Da Pacem Domine July 10

In order to get to know people in the community, Audrey has joined a choir which is made up of parents and children of a local music school.  The school's end of year concert was at a 19th century quinta (farmhouse buildings) and after the children performed, we sang several medieval songs while standing on the stone steps with the audience sitting or standing around the courtyard.

We started with Da Pacem Domine, using the four corners of the courtyard. Sopranos on the lower steps, altos at the top of one set of stone steps, tenors in the opposite corner in a small stone balcony, and basses below in the 4th corner.
 This picture shows the Contraltos "bem no alto" or we altos singing from on high...you know, it's very tricky to translate a play on words in another language! I am hidden in the back row in front of the window.

 

Although a large tree in the middle (enormous white flowers--anyone know it's name?) made it so you couldn't see everything, the acoustics were great. Lovely evening under a clear sky.

And we had fun with an song about a cricket or el Grillo. You can see and hear it by clicking here.

Summer Newsletter

Notícias Henderson (Henderson News) July 2010

Roman bridge "Arquinho" - Valpaços, Portugal

[Nehemiah quoting himself] "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work…

[Nehemiah again, in response to opposition] “The God of Heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding.”  
Neh 2:17-18, 20 – NIV

At “A Ponte” (“The Bridge” Evangelical Church) here in Porto we’ve been studying the book of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, in which the community joined in repairing the breaches section by section in spite of obstacles and opposition to the work. In this culture houses are surrounded by walls, and many cities have remnants of defensive walls from medieval or even Roman times. Wall-building is symbolic of building up our lives and the life of the body of Christ, the Church. There are lots of interesting walls in Portugal and we’ve included a few photos. As in the first photo of a communal village bread oven, some of them are falling down and need rebuilding!

Rebuilding Angola

After so many decades of war Angola is certainly in a rebuilding phase, both literally and figuratively. Recently, Mission Aviation Fellowship commissioned a new airstrip at Tchincombe Ranch, south of Lubango. Tchincombe offers apprenticeship in commercial farming skills such as animal husbandry, as well as evangelistic outreach under the leadership of Stirling and Donna Foster. The new airstrip has reduced a 4-wheel-drive trek of up to 6 hours or more, to 30 minutes in the MAF aircraft. Several additional airstrips are under consideration for remote locations.

There are now clinics operating at the former hospital sites at Cavango (founded by Dr. Foster’s parents,  who are about to return to live their final days in Angola) and Catota (founded by Norm’s parents in the 1940’s). Both hospitals, along with some 150 mission hospitals in Angola, were destroyed during the civil war leaving only one in operation. Throughout the interior regions of Angola, health care today is very limited and many people are suffering and dying needlessly. We have been hearing devastating stories from a Canadian obstetrics nurse that has just completed three months’ service at the Centro Evangélico de Medicina do Lubango (CEML) where we expect to be stationed early in 2011, after completing our language study here. In one case, a mother wondered when her baby would come since she had been pregnant for more than a year – the child had died months earlier but she hadn’t known. Kevin (an engineer) and Angela initially planned to stay for a year, but were unable to obtain Angolan work permits.

Part of the vision for the CEML hospital where we hope to work, is to reach out into isolated areas like Cavango, Catota and Tchincombe, bringing hope to some of the world’s most needy people. MAF is a key partner providing aviation and technical support.

Language Study

We have now started into our third and final Portuguese textbook which should take us to level “B2” in the Common European Language Framework. It would be great if we understood all of the rules for the Subjunctive mood! Today we discussed a short poem about how the river Tagus inspires the people of Lisbon. Each day we have homework: listening, reading, writing about defined subjects from the textbook or about a Scripture passage, as well as conversing with people in the community.

Last week we were able to spend three days in the company of other couples from “A Ponte” at a farmhouse in the village of Miradezes near the Spanish border, about two hours’ drive east of Porto. This was great oral language practice as well as an opportunity to sample some local specialties like “Feijoada”, a bean and pork stew; enjoy the view of rolling hills with a patchwork of olive groves and vineyards; and swim in the river – it is much hotter there than here at the coast, where we benefit from a cooling ocean breeze. It was also a good opportunity to share spiritual encouragement back and forth, in Portuguese of course.

