Theological Students’ International Internship Program

Report on my summer experience with the Diocese of Seychelles in the Province of the Indian Ocean.

Prepared By:

John Stopa

1998-12-04

I have been asked to prepare a report of my time in the Seychelles as an intern with the Theological Students’ International Internship Program. This report will have two parts. The first is a summary of activities and observations. This section is similar to one that I submitted to my local diocesan newspaper, Crosstalk. The other section is one of further observations and recommendations.

Part One -- John’s Travels

 It seems like May 12th was just yesterday. On that day, at 6:00pm I said goodbye to my wife, children, parents and siblings at the MacDonald-Cartier airport and flew on to Toronto where a few hours later I caught another plane, this time a trans-Atlantic flight to Heathrow. In London, I switched airports to Gatwick and after a layover of 12 hours caught a flight from London to the island of Mahé in the Seychelles. 

 The Seychelles islands are a very popular tourist resort and vacation destination. Many on the plane were going there for a week’s vacation or more. Seychelles is in the Indian Ocean, and is made up of 115 islands. Geographically, the main island of Mahé, and the capital of Victoria are located 4 degrees south of the equator. The country has some 75000 inhabitants, called Seychellois. The official language is Creole, though English and French are spoken quite predominantly. Approximately 90% of the population is Roman Catholic, while 8% is Anglican. The remaining two percent are Adventist, Pentecostals, Baptists, Jehovah’s Witness, Hindu or Muslim. 

 I was not going to the Seychelles to vacation... I had been accepted into the Theological Students’ International Internship Program, which is organized by the Anglican Church of Canada, under the auspices of the Volunteers in Mission (VIM) office. Planning and thinking about this trek began for me over a year before when I attended a one day workshop on the Anglican Network for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. Maylynn (?) from Church House was the invited speaker, and one of the many things she mentioned was this program which sends postulants from Canada to developing countries. “Sounds interesting”, I thought, and filed it in the back of my mind for discussions with my wife Barb and for further ponderance. Last September, I was meeting with Archdeacon Shane Parker to discuss matters relating to my postulancy. As of the last items on my agenda, I mentioned this program I had heard about. Shane had received information from Church House, and we talked about it further. Our agreement was that it could be done, but that a lot of investigation was needed. (For instance, neither he nor I could determine from the literature how long the program lasted). I spoke with VIM staff (namely, Jill Cruse and Clementina Thomas), and decided to apply. My sights, at the time, were set on going to India. I thought it would be interesting to experience a dimension of the church there, and work within the challenges that that might present. I was accepted into the program, though a placement was not found for me at the time of acceptance.  It was not until March, and after preparations in earnest had begun, including ten days in Toronto in January of this year for the Missionary Orientation Conference, that I found out that the exact location of my internship would not be India, nor the Solomon Islands (which had been suggested at one point), but Seychelles. I had heard little of this place, and knew nothing. Further research was required.

 And so, after some 30 hours in various airplanes and airports, here I was on May 14 getting my first glimpse of this place called the Seychelles. The Seychellois air traffic control had given our plane permission to descend to 2000 ft and circle the islands on approach to the airport. My first reaction was how breathtakingly beautiful, how richly green the islands were. I landed, cleared customs, and was met at the airport by The Rt. Rev. French Chang-Him, Anglican Bishop of Seychelles, as well as Rose Anne Fournier, a Canadian Volunteer in Mission from the Diocese of Huron who was in the Seychelles doing Youth Ministry work. (An author’s note: one of the big worries each postulant participating in this program had was that we might individually share in the experience of someone from a previous year... that of arriving in the new country, and there being absolutely NO one at the airport to meet you!!! Luckily, this did not happen).

 While in the Seychelles, I lived with an older gentleman named Anthime whose wife had recently passed away. Anthime’s home is modest and comfortable. He opened up his home to me and was very kind and friendly. He is also a huge soccer fan, and as one of the best soccer referees the Seychelles had ever had, was a very good person to watch the World Cup Football tournament with. 

 My experiences in the Seychelles were quite diverse, yet in many ways similar to experiences that an intern might have here in the Diocese of Ottawa. I spent three months in the Seychelles, and with the exception of a couple of jaunts to nearby islands, all of my time was spent on the island of Mahé. I worked primarily out of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. 

 My time was spent exploring many facets of church life as it occurred in the Seychelles. I was engaged in various things: preaching, leading church services, working in the Cathedral office, meeting with people, visiting the hospital, leading Bible studies, working with youth, working with school programs, etc... I met many people, and had the privilege and opportunity of sharing with them and both seeing Christ in them, and being Christ to them. I was warmly welcomed by Anglicans wherever I went, and referred to as either the “séminariste canadien” or simply “you’re the one from Canada”.  Seychellois people, without trying to make a stereotype, are very friendly, kind people...  my time with them has given me many treasured memories, and I have made some very special friendships.

