Clerk Dilawar Chetsingh, email: chet@airtelmail.

in
Secretary Valerie Joy, email [email protected]
17 Bourrelet St Tarragindi, QLD 4121, Australia
Treasurer Topsy Evans, email [email protected]
Website: http://www.fwccawps.org
March 2011 Issue No. 89

th
Seoul Monthly Meeting's 50 Anniversary, December 2010
Contents :
2 Editorial; World Conference Open 9 Mahoba;AustraliaYM Report
Places; 11 Aotearoa/NZ
3 General MeetingAWPS;Seoul MM 12 Climate Change
4 EpistleAustraliaYM 15 News of Friends
6 Hong Kong Report 21 Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies,
7 Marble Rocks, Cambodia;Give toAWPS.
8 GCFI
 Pradip Lamichhane from Nepal Friends Church speaks at Australia
Yearly Meeting in January 2011.

Editorial: How is our sense of community realised in AWPS? Our face-to-face

Gathering is almost upon us. Friends from eleven countries will seek to “know
one another in the things that are eternal”, through a program of worship, study,
cultural understanding, discussions, Home Groups, excursions plus post
Gathering visitation. Early Quaker Francis Howgill wrote in 1663, “The
Kingdom of Heaven did gather us, and catch us all, in a net, and His Heavenly
power at one time drew many hundreds to land, that we came to know a place to
stand in and what to wait in, and the Lord appeared daily to us, to our
astonishment, amazement and general admiration we often said to one another,
with great joy of heart 'What? Is the Kingdom of God come to be with us?' ”
Please pray the AWPS Gathering will realise this same state of grace as was
experienced by the Westmoreland Quakers.
We now have greater access to technology to keep our sense of community alive
and well, but it is the same Spirit that holds, guides, disciplines and creates inner
joy. This issue looks forward to the Gathering with reports from many of our
groups. These will be placed on our website for our wider community and
returning Friends will have much to share on deep consideration of our theme
“Faith andAction”, James 2: 14-16.
Valerie Joy, Executive SecretaryAWPS
World Conference 2012

Applications for open places at the World Conference of Friends to

be held in Nakuru, Kenya in April 2012 are now being received by
FWCC’s World Office at [email protected]

Notice of AWPS Inc General Meeting to be held at

Bukal ng Tipan Retreat Center, Manila at 11am on
Wednesday 6th April 2011.
Agenda
1. Clerk’s Welcome
2. Record members present YM or Group wise and visitors.
3. Secretary’s report
4. Clerk's report
5. Treasurer's report
6. Approval of accounts for 2008, 2009, 2010
7. Appointment of Auditor for 2011
8 Appointments.
9. General Business
10. Close Meeting
Valerie Joy, Executive Secretary AWPS
Enquiries/Apologies to the Executive Secretary AWPS at
[email protected] by 30 March.

Seoul Monthly Meeting’s annual report for 2010 (by Kim

Hyung-Lyul)
Our warmest greetings to Friends in Asia-West Pacific Section. 2010
was very meaningful year for Seoul Monthly Meeting. It was 50 years
since 18 December 1960 when our Meeting officially started. So we
had a simple memorial gathering at our Meeting House on the first
day afternoon of 12 December. It started following the regular Meeting
for Worship and lunch. There were around 40 people, including some
attenders. The Clerk, Oh ChulGuen's gave greetings followed by Kim
HyungLyul's "Brief history of SMM;" Park SungJoon's speech titled
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 1
"Quakerism from where I stand"; Lee YoonGu's reminiscences, and
Lee Haeng Woo's "the activities of SMM's 50." The most meaningful
thing was that Taisoo Kim, Watson who had participated in SMM in
the mid-1960s and after her marriage emigrated to Australia, was with
us. It made all of us very glad. And also Lee Haeng Woo who is living
in the USA was with us and Lee YoonGu memorized SMM and
presented at the Meeting.

The annual meeting for 2010 was held on the first day afternoon 2.
Jan. 2011 Oh ChulGuen, former Clerk for 1 year was warmly thanked,
Kim SungSoo, former recording clerk for 2 years and Choi YaeRi,
former treasurer for 7 years. SMM then asked the following three
persons to keep the role of Clerk, Recording Clerk, and Treasurer, to
which they agreed: Kwak BoonYi as Clerk, Kwak BongSoo as
Recording Clerk, and Shin HaengSook as Treasurer. Our account for
2010 was as following. Income: 8,100,280 (Korean won); Expenditure:
8,070,251(Korean won). For 2011, SMM plans to have a joint retreat
with DaeJeon Meeting and DaeGu worship groups as soon as it can
be arranged.