Visiting Canada!

We are delighted that we have been able to reschedule the trip that Audrey was unable to make in April. During our tutor’s August vacation (which is typically Portuguese), we plan to visit family in Canada. It will be a short trip but we hope to see a good number of you at one of the following events:

Sunday August 8 – 9:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Crosshill Mennonite Church

2537 Hutchison Road, Millbank, ON (near Wellesley)
The church service starts at 9:45; we will be sharing in the all-ages Intergenerational Sunday School program at about 11:00.

Sunday August 15 – 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

St. George’s Church

152 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON (at Gloucester St.)
The main service starts at 10:30 AM; we will be sharing in Missions presentation starting at about noon.

If you are able to Email us (norm.audrey@gmail.com) to let us know you intend to participate in one of these events, it will help our planning.

Ministry Partnership
Thank you so much for faithfully supporting us in our ministry with MAF! We have so often appreciated knowing that many have prayed for us, and it is to God’s grace that we credit our smooth experience to date. In terms of fund raising we are essentially “on target” for monthly (or quarterly/annual) contributions to the MAF ministry in which we are involved, subject to a few delayed pledges being received. If you aren’t yet involved in a financial way, could we ask you to consider helping to provide funds for a vehicle for the MAF ministry to which we are assigned? Please contact the MAF Canada or MAF US office, or refer to https://mafc.org/donate.htm and designate your gift* “Vehicle Fund – account C478 - Henderson.”

With our love and God’s blessing,

Norm and Audrey

P.S.: We would love to hear from you by Email, letter, or phone. Norm is also on Facebook.

* “Each gift designated toward a MAF board-approved program will be used as designated with the understanding that when any given need has been met, additional designated gifts will be used where most needed.”

Thanksgivings
*    advances in our language study
*    the gift of a summer trip back to Canada
*    deepening relationships in the church here and with several not-yet-Christians
*    for God’s grace during their move, and more stable health for Audrey’s parents

Prayer Requests
*    to move from the theoretical to the instinctive in our Portuguese
*    for our community contacts, that they may find new hope in, and grow in Christ
*    for the Vehicle Fund for the ministry
*    for timely Angolan work visas

Portuguese language fun!
Like Canada and the USA, Portugal and Spain have at times had a rather unequal partnership, the smaller country anxious to retain its identity. One wag told us that Portuguese grammar is deliberately complex “para confundir os espanhois” - to confuse the Spaniards!

Senhora (= lady)   vs.   Cenoura (= carrot)
these differ only in the nasalized “nh”. C/S, and o/ou sound the same in these words.

Antiga    (= old – in years, maybe centuries)
Idosa    (= aged – a person, i.e. a “senior”)
Velha    (= old – usually meaning well-used)

Therefore, referring to your grandmother as “a cenoura velha” isn’t kind.

Permanent mailing address:
315 Clemow Ave.
Ottawa, ON K1S 2B7
Canada

Internet phone: +1-613-526-1245
http://salmos127.blogspot.com
norm.audrey@gmail.comSkype: norm.audrey

Until mid-December 2010:Rua dos Castanheiros, 92, 4D
4470 Maia (Gueifães)
Portugal
Norm   - cell: +351 (91) 066 05 12
Audrey - cell: +351 (91) 063 72 36

MAF Canada office:
264 Woodlawn Rd. W.
Guelph, ON  N1H 1B6
Canada
www.mafc.org
1-877-351-9344

We're communists!

There are lots of (Portuguese) flags around on balconies, in windows and in cars, so I (Norm) decided some flags would be a great way to conceal the true purpose of my amateur radio antenna, an attractively profiled, slender metal rod that projects 2.5m (8 ft) horizontally from the balcony of the apartment where we are staying. Incidentally this minimalist antenna (as antennas go) has permitted at least one HF (short wave) radio conversation with Angola, as well as several others with radio hams in Africa, North America and various parts of Europe. When we get to Angola it will hopefully see service on a vehicle, allowing contacts with MAF's aircraft. Audrey remains unimpressed!

