Update from Guatemala... and One from the Vestry (#5)

From Ila, July 27:

Hola, teams.

Just a quick thanks, which I'm also sending to a few others.

This will be brief, as I'm still working on the grant application, now from the comfy digs of Fr. and Terri Smith in Antigua Guatemala.  Tomorrow I head for Pedro's Union Victoria.

Petrona Chavez has her jaw bone-graft small surgery this morning, and I've confirmed that she is at the hospital.  This got a bit more expensive than expected, Q6000 [$800] plus the preliminaries we did when Team 2 was here.  Family is paying half, and Elizabeth's Legacy is paying half, including the $200 Fowler Fund donation Fr. Smith was holding, and $200 of the Legacy money I am holding.  I think this will just about finish the orthodontic followup to her cleft lip and palate surgery done many years ago, at least I hope so, as orthodontic expenses already were high this year.  But the work is proceeding well.

 Nicolas Sanchez, the 10-year-old from Caba whose father has been resistant to permitting him to leave for correction of severe cleft lip and palate, did the preliminaries with a jornada in Chajul July 7 and is now scheduled for surgery in Antigua September 7.  It's with a jornada that seems responsible (15-day stay), his adult brother will accompany, and we will pay only for transportation for both, other essentials, required clothing, and incidentals.  Probably less that $200.  Thanks to a very generous donation for parishioners, we will have enough to cover this, with a balance for other uses.

Miguel Anjel, the boy from Xecoyeu who almost lost his life and leg (severe bleeding wound and complete femur fracture last fall in Xecoyeu), horrendous pickup truck ride and then hospital for 2 months, is due for followup August 10.  We will need to pay for transportation and possibly some tests.  Elizabeth's Legacy last year contributed more or less Q1400 for emergency travel and the expensive metal plate that is holding his femur together, and the family and another group paid the rest (over Q6000 total, if I recall).

Tomas Choc of Mirador is still expected to accompany Gustavo Cuyuch of the Equipo de Salud to Guatemala City next week for followup for the tumor removed from inside the major vein inside his nose, when Gustavo comes for our final meeting August 6.  More "medical travel" expense, and perhaps a bit more!

The 8-months pregnant woman with diabetes we sent to the hospital from El Triunfo is now back in the community, I understand on medication.  I'm urging (well, scolding) Pedro Marcos to go get strips for their in-country glucomenter NOW.

Otoscopes and glucometers -- I should finish the grant proposal today, have been checking with Sarah, Linda P., and Enid over various possibilities.   Sarah, Fr. Smith and Terri will be making a trip to the US to visit relatives in early October and could courier otoscopes back.  Just let me know which you think is the better deal.  Enid, if you have done anything ab out contacting Roche (hope you got the earlier e-mail), please let me know today.

I will try to get the info above and below out to our complete lists when I return to Tucson August 7, late.  Meanwhile, please feel free to forward.

TEAMS 1 AND 2 -- what your in-country donations accomplished.

Linda Paul did a little tally for me before she left.  In addition to all the other donations you made, of time, personal expenses, and expertise, your application fees and in-country donations totaled Q3,902 (over $500), of which we have used all but Q6.  They enabled us to do the following:

Donations for in-country orientation to other "on-the-ground" in country groups:   Q600

Fluoride and related for application during the giras                                                 Q648

"Bestias" to move cargo during the walking giras                                                     Q470

Patient medical travel outside the communities - replacing money used                  Q560  (a big help to protect Project general funds, which are low)

Patient medical travel for Tomas Choc, who walked out with us to Nebaj               Q140

Additional medicines for the giras (another Q5450 was paid from Project funds)   Q330

Miscellaneous, copying documents, etc.                                                                    Q398

Gas for the one CPR vehicle when it transported us                                                  Q600

One-time "premios" for health promotores who worked with us as volunteers        Q150

Hope it adds up!  I'm not re-checking the figures, which did correspond when Linda finished the document.

Again, thanks to all.

***

Vestry’s Report on Transition: #5
26 July 2015
Greetings from your Vestry!

