MWC 2015 - Day 5

A work in progress!

Sad to say, we had no footprints left to add to the quilt/banner.  As I was packing up a woman came by very disappointed that she and her friend couldn't add a footprint so I wrote down her information and when I got home added two additional footprints as well as three more rows of squares and a black border.  

I am very grateful for having had this opportunity to meet so many women and men from countries around the world - - speaking so many different languages yet all connected to each other by a common confession of faith and focus on discipleship, community, service and peace.  What an amazing and inspiring week it was!

It was a privilege and joy to share with these fellow Anabaptist Christians about Mennonite Women Canada.  My hope is that the completed banner will be a symbol of our walking together with God, overcoming our differences in culture, language,  and styles of worship to bring praise, honour and glory to God in all we do.

 

MWC 2015 - Day 4

Today I ran out of footprints and pins so I couldn't add any more footprints to the quilt.  I will take it home and add some more fabric squares and hopefully fit all of the footprints onto it.  My dream is to take the completed quilt as a banner to the next Mennonite World Conference in 2021 in Indonesia and march in the Parade of Banners at the opening session!  I will also bring it to display at our upcoming MW Canada annual meeting which will be in Saskatoon next summer.  

Surprise!  We even had some men wanting to put up their footprints! The Indian gentleman with my husband Alf is Rev. Christopher Meesaalu, who knew and was mentored by missionary Anne Ediger, who was my husband's grandmother's cousin. He ministers to several remote villages in Telangana State in India. Christopher was deeply moved to find several members of Anne Ediger's extended family at MWC and he expressed his deep appreciation for her influence on his life.  It was a moving experience! 


I had an interesting conversation (partly in English, partly in French) with EKIEN-E-EKIAG BAUDOUIN from the Mennonite Church in Durban who is involved in planting a Mennonite Church in South Africa. He was interested in hearing about how the women are organized in Canada and wants to begin a relationship with MW Canada. It will be interesting to see what develops from our exchange of email addresses!

One more day and then we'll pack up the display!

MWC 2015 - Day 3

Today was a day of reconnecting with some of the Bolivian Mennonite 

friends my husband and I made when we served with MCC in 

Santa Cruz (2002-2005).  

There were lots of embrazos (hugs) all around!

Seeing these women again brought back so many wonderful
memories of our time in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  It was great to
hear their stories and see how they are using their
gifts in the ministry of the church.

Angela Opimi pins her footprint onto the quilt.

Juneth Vargas, with her lovely smile, is the director of the
Guarderia Samuelito, which was MW Canada's
International Ministry Project a few years ago.
She is an amazing young woman!

And the group gets larger with more Bolivian friends
joining me behind the display table.

Tomorrow I think we might run out of footprints and I know I will definitely have to add more squares to the quilt to get all of them on!

MWC 2015 - Day 2

A few more footsteps were added today!

Monica Velasquez from Colombia

Jyoti Dey from India

Gabby from Langham SK, Meghan and Dayna from Calgary, AB

It looks like I will have to make the quilt a bit larger to fit in all of the footsteps. Luckily I have more fabric at  home so I can easily add to it. We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

This is what greeted us as we went outside after the evening worship service.  God's creativity is amazing! 

MWC 2015 - Day 1

Below are some photos of those who stopped by to add their footsteps to the quilt.  It has been wonderful to connect with so many women from so many different countries.  We are all on the same path, walking together with God!

Adding a footstep with Antje van Djik of the Netherlands.  She
coordinates the Landelijke Federatie van Doopsgezinde
Zusterkringen (L.F.D.Z) Anabaptist Sister Groups which
began in 1952, the same year as Mennonite Women Canada. 

Three women from the Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church
add their footsteps to the quilt.

With J.V. Vidya Ranjani from South India who helped in hosting
MWC 1997 in Calcutta.  She is a pastor's wife and works with
groups of women leading weekly Bible studies and
offering counselling services.

Mennonite World Conference

My bags are packed; I'm ready to go.....

Mennonite World Conference 2015 is taking place in Harrisburg, PA this coming week! MW Canada will have a display table in the Welcome Area of the Farm Show Complex. I'm excited to be going and am looking forward to connecting with Mennonite Women from around the world. Some of you might remember the 'Card Project' that we had in 2009 at the last MWC in Asuncion, Paraguay. That photo album will be on display so come and have a look at it.  

This year we are having a 'Quilt Project'.  Come and check it out and add your footprint!  Look for the sign below. 

I hope to post some photos in the days to come!