Epistle from Australia Yearly Meeting

To all Friends everywhere, warm greetings from Friends in Australia.
We pay our respects to the Elders of the Indigenous Dharwal Nation—
past, present and future—upon whose land we are gathered for our
Yearly Meeting, 8–15 January 2011, at Campus East (University of
Wollongong, New South Wales).

This place between Grandfather Mountain and Sister Islands is one

of water, known for spirits of peace and harmony. Here we have come
together as one, though we are many, to sing with one voice and to
share our dreams, each of us a bearer of inner Light. In our ‘welcome
to country’ we were heartened by an affirmation of mutual involvement
between Aboriginal and Quaker communities over the years, and by
the leadership promise in Indigenous youth.

Steamy rain reminded us of the suffering and loss due to disastrous

floods in Queensland and other regions right across Australia. In
2 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
meeting one another from all parts of this vast continent and from
overseas, we have broken our isolation, seen through other eyes and
come to fresh understandings, particularly through the experiences of
Friends in Nepal (our Asia West Pacific Section visitors) and Aotearoa/
New Zealand. In our Share and Tell sessions we have heard of
intervisitation, innovative projects and seen films that were disturbing
and uplifting. Our times of Worship together have brought us insights
and inspiration from all generations. Some morning Meetings for
Worship were planned and led by children. We were touched by
Testimonies to individual Friends who have died and by our Meeting
for Remembrance for these losses.

Our Earthcare concern has infused all facets of this Yearly Meeting.
Summer School has offered many possibilities for all ages: a more
prominent public Quaker voice and practical steps for reducing our
ecological footprint, learning from other faiths, the challenge and
celebration of Nature (in leech and redcapped dotterel, a local bird),
connection with change the world with song, and several practices for
enhancing our discernment and spiritual sustainability. The children’s
creativity has opened doors between us.

The Backhouse Lecture, delivered by Rowe Morrow in her lively and

personal style, challenged us to discover our true role and to make
choices that will cost us, but will restore the earth and our humanity.
This can only be done through community. Rowe spoke of discovering
her spiritual truth through cosmology and her experience with
permaculture projects which have created food, beauty and health out
of the destruction of war.

Quaker Service Australia projects also build peace through

development.

We are on a journey of trust together—seeking truth, beauty and love—

and we are finding these in precious moments through the transforming
power of the Spirit at work in us. We are grateful that our Quaker
processes give us safety to express ourselves. We are grateful that
divergent views can all be held up to the Light to be heard with tender
respect and moved hearts. We have laboured a long time with a number
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 3
of troubling issues and are now finding clarity and unity.

The State of the Society address illuminated the delicate balance

between reflection and engagement in our Meetings and individual lives.
Whatever the future holds for our first Australian Quaker study and
retreat centre at Silver Wattle (near Bungendore, New South Wales),
this leading is acknowledged and supported with our loving care, despite
deep disquiet amongst some Friends. We have heard stories of our
local witness on issues of peace, asylum seekers and Indigenous rights,
and we commemorated 350 years of our Peace Testimony at a public
vigil and re-enactment. There is hope that we can repair the earth and
heal our broken relationship, that we can create the space to nurture
our spiritual potential. We move forward in faith reminded that,
paraphrasing Pablo Casals: The task may appear impossible. We must
take the first step.

Hong Kong Friends Meeting Report to FWCC AWPS

In 1661 George Fox records in his Journal the efforts of several Friends
to travel to China. Friends have a continuous presence in South China
going back to the mid-18th Century and Hong Kong Friends Meeting
traces its roots back to that time. Hong Kong was officially founded
in 1841 and along with the rest of the British and American business
community in South China, Friends relocated to Hong Kong. Friends
were active in business, government and education. Friends maintained
our presence in Hong Kong through boom times and through the
hardships of plague, war and occupation, even internment in POW
camps.

Hong Kong Meeting, though small, continues to grow. We have

welcomed back Friends who previously lived in Hong Kong and
worshipped with us in the 1950s, 1970s and 1990s as well as welcoming
newcomers to Hong Kong and newcomers from Hong Kong.