Since its commissioning on 14 June, the Nominating Committee has selected its officers: Chair Ohia Hodges, Co-chair Debbie D’Amore, Scribe Bonnie Edwards, and Treasurer Jim Steinman. It has begun preparing for its first task of gathering formation from all parishioners to form a parish profile before the search. It will meet with the diocese-appointed Transition Consultant, Canon Russ Smith, on 19 August to set schedule and strategy for reaching the goal of recommending three candidates for our next Rector to the Vestry at the end of the search.

On 12 July, we reported that our Interim Rector, the Rev. Dr. Richard Mallory, will join us in person on Sunday, 16 August. A fuller introduction of Fr. Mallory and his work with us will be presented to you on Sunday, 2 August.

Having completed the most urgent tasks mentioned above, we are re-focusing on the overall life of this parish during transition by examining existing projects and needed efforts; for example:

• Adult education: Vestry persons Joel Williams and Linda Morrison will join Peter Schmidt and Paulette O’Malley to work with Fr. Richard Mallory on topics to be offered. If you have any desired topics or can conduct a topic of study, please contact any of the above named.

• Sunday school: Due to increased workload at Literacy Connects, Violet resigned from Director of the Godly Play for the younger children, but her husband, Vestryman Alec Kennedy will continue the Sunday school for the older children. There will be no child-care until further notice. Mo. Clare is working with Alec and others to re-organize the Sunday school and childcare. If you would like to help in anyway our children’s Sunday program, please contact Alec.

• Welcoming visitors: Jim Steinman and Vestryman Todd Vicks will work with Lynette Emory to help the ushers in welcoming visitors with follow-ups. Secretary Nancy Vernon will provide an insert in the Sunday bulletin for visitors, so contacts can be made within the week of the visit.

• Representation on the School Board of Trustees: Reed Karaim will represent the Vestry on that Board. We thank Margie King for her past work and wish her well. Note: Parishioner Lori Lewis is the new President of the Board. The other parishioners on the Board are: Fr. Peter Cheney, Debbie D’Amore, Catherine Gioannetti, John Hsieh, John Meyer, and Paulette O’Malley.

• Air-conditioning the church: The adobe walls, the wooden windows and doors, the organ pipes, the electrical wiring, environmental impact and health implications need to be addressed by all. Before the best solution is determined, our Building Committee, which consists Byron Brandon, Howard Creswell, Grahame Davis, Andy Harris, Alec Kennedy, Proscovia King, and Chris Lewis, will work with Junior Warden, Lisa Sharp, to gather information necessary for a productive discussion to reach an optimal solution. Currently, we have $21,240 in this account.

• Renumbering pledge envelopes: The number on your pledge envelopes has not changed for years, due to keeping inactive numbers! Thus, we have been wasting trees and paying for useless envelopes and boxes. Yes, you might have a new number next year; but no action is required of you. If you want to unsubscribe pledge envelopes or if you want to have your name added to receive pledge envelopes, then please notify the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience, concern, trust and support, all rooted in your prayers! Please call our attention to any of the things that need to be done in, for or by this parish for our living in God’s kingdom. We look forward to working with Fr. Mallory. Together, with God’s help, we can all do our best to live our Baptismal Covenant at St. Michael’s. Keep on praying!

Casa Maria and Other Announcements

Casa Maria Sandwich making is this Friday, July 24th. WE NEED YOUR HELP. COME JOIN US!

St Michael's Parish Center, 602 N. Wilmot Rd.

Kitchen opens at 5 PM. Come anytime after that!

School's out! It's a great time to bring children to a family friendly Community Service event! We need your help with extra eggs and extra hands; we receive no extra eggs from the School students in the Summer. Please bring two or three dozen hard cooked, peeled eggs.

 Also please bring medium sized boxes for transporting the lunches. Fruit boxes from Costco or banana boxes are ideal.

Byron will deliver the sandwiches. (Thanks to Karl for June 26th!) If you can deliver sandwiches once or twice a year, please let us know!

NEXT CASA MARIA: FRIDAY AUGUST 21st.

Casa Maria is every 4 weeks...
July 24th
Aug 21st
Sept 18th
Oct 16th
Nov 13th
Dec 11th

*****
The Food Pantry is getting low again on many items. Please remember to bring what you can - because you can! The need is great!

***** Ila sends along these photos from her recent visit to Father Smith and Terri in Antigua, Guatemala. She writes,

Fr. Smith in the very chair he uses on Sundays.  