Reflecting our various allegiances, I chose the flags of Portugal, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Angola. Despite past colonal ties it seems the Angolan flag isn't recognized by many here. However its central element, similar to the hammer and sickle, betrays the Angolan government's Marxist roots. After only a couple of days, someone aparently has commented to our dear Christian friend who owns the florist shop opposite that we must obviously be communists!

This is highly amusing - I have sometimes jokingly described my political views as "somewhat to the right of Ghengis Khan." But it's not an indifferent matter here in the north of Portugal where a traditional, tightly Catholic conservativism still influences the political scene. This contrasts with the south of the country where communism was one of the forces in the 1975 revolution and vestiges of communist sentiment persist to this day.

Audrey immediately assured our friend that no, it's only the flag of Angola where we expect to be going as missionaries next year, and I'm sure that information like everything else of interest in the village, will be rapidly disseminated.

The incident does remind me of the 1970's when some in the Jesus Movement described our Lord as a "communist" based on his constant concern for the oppressed and disadvantaged. Not only the Gospels, but Acts and the Epistles give us some wonderful examples of the caring "community" that the Church should be, including the example of the early church which at least in some situations practiced "communal" ownership of what had been personal possessions. That kind of "communist" I do aspire to become; sadly, the Sino-Soviet-inspired political philosophies of recent decades have turned out to be just another excuse for oppressing the poor and needy whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa.

On our way to class

 Here are some pictures taken while on our 4 km trip to our tutor's home.The first picture is taken across from the church, and is a great view over the valley.  (We live about half way across).  The cigarette lighter-shaped building in the distance is the centre of Maia.  The coloured panels in the middle of the picture are sound barriers for the highway or autoestrada.  In the foreground is someone's garden--this section is mostly grapevines.
The next picture is just a laneway that looked interesting.  You'll notice shutters are often closed for privacy.
The 3rd picture is the Mosteiro in Aguas Santas. This church, Nossa Senhora de O, is dated 1120.

A Chamada para Servir

(last week our tutor asked us to prepare a personal testimony in Portuguese; here is Norm's! / na semana passada a nossa professora pediu-nos escrever o nosso próprio testemunho em português; aqui é o do Norm!)

Os meus pais, avós e bisavós deram–me uma herança Cristã; foram antepassados que amavam a Deus e tentavam segui-lo com toda a vida. Os meus pais passaram a maior parte das suas vidas profissionais como missionários e pode ser que eu me interesse especialmente pela África porque fui concebido numa aldeia isolada de Angola!

Com a idade de cinco anos, os meus pais levaram-me para uma reunião de evangelização onde pregou um evangelista conhecido (não me lembro quem era). Em breve, depois de passar o culto a fazer rabiscos, insisti em ir à frente e, conhecendo já bem o Evangelho, declarei a minha vontade de aceitar Jesus como o meu Salvador e Senhor. Claro, recebi boa instrução dos meus pais antes e depois, no caminho cristão.

Quando tinha dez anos, acompanhei os meus pais para a Zâmbia, onde serviram cinco anos de novo como missionários. Não compreendi o esforço que eles fizeram para aprender uma língua indígena, uma vez mais nas idades de 55 e de 50 anos! Mas após dois anos eles mudaram para outro lugar na Zâmbia onde o povo falava a mesma língua que os meus pais tinham usado em Angola havia 11 anos.

Lá na Zâmbia eu encontrei os aviões e a aviação missionária pela primeira vez. Fiz alguns voos ida e volta para o meu internato, que encurtavam a viagem de um dia inteiro para algumas horas. Nas minhas férias escolares, costumava passar tempo no hangar para “ajudar” o piloto, e ia andando nos curtos voos sempre que possível.

Depois que regressámos ao Canadá, acabei os meus estudos secundários e coloquei-me novamente na vida canadiana. Descobri a tecnologia informática e, tendo completado um ano de estudos bíblicos, empreendi um curso universitário em matemática e ciências informáticas. Por intermédio dum círculo de estudos bíblicos na universidade, conheci a Audrey. Após três anos de namoro – enquanto ela acabava a sua formação como enfermeira - nós casámo-nos.

