Weaving Networks

by Ely López, Coordinator Red UMAVIDA, Bolivia

The art of weaving is ancient, as ancient as our People. Our traditions have developed a great variety of weaving techniques, with as much diversity of patterns as we have cultures living on this land.

The essence that survives in each woven cloth is unique but birthed by the great assortment of styles. One piece alone has a great range of colors. There are no works of just one color. Each pattern is characterized precisely by its uniting colors in a visual harmony responding to the imagination of the weaver.

Besides the colors, each weaving has a unique design narrating a story, a time, a pathway to the original myths or in a delightful way, to the thoughts and feelings of the artisan. Each woven figure has a significance and a meaning which only is understandable upon contemplation of the finished piece.

But most important is the diversity of histories related in a weaving, as each weaving has its own narrative. When asked of their work, each artisan portrays her or his own life story, life walk through the selected yarns.

This is how I perceive and feel the Joining Hands Initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program: as a woven fabric of distinct colors, textures and aromas. Although this analogy may appear beautiful, the weaving of such a network of colors and yarns is not easy. Some of the yarns are very fragile and one must take great care not to rupture them. Others are tougher and unable to blend in with the rest of the texture, or they clash with the whole. There are strands that are so thick, they stand out from the rest; each different, each with its own history and destiny.

Within the Joining Hands fabric each one of the partner networks is a different yarn. Brought together in Orange we saw which thread is joining us: our unifying global vision and its international campaigns. We still must weave into this beautiful fabric the central image(s) for completion, but I feel we are following a good course.

I hope we all feel invited to continue on this course, weaving this lovely, highly diverse, mantle so full of life as each of our stories reveal.

Threads of Unity

by Chenoa Stock, Companionship Facilitator, JH Sri Lanka

I am always amazed and appreciative of the centering and focusing power that comes when called to share information and experiences with fellow colleagues and friends. The reflection process that ensues is one that allows for deeper contemplation of our work, and a more thorough understanding and definition of where that work has led us and where it could potentially move us toward.

This was exactly what the call to prepare for the Joining Hands Consultation brought the Praja Abhilasha Network to do. Since we have been working together since September, 2006, it was an opportune juncture for us to look back and see what Praja Abhilasha has been about these last two years and how we have grown.

We were not there to prove our accomplishments to other partner networks, but instead, to listen closely to their stories of struggle and see how we have common threads of experiences that tie us together. It was amazing and encouraging to be in community with so many like-minded people; unselfish people who continue to question the injustices of society and the world and who look for alternatives and solutions to this inequality.

We have now fully realized how our struggles are tied and connected to those around the world. That this thread is something that goes beyond faith boundaries is even more beautiful to me. The right to live as a whole human being is a thread that God has woven among us all. It is a thread that Joining Hands continues to tie together, as it spreads awareness through the dedicated work and campaigns of each network. The energy that was felt when witnessing the commitment and dedication of other networks has generated a great sense of clarity and renewal of focus for Praja Abhilasha.

I am grateful to be a part of such a global partnership and to help Joining Hands secure and tighten the threads that bond us together as God’s Creation.

Camaraderie, Commitment & Commonalities

by Susan Vlcek, Western Reserve Presbytery

All of us felt uncertain about what the two day conference would hold. We all came with curiosity and energy. Our positive first impressions of the Chapman dorms, facilities, campus and kitchen held true throughout our stay. Christopher and Patrick so appreciated the warm welcome they received from their hosts, both in California before the conference as well as during their stay in Cleveland.

The turnout of all the networks, companionship facilitators, coordinators, Presbyteries, PC(USA staff and other guests was nothing short of remarkable.

The fact that we needed translators for three people made it feel like a mini-U.N. Additionally we commented to each other how we were inspired by the stories shared from each of the countries, formally and informally. It really was fun to hear the variety of conversations over our meals, which was a good time allotment. The camaraderie, commitment and commonalities were evidence of the spirit with us. There was so much we could learn from each other. That was reinforced when someone suggested these meeting every two years rather than four.

Hunter Farrell, Director of Presbyterian World Missions, talked about what spiritual values are a part of Joining Hands. Trust, integrity, justice, valuing your neighbor, inclusiveness, dignity, compassion and fairness were some values discussed. Some of the quotes that were meaningful to me included: “Faith is the ability to see in the darkness” –Kierkegaard; “The power of the truth” – Gandhi; and “Churches can become the heart of the heartless world”.

