The Prodigal Trilogy

http://www.jasonhildebrand.com/prodigal_trailer.htm

You are Invited: Thrift Fashion Show!

When?
Monday, April 4th, 7pm.

Where? 
Bingeman's Park, Marshall Hall

Why is this awesome? - All proceeds go to MCC's Circle of Friends program, to help end the cycle of homelessness.  Also, you get to see your friends from Thrift and MCC strut their stuff on stage.  This will be very embarrassing for most (at least for me!), therefore, fun for you.

What else is awesome? - Everything is on sale!  You can literally buy the clothes off our backs.

How are tickets? - $20!  Consider it a donation and you won't think twice!

Also, this shirt will be on sale:




Hope to see you all there - we want to pack this place out.  Bring your friends, family, neighbours etc... it's for all ages!

It could never happen at home: Reflections on Japan.

Humanitarian aid. Relief agencies. State of emergency.  These are not things I have ever associated with modern Japan as I know it.
To be brutally honest, there's a part of me that believed that humanitarian disasters only happen in so-called 'developing countries' or places of tumult and war; places where non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have set up shop: World Vision, Oxfam... and MCC.   But a humanitarian disaster could never happen at home.  And for me, Japan is my second home - where my parents grew up, where my wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents still live, where I worked and played for three years after university.  Japan is a stable, prosperous, modern society; moreover, one that has invested more than most nations into preparing for just such disasters.

In my mind, Japan was off-limits to humanitarian crises.

And then I woke up on the morning of Friday March 11 to see on the news what we all saw.

Quietly Generous

It wasn’t until after my grandfather died that the family learned all the ways he’d helped folks. Grandpa was pretty easy going and quiet, a very gentle and fun presence in my life. During WWII he was farming full-time and hired a few of the local men that didn’t want to leave their young families, paying them with meat, milk and eggs. The farm wasn’t big enough to need any hired hands, let alone 2 or 3, but he understood wanting to avoid the war and stay home with your family.

He would occasionally stop by a family that was living hand-to-mouth a couple roads over - a single mom with a bunch of little kids to feed and clothe - and convince them to take a box of meat saying it was too much for his freezer and would just go bad. They’d be helping him out if they could use it. (One of the children remembered thinking my grandpa wasn’t very smart since he seemed to have the same problem with extra meat over and over!)

Still others had stories of loans with no interest and no repayment schedule or pressure. Questions were about how their venture was going and how the family was doing rather than when the loan would be repaid. He had a genuine interest in helping enable people look after their families.

Grandpa never talked to any of his children or grandchildren about how or why he did these things. He was a young adult when the great depression happened and he understood making do and doing without.

We weren’t surprised by what he’d done but we were surprised by the volume of stories and people whose lives had been changed by his generosity. His trust and faith in people and his interest in quietly helping improve lives is a story that lives on in our family. Thanks for your example Grandpa!

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.

Upcoming Internships with MCC!

Just wanted to let you all know about the amazing internship opportunities available with MCC this summer.

Some 2010 MCC Ontario interns

The following are with MCC Ontario.  Applications due February 25th:

Enlace Leader

TOOLS Program Assistant

Refugee Engagement Strategist

Ottawa Office - (pplications due March 1st

MCC United Nations Office - Applications due April 15th

Let me know of you have any questions: allanrm@mennonitecc.on.ca