Category Archives: Ministry

Update from Belize scholarship student, Anique Hernandez

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Glad to hear all is well with you. I’m doing very well thank you for asking. I’m happy you wrote to me so I can tell you that yes, I am  enjoying my final year at Sacred Heart. It has been a wonderful  and adventurous experience. I’m sad to see it come to an end, but at the same time I am very pleased. This year has been a wild roller coaster ride for me. There were many ups and down in my school life this final year but I stuck it out and tried the best I could. Lately I’ve been a little off on
my work, I guess 4 th form work is not as easy as I anticipated. I am working very hard so I can have better grades. Aside from all the bad things that happened, I’m still a happy little soul who tries to spread good cheer to everyone. My school has recently created a youth group for people at school. I think it would be good for me to be a part of such a wonderful group.

It is also with great pleasure to say my regular classes will end in a month or two from now. I have many different finals to study for and complete in order to graduate. There are my Diploma exams, ATLIB exams as well as the CXC examinations. I am also still a member of the fabulous Cheer team only because this year it’s a bit different from the usual thing, this year our group only perform dances. We do many different types of dances for different occasions. We are currently planning to raise funds for one of our teachers who had Cancer. We see it as a great way to give back to the school. We also have great plans for graduation.

It would be so nice to meet your lovely church community. Hope you guys pray for me

We plan to do a special dance on Parents night for our parents. It has been very exciting to be able to work with such a superb group of young opened minded individuals.

It would be so nice to meet your lovely church community. Hope you guys pray for me, I need blessings and strength at this point in my life. I would gladly send you a biography of me along with a picture as soon as I have some free time. I will probably have this weekend free so I would be more than happy to send it for you.

I hope you guys keep doing well and have a year full of blessings and love

Your Friend
Anique

P.S I’m sorry that it’s not a lot, but I told you all the important stuff

Update from Belize high school scholarship student, Jocelyn Herrera

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So far I am doing good here and I hope that you all are doing great in New
Brunswick. This second year at Eden is excellent. I am enjoying it more than the
first. I am working really hard to achieve a grade of A in all five core subjects so
that I don’t have to take any exams. My goal for this year is to get A’s and I will
push myself to the limit to achieve this goal.
I did enjoy my summer and Christmas break. I was able to visit some family
members. I had a beautiful time with them. I felt blessed to be given the chance to
spend time with the people I love. Here in Belize we don’t get snow but we
experience cold fronts. We also get a lot of rain. Even when it rains I enjoy myself
because my siblings and I go outside and run up and down in the rain. We all have
great times.
You asked for a short bio of myself so here I go. I am an intelligent, respectful,
kind and loving young woman. My favourite subject is Social Studies. My
favourite activity is swimming. I love reading a book named “Chestnut Hill” (The
New Class). I love horses. My wish is to own a horse in the future. I speak three
languages which are Spanish, English and Creole.
I hope to hear from you soon and thank you for all the support you are giving me.
I really appreciate it and I will work hard to make you proud.

Best Wishes,
Jocelyn Herrera

Update from Belize high school scholarship student, Jenniah Tillett (Grade 9)

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My name is Jenniah Tillett. I am 14 years old and I am in the class of 1Toucan at
Eden High School. At Eden I met up with a lot of friends. I have more than I
could ever ask for. Even in my village I have made new friend and I feel so
blessed to know that I have so many family, friends and church family wishing me
much success in my life. My favorite subject is English. I like to play sports and I
am so glad that my school offers me the opportunity to play. I especially enjoy
football and volleyball.
When I’m not in school I play with my friends and cousins. Of course, I try to
balance my time because I am working really hard to get good grades so that I can
keep my scholarship and make everyone proud of me. I really appreciate what you
are doing for me and I am extremely happy to be a part of your church family. I
will do my best in school. Once again, Thank you very much.

Respectfully Yours,
Jenniah Tillett

Health Fair at St. Hilda’s School in Belize

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Greetings from sunny Belize😊. Our dry season is starting so the days are really hot! I just wanted to send you an update of events at St. Hilda’s. Hopefully I can send you most of the pictures from our Health Fair. We had personnel from Ministry of Health doing displays and presentations. Each class also did presentations. It was very informative and enjoyable. I will also send some receipts for purchases made. We were able to install whiteboard in every class now. Yeah!! We continue to pray for you all that God will bless your ministry. Thank you all for partnering with St. Hilda’s. 
Blessings, 
Jane Martinez (Principal at St. Hilda’s School)

Children’s Day at St. Hilda’s School in Belize

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The following is a letter sent to the Belize Mission Team by Jane Martinez, principal at St. Hilda’s School:

Hoping that all is well with you and yours. Just a few pics to share for our Children’s Day last Friday. We had a competitive but enjoyable time. Children were separated into four color groups. We played games and competed against each other. The Green group won. Please greet the church for us. I pray you have a wonderful holiday season.

