February 9, 2008 Meeting Summary

DGAAN: DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network

Sr. Rosemary Pint Room, Wheaton Franciscan Campus

Wheaton, IL

1. Co-chairs; S. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, D. Min., Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Wheaton Franciscans; Dr. Sandra Joireman, Ph.D., Dept. of Politics and International Relations, Wheaton College.
   18 participants were present.
2. Dr. Joireman led the reflection, while S. Sheila gave a brief overview of Dgaan.
3. Rev. Mark Labberton joined us via conference call to discuss his recent publication of “The Dangerous Act of Worship”. The group asked him a few questions:

Dr. Joireman: How do you balance local, global issues and justice within your church?

Rev. Labberton: Broadly speaking, knowledge of local & global is seen differently by God. There are some conflicts, differences and some gospel which is meant to be seen different; our sense of passion and different boundaries in God. Constant reality makes us want to work locally and globally which alternates back & forth. We are also very concern with HIV/AIDS that during the course of the year it gets national attention. People accesses to issues are different here than down the street, that range does appeal to us.
S. Sheila: Does your church do any political advocacy?
Rev. Labberton: At the moment no. Individuals are choosing to engage otherwise, but I know a lot of people who would be.

S. Sheila: Do people find it a challenge to stay in middle ground and also their spiritual journey with you and your church? How does your congregation response and find the challenge or reaction?

Rev. Labberton: There responses are both positive and challenging. Just one person who thought the book was shocking. She felt that she was not at all prepared in church for the actual seeing it in print. Suddenly it became interesting stuff. Our church members would say that they are on a spiritual journey. More people last summer were engaged at least 100 persons in Africa. Some have even made career changes with this process, change their life, moving, and those who would find that somewhat scary, most people have been on the move.

S. Sheila: Mica 6: 8: Why did you choose this text?
Rev. Labberton: It holds specially, really old and containment that you are going to live this. This is very bold an assertion of power, overly aggressive, christianly humbling of yourself. We are being called something, a confidence perhaps.

Dr. Joireman: How do you nurture and develop these ideas of justice within your congregation?

Rev. Labberton: A year ago a hospital for healing in Eastern Congo, Africa started making beautiful quilts. One woman started it and many individuals connected with these quilts, they would gather around for these women and children about 300 quilts. They were laid across the pews of the church. These handmade quilts to this day as we gathered in this season of lent for part in sorrow and gospel. For people with physical and also spiritual have needs. Every week within the church our Mass contents of a message style prayer, letters go and communicate what we have
learned.

Dr. Campbell: Can you tell us the story of your local engagement through a Thai restaurant in
Berkeley?
Rev. Labberton: The Bay Area in San Francisco, there was an arrest for child trafficking working for sex within this particular restaurant. To shorten the story local churches, slaves and immigration; where will people go illegally in their process?

Mary: How do you do this practically and who else is involved?
Rev. Labberton: I work with mostly in summer based on different parts of the Old and New Testament. The diet is kept pretty rich and different, I make it work a least a year, I write a summary and a breakdown of what I thought about the biblical text means, etc, visual art, music, everybody knows that this is big and is done on a quarterly basis. A group of 10 meets to speak about the quarter to come and ask how are we going to approach, what if any visual aspects, elements. New stuff is brought the spirit to all, visual or other, outreach. A smaller group meets monthly to figure out what are the next steps? This is important that a team has reached this box. A story love of agreement of this book. Pray for imagine over doing this thing or be bold when we need to do things.

Erik: Liturgy how is this justice a call to the Lord’s Super?

Rev. Labberton: Each of the elements is efforts to the redefined power. Hard to imagine anything other than the Lord’s Super-Communicate as we come to the table, we come with power and lay down this afar more or greater power. The character within us to begin a new; the power to give, and forgive. If people have a moving justice, sorts of a manic activist; God is not a manic activist, through the power of John we are looking for radical changes, shake-up of the human heart and social activist the image that God intents for it to be. Rev. Labberton offered a closing prayer to conclude his conference call with the group.