The discussions about the possible global campaigns and the necessary coordination resulted in much to ponder. They were both energizing and thought provoking: would some of the networks and Presbytery teams be spread too thin? How would we measure our capacity to be involved at different levels?

All of us celebrated the success of the Egypt network’s campaign for inclusion of children with disabilities in public schools. At the same time we need to be sensitive to political issues and the potential suspicion that can arise when Presbyteries from the U.S. are involved with the networks in other countries. The challenges faced by the Egyptian network illustrate the care that needs to be taken so that detrimental results don’t occur.

Then there was the laughter and fun - such a wonderful experience. The conference organizers outdid themselves in the content of the conference, the staff that provided devotions and music and the overall success of what will remain a most memorable, inspiring and rich experience.

Both our network members and our Presbytery team members valued the time together at the conference. We continued to appreciate the chance to have additional time together in Cleveland. The chance to further build our relationships can’t be underestimated.

A Call for Resistance and Faith

by Thomas John, JH Companionship Facilitator India

Though I had attended many International gatherings, the combined Joining Hands event and Peace Making Conference was the first such event that brought home to me the feeling that we are all fellows in a ship that is buffeted by strong winds and is about to sink. I left the conference with a greater sense of Fellowship - Fellows in a ship.

Without clear distinction of where the JH International Event ended and the Peace Making Conference began, the seminars, workshops, and discussions merged in such a way that they became part of one large gathering with the overarching theme of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.

There was an amazing sense of unity at all levels of concerns, commitments, leadership and organization and across the vast diversity of people made for a Pentecostal experience. Though, despite an intense feeling of intimacy with their suffering, their fortitude and their commitment, it was frustrating to not be able to converse freely with our friends from Peru, Bolivia, and Haiti, we still bonded and found other ways to commune, going behind the spoken words.

Friends from S.Africa, Lesotho, Cameroon, Palestine and Egypt brought home the pain and agony of a world which is abundant with resources and yet suffering because of human avarice and hatred- regions of the word which are crying for justice and peace.

The awareness of urgency and the desire to learn from each other and respond was marvelous. There was little attempt by any group, section, or individual to attack others on their positions or defend themselves.

Questions, doubts, and differences of opinions were all raised with the intention to come to a pragmatic strategy to deal with a common enemy. Participants did not use much revolutionary rhetoric, but radical stances were hiding beneath the calm.

Across the community that was gathered in Orange, sentiments of  pain, anger, and frustration could be felt, but also a hopeful search for self examination, correction and an earnest resolve to find alternatives that rather reflect the values of God’s Reign-dom (Kingdom)- to “sow mastered seeds”.

I was struck by  the similarity in the stories heard from all our partners across the globe! They spoke about the experiences of trans-national corporations and foreign investments moving into third world countries with the support of Financial Institutions like the World banlk and the IMF, which are based on the neo liberal principles of a market driven economy and allow the acquisition of vast areas of land and the appropriation of their natural resources like water, mineral and oil wealth; the subsequent alienation of the poor masses from land; and the threat to their livelihood for the creation of Special Economic Zones, Export Promotion- or Coastal Management Zones, Mega Malls and Theme Parks.

Frustration was expressed regarding the corporatization of farming, which increases the cost of agricultural inputs, of foods and of foreign investment in retail industry. As farming is becoming a loss making proposition and land value is soaring high, farmers are induced to sell their land at a supposedly good price. They move out to urban centres in search for jobs and new livelihood only to become part of the garbage heap.

Land, water and extractive resources were highlighted as areas of particularly grave concern. Their appropriation and exploitation, the subsequent pollution and scarcity are all making the life of local communities extremely vulnerable.

Put into theological perspective following Revelations 12, there seems an invisible hand and a design in all this, a monster (the serpent) that is bent on destroying this earth and its inhabitants. But we also are aware of an alternative reality of a “beautiful, pregnant women and her yet to be born son” as the promise and hope to which we all can cling on.

Those gathered at Orange expressed the commitment to work toward exorcising these demons and creating a world that is more humane, just, participatory and sustainable. The issues seem insurmountable, but more hope and faith in the solidarity have been emerging through the JH initiative, and the determination to sow the “mustard seed” and to not succumb to the deception of the beast and its cultural agents described in Revelations Chapter 13. “A call for endurance (resistance) and faith of the saints” (Rev.13:10) reverberated in the air through out the conference.

