MCBC Women's Ministry Inspirational Day - May 2, 2019

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Women Walking in Faith - February 2019 - Conversation Circles

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Kathy Giesbrecht, Mennonite Church Manitoba staff person on Mennonite Women Manitoba wrote an article in the February 18, 2019 Canadian Mennonite.  She shares: 

"Last fall, ignited by curiosity about what we would hear if we invited women to share their experiences of life within Mennonite Church Manitoba congregations, Mennonite Women Manitoba decided to host two Conversation Circles, one in Winnipeg and the other in southern Manitoba."   . . . . . "Overall, these Conversation Circles turned out to be powerful experiences of intergenerational storytelling and cross-congregational connecting, offering many words of encouragement and hope."

Read the whole article HERE.

Larissa Pahl, associate pastor of Morden Mennonite Church, left, and Elsie Wiebe were active participants in the Conversation Circles last fall.

MW Manitoba Spring Event

A Day for Women hosted by Mennonite Women Manitoba  

For more information please visit our Event page at 

www.mennochurch.mb.ca

Gramma Stories ~ Along the Road to Freedom

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How exciting to have an art exhibit come to town featuring Mennonite women from Russia who made their way to Canada under impossible circumstances! The exhibit is at the Ambrose University in Calgary and will be there for another few weeks. There was a reception at the opening of the exhibit in early March and the artist Ray Dirks was present to give background for his reasons for creating the paintings. This reception also included a choir and a story from Hugo Neufeld who had a direct connection to one of the paintings. (see below)

Two weeks later a group of 21 women came from various Mennonite churches in the Calgary area to view the exhibit. The event was billed as "Gramma Stories". There were presentations from four women. Jeanette Thiessen told the story of Grandma Baerg who endured many hardships. When they arrived in Quebec after an uncomfortable trip they were surprised by offerings of sandwiches, cake, and the Gospel of John!

Rose Klassen passed on the story of her Grandma Retzlaff who lost many members of her immediate family, including two infant daughters, during her escape from the Red Army. Two Chin ladies Tial Mawi and Hnin Tida, dressed in their cultural outfits told us about their modern day trek from the jungles of Burma to Calgary. They repeatedly said how their faith and determination got them to the beautiful country of Canada. The Chin congregation joined Mennonite Church Alberta in 2013.

There were other spontaneous stories that included a beautiful pill box and a hand sized manicure set that served the entire Mennonite community in a Siberian camp. Alice Unrau shared her experiences of her involvement in the Mennonite Historical Society. She urged us to get involved and attend a conference being in Edmonton this November.

The afternoon also included an urban “faspa” that lacked zwiebach or kringle but the tasty lunch was enjoyed by all!

~ Kate Janzen

(Kate is a member of Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary, and is the Mennonite Women Alberta Rep on the Mennonite Women Canada executive.)

Link to Tanzania Tour Webinar

On Tuesday, February 20, tour leader Shirley Redekop and Sandra Reimer from Tourmagination presented a webinar about the upcoming Women's Tour to Tanzania.  The webinar is about half and hour long and features an interview with Esther Muhagachi.  You can follow the Link to the Webinar and read Esther's introduction below. The webinar included a Q&A session.  You'll find more contact information and more details if you follow the link.

My name is Esther Muhagachi I grew up in West Part of Tanzania I am married to Bishop Amos Muhagachi  and we are blessed with four children: Violet (24), Victor (22), Grace (20)and  Peace (15) I am a Nurse by profession and I have been working for 10 years as Director of Grace and Healing Ministry Dodoma (GHMD) under Tanzania Mennonite Church.  In this role, I have been supervising the Health team that deals with people living with HIV/AIDS and the most vulnerable children in the community. I was also providing counseling and guidance to people living with HIV/AIDS, encouraging drug adherence, prevention of infections, and facilitate the trauma healing and mentorship program within the diocese. I am also in charge of the Stand with Students program for the most vulnerable children registered in the program of the Church.

Currently I am working towards a Masters of Art in Christian Formation (MACF) at AMBS I am staying on campus with my husband and our youngest child, Peace, who is studying at Bethany Christian School. Joining the seminary is a blessing to my life and I can say it is a dream coming true. It was my inner call to serve God in church ministry, but some obstacles and discouragements delayed me. I believe this is the right time that God wants to use me.  

I am so delighted to get connected with the Tourmagination and I am looking forward to share more of my experience with you and get to know you better.

~ Esther Muhagachi 

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Tanzania Caring, Sharing & Safari Tour to Tanzania ~ Aug 4 - 13, 2018

Letter to the Women in our Churches

The following letter was prepared by Shirley Redekop, President of Mennonite Women Canada  and Elsie Rempel, Secretary/Treasurer.

To the women in our churches who gather for fellowship, service and mission,

Blessings for the fall season with its energy and new beginnings, even while our gardens yield their harvest and settle into a season of rest. We hope you have received and are enjoying this year's Bible Study Guide, Live Your Call, Embracing God's Mission. My husband, Peter, a seasoned church leader, is enjoying it for his devotional reading and recently asked me, "Are the other BSGs this good too?" If you haven't received the copy we sent to your church, please check with the BSG contact person or the person who distributes the mail. In my church, I added it to the library after introducing it in sharing time. We hope it brings blessing however it is used. 

The executive of Mennonite Women Canada is looking forward to an additional executive meeting right after the concluding worship of the Special Delegate Assembly of Mennonite Church Canada this October 15. Please pray for us! We will be bringing a resolution to remain under the organizational umbrella of Mennonite Church Canada at the Assembly and will then meet afterwards to see how our planning needs to adjust to changes the nation wide church has decided on. Therefore, you will not be receiving the customary fall issue of our Connections newsletter before then, but will receive a report from us after that.

In the meantime, it has come to my attention that some of the women's groups in our congregations may not have received our 2016 Annual Report Book, Continuing the Call with its Opportunities for Giving Form on page 20. That was certainly not our intent! While there are many structural changes occurring in our nation wide church, ministry needs and many opportunities continue, and the donations of your women's group remain most desired and appreciated. 

As always, we look forward to hearing about what is happening in your area. Mennonite Women Manitoba's Spring Retreat report and the BC Women's Ministry Inspirational Day report are now posted on our blog mennowomencanada.blogspot.com. We hope you will soon see more reports there from across the country.

Elsie Rempel

MWCanada Secretary/Treasurer

Shirley Redekop

MWCanada President

Note:  MW Canada's 2016 Annual Report Book is available on line.  Click here.

Mennonite Women Tour to Tanzania in 2018

Join Mennonite women from across Canada for a 9-day intergenerational women’s tour in Tanzania in 2018.

• Visit with Christians who are helping Tanzanian children at a school supported by a monastery and a unique community library started by a Canadian Mennonite.
• Learn about the Maasai way of life in a traditional village.
• Buy unique crafts at a local market and a social enterprise for people with disabilities.
• Interact with local Mennonite congregations and/or women’s groups.
• See elephants, lions, giraffes, monkeys, zebras and other wildlife plus a large assortment of colourful birds on two safaris. 

Tour includes opportunities to share your skills and stories with local women through “wisdom  exchanges”. You can also participate in a fundraising project that will benefit Tanzanian women. During the tour, deepen relationships with fellow travellers and foster connections with Tanzanians. Grow in your faith in Christ as you pray, worship, and reflect. Tour leader, Shirley Redekop, is the President of Mennonite Women Canada.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE