Canadian Mennonite
Volume 6, number 11
June 3, 2002

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Mission, B.C.

Photo: B.C. Women in Mission leaders received recognition for their work. From left: Mary Goertzen, treasurer; Elvira Guenther, secretary; Helga Rempel, out-going president; Veronica Thiessen, vice-president.

Bridges was an appropriate theme for the 63rd annual B.C. Women in Mission inspirational day on April 28. The women crossed the bridge over the Fraser River to get to Cedar Valley Mennonite Church, and at the front of the church a custom-made bridge set the stage for the theme, "Build bridges of peace."

Speaker Anita Fast, serving with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron, West Bank, told how CPT members are trying to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis.

"It is overwhelming at the best of times to consider what it means to be a peacemaker in such a setting," she said as she told how CPT workers are encouraging people on both sides to notice simple reminders of shared humanness, not "otherness."

Fast recalled walking through Hebron and seeing Israeli soldiers tormenting Palestinian citizens. She asked the soldiers not to destroy the Palestinians' dignity, to see them as real persons. Another time she came across Palestinian boys throwing stones at a praying Jewish man, and reminded them that "this man prays to the same God you do." The boys stopped and one went to shake the man's hand.

It's easy to make the enemy abstract, or less than human, said Fast, but those who have mourned over their enemies as well as their own people have truly hungered and thirsted after righteousness.

"We don't have to go across town or across the world to notice the ones who have been overlooked," she reminded the audience. "All of us hold prejudices against those not in our community, and many have felt the pain of being called 'other.' What the world would keep apart, God would keep together. Our lives can become an act of bridging love for our enemies, and hope for humanity."

Vikki Fergusson of Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond told a powerful story of how God's love bridged her life through sexual abuse, cancer, a failed marriage, giving up a child for adoption, and then finding her adult daughter. She spoke movingly of finding healing for her past and forming a relationship with her daughter, the only child she ever had.

The afternoon included bridges to the past and future as well. A memorial service honoured B.C. women who had passed away in the past year, and baby girls born in the past year were recognized as women of tomorrow. Through prayer, singing, poetry, and a liturgical dance by girls of the host church, participants were able to worship in varied ways.

Attendance for the day was 240 women, with an offering of $5,811.90 going to Camp Squeah and projects in Colombia, Ukraine and Kenya.

-Amy Dueckman

Altona, Man.

Photo: Spectators cheer on the tricycle racers who raised funds to build homes in El Salvador.

Ray Loewen committed himself to three months of fund raising to build homes in El Salvador. That was nearly one and a half years ago.

"Nothing has gone according to our plans," said Loewen. The Build a Village project mushroomed-110 homes have already been built, with "no end in sight."

In May, the Altona community sent a team of eight youth and two leaders to El Salvador for two weeks to continue rebuilding homes destroyed by earthquakes. This team is unusual because the youth have each been adopted by a different church.

"Four of the youth have no church background," said Loewen. "Their adopted church prays for them and tries to support them financially and in other ways. Each church has had its own fund-raising project."

The Build a Village committee, which includes Jeffrey Klassen, director of the local Youth for Christ drop-in centre, "began working on this trip two or three months ago when we found there would be an opportunity for a team from our drop-in centre to go to El Salvador," said Loewen.

Other members of the committee are Darlene Enns-Dyck, co-pastor of Seeds of Life Community Church, and Gary Klassen of the Rhineland Area Ministerial.

The committee held a tricycle race as a community fund-raising project on April 27. They obtained John Deere tricycles that could support up to 200 pounds and invited over 60 racers to participate.

"My expectation was to raise $10-$12,000," said Loewen. The race raised over $20,000, and more than 500 spectators came out to cheer.

"We were planning to have the race outdoors on the street, but when the snow started falling and kept falling, we moved into the arena," said Loewen. "The crowd really got into the races.... There was lots of cheering. The kids were overwhelmed by the support."

Racers included pastors, business people, those who had been on previous El Salvador teams, and politicians. The money will help cover the travel expenses of the team.

"Initially we thought the benefits would be in El Salvador," said Loewen, "but the benefits at this end are at least as rewarding, if not more so. Relationships with El Salvadorans, with other team members and with God are strengthened."

Plans are underway with Mennonite Central Committee to have a team from El Salvador visit Manitoba.
"God continues to surprise us," said Loewen. "We sit in anticipation of what comes next."

-Evelyn Rempel Petkau

Hamilton, Ont.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, Hamilton Mennonite Church invited Warden Woods, a 50-year-old congregation in Toronto, to a congregational exchange. The similar ages of the churches was only the beginning of our connections.

It was exciting to see our sanctuary fill up with people, some familiar, others unknown. By the end of the worship service and meal, we felt a sense of belonging with each other.

Some of us had friends and family members at Warden Woods. People met who had worked together or gone to school with each other.

Both churches have worked with voluntary service units in outreach endeavours. Some of the young people met friends from Silver Lake Camp. It soon began to feel like an extended family gathering.

Mary Grove gave an overview of Warden Woods, and Albert Willms shared memories of early years in Hamilton. Julie Bender, Hamilton pastor, spoke about how we worked hard to establish our place in the city, but challenged us not to become complacent. There are people around us who are more ready than we think to experience our spiritual love and compassion.

In our adult Sunday School we touched on the fact that our congregations still struggle with identity, our roles in the city, and how we can become more inviting. It was a conversation we would like to continue.

-Betty Willms