The room where St. Alban's meets is a yoga studio during the week.

Terri Smith has been posting lots of pictures on Facebook. Here are a few of them, with her comments:

This is the entrance to the room where the church is that John now preaches at. It's an old convent dated back to the 17th century. It's a beautiful building.

Our new bed is in and made with the lovely quilt the ECW women had made for John and I as a wedding present 5 years ago. The rain waited until the bed was in!

Good Sunday morning from Antigua! Volcano Fuego puffed this morning and shortly after was quiet again.

An Announcement - 12 July 2015

The Vestry is happy to announce that we have an Interim Rector!

He is the Rev. Dr. Richard Mallory, who has resigned from his associate position at All Saints of the Desert in Sun City in time to be our Interim Rector. After meeting with the Vestry, the Staff and the Head Master, the Vestry unanimously endorsed the call. Through the hard work of Treasurer Jo Leeming and Bookkeeper Karen Blocher, and the assistance of Canon of Finance Vicki Hohnbaum, a letter of agreement was signed by Treasurer Jo, your Senior Warden and by Fr. Mallory on 6 July. Bishop Kirk Smith, after returning from the General Convention, kindly approved the call on Friday, 10 July. On the same day, Fr. Mallory found a one-bedroom apartment in an area of Tucson of his choice.

Fr. Mallory plans to start on Sunday, 16 August, in time for the start of the school year on 19 August. A more detailed introduction of Fr. Mallory and his roles as Interim Rector will be presented to you on 2 August.

The Vestry thanks you for your patience, support and trust throughout the process. Let’s keep on praying as we journey on.

Also...

Father Smith and Terri are happily settling in at their new home in Antigua, Guatemala. On Monday they welcomed Ila Abernathy and others from the Guatemala Project for a short visit. Terri Smith writes: "So good to see and spend time with the team from St. Michael's Guatemala project with Petrona and her mother." Petrona is a little girl who had cleft palate surgery several years ago with the help of the Project. Terri posted the following photo on Facebook:

Ila will return to Tucson on August 7.

A Letter from Guatemala

Could someone ask a telling question about climate change and migration?  See below.  Climate change fuels pressures to migrate, and it's only going to get worse.

Ila,

from Guatemala, where all is more or less well, given that it's an election year, and Guatemala remains near the bottom on social indicators, and la roya continues to destroy the coffee cash crop in many areas, and the other great cash crop for small farmers, cardamom, is now afflicted with thripp [climate change definitely has contributed to the la roya problem, don't know about thripp].  We are trying to get an appointment with US AID for Group 2, as climate change is one of their priorities.

Fifty-eight bus drivers, ayudantes, and passengers have been killed by extortionists on public buses in the central corridor since last October, according to Prensa Libre.  As Team 1 traveled from Guate to El Quiche, there were armed national police front and back on the bus.  Very uneventful.

Otherwise, hospitals are without supplies, the people are rising peacefully in the streets against corruption, demanding election reform and immediate resignation of the present president, Otto Perez Molina, but they don't seem to have a clear idea of how to improve the situation.  The health situation in the high-risk Ixil Area where we go seems actually a bit better than we thought, though we don't know what Team 2 will find when they visit three communities where health extension services are no longer functioning.

We seem to be having "un poco verano" in the middle of what should be the rainy season, after significant rains earlier (especially the night before Team 1 had to do the longest, toughest walk through mountains, rocks, tree roots and mud -- they were champs).

I don't have my best project lists here.  Please pass to anyone you like.

General Convention News

The 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church
June 25 - July 3, 2015
Salt Lake City, Utah

The governing body of The Episcopal Church, known as the General Convention, is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. It meets every three years - and this is one of those years.

During its triennial meeting, the Convention's work is carried out by deputies and bishops representing each diocese. They consider a wide range of important issues. For more information on the Convention, as well as videos about the four nominees for Presiding Bishop, check out the General Convention website, articles about Convention on The Episcopal Cafe website. Thanks to Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis for the info!

Transition Report 4 and Other Announcements

Casa Maria sandwich-making is Friday, June 26. WE NEED YOUR HELP! No school students to help until September! Bring family & friends!

