Second Week of Orientation is Over

Today ends the second week of our orientation at Mennonite Central Committee. We are tired. At least our minds are. This was programs week. There were a lot of sessions helping us to understand how to do MCC programming, from financial, planning, to PME&R seminars, how to conduct a focus group or participatory study and how to be aware of issues of gender (looking at how our work affects men, women, boys and girls differently), and how we build peace-building into our project designs and work. This is much needed input, but it is hard to wade through. Thus we are relaxing on the weekend.


Yesterday was filled with goodbyes at the end of the day. Several of our cohort are leaving to their placements including one of the families whose children were a part of our kids lives this week. I have been proud of our kids, how they have jumped right in and how they also take the departures with ease. The family is moving to Bolivia which we will be visiting next spring. Nadia has it as her goal to visit the Andes and specifically Inca ruins. The family said that they know of some places we could visit. This gives our kids some hope for future fun. I look forward to that.


We had a special time last night. We all helped those who were leaving to carry there suitcases up to the vans. They were leaving early in the morning. We spent several hours sitting around talking and telling stories, several persons from India, Ukraine, Canada, Paraguay, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe and others. As each one of us talked we shifted between north American ways of talking and expressing ourselves mixed with that of Africa, India, Ukraine and the other places that have shaped us. We laughed as we talked about our cross-cultural encounters, how we have changed and how we have learned so much. After carrying the suitcases our brother from Zambia, who is a pastor, asked us to hold hands under the starry sky and to say a blessing for those going. I felt transported back to Mozambique where those of higher status were called on to say some words. He called on the Zimbabwean couple who will be Area Directors in southern Africa and then on Jenny and I who will also be in leadership. We gave blessing. He then prayed. It was one of those moments where I felt the holy spirit and the bond of those following Christ together from all over the globe. It was a moment when the New Jerusalem, in Revelation became a reality in that moment, a real taste of what is to come when Jesus returns, an echo of Pentecost. I wanted to stay in that moment forever. I am sure I was not the only one. It reminded me of the painting I had drawn when I was a young boy of 8-9 years old, of Jesus standing with his hands open, with heaven behind him and buildings and persons representing all the peoples of the world together in Christ. Last night, in that moment, it had become a reality……. Jesus, lead on.