leavin' on a jet plane...

It's been a long wait, but I am finally going to get back to Haiti! It will only be for a couple of weeks, but I'll take it.

A few of you may remember that I left abruptly in 2013 - having received word that my mother had been in what ought to have been a fatal car accident, I was out the door in less than 24 hours. I am happy to report that my mother is still with us, which, in the words of more than one trauma doc, is miraculous. But that's another story. (Feel free to pray for my parents' health, however.)

Anyway, I am preparing to travel and beginning to think of the things I am looking forward to. Thanks to my phone, I have nifty little emojis for some of them. I was disappointed not to see a mango emoji, but then I realized they're not in season anyway, so I had better stop pining for a mangue francique.


🏞🛫💺🛬✈⌚🙏😀☀️😁💕🐐🐓🦎🌺🥑☕🍚💒♥️🎶

***

Finally finishing my post... on the plane waiting for boarding to finish! Pleased to report that I understand all the announcements in Kreyol. That is encouraging. 

I hope to post a bit while there, but it remains to be seen how much internet access I will have. 

Time to go!

Duxbury Interfaith Council 2018 Spring Holiday Basket Project

Last weekend there was a (tiny little) snowstorm. Noah didn't amount to much after all. Yesterday and today it has been spring. 

just after sunrise this morning

a beautiful start to a beautiful day

It's been over 60 here in Duxbury, and it was 73 in Cambridge yesterday afternoon when I was up to speak with the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Div. I was wishing I could add a few extra hours in the afternoon to wander around and look at birds. (That's not an unusual wish, however.)

happy long-tailed duck, already anticipating the loveliness

Tomorrow I hear it will snow again. 

"You did not just say that..."

Meanwhile, however, I have received a confirmation that spring is on the way, Punxutawney Phil notwithstanding. It's time to think about the DIC food drive for our holiday meal baskets. Care to participate? See below for possibilities. 

2018 SPRING HOLIDAY BASKET PROJECT

The Outreach Committee of the Duxbury Interfaith Council is planning the Spring Holiday food basket project to distribute holiday meals to our less fortunate neighbors.  This has become a major community endeavor, and we are asking for your help.  We thank you for your continued support, as do over 130 recipient families.

HOW TO HELP?

DONATIONS OF MONEY:  Please make check payable to the Duxbury Interfaith Council and mail to P.O. Box 1161, Duxbury, MA  02331. 

DONATIONS OF FOOD:  Please drop off all non-perishable items at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont Street, by Saturday, March 24^th   

Non-perishable donations needed:

●      Canned Goods:  Yellow and Green vegetables, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Gravy

●      Juice:  Non-frozen concentrated juice mix

●      Packaged Dessert Mixes: Quick Bread, Muffins, Brownie, Cake & Frosting

●      Baked Goods: Cookies, Brownies, Squares, Cupcakes, Quick Breads, and Pies.

Baked Goods should be dropped off no later than 3:00 pm on Monday, March 26^th.

**No food donations in glass containers and within expiration dates, please.

There is always an enormous need for home-style baked goods for the Spring Baskets.  Please consider baking from scratch or purchasing from a local supermarket bakery.  These goods add a personal touch to the baskets.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

BASKET ASSEMBLY:  At Holy Family Church Parish Center, 601 Tremont St. 

Tuesday, March 27^th 9:00 AM-12:00 Noon and Wednesday March 28^th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

BASKET PICKUP/DELIVERY:  Most recipients pick up their baskets.  We need help loading the baskets into cars and delivering baskets on Wednesday, March 28^th.^d from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (strong adults only) 

Deliveries begin at 1:00 pm.

http://www.duxburyinterfaithcouncil.org/

https://www.facebook.com/duxburyinterfaithcouncil/

Everyone should have a nice dinner.

after celebration and storm

Well, Merry Christmas Epiphany!

The wreaths and ribbons and lights are all coming down now, which always makes me sad, especially when it is cold and grey.

The candles in my prayer corner remain, however; their warmth reminds me of that which really matters. 

Today was our sabbath - that is to say, our day of rest - on which I try to spend time outside and also do some walking, both of which lift my spirits considerably.

I thought I'd go look for a few ducks late this afternoon on my way to do errands. I knew things were pretty well frozen, but the black ducks had made an appearance on the shore near us earlier in the day (binoculars!). The river mouth and the Powder Point Bridge over the bay are often good gathering places for ducks, so I headed out in all optimism.

Not so much.

