Letter from Renay A. Mercer - January 24, 1999

Some notes on my experience with the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage... thus far (December 26, 1998)

When I began walking with The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage in Savannah, Georgia on September 6, 1998, I truly had no real concept of what to expect. Of course, I had read all the literature they had sent me. I looked up their website on the net, and I even talked with other people who had gone on social change walks in the past. Still, none of my so-called preparations prepared me. The spiritual journey of The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage is a walking prayer. Throughout this journey I have experienced many ups and downs physically, as well as spiritually. Back in 1990, I broke both of my ankles in a car accident. The right ankle was broken so badly that when the doctor returned with my x-rays, he said that they might have to amputate my foot. Through the grace of God my foot was saved! So, I am sure you can see how much of a blessing this journey is for me. I am so thankful to simply have my feet and be able to walk. However, because of my previous injury, my feet and ankles went through a hard adjustment period. There were mornings that I got up, and my right ankle was so swollen, I couldn’t put any pressure on it. But in time, gradually my ankles and feet got stronger, and I continued to praise God. One of my greatest physical challenges thus far occurred in Stone Mountain, Georgia. You see, Stone Mountain was once a very spiritual place at which indigenous people of this land held sacred ceremonies. However, during the period of The Trail of Tears they were pushed out and killed by White men. The morning of September 20, 1998 it was the task of the pilgrimage to climb Stone Mountain and hold a sunrise prayer service there. I began with the group, but they soon passed me. Periodically, I would stop to take a rest. At times, discouraging thoughts would enter my mind, such as,I’ll just pray here by myself. God can hear me where ever I am. However, I also thought of how great I would feel if I made it , and I continued on. When I finally reached the top of the mountain, probably about a half hour after the others, I felt like a gifted child of my ancestors. I felt as though they had all helped to carry me upward, and were there with me; kissing me and swirling around me. Internally, my heart resounded, Thank you... thank you... thank you, over and over again; this to God and all my ancestors. Even when I had doubts, God carried me forward. Spiritually, this journey has been trying. At times it is difficult to be on the land where my African ancestors gave their lives in order to feed White capitalism. This is an interfaith, intercultural pilgrimage. Therefore, there are many different styles of ritual and prayer that are practiced. Throughout these ceremonies, I have felt the: joy, sorrow, pain, strength, and greatness of my African and Native American ancestors. Towards the end of the United States portion of the journey The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage traveled from New Orleans, Louisiana to Natchez, Mississippi. Natchez was not originally on the itinerary. Therefore, our host there paid for a bus to transport us. While in Natchez we fasted and were in silence for three days. We stayed on an old plantation, and slept in the slave quarters. The evening that we broke the fast and silence, we held a ritual to honor our ancestors who had given their lives on that land. Part of the ritual was an altar that was made up of bricks that the enslaved Africans made with their own hands. At the center was a brick that had the imprint of one of their hands. During this ritual several pilgrims offered prayers, flowers, drumming, dancing, incense, and candles in order to give honor and respect to God and the ancestors. I felt overcome with spirit, and danced around the circle of the group. In fact, when the ritual was over I was the last one remaining besides the drummers. When the dancing had stopped within me, I stood in front of the altar and listened. I felt the spirit of one of my male ancestors telling me, Renay, you are pregnant with many blessings. All you have to do is trust. This is what this journey is about for me. Many of my fellow pilgrims came to the pilgrimage with a monetary abundance. I came with spiritual abundance. I was called to The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage as a healer. I am a Reiki Healer First degree. On this pilgrimage, I have followed God’s will and offered my self as a healer. Sensing a great need in the group, I called forth the existence of a Healing Circle. The Healing Circle is simply a group of pilgrims with healing abilities. It was put into existence so that pilgrims in need know who they can go to and for what;i.e. bodywork, massage, energy work, Reiki, etc. I am glad to be able to serve in this manner. Through my healing work, I have come to the realization that I should continue on with The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage through completion. Because of this, I am still fundraising. I continually give praises to God and all who have saw fit to support me financially as well as prayerfully. Since Alabama, the pilgrimage has been operating under the concept All For One And One For All. Because of this, along with the fact that I am giving, I have been able to travel on almost no money. However, we are about to travel to and through the west coast of The Motherland, Africa. Financially, I need to be able to contribute to the group pot, as well as to cover my own incidentals. Please help in any way that you can. So far, The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage has traveled from Leverett, Massachusetts, U.S.A. to San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the Caribbean, the country that had the greatest impact of me was Haiti (whose correct name is Ayiti.) When we arrived in Ayiti, we were told by our hosts that we were to walk from the airport to our stay place in Cap-Haitien (about 7 miles.) We began walking just the 38 of us, and by the time we reached our stay place there were at least 1,000 people walking with us. People were playing instruments: drums, shekeres, tambourines, and hands. People were chanting the Buddhist healing prayer, Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo. But, louder than all, people were shouting in unison, A--Fri--Ca...A--Fri--Ca...A--Fri--Ca. It was so powerful to see and experience beautiful people of African descent banning together for a common cause. We didn’t know each other, but we were family. I give thanks. In order to continue on this journey, I need to raise a total of $4,000.00. This is 200 units of $20.00 each. Please donate as many units as you can. At this point, I have collected 35 units, which means I still need 165 units ($3,300.00) to complete the journey. The Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage is scheduled to be in Banjul, The Gambia no later than February 1, 1999. We plan to leave New York’s JFK airport in route for Sal, Cape Verde on Tuesday, January 26, 1999 at 6:30pm. >From there we plan to take a boat into The Gambia, West Africa. Therefore, in order for me to be able to assess my resources, I need to have all donations NOW (at least no later than my birthday, Monday, January 25, 1999). I will be leaving Wilmington for New York early Tuesday morning. It will be best if I am able to begin this leg of the journey with at least $2,000.00, which is 65 more units of $20.00 each than what I have now. I KNOW this can be done, because with God all things are possible, and for me, this journey has been completely lead by God. Any and all assistance will help, and all contributors are placed in my heart in continuous prayer. Thank you and God bless
PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Renay A. Mercer
c/o Deidre P. Mercer
P.O. Box 7253
Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
302-478-6727
renayamercer@hotmail.com Return to Letters from the Pilgrims
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