The life of our Meeting focuses on our worship, which we hold in the
silent unprogrammed style, and on our business meetings – what Faith
and Practice calls Meetings for Worship for Church Affairs. Our
business meetings are held as Meetings for Worship. Contributions on
4 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
agenda items are spoken as prepared Ministry and a worshipful,
respectful, silence greets each contribution. Minutes of our business
meetings are kept short and succinct and record the essence of the
decision made. Minutes are taken at the Meeting itself and read back
and agreed by Friends present. If we feel insufficient Friends are
present to agree a Minute we hold over our business meeting to a future
date. Likewise if we do not find unity we hold over decision making
until we are in unity. Periodically we hold after-meeting study groups.

Our Meeting reflects the international character of Hong Kong with

Lao, Japanese, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, American, Australian, and
British Friends worshipping together. Our age ranges from 18 months
to 86.

We welcome all Friends to visit us.

Julian Stargardt Clerk HKMM

Report from Quaker Friends Marble Rocks

Greetings from Quaker Friends Marble Rocks, a small but warm
hearted member’s work in true Quaker spirit for the upliftment and
betterment of the society.

We are progressing in mutual love and friendship after joining the world
of Friends. Our motto is to spread Quaker traditions, values and
practices among the people.

Foremost, from 14th June to 20th June we organized one week’s

vocational Bible classes in which 30 children participated with great
enthusiasm giving the teaching and values of Quakerism. Drawing
competition was also a part of these classes in which beautiful drawings
were made by the children. This year we had distributed stationeries,
school bags to poor children and educational classes were taken up.

On 15th August on the great occasion of Indian Independence we held

a health camp in which medicines were distributed for common ailments
and general awareness about AIDS & hygiene was shared. Two of
our members gave counseling to the youth and women for their
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 5
problems and worked on their solution which was a great benefit to
them.

From 15th September to 17th September a youth camp was held with
fifteen young boys and girls. They were excited and enthusiastic to
learn about Quaker values and practices and they were encouraged
to share these with other friends. Shiny Manuel shared with them about
the Biblical character Elijah which she had learnt during a short course
on Elijah by Helen Bayes in Australian Quaker Centre, Silver Wattle.
Discussions, cultural programs like dancing, singing and quizzes were
conducted during the course of camp.

Our Women’s Fellowship did house visits to the sick and needy and
supported them medically, financially, and in prayers.

At Christmas the Sunday school children along with the youth group
together distributed gifts and sweets in the slums. This year the winters
were extreme, so we collected warm clothes and blankets and
distributed them on large scale to the poor, needy and platform people.

Our aim is clear that during the global change we will continue to spread
the message of love, peace, equality and truth amongst others. We
request the world Friends to guide and uphold us in fulfilling our mission.

With best wishes, Rashmi Manuel QFMRS

General Conference of Friends in India (GCFI)

After reaching 50 years of its existence in 2009, though a small group
GCFI continues to progress with hope and prayer. In February 2010,
15 members participated in the All India Friends Gathering held at
Chhatarpur, with two being among the main speakers. This Gathering
helped to strengthen the ties that exist between different Friends
churches and groups in India.

In September 2010 we held our annual meeting in Nagpur. Guest

speaker Sudha Reddy spoke on our responsibility towards climate
change. Vasant Bawa is active in this field and is a member of the
Section Global Concerns Committee. Archana Gaur is involved in
6 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
environmental concerns around forested Pachmarhi. Dilawar Chetsingh
continues his involvement in a NGO on bird study and conservation.

We seek to cooperate with other groups in holding sessions on Quaker

beliefs and testimonies, especially for Young Friends. We hope to have
an Old Peoples Gathering for the over sixties prior to our 2011 meeting,
in which we can invite other YMs to join. The aim is to get the views
of this age group and learn from their experience.

We are supportive of FWCC activities. Contributions by two members

have been included in the Study Booklet for the Manila Gathering. At
our annual meeting this year we will spend time studying the Salt and
Light theme for the World Conference.

Vishala Jadhav FWCC Representative

ANNUAL REPORT MAHOBA YM

We send many greetings in the name of the Lord. On December 16/

12/2010, Mahoba YM held its annual meeting and elected the working
committee of 2011-2012. The presiding clerk started the business
session with prayer. The previous quarterly report was read and
accepted by all the members followed by reports from the Secretary
and president of the board. These reports were accepted. Mr. Atul
Deen (Kulphar monthly meeting) read the work report and give thanks
to all for their work in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Eye camps, Children’s
health check up program, organized by MAHOBA YM.

The Woman’s group reported their distribution of blankets and gifts to

poor people and slum children.

After lunch the second session was started and the Nominations
Committee recommended names for the new committee for the year
2011-2012. We were pleased to confirm Friends willing to serve on
the Executive Board, the Preaching Board, the Women’s Group and
the Youth Group.

Mahoba YM welcomes Quakers who locate here from elsewhere for

employment and hope they will become members of the group. The
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 7
meeting concluded with prayer.

Piyush Augustine, Presiding Clerk

Australia Yearly Meeting Report: All the regions that were visited
by our Filipino Friends in 2010 reported that their opportunity for closer
contact with these Friends was really beneficial. John Ocol [now living
in Canada] started a project in Manila using bicycles with side-cars to
collect and sell recyclable garbage from the suburb around their Church
to avoid this being swept into drains and rivers, which was, in part,
responsible for the dreadful floods of last year.

Boni Quirog reported that his visits with Australian Friends were of
immense value. Boni returned to his home on Bohol Island to start a
project Environmental Action though Cultural Exchange that was
funded with some of the monies from the Flood Disaster Fund that
was initiated by AWPS. He organised an interfaith environmental group
to collect garbage from the beaches of his island. Julian Stargardt
continues his leading for the Global Change initiative and asks you to
visit the FWCC’s Global Change website to study the six queries that
are posted there. More information is available from Julian at
[email protected]

The visit from Pradip and Barsha Lamichhane from Nepal at AYM in
Wollongong in January this year was greatly appreciated. They were
also able to visit several meetings afterwards and share insights into
the Friends Church in Nepal. Barsha then worked at Silver Wattle
Quaker Centre to learn more about Australian Quakers and improve
her English. Pradip has been serving AWPS for some time and is a
member of the International Planning Committee for the forthcoming
World Conference of FWCC in Kenya 2012 and he and his wife are
both adult Young Friends.

AWPS intervisitation is still seen as critical means of Friendship and

communications - the soul of our work in FWCC - across our vast
geographic section.

Jim Palmer and Marion Sullivan attended the 7th Triennial of Africa
8 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
Section in Kenya in May2010. A full report from Marion is available
from the www.fwccawps.org website, in the September issue of the
AWPS Newsletter.

Valerie Joy travelled to Singapore, Jogjakarta, [to join in the Indonesian

YM] and then onto Manila to meet with F/friends and the organising
committee for the Gathering. Taisoo Kim Watson travelled to Seoul
MM to join in their 50th Anniversary and the two worshiping group in
DaeJon and DaeGu. She also attended Japan YM, along with Drew
Lawson who delivered the Nitobe Annual Lecture and conducted
workshops on John Woolman.

A giant step forward was the publication of the AWPS Essay

Courageous Spirit written by our Friend John Cartwright [WA RM].
John explores some remarkable parallels between Buddhism and
Quakerism and remarks on how Western influence has impacted on
Buddhist belief and practice. John is hoping to be at the Manila
Gathering. All enquiries and donations for this project can be made to
Topsy Evans, our Section Treasurer, as well as suggestions for a suitable
topic.

Also available from our website is the study booklet Faith and Action
which is in preparation for the Manila Gathering. However, it is a great
resource for any one or group who want to use this in a small study
group environment - not just at the Gathering.

Plans for a panel for the Australian Quaker Tapestry, based on the
AWPS section are now finalised with a beautiful design and funds for
this are being sought.

Michael Corbett and Barbara True – Co-Conveners, AYM FWCC

AWPS

REPORT OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, YM

YMANZ is in good heart, observing our Quaker processes and being

led in spiritual depth by our co-clerks Claire and Linley Gregory.

The concerns during 2010 have been many and varied. There is in
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 9
progress a revision of Questions and Counsel (Advices and Queries).

There is a concern that the cost of Yearly Meeting is too high and
thus prevents some Friends from attending - should it be the
responsibility of YM to make sure that as many New Zealand Friends
who wish to are able to be present?
The NZ Quaker Lecture has now had its second year of presentation,
the 2010 lecture titled "Honouring the Other" giving the message of
"not to let abstractions obscure the individual faces within groups that
we perceive as external to ourselves, we have to learn to how to
honour and have radical respect for the Other". After a third
presentation in 2011 should this lecture be recognised annually?
There is a very dominant concern about travelling to Friends
Gatherings. The dilemma between the importance and wish to meet
face to face, for which there is no substitute, and the recognition that
air travel is detrimental to the planet and increases consumption of the
earth’s resources. How best can we achieve shared responsibility and
remedial action when incurred by representatives travelling on Quakers’
behalf. As a Yearly Meeting we accept a shared responsibility.

A developing trend in respect to Penal Reform, leading "to populist

rather than considered evidence-based decision making, resulting in an
emphasis on punishment rather than prevention and rehabilitation".
Friends are active in this field with the hope of seeing change and
reasonable justice.
A draft is also being prepared making points in relation to the Liquor
Law Reform Bill, to be sent on behalf of ANZYM.

Over the past year there has been a move to develop criteria for
distribution of Quaker funds within NZ. Some funds are designated
specifically for educational purposes, but how do Friends learn about
implementing investment policies and what objectives are necessary
in keeping with our Testimonies of simplicity, integrity, equality, peace
and sustainability?

There have been six Friends selected to represent ANZYM at the

10 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
World Conference of Friends, in Kenya. Discussions have taken place
within our Monthly Meetings of the six queries, through the “FWCC
Cluster Group process”, a worshipful discernment of how Friends
respond to global change, how are we affected by change, how our
faith sustains us, how our lives contribute to causes both positively and
negatively, and what message do Friends have to offer each other and
to the world.

With our Testimonies do we have faith that we can change ourselves

and thereby encourage change?

Patricia Macgregor and Anna Dunford, A/NZ Representatives.

Climate Negotiations in Cancún Attended by Mary

Gilbert, Arlington MM:
In the December 2010 climate negotiations (COP16) in Cancun,
Mexico, the negotiating atmosphere was much more positive and
participatory than last year’s contentious and frustrating summit in
Copenhagen. Last year I and many other registered observers had
very limited access to the plenary sessions. The difference in
atmosphere this time was due to Mexico’s Patricia Espinoza, who, as
the new President of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), made sure that observers like me and my
colleagues from Quaker Earthcare Witness could attend every plenary
meeting, right up to the final meetings on the final day.

Last year many countries were infuriated by the Copenhagen Accord

and the process which produced it. The Accord was drawn up behind
closed doors by an invited group of heads of state, in a process external
to accepted UN process. The plenary first saw the document at 3AM
on the Saturday after the sessions were scheduled to close on Friday,
and they were asked to adopt it as if they had participated in its
creation. Espinoza repeatedly promised “no secret meetings” and “no
surprise text” in Cancún, and she kept her word. She set up “contact
groups” consisting of one rich and one poor country, for difficult issues.
Any text that appeared for negotiation had been discussed and agreed
by those parties and brought to the plenary in a timely manner.
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 11
Over our two weeks in Cancún we saw a real change in mood, from
angry suspicion, “…we will see if you are for real!” to lengthy standing
ovations when Espinoza entered. A palpable sense of trust had grown.
Even low-lying countries and the small island states (some of which
are already making plans to move whole populations because of sea
level rise and storm events), mountainous countries losing their glaciers,
and nations already experiencing serious drought were on board with
the compromises. Only Bolivia remained outside the agreement, mostly
because the agreed document endorses a rise of up to 2°C, and if
industrial nations live up to current pledges, we can expect an increase
of 4°C. Bolivia called this genocide and ecocide. (For a full, clear
statement of Bolivia’s reasons see pwccc.wordpress.com.)Read more
at Cancun for Arlington.doc.

FRIENDS WORLD COMMITTEE FOR

CONSULTATION (QUAKERS)
www.quno.org

Appointment of new Director for QUNO Geneva

The Quaker United Nations Committee (Geneva) is delighted to
announce that they have appointed a new Director for QUNO Geneva,
to take up the post in June 2011, when David Atwood, the present
Director, retires.

The appointed Friend is Jonathan Woolley, a British national who has

put down roots in Mexico. He has also lived in Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, Kenya, Nigeria and Sri Lanka and has worked in many other
countries during a long career in participatory agricultural research and
in institutional change. Recently, from 2003 to 2009, he was Program
Director of the Challenge Program on Water and Food, an international
network based in Sri Lanka, and now works as a consultant. He joined
the Religious Society of Friends in Britain Yearly Meeting and is now
an elder in Mexico City Meeting, part of Pacific Yearly Meeting.

His professional knowledge of food, water, development, migration,

12 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
climate change, international politics and economics will contribute to
the work of QUNO, as will his considerable experience of advocacy,
project design and program leadership. He has built and managed
harmonious and effective teams and has been responsible for significant
budgets and successful and substantial fundraising. He has worked for
and with several UN agencies, including the FAO.

