Global Ministries Partners: Bentrotts Report from Haiti

A Struggling CountryNovember 3, 2009

“Many would like the poor to keep on saying that it is God’s will for them to live that way. But it is not God’s will for some to have everything and others to have nothing. That cannot be of God. God’s will is that all his children be happy.”

Archbishop Oscar Romero

Everyday Kim and I are confronted with the profound suffering that permeates Haiti. It is a country where fathers search in vain for work, mothers struggle to feed their hungry children, and education is all too often a luxury that the impoverished masses have little or no access to. It is a country where barefoot children beg in the streets, heaps of fermenting garbage pile up everywhere, and people continue to die of preventable diseases for no other reason than that they are poor. Despite these inhumane living situations it is not uncommon for one of my seminary students or a local church pastor to wonder aloud if the people of Haiti are being punished by God due to their lack of faith or for some sin that they have committed. Others are more confident in their assertions that God has blessed the righteous (aka: rich nations) and is dulling out to the poor nations, including Haiti, exactly what they deserve. Interestingly, much of this type of theology was brought to Haiti and spread throughout the country by evangelical Christians from the United States.

Part of the work that our partner organization CONASPEH does in Haiti is to provide theological education and training for pastors serving in their member churches. Many of these pastors have been leading their churches for several years, but they often do have any formal education and have not had the opportunity to take classes on things such as theology, the Bible, and church history. CONASPEH fills this void by working to provide such courses for these pastors, many of whom serve poor congregations that are unable to pay them a salary. A key component of the theological foundation that CONASPEH teaches can be found in the organization’s symbol, which is an inverted tree. The tree has its roots in heaven, but the fruits of the tree manifest on earth. The message that the inverted tree symbolizes is that the God that Jesus revealed is a God who calls and inspires us to work to produce the fruits of love and justice on earth. Like Jesus, we too are invited to participate in bringing the good news of God’s love and justice to a world where some of God’s children are being denied their right to life and sadly, openly questioning if this is God’s plan for them. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may life and have it abundantly.” As followers of Jesus let us join CONASPEH in preaching the message of abundant life with both words and actions.

Patrick and Kim Bentrott

Haiti

Patrick and Kimberly Bentrott are assigned to the National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH). Patrick serves as advisor for theological education and diaconal projects and programs.  Kimberly serves as an advisor for health care and diaconal projects and programs.

 

For More Information
Felix Ortiz-Cotto
Area Executive
Latin America and the Caribbean
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis,Indiana 46206
United States
317-713-2563
Fax: 317-635-4323
fortiz@dom.disciples.org

 

Reconciliation Offering Supports Priority Ministry

This Sunday marks the end of the week lifting up the offering for Reconcilation Mission, a priority ministry of our church. 

As we celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and of Christ’s church, we also are called to accept the work of God’s reconciling love at the Table, and in our whole community life. 

Read more of one great way that the Reconciliation Mission of the church is going to touch the life of people in the West Virginia Region, and plan now to give as generously as you can. 

50% of your giving to this offering will remain in the Region to support our regional Reconcilation efforts.

 

Reconciliation Offering Fast Approaching

Reconciliation Ministry is alive and well in our region.  Our recent gathering with our partners in the Northeastern Inter-Regional Fellowship was a productive new beginning for the Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation work accross West Virginia and Western Maryland.  A number of new initiatives are in the works to help bring God’s people (within and beyond our congregations) into unity through Christ’s reconciling love.

Your special gifts to the Reconciliation Ministry Offering help support programs such as ours. The annual offering is split evenly between our Region and the General Church so that we can invest in pro-reconciliation/anti-racism efforts. This year’s offering, with a theme of “Many Members, One Table,” will be received in congregations on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. To read more about the offering, visit: www.reconciliationministry.org/offerings/. 

For further information about future work of the West Virginia Reconciliation Team, contact Rev. David Chafin, Deputy Regional Minister.

 

Report from Haiti: House of Hope

An updated report on one of our mission efforts in Haiti can be found here: House of Hope I and II, Haiti.  The Regional Minister remembers well this vital work from his pilgrimage to Haiti this past winter.  Remember, our work there through our Global Ministries partners is made possible by your congregation’s generous support of Disciples Mission Fund.

 

New Martinsville Strawberry Festival

The youth of the New Martinsville First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be hosting a Strawberry Festival this Saturday, May 23, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  An array of lunch items, and strawberry desserts will be available for purchase.  The monies raised are to fund this summer’s mission trip.

Whole strawberry pies and strawberry cheesecakes can be ordered in advance.  Just email the Pastor, Bob Brooks.

