Antigua Mission Trip from August 15th to August 25th of 2014

http://handsinternationalantiguamission.wordpress.com/

Forgiveness for Wellness

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3xFdTu7W9TlXy1JLWVDT1o5ZG44T2l6MHR3anlicTF1Uk40/edit?usp=sharing

FORGIVENESS FOR WELLNESS:

A NEGLECTED SCIENCE AND ART RE-DISCOVERED

Seminar on a forgotten factor in reducing disease risk

and achieving optimum health and wholeness

Presenter:

Hedrick J. Edwards, DHSc., MA, MSPH

Health Summit Convention

Sponsored by

Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist

Health Ministries Department

St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda

August 17-23, 2014

SEMINAR OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this ten-hour seminar, participants who attended and actively involved themselves in the learning opportunities provided will have sufficient exposure to the philosophical, theoretical, technical and practical aspects of the art and science of forgiveness to be able to do the following:

·        Describe the role of violations and grievances in the causation of human disorders individually, socially and globally.

·        Explain how unresolved crisis, including moral crisis, impair the immune system and lead to disease

·        Identify specific health conditions associated with chronic anger, vengeance and the unforgiving disposition

·        Trace pathways and processes in psycho-immunology in relation to wellness

·        Define what forgiveness is and what it is not

·        Employ several models to clarify forgiveness and wellness concepts

·        Methodically integrate the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation in real life situations 

UNIT ONE: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

FORGIVENESS - A NEGLECTED SCIENCE AND ART REDISCOVERED

“One of God’s better jokes on us was to give us the power to remember the past and leave us with no power to undo it. . . There is no delete key for reality. And it comforts us little to know that not even God can undo what has been done. . . If we could only chose to forget the cruelest moments, we could, as time goes on, free ourselves from the pain. But the wrong sticks like a nettle in our memory.

The only way to remove the nettle is with a surgical procedure called forgiveness. It is not as though were the remedy of choice among other options, less effective but still useful. It is the only remedy”  (Lewis Smedes).

FORGIVING, WHEN YOU COME DOWN TO IT, IS AN ART, A PRACTICAL ART AND SCIENCE, MAYBE THE MOST NEGLECTED OF ALL THE HEALING ARTS. IT IS THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HEALING INNER WOUNDS INFLICTED BY OTHER PEOPLE’S WRONGS - AND BY OUR OWN WRONGS. (L. Smedes, adapted). 

A.     THE NECESSITY - BOTH PERSONAL AND GLOBAL

1.      Documentary 1: Forgiveness Stories of Our time [50 minutes]

2.      The Case Against forgiveness

3.      The Case for Forgiveness

B.     PERCEPTIONS FROM AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES

UNIT TWO: THE PROBLEM

A.  TEN REASONS WHY WELLNESS IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT FORGIVENESS

    1.  The Nature of Violations and Grievances - Normal Abnormalities of the Human Condition

     2.  Every person has had a grievance story – Violator, Violated or Both

     3.  Self-righteous Defensiveness or Denial: A Pathological Reaction

     4.  Hatred or Bitterness: Another Systemic Pathological Reaction

     5.  The Immune System Challenged

     6.  Intensive Personal Impact of Unresolved Grievance: Systemic Stress-induce Disorders

     7.  Extensive Social Impact of Grievances – on Family, At Workplace, In Church, In Community, etc.

      8.  Some Scientific Correlates of Health and Forgiveness

      9.  Alternatives to Forgiveness Generally Complicate the Effect of Grievances

·        Repression of Grievance. Does Damage within before showing signs without

·        Denial of Grievance. Living a lie. Neither Mind nor Body Lies – they Cringe or Crack

·        Proactive Revenge to Prevent Anticipated Violation. The complications

·        Reactive Revenge to Cure Experienced Violation. Complexities of Retributive

·        Severe Sanctions: Incarceration for Violations - Execution/capital Punishment

·        “Vengeance is mine”. Two reasons why God reserved it for himself alone.

        

      10.  Forgiveness Deficits Contributes to more Deaths than Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Cancer combined

B.     DOCUMENTARY 2: A GLOBAL GREIVANCE STORY [Peter Jennings]

  “Out of the mouth of babes” – Trauma! Anger! Hate! Prejudice! Fallacy! Understanding! Forgiveness?

