St. Francis' Episcopal Church

Serving Eureka, Wildwood, and Surrounding Communities

The cover story of the most recent issue of World Ark, a publication of Heifer International, was about a Kenyan woman, Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner.  She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, a nonprofit grassroots organization that focuses on environmental conservation, primarily through planting trees.  When asked to explain the relationship between planting trees and peace, she explains, “Peace on Earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.”  Thirty years ago, she looked at the problems facing the people of her country:  malnutrition, the necessity of walking long distances for water, depleted and eroded soil leading to an increase in desert-like conditions, lack of wood for cooking fires and construction, lack of fodder for any animals that they might be lucky enough to own and lack of jobs and income.  She recognized that many of these problems could be addressed by planting trees—many of which had been destroyed by unrestricted logging and clear-cutting for development. 

This was not an easy task.  She faced opposition from the government and was arrested and beaten many times for her efforts.  But she persisted, and now works for the government of Kenya. 

Shortly after reading about the efforts of this remarkable woman, I saw a story on 60 Minutes about 13 emergency medical technicians from New York City who, within days of the disastrous earthquake, went to Pakistan to help the injured.  They had little support and few supplies.  They weren’t part of a large international relief agency.  They were just a bunch of “knuckleheads from New York” who were surprised to find themselves the only relief workers in the mountainous area of Pakistani Kashmir where they were dropped off.  And they found themselves saving lives, not every day, every half hour.  They arrived only with their skills and their desire to help. 

This is an area of the world that does not like Americans—though few have seen any.  Yet, people were walking for miles to be treated by the Americans.  These 13 people didn’t set out to be peacemakers, they just saw a need and thought they could fill it.  But peacemakers they had become.  One of the EMTs, Chris Summers, described one encounter he had with a Pakistani man.  “One guy came up to me yesterday and was holding out his hands like this.  And I’m looking. I’m like, ‘Oh does he want treatment?’ And he was signaling me to put my hands out and he said, ‘We have five fingers, five fingers, arm, arm, elbows, elbows. We’re the same.’ And then he shook my hand. You know?” 

Where do such heroes as Professor Maathai and the New York EMTs come from?  They come from our midst.  They haven’t been given extraordinary gifts and talents, they’ve just fully used the everyday ones they have.  And they have made a difference in the world. 

I don’t think I will ever make such a dramatic impact on the world, but I can help, and so can you.  In the World Ark there is a picture of people tending tree seedlings.  They are tiny, tiny shoots, smaller than some pieces of spring greens that you can buy in fancy salad mixes.  But tended properly, they will grow into life-giving trees.   With what is not very much money for me, I can have seedlings provided to families who will nurture and grow them.  With not very much money for me, I can see that help and medical supplies are sent to the people of Pakistan as death-bringing winter approaches.  With thanks to God in honor of all members of St. Francis’ who give so generously of their time, talent, and treasure, I have made a donation to Heifer International for trees and to Episcopal Relief and Development for earthquake relief in Pakistan.  Please consider giving such an honorary gift for some of those on your Christmas list.  They may be just tiny offerings, but they will grow into something that brings peace. 

                                                                                                Melanie+

The World Ark and 60 Minutes pieces have been quoted in this article.

To make a donation to Heifer International:

Check out their website:  www.catalog.heifer.org 

To make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development

 Check out their website:  www.erd.org