PAGES Summer 2006
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Editorial, Summer 2006 issue of PAGES:
"Looking Around Me"
Six-year-old Greta to her mother at bedtime, "Here is the question: why did you want
to do SST? Because I'm really tired of people calling me muņeca (doll)!"
It is usually intended as an endearment, little granddaughter! For the past four
months our daughter and husband have been living in Peru as co-leaders for a hardy
group of 23 college students in the SST program of Goshen College. Along for the
ride, of course, are Greta and Naomi (3) - and their blonde heads do stand out there
in Peru. While both have taken a lot in stride, Greta has lately been "thinking" at
night of her friends in Goshen.
Sam and I considered a daughter living in Peru a don't-miss opportunity, so we flew
down for ten days at the end of June - actually "winter" there just now. We took in
the routines of living in Lima - traveled by taxi, visited plazas, cathedrals, craft
markets, noted contrasts between rich and poor, and savored the history, the mountains,
the tropical bloom. We added some touristy ventures of our own, zigzagging
around breathtaking, jagged mountain curves and taking in the Incan ruins of mysterious
and wondrous Machu Picchu. We puffed more than usual while exploring the
ancient city of Cuzco at 11,000 feet.
I am including Greta's little moment of cultural dissonance because it reminds me of
my own discomforts as I face new experiences, especially with those of different
beliefs and cultures. The rewards come, but it takes energy and humility and plenty
of God's grace.
This past Sunday our congregation said difficult "goodbyes" to three young volunteers
who have lived among us this past year as IVEP-ers (International Visitors in the
Exchange Program of Mennonite Central Committee). Rudia of Zimbabwe, Mai of
Thailand, Nofika of Indonesia have learned English and new skills as they served in
many roles. They became "family" to their hosts, each has enriched our worship time.
Together they read the "goodbye poem" written by Nofika. Each one spoke with feeling
- not many dry eyes among us. Then on Rudia's instruction and to the beat of her
drum and the high ululation of her voice, we moved out of our seats singing with
some added rhythm while taking our morning offerings up to the front - Rudia called
this African-style. What began with tears turned into joyful laughter and ended with
our pastor's prayer of blessing.
We had worked at understanding new accents and had listened to each other's stories
this past year - sometimes awkwardly, often with humor. We gained three dear
friends and we will follow them back home with prayer, some will keep the relationship
via e-mail - we hope to meet again.
Do any of us really live in only one kind of world these days? Are we learning that
God's Beloved live right next door, down the street, wherever we work and play and
worship. They will turn up in many guises everywhere we turn - if we look for them.
If you shine out the light and love of Jesus, just maybe someone will lovingly call you
muņeca!
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