A Samurai, a Monk, and Peace.

THE GATES OF PARADISE
A soldier named Nobushige came to the Zen master Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?"
"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.
"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.
"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."
Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: "So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head."
As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"
At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.
"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.

"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill" - Jesus Christ, in Matthew 5: 21-22, The Message.

Rage is not good.  Whether you're a samurai about to chop someone's head off or a driver yelling at the guy who just cut you off in rush-hour, anger is not cool.  I like to think of myself as an even-tempered, slow-to-anger kind of guy but there are times when anger gets the better of me.  It should slip off like water off a duck's back... but sometimes it's like grease on a white shirt: it sticks, and it's ugly.

I always feel embarrassed afterward, like a petulant child that didn't get his way. Because I am surrounded by gracious people, I am forgiven and humbled. 

I pray that God continues to work at me, an imperfect person, so that I can speak Peace instead of War.

...and that God also endows those around me, especially my fiancee (ha!), with supernatural patience.  

Go Big... or Go Small (or anywhere in between, really).

If you haven't already heard...

MCC Ontario has entered the Watt's Next video contest to win a 10kW solar panel (valued at $70,000!) and all we have to do to win... is WATCH IT.  Easy.  

Most views = WIN.

We have until September 24 to rack up as many views as we can so please:
1) Watch this video a couple times a day every day until Sept 24th. When you get sick of my voice, please utilize the mute button (I love that mute button).
 2) Share this video on your facebook pages, blogs, and email lists to any and all ... and encourage them to do step 1)

 MCCO is committed to caring for our creation and winning this solar panel would really help put a boost to our eco-initiatives ... already we're doing a lot of small things:
- biking to work
- installing programmable thermostats
- utilizing the green bins (one of the very few companies in Waterloo Region to have one!)

It has never been easier to REALLY help out MCC... no work, no donations, no volunteer hours... all it takes is a bunch of clicking and sharing.

Thank you all!

Making Homelessness & Poverty Real To Youth

Check out this video about MCC Ontario's TOOLS program that was produced for 100 Huntley Street by Bridget Antwi.

Rock, Paper, Awesome event!

On Saturday, Feb. 5, I was treated to one of those wonderful experiences that anyone who has ever planned an event prays for: exceeded expectations.  The event in question was a gathering of young people from four Kitchener-Waterloo area churches: First Hmong Mennonite Church, Chin Christian Church, First Mennonite Church, and Grace Lao Mennonite Church.

Q: What do these churches have in common?

A: They all have teens and young adults that inspire me and make my job so enjoyable.
Also: They are all part of congregations whose members came as new Canadians, either as immigrants or refugees within the last 30 years or so.
 ----------------------

So, back to the exceeded expectations.  First of all, we had close to 60 participants - our initial optimistic estimates were 50? MAX?  And the energy they brought with them!  Well.

Exhibit A) A group of youth walk in the doors of Grebel, all rockin' the youthful daring fashion that I am too old for.  I welcome them:

"Hi guys, welcome!  Where are you from?" I meant what church are you coming from.

Lead guy with spiky hair: [with broad smile] "We're from Burma!  Where's the bathroom?"

And it only got better from there. 

Enter Felipe Gonzalia, former-fellow-intern at MCCO this summer and youth leader at First Mennonite.  Check out this video for a glimpse of the joyful madness that ensued when Felipe started working the crowd with an epic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.  See if you can spot our Executive Director Rick Cober-Bauman in the mix.  Not since attending the Summit in which MCC's governance structure was discussed did Rick find such energy.



The rest of the afternoon and evening featured can best be captured in photos:

Packing Health Kits and knotting quilts for MCC's relief aid shipments.  Big thank-you to Material Resources coordinator Wendy Cotter for taking the time to show us how it's done.

 Fellas with cool hats learning how addictive knotting can be.

 Thla and crew from Chin Christian Church pack health kits.

Rick Cober Bauman getting in on the knotting.

 Went outside to load our boxes and lo! It had snowed a foot since we started.

 "You may think this string is ugly but to me, it was the string that held my life."

Lee Vang from First Hmong Mennonite Church holding the bag that contained a school kit ... that she received in a refugee camp 31 years ago in Thailand. More on this moving and remarkable story here.

The wonderful energy carried through with a tour of Grebel and ended with a delicious dinner prepared by the famous Grebel kitchen staff.  There are no photos of this because I was busy eating, thank you.  

