Women Walking in Faith - October 2018 - Gathering and sharing seeds of faith

President Shirley Redekop wrote about gathering and sharing seeds of faith in her article that appeared in the Canadian Mennonite in October.

Some years ago, a seed was planted in my heart to take a group of intergenerational North American Mennonite women to share faith and life stories with other Mennonite women in an international setting.

This summer, after much planning with TourMagination and excellent guidance from our Tanzanian connector and translator, Esther Muhagachi (presently studying at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary), that seed sprouted when 16 Mennonite women from across Canada and the United States joined me as their tour leader on a caring, sharing safari.

.... for me, the highlight was that the “seeds of faith” we carried with us, and those we gathered from our Tanzanian Mennonite sisters on this trip, bloomed during our time together. And I pray that they will continue to spread and multiply as we seek to bring reconciliation, healing and hope to each other and the world.

You can read the complete article and see more photos at    https://www.canadianmennonite.org/stories/gathering-and-sharing-seeds-faith

Shirley Redekop is pictured with a Maasi student from Monduli Village. 
(Photo courtesy of Shirley Redekop)

An Arusha Mennonite Church women sews crafts to sell in aid of
congregational projects.  (Photo courtesy of Shirley Redekop)

Women Walking in Faith - August 2018 - A perfect spot for gratitude

Kate Janzen, Mennonite Women Alberta's rep on our executive shared her reflections on gratitude.  She wrote:

Growing up, I never wanted to be a farmer. It seemed like farm machinery always had precedence over a new couch, curtains or nice shoes. Then I met my husband Bob at Rosthern Mennonite Collegiate in Saskatchewan, and he wanted to be a veterinarian. Naively, I never thought this would involve farming, so I taught elementary school while he studied.  

Later, we had three children and moved to a farm west of Calgary, where I’ve seen glimpses of God’s kingdom as I embraced the farming lifestyle.

To read more please go to     https://www.canadianmennonite.org/stories/perfect-spot-gratitudeon-farm

Bob Janzen built a ‘gratitude bench’ on one of the hills of the family farm and wove
the word eucharisteo (gratitude) onto the fence. (Photo by Kate Janzen)

Women Walking in Faith - June 2018 - Carrying seeds from Colombia to Palestine

Hannah Redekop, daughter of our President Shirley Redekop, shared in her article "Carrying seeds from Colombia to Palestine" as follows: 

Five years ago I set out on a journey with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), providing international accompaniment to human rights defenders in Colombia.  Now, as I transition into new experiences with CPT in Palestine, I will take with me the following lessons I have learned from brave Colombian peacemakers:

Keep sowing seeds of hope. As I left my friend Rubiela’s house on my last visit, she pointed to a large bush that had gone to seed on her front lawn. “Take seeds and plant them, so that you’ll never forget about us,” she said.

To read more of this article please go to  https://www.canadianmennonite.org/carrying-seeds

Women Walking Together in Faith - April 2018 - Tending and befriending

After a busy summer and fall, I am trying to catch up with posting several articles that appeared in the Canadian Mennonite.  My apologies for not having kept up-to-date!     ~ Liz Koop

Below are excerpts from Elsie Rempel's article which appeared in the Canadian Mennonite issue dated April 9, 2018.  The complete article can be found at 

https://www.canadianmennonite.org/stories/tending-and-befriending.

Elsie is Mennonite Women Manitoba's Interim Chair and the MW Canada Secretary.

From time immemorial—as the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi illustrates—developing friendships and tending relationships have often been a woman’s “go-to, our have-to, our live for,” especially during times of stress. In the current season of stressful change within Mennonite Church Canada, tending relationships may be especially important to the health of the church. Drawing on women’s gifts for making connections can help us thrive rather than divide or shrivel.

. . . . . . 

As our regional churches take on increased responsibility and ownership of church life, we have new opportunities to use, recognize, celebrate and reap the benefits of this newly named gift.

Mennonite Women Canada and its regional groups want this “tending and befriending” to happen, and we do this by having day-or weekend-long inspirational retreats. For example, MW Manitoba’s annual spring retreat takes place on April 28, 2018, at Charleswood Mennonite Church in Winnipeg, with guest speaker Moira Somers addressing the theme of “Resilience.”    Tend and befriend!

Members of the Mennonite Women Manitoba working group, from left to right: 
Laura Funk, Elsie Rempel, Larissa Pahl, Elsie Wiebe, and Kathy Giesbrecht. 
(Photo courtesy of Elsie Rempel)

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