Diocese of Iowa Companions: Farewell to Swaziland, September 2016

Within the hour we will load up our rental van and set off the 90 kilometers to the airport. It is the hospitable nature of our guests that they will accompany us – Bishop and Dean included – at least that far as we head home. Last evening we enjoyed a home cooked meal at the bishop’s house together with the Diocesan Secretary and his wife, the chair of the Social Development Department, the Dean and his wife, and the young man who has been showing Bill the way around the various feeding and environmental programs. Bill gave us a slideshow of the remarkable images he has captured on the trip, as our thank you gift to the Bishop and her diocese.

Several years ago I was driving in SE Iowa and the corn spoke to me. I knew that this was a particular threshold for connecting with Iowa. On Sunday, I woke up at 3am to the sound of rolling thunder and the pounding of rain. I rejoiced. It was an experienced reinforced last in the day when during the Eucharistic Prayer and Sanctus, the heavens opened and pelted the corrugated iron roof of the crowded, small mission church we were in. Bishop Ellinah and I confirmed 19 members of all ages, including an old work mate of the bishop’s whom she hadn’t seen for decades. “God is doing miracles here”, she whispered to me. After a three hour service, she referred to my passion for healing, and invited anyone to come forward, not expecting almost the whole church to respond. We were there another 90 minutes. One of the first people forward however struck a home note – he sought prayer for his divided family as his wife had run off with the children, and trafficked them. Last international inquiry he had made had detected them in Chicago.

We met again Sunday night with the Spirit of Discovery young people, and met with a group of mainly elderly women who have formed their own cooperative to produce a variety of articles for sale- soaps, cleansing material, sewing and knitting products and candles. They have expanded their inventory over the years. We don’t know if it is possible to link them with the young people for marketing purposes. Bishop Ellinah urges her people to find ways of increasing their financial capacity – with a view of increased self – sustainability. It is rather similar to our own “recasting your assets”.

We return home with greetings to our own Convention. The Synod was held a month earlier so that I might be able to attend. I bring greetings too from the young people who have had their lives changed through the trip to Brechin through the generosity of the Alleluia Fund. Most of our support for the companions comes from individual and congregational donations across the diocese. The Diocesan budget provides $10,000 for ministry beyond the Diocese including travel ($2-3,000) and the 0.07% designation for sustainable grants (7-8000) which are offered for more than our three companions.
As I said in my report to Synod, “God is pleased that we are companions”. It delights God’s heart that we share our resources which in their instances may be providing for work that may mean the difference between physical life and death. I concluded by surmising that there is something of mystical character that as a companionship of three in one, we seek to fulfil the will of the God who is three in one.

Stacey in her sermon to Synod quoted the song – “Have you seen Jesus my Lord? He’s here in plain view. Take a look, open your eyes. He'll show it to you”. It is what our companions are about- the widening of our vision to know how God forgets none of us, though there is always the danger that we forget God. But there again it is the gift of companions to say – no look again. He is here in plain view. Always and everywhere. Waiting for you.

In the peace and love of Christ,