At the river mouth, there was some water between the bridge and the otherwise iced-up inlet, but nothing stirring. As I was preparing to leave again, an intrepid little bufflehead popped up.

She was determined to find something in the water flowing back with the incoming tide from under the ice.

I do hope she found something eventually. Nothing much seemed to be coming her way; nevertheless, she persisted.

At the Powder Point Bridge, nothing but pigeons and a few gulls, high up. It only took a glance to see that my vision of eiders, loons, scoters, and buffleheads was not to be. The bay was completely frozen over; even the water I thought was open had ice not far underneath.

I only made it half way across before turning back, realizing that the return walk would not be at all fun in the stiff, cold wind.

What I saw, however, was lovely in its own stark way. The colors were stunning.

Not much of a birding expedition, but an experience of beauty for which I am grateful. Perhaps at some point I can paint it. (I did learn on retreat one year, however, that watercolors freeze very fast outdoors in January. My spiritual director was quite amused.)

May God grant you such beauty and serenity as well.

prayer for sheltering

Over the past weeks with their hurricanes - and now an earthquake - I have been praying with a line from a hymn: Oh, spread thy sheltering wings around...

My first day of my novitiate field education placement at Common Art, St. John's, Bowdoin Street, on September 12, 2001. Liz, the priest in charge, is an artist. Two blocks from the State House, the anxiety was almost palpable. Following our service, Liz had us all draw prayer mandalas as we held this disaster in our hearts. I can still envision mine. So much to pray for. So many lives impacted. And I learned there that art, no matter the purely artistic quality thereof, can express prayers of the heart when words will not suffice. It complements the prayer of silence.

And so I made another. Great art it is not. But it is prayer. It is prayer I can come back to.

Oh, spread thy sheltering wings around...

Around those in immediate danger.
Around those preparing to face it.
Around those numb with shock.
Around those wild with grief and loss.
Around those frantic to find missing loved ones.
Around those who have found them injured or dead.
Around those standing in the wreckage looking for hope.
Around those working to heal, to repair, to comfort.
Around those seeking a way forward for themselves or for their communities.

Lord, shelter them in the midst of the storm.
Let them know your presence, so very near even now.

Oh, spread thy sheltering wings around...

haiku against horror

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

More bad news today.
Kyrie eleison.
I have had enough.

Wind, flood, fire, fury;
Catastrophic potential.
Death rides a pale horse.

Storm-tossed, not sinking;
weather-beaten, we still trust.
You are our anchor.

sideswipe? maybe? #IrmaHaiti

Just a quick note - things are looking better than expected, though of course it's not over till it's over.

We went from this:

https://twitter.com/Gedemax

(which is to say, no power, no food in the shelters)

to this:

https://twitter.com/Gedemax/status/905958782982873089

Power's back on in Cap Haitien!

Given that when I lived in Haiti it was much more often off than on, this astonishes and delights me, assuming it's true. All of which is to say a cautious "yea!-ish?"  Could be worse (eg Tortola, Barbuda... awful... pray for them, too).

Haven't heard much about the flooding situation yet, which is what most concerns me. There are reports of it. We'll know more in the morning.

The only article-based report I've found online so far is this:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/07/irma-destruction-island-by-island-hurricane

It's not over yet.

https://www.windy.com/?20.448,-65.566,5

I just keep praying that it goes north (and preferably right between the coast and Bermuda where it will impact the fewest people), slows down, and then retires completely.

#IrmaHaiti

I'm waiting for word from Haiti, which will take a while, given that Irma is there right now.  I have just found articles, however, as well as a few Twitter threads. Thought I'd share with those of you who may also be waiting for news.

Hurricane Irma: Panic sets in as Haiti braces for storm | Miami Herald

Haiti has already been devastated by natural disasters. Now it’s bracing for Irma. - The Washington Post

Meanwhile, I'm praying for my friends there, especially my godson and his family who are up north. Praying, too, for all those who are reeling from the storm or in its path. Please pray with me.

-----
MORE:
Haïti confronté à l’ouragan Irma, moins d’un an après le drame de Matthew

Dear President-Elect Trump: a letter from the Episcopal bishops in MA about the environment

Dec. 12, 2016

Donald J. Trump

President-Elect of the United States of America

Trump Tower

735 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Dear President-Elect Trump,

We, the bishops of the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts, are glad to let you know that all of our 235 churches pray for you regularly in our liturgies with these or similar words: “For those in positions of public trust, especially Barack our President and Donald our President-Elect, that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person.”