1.   Group Discussion: Complexities of Forgiving. Consequences of Vengeance – short tem and long term. 

      2.  Written Assignment. State insights and understandings on forgiveness you derive from the documentary.

C.  TWO LEARNING MODELS

     1.  Ways of Relating: Centrality of the Zone of Respect

      2.  Wellness Trajectory Options: Ending, Descending, Transitioning, Ascending, Transcending

UNIT THREE: THEORIES, CONCEPTS AND CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

A.     THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL MODEL

1.      Context for a Forgiveness Paradigm

2.      At what Point or Points can Forgiveness be Located in this Paradigm? 

B.     OTHER IMPORTANT FORGIVENESS THEORIES AND CONCEPTS

1.      General Theological Concepts: Sin, Guilt, the Ethics of Forgiveness

2.      Ancient Biblical Wisdom and Modern Scientific Observations Converge

3.      Forgiveness in Sabbath Rest, the Sabbatical Year, and the Jubilee Year

4.      The Argument of Jesus: Role of Truth in Bondage and Freedom 

5.      Critical Crisis Theory and Post Traumatic Embittered Disorder (PTED)

6.      Psycho-immunology and Some Mechanisms of Disorders of Psyche, Pneuma, and Soma

7.      Other Wellness Findings and Clinical Manifestation

C.     DOCUMENTARY 3: A PERSONAL GIEIVANCE STORY – KARLA FAYE TUCKER

1.      Group Discussion:

2.      Written Assignment: Your analysis of and Reactions to the main scenes of the Documentary. 

D.     LEARNING MODEL: BREAKING THE PATHOLOGY WITH GRACE INTERVENTION

1.      The Pathology cycle

2.      Definition of Grace

3.      The Many Forms of Grace

UNIT FOUR: PRINCIPLE AND DYNAMICS OF FORGIVENESS

A.     PRINCIPLES OF FORGIVING AND BEING FORGIVEN

1.      Forgiving is a Law of Life and a Way of Life – a Lifestyle

2.      Forgiving is Primarily for One’s own Good

3.      On its Highest Level Forgiveness is a Conditional Trust, not an Unconditional Gift

4.      Some Nice Things Forgiving is Not

5.      Other Principles and Examples

B.     PRACTICING THE SCIENCE AND ART OF FORGIVING

1.      The Ideal: How God Forgives

2.      Prepare for the Long Haul: Forgive as Often as You have been Forgiven

3.      Forgiveness Discipline can be Learned. “If you can see it you can be it”

4.      Owning Our Pain and grief

5.      Taking Our Time 

UNIT FIVE: PATHWAYS TOWARD RECONCILATION

A.     THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION:  A GIFT

B.     MODEL PATHWAYS OF GRACE AND RECONCILIATION

1.      The South African Model: Truth and Reconciliation Commission

2.      The German-Jewish Model

3.      The Rwanda Model

4.      The Paul- Onesimus Model

C.     WHAT THESE MODELS TEACH ABOUT CREATING PATHWAYS OF GRACE

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

·     When you forgive you set a prisoner free and discover that you yourself are the prisoner freed

·     Chronic guilt, anger, and bitterness are disorders that predisposes one to serious health risks

·     Forgiveness is based upon a choice to break the chains of anger, hurt and vengeance

·     Forgiveness is the only remedy for healing wounds inflicted by others and by ourselves

·     Forgiving someone else, yourself, or accepting forgiveness sometimes require time and patience

·     Forgiving is a way of life, a lifestyle that can be cultivated – not a single event or action

·     A wholistic health care system is enhanced by integrating Forgiveness Therapy in its routine procedures

·     The forgiven and forgiving person has a solid foundation on which to build a wellness lifestyle

·     Society will be healthier if families and churches designate April 1 as Forgiveness and Reconciliation Day.

USEFUL REFERANCES AND RESOURCE MATERIAL

Books:

Fred Luskin. Forgive for Good.

A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness

Published by HarperCollins Inc. 10 East 53^rd Street, New York, NY 10022.

[http://www.harpercollins.com]

Lewis B. Smedes. Forgive and Forget.

 Healing The Hurts We Don’t Deserve.

            Published by HarperCollins Inc. 10East 53^rd Street, New York, NY 10022

[http://www.harpercollins.com}

Lewis B. Smedes. The Art of Forgiving.

