Items for the Mission Field
With my Thanks
I am writing this Substack while in flight from Canada to Ethiopia – a journey I have now done several times. After a little challenge, Ethiopian accepted all three of my bags – each of which is at 50 pounds capacity full of various items for the Diocese. At this point I leave all my Madagascar clothes in Mahajanga…it is very seldom 33 degrees in Newfoundland!
This allows me to bring Malagasy market items to Canada from Madagascar, the sale of which raises much needed funds for the diocese. On return, I bring whatever I think will be a blessing to my priests and people. Sometimes this is basic medical supplies, (Tylenol/Advil and children’s vitamins). Sometimes I bring ministry supplies – various things for Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. (I remember the request made by one of my priests when I first met him -he asked if I might be able to provide some balloons for a children’s event they were planning. Oh, how we take such things for granted!)
I am especially grateful to the Diocese of Fort Worth and to Nashotah House for more than a suitcase full of ecclesiastical items (chasubles, chalices, thuribles, copes etc.). My priests will love receiving these items. All my ministry I have worn full collars – several of my priests asked if I could provide full collars for them…they will be very happy to receive new full collars when I return. Getting the black shirts made is considerably less expensive in Madagascar – but there is no source there to purchase full collars…so while I was at Nashotah House, I purchased 25 full collars from Stempers!
This might seem a small thing, but to the priests who will receive these gifts – it will mean the world! An old chasuble in an American parish which never gets worn anymore, can become the festal chasuble worn only on special occasions in a rural Madagascar village. A simple brass candle stick, on a mantlepiece in Canada, can be used on the altar in Mahajanga. (I will share pictures when I give the vestments and gifts to the priests!)
Thank you Ethiopian Airlines. Thank you Nashotah House. Thank you Diocese of Fort Worth. These small kindnesses mean an awful lot to my hard working priests, many of whom still pray for running water.