 

Please: No More Boxes to Haiti!

Hello Friends and Supporters of Haiti,

Kim and I would like to thank you for your continued support of CONASPEH and its mission. We would also like to thank you for your personal support of both of us while we are making our way on the island. As we continue to discover what it means to be a faithful missionary in a place like Haiti we are grateful for the love and support that all of you have freely given us.

I am writing this morning to request a moratorium. While I certainly oppose the death penalty and would love to see a moratorium on it, I am merely asking for a moratorium on sending packages to Haiti. In the past few months Kim and I have spent over $1000 receiving packages from the States. While we are appreciative of the commitment and efforts of individuals and faith communities in reaching out to CONASPEH, we can no longer afford to receive packages with school supplies, clothes, medical supplies, etc. When looking at the amount of money that we are spending just to receive packages and then considering how much all of you are already spending on shipping it becomes apparent that this is not an efficient way in which to help the people of Haiti. For example, if you spend $25 to ship a packages of school supplies Kim and I end up spending an additional $20 – 40 to receive such a package. This means we are often combining to spend $40-50 for a package which may only contain $20 worth of materials. This money could be better used for other CONASPEH projects and/or to buy such supplies in Haiti directly. We are asking that you refrain from sending packages in the future. If you would like to send funds to help CONASPEH purchase such supplies or other things CONASPEH would obviously be grateful for this support.

Thanks for your understanding and feel free to e-mail me with questions or concerns. Peace and happiness to you all.

Patrick Bentrott

 

Bentrott Mission Update

The following was just posted to the Global Ministries website, as the official “newsletter” of Kim and Patrick Bentrott, our partners in Global Ministries in Haiti.  You can read it directly on the G. M. site, or better yet,  follow their blog  for much more detailed and enlightening information.

Beginning Our Work in Haiti

April 22, 2009

Last Sunday Kim and I journeyed to the large ocean side slum of Cite Soleil. Mother Teresa once called Cite Soleil, “the poorest two-miles on earth.” Needless to say, spending even a morning in this Port-au-Prince neighborhood was intense. CONASPEH has several hundred small community churches in Cite Soleil and I have been fortunate enough to preach at 3 of them in the past few weeks. However, this week’s visit to Cite Soleil was different than the previous two.

After church concluded, Kim and I stepped outside of the building and were immediately bombarded by children that wanted to hold our hands, touch our white skin, and simply be loved for a little while. The children were scantily dressed; most of them did not have shoes, several were without pants, and all of them were dirty and showing signs of malnutrition.

Pastor Timothy, whose church we attended, led us through the neighborhood to show us a school he started for the community. As we walked the smiling children clung to us while proudly telling us about their school. The kids managed to navigate us through piles of garbage, puddles of stagnant water, and various street vendors cooking and selling rice and fried plantains amidst the overwhelming filth. Finally, we reached our destination where the children took us by the hand up steep concrete stairs to the school. On the balcony of the school, we found a great view of Cite Soleil. The tin roofs of the tiny shanties spread out almost as far as I could see. Stray dogs, goats, and chickens casually meandered through the neighborhood; mothers washed clothes in large bowls of soapy water while their children played soccer in the street with plastic pop bottles. And yet, alongside the poverty and the repressive nature of Cite Soleil, the blue boundless ocean sat lining one of the edges of the massive slum. 

The paradox of the site was profound. For me, the ocean has always been the most spiritual and liberating manifestation of Being in the world. It functions to create a deep sense of connectedness to all life, while speaking to an unfathomable mystery that can never be fully articulated with words or religious dogma. Seeing this beautiful expression of interconnectivity and truth sitting amongst some of the most oppressive poverty in the world was moving. I internalized the paradox myself, feeling both a sense of utter separation from the everyday reality of the residents of Cite Soleil, and also a glimpse into that deeper reality of the shared experience of existence. I believe the obvious dissimilarities between my life circumstances and those found in Cite Soleil can be honored while still being attuned to the unifying force of life that binds us together.

In my opinion, one of the reasons that inhumane situations, such as that of Cite Soleil, continue to exist is because a sense of connectedness with others is absent for much of humanity.

This is perhaps even more true in the United States where our wealth, military power, and sense of cultural superiority has tended to breed a perceived sense of isolation from other forms of life, including people residing in different parts of the world. I’m not sure that Kim and I have a more important job during our time in Haiti than to foster and explore this mutual connection both with the Haitian people, as well as with our friends and family back home. If our collected consciousness is going to evolve into a more loving and compassionate way of being in the world that more fully reflects our divine nature, then we must began to explore the reality that connects us to other people and to the natural world. Eckhart Tolle writes, “True salvation is to know yourself as an inseparable part of the timeless and formless One Life from which all that exists derives its being.” Jesus once said, “Truly I tell you, what you do unto the least of these my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.” Let 2009 be a year where we explore our divine connection with the people of Haiti and everywhere else in the world.

