Godfrey Melissa, a pastor in the Twin Cities, is originally from Africa, specificallyTanzania. He speaks Swahili and is missioning to the large Somali population we have in the Twin Cities. Around 85% of people who speak Swahili are Christian when they come to the United States, but soon their jobs and keeping track of the American ways of life get in the way of coming to church or reading their Bibles and other Christian maintenance. Godfrey Melissa works with these people, visiting them and talking with them one on one, as well as leading worship services in Swahili, in order to bring them back into the church. He conducts services at King of Kings and Woodbury Lutheran in the Twin Cities. His second mission is to call the Somalis, who are Muslim the vast majority of the time, to Christ. He works very hard to ensure the souls of these African immigrants.
Godfrey Melissa is working to change the Twin Cities, one person at a time. He is attempting to help them in their spiritual walk, and, even if it doesn't seem so, this is more important than helping these people stay alive and nourished. This world is only temporary, and having their souls is more important than preserving their bodies. Not that we should ignore the needs of their bodies and their health, and I know when some medical problem arises with one of the people and they tell Godfrey about it, he will do all in his power to get them the proper health care and services they need. However, it is great that he is attempting to bring them into the flock that is Christ's alone.
I liked Godfrey Melissa. It wasn't the most exciting thing to listen to him talk, but looking back now, what he said was so important that it should have been hugely exciting for me. I really respect him and what he does. I think it was very good to have him come just because he opened my eyes to what the African community in the Twin Cities needs and wants.
March 2007 Archives
Today we went to visit the Neighborhood House, a local non-profit organization that works to help new immigrants find jobs, learn English, and adjust to life in America. We were first given a tour of the facility, which included a day care center, classrooms and offices, a kitchen teaching area, a gym, and an auditorium. We were then led to a classroom where students were brought in and were paired up with each of us. We then conversed in English with the assigned people/person for about a half an hour.
This event was completely fascinating. I was paired with a man, Ernesto, who came from Mexico to America in 1990. He told me about how he takes two buses to get to work, how he lives with his sister, and how his two sons are back in Mexico. It made it so much more real to me the things that we are talking about in class. People really do live in poverty. People do have to get by on minimum wage in the lower economic class of America. Not growing up in American and not knowing the language. then coming to a country where everything is made easy and simplified for you as you progress through life and grow up with it would be so incredibly difficult. I cannot even imagine all of the sacrifices and hard times that these strong willed people will put up with. The question is: for what? For what do they put up with all this? And is this thing worth it?
This event was aboslutely incredible and fun. I would love to go back and see the production of Mulan or talk with the people some more. Sometimes, when I was talking with Ernesto, it was hard for one or both of us to get across what we were saying. When we did understand each other, it was so neat to be able to connect in that way. It was also neat to see how humble and accepting they were of their own language skills; I know that if I was in their shoes, I would probably just be frustrated to tears. They were just so eager to learn. One of the best parts of the visit was that Ernesto asked me a question about where I would go on vacation. I said that I had a lake cabin in Wisconsin. He replied, very excited about the water and swimming. He said something to the effect of, "Give me a good lake and some good food, and I'll be a happy guy." It totally made my day, because I would have said the same thing. This also made me realize that no matter who you are, you are all a part of the human race. No matter how much you think you may not have in common with the people around you because of their skin tone, social class, or economic status, these central things of enjoying life in its simplicity can be common to all people. Not to sound nerdy, but when you think about it, we are all one species: Homo sapiens. We're not from different phylums or classes. We are all pretty much the same. The Race exhibit at the Science Museum says that we only differ in 1% of our genetic makeup. And yet, here I am, still wondering what made me one of the "lucky ones," a non-immigrant born and raised Caucasian American. The luck of the draw is heartbreaking sometimes, and I think this luck should be evened out by our policies and principles in society. I feel like that is what the Neighborhood House is looking to do, and I support them. This was the best field trip we have taken yet.
Amazing Grace is a movie about William Wilberforce and his struggle to make slave trade abolished in Great Britain in the 18th century. He became a part of Parliament in 1780, which ignited his passion for abolishing slave trade, starting in 1787. His Christian faith first led him to this, and then with his election to Parliament, everything escalated. Eventually, in 1807, after years and years of hard work, the law was passed and slave trade was abolished.
This movie has a lot to do with our course because it was really encouraging to see that good things can come with time, and big changes can come, not necessarily right now, but eventually. As we look for our experiences to form understandings to form actions, it makes sense and gives us hope in this story of success. William Wilberforce had action, but not much success. It gives me hope in my future that as I take what I can from this class, I can not worry about my actions being productive as much as they are just part of a process of productivity, if that makes any sense. It's like what Rev. Jake Gillard was saying, it's not just that you have to get the person from start to finish. You may just have to help them from their point B to their point C. Don't expect your goals to be completed instantaneously. Goals take time.
I really respect William Wilberforce for his struggles and his perseverance. I'm not really sure how much perseverance I have, but it was certainly encouraging and, not to sound cheesy, but honest, inspiring. I enjoyed seeing a movie in a theater as opposed to the usual classroom setting. The cost of the movie was not fun, but it was neat to see that such a popular, "regular" movie was applicable to class and helpful to our curriculum. I really enjoyed going, although the fact that we had two extra events this week and did not get any days off was sort of discouraging. Eh... c'est la vie.