Blessings, 
Jane 

 

What is the Anglican Foundation of Canada?

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The Anglican Foundation of Canada may be one of the Canadian Anglican church’s best kept secrets.

The Foundation supports Canadian Anglican ministry across Canada by way of the generosity of Anglicans both past and present.

Anglican Foundation Placemat“‘Us’ and ‘them’ language is difficult to apply to the Anglican Foundation,” says the Diocese of Fredericton‘s representative Clyde Spinney. “The Foundation is about spreading the generosity of Anglicans in the direction of valuable, innovative ministry across the Canadian Church.”

The Diocese of Fredericton, and in fact, Christ Church Cathedral itself, is by no means foreign to the grants and loans over the years in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. See a list of grants and loans by diocese on the Anglican Foundation website. A multitude of parish ministry initiatives, including the longest running Choir School in Canada held in our diocese each year are among recipient.

But none of this work happens without support. Being a “member” costs as little as $50-$99, as an income tax deductible charitable gift. Donor benefits and levels of giving are outlined here.

The Foundation is about spreading the generosity of Anglicans …

The Anglican Foundation of Canada was established in 1957 to encourage and support ministry within the Anglican Church of Canada.

Anglican Foundation Placemat 2Leading the way in resourceful ministry for 60 years, AFC has benefited dioceses, hundreds of parishes, and thousands of Canadian Anglicans with the provision of financial support for ministry from coast to coast to coast.

AFC invites individuals, parishes, and church organizations to make an annual contribution so that it can respond generously to applicants who are engaged in ministry to serve the Canadian Church. The Foundation’s ability to support ministry is also funded by bequests, memorials and special gifts, donor-designated trusts, life insurance, and investment income.

The work of the Foundation is made possible through the devotion, generosity, and collective goodwill of hundreds of donors. The support of dedicated Anglicans of all ages makes it possible to sustain the Foundation in the ministry of generosity to the Canadian Church.

Anglican Foundation LogoAdditional associated trusts include:

Bursaries for Theological Education (information for theological students)
Inspire a Musician (A.E.J. Fulford Trust for church music)
Scholarship of St. Basil the Great (ecumenical exchange program)
Bursaries for Pastoral Care and Preaching (Lewis S. Garnsworthy Memorial Trust for preaching and pastoral care)
Indigenous Grants (Catholic Apostolic Universal Church Trust Fund for Indigenous programs in Canada)

Learn more about the work of the Anglican Foundation by visiting the website. Why not consider joining the roster of membership and getting involved in something truly inspiring and imagine more?

Library project ahead of schedule!

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Update from Rev. Paul Jeffries at Bishop McAllister College and Anglican Seminary in Uganda:
Our big project we have been working on has been the construction of a library. I thought it might take six or more years because of the enormous cost, but we have made wonderful progress in less than two years. I will attach a couple of photos. We have been enjoying a visit from Rosemarie Kingston the past president of Diocesan ACW, with her husband and another parishioner of St. Lukes Gondola Pint. Darryl is an electrician , and he was able to wire the library during his visit. Another step forward.
Greetings to everyone your end, and thank you so much for all your support.
God bless!
Paul

Mothers’ Union considers disturbing topic

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At a recent meeting of Mothers' Union, the topic of discussion was deeply disturbing but extraordinarily eye opening! Shara Golden, the guest speaker, has been a Mother's Union member since 1991 and has served on the National Executive. Last year, she was appointed by the World Wide Mothers Union to be one of six women to participate in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Shara's background in Human Rights and Labour Relations was instrumental in leading her to her current focus on Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence. She has been doing presentations on" Human Trafficking - Canada and the World", for chapters of Mothers Union throughout NB and NS.

As difficult as the subject is to acknowledge and to learn about, Shara says it is one that must be discussed openly and plans must be put in place to help those who are impacted by the growth and spread of this particular trade. It is reputed to be the second most profitable industry after the drug industry.

