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Note from the Intern
A Note from our Intern:
We are thankful to God and to all of you that we are here in Eau Claire, that we were well received and in God's grip. We can't thank you enough for your help and generosity, however, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you again. In our home language from Madagascar, we would say "Misaotra Tompoko." My family consists of my wife Noelisoa (Noel) and Joseph (Joe) our son. You will see them most often. From time to time, you will see our four daughters Vola, Sera, Joella and Clara. Vola graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, IA in 2009, and Sera will be a senior at the same college this fall. Joella is a sophomore at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Clara is going to start at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
We are a global family. Our first three daughters were born in Madagascar before we left in 1991 and since then Clara was born in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Joe was born in Baltimore. I was a medical missionary in PNG in the rural Lutheran hospitals in Madang (Gaubin and Yagaum) for seven years (1992-1999). Then, after studying for three years in the States, we were based in Kenya as I worked with the Lutheran World Federation coordinator of HIV and AIDS program in Africa, and at the same time I was the Program Assistant for Health Ministries of the Global Mission of the ELCA from 2002 to 2009.
Spending twenty years in the medical field as a layperson in the Church, I strongly believe that I can give more holistic care, body-mind-soul and spirit, in my work as an ordained minister. This is why we are at the Seminary and are looking forward to shaping our ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church by learning what it means to be a minister in day-to-day work. Our appeal is to invite all of you to share a little bit about your lives as we walk together faithfully in community, discovering what God has in store for us.
Peace in Christ.
Mamy Ranaivoson
Intern Pastor (IP)
JONAH
JONAH
One of JONAH's (Joining our Neighbors Advancing Hope) aims is to build relationships within each faith community. Here at Immanuel we are doing that by having monthly Immanuel Core meetings. (Next meeting: September 20, right before H3 from 5:00-6:15.) Out of our concern for the care of creation, Immanuel's JONAH is inviting you "to SWAP" (Sharing with a Purpose). There is also an opportunity to gather to share ideas about living and eating well. (September 1). Those who have a deeper knowledge of energy efficiency are sharing what they know with one another and the church council in the form of an eco-advisory team. (Next meeting September 2.) Again, the point is to know one another better, to share our gifts, our knowledge, our concerns and needs while walking in faith that God calls us into community an to care for God's very good creation and creatures so that all may thrive.
Outside of our doors, in the wider, JONAH, Immanuel is also represented on JONAH's Economic Justice Task Force (EJTF). This group has been focusing its energy this summer on creating a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) among all the parties involved in the building and remodeling of the county jail and court house in Eau Claire. The goal of a CBA is to keep the jobs and contracts local wherever possible so that the generated revenue benefits as many different people in local community as possible. Opportunities to provide job apprenticeships or training for construction and post-construction "jail jobs" are also being explored. Task force members are engaged in talking with all parties involved and other community members to present the idea and gain feedback. The Community Benefits agreement was brought to the county construction committee August 17. JONAH's Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP) Task Force is involved as well, particularly in suggesting and monitoring modifications to the jail plan to provide space for specialized programs and courts.
The EJTF will be planning a series of public meetings and/or forums to present its ideas to the community. If you would like to get involved or learn more about the two task forces' activities, you can contact Joyce Anderson (joyce4334@gmail.com), Paul Savides, (psavides @wwt.net); or Jackie Christner (jackiechristner@yahoo.com) or Jessie Weber (jessie@klumper.net), co-chairs of TIP.
In all that we do within our congregation and among congregations, we walk in faith that with God we are not helpless. And we humbly walk in hope that we can reflect God's love and good intent for our community.
You can't take it with you
Dear Immanuel Community,
Over these many years, I have been privileged to hear many people's stories. There are common threads that run through many of our lives. One of those common threads is the need to consolidate and down-size as we age. I have been considering this more and more myself and am looking forward to helping to move Keith's father, George, to our community. There are many issues to consider, and it is best to think and plan ahead.
I recently talked to Karen Kadgihn, who at 90 plus, has downsized and moved several times, for some words of wisdom about this process in our lives. Karen gave me some tips:
1. Be aware that you will have to part with some things.
2. You really need very little to be happy. What are the necessities? A bed, a dresser, a small table and chairs, a bookcase, a TV and stand, a desk and a few comfortable chairs.
3. If possible, have things set up so you can possibly change your mind about small things, like pictures, knick-knacks, etc. It is the sentimental reminders that make your new living space feel like a home, but those must be scaled back also.
4. Carefully consider where you will continue to keep financially valuable things. Is there a place on location? Do you have to arrange for a place? Is the place where you are moving a place where you will always keep your apartment locked? Who else will have access to your living space?
5. There is a process to creating "heirlooms". Sort through your sentimental and financially valuable items, and give them to your children and families now along with the stories that surround the item. If you cannot give all the valuable items now, discuss this with them and record to whom that item should be transferred later.
6. Sort through the items that are not "valuable" and either give them away or have a sale. This is also a great gift to your family, reducing the stress on them.
7. Don't forget the in-laws who have become a part of your family.
8. Enjoy seeing the family heirlooms in a new home and treasured by another generation.
"We can't take it with us - how true it is, but the things that we have loved can have a 'here after of their own'. Early or indigenous people, before the Christian era had a need for religion and a belief in a hereafter. They buried their dead with their precious belongings in the belief they would accompany the dead to the hereafter. Is that what we believe when we hang on to things?" Thanks Karen!
Another very wise person talked about this, Jesus. "For your heart will always be where your riches are." Matthew 6:21
Alison Martin, Parish Nurse
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