I will end this post with the words of a participant who posted on the wall of the facebook event afterwards and really sums up well the energy and general feelings of the day:

Soooo amazing!!!!! Looooved it!!!!!
Can't wait for next time! Hope to see everyone there!
Really fun! People who didn't come you missed out yo!!!! Come out next time!!!!

[Ken Ogasawara works with MCC Ontario as the social media guy and the connecting with immigrant/first-generation churches guy.]

Cass Bangay on Enlace

Hi my name’s Cass.  I’m from Stouffville and I’ve been going to Community Mennonite Church when I can for the past 2 or 3 of years now. I’m currently a second year Peace and Conflict Studies student at the University of Waterloo.

A couple of years ago I got connected to MCC's Enlace program through a childhood friend.  I didn’t know anyone else going on the trip, but I had always wanted to pursue a career in international development and learn more about Latin America, so I thought this would be an amazing opportunity to do so.  Getting on that plane I had no idea what to expect, but I definitely came back seeing the world through new eyes. I made amazing friends who I’ve stayed in touch with, and had experiences I’ll never forget.

What I learned from my experience in Guatemala and El Salvador (and recently in New York at the MCC United Nations office seminar) was the incredible role that the Church plays in International development. In Guatemala the grass-roots sustainable income generating programs like fish farms and greenhouses in the rural villages seemed like they reflected the communities needs.  The MCC workers treated their work as if it was so much more than a simple job. They became members of the communities that they lived  in, and everyone seemed to truly respect the work that they were doing. Seeing that community approach to development work first hand, has helped me to shape my own understanding of peacemaking. It gave me a model to strive towards.

After experiencing these community relationships both with my team and those I met in Guatemala, I couldn't go back to living the same way I had. I started going to church to develop my faith and keep that global consciousness and those relationships alive. The church community is an inspiration to me because I really enjoy being around people who are genuinely interested in working to change the world.

[For more information about Enlace, a service and learning program for 16-19 years olds visit here.]

Street Walk in Toronto

Lazarus Rising is an initiative of Toronto area Mennonites and Brethren in Christ responding to homelessness and marginalization in Toronto. It partners with Sanctuary, a downtown Toronto community and church that works at building community among the marginalised and the mainstream.

By walking with the poor on Toronto's streets, Lazarus Rising encounters the Jesus of "the least of these" and puts legs on Menno Simons conviction that "true evangelical faith … clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, comforts the sorrowful, shelters the destitute."

Street pastor Doug Johnson Hatlem leads a walk the third Friday of every month (evening).  If you are interested in joining him or learning more please be in touch with Doug at lazarusrising@mennonitecc.on.ca.

Enlace 2011: Guatemala and El Salvador

service | learning | fun :: faith | leadership | global awareness

a one-month service and learning program for 16-19 year olds.

Enlace's Goals

• encourage faith formation
• engage in cross-cultural learning
• foster global awareness and an ethic of service
• develop transformative relationships & leadership skills

For more info click here.

Applications are available here!

Summer Internship in New York City

Do you have web design skills?


The MCC United Nations Liaison Office is offering one unpaid internship this summer for interested and qualified college and university students with a background in Peace Studies, International Studies, Political Science, International Development, Communications or other related fields along with interest and capability of web page development for the office.


Applicants must be available to work for a minimum of 4 weeks, maintaining an average of 40 work hours per week between July 12 and August 17, 2011.  Lodging at Menno House in Manhattan can be provided, but interns are required all other expenses including food and transportation.  


This year the intern will primarily be working to develop the MCC UN Office webpage, but there will also be time for the intern to study and research issues pertaining to his or her personal academic interests.  The intern may also assist the Director and Program Associate of the Mennonite Central Committee United Nations Liaison Office in coordinating MCC’s advocacy at the UN by researching topics of relevance to the office’s work.

The intern should be independent, motivated, flexible, and possess excellent computer web page design interest and competency.

Interested applicants should complete this form and return it via e-mail to the MCC UN Liaison Office (unoffice2@mcc.org).  The deadline for applications is Friday, April 15, 2011. Interviews will be conducted with a limited number of candidates by phone during the two weeks following the application deadline.  The successful applicant will be notified of his or her acceptance by Friday, April 29, 2011. 

Is it time to choose your own adventure?

Click here to read the e-zine

O Canada: armed and ready

Canadians do not usually think about Canada as being a militarized country. We are used to the jokes about our outdated military equipment and our lack of firepower. We are accustomed to hearing that our military spending is pathetic and our contribution to global security laughable. But let’s take a closer look. The reality is quite different.