We also pray: “Give us reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.”

The Episcopal Church stands strongly for the protection of the environment. We respect the facts of science.  We support laws and policies that address the reality of climate change. We are in the process of divesting our financial interest in fossil fuels. Most recently our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, joined Native Americans at Standing Rock in their effort to protect their water and their sacred land. Numerous other Episcopal Church leaders have likewise traveled to Standing Rock.

Our respect for our government leaders and our reverence for the earth as God’s creation impel us to write you to express our dismay about your selection of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. We wonder why a person who has consistently and adamantly opposed all laws and policies that provide even minimal “protection” to the environment should be entrusted with leading such an agency.

President-elect Trump, you have promised economic development. Like you, we value a stable and prosperous economy.  However, a thriving economy depends on a healthy environment. The more we weaken and dismantle the E.P.A.’s vital protections of our natural world, the more we threaten the common good.

You have also promised to strengthen our national defense. Like you, we value national security.  However, our country’s top military intelligence have concluded that climate change is a “threat multiplier” that is already creating instability around the world and will likely create significant security challenges in the years ahead.  If someone who casts doubt on the reality of climate change becomes the head of the E.P.A., our national security will be compromised.

As citizens of this beloved country, we intend to write our members of Congress, urging them to block the nomination of Scott Pruitt to lead the E.P.A. We will pray for a better choice.

And we will continue to pray for you as you assume this office of tremendous responsibility for the good of all.

Respectfully,

The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher, Bishop Diocesan of Western Massachusetts

The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, Bishop Diocesan of Massachusetts

The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts

The Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts (retired)

The Rt. Rev. Roy F. Cederholm, Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts (retired)

http://www.diomass.org/diocesan-news/ma-bishops-oppose-trump-pick-epa

pitié pour Haïti…

Horror in rural Haiti as Hurricane Matthew death toll surges to 842 - Reuters

What will it be by tomorrow? Next week? Why Haiti?

Oh, Seigneur, pitié pour Haïti…
(taptap on the road to Darbonne 2012)

Matthew

The hurricane, not the gospel.

I have no right to speak for the Eglise Episcopale d'Haiti, but I'm going to do it anyway. 

Matthew, the Episcopal Church does not welcome you.

Haiti's Hurricane History: A Long Relationship with Disaster

Please pray.

I gather Matthew hasn't hit yet, but it will be there soon enough. It's a pretty wide storm, so even if it does stay on course to shoot the gap between the islands, it's going to knock Haiti for a loop.  And Haiti does not need this.

All this with the presidential election coming up in a week or so, I believe.

With permission, I'm sharing a few personal reports from the Facebook page of a missionary in the Port-au-Prince area, a protestant pastor who is also associated with the English-language congregation at St Jacques, Petionville (Eglise Episcopale).

[beginning with the most recent]

around 7PM October 1:

Haiti is now under Hurricane Watch. The center is likely to approach Jamaica and Southwestern Haiti with bands reaching out ahead and beside it in both directions. Currently Matthew is a category 4 Hurricane and is drifting in a north-western pattern at about 3 miles per hour, in other words - it's taking it's sweet time moving along and so winds and heavy rains may be sustained over a longer period, thus causing serious flooding and damage, and possible loss of life.

In a storm of this size there's not a lot you can do beyond putting up provisions and sitting tight. Remain vigilant and ready to stave off damage to your property. Hopefully the roof holds and we don't get too badly drenched.

We are still without power for the second full day leading up to the storm so we're already sustaining loss of food. I've already started cleaning the fridge out. Hopefully the power will still come on so that we can recharge our invertor batteries

......

UPDATE: 4:15 pm

We are now officially under a hurricane watch. Apparently Matthew has been downgraded to a Category 4 (150 mph winds) and all of Haiti and Jamaica are under Hurricane Watch.

Cloud cover here is already pretty thick and the trees are very uneasy.

To complicate things, our neighborhood has been without power since Thursday night and even our battery backup system has to be used sparingly. Our refrigeration has been null for the past 48 hours so we're already having things spoil.

The National Operations Center for Emergencies has just announced that they have been evacuating residents of a series of small outlying islands in the south of Haiti near Ile a Vache. They are making announcements on the National Television Network to keep people informed. This is a new service provided by the governement and it is very much needed and appreciated.

