Holy Week - Faith by the Soles of my Feet

This year for Holy Week I discovered what it means to put our feet where your faith is.

It started with the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday. I went with Pastor Jerome to an outreach church in Pal-ew. Getting there requires over an hour long ride on a jubble jubble followed by a 45 minute long hike.
That's one aspect of Palm Sunday that I had never considered. Sure there's the triumphant entry - the Hosannas and celebration - but what about being hot and thirsty and tired from travelling - and not in a nice air conditioned car. Suddenly arriving at your destination is in of itself an accomplishment. And how much more welcome is such a greeting that Jesus received.

On Maunday Thursday I discovered a portion of how Peter felt. Tanjay church observes the tradition of feet washing. I was asked to participate. I found being able to wash the feet of the congregants to be a deeply spiritual and connecting moment. But when one member asked me to switch places - I balked. It was infinitely more difficult to be the subject of such an act. How much harder must it have been when Peter was faced with Jesus - his leader and teacher - asking to wash Peter's feet?

On Good Friday I again worshiped with the Tanjay congregation. The services of this congregation are 98% in Cuebueno. But on Good Friday, especially, it didn't matter. There with that congregation I joined in mourning and lament to the sound of the pounding in of the nails. We cried together - as one Christian family - mourning the death of Jesus, and our own place in it.

The evening of Holy Saturday found me on a beach at the foot of a cross with some youth from Sibulan Church. There with neither plan nor agenda we met and had a mini vigil. Nothing had been arranged beforehand - but there at the cross we could do little else.





Easter Sunday I was at the site of our sunrise service before dawn. This meant that I was present as people started to gather. I was there to feel the excitement and expectation in the air as people came together - and the sky began to get light. A bit later, when the sky was pink with the rising sun, I was there with the congregation to celebrate the Risen Christ with joy, exuberance, and in community.

This year - during Holy week I was blessed with the opportunity to walk the trail to warm welcome, wash the feet of followers of Jesus, mourn the sound of nails hammered into wood, watch and wait in the dark beneath the cross, and sing, dance and celebrate with true joy. This year I lived my faith by the soles of my feet.

Tuburan and a Jackfruit

This March I discovered the jack fruit - a most curious fruit.

March was international women's month. And so during this month I attended (and spoke at) several functions and activities by and for women.

One such group that I spent a week with was Tuburan. This is an NGO originally funded by Bishops of the UCCP. The mission of Tuburan is to organise women's groups in poor rural areas. And so the people of Tuburan, which means wellspring, go to the barangays where they teach the local women what an organisation is, how they can structure one themselves, and what their rights are. They talk about things like how to identify the needs in their community - and that they have the right to have a say in how many children they have.



When Tuburan came to one such barangay - the women would barely meet their eyes or share their names. When I met them they were preparing to deliver a presentation in song, dance, drama and speech to their barangay captain, the city mayor, and at least 200 other people. And they did - and were amazing! They held that audience captivated. The most surprised were the husbands. They could hardly believe that it was their wives up there on that stage.




Such was my reaction to the Jack fruit. the part you eat is a small yellow portion. It is very similar in size and shape to a jalapeno pepper. The whole fruit though is huge! and spiky! it is around the size of a watermelon. I never would have guessed where that little fruit had come from.

And so it is with so many women I have met. Seeing the amazing empowered people they are now - one can hardly imagine earlier events in their lives.

So here's to all the incredible women I have known - Who lead and guide and stand up fr us all - without even hinting at what the had to go through to become who they are now - and the sources of wellspring that helped!

Imagine...

There’s an old Beatles song – I’m sure you know it – Imagine. While I have always enjoyed the song, it is the Beatles after all, there’s a line in it that has bothered me – “Imagine there’s no religion”

Of course I am aware of all of the conflicts that have arisen because of religion. From petty arguments to wars between nations – the root cause can often be traced back to religious and faith differences.

But I have found a home in the United Church of Canada. And it was here that I came to better understand Christianity. It was here that my faith and relationship with God were nurtured. Religion can also be where great community and expressions of faith and love are found.