Canada's military spending is significant, it is a leading exporter of military equipment, and it has been involved in war-fighting in Afghanistan for close to a decade. 

Visit the O Canada: armed and ready website and consider what this means.

http://canada.mcc.org/peace/projects/canadaarmed

No Stuff Christmas

Christmas is about giving.

Actually, no, it’s about buying.  No, it’s about spending time with family.

It’s really about celebrating the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel – God with us.  (I can’t really say no to that… but that doesn’t cover it either).

The fact is the Christmas season has become a real mishmash of religion, culture, traditions, family, time off, angry-shopping, over-eating, gatherings, singing.  And the experience of Christmas is quite different from one person to the next.

But for many people it is associated with buying stuff. 

But not for me this year.  To celebrate the fact that Canada’s household consumer debt is the highest it has ever been, I am going to implement my first ever Buy Nothing Christmas.

Don’t worry.  I am not a downer Scrooge.  People will still get gifts.  But this year I am not buying stuff.  Here are some ideas I came up with this morning.  

Both my Reesor and McDowell families have a food-based gift exchange.  I don’t know what you call the game that we play but it involves stealing gifts from each other for about 2 hours until it miraculously ends with a selfless aunt choosing the unknown last gift from the middle (my friend Heather just told me the game is called “white elephant”...is that true?).  Instead of buying a box of chocolates, I am going to give the gift of a homemade dinner at my place.  I have been on a curry kick lately (I think the recipe is on page 171 of the More-with-Less cookbook) so it will likely be that.

For my mom, dad, brother, and Somphou (the IVEPer who lives with my folks), I am going to pay for a family night out to celebrate that we still love each other (and to thank Somphou for putting up with us…).  Dinner, a movie, a concert?  Whatever it is, it is going to be about people, not stuff.

Ok, so maybe it doesn't fit the official Buy Nothing Christmas criteria.  But you get the point.  This Christmas I am focusing on people, not things.  Let's call it a "No Stuff Christmas" (sorry, I haven't had the time to make a really cool No Stuff Christmas website yet).

Whatever you do, my suggestion is this - be creative.  And always remember to give to people who can’t give anything back.  "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."  Always remember that what you have is not yours - it is Gods.  We are stewards of what we have been given.  So give off the top, not with what is left over.

If you need some ideas on how to share what you have, consider some of these options:

1. Donate through MCC’s Christmas Giving Catalogue, or
2. Mobile Give $10 to MCC with your cell.  $10 allows MCC to buy school books and a uniform for young students around the world: 
1. Send a text to "45678" with "MCC" in the comments section where they would normally type their text message
2. You will immediately get a return text message confirming that you are about to make a donation to MCC
3. Reply with "Yes"
4. text someone else and tell them to do the same.

Merry Christmas!

Placelessness

Placelessness.  He wrote it on his arm sometime during the night when I was asleep beside him. Jet fuel and metal carried us across the lines on the map carving into the land below. We let our words speak their truth and for a few hours put ourselves aside. He was a stranger lost beside me, and although it was foreign to him, he was trying to grasp my faith. I don't know where it's taken him. 


I was that little girl, the one always cast as the angel or Mary. I’d play the part but secretly I longed to climb up onto a camel and ride away with the wisemen. Wonderlust. Now that I’ve grown its taken me to the far corners of the world. Occasionally into places of power and influences, like the castles of the kings, but more often- and in moments far more sought after -into the homes of the poor and into communities torn by violence. 

I now understand how hard it is to travel: When you go, you don’t always come back. You and the places you leave change and sometimes you can’t reconnect. Placelessness. Be in this world but not of it. I’ve come to embrace the disconnect. I can’t be the same as who I was before… and neither could the wisemen. For me, nothing captures the truth of the Christmas story like  T.S. Eliot’s Journey of the Magi.  

By Kathryn Deckert

More with Less

Imagine if we lived the way our grandparents' did...if we just bought the basics and made things from scratch? More health... less preservatives. More product... less packaging. More self-sustaining... less dependent consumption. More ... with Less.

Recently, my mum and I made a double batch of homemade Corn Chips for the first time (see pg 310 of the "More-with-Less" cookbook).  They are made of good, whole foods, much more cost effective than buying said snacks, easy to make, and a rewarding activity on a snowy afternoon.  More with less.