Durante os primeiros anos do nosso casamento, estabelecemo-nos na cidade de Kitchener e fizemos parte duma igreja dinâmica. Em 1981, a empresa de software onde trabalhava convidou-me a mudar para a sua sede europeia. Ora, fomos transferidos do Canadá para Bruxelas na Bélgica com os nossos dois meninos. Todavia a minha vida espiritual tinha começado a deslizar e foi ultrapassado pelas preocupações de negócios, pelas viagens, pelas festas maravilhosas e pelos amigos ímpios.

No ano de 1989 o meu irmão, que era missionário na Zâmbia, morreu subitamente com a idade de 42 anos. O profundo contraste entre o seu modo de vida e o meu deixou-me inquieto. Mas perante essa chamada do despertador espiritual, eu carreguei o botão de sono.

No ano seguinte, enquanto fazíamos férias no Canadá eu obtive a minha licença de piloto particular de avião e após chegarmos à Europa, comprei uma parte num avião ligeiro. Entretanto tinha fundado uma empresa, ganhávamos bem e adquirimos uma casa grande. A nossa terceira filha nasceu e (pelo menos, na minha opinião) divertíamo-nos ao máximo!

Mas o nosso mundo confortável desabou no fim de 1991 quando a empresa faliu. A Audrey aprendeu que podemos confiar em Deus não importa o que aconteça. A nossa família e uns amigos generosos ajudaram-nos a regressar ao Canadá. Pela segunda vez, eu desprezei a chamada do despertador.
Tendo chegado o ano 2000, fundei outra vez uma empresa de serviços informáticos em Otava. Avancei para a licença de piloto comercial e comprei outra vez, com parceiros, um avião que empregávamos para voos charter. Infelizmente este empreendimento falhou e ao mesmo tempo, a empresa de serviços informáticos estava à beira da falência.

Em Ezequiel 18:31-32 o Senhor diz, “Rejeitai todos os pecados que cometestes contra mim e criai um coração novo e um espírito novo… Convertei-vos e vivei!” Na época desta terceira chamada do despertador conheci uns empresários crentes e percebi, com a ajuda deles, que não podia triunfar nem em negócios nem na vida se não me libertasse do meu passado duvidoso para me sujeitar à soberania de Jesus Cristo. De repente encontrei o arrependimento e o perdão. Redescobri a alegria de viver, pela adoração, pela oração, e nas Escrituras. Consagrámo-nos à nossa nova família da igreja, começámos a apresentar o curso “Alpha” e ligámo-nos à equipa de oração.

Avaliando os meus dons, as minhas experiências e capacidades senti o puxão de África, desta vez para o serviço de Cristo. Pareceu-me que a aviação, a informática e a enfermagem era uma boa combinação, bem útil para lá. No princípio a resposta foi negativa; Deus tinha para mim uma formação por meio da gestão duma empresa explicitamente cristã. Mas há alguns anos o Senhor tem-nos conduzido para esta nova carreira com a “Mission Aviation Fellowship” - a Associação de Aviação Missionária ou “MAF” para abreviar. No ano 2006, a Audrey e eu viajámos até à cidade de Lubango em Angola onde o nosso amigo doutor Stephen Foster é um do punhadinho de cirurgiões na metade sul do país. Durante esse ano o doutor Foster estava a fundar um novo hospital chamado CEML, Centro Evangélico de Medicina do Lubango. Mas é o hospital de Kalukembe, 500 quilómetros mais a leste, que é o hospital missionário único que sobreviveu à guerra civil. Apesar de edificarem agora alguns novos hospitais e clínicas, a escassez de pessoal continua a apresentar dificuldades importantes. O doutor Foster já pode poupar muitas horas de viajem perigosas pelos caminhos maus, nas suas visitas mensais a Kalukembe para operar. Hoje em dia ele costuma viajar no avião da MAF, bem como os seus auxiliares cirúrgicos e ainda pastores e evangelistas. Muito mais do seu trabalho pode ser realizado, em mais segurança e sem se matarem de trabalho.

No princípio do meu ressurgimento espiritual eu tinha vontade de servir a MAF como piloto, mas Deus expôs outros planos. A MAF não se interessa só da aviação. A tecnologia informática, a comunicação pelos satélites e a radiocomunicação prestam serviços essenciais às igrejas, às agências de ajuda humanitária, e aos trabalhadores de desenvolvimento numas zonas afastadas do mundo. Estas tecnologias são as mesmas em que trabalhei durante toda a minha carreira.

