Mayor Nickels and a Katharine’s Place resident at the dedication ceremony.

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World AIDS Day Benefit Luncheon
Featuring Dr. Charles Garfield, Founder, Shanti National Training Institute
Thursday, December 1st, 12:00 pm
Washington State Convention and Trade Center
Ballroom A, 800 Convention Place

This benefit Luncheon for Multifaith Works will showcase the mission and service of Multifaith Works to people living with AIDS, MS or other life threatening illnesses over the last 17 years. Guest speaker will be Dr. Charles Garfield, Founder of the Shanti National Training Institute, San Francisco.

For information and registration, please contact Gary Southerton at 206.324.1520 x229 or gary@multifaith.org.

by Kelly Huffman, Shanti Volunteer

We sit, facing each other, knees a few inches apart. At the sound of the bell, the woman across from me starts talking about the death of a dear friend. All around the room, the scenario is the same: pairs of strangers take turns, speaking simply to each other about a loss they’ve sustained - be it a death, the end of a relationship, or an illness that has stolen what once was cherished.

Stripped of my usual props, I can only watch, listen, and offer an occasional nod or an “uh-huh.” No calculating questions – how did it happen, how long had you known him? No claims of, “I know how you feel.” Just listening. My labels and agendas slip away like the moorings from a ship, and we head out into the silent, dark waters.

Shanti volunteers might recognize this description of my first formal encounter with the Shanti model of heartfelt listening. After a couple years’ practice with it, I’ve come to regard this technique as a radical tool for reimagining myself and my society. It’s a little like when politicians redraw the lines separating legislative districts. But Shanti erases boundaries between hearts, and enfolds people who are often consigned to marginal territory.

Shanti shows me where I habitually draw heavy black magic marker lines between myself and others. It’s given me the tools to enlarge my internal map, and to depopulate that big category of “other.” Today, I look the homeless man in the eye. I have an honest exchange in the midst of a noisy party. I keep quiet instead of telling my friend how to live her life. I come face to face with illness and unhappiness, with everything I desperately want to keep at bay, and begin to embrace it. It is in these moments of acceptance that I find the inner peace embodied in the Shanti name.

by Timothy O’Brien, Multifaith Works Board Vice-President and Director, Path of Freedom Sangha

Some who have a passing acquaintance with Buddhism wonder, “Why would anyone follow a religion that believes life is suffering?” This is a good question. That life is suffering is not a tenet of belief; it is an observation. The basic fact of life is that no one can avoid old age, sickness, and death. It is, therefore, inherent in the nature of human (indeed physical) existence to come into and go out of being. It was the Buddha’s mission to determine whether humans could be happy in light of this reality.

As a young Catholic, I learned that the world had fallen from grace and would only return to such a state in the future, so I yearned sadly for a better world. From the teachings of the Buddha, I learned that the primary characteristic of life is suffering; this gave me the freedom not to wish for something different from the world and, therefore, to be happy.

Other religions promise life after death. Buddhism makes no such claims. On the other hand, Buddhism is not based on annihilation after death. The grand view of existence is that everything is part of a vast interconnected cycle of which “life” and “death” are phases. From the ordinary human perspective, the loss of our loved ones is tragic and our natural response is to mourn and grieve. The consolation Buddhism offers is that there is a deep rhythm in all this. All things are naturally impermanent and depend on conditions that rise and fall, even life and death. Knowing this can bring inner peace.

Buddhism is a religion of practice. The practice is designed to alleviate the sense of suffering that is woven into life by helping us develop awareness and positive emotion in our journey through life. That’s why you see the Buddha depicted as smiling and why Buddhists can smile through their tears.

The Children Depend on Us
It is really up to all of us to care, to act, to make our voices heard.

by Liz Stevens, Former Shanti Volunteer

I oversee a training project for health care workers on HIV/AIDS. We work with the Ministry of Health, the National Health Training network, and the University of Namibia with the ultimate goal that all health care workers in Namibia (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) know how to treat HIV/AIDS. So far, we have trained 1800 people in two years.