Jonathan says: “Even when I lived far from regular Friends’ meetings,
Quaker support and insights helped me to build understanding and
cooperation among people. I feel extraordinarily fortunate now to focus
that intention as a member of QUNO which, for over 60 years, has
been such a consistent and inspired presence for a more peaceful and
just world. Please hold all of the QUNO Geneva team in the Light as
we respond to evolving challenges while remaining true to the original
vision of supporting the UN’s goals through quiet diplomacy in small
groups.”

David Atwood is not only Director of QUNO Geneva but also its
Disarmament and Peace Representative. Arrangements are being
made to ensure this crucial strand of QUNO's work can continue.

The Quaker United Nations Office, located in Geneva and New York,
represents Quakers through Friends World Committee for Consultation
(FWCC). Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945, Quakers
have shared that organisation's aims and supported its efforts to abolish
war and promote peaceful resolution of conflicts, human rights,
economic justice and good governance.

QUNO Geneva is governed by a committee of Friends representing

Friends World Committee for Consultation and Britain Yearly Meeting
(through Quaker Peace & Social Witness). It is in the process of
becoming a more clearly independent Swiss Association, but the
relationships with these two bodies will continue to be close.

Robert Howell, Aotearoa, New Zealand YM

News of Friends
Sachiko Yamamoto from Japan Yearly Meeting wrote:
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 13
We had a great time with Drew Lawson and Taisoo. They are visiting
Osaka now. The retreat we had with them was just wonderful. 20
people attended and some of the older members mentioned that this
kind of retreat was just what we needed and that we were reminded
of the importance of deep silence by Drew.

Throughout the Yearly Meeting, many members felt that we are lucky
to have wonderful Friends in the world, although our numbers here
are decreasing. Thank you for encouraging us to invite Drew and
sending us Taisoo. We felt stronger connections with Friends in
Australia and Seoul.

Mamoro Hitomi: Life gives us various chances. Sometimes happy,

and sometimes on the contrary. AWPS gave me lots of happy memories
of the Friends at the gatherings. I really love it. Taisoo Kim Watson
made a happy visit to Japan Yearly Meeting, and I also enjoyed another
reunion with her in Mito for two days.

On New Year’s Eve of 2009 my wife Chie died after staying at

hospitals over half a year. Disorder of immunity often leads to death.
While I visited her every afternoon, I never thought cooking was so
hard. But it was so different to cook only for myself. And I found my
weight coming down. Then I decided to move to a nursing home. My
daughter’s family were pleased to live at my house. And so I began
to comb out the property of 50 years of our life to make space for
them. It was really a good work. I couldn’t ask my daughter to help,
because she is paralyzed.

Now I have been here over 10 days. I am well cared with three meals
everyday. When I came here my blood pressure was very high. So
every morning and evening nurses or helpers visit my room to check
it. But it was a good chance to be good friends with each other. Then
it is gradually growing down. Actually I don’t feel unwell. So I enjoy
walking or driving to take something from home. But I am reluctant
to attend Manila Gathering, because I need a more relaxed life
nowadays. I received AWPS Newsletter No.88 at my old home today.
I am surely glad that one of the books I left you got very good reception.
I have read almost all the books you gifted me and found them
14 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
interesting and uplifting/inspiring!

Kenneth Co writes: As for what is going on with my life: I have left

teaching in Xian for personal and family reasons. Right now I straddle
between Fujian and Hong Kong. In Fijian I am over- seeing the
construction of an Annex building to a huge familial house built in the
1950's. In Hong Kong, I am enjoying the closeness of close family:
my wife Stella, 2nd son Jesse and his steady girl friend whom he plans
to marry in a year or two!

When I go into China by myself, dreams become more vivid and I

feel I can be closer to Spirit; perhaps China is not as materialistic as
the hurly burly business center that is Hong Kong.

Devdas Shrisunder writes: I am thankful to the Asia West Pacific

Section of FWCC for giving me a grant to attend Pendle Hill. I arrived
on the 15th of September and initially stayed with Scott and Susan
Rhodewalt in their home.

During this period I visited two monthly meetings - London Grove and
Westtown. Over two days at Wilmington Friends School, I taught four
Peace and Justice classes and five of their Lower school classes where
I taught students in first through fifth grade a little Hindi and gave them
an introduction to India. On another day I taught Westtown Upper
School students in history, English and religion classes. During a two-
day visit to Washington I attended a mid-week meeting for worship at
William Penn House and toured Sidwell Friends School.