Frequentemente os trabalhadores de apoio da MAF são colocados perto dos hospitais e clínicas que servem. A Audrey e eu estamos designados, se Deus quiser, para servir no Centro Evangélico de Medicina do Lubango. Espero dar apoio técnico de informática e de comunicação para que o hospital, estando ligado ao mundo exterior da Internet pelos satélites, possa aproveitar o apoio de especialistas médicos e assim tornar-se num centro médico excelente e também num centro da vitalidade espiritual nessa cidade.

Quando o povo de Israel achava que Deus não se lembrava deles, a Sua resposta foi, “Eu bem vi a opressão do meu povo que está no Egipto, e ouvi o seu clamor diante dos seus inspectores; conheço, na verdade, os seus sofrimentos… E agora, vai!” (Ex. 3:7,10)

É tão grande a misericórdia de Deus para com o povo de Angola que está a sofrer tanto, sem ajuda nem apoio! A Audrey e eu acreditamos com certeza que Deus tem estado a preparar-nos há muitos anos para fazermos uma pequena parte, demonstrando o Seu amor profundo e o Seu cuidado para com este grande povo em sofrimento.

A MAF leva o amor do Cristo de maneiras práticas, e torna possível o impossível para médicos, enfermeiras, evangelistas, pastores e professores que servem nas zonas afastadas no mundo.

Actualmente a Audrey e eu estamos a estudar a língua portuguesa para poder servir a MAF em Angola, se Deus quiser, a partir do começo de 2011.

Notícias Henderson (Henderson News) April 2010

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...

Heb 12:1-2, NIV

 We’ve now been in Porto, Portugal for 3-1/2 months! Initially it was cold, windy and rainy, but flowers like wisteria and bird of paradise are blooming now, new leaves are emerging and it’s much drier and warmer. Yes, we’ve had our exciting episodes, for example losing our passports in the street. One was turned in next day by an honest citizen, and the other showed up at the police station two weeks later. We have no idea “onde ficou”where it was) during that time, but consider its return as a direct sign of God’s grace and care for us. Literally and figuratively, Portugal’s cobblestone roads make for a bumpy ride at times.

Portuguese Language Study

Though sometimes we just can’t find the words, we see steady progress. We are usually able to respond to questions with more than hand signals, although not necessarily in good Portuguese. As we begin to understand the language we are also starting to learn more about the culture, for example, how to maintain proper respect towards others. Behind the formality and reserve it’s clear that the Portuguese are a warm and kind people. We have finished our first language textbook, which places us at Level A2 in the European framework. Experts suggest this is roughly equivalent to a “B” on the Canadian Public Service scale but we’re not so sure!

Local Cultural Experience

One weekend in March we visited the Chocolate Festival in the historic walled village of Óbidos. Along with some good language practice, we saw fascinating (and large) chocolate sculptures including one of Guimarães Castle (which we explored in real life at Easter). Guimarães claims to be Portugal’s birthplace; the castle dates from the 10^th century.

Recently there was a festival in our town, originating from the late 1500’s when, by local tradition, prayers to Mary ended the Plague. There was a solemn procession of images of Mary with elaborate flowers, but explanations have been unclear. One person said all she knew was that if someone was sick, you should pray to “Our Lady of Health” and it might help. 84% of Portuguese are Catholic, but only 19% attend church regularly and many don’t know of Mary’s words: “do whatever [Jesus] tells you.”

The secular fun was more prominent: dancing in the streets to live music, food kiosks and vendor’s stands, children on merry-go-rounds (at 11:30PM!), loud fireworks set off at intervals each day, plus three elaborate midnight displays. One was only 100 meters from our front balcony!

Churches 

The people at “A Ponte” (“The Bridge”) love to share the Good News! On Good Friday we went to a high promontory to pray for the city of Porto. Several people have taken patient time to listen while we search for words and to speak slowly to us: last evening we managed an entire dinner’s conversation with new friends using only a few words of English, although they speak it well! We have also been visiting some other churches for more opportunities to hear, sing, and speak Portuguese. Audrey attended a conference, “Women With Purpose” hosted by Aglow! This provided excellent language practice and spiritual encouragement.