The More-with-Less cookbook, commissioned by MCC and originally published in1976, is comprised of delicious and nutritious recipes and has morsels of sustainable food wisdom scattered throughout. It has sold over 850,000 copies.  The compiler of the cookbook, Doris Janzen Longacre, also authored a book entitled "Living More with Less" which has been found on many a bookshelf from our parents and grandparents generations.  Check out the recent 30th anniversary edition.  

Imagine if we lived more with less...

A Documentary About Love

Love is an accessible concept - it needs no introduction.  However, that doesn’t mean that all people experience or understand it in the same way. Our individual stories and emotions colour our conceptions, for better or worse.

But what does love mean to you?

I've been working alongside Director Paul Plett and Audio Technician Dave McDowell of Ode Productions asking this very question. Our inquiry has taken the form of a film entitled "A Documentary About Love," which asks four main questions:

1) Can you define love in one sentence?
2) What experiences have led you to this definition?
3) Has your own definition ever changed?
4) In your opinion has the concept of "love" ever changed throughout history?

Serving and Learning Together

Are you interested in living in another country?  Maybe learning another language?  Volunteering, eating new foods, meeting new people, having your mind and world blown wide open?  Do you want an education that you will never get in the classroom? A chance to grow spiritually that you won't get in a regular Sunday morning service? Interested?

I was too...  So in 2002 I moved to Haiti as part of the SALT program.

Current MCC Ontario staffperson, Ken Ogasawara, as a
SALTer in Uganda 2001-02.

SALT is a one-year program for 18 to 27 year-olds that will take you almost anywhere in the world.  Depending on where you go, you might be blazing a new trail by yourself or working and living near fellow SALTers.  What kind of assignments do you get? How about environmental program coordinator in Tanzania? Or science and math teacher in India? Or radio/recording technician in Burundi? The list goes on.  

I worked with a human rights organization in Port-au-Prince; learned Haititan Creole, lived with a family, traveled the country, and learned a whole lot about myself.  It was a hard year but a good year. And I recommend the program to young adults who want to grow.

Give what you have

Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; 

the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.

               Proverbs 21:26 (The Message)

Stuff

Think of all the things you have spent money on in the last year.  Now place each of those things in one of two categories: "needs" and "wants".

My guess is that many of us end up with the "wants" category quite full.

Most of human existence has been focused on survival - filling our most basic "needs" in order to stay alive.  But many of us and our babyboomer parents haven't had to think about survival at all.  We have more than we need and our focus instead is on getting as many of our (often material) "wants" fulfilled.  What a drastic difference as compared to the rest of human history!

One of the by-products of this shift from a need-focused to a want-focused culture is a lot of stuff.  This video offers an interesting reflection and analysis of stuff.

News from Mennonite World Conference

Misrak Meserete Kristos Church in Addis Ababa.

Mennonite World Conference (MWC) is "a community of Anabaptist-related churches rooted in the 16th-century Radical Reformation in Europe.... Today, more than 1,600,000 believers belong to this faith family; more than 60 percent are African, Asian, or Latin American."

MWC links together this Anabaptist community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness.  One way MWC connects the church is organizing an assembly that brings this global fellowship together for about 1 week every 6 years.

I can remember travelling to Manitoba with my family when I was 8 years old to gather with other Anabaptists when Canada last hosted the event, Winnipeg 1990.  I have fond memories of that week.  Though I couldn’t speak a word of Spanish nor he more than 3 words in English, I spent the week with a Puerto Rican kid named Luis.  Our friendship brought our parents together, which led to my family living in Aibonito, Puerto Rico less than two years later (my mom taught English at a school called Betania Mennonita for a semester).

That experience – or perhaps that friendship – planted in me a seed of curiosity in connecting with people that are “different” than me; a seed which can only be fed by learning with people who can show me different ways of living, and different ways of living out the gospel.  This journey (which I recognize I have just begun) has really enriched my understanding of what it means to part of the body of Christ, with all our diversity in worldview, ideas, challenges, gifts, and abilities.

A little with righteousness...

"Better a little with righteousness 

than much gain with injustice."

Proverbs 16:8

Work for MCC Ontario

Would you like to work for MCC Ontario?

Then consider applying to fill a one year mat leave as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director.  (Click here for the job description).

If you have any questions, please be in touch with the wonderful Cath Woolner at cathw@mennonitecc.on.ca.

If you would like to apply, please send cover letter and resume to Cath by December 3, 2010. (Start date is February, 2011).

If you want to have a more informal conversation about what it is like working for MCC Ontario (or if you want some dirt on the ED to help you prepare for the interview) feel free to be in touch with me (Allan) at allanrm@mennonitecc.on.ca.