Of course, there are many problems that our training alone cannot address. While many African countries have had years to develop educational and health care infrastructures, Namibia has only been an independent country for 15 years, and prior to that was under the brutal apartheid rule of South Africa - and Germany before that. There is a lack of trained professionals in general, and lack of funding in particular. For example, antiretroviral therapy and rapid HIV test kits in Namibia are currently supplied almost exclusively by donor agencies - the government here cannot afford to supply much health care for its citizens.

I had my first opportunity to visit my colleague Steve’s work last week. His program is called the Bernard Nordcamp Center and is run by Catholic AIDS Action. It is an after-school program for orphans and vulnerable children or those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Every afternoon, 50 to 100 kids show up for a soup kitchen, stories, games, soccer, and homework assistance. The kids are mostly from the Damara tribe, one of the groups here that talks with clicks, and they live in the surrounding Katutura township. They are often dirty, hungry and ragged, and some are sick, but they are always filled with mischief, and they sure love Steve. He walks around there with clumps of children clinging to his arms and legs!

We attended a concert by a youth choir from coastal Namibia. It was poorly advertised, expensive and under-attended. But those kids sang their hearts out! I gazed at all their faces - some with brows furrowed in concentration as they sang, some with eyes closed in the ecstasy of the music, many smiling with joy. How lucky that these kids have found this way to express themselves and a way to be together that is positive. I felt fearful for those young choir members who must navigate the treacherous path to adulthood through the minefields of sexuality and violence that are so much a part of our world’s culture.

I hope that what we are doing here has some positive effect for these children and for this country. We have watched in horror from afar the devastation of the southern United States and the poor response from the richest government in the world. It is really up to all of us to care, to act, to make our voices heard. All the children in the world depend on us.

by Corrie Hines, Administrative Assistant

Those of you who visit the Multifaith Works office may have wondered recently, “Who is that weird person with the basket of chocolate?” Well, allow me to introduce myself! I am the new administrative assistant. I am thrilled to be a part of Multifaith Works, and was drawn here by the chance to help people in need. I was a wildlife rehabilitator for six years prior to coming to Multifaith; I loved the work and loved the animals, but I needed a change, and a chance to help people as well as animals.

I was born and raised near an Amish community in northern Indiana, and went to Eastern Oregon University, where I met my husband. I have degrees in history and anthropology, which have given me a respect for research and the written word. My avocations include singing in the Edmonds United Methodist Church chorus. I also have a permit to do wildlife rehabilitation in my home, and plan to rehabilitate bats in addition to my work here at Multifaith Works. I have quickly grown to love the people here, and look forward to meeting all of you. Feel free to stop by, introduce yourselves, and help yourself to the chocolate!

Anonymous

Read at a memorial service for our friend Joel, a Multifaith Works client, volunteer, and board member.

AIDS Walk 2005
Thank you for your wonderful support of AIDS Walk 2005. Team Multifaith Works raised over $5,000!

Joel E. • Miller G. • Terry M.

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Supporting Multifaith Works

Multifaith Merchandise

Multifaith Calendar 2006
The Contemplative Circle
These calendars make wonderful holiday gifts. We are now taking orders... please
click here for further information.

Ahura Peace Necklaces 
"Ahura" is derived from the Zoroastrianism meaning, "Good Spirit" or "Angel." 16" pewter chain with 4" extension, 11 pewter faith symbol charms. $25 each. Click on image for a larger photo.

Hozho Peace Necklaces 
Hozho is the Navajo work for "A way of life." Eleven pewter faith symbol charms dangle from a black waxed cotton cord that adjusts from 16" to 14." $25 each. Click on image for a larger photo.

Multifaith Works mugs, Tshirts, hats, Jewish & Christian AIDS Pins, and more... Please click for further information about other multifaith merchandise.

How to Order
To order any of these items, please mail a check made payable to Multifaith Works at 1801 - 12th Ave. Suite A, Seattle, WA  98122. Please write the item and quantity in the memo line. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are also accepted. For more information, call 206.324.1520 x221 or email info@multifaith.org

Creative Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

Or, what to give someone who has more than enough of everything!

Did you know that you could give the gift of compassion and life this holiday season? Through a donation to Multifaith Works, you can give these gifts to people living with AIDS, MS or other life-threatening illnesses.

