Apologies for not keeping my promise of reporting in daily from Asuncion. What with the intensive activities, the sporadic internet connection and the demands on me as a conference reporter, this activity, though well-intentioned, got pushed to the bottom of the daily routine.
What an amazing experience! The gathering of nearly 6,000 Mennos from around the globe, including the diversity of tongue and nationality, is truly an uplifting and life-changing event.
It is difficult to put into words–the worship inspiration, the singing, the drama of scripture presentations by persons with national garb and gestures, the whirlwind of activities, including stimulating workshops, musical groups performing in the chapel, childrens’ parades, local tours and the experience of eating in the mass dining hall in the basement of this large complex–hospitality of the local Paraguayan churches.
There are the moments of serious historical reflections, like the workshop I attended where Larry Miller, executive secretary of MWC, had six presenters from the “churches of the world.” I was especially struck by the representative from the Vatican, who jokingly introduced himself as “the guest from Babylon,” but who, in a more serious vein, named the division we have nursed for nearly 500 years as a “sin” by both sides of the conflict.
In another post I will describe my feelings about the obvious disconnect between our “talk” about peace and justice being our highest priority at the moment and looking across the street to housing and living conditions of the worst possible kind. And to see the street vendors hawking their food outside our “court” is another reminder that within these walls of privilege and power we have a long way to go to address what is right under our eyes–not only Paraguay, but in Canada and the US, Europe, Africa, Asia and other Latin American countries.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JMYovPxE-0[/youtube][/youtube]
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