two Nicaragua pieces

I've uploaded two pieces about Nicaragua and wanted to share the links to them with you, (both are PDF files):

The first is a narrative that Sara Berg prepared summarizing the Summer 2010 Sixth mission trip to Nicaragua:

• Nicaragua Narrative

The second is an article Bill Beggs found from Gettysburg College's alumni magazine about their work in Leon and around Nicaragua:

• Nicaragua Article

Enjoy!

Fred

Holocaust Service

On Sunday August 29 we had the privilege of hearing a stirring service presentation called "Who are These Germans". The presenters were Susanne Ortner and Fritz Ottenheimer. Fritz is a Squirrel Hill resident who escaped Germany in 1939 as a boy. Susanne is young Christian German woman who plays Klezmer music on her clarinet and came to the US four years ago on a grant to promote international understanding through her music and Fritz's memories. She has since gone back to and returned from Germany to marry Pittsburgh jazz pianist, Tom Roberts, Tom accompanied her in this service. With Susanne setting the mood with her music, Fritz related several moving anecdotes from his life, including the loss of the family business, her father's imprisonment and later release, their escape to the US, and some war stories. Not all of these memories were negative, however, since at one point some German POWs that he was escorting to a camp probably saved his life with a warning about a trolley wire across the road that could have decapitated him. Susanne related how young Germans knowledge and ultimate shame regarding the Holocaust have changed with her generation.

Nicaragua Travelers Return

After an eventful 10 or 11 days, 8 of us returned safely to Pittsburgh. Sara and Chris were staying over until the 30th to attend an anniversary celebration in Sara's family. Due to a 2 1/2 hour delay leaving Managua on Friday, June 25, we missed our connecting flight from Miami to Chicago. The American Airline agent worked diligently to arrange flight for us back to Pittsburgh. As it worked out, Fred was able to get a flight in the afternoon; Pam, Carol, and I were booked on an evening flight thorough Charlotte, and Cliff, Nora, Al, and Brenda were put up in Miami for the night before returning on Saturday. This was only the last of a series of adventures that we experienced on our trip. I will start the narration and others will take up the tales later.

Even our flight to Managua foretold of the adventures to come. Our flight from Miami to Managua was delayed about 75 minutes before takeoff due to a malfunctioning light. Then, as we were about to land we had to circle for about 15 minutes while a thunderstorm in Managua dissipated a bit. We landed hard in rain and, we thought, hydroplaned down the runway. Sara, Chris and a van were there to meet us. A wonderful dinner, mush appreciated, was waiting for us at the Aloha Hotel, run by Sara's sister, Nora and husband Andrea (Andrew).

I will leave the events of our day in Managua for others to tell and move on to our trip on Thursday to El Porvenir. We left Managua late morning with a pickup truck and a large van and stopped in Leon to have lunch. Then a series of events (some might say miraculous) began to occur. Someone at the restuarant told Chris and Sara that the road they intended to take was washed out by the previous night's thunderstorm and was impassable. An alternative route was suggested, so off we went along this other route, not fully sure of ourselves. At what turned out to be the correct turnoff, we stopped to get additional directions at a small store. A bus pulled in behind us and a man got off and wanderer over to the conversation. When he heard what was being said, he announced that he knew Renne, our El Porvenir contact, and knew how to get to El Porvenir. He, Marvin by name, volunteered to ride with us to direct us to the right place. Off we went again along a dirt road for some time before coming to a turnoff. By now the daily thunderstorm was beginning to roll in. Fearing the storm and the fact that part of the road from hereon was the bed of a river, our van driver, William, and Sara decided to stop there. Chris, along with Al and Fred, went on ahead in the truck to find the tractor and wagon that we hoped was waiting for us somewhere up the road. We had not been able to make any communication with El Porvenir for several days, so were not sure where or when the wagon would be.

Moments after Chris left in the truck, the storm hit and within minutes the river bed was a raging torrent. After a half hour, the rain subsided and suddenly a motorcycle came up the road. The cyclist told us that he had seen Chris and the wagon. The wagon arrived, we piled in and endured a bouncy trip up the mountain, taking about 2 hours to do so. We arrived in El Porvenir at just about dusk, which was good because the tractor had no lights. We set up our cots and mosquito nets, had dinner and settled in for the night in an open air, bur covered by a roof, veranda. Thus, ended our first day in El Porvenir.

Others will tell you about roosters, coffee plant, school, roadwork, a trip to repair to a truck, and trips to the hospital in future postings. Stay tuned, the adventures are just beginning.

Bill

Prayers for Peace In Homewood this Friday April 2nd

The House of Manna's Mission, Justice, and Peace Ministry invites the public, all faith communities, and community and civic leaders to join them this Friday, April 2nd (Good Friday), in spiritual solidarity praying for peace and non-violence in the community of Homewood-Brushton . Rev. Eugene Blackwell and Rev. Sheldon Sorge, the new Pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery, will lead prayers for peace in the East End neighborhood. At 9:00 AM, the group will gather for fellowship at the Homewood Coliseum located at 7310 Frankstown Avenue, and line up along Frankstown and Homewood Avenues to pray at 10:15 AM. For more information, visit www.houseofmanna.org .