This conference gave us the foretaste of global citizenship and solidarity that transcends narrow geographical boundaries- a citizenship in the common wealth of God and a greater sense of responsibility to one another and to all God’s creation, exemplified in the cross of Jesus Christ- “the man for others.”

Global Networking

by Herman Kumara, Praja Abhilasha, Sri Lanka

While participating in the Joining Hands consultation I have learned and experienced many things. The networking on advocacy campaigns between country networks and their respective partner Presbyteries, for example, was something I had not yet seen before. It was very eye opening and encouraging to learn that the country networks and their US partners collaborate and work in solidarity with each other once they share the cases of each country. Many of us have been working for such a long time but seen little or no success.

Through Joining Hands, however, we are not just putting forward an isolated effort to fight for the issues within our own country, but developing a close collaboration between the various networks involved in them. I now feel part of a global campaign, a global fight that is moving against the corporate globalization.

I really appreciate the brother and sisterhood we shared at the forum. It made it easier for a newcomer like me to feel a part of the larger network and to be able to participate adequately. The environment was very conducive for the learning from and sharing about our experiences and the openness to issues and the space for new views encouraging. This enriched the event, which has not been my experience in other gatherings I have attended.

Also, as overseas joining hands partners we are remote and not so familiar with the situation of the one and the other. It was therefore helpful to realize how much the Joining Hands staff understands each of the networks’ issues, and their ability to place the participants into the same context and understanding.

Collaborative efforts for advocacy on local, national, regional and global policy matters ask for analytical and educational activities. Understanding the local context and placing it in the accurate perspective for common action is important to be able to play our role in this globalized world. At the JH Conference, we were able to carry out this analysis at various levels and for different country situations. Much of the sharing centered on the commonalities within the JH network at large, and from the discussions emerged common root causes of hunger and poverty.

The identification of Land, Water, Food Sovereignty and Mineral Wealth as key issues for Global Campaigns for the JH network at large was for me the greatest achievement of JH conference. These are areas that are fully integrated with life, livelihoods and security of human life, and we have touched the very basics of our global humanity.

Putting in place a coordination mechanism, identifying shared responsibilities and designating contact persons have been progressive measures that will help us carry on the learnings and interventions on the issues. I am convinced that when people come up with their own issues and work together irrespective of country, continent or region, we can overcome and change the situation.

Most of us who came from overseas partner networks have experienced during this event a mutually strengthening process. Now that we have returned from the JH conference we need to put in place some sort mechanism for collaboration, formally or informally, to be able to attend to each others’ cases without necessarily relying on a centralized JH coordination.

The liberative message which emerged for me through the sharing during this event strengthened my life experiences on the Bible and Jesus. I am looking forward to continuing the dialogue we initiated at Chapman University in California, and to contribute my part for a better and just world for the marginalized, poor people.

Opportunities and Risks

by Valéry Nodem, RELUFA Coordinator, Cameroon

In July 2008, all Joining Hands networks met at the Joining Hands international event and Peacemaking Conference organized in Orange California. They all shared and celebrated with others successes that they had in their networks, including PCUSA’s adhesion to the PWYP campaign. The theme of the event this year for Joining Hands was: “Joining Hands, the way forward”. One specific goal of the event was for JH networks to reflect on how to engage with each other in global campaigns, each of us within our respective context, shifting from project-oriented activities to a worldwide coalition of national and US Joining Hands networks campaigning on common global issues.

RELUFA was represented by Samuel Nguiffo, Director of the Center for Environment and Development, and by the network Coordinator Valéry Nodem. To help the reflection on the case of the global resource revenue transparency campaign, Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Sarah Pray had been invited as the Coordinator of the US branch of this worldwide campaign. The three of us presented the international and national context of natural resource extraction, and stressed the need for transparency in this sector. Sarah presented the new Extractive Industry Transparency Disclosure Act (EITD), which has been introduced to the Senate as an amendment to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, and requires from companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to publish their payments to foreign governments for oil, gas and minerals.

We talked about the expansion of PWYP in the world, and why it is so important at this very moment for the church to be part of this struggle for transparency as part of a global effort to fight corruption and reduce poverty and instability in oil producing countries. Many Presbyterians attending the event went online to sign up in support of the EITD Act, as advocated by RELUFA as Joining Hands partner network. To read more specifically on the Global Joining Hands Campaign on Natural Resources, please see the page on Global Joining Hands Campaigns.