Patrick and Kim Bentrott

Haiti

Patrick and Kimberly Bentrott are assigned to the National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH). Patrick serves as advisor for theological education and diaconal projects and programs.  Kimberly serves as an advisor for health care and diaconal projects and programs.

 

News from Around the Region

Report from Mission Efforts of One of Our Young Men

The following was recorded by Nickolai Dalton of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Parkersburg, as a remembrance of his participation in the February work-trip of the men of Parkersburg, Princeton and Beckley in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans.  Rev. Sandy Downs reports that Nickolai was a tireless worker and took on numerous projects on his own, as well as serving as a constant encourager for others who were laboring for this great cause.  The work was carried out under the watchful eye of Bro. Vance Moore, a friend of the Region who serves as the director at the Westside Mission Center – a Disciples outreach to those who suffered greatly from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Read on:

DAY 1:  On our first day we took a short cut through the mountains of West Virginia,Virginia,and Tennessee. But before we got to Huntington, WV. we had to change out a headlight on the church van. After that we ate some lunch at Arbys and left on our way. When we got to Knoxville,TN.   We had dinner with Pastor Sandy’s parents at Cracker Barrel. We then pulled into a motel in Chattanooga,TN.. As soon as we got there I put my bags and stuff in the room. Dad and I stayed in one room while the other men divided up into the other rooms.That same night we got to know each other and made our beds. After all that was done we all went to bed. When we woke up the next day we had breakfast and headed to New Orleans,La. Big parades were going on and had traffic all backed up when we got there. Finally, we made it to West Side Mission Church where we called it home for the next three days.

DAY 2:  This morning we ate breakfast. most of us ate cereal and some other people ate oatmeal. We all took showers then we went to the site were we were going to rebuild a house and a church. We split up into two teams . I was working on Pastor Washington’s house where we got a little bit of the flooring done.At the church they got the ceiling done in one part of the church. After the day was done, we went to Applebees and ate. We then ate and went back to the Mission Station and went straight to bed. I was very tired.

DAY 3:  I am still sleepy after I got up. I ate some cereal for breakfast. We went to the house and started working on the floors again. We got a lot of the flooring done,yet we have two rooms left to do. I was the runner, I ran the wood back and forth for the other people on the house crew. They got almost all the stuff done. I worked on the floor in the hallway with Pastor Sandy. He said I did an excellent job. we then ate at the Mandarin Chinese Place it was very good. Then we went back to the mission station and I took a shower and played card games with some people and then stayed went to bed.

DAY 4:  We started the last work day with breakfast that the other men cooked . Our group was combined with the men’s group from Princeton,WV. and Shelby, TN. We left for work again and crossed the ferry into St. Banards Parish and drove into the ninth ward to Pastor Washington’s house and church. The men finished the floors and insides of the church. There is still some work on the transition house and the Pastors house that the other men should be able to finish before the end of the week. Lunch was good as we ate with Pastor Washington and visited. We then left for the mission to attend Ash Wednesday Service.  Crossing the ferry one last time we all saw the most beautiful sunset.   Ash Wednesday Service was very different for me but I liked it. Pastor Vance Moore was our mission partner. He was funny. I got to say the prayers for breakfast and for dinner, and Pastor Vance gave me a cool shirt. All the guys stayed up and talked about the things that went on for the week and we played some cards and went to bed.

DAY 5:  Our last day we ate and cleaned up around the mission. We then told everyone goodbye and drove home. It took fourteen hours to go straight through. Dad and Dave Hawkins had meetings the next day so we didn’t stop except for gas and food. At two o’clock in the morning we finally got home,I was very tired.

Great Men’s News: Pancake Grant Received

Word has come that the Region has received a grant from the International Day of Pancakes for $4500 to be used for the building of a playground at Huntington’s Prestera Center.  The grant, provided from funds received by Disciples Men from around the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in their local pancake sales projects, was announced recently by the General Conference of Disciples Men’s Executive Committee.  More of this good news will follow.

