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Section of the Americas
March 13, 2014
In This Issue
Living Water in El Salvador
Register for Consultations
Mustard Seed Campaign
Staff Changes
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Greetings!

 

"Even a seemingly small act of generosity can grow into something far beyond what we could ever ask or imagine--the creation of a community of love in this world." Henry Nouwen

 

As I prepare to travel back to my native California for the second Living Water Conference, I have been thinking about the small acts of kindness and generosity that I have witnessed and received in the last three years of working for the Friends World Committee. Just this last weekend, a Friend said, "If you don't mind, I will pray for you, that you will know that you have all the time you need." It meant a lot to me this month as I rush from task to task.  

And I have been awed by the generosity of the Friends in California, and in El Salvador last month, who have given so much of their time and talents to make these gatherings possible. And through it all, I am learning over and over again that creating a community of love in this world is a very important part of the work of the Friends World Committee. Thank you for all you do to advance this work.

 

In friendship,RM6WC

Robin Mohr 

Robin Mohr

Executive Secretary

 

ĦQue Fluya el Agua Viva! Let the Living Water Flow!

The first Living Water regional conference in El Salvador was a tremendous success, with just over 100 participants from 18 different yearly meetings and groups of Friends in Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua, plus Bolivia and the United States. The planning committee, including representatives from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador met a few times in person and a few times by web conference over the last year, and this led to a good balance of participation from their three countries, and a positive feeling of shared responsibility. The local arrangements committee in El Salvador was amazing.

 

The home groups, which are now planned for all four consultations, were originally a suggestion from Central America, particularly from members of the planning committee who had attended the World Gathering of Young Friends in 2005 and the 6th World Conference in 2012. They were a highlight of the conference for many people. The groups of 6-10 Friends from different countries and yearly meetings offered an opportunity to get to know a cross-section of participants, to reflect on the presentations, and to prepare an evaluation of the conference.

 

Two of the most highly rated parts of the conference were the presentations by Esteban Ajnota of INELA Bolivia on leadership and bivocational ministry, and the Quaker history presentation by David Byrne of Evangelical Friends Church-Mid-America Yearly Meeting and Instituto ALMA. Some of the topics that were suggested for future events were workshops about the environment, spiritual disciplines, and more on leadership.

 

More people said they came to meet new people than because of the specific topics of the workshops. For about two-thirds, it was the first time they ever participated in an FWCC event. One Friend said, "I had heard before about these conferences and had felt an interest in participating in them. It was a great experience that I would gladly participate in again."

 

When asked, "what did you learn that you will take back to your local church/ meeting?" Friends said, "Lessons learned in the workshops of intercultural communication and bivocational leadership." "A little history of the Friends, the silent worship, and a little from the workshops." "There are different ways to communicate with others, we must find a way to convey our message, and that if we desire the living water to flow in others, we first have to make it flow in us."

 

Programmed devotionals were held at the beginning and end of each day, with Friends from different countries leading in prayer, music, Bible reading and vocal messages as a way of grounding each plenary session. Unprogrammed worship was held on Saturday afternoon before dinner and Sunday morning right after breakfast. 50-75 people came and the vocal ministry was deep and frequent.

 

Lily Lopez Montero, a young Friend from the National Evangelical Friends Church of Guatemala, wrote, "A New Experience! One that still echoes in me. Meeting there with people from different places, customs, feeling all together, it was like being at home. It confirmed for me that we, the children of God, are one body and we must seek a common sense to work together and please the Father, our Lord. It's so special to know that no matter the language, or race, we all have something to contribute, and moreover, to learn to share our love and understanding of different ways. 'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.' [Psalm 133]

It was so pleasing and moving to participate for the first time in my life in a silent worship and to be able to feel the need to let God speak and organize it in His own way. I was left with several challenges to live up to, that I was born to serve, I who have the privilege of belonging to the Quaker movement, of being washed in the blood of Christ, and I need to put not only my hands to work, but my whole life. Gratitude: Your care was so special, brothers and sisters of FWCC. Thanks for organizing this excellent conference, that makes me let THE LIVING WATER FLOW (more and more in me) and to not let it become stagnant, standing in a puddle. Blessings dear brothers and sisters!"

 

Register Now: Consultations in Bolivia & North Carolina!


Learn new skills and affirm our mutual Quaker identity at our upcoming events. Friends representing a variety of yearly meetings and theological traditions will share the spotlight at the four Section Consultations this year. Register now for the last two conferences for 2014 in:

 Read more about the 2014 consultations>>  

 

The new Living Water study booklet with readings and queries reflecting the workshop topics will be available online at www.fwccamericas.org in English and Spanish on Friday, March 14, 2014!

 

The Mustard Seed Campaign  

  

"It is like a tiny mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a great tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  

Luke 13:18-19

 

Small donations are like mustard seeds: they can grow into much bigger things. A small group of generous, long-time supporters of the Friends World Committee have offered to double every donation by a new donor to the Section of the Americas in 2014. For example: when your gift of $10 becomes $20, your gift provides Wider Quaker Fellowship pamphlets for 5 incarcerated persons. When your gift of $100 becomes $200, your gift provides a scholarship for a young Friend to attend an FWCC conference. When your gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000, your gift brings a Bolivian minister to North Carolina, or vice versa, for intervisitation.

 

In the last few years, the Friends World Committee has planted a lot of seeds around the Section of the Americas. Tender sprouts are growing. Let's nurture them into great trees of faithfulness. If you have never donated, or not in the last five years, please make a donation this year. If you have donated in the last five years, invite a new Friend to make a donation this year. www.fwccamericas.org/donate

Staff ChangesLouiseSalinas

 

The Section of the Americas is sorry to tell you that Louise Salinas, Associate Secretary, has resigned and accepted a position with an international environmental organization. She will continue to work in the Section office through the end of March, focusing primarily on the planning and support of the Living Water  Consultations. In addition, she will continue volunteering for FWCC as the Assistant Clerk of the International Planning Committee for the 2016 International Representatives Meeting in Arequipa, Peru.

 

Louise has made tremendous contributions to the Section of the Americas over the last 12 years. Over the years, she has worked closely with the Salt & Light and Living Water programs, the Wider Quaker Fellowship, the Section Meetings, the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, and the Committee of Latin American Friends. Everything the Section has done has been touched by her grace, professionalism and practical good sense.

 

We are sorry to see her go, even as we wish her all the best in her new endeavors. If you would like to send her a message, you can email her at the Section office through the first week of April.