........
around 8AM October 1

Please be praying for those of us in the Western Caribbean as the news says that Hurricane Matthew is now Category 5. It is headed for a direct hit on Jamaica and will hit the western tip of Haiti with hurricane force while the rest of Haiti is going to be hit with a very severe Tropical Storm. There is little more that we can do to prepare as the roof is already covered with tarps but these may be ripped off if winds get too bad.

Flooding is a real danger for many. Especially those who have homes along rivers and in low lying areas and ravines. Those still living in shelters, though mainly wood with tin roofing are also at risk as the storm is so severe.

We haven't been hit with a major hurricane since 2008 and I think many have forgotten just how terrifying they can be and the damage which they cause. Most of our people are rural and depend on their crops to survive and a storm like this can wipe them out.

Our stocks of emergency supplies are totally exhausted since the quake and there will be very little assistance that we can be if this becomes a major disaster so please pray that it stays out at sea and off the islands.

He also shared some official communiques from Haiti:

Sent at 8:25 pm
Security Message for U.S. Citizens
U.S. Embassy, Port-au-Prince, Haïti
October 1, 2016

Hurricane Matthew Updates

This message is to advise U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Haiti that Hurricane Matthew, category 4, is predicted to affect Haiti starting Sunday, October 2nd and continuing through Wednesday, October 5th. A Hurricane Watch has been declared for parts of Haiti. U.S. Embassy personnel in the southern peninsula have been instructed to return to Port-au-Prince. This storm is expected to bring significant rainfall that may result in flooding and mudslides, primarily in the southern peninsula but also in Port-au-Prince and the rest of the country, and Hispaniola-wide impacts are projected. Storm surge along the southern coast, as well as flooding, flash flooding and landslides, are expected.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Haiti-Météo are monitoring the progress of the storm, and the Embassy will issue updated messages as needed.

U.S. citizens are advised to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all time (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture identification, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that U.S. citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts.

If you will not be able travel to a scheduled appointment on Monday-Wednesay, please do not hesitate to call the 509-2229-8000, 2229-8900 or sent us an email at the acspap@state.govto reschedule your appointment. For Immigrant or nonimmigrant visa cases, please contact the call center at 509-2819-2929 or by email at support-Haiti@ustraveldocs.com.

Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on our “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” webpage, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Updated information on travel in the Haiti may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

We strongly recommend that all U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti enroll in the Department of State's secure online Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. embassy to contact you in an emergency.

Travelers are advised to regularly monitor the travel information page of the State Department's website where you can find the current travel warnings for Haiti, travel alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Haiti. For additional information, refer to "Travelers Checklist" on the State Department's website.

Contact the U.S. Embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook.

For all emergencies involving U.S. citizens, contact the U.S. Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at Tabarre 41, Boulevard du 15 Octobre, Tabarre, Haiti; telephone 509-2229-8000; e-mail ; website.

Dear Canadian,

...Please share the following important information with other Canadian citizens in your area and encourage them to register.

Tropical Storm Matthew has been transformed Friday into Hurricane Category 4. Haiti is in phase pre-alert over the whole territory.
Threats of heavy rain and strong winds with risks of collapses, landslides and floods throughout the country in particular on the peninsula the South, the Artibonite, the Northwest and the West.
Stay informed by listening to the latest warnings and advisories on local radio, television or websites. Hurricane centres will issue and update these when necessary. Follow the advice of local authorities and emergency response personnel and maintain close contact with your family to keep them informed of your situation.

Please note that information about the weather can be obtained online via www.meteo-haiti.gouv.ht (french only) and you can follow the advice and warnings of Civil Protection office via twitter @pwoteksyonsivil (french and creole only)

Other resources
- Canadian Hurricane Centre (Environment Canada)
- Humanitarian Early Warning Service (HEWS) (English only)
- National Hurricane Center (U.S.) (anglais seulement)

We also encourage you to stay connected to the latest travel advice and advisories, the latest warning. Our emergency contact information is available at www.travel.gc.ca, and also via our mobile Travel smart application (www.travel.gc.ca/mobile) or by subscribing to RSS feeds (www.travel.gc.ca/rss). You can also follow us on Twitter @AmbCanHaiti or Facebook “Embassy of Canada in Haïti”