Wheeling’s Bishop Pitts, Friend to Many

We received word of the death of Bishop Donald Pitts of the Pentecostal tradition, who was a tireless leader and friend to many of our Wheeling area churches,  from Rev. Magdalyn Sebastian:

Friends:  It is with great sadness that I inform you that our Brother in Christ, Bishop Donald Pitts died today.  Rev. Judy Bennett let me know as soon as she found out.  He was out of town when he passed.  Arrangements are still pending and I will certainly pass on any information as soon as I have it. Bishop Pitts was a special friend of First Christian, having belonged to our Boy Scout troop when he was a boy.  During his lifetime, Bishop Pitts was a participant in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, was a lawyer, and  a Pentecostal preacher.  He worked tirelessly for the children at Laughlin Chapel, led the Boy’s drum circle, and was a driving force in making Wheeling a better place to live.  We will miss him dearly.

 

Regional Minister in D.R. & Haiti: Final Edition

My friends:

This communique comes from Vienna, WV. I am home and at the dining room table. Given the lack of reliable internet and time, I was unable to get this done on the same day. I do want to thank you for hanging in there with these notes of the trip. Your feedback and notes have been a source of strength and comfort. Bless you for it. As you can imagine, this pilgrimmage has been a gift. Many thanks to Global Ministries (who we support through our faithful gifts to DMF – the Disciples Mission Fund – which funds the work of the whole church and our region) for allowing us to see the church in action all over the world. The body is alive everywhere.

On our last day we saw two places where we are partners in ministry. The first was “House of Hope”. This is a significant ministry and has recently even received a grant from Week of Compassion. They work with children who are really on the edge. In Port-au-Prince there are over 300,000 children who live with relatives other than their parents. They live in exchange for work. House of Hope works with these folk in order to provide education, enrichment and encouragement for a hard life that can be marked by hope. They also work with the elderly who have nobody to support them. They work in two very tough neighborhoods and the stories of some of there clients are unfathomable. For those whose daily priority is to survive, I give thanks for places like this ministry. The school put on a fine show for us that was identical to one of our school assemblies. The joy on the faces was yet another sign of grace in the world.

We then ventured back to the CONASPEH headquarters. This was incredible. In this building (maybe 5 or 6 thousand square feet) much happens. There is a clinic where Kim Bentrott is the doctor. Our medicine cabinets rival what she has to work with. There is a morning school where 600 children come and learn and receive a hot meal each day. In the afternoon the nursing school and seminary arrive. They make ultimate use of their limited space.

They are touching people with the gospel daily and effectively.

The church is alive and what a joy to see it in action around the world. Thank you for giving me up to see this. The church is alive here as well, and I can share amazing stories of how we are touching lives too. My beliefs in and convictions to ecumenism, evangelism, and compassion have been deepened. To see Christ in new ways will surely change my life. God is not done with us. In fact my theological hunch is that God is just beginning to use us anew.

God Bless you on the journey.

Love,

Thad

 

Regional Minister in D.R. & Haiti: Day 10

To the church:

I am no longer sure what day it is or what day we are on! The chaos of Haiti has taken over my sense of time!

Day 10 found us driving into the country outside of Port-au-Prince. We were to bless and dedicate a new building, visit CONASPEH headquarters, and visit with a local congregation.

But as we know, sometimes the best laid plans…………

After car trouble from two different vehicles that we are using. The schedule had to be modified. We missed the dedication and briefly visited the headquarters. This freed us up to be able to spend more time with the congregation. It was a good diversion from the schedule.

We saw the church and met members. They gifted us with fresh cocunuts (we each were given our own) that were opened “table side” by a gentlemen with a very big knife!

We drank the coconut water and then he would split them again for the milk. The hospitality was warm and genuine.

We visited the village and viewed the village farm. The country is poor like the city, but I found myself being much more comfortable in the country. It reminded of some nice moments on my grandfather’s farm and with my friends when I was the pastor in Big Run. I miss those moments, and this was a neat reminder.

On the journey through the national highway (a road that is unlike any highways we know) one could get a photo that had in it a burrow, a horse, a bicycle, a motorcycle, a Tap Tap, an minivan and walkers all in the same frame. Pretty neat.

On the way home we visited the memorial marker that signified the cemetery of many Haitians who simply disappeared during the Coup. This sad event was marked by the tears in our leaders eyes as he shared the story of this place and this people. His love for creatures great and small is clear. I hope that Felix Ortiz will come visit us in West Virginia.

In the evening I had a meeting that I hope will bear fruit. We are hoping to do an exchange with CAMANANTE in the Dominican Republic. The initial plan is to have two young people from the DR come to WV and attend CYF Conference. Then we will put two of our post highers on the plane with them and they will spend a week in CAMANANTE. This exchange could be gift as we live together in this global world in which God has placed us. Could be good for our youth, I do believe.

I hear good things from retreat, and our congregations and members too. You are on my mind and in my prayers.

Peace,

Thad