            When You Need to Forgive and Don’t Know How

            Published by Moorings. A Division of Ballantine Publishing Group. Random House, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee

Robet D. Enright. Forgiveness is a Choice.

A Step by Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope.

                Published by APA Life Tools. 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002

[www.apa.org]

Grace Ketterman and David Hazard. When you can’t say “I FORGIVE YOU”

Breaking the Bonds of Anger and Hate

Published by NavPress, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935

DVD Documentaries

As We Forgive.

This is an account of the struggles and triumphs of the people of Rwanda in their effort to come to grips with and find healing from the horrors of tribal genocide and irrational hate.

Distributed through Sound Enterprises, Inc. 1325 W. 1^st Ave, Suite 205, Spokane, WA 99201. [www.asweforgivemovie.com]

The Power of Forgiveness.

Featuring Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Moore and Marianne Williamson

Producer and Director: Martin Doblmeier.

[www.firstruefeatures.com]

Forgiveness Stories of OurTime

            Focuses on four individuals who have lived through unimaginably painful events and their struggle to forgive

            Distributed by Lorder HT Digital, 56 W  56^th Street Suite 805, New York, NY 10036 [www.alivemindmedia.com]

The Power of Forgiveness. The Story of Karla Faye Tucker

            Distributed by Vision Video, Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490

            [www.visionvideo.com]

Healing America’s Wounds

            A Call to Repentance and Reconciliation

            Global Network Productions, Inc.

            www.globalnetworkproductions.com

            1-800-862-6247

Invectus (The story of Nelson Mandela and the method he used to triumph over the abuses of Apartheid)

            Distributed by Warner Home Videos, 400 Warner Street, Burbank, CA91522

            Invictus.com                 warnervideos.com                    www.nelsonmandela.org

Antigua Mission: Caribbean Union Conference Health Summit

Hello HANDS Partners:

This is to update you on the mission to the islands of Antigua & Barbuda - a small Caribbean nation-state. As many of you know HANDS International will partner with the Caribbean Union Conference in this major Health Summit during the week of August 17 to 24. This service will integrate a program of intense Healing with intense Teaching. 

The Hands team of 59 health professionals, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Reynold Agard, includes 18 specialist physicians, as well as nurses, social workers, therapists, etc. In collaboration with the government department of health, this team will focus on doing specialized medical procedures needed on the islands, as well as on general health evaluations and screening. Arrangement has also been made for selected ones to make presentations at the medical school and provide continuing education to local physicians.

While all these community activities are taking place, health delegates from throughout the Southern and Eastern Caribbean will convene at the Jolly Beach Resort to participate in seminars, workshops and plenary sessions throughout the week. Under the leadership of Pastor Alexander Isaacs, Health Ministries Director of the Union, this component will be the educational hub of the health summit. Special contributors will include Drs. Hans Diehl, Hildemar Dos Santos, Fred Hardinge, the dean of Loma Linda University's School of Public Health, and many others. I have been invited to lead out in the seminar on Forgiveness & Wellness. The Prime Minister and several other local leaders are expected to participate in the opening exercises.

In terms of number of volunteers, diversity of activities, anticipated impact on local health care and on society in general, this summit is certainly the most ambitious event our unpretentious organization has undertaken. But we do it at great cost to ourselves because our planet is so broken and we have been commissioned to serve as conduits of healing grace to its peoples.

Some of you who have not been able to go on missions such as this one have surprised us with the depth of your commitment to this cause that is so much bigger than ourselves. Thanks so much for your prayers and the good will you have shown all along the way. As we venture out in faith, and with such a large group of professionals traveling and having to adapt, with little preparation, to very different cultural ways, we especially need your prayers that no accident or untoward incident will arise to cause undue danger or distress.

Blessings to all.

Sincerely

Hedrick J. Edwards, President
Health and Development Services, International

Trinidad Mission Postscript

Hello Partners:

I'm back - safe and sound - and I believe all but the Andrews couple [Newton and Lydia] are now safely at home. We are now a family of volunteer missionaries, brought together by a spirit of solidarity with one another and with the larger human family, and by a common commitment to serve. The truth is "we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" . Each one of you has given much. Thank you so very sincerely for all that you have given to the people of Trinidad.