Just after midnight on Easter morning we heard fireworks. Our Easter day began with celebrations! Later in the morning we visited a church just outside Porto and joined them for a picnic lunch, in a park adjacent to excavations of pre-Roman ruins, overlooking a valley filled with terraced vineyards. Fireworks throughout the day were celebratory for us, but their real purpose was to let people know where in the village the local priest would shortly be collecting money.

From the front lines

Our friend Dr. Steve Foster is Clinical and General Director of the CEML Hospital in Angola where we have been assigned by MAF. In his latest letter he asks for prayer as the Board of the hospital finalizes the separation of these two roles, an essential move. A Canadian nurse friend writes about the enormous suffering she is seeing: in the maternity area, most of the mothers have already lost at least one child.  Ongoing training and standards are needed.

Amongst other equipment failures, due to lightning strikes the hospital’s satellite Internet connection is down again. Please pray that the required modems can be obtained quickly and that funds will be available. Norm was glad to be able to give some limited remote support from here last month, but this is not possible with no connection and he is longing to be there at the site, to put in place some long-term solutions for this and other technical issues.

Please begin to pray for the processing of our Angolan work visas; after much preparation and translation work, the applications will be submitted shortly. Visas are often problematic: please ask God to give us favor from the relevant officials and to move our applications to the top of the pile!

Ministry Partnership

We appreciate so very much those that have been faithful in supporting our ministry with MAF. We remain slightly below our monthly target, in part due to the rise of the Canadian dollar. Although this won’t affect us right now, it could delay our next step to Angola if not corrected over the course of the year. We have also been asked to raise funds to provide a vehicle for the program where we will be working. If you feel God calling you to partner financially with MAF, please contact the MAF Canada or MAF US office, or refer to https://mafc.org/donate.htm. We really value this bond of fellowship and mutual prayer support with so many of you!

 

Thanksgivings

*    daily living needs & much more!
*    friends willing to listen, and speak slowly
*    good progress in our lessons

Prayer Requests

*              that we will learn well and quickly!
*              for people we meet in the neighborhood:
                       that they may find new hope in Christ
*              for CEML’s Board of Directors
*              for Audrey’s father, who is in fragile health
*              for funding needs
*              for timely Angolan work visas



With our love and God’s blessing,
Norm & Audrey

P.S.: We would love to hear from you by Email, letter, or phone. Norm is also on Facebook.

* “Each gift designated toward a MAF board-approved program will be used as designated with the understanding that when any given need has been met, additional designated gifts will be used where most needed.”

IMPORTANT: NEW Email address: norm.audrey (at) gmail.com

Permanent mailing address:

315 Clemow Ave.

Ottawa, ON K1S 2B7

Canada

Until mid-December 2010:

Rua dos Castanheiros, 92, 4D

4470 Maia (Gueifães)

Portugal

Internet phone: +1-613-526-1245

Norm   - cell: +351 (91) 066 05 12

Audrey - cell: +351 (91) 063 72 36

!!!! NEW EMAIL ADDRESS !!!! norm.audrey (at) gmail.com

Skype: norm.audrey

MAF Canada office:

264 Woodlawn Rd. W.,

Guelph, ON

N1H 1B6

Canada

www.mafc.org  1-877-351-9344

It's 1 AM: do you know where your children are?

It's the annual village festival in Gueifães, in honour of Nossa Senhora da Saúde (Our Lady of Health) which is a story in itself. Let's just say that so far, there hasn't been anything remotely godly, or reminiscent of the Blessed Virgin Mary: but it's a great excuse for a street party of thousands, with the distinction of being several hundred years old.

We have more photos of the daytime festivities, but we went for a stroll tonight and here is some of what we saw. OK, actually these photos were taken at "only" 11:30 PM, just before a massive 1/2 hour fireworks demonstration, but I'm sure the kiddies are still out there...

I wouldn't normally be writing a blog post or doing anything else at 1 AM, but our bedroom window is only about 200 m. from the main stage and the music shows no sign of abating yet!