4. S. Bea Hernandez, Executive Director of Upendo Village, gave the group a brief overview of Upendo Village and a statement on the situation in Kenya. She further introduced S. Florence Muia, ASN, Founder and President of Upendo Village who joined us via conference call from Naivasha, Kenya.
   S. Florence spoke about the recent elections held December of 2007 that lead to the escalation of violence that spread over many communities. She said the violence started immediately that ultimately broke-up many families and claimed may lives at least 1000 deaths in Naivasha and about 30-40 in the surrounding areas. She has been working with others, and also saw that people took refugee in police stations and prisons. Some called this an ethic cleansing and in my own judgment it could be. Two camps together with other nearby camps in the western and central parts of the country are the hosts of many different communities that are trying to reconnect with their love ones. Women and children share spaces from different communities. Some others were transported to other parts of the country, in the Hills of Naivasha. Thanks to the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders for providing primary care within the camps. S. Florence have been overseeing the delivery of the food distribution within the camps, everyone has supported all of her efforts for treatment and water. There are about 8,000 displaced individuals and trying to coordinate them all traveling back to their communities at times are difficult. She also assisted with the about 35 dead bodies; authorities came to the camps to view the bodies before any burials due to fact these were not natural deaths. She also heard from the Red Cross earlier that morning they found 11 more bodies; at least 10 belonged to one family. Members of parliament have transported the dead bodies and return to their homes later that day.
   The Camps are being relocated to other camps c/o of the Red Cross; residents have been living and sleeping in open areas and that situation can be very dangerous, however most of these residents would rather return to their homes.

The Group asked S. Florence a few questions:
Dr. Joireman: Have the markets in Naivasha reopened and can people get food?

S. Florence: The markets just reopened that week, but were close for sometime, people were scared to go. People are slowly getting to back to the markets, however the costs of living has increased tremendously.

Ann: How are you doing personally?

S. Florence: I’m okay for now, but it has been very difficult and feels somewhat broken. I have the support of my sisters and people have gathered around giving me strength.

S. Bea: Are the banks open?

S. Florence: Yes, they are open. The process is very slow as bankers are unable to come back to work. She was however able to access funds for Upendo Village needs.

Tom Richardt: How are you? And what does it look like for the near future?

S. Florence: Currently there meetings with leaders and UN former secretary-general Kofi Annan. This incident has left deep scars and distrust among our people.

Dr. Joireman: Do people want to move where they feel safe?
S. Florence: The fighting has created even more chaos; people have been attacked and they are moving to parts of Kusumi and other difference parts of the country. They cannot live freely within the camps. Two trucks arrived at the police camp with people from a difference community called Naro; they started yelling and saying that they cannot share the camps with different communities; tensions within the local groups now run very high.

Erik: How do you feel and how could we best pray and what are the biggest needs within our prayers?

S. Florence: Healing and forgiveness. People are left homeless; children who have attending school are now displaced.

S. Bea: Have the schools reopened and has any of Upendo Village clients injured of kill?

S. Florence: Yes and no. Naivasha just reopened and some parts in the valley are still not open. Certain parts of the country are unable to get to school, too much destruction have been done. UP clients so far as she knows were not hurt; in the police station and other places. If people are willing to go to these camps however some are still resisting going. Camps which have tents are still so traumatized about the whole situation.

S. Sheila: Can you tell us about your day at the morgue?

S. Florence: Some people are unable to identify their deceased family members due to fact that bodies are so badly decomposed, they are even unrecognizable. At this rate family members will have to rely on others relative to possibly help with any identification.
S. Florence also added that the rainy season is upon them and having many persons temporary living in open areas without tents is now another problem that they have to face.
S. Sheila offered the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” as we ended our conference call with S. Florence who thanked us for all the phone calls and prayers.

DGAAN Members Actions:

Dr. Sandra Joireman, Wheaton College

- Prayed for the Violence in Kenya

- Working on a paper regarding the use of violence in the settlement of property conflicts in Kenya w/ students

- Met with AIDS Task Force, @ Wheaton College

- Spending the month of July in Ethiopia with my Whole Family

- Working with Inter-peace for an idea on constitutional project. I am writing a chapter on land and how it is best administered in post-conflict settings. This will be made available to countries that one re-writing constitutions.