I joined Pendle Hill on 27th Sept. 2010 and completed my term on

17th Dec. During this term I selected the following subjects for my
studies:-

1. Quakerism

2. Gospel of St. Luke

3. Prayer

While studying at Pendle Hill, I visited one of the local monthly

MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 15
meetings almost every Sunday. This included Central Philadelphia,
Media, Providence, and Swarthmore. I tried to find out the concerns
of the meetings and as to how they worship. This was an exciting
experience. One weekend I visited Chestertown, Maryland and stayed
with Al and Anne Briggs who arranged a Saturday night dinner at
Chester River Meeting. There I talked about Indian Friends and their
present activities.

During my third week at Pendle Hill, an opportunity was provided to

me to speak to the meeting of the Pendle Hill Board. During the first
month the nomination committee selected me to be a member of the
clerking team for student and staff business meetings at Pendle Hill.
As a group we clerked three meetings during the term.

On the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, that is leakage

of mythel isocynate from the Union Carbide Plant resulting in the deaths
of more than 15,000 people and permanent injuries to more than
120,000 people, I spoke at Haverford College. Students and teachers
in the environmental studies class asked many questions after I spoke
for half an hour.

After the completion of the Pendle Hill courses we were required to

make a presentation of what we have learned. It was a wonderful
experience for me to learn more about Quaker principles, its history,
splits, witness etc. This helped me to deepen my faith and also gave
me new ideas as to how put this faith into action. I will share my
experiences with the Quakers in India, particularly with Young Friends
by organizing Study Camps.

Apart from studies, I was required to perform my daily, weekly and

Work Study duties that I did with best of my satisfaction. This included
working in the library on Wednesdays and delivering clothes to and
from the laundry on Mondays and Thursdays.

It was an added opportunity for me to be a part of celebration

of Pendle Hill’s 80th Anniversary. During this festival I joined my
hands with the fellow students and the staff to make this celebration
a success. I was also blessed to hear the series of Lectures from
16 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
distinguished Quakers including Palmer Parker and Michael Birkel
during this time.

India Friends Working Group (IFWG) of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

who supported my coming to Pendle Hill held their three meetings during
the period of my stay here and I attended those meetings. I shared
with them my experiences at Pendle Hill and the vision, which I am
carrying back to India. This group was always supportive to me and
encouraged me at every step during my study.

Yours in Christ, Devdas Shrisunder

[Editor’s note: IFWG also provided funding for Quaker materials to

be translated into Hindi. This will assist Devdas in teaching Quaker
Studies to Indian Friends. We also plan to put this material on our
website]

Taisoo Kim Watson writes:

If I had any reservations for this journey because of the length of the
trip, I know now it was a very worthy project to accomplish. I thank
Valerie, Topsy and Dilawar of AWPS/FWCC for their encouragement
and for some financial support and many Friends in Japan and Korea
for their warm hospitality.

I attended the Japan Yearly Meeting, Osaka and Mito Monthly

Meetings in Japan. In Korea, I attended the Daegu and Daejon Monthly
Meetings and the 50th anniversary celebration of Seoul Friends
Meeting. At each Meeting, I was given a chance to share my thoughts
on building fellowship and to share experiences of spiritual journeys
with Friends from other countries through the AWPS/FWCC programs.

The JYM began with the participation of 25 Japanese Friends from

on the weekend of 20th- 21st November. As I had attended a Young
Friends Work Camp in Japan organised by AFSC in 1965, I felt as if I
had come home. The Japanese Friends gave me a warm welcome,
and a couple of Friends remembered my husband Keith Watson. I
shared a room with Yukiko and her daughter Naomi at Friends Centre
MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 17
and we shared many experiences living in Japan, Korea, America and
Australia. I learned about what it was like to be a Quaker in Japan
during the War.

On 23rd November, we had a very good Meeting for Worship and

discussion session with eight Friends from the Osaka Monthly Meeting.
I learnt much by listening (with the help of Yukiko and Naomi) to the
testimonies of the Friends. We really enjoyed dinner with the
Kamimura family at their home.

On Friday 26 November, I addressed the Assembly of The Tokyo

Friends School and shared my thoughts on Tolerance, Acceptance and
Respect by using some of Australian people’s real experiences living
with people from many different countries.

