Letters from Overseas Archive, 2008 | The United Church of Canada

Brazil
China
Fiji
Japan
Korea
Middle East
Mozambique
Philippines
Switzerland
Zambia

These letters from global mission personnel were published in 2008. See the Letters from Overseas home page for current letters.

Brazil

Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (October 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, shares an experience of celebrating dedication to peace and ecological justice.
Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (September 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, shares a profile of a co-worker dedicated to food access, support of small businesses, and long-term social policy change.
Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (August 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, writes about a rural community struggling to stay on their land, worship, and learning Portuguese.
Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (July 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, writes about connecting with her new community and women's projects that United Church partner CESE works with.
Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (March 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, writes about celebrating Easter and beginning her new work.
Kathleen Stephenson Writes from Brazil (April 2008): Kathleen Stephenson, United Church overseas personnel serving in Brazil, writes about learning Portuguese, her new neighbourhood, and finding a church family.

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China

Mary Fraser Writes from China (December 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about being a guest and a host for Christmas celebrations in China.
Gary MacDonald Writes from China (December 2008): Gary MacDonald, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes on the significance of names to his students from struggling families in rural China.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (December 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about exams, Christmas preparations, and visiting American students.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (December 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about Christmas preparations and student accommodations in China.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (November 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about the arrival of Advent.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (November 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, Mary Fraser writes about visiting the Great Wall and learning about daily customs in China.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (November 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about teaching Shakespeare and street vendors.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (November 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about course evaluation, Obama's election, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (November 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about teaching English through Halloween traditions, receiving medical treatment, and connecting with other overseas personnel.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (October 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about teaching English through "how to" demonstrations, political discussion, and a bowling outing.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (October 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about receiving hospitality from Chinese travellers and Canadian teachers.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (October 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about attending a wedding and teaching poetry.
Gary MacDonald Writes from China (September 2008): Gary MacDonald, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about his return to teaching in rural China and describes 10 "living treasures" he met in Maritime Conference.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (September 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about rules and journal writing in a Chinese classroom.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (September 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel in China, writes about teaching through experience and intercity travel.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (August 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about beginning a new teaching year.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (July 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about the upcoming Olympics and new teaching challenges.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (May 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about visits to other parts of China and the impact of Western culture on Chinese youth.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (March 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about celebrating Easter and training new teachers.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (March 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about supporting new teachers and exchanging games with her students.
Mary Fraser Writes from China (January 2008): Mary Fraser, United Church overseas personnel serving in China, writes about teaching and building relations with her students.

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Fiji

Nanette McKay and Scott Douglas Write from Fiji (August 2008): Nanette McKay and Scott Douglas, United Church overseas personnel serving in Fiji, write about creating a film of history from an Indigenous perspective in Fiji and reflect on missionary history.
Nanette McKay and Scott Douglas Write from Fiji (July 2008): Nanette McKay and Scott Douglas, United Church overseas personnel serving in Fiji, write about colonial history and doing anti-racism work.

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Japan

Keiko and Robert Witmer Write from Japan (December 2008): Robert and Keiko Witmer, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Japan, reflect on local and global church work, food security, peace work, and family news.

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Korea

David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg Write from Korea (June 2008): David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg, United Church overseas personnel, write from Korea about dialogue with the Muslim community and their upcoming return to Canada.
David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg Write from Korea (May 2008): David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg write from Korea about a peace conference and the spring semester activities.
David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg Write from Korea (February 2008): David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg write from Korea about their recent trip to Ontario with a group of Korean youth.

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Middle East

Susan Palmai Writes from the Middle East (December 2008): Susan Palmai, United Church overseas personnel in Israel/Palestine, writes about the struggle for justice in the West Bank and preparations for Christmas.
Susan Palmai Writes from the Middle East (November 2008): Susan Palmai, United Church overseas personnel in Israel/Palestine, writes about her arrival there and the challenges of daily life for Palestinians under occupation.

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Mozambique

Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (December 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique, write about a Mozambican youth group supporting people in an urban barrio.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (December 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique, write about a graduation ceremony and future plans for local girls supported by a bursary fund.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (November 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique, write about the end of the academic year in a girls' school.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (November 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique, write about young girls supported by a high school bursary program.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (September 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique, write about bicycle ambulances.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (September 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique write about the ongoing struggle with HIV/AIDS.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (August 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about girls developing confidence and communication skills with a Canadian theatre program.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (July 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church of Canada overseas personnel in Mozambique write about the dedication and creativity of small churches.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (July 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about ongoing work to make safe water accessible to everyone.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (July 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about a project that gives young girls activity, skills, and income.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (June 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, describe a young rural woman's persistence in her studies.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (May 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, describe prison ministry there.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (March 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about young girls learning business skills together.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (March 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about young girls there being examples of wisdom.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (March 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, write about Mozambicans organizing to respond to a flooding crisis.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (February 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, describe a courageous and dedicated young woman's death of AIDS.
Karen and Bill Butt Write from Mozambique (February 2008): Karen and Bill Butt, United Church overseas personnel serving in Mozambique, describe a disastrous flood and relief responses to it.

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Philippines

Nicole Smith Writes from the Philippines (September 2008): Nicole Smith calls for support in a campaign to surface James Balao, a human rights worker recently disappeared in the Philippines.
Nicole Smith Writes from the Philippines (August 2008): Nicole Smith, United Church of Canada overseas personnel, writes from the Philippines about the government's failure to respond to the need for affordable resources.
Nicole Smith Writes from the Philippines (June 2008): Nicole Smith, United Church of Canada overseas personnel, writes about mining and militarization in the Philippines and calls on readers to respond.
Nicole Smith Writes from the Philippines (May 2008): Nicole Smith writes about participating in the Cordillera Day national human rights forum in the Philippines.

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Switzerland

John Asling Writes from Geneva, Switzerland (September 2008): John Asling writes about the support the United Church and the Mission and Service Fund give to his work with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
John Asling Writes from Geneva, Switzerland (March 2008): John Asling, United Church overseas personnel associate serving in Switzerland, writes about creating the new World Communion of Reformed Churches.

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Zambia

Doug Varey Writes from Zambia (May 2008): Doug Varey, United Church overseas personnel serving in Zambia, writes about teaching theology and ethics to diverse groups of students.
Doug Varey Writes from Zambia (February 2008): Doug Varey, United Church overseas personnel serving in Zambia, writes about teaching theology and participating in worship.