"Leadership Doesn't Happen Alone": Lecture by Global Links CoFounder

Kathleen Hower, cofounder and executive director of Global Links, will deliver a lecture titled "Leadership Doesn't Happen Alone" as recipient of the University of Pittsburgh's 2010 Johnson Institute Award for Exemplary Leadership.

When: 5 p.m. March 25 (reception at 4 PM, before the lecture begins)
Where: Ballroom B, University Club, 123 University Pl., Oakland
Cost: FREE! But pre-registration requested (ethics@gspia.pitt.edu), and donations to Global Links will be accepted at the event.

Hower cofounded Global Links in 1989. Global Links recovers surplus medical materials from U.S. hospitals and makes them available to hospitals in developing countries. With the help of its loyal volunteers, many of them organized through Sixth by Jan Maxwell, Global Links has provided more than $160 million in critical medical aid to people in Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, and Nicaragua.

Notes from the March Meeting

Church & Community Committee Meeting Notes : 3/07/10

The Committee met in the parlor. Fifteen people were in attendance. The meeting opened with a prayer by Jane Fox.

Because of the late start due to the New Members’ Reception, the agenda was revised to discuss the Mission Funding allocation first.

Funding Allocations: A preliminary allocation schedule was presented for discussion by Chairperson Bill Beggs. After some discussion about the history of Sixth’s relationship with the Mars Home for Youths, the Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, Camp Crestfield, and Neighborhood Academy, it was proposed and accepted by acclamation to renew the support of EECM, Neighborhood Academy, Mars Home for Youth, Camp Crestfield, and Goats for Gifts at the same level as 2009. The allowance for reimbursements for Neighborhood Academy lunches was increased to better represent expected needs. Allocation of most of the remaining funds will be determined at the next meeting.

Additional discussion, initiated by Sue Koehler, centered on a policy of dealing with missions that might be supported both by C&C Committee and an appeal to the congregation. In particular, the Lazarus Fund and Disaster Assistance, like for Haiti and Chile, fall in this category. This discussion will be continued at the next meeting.

Finally, the Committee recommends that a proposal be presented to Session to offer the congregation an opportunity to support a Chile Disaster Assistance campaign.

Correspondence, Announcements and Updates:

• Thank You Notes were received from More Life and First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood for our contributions.
• Newsletters have been received from EECM, Greater Pgh Community Food Bank, GASP, Mission Mosaic (Presbytery Disaster Assistance), Neighborhood Academy, and Loaves and Fishes.

• Appeals for support were received from EECM “Have a Heart for Hunger” campaign, Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute (PPI), St. Margaret’s Foundation. The committee had no interest in St. Margaret’s. Mary Louise has expressed in supporting PPI, so the Committee agreed to consider it at our next meeting.

A part of the EECM Hunger campaign is a benefit campaign pancake dinner at Pamela’s in the Strip. Those interested should call 412-3611-5549 or E-mail kates@eecm.org. The Committee recommended putting an announcement in the bulletin.

UPDATES:

Neighborhood Academy: After cancellations twice in February, our people served lunch at Neighborhood Academy on March 3rd. Sue reported that the meal was well received and the kids very respectful.

Peacemaking Special Offerings: Nora Johnson reported that the offering will be received in late May or early June.

Nicaragua Adult Mission Trip: Bill Beggs reported that participants are getting their immunization shots and taking Spanish lessons. The trip is scheduled for June 15 through 25.

The next meeting will be late May or early June, depending on the Church calendar.

Respectively submitted,

Bill Beggs

Meeting This Sunday

The Committee will meet in the Parlor this Sunday, after the New Member Reception. Please come and welcome Bill Beggs as the new Chair!

Agenda for C&C Meeting of March 7, 2010

I. Opening Prayer

II. Announcements:
Neighborhood Academy Luncheon Update
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)
Others?

III. Action Items:
A. Allocation of Direct (Local) Mission Funds
B. Other Action Items

IV. Adjournment

Neighborhood Academy: Lunch is On!

The February 11th lunch at the Neighborhood Academy was canceled due to the horrendous weather situation and, not insignificantly, school was canceled.

Our next lunch date at the Academy is WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3rd. Many of the people planning to help in Feb. are still involved in March. But this opportunity is open to others! Does anyone wish to volunteer for the March date? Please contact Diana Wood!

Open Hand ministries volunteer opportunities

Below is a note from Michael Stanton of Open Hand ministries letting us know of several volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks. If you are able to lend a hand, please contact Michael at MStanton@pts.edu .

Greetings,
Open Hand is scheduling special workdays for Feb. 20th & Feb. 27, in addition to the regularly scheduled March 6th work day. Please review the following summaries.

Re/ the 2/20 & 2/27 workdays, please let me know as soon as possible re/ your availability and an approx. number of vol's you anticipate.