During March I spent an afternoon and evening with some individuals from Amnesty International Philippines Chapter. Here was a group of people coming together with no named religious ties – working together with different creeds and doctrines to end Human Rights Violations. When the struggle is to free the 48 health care workers illegally arrested – with little to no hope of a trial – what church or faith you belong to ceases to matter.



That evening at a table I had a conversation with a Pastor from Tanzania and a social worker from the Philippines. We discussed theology and mission and how our countries and churches were working for, and far too often failing to work for, Human Rights and Dignity.

So when that old Beatles song came on – there in that group I really could imagine that world – with all the people living their life in peace.

I can’t help but believe that this is God’s work. God won’t wait for His churches to respond – She will find servants and leaders elsewhere to bring about the kingdom of God.

Imagine – We can be a part of it too.

1.5 Litres

It was a beautiful morning, not yet muggy and hot from the heat of the day – and early, very early. 3 am early. And I was up and going for a hike – down a mountain, for 20 minutes.

Now what could possible get me - a decidedly non-morning person- to get up at such an hour you may wonder. The answer is simple, and yet also infinitely complicated.

Water.

The town in which I was staying, Aglahug, Jimalalud, has no water supply in the town proper. This means that everyone in the town has to walk down the mountain to the water pump to get their water. And with everyone sharing the one water source, there is a line up of people waiting to wash their clothes, take bathes, and collect water to bring back up the mountains for drinking and cooking. With the temperatures reaching the mid thirties in the afternoons, an afternoon trek for water is not a possibility as it could easily result in heat stroke. So by 4am there is a line-up waiting for water. And so the group of us headed out at 3am to beat the rush.

After filling all of our jugs and doing some laundry we climbed back up. I chose to carry water back up for a shower rather than bathing at the pump, as there was already a line forming. Since the water is scarce, and as much as is possible is needed for drinking and cooking, this translated into a shower with 1.5 liters of water.

The water supply also suffered a recent hit, in the form of a typhoid outbreak. This community was really in need of a better water source.

When the words of Jesus are spoken, promising living water and to never go thirsty, I can just picture the scandal and shock of such words. They are hard enough for us living in the west to understand and appreciate all that it means for our lives. How much more so for those for whom clean drinking water is a daily struggle – and far too often not a possibility? What an outrageous claim! And yet how much more hope and promise that it really holds. Such a life would be that much better. The possibilities and freedom that such a promise hold are suddenly all the more irresistible, and all the more necessary.

So as we all try to drink from the living well of the Risen Christ, I ask…

What did you last do with 1.5 liters of water?

Awaiting Justice

At the United Church of Christ it the Philippines in Sibulan there is something special happening. It is here that a family with a personal and private story has begun to change a congregation – and the way that congregation does ministry.

A few years ago now the son of one of the prominent families was arrested. He was arrested and jailed and charged with murder. Now the details of the case against him, and how it is that he was arrested are bad enough and in and of themselves make one wonder how this family can stand the injustice. But the real kicker is – he was left in jail to await his trial. And he has been there, waiting for that same trial to finish, for almost four years.

I was stunned when I heard that. One semester away from graduating as a Pastor this man was taken away – and there he has remained ever since.

However this is not the end of the story, but just the beginning. Since his arrest a new type of ministry has begun from his home congregation. The members, with the support of the pastor, began a jail ministry. They started up and now continue to run a weekly bible study and time of fellowship for both the male and female inmates. So at least twice a week, members of the congregation are going to the jail to meet with those who are locked up there – all of them awaiting their trials.




When Jesus told the disciples to bring the good news to the captives, or to those imprisoned – I can’t imagine a better manifestation of it than this. These people are being told with actions week in and week out that they have not been forgotten by everyone. That they are still worthy of God’s loving care and attention.

The outpouring of love and care from this one congregation to a previously mostly forgotten and abandoned population is a remainder to us all that even in the worst of situations – when some of the most grievous injustice is occurring – God can and will find a way in. God will work with us and through us to reach the people most in need.

A new hope and new possibilities and new community are being formed between and among the inmates and the congregants of Sibulan Church. And all while awaiting justice.