It was a good, if not perfect, mission. We touched lives at many levels - professionals in and out of government, political leaders, the media that conveyed our message into homes and offices, school children and the teachers and principals who help to shape them, parents, churches and their pastors and members, city folks looking on with curious eyes, university educators, and common folks. Many of us worshiped together, a few of us prayed with and for a family where one member was seriously ill. Some took special interest in the needs of orphans in three homes. The special health needs of women, no less than those of children, were also given special attention.

At the same time, the social and cultural dimensions of holistic living were not overlooked as we spent an entire day exploring small parts of the country, tasting its cuisine, appreciating a bit of its landscape, it history, its art and architecture. Many of our women folk brought back samples of its cloths and clothing to add to their collection of global dress wear. And to top it all, that exquisite and unforgettable lunch on the last Saturday in Couva prepared by that energetic chef, Romeo. What a nutritious, colorful, tasty and healthy display!. 

Each one of us brought with us a unique personality, unique history and gifts, and I personally cherish everyone of you and look forward to another mission with you some time in the not-too-distant future. (Some have revived the idea of establishing a Caribbean branch of HANDS. The feasibility of such a development will be pursued in due course).

Mother Theresa would say if we have not done great things we most surly have done good things with great love. And who can tell how far and wide the influence for good?

I trust that all is well with everyone. We will arrange a time when we can get together and make an in-depth report and assessment of the mission. Meanwhile we should maintain the flame of service in our own souls and keep in touch with one another.

Hedrick Edwards

LinkUp for Life

LinkUp for Life at the University of the Southern Caribbean
April 5, 2014

NIP-IT-IN-THE-BUD and LINK UP FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

"NIP-IT-IN-THE-BUD" Child Health Risk Screening Programme

and “LINK UP FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Priorities to Reverse a Looming Health Crisis”

by Evelette Fourniller

Principal, San Fernando Seventh - day Adventist Primary School

Trinidad and Tobago

On February 11th 2014, San Fernando Seventh - day Adventist Primary School was invited by Dr Hedrick Edwards of HANDS  International Inc. to partner with the University of the Southern Caribbean and HANDS INTERNATIONAL  in a “community – based effort to confront  a  chronic disease crisis looming in the nation and posing a major threat to children and youth, as well as the adult population.  The Programme was captioned “LINK UP FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Priorities to Reverse a Looming Health Crisis”

Dr. Hedrick Edwards offered the Child Health Component, "NIP-IT-IN-THE-BUD" Child Health Risk Screening Programme to the school’s administration. The Administration enthusiastically grasped “once in a lifetime” opportunity and the rapid planning began.

On the morning of Tuesday 8th April, 2014 a massive street parade through the streets of the City of San Fernando captured the attention of varied onlookers. The following schools participated in the parade: San Fernando Girls’ Anglican, St Paul’s Boys’ Anglican, Point Fortin SDA, Erin SDA, WEE ONES Kindergarten and San Fernando SDA Primary. Several members of the HANDS Team, the University of the Southern Caribbean Drum Corp and several organizations such as the South Regional Pathfinder Club, San Fernando SDA Pathfinder Club, Girl’s Anglican Brownies Club and the Red Cross Link of San Fernando SDA blended a colourful spectrum marching through a slight drizzle with the pulsating sounds of the USC band.

Students and parents had posters displaying pertinent messages.

The parade was met by the Parliamentary Representative for San Fernando West Constituency  –  the Honourable Carolyn Seepersad – Bachan. An Opening Ceremony was held on the spacious  Compound of the St Paul’s Anglican School. The School Supervisor of the Ministry of Education as well as Officials of USC and HANDS International brought greetings and the Minister gave the Feature Address. School Principals, Marlene White, Grace Mc Quan and Evelette Fourniller also welcomed all present. Inspector Mystar from Police Head Quarters also spoke to the large crowd on hand.

A fun, educational day began and many children and adults visited over 50 exhibition booths as  well as fun activities such as rock climbing and  bouncy castles. The National Schools Dietary Services which provides meals for the  nation’s schools was also present. The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) also featured a booth where students explored a hands – on approach to learning about improving lifestyles.  Students from nearby Health Institutions such as the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the Southern Caribbean were also there to assist in diverse ways. Three school compound were used to host the events.