Together with TMS Letela from Lesotho I had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion on security for activists. Network participants talked about the level of security in their own countries, and the threats have been exposed to themselves, or to which people they personally know have fallen victim, such as the case of the two activists in Congo who were arrested and threatened by their government for the work they do around the issue of transparency with oil revenues, a woman working with Global Witness who had been arrested in Angola. Protests came in from around the world, and many Presbyterians have written letters of concerns to their congressmen, to diplomatic services in the country, and finally she was released.

Letela gave the example of somebody from the network in Lesotho who was arrested and tortured for the work he was doing. Both presenters stressed on the need to always talk about it, at least to inform the partner in the country, and in the US. There was also a discussion on security for Joining hands partners. It is happening more and more in many countries, particularly in Africa, that activists working on sensitive issues are threatened or arrested. The purpose of the discussion was to see, now that all networks are encouraged to engage more in advocacy and global campaigns, how to enssure their security when dealing with sensitive issues such as Mineral Wealth. Should the PCUSA develop a security protocol that will be disseminated among all the churches? Should PHP develop such a protocol for the Joining Hands’ networks?

For the security protocol, it was agreed that PHP is going to work with each network involved in this issue to develop a national-level security protocol. On the US side, it was decided that each presbytery has an e-mail listings for the US ambassador to the country where they have partners, the country’s ambassador to the US, the president or prime minister, their US senator or congressional representatives, and to keep updating this as they change frequently.

Personal Encounters

by TMS Letela, Coordinator KKM Lesotho.

The Joining Hands Event was a very rewarding experience and a real consultation that helped the Kopano Ke Matla Network in Lesotho in many ways. Before this gathering, for example, telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges had been the main link between the two partners.

But this event allowed for personal encounters with members of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos with which our country network partners. The same is true with members of the Presbyterian Hunger Program staff with whom we interact regularly through e-mails. We have come to appreciate them more, and understand now better the huge task they have to coordinate the global Joining Hands network.

Meeting and sharing experiences, our problems and successes with delegates, network coordinators and companionship facilitators from other parts of the world was another opportunity this conference provided. We have learned how diverse the Joining Hands family is.

The differences in language and cultures did not deter people from interacting and sharing experiences. It was particularly interesting how people from South America, who do not speak English, managed to participate and enjoy the gathering.

We specifically liked the opportunity to meet the delegates from Cameroon whose food security situation and problems are more or less similar to ours. More than watching their video presentations, we were able to ask questions and, as a result, were able to ask Network members to review and change plans on the construction of a granary. The Cameroonian approach to the food security problem through grain banks is a model to be adopted by many countries with rural farming communities like Lesotho.

All in all, the consultation was a success both in terms of organization (gender balanced) timing and facilitation. It must continue.

The Global Market Place

by Carolyn Newcomb, Giddings Lovejoy JH Team and Partners for Just Trade Board Member

What fun to have had the opportunity to once again sell the items from Peru at the Conference in Orange, CA!

It is difficult to bellieve that just 6 years ago when I chaired the Economic Development Task Force, we had 3 boxes of items sent to us from Peru. These boxes were filled with artisan items that were then sold at 10 churches in our Presbytery at Fair Trade value. We were thrilled to be able to send $5,000 to the artisans. However this was just the beginning. The number of boxes kept growing as did the amount of money that we were able to send to the artisans. In 2006 the Presbytery recommended that we form our own non profit because over $85,000 a year was going to Peru.

It was then that Partners for Just Trade (PJT) was formed. Carrie Hawthorn was hired as the Executive Director. At that time I "retired" and took a break.

To sell at the conference was a thrill. Not only did I have the opportunity to sell the Peruvian items but also dried fruits from Cameroon and some items from Egypt. I discovered that credit cards are now a daily experience and so I quickly learned to use the machine and to write other receipts. PJT will be selling items from the other JH partnerships as the countries are ready to sell items at fair trade value.

An Invigorating Event

by Terry and Michele Finseth, Companionship Facilitators JH Palestine

July’s Joining Hands/Peacemaking Conference brought the Joining Hands for Justice Palestine Network together with our sister networks from around the world, and included our U.S. presbytery networks as well.

With the first three days dedicated specifically to Joining Hands our network's delegates, Zoughbi Zoughbi and Rana Qumsiyeh, and we ourselves as the Palestine JH Companion Facilitators found ourselves invigorated by the sharing, presentations, and discussions about our respective networks. Learning not only what types of activities others are engaged in, but also about their success stories, their honed strengths and struggles helped us to mutually connect in a more interactive focus and to consider how we can support and encourage one another in the future.

