up for disappointment and hints that it is best to leave what has happened in the past. This revelation stuck with me as we had our last night at a Mexican Fiesta Restaurant and eventually boarded the plan the next morning. Would I say the trip changed me? Tough to say. I think every day life can potentially change us, and I see it more as personal growth and a learning experience to be treasured. Mexico took me out of my element and challenged my views. I definitely plan to take another trip like this either in college or before, because I feel like the experience would be different every time. A Personal Reflection on our Partner, the Diocese of Madras By Charlotte Patton During January to April, 2006, while I was a Visiting Scholar in Residence at Lady Doak College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, I had visited the Diocese of Madras, Church of South India (CSI), as their guest. The purpose of my visit was to renew and deepen the partnership between the Episcopal Diocese of New York (EDNY) and the CSI Diocese of Madras. I was pleased to observe how the EDNY parishioners through their generous and prompt donations to the Madras Diocese after the December 2004 tsunami made a difference in the lives of some of those so badly affected by the tsunami along the coast of Tamil Nadu. The response to the tsunami devastation by EDNY was instantaneous. CSI Madras and the government of Tamil Nadu chose to work together to build 200 houses in five villages in the CSI Diocese. The Madras Diocese supplied 36 new boats, as well as nets and outboard motors,so that fishermen could begin to earn their living and feed their families. EDNY had immediately contacted Madras CSI to ask how to assist in the wake of the tsunami destruction. The diocesan response to help Madras Christians survive and begin anew after the tsunami built on the partnership and its projects underway since the 2004 pilgrimage and prior visits in 2002, and the 2003. Several parishes have taken an interest in supporting Madras Christians, many of whom are poor and Dalits (outcastes), in education, agriculture, and health. Parishioners at Regeneration, Pine Plains, led by Johanna Shafer and her husband, the Rev. Michael Shafer, have held book sales to raise money for Ewart Women’s Christian College, Melorosapuram,whose priority is “the education of the poor, oppressed and less privileged women, especially village women....” Farming is the way of life for many Christians in rural Madras Diocese which promotes organic farming, supporting university graduates in agriculture in residence to assist farmers and funding the construction of bore wells. Regeneration and other parishes have made ongoing contributions to this work of Madras Diocese. The Sunday School of Heavenly Rest, Manhattan, has sent cards and greetings translated into Tamil to a CSI partner church school. St. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s has forged a strong relationship with a matriculation school, K-12, in CSI Madras. Their assistance has made possible the rebuilding of the school’s 19th century school building.These relationships have been very welcomed by Madras CSI. Education is the priority for Madras Diocese. St. Michael’s, Manhattan, led by Colleen Berge-Barr and Lauren Attinello, has supported both boys and girls in hostel (boarding school) education over several years. A sum as small as $200 supports one child for a year. In October 2006 there will be a second EDNY pilgrimage to Madras Diocese. The Indian Network Committee invites individuals with an interest and skills in medicine, education, or agriculture to join in special projects recommended by the Madras Diocese. For more information contact the Rev. Margaret Muncie, the chair of the India Network Committee. A Visit To The City By the Rev. Scott Barton Twenty-nine senior high youth and their adult companions descended on Grace Church City Island in the Bronx during the week of July 17-21. The Rev. Patty Alexander and the people of Grace welcomed a team of 14 from Christ Church, Warwick (Mid-Hudson Region), and a team of nine from Grace Church in Syracuse, diocese of Central New York. Despite record high temperatures and five straight days of back-breaking physical labor, the multi-day, multi-diocese mission trip exceeded all hopes. “The trip was a phenomenal success,” said the Rev. Scott Barker, rector of Christ Church. “Our worship was awesome, we managed to do some lovely building rehab for Grace Church, and the folks from City Island could not have been more welcoming and kind.” The Rev. Jennifer Baskerville Burrows, rector of Grace, Syracuse, was also delighted by the trip. “It was great to see youth from our urban, historically black parish, interact with kids from the very different social and economic setting of Warwick. There was some real learning and growth on the part of the kids this week.” The youth from Warwick and Syracuse helped construct new, hardwood benches in the Grace parish hall, and new custom-built radiator covers. They also rehabbed a giant walk-in closet, demolished a shed and deck that were past their prime, and did substantial clean up of the church and rectory grounds. Worship highlights included a late—night Taize-style Eucharist on City Isle Ave., and “biblical backrubs” after one particularly hard day’s work. On the social side, the missioners were treated to beach-side hospitality every evening of their stay, including a sunset cruise at mid-week from City Island to the Stature of Liberty.

Pilgrimages