Perhaps one of the most alarming statistics quoted by Shara was that there have been 3 reported instances of human trafficking in New Brunswick. Equally alarming was the 63 reported cases in NS. Yes, the 723 in Ontario is bad, but our minds immediately focus on Toronto and we think of the large metropolitan area, where bad things happen. Right? But NB and NS??? That is, for most of us, in the realm of the unbelievable; but these are statistics that force us to sit up and look around us.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

L-R: Leah Chipepa, Zambia; Rachael Anderson, MU Events and Digital Communications Manager, England; Shara Golden, Canada; Ekua Swanzy, Ghana; Beverly Jullien, MU Chief Executive, England; Felicia Yeboah Asuamah, Ghana.

An initiative known as The Clewer Initiative of the Church of England has been established and is working on strategies for detecting modern slavery and protecting its victims in the UK, where literally tens of thousands of people are living in some form of slavery having been guaranteed "a better life." Shara recounted the story of one such female who had come from a foreign country to a job which was advertised as an opportunity for one such better life. She was sent to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week for an upper middle class "Christian" family with three children and a very large house. No time off and all of the responsibility for the running of the household, this family took her to Church every Sunday where she heard over and over that "freedom is a gift of God." She was "passed on" in service to three other families before the Home Office conducted a raid and she was finally freed.

According to Archbishop Welby, people often choose not to see and thus, the initiative's hashtag became #weseeyou. Mothers Union worldwide are working with the Clewer Initiative to end slavery by 2030. The focus is on identifying resources and forming partnerships; on holding governments accountable and raising awareness.

What about Canada? In Ontario, the number of girls involved in human trafficking or the sex trade is reputed to be in the thousands. Some are as young as 12 years old. They are often runaway kids, foster kids, but also from middle class families. They all seem to share one common trait: they are looking for love and a secure and better future. One survey conducted by the Toronto Star, identified purchasers of services as coming from all walks of life - doctors, lawyers, teachers, judges, accountants, etc. Most people turn a blind eye and prefer to think "it doesn't happen in my world." Yet a Manager of Escorts/Pimp is able to earn up to $280,000 per year from one sex worker. Little wonder that young men 18-24 are seeing this as a potential career.

The law and those in the legal profession from police officers to lawyers work tirelessly to close down operations but cases are often stayed or withdrawn due to lack of evidence. The girls will not testify for fear of the repercussions promised and will not leave for the same reason. In Canada, there is a prevalence of trafficking of Aboriginal girls.

Many, many more statistics and stories were shared by Shara's but her final question to the group was "What can MU in Canada or more specifically NB do?" The Diocesan Council in NS is putting together a resolution to present to Synod this coming Spring. She left the group with a challenge to start talking about Human Trafficking and looking for ways to open disussion and become involved in being a part of working towards the 2030 goal of MU. In her words, "we have an obligation to do something." What will that something be?

Read Shara's report from the 62nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in the September 2018 issue of the Canadian Mothers' Union newsletter.

Gail MacGillivray

Isabelle Hockin speaks to ACW

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About 30 ACW members gathered on February 20th to hear Isabelle Hockin talk about her experiences with learning when and how to let go.

Isabelle started with a real life example of when to let go when you don't really know how by recounting a humorous story of finding Lois Baker in the kitchen with her hand stuck in a teapot! Not knowing how to let go!

In actual fact, Isabelle's words focused more on letting go of emotions as opposed to things like teapots. She pointed out that human nature often seems to lead us to "holding on tightly instead of letting go", when letting go can lead us to a life of unexpected freedom. By not clutching tightly to what we have, by not trying to choreograph others and by surrendering those challenges to God, we can learn the joys that freedom brings.

Using examples from her own personal experiences in the past, present and looking to the future, she explored how letting go had had a positive effect in her own life.

One of her most recent letting go experiences that she shared was her letting go of her fear of the unknown by volunteering for the Out of the Cold project at Bishop's Court. Like many of us, Isabelle referred to "living in our own bubble". We know about homeless people but we don't necessarily extend that to knowing them without a push in that direction. In her case, it was hearing Bishop Edwards talk about the Out of the Cold project that was her nudge. She began volunteering at the house she had previously called home and is learning to know the people that are now calling it their home out of the cold. She recalled having one of the guests say to her "this is a lovely home. I'd like to have a home like this some day!" It brought to mind the notion that individuals don't turn into what they tell themselves to be but often into what others tell them they are. By letting go of her fears, her life has been enriched!

She wrapped up her talk by noting that there are still things that she sees in herself every day that she needs to work on letting go. This certainly resonated with the audience! She ended with this quote from St. Paul:

I'm not saying I have it all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  Philippians 3:13 - The Message

Gail MacGillivray