TEARSMANIA

News from TEAR in Tassie

Each Christmas we celebrate hope entering this world: a hope that continues to succeed. 2008 is full of stories of compassionate people continuing to build this hope by making distinct choices, choices that support our worlds most vulnerable. Among these are TEAR staff Yvonne Walker concluding as Tassie’s Education Officer, Grant Maynard concluding as State Coordinator and taking up Chaplaincy at Evandale Primary, Jeff and Leah McClintock returning to Tassie from Bangladesh and Steve Bradbury concluding as TEAR’s National director. I am grateful that all of these guys continue to support me and TEAR’s work in Tasmania.
For myself the last six months have been one of great learning and orientation. As I meet the TEAR constituency I am discovering you all share a quirky creativity and passion.

Snapshots:

There is a Family in my Fridge Box!

Mandi and Heidi Schjelde, Cara Nichols, Anthea and Bridey Maynard and Ben Pangas ran a program on urban slums for the Home Schooling Association. We looked at the different rooms we have in most of our houses, and reflected on what it might mean for us to live in one small room, without a bathroom or toilet, as is the case for most slum dwellers. We then built our own life size houses out of cardboard and plastic sheets. Whilst there was a lot of excitement and fun in building the 2m x 2m ‘cubbies’, there was also a felt sense these cardboard boxes where comparable to many family homes. By the Year 2020 40% of the worlds population will be living in an urban slum (UN Habitat, 2006).

When your 10 you think you can change the world, … and your right!

Kaleb (10) and Khya (7) had 50 people attend their Rice Party to raise money for a Rice Bank. Kaleb said, “I wanted to help people in need so I went on the internet and found a Rice Party”. Everything on the day was produced by a team of young people organised by the siblings. Invitations, food (dhal and rice,) and rice games (including making juggling balls, rice pictures and rice shakers). The pair were pleasantly surprised when they exceeded their target of $150 and raised a grand total of $585, almost enough for six Rice Banks! Not put off by all the work Khya said “Next time we want to raise money of a village package” ($5,000).
Thankyou Kaleb and Khya for bring your community together in order to support another.

Making Democracy Work - Voices for Justice 2008

In October, over 200 people from around Australia meet over 100 politicians, including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in Parliament House, Canberra to advocate for Australia’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. This year we sent a team of six Tasmanians: Ben McKinnon, Jemma Gardam, Aaron Tuthill, Amy Bradley, Allison Hicks and Ben Pangas to meet with our state MP’s. Overall there was a sense of growing understanding among politicians about the campaign this year and many positive responses including adjournment speeches, conversations with frontbenchers and overall support for Micah Challenge and TEAR in Tasmania. It was really exciting to be part of making our democracy work and since then we have developed a strong advocacy team in Tassie that continues to lobby, (the highlight being attending and having private audiences with ministers at the Community Cabinet held in Launceston).

These are just a few stories from this little corner of the world that is full of activity. I’d love to tell you about all the significant choices that TEAR groups, schools and individuals are making but if you want any more information, resources or avenues for getting involved then please contact us.

Work Consume Be Silent Die

I found this piece of stencil art in the centre of Launceston. It was most probably sprayed by a young person who for a moment saw what could be a motto for our consumer culture.
Sadly, it names a descending order we are all in danger of following. Our driven-ness, selfishness, and apathy can leave so many depressed, suffering and in need. Like many of us this young Prophet may have been looking for something more substantial, something real, possibly something to die for as opposed to die from.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. As we see the life of this compassionate, non-conformist it offers hope. TEAR’s concluding National Director Steve Bradbury has said, “Jesus reveals to us a God of extravagant love, generosity and awesome creativity. Poverty is not a consequence of scarcity, but the product of greed, insecurity and an unwillingness to share.” Jesus life shows us that deep down below this shallow superficial consumer driven world there is a way of life waiting to be discovered, a new order with no allowance for injustice and discrimination of anyone. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” Jesus.