Neighborhood Stretch

I'm thinking of some of my involvements these days. Involvements are still essential for this workaholic still adjusting to retirement.  I agreed to an assignment from Missions and Service Committee of the Mennonite Church Alberta – my Christian community learning to be responsive to a repopulating world.

Two committee awarenesses became obvious when I came on board two years ago. One: Muslim-Christian Dialogue initiated in Edmonton with considerable success including some good inter-church and inter-faith participation seemed not to be taking hold in Calgary.  Two:  A group of South Sudanese Christians also in Edmonton with some conference help were coalescing and cheerfully worshipping in rental space, and almost akin to the early church in Acts, devoting themselves “to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (2:42).  Seeing I was the lone committee member living in Calgary, could I see what might be done to address either or both of these?  The beauty of volunteer work is that you probably will not get fired, even if abysmally unsuccessful.  Ironically it has become a joy to first ‘look’ at these two challenges and then see what is happening. Yes, it seemeth to be a work in progress.

Enter Corona, the subject of almost all my previous blog posts this year!  Surprise, the first challenge, which I had perceived as the big one because of considerable ‘dialogue’ disinterest in this city of cowboys and big business executives.  The October 31 scheduled dialogue included Albertans from all over.  Not only Muslim-Christian dialogue, but unexpectedly a whole interfaith community has suddenly opened up before my eyes.  Corona brought on Zoom, and Zoom knows no political, cultural, physical or philosophical boundaries. Praise the Lord! 

 

The second awareness, perhaps not surprising, has been less quantifiable.  I was asked to become acquainted with and help facilitate some group formation among these Calgary South Sudanese Christians, also immigrants and some of them kinfolk of the Edmonton group.  I recall my first introduction. After a few phone calls two tall good looking black gentlemen arrived at our church (located about 10 km south of the city).  This was followed by dinner at our house.  Next occasion, Tim Hortons 17 Ave SW; my impression, this establishment completely populated by black men of same stature, hearty handshakes and noisy conversations.  No alcohol, but reminded me of small town watering holes of my past history.  Next meeting a visit by one of the Edmonton brothers, one of my fellow committee members, at same Timmies, referred to by one of the Calgary brothers as his office. 😊  Surprise; this meeting began and ended with prayer.  In this place it seemed to be understood the Lord’s work going on at this particular booth!  David, the one I first met, is asked by the Edmonton rep to take some organizational leadership, “but make sure to check with Elizabeth”, one of the mature women who already has a sense of what is needed.  It’s a formal inauguration meeting – at Tim Hortons!  Nobody finds this unusual, except me of course. 😌   Next meeting with one of them – attempt to solve a community problem causing considerable stress. I can do little to help, but am honored to pray with them about it.  Next meeting our place, this time including several additional relatives/friends.  Two cars full, suddenly our living room seems fairly cozy.  Next meeting at the home of the woman of authority; delightful time of conversation including her husband and several of her children, including two basketball type sons of the 6’8” stature. Yes, large families all of them –  reminds me of my family of origin in Saskatchewan. In short order several of us together are visiting one of our churches, Foothills Mennonite closer to their locale.   

Did I mention Corona?  Yes, it too. Just as I thought we were poised to make a decision re future meetings, everything went on hold – at least organizationally. Except - and I say this with joy - every conversation (text or telephone or email) by now has a tone almost of family familiarity.  We’re in this together, even joining in several Zoom worship times with our Foothills hosts.  Corona time?  God is with us, among us.

  Along with the worship prayer motif there are clouds.  Huge challenges, always concerns related to family members and situations in South Sudan or Ethiopia.  One of them, Bayak, is Executive Director of Nile Care Advocacy for Peace and Development (NILECAPD) headquartered in Juba, South Sudan.  I have been unsuccessful so far in accessing funding assistance from our own MCC, from the Anglican church, or other agencies.  En process I have also come to know a gentleman named Chor, adherent in a local Lutheran Church and president of Calgary Sudanese Association (Yes, approximately 15000 members in Calgary). These are noble involvements much akin to the work of the church as we know it.  They do this work as immigrants, and also as fellow Christians, seeking to make a home here while also deeply pained about life 'back there'.  This is a humbling awareness especially for those of us of the service orientation, and certainly not unfamiliar to Mennonites whose forebears came through the Russian Revolution.

I am reminded of a quote from a community newspaper I recently happened upon. "For immigrants, hard work isn't optional - it's a matter of survival" <hello@sprawlcalgary.com>.  Many immigrants become minimum wagers here.” Alongside these very early introductory meetings and conversations there is always the employment issue. Uber drivers, Skip the Dishes, and the whole gamut of entry level jobs not at all uncommon in this community.  Several of them work in Fort McMurray, removed from family for a month at a time, return home for a few days and away they go for another month!  Evenso, every greeting includes queries about my wife, and my children. Then I ask about them.  Good, good. On second or third round of conversation I may learn it’s not so good.  Rent not paid yet, etc. Ouch, but “God is here, God is good” and they like this country.  I am learning new ways to greet and appreciate everyone around me.

I could now move on into the politics, the analytics and opinions among neighbors and fellow citizens, including fellow church members.  Much conversation still focused on pensions and retirement and holiday trips (interrupted by Corona of course). The vantage of affluent baby boomer economies still wants to be the driving force - and yes, now likely to be tested in post-Trump North America.  Even within this environment I say my greater joy is involvement with these very people come among us.  There is meaning here. As the world repopulates the privilege of faith is also our challenge - so much more important than seeking to align one political viewpoint versus another, or to win a dinner table discussion.  

My joy in these last months has been to discover new brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that they have found a people for whom the gospel of Jesus Christ is also the way of peace.  I hope for opportunity to do some reviewing on that very topic in our well-heeled churches.  The hope of these new immigrant friends is that they may join in our walk of faith. My hope is that we may learn to walk it together with them. There is so much to learn from neighbors, whether they happen to live next door, or whether they have traveled forever just to get here.  All of us immigrants need to be reminded we are still benefiting from our hosts, the Indigenous, who were here long before us colonialists arrived. 

A very good friend of mine, one worldly wise and considerably experienced in international things, recently responded to me after I had told him a couple of these stories, “Don’t worry if all is not accomplished as per plan. It never does. The important thing is to show up.  It’s the best one can do.”  I suppose you’re right again Abe.  Corona is teaching us the agony of not showing up, and even some new ways of showing up.  John 1:14 still says it quite well,  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (RSV).