 I think it is important to touch upon the life of the church: there are 14 Anglican churches and chapels in the Seychelles. The majority are on Mahé. The style of worship is comparable to what we might see here is many of our parishes. The service is based upon the Church of England’s Alternative Services Book. Creole is used in each service, wherever possible -- primarily in the homily or sermon. (This was a bit of a challenge for me as a non-Creole speaker). There are services in French as well, and at least one Sunday service in each month is completely in Creole. 

 Religion is important in the Seychelles. Church attendance is pretty high, and more importantly, the church continues to have a special place in the community. Though the Anglican Church is much smaller than its larger Roman Catholic sister, the role and the position of the Anglican church is signficant.  For instance, church services are broadcast each Sunday morning on Seychelles Broadcasting Radio (SBC) and alternate each Sunday between the Catholic Cathedral, and Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Those who for whatever reason cannot attend, and even those who attended an earlier service, will tune in and follow along in their homes or in their cars.

 The cycle of life and the place of faith within that rhythm is very evident, as it is here. On a Sunday, there may be baptisms -- the third or fourth Sunday of each month is so designated. But, a day or two later, people may gather at a funeral service to commend to God the soul of a relative who died. Each Saturday, except for the month of August when school was out, twelve and thirteen year olds gathered for Confirmation class preparation. And, at various times, a man and a woman come before God and God’s people and promise to love each other and stay true to each other for the rest of their lives in marriage.  Yet also, I watched as priests took a call and would go out to give someone viaticum or Last Rites and comfort the family around the dying person. The church is present in all these moments... just as it is here. People in the Seychelles share many of the same fears and concerns as we do: they work, they have bills to pay, they worry about their children, they laugh, they pray... 

 I think if there was a difference, it would be the place of faith. I write this not as a means of comparison, but rather as an observation. Things seem less secularized in the Seychelles than they do here. Not that I am suggesting that Seychelles is a theocracy, or that we here in Canada have no faith. Rather, the world outside the church here is much more non-religious than it is there. Yet, especially in the beginning of my internship as I mulled things over in my head, I recalled something I was told when I went to the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford as part of my Missionary Orientation Conference. There, an aboriginal woman in chatting with me gave me strong words of wisdom: “Wherever you go, whomever you meet there, always remember God was there first”. And so, whether in the Seychelles, or in Canada, God was -- and is -- there first. The experience of God may be a bit different at times.

 As a student at Saint Paul University here in Ottawa, one of the things we study is the place of the universal church, the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.  The church is not simply my parish, or my deanery, or just my diocese. It is global. I got a real sense of that in my time away. For instance, three days after I arrived Bp. French departed for a country called Canada to participate in the General Synod of the Anglican Church there. One of the things he touched upon in his address was diversity.  When our bishops came together at Canterbury for the Lambeth Conference, I helped organize an evening prayer service at St. Paul’s Cathedral -- Anglicans from the Seychelles, and I as an Anglican from Canada came together to hold our bishops up in prayer. At staff meetings, I would share from time to time, when invited to do so, about our church life in Canada. There are five priests in active parish ministry. Some of the clergy had been to Canada: some for study, others for church related work. One clergy person had shared a room at a conference in Africa with a Canadian bishop, Michael Peers, who is the Primate of the Anglican Church here. In one way, it’s a small world. Yet, in another, the church is quite big!

 One of my key support people in the Seychelles was another Canadian, Rose Anne Fournier. She has been in the Seychelles since 1995, with only a six month return home last year. Rose Anne works within the Diocese of Seychelles as youth coordinator. There are a lot of young people in the Seychelles, and both the church and the government recognizes the importance of guiding youth, and meeting their many needs. During my time in the Seychelles, the Seychellois government initiated a youth study to see what the trends and challenges facing youth are. Rose Anne was part of the steering committee for that study. Two Canadians were also hired on as consultants: Don Posterski (of World Vision Canada) and Rob Berbach. Rose Anne helped me in my own ministry by acting as a “check-in” person from time to time... that is, we would compare notes on how I felt with her experiences. At first, adjustment to a different culture and a different climate were hard to take. It was H-O-T and everyone seemed to speak Creole. Over time, I adapted. Rose Anne also acted as an interlocutor between Canadian experience and culture and that of the Seychelles.  I learned to ask for a “soft drink”, as opposed to a pop, and that we walk on the pavement, and not a sidewalk.

 Another important support network was the church here in Ottawa. My home parish of Saint Mark the Evangelist, and the rector there, Roger Steinke were extremely supportive of me (as well as of Barb and family whom I had left behind). I also sensed a lot of support from John Gibaut and the community at St. Paul University.  Over the three months, I heard from others in the diocese, and throughout it all, especially when times got to be tough or challenging (and I missed home or thought WHAT am I doing here?) I knew there were people at home upholding me in prayer. I would also be remiss to fail to mention my most important support: my wife Barbara, with whom I would talk every so often and who faithfully sent me cards and letters.

 Three months goes by very fast! May went on to June, then July, and the next thing I knew August rolled around, and with it my departure. I left Mahé on August 13th and arrived home on the 14: tired, but very excited by the whole journey. 

 I am slowly getting back into the swing of things here in Ottawa. My thoughts turn from the tropics and the work I did in the Seychelles and the people I met to school and internship here as my formation as a postulant continues. I recall the words that Bishop Baycroft spoke in his Charge to Synod in 1997, when he reflected on what happens when God works within us. This is summed up in the doxology that is found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, a prayer we use at each eucharist: “Glory to God, whose power in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God, from generation to generation, in the church and in Christ Jesus.”  With this in mind, where my internship in the Seychelles will lead, or what opportunities arise from the experiences gained, I do not know. With God’s presence and power though, all things are possible.

Further Observations and Comments

• 1. One of the purposes of this report is to pass on my story who will go to some place in the world as part of an international internship. To those who read this report with that intention I can only reiterate a few things that were raised in the Missionary Orientation Conference that I participated in (and in which you will too):
• · Be present in the moment you are in. I am not sure if that sounds very corny -- my hope is that it doesn’t. One of the things that was touched upon at MOC was the “U” curve that people experience: how you go from a high to a low and then, hopefully, climb up again as you accept and integrate. Knowing about the U-curve was good, but it was also important not only to look forward to the climb up but in the deep dark lonely moments to recall that that moment was part of the process. Having a support network is good at that point, as is extensive letter writing. 
• · Take lots of pictures. I did, and wish I had taken more. I also had taken a tape recorder to tape interviews and memories and unfortunately never got around to it. (If VIM would ever care to send me back, I would). Some friends in the Seychelles had taped some stuff off of Paradise FM -- the stereo pop hits station that broadcasts on Mahe.... this is a nice souvenir and it also lets others have a taste of what things are like, and what people sound like. Video recording would be a good thing too, as of course is journal writing.
• · Keep a regular prayer discipline. And, know that there is someone at home praying for you too! Both of these are essential to the global ministry experience, at least from my own vantage point. I found that as I settled into a prayer routine, things got better and I let go of the things I was clinging onto and let the experience happen. On the days that weren’t so good, it was an assurance to know that there was a group praying for me and upholding me that way -- if there was ever a time I could “feel” prayer, that was it.
• · Don’t be afraid to call or somehow contact Clementina or Jill or the area co-ordinator or someone at church house. They will tell you that too, more than once before you leave, and certainly once you’ve arrived. However, if you’re anything like me the inclination is to hold off, try and pull yourself up by your boot straps, be strong, etc... There are times when that is noble, good, and a character builder... being overseas is not one of those times. I had some issues and problems which I thought were my own, that I could live with, and take care of on my own. It was not until the midway point that I called out for help and got it. The moral of the point is to be in touch and remember that you are part of a larger support structure and group... I didn’t -- at first.
• · My hope is that what I am writing by way of further points and observations doesn’t come across as being patronizing, nor as having the tone of either a fireside chat or a Kurt Vonnegut commencement address. The last specific point I’d like to raise is simply enjoy yourself. 
• 2. Out of the summer internship experience, another important observation to be made concerns an internship such as mine where spouses get split up for three months. I had a good support group and though there were ups and downs, I had people to talk to and turn to. My spouse did not have as strong a support group. We encountered some problems where we could both really feel the distance. One recommendation we would both make is that both spouses partake in the January MOC even though only one is going away, and that there might be a provision for a support group, and perhaps even a chance for a visit in the “field”.
• 3. If possible, it would be good to have a more in depth follow up weekend. One or two more days would have been good.  Another possibility that I would hope could be considered is having an annual or bi-annual conference for people who have been overseas to come together and dialogue about how they have worked at integrating the experience. 

• One of the key areas that was touched upon, albeit briefly, at the re-entry       was that whole question of integration and moving on without forgetting. I realize that not everyone who has been overseas wants to integrate, and some would probably like to forget.... But, in terms of the what’s next questions, it would be nice to have access to people’s stories of what they’ve done since returning home. From my own experience, my dread is to forget the experience, because it is valuable to me. On the other hand, my life has moved on and I am deeply involved with my studies and internship and life back in Canada. But, in the midst of that, I would like to do something that would continue what I experienced and build upon it.

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