VOTE: PPL R DYING 2

I think everyone should get out and vote on May 2nd. So much so that I would like to produce some t-shirts that encourage people to vote.

Here are some initial ideas.  Let me know what you think...

VOTE May 2nd!

Regardless of who you vote for, VOTE on May 2nd.


In 2008, Canada witnessed its lowest voter turnout in the history of federal elections (click on this link to see an overview of Voter Turnout at Federal Elections and Referendums, 1867-2008).  What you will find is that less than 60% of eligible electors voted.

page 7 of this report by elections Canada

Not sure if it was the turkey dinner from the night before weighing us down on the couch, but BOO.  


We can do better than that.




In particular, the under 35 crowd must get our act together.  In 2008, the 25-35 range was under 50%.  And only 37% of youth aged 18-24 voted.


On the other side of the world people our age are using social media to start political revolutions.


Here, we are using social media to...


Sorry I am back.  I was just checking facebook status updates.  My friend just finished eating breakfast: Cheerios this morning.

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.

World Water Day 2011 - March 22

The Fast Flowing Current of Inequity 

“Why is it always First Nations who are made to wait and put at risk?   Why are we not treated equally; the same as everyone in Canada?”  

Deputy Chief, Gerald Mattinas, Attawapiskat First Nation

As one wades into the murkiness of ‘First Nations and Water’ in Canada, it becomes clear very quickly, that there is a problem.  Health Canada reports close to 125 First Nations across our country that continue to live with boil water advisories; toxins ingested daily through water supplies; while other First Nations are living without any sort of water treatment.

Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCCO) continues to paddle upstream with a number of the 28 First Nations in Ontario, one fifth of the communities in Canada, struggling with dirty water.  Much of our work over the past two decades has called MCCO into the middle of crises seeking potable water; Attawapiskat First Nation is a community in trouble, and needs our support.

It was almost a month ago today, that Attawapiskat First Nation, a remote community of over 1,300 members, produced a Press Release warning community members, and others, of the dangerously high levels of Trihalomethane, or THM, detected by Health Canada in their drinking water.  Community members were told that to drink, bathe, shower or even breathe in the steam produced by this water could have dire consequences for the health of all those in community.    

While Bill S-11, ‘An Act Respecting the Safety of Drinking Water on First Nation Lands’, has enjoyed inspiring presentations from more than 20 First Nation leaders and political bodies and water experts, it is now clear that from coast to coast, all have disagreed with Bill S-11.  While the Bill it attempts to establish a national regulatory body around drinking water for First Nations, it fails to stop ‘the dripping tap of complacency’ by not addressing matter of adequate consultation, financial and human resources; infrastructure, and source water protection.  Many are calling for a new process where First Nations are partners in the creation of any such legislation.   

Mennonite Central Committee Ontario continues to listen and advocate with First Nations, hoping the Federal Government will hear the voices of the Aboriginal community, who continue to swim this fast flowing current of inequity.  Recognize World Water Day this year by talking about the inequity of clean water in Canadian First Nations in your community, church family or work place. 

For more info, email Lyndsay: lyndsaymk@mennonitecc.on.ca

"Bill S-11 was developed in isolation.  Let us put it on hold for awhile and review it together to develop something that will work. Then, we can

further the partnership by sitting together to design the regulations."

Grand Chief Stan Louttit, Mushkegowuk Council, Senate Presentation, March 2, 2011

All Creatures Great and Small

The Animal Kingdom amazes me! Last week, I saw an owl for the first time in my life. I was walking through the trees, searching for birds, when all of a sudden, I felt two piercing yellow eyes on me. And looking up, I saw this. This little guy, a Northern Saw-Whet Owl was cozy in the cedars on my Uncle's farm.

It was a humbling experience to see such a small bird, yet with such a strong and quiet power. It almost felt wrong whipping out my camera and invading the Saw-Whet's habitat. His eyes grew wider as I drew closer. That was my cue it was time to leave and let this creature be. But for those few moments of taking in my feathered friend I was up-close and personal with God's awesome animal Kingdom. It also makes me wonder at how long this owl was watching me before I noticed him. And...what other beautiful creatures that we share Creation with do I neglect to notice?

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

- Genesis 1:21

Was Jesus Tough on Crime?

"[Jesus] was clear about what attitude we should have towards prisoners, an attitude that would make us inclined to visit, understand and forgive them...  I hope we as Mennonites will have the courage to support rehabilitative approaches to offenders, approaches that make sense biblically and practically, rather than fear-based, dead-end toughness." 


Read more from Will Braun on the path our government is taking with regards to fighting crime - one that "has been discredited and abandoned by its two main proponents [US and Britain]."


http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/was-jesus-tough-crime


And be sure to learn more about MCC's work for Restorative Justice, which is about Respecting, repairing and restoring relationships that have been damaged through crime.

Strangers

I judged you for watching sweaty men in tights play fight.  Forgetting that plank-eyes often assume much too much, I placed you in a box.  Forgive me.

*****************

We sat on the tarmac waiting.  And restlessness grew for the weary 136 who had to wait.  Waiting is something we hate.  Oft we forget that it is in the waiting times of life (when we are forced to wander from our scheduled existence) that G-d enters in.

[Small talk with Stanger #1.]

“Is this your final destination?”

“Ya, just have to make my way up to Stouffville.”

“North of here, right?”

“Ya, north-east.  The other side of Markham.  You?”

“I live in Mississauga.”