- Led a discussions group on Mark Labberton’s on his book The Dangerous Act of Worship

Erik Hadland, Wheaton College Student Global AIDS Campaign

- Worked with Wheaton’s AIDS Task Force to coordinate Mark Labberton’s visit

- In the process of selecting cabinet for next academic year in the weeks to come(please be in prayer that the Lord would present us with strong, compassionate leaders)

- Reading another book “Invisible Cure” by Helen Epstein

- Bread for the World Political advocacy campaign

- Week surrounding MDG’s (Global Poverty Act)

- Conference Registration for SGAC(Coordinating details)

S. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, JPIC Office of the Wheaton Franciscans

- Have been in regular contact with S. Florence Muia, ASN, regarding the dire situation in Kenya; since the chaos following the December 20067 elections results.

- Have been in contact with programs for HIV/AIDS in Kisumu, Kenya and Kasaran, Kenya which are funded in part by the Wheaton Franciscans.

- Attended a UN breakfast Meeting, with guest speaker current United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon

- Developed taking points for the meeting with request that she co-sponsor the Jubilee-Act

- Prepared presentations for the Franciscan training seminar for Eastern African countries to be held in Kampala, Uganda. The seminar will focus on empowerment in human rights and will include sessions on HIV/AIDS, Peace building, Fundraising and Advocacy. (Feb 24- March 2^nd).

Ann Piasecki, JPIC Office, Wheaton Franciscan

– Attended a UN breakfast Meeting, with guest speaker current United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon.

– Participated in a meeting with Rep. Judy Biggert encouraging her support for HR 2634: Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation.

– Participated in meetings regarding global Solidarity, Legislative advocacy’s for the Diocese of Joliet.

– Conference calls on Human Trafficking and divestment working groups.

Ron Durbin, Sr. Joan of Arc

- Currently working on logistics with the JPIC Office to meet with rep. Judy Biggert encouraging her support for HR 2634: Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation.

Dr. Evvy Campbell, Wheaton College HIV/AIDS Tasks Force

- On December 6, 2007 Plenary address on “What makes Christian Relief and Development & Organization Unique” (there are organization with a concern for social justices issues) at the annual conference of the association of Evangelical relief & development organizations.

- On January 14, 2008 Micah Challenge Steering Committee meeting in Washington DC (Christian’s organization goals) gave a presentation on “Distinctives of Christians Social Justice Organizations.

- On February 7, 2008 gave a presentation on “Jubilee: Quo Vadis” to Wheaton College & students at eh conclusion of Jubilee week activities. The talk included a focus on social justice issues.

John St. Laurent, Diocese of Joliet

- Involved with Bread for the World for the upcoming Offering of Letters Workshop to Reduce Global hunger & Poverty on Saturday February 23, 2008. See website for further information http://www.dgaan.org/news.html

Joy Townsend, Director of Canticle Place

- Getting residents to live holistically including environment initiatives (recycling, clean-ups, gardening, using “green” bags), fellowship group, exercising, volunteering for churches, schools & generous gourmet. Advocating through letters to senators

Sharon Huffman, Social Justice Task Force, Redeemer Lutheran Church

– This was her first visit to our meeting, and Sharon express interest in our advocacies. She also mentioned that the information obtained would be useful within her task force in start-up discussions.

Mary Sytsma, The Gwaiwen Center

– I just returned from Nigeria where I was working with Dr. Beatrice Kadangs at the Gwaimen Center. The center is trying to assist AIDS widows and orphans and those who are vulnerable and at risk.

– We are trying to raise money to complete a permanent site for center.

– Currently we are providing food and medication for over 20 orphans and vulnerable children. We also assist the children by paying their school fees, if necessary.

– I am selling cards with photos of the people and scenes if our village which is Kwoi, Nigeria to raise funds to buy food and medicine for the children. For further information about this center visit http://www.thegwaimencenter.org/

Suzie Broomes, Wheaton Franciscans

- Updating our DGAAN Website with current information

- Keeping on top of all Kenya, Darfur updates together with all Legislative and current presidential news through the JPIC office