Global Affairs Canada

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Port-au-Prince, le samedi 01 octobre 2016.- Le Bureau de Communication de la Primature s’empresse d’informer la population que le Secrétariat permanent de gestion des risques et des désastres (SPGRD), de concert avec le Centre national de météorologie (CNM), a lancé, ce samedi 1er octobre, la phase d'alerte au niveau de vigilance rouge, face au risque d'impact de forte intensité, lié aux averses et coups de vent.
Le SPGRD a également procédé à l'activation du Plan National de Gestion des Risques et Désastres (PNGRD) par rapport aux menaces de fortes pluies et de forts vents avec risques d’éboulements, de forte houle, de glissements de terrain et d’inondations sur tout le pays, en particulier sur la péninsule Sud, l’Artibonite, le Nord-ouest et l’Ouest.
De même, en synergie avec le SPGRD et le CNM, le Service maritime de navigation d’Haïti (SEMANAH), interdit jusqu’à nouvel ordre, toute opération de cabotage sur les zones côtières du pays, en particulier les côtes sud et le golfe de la Gonâve.
Aussi, exhorte-t-il la population à la plus grande vigilance et à se préparer à affronter les vents violents et les trombes d'eau qui devraient se déverser sur le pays.
Tout le gouvernement est mobilisé, ainsi que les forces de l’ordre pour évaluer la situation et coordonner rapidement les actions de réponse. Les comités régionaux de la protection civile sont aussi mobilisés pour venir en aide aux populations à risque, dont la collaboration est vivement souhaitée quant à l’application des consignes de sécurité.
Bureau de Communication de la Primature

Hermine's edge

Marshfield Beach

Pretty impressive waves around here. Nothing compared to the south coast, I am assured, but enough to wow the line of cars pulled over along route 139 along the water's edge in Marshfield.

watching the waves from a nice, dry car

It's wet out there, but staying inside the car is just not going to do it!

looking toward Brant Rock

I don't think I'll be going down this time.

I promise, no fires!

In Which Sarah Takes Her Shower Earlier Than Planned

more splashover

intrepid or just hungry?

I wasn't the only one getting wet!
Later on, I took a group shot of four people attempting to take pictures of each other with the waves as background. Felt useful. (-:

a last look

gratitude from miles away

I need to share my gratitude and relief. You may have heard that there were tornadoes yesterday afternoon and evening in Indiana. No one was killed. No life-threatening injuries. The tornadoes that made the news were mostly around Kokomo, where one took out a Starbucks. I gather everyone was OK because the manager got them all into the bathrooms, which stood when the rest of the building collapsed. Someone in a nearby restaurant who didn't quite realize the severity of the situation stayed out in the dining area and filmed it. Good thing it wasn't a hundred yards in his direction.

I heard about the tornadoes yesterday evening because much of my family lives in NE Fort Wayne, Indiana, and one of them was out driving back from the South Bend area during all this. Sirens galore.

I'm wondering what it will be rated.

There was a huge one just northeast of Fort Wayne in Woodburn, near New Haven, as well as another to the south. Rotating clouds all over the place. 

There was quite a bit of damage, but everyone was fine. Mostly it seems to have taken out corn and barns, though there were  a few homes damaged and destroyed as well.  It could have been so much worse. 

This morning I found this video.

In the midst of so much other news of death and disaster, natural and man-made, I am grateful there was no loss of life here. Very, very grateful. 

Do pray for those whose lives have been affected by this and by recent flooding, fire, earthquake, and hurricane, that their needs be met with swiftness and compassion.

CBC News Edmonton: Fort McMurray wildfire specials, May 4 & 5, 2016

This is from a few days ago - and we all know it's spread since then - but it's a 25 minute show in depth from Canadian television. Informative. I'd like to find more things to post, but that will have to wait. As one Canadian friend tweeted to me, pray for rain.



#ymmfire

Here is the one from the next day:

If you would like to donate, here is a link to the Red Cross in Canada's page for it. What's more, the government is matching these donations, too. There's something we haven't thought of yet in the US.
https://donate.redcross.ca/ea-action/action?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NO-DM&ea.client.id=1951&ea.campaign.id=50639

just wait a moment, they said...

Yesterday I was kicking myself for not wearing my as-yet-unused snowshoes out on my walk. Today it is pouring down rain and there is no more snow.

Winds? Yes, we haz them. Pity the poor bird who just wanted to get home. Never mind the commuters... I'm pretty sure I'm living my own version of Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. Just so long as the convent doesn't blow over like Owl's tree!

But putting that aside for a moment, let's discuss ch-ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strange changes indeed). 56 today, you may have noticed just now. Two days ago the wind chill was -34. Life-threatening, or so we were warned.

90 degrees. Two days.