Thoughts of Peace

Thoughts on Peace
Monday, December 20

A smile is the beginning of peace.

Mother Teresa

 

Tuesday, December 21

Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.

William Hazlett

 

Wednesday, December 22

Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel.

Justice in the World, 6

 

Thursday, December 23

True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Friday, December 24

Corn can’t expect justice from a court composed of chickens.

African Proverb

 

Saturday, December 25

Birth of Christ

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa

 

Sunday, December 26

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

MCC Relief Sales across the US and Canada are planning for 2011!

The Peace Quilt measuring 37 long by 40 inches wide is available in the United States.  The Peace Symbol and Machine appliqued Dove Blocks were received from Pennsylvania and the hand appliqued bird block is from Panama.  The quilt is machine quilted by Jane Paulsen from Minnesota.

The story about the center colorful block from Panama came from Susan, who donated the block:
"Believe it or not, this mola was made by the sahila, or chief, of Acuadup, our favorite, little-visited village in Kuna Yala. We had been ashore visiting the school and seeing the children, when a young girl came up to us and offered this mola for sale. She said that the sahila had made it. We didn't think that was possible, so we expressed some skepticism, and were assured that no, he really had made it. We were intrigued. As we walked around the island, many of the people in the village came out to ask if we would take their photos, as they had heard that we would do this and print a copy for them. Suddenly, there was Sahila Roberto, also wanting his photo taken, along with two of his grandsons. We were delighted to take his picture, and the others, as normally the Kuna are shy of cameras. This was a classic "win-win," where we could take all the photos we wanted, and they could get photos of themselves. We asked the sahila about the mola, and he said yes, he dabbled in mola making, and that it was indeed one of his. (We don't really know the word for "dabbling," but we thought this was the gist of it....after all, the sahila has a lot of responsibilities and probably doesn't spend that much time making molas.)


(Photos are available from LJP) and are of the village, along with one of Sahila Roberto. The chiefs typically wear fedoras and bright shirts like the lime green one he is wearing, along with long pants and no shoes. When one meets them, they are usually sitting or lying in a hammock in the congreso, or big meeting house. Usually the chiefs only speak in Kuna,  and have an interpreter there to translate from Spanish to Kuna.  However, Roberto spoke Spanish directly with us. Hope this is the kind of information that will be useful to Marlys. The quilt looks very cool.


Love,
Susan