Conference participants also spent time looking at a number of global issues as common threads throughout the networks, such as water and land rights or the lack there of, which often maintain the root causes of hunger and poverty. While each country has its own particular issues with which to deal, it was helpful to realize that conditions around the world mimic one another and often could be dealt with more creatively through the support and input of other networks around the world.

A Significant Experience

Padma Pushpakanthi, delegate for Praja Abhilasha, Sri Lanka

Together with Herman Kumara, I had the opportunity to represent the Praja Abhilasha Network of Sri Lanka during the Joining Hands Conference at the Chapman University of California in Orange. Mention must be made that this conference was a very significant one. Delegates from nine participating countries, including India, Peru, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lesotho, Palestine, Cameroon, South Africa and Bolivia, had come together to learn about the activities carried out by the partner networks in each country, and to discuss various problems that have cropped up from their respective prevailing social, economic and political environments.

The meetings dealt with a variety of subjects, but the topics eventually centered around land, water, food security, and the struggle for social change. Since most of those problems were similar and common to all of participating countries, a consensus was reached to carry out a number of Global Campaigns. Accordingly, delegates from different networks took the responsibility of coordinating such global action as they related to issues of focus in their country. An agreement was reached to exert general pressure regarding water and land issues and the Praja Abhilasha network is committed to implementing this programme in our country.

Closure

By Cindy Easterday, (former) JH Companionship Facilitator, Lesotho / South Africa

This being my first International Joining Hands gathering, I arrived in Orange County excited, full of great expectations and some minor apprehensions. Would this be all that I hoped it would be? I was so looking forward to seeing again those I already knew and to finally meet, face-to-face, all those whose names I’d only heard or read about until now. And to learn what they were doing, their victories, their challenges, their disappointments, their stories. All of it! Or, God forbid, would this be “just another conference” – lots of talk with little to show for it in the end?

I was right and, thankfully, also wrong. My fears were stilled when it became clear early on that this was an interactive, listening, planning, moving forward opportunity for the Joining Hands community. Comments from some of our presbytery partners reflected my experience as well. “There’s such a sense of camaraderie here!” “I’m blown away by what I’m hearing and learning.” “This is all so exciting.” “Do you know that so-and-so is also doing this-and-that?” Sharing, listening, hearing, caring, mutual encouragement, broadening dreams. All these were reflected in our short time together.

In the months prior to coming, my prayers were that this exposure would truly be “mind expanding”; giving me, our delegates – all of us -- a broader vision of what could be beyond our own communities, our own countries, beyond our own needs and involvements. To dream beyond ourselves and begin to imagine the impacts each of our efforts, when drawn together and building in unison, could have not only locally but globally.

In profound ways, this conference did encourage, enlighten and excite me and many I spoke with in wonderful ways. Clearly, God is at work in and through us in the most exciting ways, bringing some into unexpected places of influence or drawing on the power of others to influence change – in local and national government sectors, with World Bank and multi-national oil companies, through Amnesty International, and others. Can you imagine what plans God has in store for us?

From my first exposure to Joining Hands I felt drawn to it for several initial reasons. For one, it was a program owned by locals who, as a network of organizations, churches, etc, defined, strategized and developed responses to their own issues of poverty and hunger.

Two, that as partners the presbyteries were non-funding so their responses had to go deeper – to issues, to developing trusting relationships, to long-term commitments, to equity, to justice, to challenging personal beliefs and life-styles.

Three, that all this was a mutual process – a bilateral learning, sharing, working out of new relationships together. Multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-level economic, social, political and even religious backgrounds. Truly a God-inspired opportunity to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

Today I am as excited and even more encouraged by what God is doing through Joining Hands and all of those involved in it. The international conference in July sparked a renewed enthusiasm and direction in many, if not all, of us which I trust will continue to move us forward in this work.

Thank you to all those who planned, prepared, and helped bring this all about -- Lionel, Alexa, PCUSA staff, Los Ranchos presbytery, Hunter, Ruth . . . so many more. It was well worth your efforts and I trust will continue to encourage those remaining to carry on in the difficult, challenging and frustrating situations which naturally occur in this work. As a friend reminded me some time ago, our job is not to be successful – only obedient. And God will do the rest.

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