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.
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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. 

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

Global Rich List

You may, in fact, be richer than you think.  I, for instance, am richer than 97% of the world.  How rich are you?

Thrift Commercial