[Enter Stranger #2]

“Sorry to interrupt.  You said you live in Stouffville... about how long does it take to get there from here?”

“About 40 minutes, this time of night.  You heading that way?”

“Maybe.  My sister lives up there and I was thinking of staying the night with her instead of driving all the way home.”

“Well, let me know what you decide.  I’ll chip in for gas or whatever if you will give me a lift.  Otherwise I am paying $80 for a taxi.”

He called his sister and arranged to stay at her place for the night.  I grabbed my bags and heavy winter coat (it was minus 30 in Winnipeg), exited the plane, and walked into the terminal.  Stranger #2 came out a few minutes later carrying his bags and a guitar.  He introduced himself as David.

We waited for his checked bag.  And we waited for the shuttle to the parking lot.  While we waited we talked.

David just moved home a few months ago after a dozen years out west.  His mom died last year so he moved home in December to spend time with his dad.  His dad picked up an infection and died in January.  Now he is early 30-something dealing with death, wills, a house full of stuff to sort through...

We sat in his ‘95 Ford Taurus for the 40 minute ride to Stouffville.  All in all we spent about an hour and a half together.

Isn’t it amazing that we are alive - that there is life?  It’s too bad they don’t teach you about life in school.

We spoke of listening.  Learning to wait.  Meditation.  Living in the present.  Hospitality.  Slowing things down.  Taking life in.

I interrupted a story.  “Can you pull into the gas station so I can fill up the car? I don’t have any cash.”  He drove on past the gas station and continued on about being welcomed once by strangers in a strange land.

A handful of minutes later I was home.  He beat me out the car to hand me my bag from the trunk.  He wouldn’t accept anything.

We are strangers no more.

Summerbridge

Summerbridge is a Canada-wide summer service program of Mennonite Central Committee. The program provides opportunity to bring together people of different cultural backgrounds and equip them to serve in their local church. MCC and local congregations support participants. Affiliation with a Mennonite or Brethren in Christ congregation is required.

Age:  17+

Length:  8 - 16 weeks

Location: your church and community

Application deadline is May 1 each year.

Contact Allan Reesor-McDowell or Cath Woolner if you are interested in the learning more.

*********************

Profile: Rebekah Hudson

Rebekah Hudson, from River of Life MB Church in Riverview, NB, is studying Peace and Conflict Studies at University of Waterloo.  She participated in MCC’s Summerbridge program in 2007.

arm:  How did you get involved with MCC?

Rebekah Hudson: Through volunteering at my church. The Atlantic representatives for MCC at the time, Tom and Judi, told my dad about Summerbridge and he encouraged me to apply. Other than the “To Remember is to Work for Peace” pins, Summerbridge was my first real introduction to MCC’s work around the world.

arm: Why did you participate in the Summerbridge program?

rh:  I wanted to serve my church and Summerbridge was a great way to do that as a full-time summer job.  I did Summerbridge in 2007 and 2008. I worked at my church in two main areas – media/graphic design and children’s ministry. My job was an expanded version of my volunteer work, plus some other responsibilities.  Most days I worked on the website, powerpoint and other media; did any administrative tasks that came up; and organized the weekly children’s programs for the summer when the regular volunteers took a break. This was a challenge because our church is very small - often half the people who attend are kids, and most of the others are parents who also volunteer! My work focused more on kids’ ministry in 2008.

arm: What was the highlight of your experience with Summerbridge?

rh:  The biggest highlight of my Summerbridge experience was our orientation in Winnipeg. All the participants from across Canada came to learn more about Mennonite Central Committee and get to know each other for a few days. We stayed at Canadian Mennonite University, toured the MCC headquarters, volunteered at a food bank depot, went to the North End and experienced the murals and musical culture of the city. This was where I learned about restorative justice, fair trade, conflict resolution strategies and MCC’s relief and development work for the first time. Learning about alternative ways to solve these major problems ignited my passion for peace and justice that led to my choice to pursue a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at Waterloo a few years later. I also met some incredible people during my few days in Winnipeg. Although I haven’t kept in touch with everyone, I still think about and pray for them often.

arm:  How was Summerbridge part of your faith journey?

rh:  Summerbridge was also a major growing time for me spiritually. I still look back at the orientation as a very significant time, but I also learned a lot in my two summers of work. I had a lot of opportunities to learn patience. I also discovered that working to serve others often consists of everyday, monotonous tasks that must be done. Having my dad as my direct supervisor took some getting used to, but we both learned so much about working together in that time. I also learned a lot about how to work with children, plan events and recruit volunteers. These experiences helped me later in jobs at an office and a kids’ drop-in centre. Overall, Summerbridge was a major learning experience for me!

arm:  What are you hoping to do in the future?

rh:  I don’t know yet, but I’d like to experience life in a different country soon. Something that involves working with kids and young people for human rights would be amazing, but right now I’m open to wherever God brings me.  Summerbridge was an amazing experience that helped shape the direction my life is heading now. If you get a chance to participate in this program or any other MCC experience, I definitely recommend it.

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!

Things I know

I read a good article the other day written by Sherri Grosz at Mennonite Foundation called "Things I Know."  She mentions some important life lessons connected to finances:

• Mentors are not just for work
• Build good money habits
• Good enough for now is a smart decision
• Try living below your means
• Give generously of time, talents and money

Do you think about how your financial decisions affect your life?  How does your faith affect your financial decisions?

You can read the full article here. http://www.canadianmennonite.org/articles/things-i-know

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.