Things are really coming together re/ this project - you'll be happy to be a part of it!

Feb. 20 -
1) Final selective demolition that was orig. scheduled to be completed on Feb 6th workday (cancelled due to weather
- 10-12 vols - no special skills required

2) working w/ trade skill professional to frame in and sheath wall to close in the opening between the kitchen and the small addition that we will be removing plus installing door.
- 1-2 volunteers with moderate carpentry skills

3) working with trade skill professional to remove wall between kitchen and dining room and install load bearing beam
- 1 volunteer with moderate carpentry skills

Feb. 27 -
1) working with tradeskill professionals to install windows
- 10-12 volunteers with minimal to moderate carpentry skills

2) kitchen addition demo.
- 8-10 volunteers with minimal carpentry skills

March 6 -
regularly scheduled vol workday
schedule tbd
full range of skill sets

Open Hand Ministries seeks to respond to the injustice and inequality common to inner city neighborhoods by providing low/moderate income, disadvantaged families the opportunity for affordable homeownership in the economically challenged Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Garfield and East Liberty. Here is a link to their website: http://openhandpittsburgh.org/

Congrats to Donna Riley!

Dr. Donna Riley, who used to be a member of Sixth, has been named GLBTA Educator of the Year by the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Donna serves as an Associate Professor of Engineering at Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

For more, please click on this link to the story on the More Light Presbyterians website: http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=DonnaRileyAward2010 .

'Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh'

Did you miss the Presbytery's tour of the Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh in the 18th and 19th Centuries exhibit at the Senator John Heinz History Center?

You can now visit the exhibit online at www.library.pitt.edu/freeatlast .

Free at Last centers on 55 handwritten records of legal transactions in Pittsburgh documenting this region's involvement with slavery and indentured servitude. The online exhibit includes video of Dr. Laurence Glasco talking about the documents and the stories behind them. You can also zoom in and read -- closely -- the handwritten documents.

Open Hand Ministries - Saturday Feb 6th

The next work day for Open Hand Ministries has been set for Saturday February 6th. Typically, the work day begins at 9:00 AM, meeting in Garfield at an urban garden at the corner of Wicklow St. and Cornwall St. Future work days are planned also for the first Saturdays in March, April and May.

Open Hand Ministries seeks to respond to the injustice and inequality common to inner city neighborhoods by providing low/moderate income, disadvantaged families the opportunity for affordable homeownership in the economically challenged Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Garfield and East Liberty. Here is a link to their website: http://openhandpittsburgh.org/

Volunteers will be assisting in a hands-on way to build homes and hope in these communities. Please contact Bryan Webler (bryan.webler@gmail.com, 412-916-4884) if you are interested in helping out.

Aldora's Letter in Post-Gazette re Braddock

Grow Braddock

UPMC will quit admitting patients to Braddock hospital shortly. But it is time to grow in Braddock, not go from Braddock.

Does UPMC not know that this is a community on its way back up? Its citizens have fought and won the battle to keep the first Carnegie Library open, have planted urban community gardens, and a new green industry has just announced plans to locate in Braddock.

This hospital serves the greater Monongahala Valley, is one mile from The Waterfront, across the river from Kennywood, and has plenty of real estate available for expansion.

Why has UPMC underfunded needed services and then systematically and egregiously eliminated or relocated these services in crowded and distant locations?

Does UPMC not know that public transportation is poor-to-none and its parking garages are expensive? Has any UPMC executive ever used public transportation to get to one of its facilities and know how much time and effort it takes?

Does UPMC not know that there is more to health care than provision? Health care is teaching from the cradle to the grave. Has UPMC forgotten the first rule in medicine is do no harm?

UPMC should be called to account for the harm it is doing to these communities and expand Braddock hospital and its services.

ALDORA T. WATT
Regent Square

Prayers for the People of Haiti

Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and all those who have held Haiti close in their hearts and work.

Sixth's mission giving to Haiti has been focused on recent years on Covenant Hospital (now Village Partners International) and, more recently, Partners in Progress.

Funds from the Presbyterian Church's One Great Hour of Sharing will go immediately to help with response and recovery in Haiti. Sixth participates in this special offering, and so your gifts will be used to help the people of Haiti in the coming days.

------------------------------------------------------

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:

God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you.
Amen.
(Adapted from Book of Common Worship)

-Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine

Woohoo! Spaghetti for a Good Cause!

First Presbyterian of Edgewood (AKA "Mike's Church") is planning a spaghetti dinner later this month to raise money for the Lazarus Fund. Currently, the plan is to hold the dinner on Friday, January 22nd, from 4:30 to 7:30PM in Edgewood Presbyterian's social room.

Cost will be $7.50 for adults, $5.00 for children and free for children under 3. All proceeds will go to the Lazarus fund.

The goal is to have at least 30 people come from each of the participating congregations: Edgewood, Sixth, Waverly, Mt. Hope, and Hillcrest. Please spread the word to friends and neighbors.

If you're able to help with set-up, clean-up, advertisement, getting donations, or selling tickets, please contact Fred O'Leary.