Global Citizens Walking Together

Dear Readers,

Our family is really enjoying the challenges of living abroad, learning to communicate and learning to appreciate our differences.  But we also have our moments of exhaustion and discouragement when things don't go smoothly.  At these times we tend toward homesickness and a perception that "home" in the US would be much better.  Knowing that we can't go home however also gives us reason to persevere.  We are thankful for your support and encouragement and we are ever grateful for people here who have taken us into their hearts and lives to make us feel comfortable.

You have already read about some of these folks - my colleagues at school, our church friends and the relatives that have come to see us from afar.  In this month we are thankful for this warm welcome and hospitality.

Earlier this year we were guests in two other countries, Guatemala and El Salvador.  The three of us traveled with the Sister Parish board experiencing welcome and loving care from our friends there working for justice and peace in their corner of the world.

This weekend marks the annual meeting of our Sister Parish board in the US.  Although I remain president in name, I am not resident, and therefore unable to join my colleagues in our annual Walk in Solidarity.

Here's a clip from the beginning of my Walk in Solidarity 2013 - a crowd of supporters leaving the High Court House in Guatemala City after the genocide case against Efrian Rios Mont was suspended on April 19th.  Mayan people from the Ixil triangle led an impromptu march proclaiming the right to truth and the end to impunity of former President Rios Mont.  It was a remarkable day and left a deep impression.  Here you will see Sister Parish delegates, David Martin and Vicki Schmidt from Fargo, ND, Sarah and Mark Jerde from Rochester, MN, Rick Nelson and Nancy Weins from St. Paul, MN and Linda Williams from Danville, CA all walking as we took over a main street artery in downtown Guatemala City.

I will continue my 2013 walk in solidarity this weekend in Taiwan.  It is definitely time for us to come together internationally to address many injustices and imbalances in our social structures, our economic disparity and our environmental degradation.  As news emerges from the Philippines about the "largest typhoon in recorded history", I am asking myself, what can I do better?  And the answer is clear that it cannot be me alone, but me, my family, my church, my school and our wide network of Sister Parish churches working in solidarity to make the world better.

Please walk with us this weekend for our 25th Anniversary celebration.  And if you unable to walk, you are welcome to contribute to my walk fundraiser at http://www.razoo.com/story/25th-Anniversary-Walk.  Click the link or copy and paste it into your browser.

Many, many thanks!

Greg

A Most Frightening Halloween!

On thursday we had a very surprising earthquake.  I thought it was our washing machine bumping around.    The washing machine was going when the earthquake started.  

My mom told me to stand in the doorway of our bathroom.
 I got really really dizzy after the earthquake.  There are many earthquakes in Taiwan so 
the buildings in Taiwan are built so that earthquakes can not do any damage.