You can make a donation in honor of or as a gift to someone you love. You give the gift, and we send a card to letting your loved one know that that we have received a gift in their honor.

The best part of this gift is that it benefits our clients living with AIDS or other life-threatening illnesses; people who really need it, and it won’t be returned or end up in a garage sale next year. You can give gifts this way on the occasion of a birthday, a wedding, and especially during the holiday season. During a time of year, which can be so difficult for so many, your gift can bring hope and light.

Got a Car to Donate?

Multifaith Works is now able to accept donations of cars, whether running or not. Simply call Corrie at 206.324.1520 x235 or email info@multifaith.org. Once we obtain the necessary information about your car or truck, an auction/towing company will arise for pickup, title transfer, and voila: you get a tax credit and Multifaith Works gets a cash donation.

As a housing provider, Multifaith Works is always seeking houses to develop into supportive homes for people living with AIDS and other illnesses. Receiving a house in donation, or rent-free for a number of years cuts our development costs significantly, which in turn means we are able to put a new home "on line" in much shorter time. So, if you have a house to spare, running or not, please consider donating it to Multifaith Works.

Searching for the Stars

...as I wander the streets of Seattle, I am reminded of how the stars have provided a constant perspective of my place in the universe and the size of my God...

by Arthur Padilla, Executive Director

I have been searching for the stars. I have chosen to walk and wander Seattle as a way of orienting myself to my new home. In the evenings, I am reminded that I am in a city, where the lights and clouds hide the stars. At first, this brought sadness because my home in New Mexico is famous for its stars and open skies. I am reminded of a time when I was very young and I got my first pair of glasses. I was shocked and scared by the greatness of the stars and the realization that I had not seen them in years. I laid on the dry dirt of my driveway for hours, searching the stars, recognizing the unknown and the power of the universe, and I cried. So, as I wander the streets of Seattle, I am reminded of how the stars have provided a constant perspective of my place in the universe and the size of my God; I need to see them from my new home. I think it was very clearly a prayer.

In response to this prayer (unbeknownst to me), I was invited to participate in the CareTeam training in October. I arrived early, and was directed by a volunteer to cut bagels and fruit, and to put out paper plates. He didn’t know who I was, and he treated me as he would have any volunteer. I was impressed with his kindness. We talked easily, and I began to learn about why he was involved with the CareTeam program, and how it was important to him. Slowly, a bit of starlight began to flicker through. At 8:00 am, the room began to fill with numerous people who seemed excited about their choice to be at Mount Zion Church for a whole Saturday. As the day progressed, I laughed, hugged, and connected on so many levels with so many people that I was completely overwhelmed by the end of the day. I left a little confused, because I felt as if I had been staring at the stars and feeling the greatness of my God in this big universe.

It didn’t end. On Sunday, I was invited to dinner with a long-time CareTeam from St. Madeleine Sophie’s Catholic Church. The dinner was a thank you gift for the CareTeam that sold the most tickets to “Many Voices, One Song,” the Multifaith Works annual benefit concert. The food was made by a long-time volunteer and friend of Multifaith (Chef Robards!) and served by Sterling Morris and his partner, Bruce. The experience was unbelievable. I had never had the opportunity to witness honoring volunteers in such a thoughtful and respectful way. Again, the starlight flickered through.

As we enjoyed the evening, the team shared their experiences with their CarePartner, with each other, their families, and their congregations. It became very clear that these people were the stars that I had been praying to see. Their commitment to their CarePartners and their team was something that had been created by a power greater than us. They spoke of how much they had learned about themselves and each other, how they have come to love their CarePartners, and how they have become an integral part of each others’ lives. Then they sat in silence, seeming to meditate on the largeness of their experience. At the end of the evening, they thanked me for joining them, hugged me generously, and even went so far as to give me a ride home! I entered my apartment and lay in my empty home on the floor, closed my eyes, saw the stars, and I cried.

In the Works is published online and in print four times per year.  To receive this newsletter via email, or for further information, please contact Multifaith Works at info@multifaith.org or 206.324.1520 x221.

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