Kitchen opens at 5pm. Please bring 1 OR 2 dozen hard boiled, peeled eggs. You will be glad you helped with this good service to others. Join us in the COOL Parish Center.
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Adult Education continues each Wednesday at 10:00 am in the Womble library. We are studying Great Courses - “The New Jerusalem Revisited”, with lively discussion and facilitated by Peter Schmidt.  All are invited to attend and we are looking forward to meeting you.

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Contemplative Prayer Group Summer Schedule ~ Saturday, June 27 ~ 9:30 am ~ House of Prayer ~ Our group has been meeting now for close to 3 years.     You are invited to join us; all are welcome!
           We continue to practice meditation, trying to grow in living our lives in a more contemplative manner.  We normally meet weekly, but we've altered the schedule for the summer. Meetings will be the 2nd & 4th Saturdays June through August, with dates of June 27,  July 11 & 25, August 8 & 22.  As usual, the group meets at 9:30 AM in the House of Prayer.  We meditate for 25 minutes, then have a brief program on a particular spiritual theme.  Over the summer we'll look at the practice of mindfulness, Quaker style of worship, and teachings by Richard Rohr and John O'Donohue among others.

         For a complete summer schedule, see the group's flyer at the back of the church and take one home.  For more information contact Jim Reiter at 749-7950 or sjtucson@aol.com

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Vestry’s Report on Transition: #4 ~ 21 June 2015

First and foremost, please attend mass at 9:30 next Sunday, 28 June, when Rector, Fr. John will celebrate his last Eucharist with us. It is also your chance to thank him in person for his 20 years of tireless and caring service for us.

Last Sunday, our Nominating Committee was commissioned to fulfill its responsibility in 1) conduct a parish-wide self-study, 2) produce a parish profile and portfolio based on the self-study, 3) send the parish profile and portfolio to our Bishop’s Office for opening up the search for the new rector, and 4) process all applications, including interviews, to recommend 3 candidates to the Vestry for its final selection and Bishop’s approval.  This committee has 8 members selected by the Vestry from 18 dedicated parishioners either volunteered or nominated for consideration, plus 2 from the Vestry.

They are:
Debbi D’Amore  ~  Grahame Davis ~ Bonnie Edwards ~ Ohia Hodges
Mike Leeming ~ Lori Lewis ~ Jeanette Renouf ~ Jim Steinman ~
and from the Vestry: Alec Kennedy and Katrina Noble

Please keep them in your prayers as they carry out their duties. A bishop-appointed Transition Consultant will assist them throughout the process.

Finally, the Vestry is preparing the Letter of Agreement to the appointed Transition Consultant and the Letter of Agreement to the candidate for our Interim Rector. Nothing is final, however, until the letters are signed and with Bishop’s approval. Please keep on praying and trust God.

All will happen in God’s good time.

Announcements Through June 20th 2015

• Please remember there is just ONE MASS on Sunday, June 14th. It is at 9:30 AM. During this mass, the Senior Warden and Vestry will introduce the newly-formed Nominating Commitee, which will assist the parish in the search for our next Rector. Please plan to attend.


• WM/ECW will be meeting on Wednesday, June 17th at 10:30am in the Parish Center. This will be our last meeting until September. Come and help us plan next year's events and speakers.  Let's share some ideas. Also, Women of the parish, please join us for our “Traditional June Potluck." Bring your favorite dish to share.


• You are invited to join us for Taizé Service, this Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in church.  What a wonderful way to end the day, in quiet, reading, meditation, and music.  The service begins at 6:45 pm.


• ADULT BIBLE STUDY continues each Wednesday at 10:00 am in the Womble library. We are studying Great Courses - “The New Jersalem Revisited”, with lively discussion and facilitated by Peter Schmidt.  All are invited to attend and we are looking forward to meeting you.


• BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR “GIFTS OF LOVE” PROGRAM: We need your help! Interfaith Community Services is collecting school supplies through Monday, July 20 to help children go back to school with the supplies they need. Our families are struggling to provide the basics of food and shelter for their children; paying for school supplies can be a challenge. Place items in the green box in the back of church. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated.


• Please join us for a Mexican Brunch after the service-donations please-and fellowship in the Parish Center!