In Mito, nine Friends attended the Meeting for Worship and shared a
boxed lunch. There, Mamoru Hitomi and I were invited to a home of
Friend Etsuko for dinner with her lovely family.

It was a nostalgic but also overwhelming feeling to go back to my

native country, Korea, after so many years. Han Sung Hun and Jin
Bokyom and their daughter came to meet me at Gumi bus station. On
5 December, the four of us took taxi, train and taxi to go to the Office
that was made available to them by a friend for Meeting for Worship.
Two more young attenders joined us for Worship. I encouraged the
young attenders to attend Young Friends Gathering in Manila.

I was met at Daejon station on 5 December by Daejon Monthly

Meeting Friends, Jonghee Lee and Sang-soon Yim. About seven
Friends were gathered in this very simple and beautiful apartment of
Jonghee Lee. Jonghee Lee and her husband Chonyon Kim had become
Quakers in Germany and under their guidance; they have built a strong
fellowship among Members of Daejon Meeting.

On Saturday 11 December, I stayed at home of Yeri Choi and her

husband Tom Coyner; their hospitality was warm and delicious. At the
meeting house in Seoul, I could not believe the changes to the simple
one-storey building and its surroundings. Besides myself, there were
18 ................................................................................. MARCH-2011
only three other Friends from the 1960s who attended this 50th
anniversary celebration. I was so glad I attended the Daegu and Daejon
Meetings as I felt I was meeting old friends again. We started the
day with Meeting for Worship, a glorious Korean lunch, and then spent
the afternoon going through the history of Korean Quakers. I was sad
to learn that the anxieties and angers accumulated by conflicts of many
centuries are still not resolved in Korea. I was very moved to see a
photograph of Seoul Friends taken in 1964 including Keith and myself
hanging on the wall. A few said they had wondered who this youngest
person was. I left my country as the youngest Member and returned
to my home Meeting as a grandmother.

From a longer letter- Hong Kong Friends wrote:

We write to express our love and concern as floods impact parts of

Eastern Australia and disrupt the lives of many and bush fires affect
Western Australia and other parts of the country.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we trust you will let us
know if there is anything of a practical nature we can do for you as
Australia recovers from these events.

We live in a time of increasing global change that affects every aspect

of everyone’s lives everywhere. The recent floods may be an effect
of climate change, as rising sea temperatures bring Northern Australia’s
floods further south. Unaccustomed weather may become regular not
just in Australia but across the world as environmental change impacts
us. We need to learn to adjust to the effects of such events and to
mitigate the causes and their impact. Friends can serve as a beacon
for the world at this time of global change with our processes of
discerning truth and finding unity.

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Phnom Penh,

Cambodia announces its 2011 Short Courses

Peace Research Methodology – 4 to 9 April

Reflecting on Peace Practice – 13 to 17 June

MARCH-2011 ................................................................................. 19
Latest News on Christchurch Earthquake: The Co-Clerks
Linley and Claire Gregory wrote: This is so much worse than the
previous times, it will take a long time to restore basic amenities.
Several Friends have had to move out of their houses; many have
had to move to relatives or have taken their relatives or others in.
The meeting house has water through it and the cottage is badly
damaged. They cannot meet there. This Sunday they will be
holding Meeting for Worship in 3 different places. This is due
not just because of the state of the Meeting House but as the
roads in many places are not passable. Friends in and from
Christchurch need our love, prayers, holding in the Light. Please
send them waves of love.
Yearly Meeting ofAotearoa/New Zealand Te Haahi Tuuhauwiri
Topsy Evans, speaks with Indian Friends Daniel Masih (now
deceased), Arvind Swan and Devdas Shrisunder at Friends Rural
Centre.Photo by Sieneke Martin

Area of Coastal Cleanup on Bohol with President of the local

Barangay (Council), Valerie Joy and Boni Quirog. Bohol will be
visited by several Friends after the AWPS Gathering in Manila and
be cared for by Boni Quirog.
If you appreciate receiving the AWPS Newsletter, you may
wish to contribute towards the cost of production. Annual
cost isAUD $20.
Please send this, or its equivalent in your currency to your
Treasurer. This office bearer can then make an annual
remittance in $AUD to AWPS Treasurer, Topsy Evans, PO
Box 181 Glen Osmond, SA 5064 Australia. Your donation
can be even more useful by combining with other Friends to
send a lump sum, so minimising bank charges. If you would
like to use internet transfers, please contact Topsy Evans on
[email protected] for our bank details. Please also
rememberAWPS in your will-
Thanks