For those readers unfamiliar with the tractor gawk, it is an opportunity for community members to perform a character sketch in the presence of the beloved TMS tractor. Sheila won, playing an old gal lamenting about how "tractors used to be."
After a two-year drought, students beat the faculty - "creamed us," as one faculty member (who shall re
Kenyan Peaceworker Gentry Agizah Anguva visits The Meeting School
On April 16 Kenyan Friend and peaceworker Gentry Agizah Anguva visited The Meeting School as part of a United States tour in which she has been speaking to people about the recent violence in her country and efforts to restore peace and prevent further violence.
Speaking to faculty and students this 27-year-old woman talked about her country and its political, class and tribal divisions. The East African country has a history of peace during recent times when other African countries like the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda have been torn by violence.
Her country is a good and attractive place with wonderful people and tracts of natural forests, she said. “We are proud of what we have there.”
Every five years the country has elections and the 2007 election became a catalyst for tribal revenge and violence that included arson, rape, looting, killing and the displacement of people..
“Kenya as a country was torn apart,” she said. “There was violence for over three months.”
During this violent period and since Getry has been at the center of an effort by Quakers and the wider Alternatives to Violence (AVP) Project to help people heal from trauma, restore communities, mediate conflict, and build a durable peace. She spoke about her part in providing humanitarian and medical relief for those forced to flee their homes; trauma relief for people on all sides of the conflict; and mediation and reconciliation efforts. She has coordinated AVP workshops that reach across the divides of tribe and ethnicity.
The mother of a four-year-old daughter, Denah Khasiala, Getry is a member of Kakamega Yearly Meeting in Western Province, Kenya. As the Program Coordinator of Friends in peace and Community Development, she is in charge of organizing and coordinating AVP Healing and Rebuilding our Communities workshops. She has coordinated more than 200 such workshops and also coordinates summer workcamps at the Peace Center facilitated by the Africa Great Lakes Initiatives of Friends Peace Teams. Getry has also volunteered with the Uzima Foundation documenting and training youth about reproductive health and gender-based violence.
The formation of a coalition government and work to revise the constitution has brought stability to the country and peaceworkers are focusing on reconciliation and training on how to resolve conflict without violence. The focus is on a 2012 election that she hopes will be “an example to other nations.”
Rebuilding trust is a hard road, she said. “It’s about forgiveness and this is a difficult road.”
Elizabeth Lyzenga Waterman, faculty member since 2000, passed away yesterday evening due to complications with Lupus. A service will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 1:00pm. The service will be at:
St. Matthews United Methodist Church
435 Central St
Acton, MA 01720
(978) 263-2822
All are welcome.
There will also be a service this summer at the Alumni Reunion in August. Please contact Frederick Martin (603)-899-6689 or Betsy Waters (978-537-7267) for details on this Saturdays service.
Finished momos- ready to sample- we made veggie, spinach, potato and chocolate! Students promised to make them back in the states for those who want to try them!
Making momos (Tibetan dumplings)
Many students have met with "language conversation" partners at Gu Chu Sum, an organization which provides education and lodging for former political prisoners. Here is Michelle with a nun she tutored named Pema-Pema escaped from Tibet in 1991 after participating in a non-violent
protest against the lack of religious freedom.
Becca with a little friend at Yong Ling School
Luke and Moon doing touch-up painting on a mural at Yong Ling School
Becca spins a giant prayer wheel behind the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on our "Kora" (circumambulation of holy sites in Dharamsala).
With new friends at the Golden Temple in Amristar
Global LAB and the Meeting School in front of the 17th Karmapa's temple. We met with His Holiness the Karmapa in a private audience and asked several questions to him. A photo of our visit with him will be coming later. He is one of the most revered teachers' in Tibetan Buddhism and is only a few years older than our students. He fled Tibet to seek a religious education in India in the year 2000.
We met with former political prisoner, Ama Adhe who told her life story which included 27 years in prison in Tibet. We shared the visit with students and leaders from Global LAB, the study abroad organization Michelle works for. Ama Adhe's life story may be read about in the book: The Voice that Remembers, available from Wisdom publications out of Boston, MA
Every Sikh Gurudwara (Temple) has a Langar- a community kitchen where all people are welcomed to come and eat together. We volunteered in the kitchen helping roll and sort chapatis. Moon got special instructions from a very determined teacher!
At the Golden Temple in Amristar, the most sacred place for people of the Sikh faith