The main feature of the day was the Health Screening provided by the HANDS TEAM. The paediatricians as well as all the doctors and other Health Professionals had their hands full as over 400 children were screened. The event was well executed and remains indelibly etched in the history

On Wednesday 9th April, 2014, the USC and HANDS International Team travelled southward again to have another day of screening and a Health Symposium during the afternoon. The Paediatric Team visited the Mothers’ Union Children’s Home and screened several children. 

The Symposium was chaired by Dr. Oscar Ocho, Director of Population Unit and Chief Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health. The feature address was magnificently done Dr. Anjanie Sharma, Medical Research Officer, Ministry of Health. Representatives from the University of the Southern Caribbean, Dr Claudette Mitchell as well as the members of the HANDS Team were on several panels that addressed several health related issues to the audience which included members from the Public Health Department, San Fernando City Corporation, National Schools Dietary Services and students from College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT).

Ms Henrietta Vaval, Nurse Instructor of COSTATT, provided valuable assistance from the conception of this programme. She is working with the Ministry of Health to analyse the data received from this programme. A follow up programme addressing the needs of “at risk” students will begin in 2015. San Fernando SDA Primary School has also included projects in its Strategic  Plan to address the national concerns so that our young citizens can “NIP IT IN THE BUD” . Parents can be positively influenced by their children’s learning to begin a movement that will help our citizens become healthier.

The Administration and Staff of San Fernando SDA Primary School sincerely thank Dr, Edwards, and his team for the dedication, commitment and the joy of service in helping humanity.

* * *

http://www.usc.edu.tt/news/247/104/Nip-It-in-the-Bud-Symposium.html

Dr Noel Braithwaite of the University of the Southern Caribbean, Nip it in the Bud Symposium moderator Dale Scobie, and Dr Nancy Fleurancois of HANDS International

Apr 11, 2014

NIP IT IN THE BUD SYMPOSIUM

USC News

USC’s Link Up for Life: Nip it in the Bud programme continued on April 9, with health checks and screening at the San-Fernando SDA Primary School. The afternoon featured a dynamic symposium, attended by Government officials and professionals in the health sector who spoke to the issue of lifestyle diseases which plague our societies, especially our children, and how we can forge ahead to ensure that the next generation is healthy. 

Students from the San-Fernando SDA, the San-Fernando Anglican and the St. Paul’s primary schools who attended the fair were screened by volunteers from the HANDS International team along with USC and COSTATT student nurses.

Parents, together with their children witnessed nutrition demonstrations sat through nutrition counselling sessions given by students and staff of USC’s Family and Consumer Sciences department. Students who were required to visit with a doctor were able to do so.

The day’s screening also gave opportunity to more senior individuals, who were in need of health screenings and consultation.

Mrs. Evelette Fornillier, Principal of the San-Fernando SDA Primary School, and coordinator of the Nip it in the Bud programme expressed her thanks to the two entities, the University of the Southern Caribbean and the HANDS International team for being instrumental in planning and organising a Health Emphasis week. She too was lauded for her hard work in ensuring that the Nip it in the Bud Programme was successful.

The symposium, which featured a panel discussion among scholars on the issue of obesity and diabetes among children made for healthy discussion and discourse among leaders in the various fields.

In her presentation on obesity and diabetes, Dr. Annjani Sharma, Research Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health made a memorable point when she noted that,  “Any time you eat or drink, you are either feeding a disease or fighting it."

The Link Up for Life activities continue on Sabbath, April 12, with church services at the Caring University Church, and the Couva SDA Church.

Nip it in the Bud Opening Ceremony
April 8, 2014

 

Health Screening

Nip it in the Bud Symposium

April 9, 2014

"Any time you eat or drink, you are either feeding a disease or fighting it."
Dr Anjani Shamar of the Chronic Diseases Research Division of the Ministry of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

"Genetics is the gun that may set the stage for childhood obesity, but your life choices is the hand that pulls the trigger!"
Dr Nancy Fleurancois

Dr Christiana Rajasingham

Dr Hildemar Dos Santos

Dr Ifeoma Anidi

HANDS Partners together with representatives from the University of the Southern Caribbean, the two Anglican Boys and Girls and one SDA primary schools of San Fernando, the Mayor's Office of San Fernando, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Loma Linda University Church Sabbath School Feature - March 22, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln7NKTcshAI