Dear Friends,

Hello. The last few months have continued to be jam-packed with travel, speaking and meeting friends, old and new. But I have felt more grounded than I did at the beginning of this year of deputation. In August, I took a week to catch up on paperwork, and another week to go away and pray. The retreat was a much-needed chance to just be with God and let Him do some work in me. Since then, I have carved out regular times to rest, pray, and even play a little. I find that when I am focused in my inner life, I can be more present with the people around me, even with such a crazy schedule.

In September, I had a wonderful opportunity to do some continuing education. I attended the STAR training at Eastern Mennonite University. The program brings together leaders from all over the world to learn "Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Recovery". A key theme for the week was a quote from Richard Rohr: "Pain that is not transformed is transferred." We discussed how the cycle of experience of the victim/survivor interacts with the cycle of experience of the aggressor/offender. We explored the physical, mental and psychological processes that occur as a result of trauma. The sections I found most helpful were on restorative justice, how to help build resilience in individuals and communities, and strategies for pre-emptive inter-group violence intervention. What I learned was so valuable, and is relevant to all aspects of my work with the New Life Center, women's leadership development, and conflict transformation. At the end of the week, the group had a special, celebratory dinner in an Old Order Mennonite home. The meal was fabulous, and the two women hosting the dinner were just lovely. What a treat!

In October, a friend set up a meeting for me to show our New Life Center handicrafts to the purchasing director for the museum shop at the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH. After the meeting, he offered to let me and my friend, Alexia, into the museum. I had never been there before. This new museum, set right along the Ohio River, commemorates the work of the Underground Railroad. When I heard about it, my first thought was, "How do you put together a museum about a people who owned nothing!?" But it was a remarkable experience. They have an actual slave pen. A slave trader had kept slaves in this building, which was found on a farm in Kentucky and was moved into the museum. There are real slave shackles, and it was devastating to think of the people who suffered in them. The museum has found incredible ways to preserve important stories and music, and celebrates the heroism of many great abolitionists. There are story boards, individual video stations and several movies, telling about great men and women such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sojourner Truth, and Rev. Rankin (a white pastor who lived along the Ohio River and was active in the Underground Railroad). Some of you may remember an old song, popularized in the 60's, called "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd." I learned at the museum that slaves who were escaping would make their way north under the cover of night using the stars as their guide. They would find the Big Dipper, which they called, "The Drinkin' Gourd", then use that to locate the north star. So they would "Follow The Drinkin' Gourd" north, over the river and on to freedom in Canada. The museum also tells the stories of what others are doing to combat human trafficking around the world today. There is even a video station which highlights child sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. The museum preserves the stories of our history which must not be forgotten, and reminds us that there is still work to be done around the world to oppose slavery today. So if you are ever in Cincinnati, this is a stop which should not be missed. Just don't forget to bring your Kleenex.

Finally, I want to tell you about a special event hosted by a little church in Gardiner, Maine on Nov. 17th. The First Baptist Church missions committee invited 36 people from around the state of Maine (and one guest who came all the way from Rhode Island!) to come to the church to hear about my work in Thailand. But this was no ordinary missions event. Three women from the church, Marie, Carol and Dawne and I spent the whole day preparing an extravagant Thai meal. Another crew came to clean up the church, and set up the tables. Guests came, despite a rainstorm outside. And by the time they had arrived, we had the candles lit, orchids on each napkin, and food on the tables. A couple of the men admitted to being a little nervous about all this strange food. One of the women remarked that she didn't like way the fish stared back at her! But once they dove in and started tasting the food, their apprehension evaporated. We had a fun time, and some brave folks even tried eating with their spoon, the Thai way. (For those who would like to see the actual menu, and get recipes for each dish, click here.) After dinner, we moved into the sanctuary. I talked about my work in Thailand and showed some PowerPoint pictures. Next, the chair of the missions committee spoke from her heart. She shared that FBC, Gardiner feels a strong commitment to my work. And she challenged the guests to look at their church missions budgets and see what they could do to join in and support this ministry on an ongoing basis. Then we moved into a time of Q&A, where we discussed politics in Thailand, the changing status of women, and the role of Missionary Partnership Teams in supporting the ministry of IM missionaries. At the end of the evening, several guests committed to send in financial support for my work on the spot. After the guests had gone, I went downstairs to the kitchen to discover that another team from the church had come in and done ALL those dishes! So, the real stars of the evening were the members of FBC, Gardiner, who showed their support in such a tangible way. They may not have the same financial resources as some of our 300-member churches. But they used the resources they have - relationships with others, a church kitchen, their love for God's work, and good old-fashioned elbow-grease! They multiplied their influence by inviting others to join in supporting missions. And they showed how a small church can have a big impact. It was a real boost to me as I saw folks from different churches enjoying themselves around the dinner table. Particularly at this crucial time in the life of our denomination, it was good to see churches in Maine coming together to re-affirm their commitment to missions.

Again, I want to thank all of you for your friendship. And thank you to those who have given generously to World Mission Offering, and to my support. For those who have not yet given, and want to, there is still time to send in your tax-deductible gift by the end of the year.

For those who are interested, you will find the schedule for my final few months of deputation at the end of this email.

Many blessings to you this holiday season!

-Kit

My schedule:

Dec 3:Cincinnati, OH

Dec 5:Greenfield, PA

Dec 6: Erie, PA

Dec 7:Centerville, PA

Dec 8:Erie, PA

Dec 10:Erie, PA

Dec 11-25Eastern PA area, IM business and family Christmas

Dec 26-Jan 1:St. Louis, MO for InterVarsity's Urbana Missions Conference

Jan 7:Fairmont, WV

Jan 14:Price Hill, OH

Jan 17:Kenmore, NY

Jan 21:Columbus, OH and Bryn Zion, OH

Jan 28:Johnstown, OH

February:Pack up and get ready to head back to Thailand