‘Tapestry of uprooted cultures’
Authors Joy Kogawa and Rudy Wiebe speak of their ethnic histories at the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta’s Fall 2017 meeting in Lethbridge. (Photo by Dave Toews) What would bring 200 people out on a windy, grey afternoon last November to the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association Centre for the fall conference of the Mennonite Historical…
Purposeful and meaningful
The numerous staff changes at Mennonite Church Eastern Canada in the last year have been coming for a long time. Top (from left to right): David Martin, Henry Paetkau, Al Rempel, Robertson Mbayamvula and Catherin van Sintern Dick Bottom (from left to right): Kevin Derksen, Norm Dyck, Brian Bauman, Marilyn Rudy-Froese and Mollee Moua David…
Saskatchewan youth explore what it means to answer their call
Saskatchewan Mennonite Youth Organization retreats are an annual highlight, and the senior-high retreat held at Shekinah Retreat Centre has been an opportunity for youth to reunite with each other for a long time. The weekend event has seen some changes over the years, but always includes worship times featuring a speaker and band, outside winter…
Music Camp keeps the tunes playing
Marie Penner from Toronto United Mennonite Church had a dream of a camp that would develop the musical talents of young Mennonites in Ontario. Penner remembers going to the Inter-Mennonite Conference, the precursor to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, for support. Her husband, who was on the conference board, told her that she needed to make…
Faith leads to composting
Donning my biology lab coat and goggles, I push through the bustling crowd of eager campers who are anxiously waiting to sing for their lunchtime mail delivery, and I raise my hand in the air. “Ready?” I ask. “One, two, three!” And the crowd of 80 bursts into an enthusiastic, barely organized uproar. “Teka’s Bokashi…
‘A place I feel most comfortable’
When I was 5, my parents dropped me off for a week of camp at Silver Lake, near Sauble Beach, Ont. I was terrified. When they were trying to say their goodbyes, I would not let them go. The first few days were hard. I called my mom and dad saying I wanted to come…
No place I’d rather be
A young girl pretends she is an expert equestrian. Slightly older, she learns the difference between a J-stroke and a C-stroke. Later, as a counsellor, she races through pouring rain near midnight to the lodge bathroom. Another night, she holds a tiny hand as someone struggles to fall asleep in a strange place. As nature…
Transforming lives with horses and Jesus
Many summer camps offer horseback riding as part of their overall programming. The Youth Farm Bible Camp is developing its summer horse program into a year-round ministry. The camp, situated near Rosthern, already has a full-time, year-round horsemanship director in the person of Cheralyne Gibson. A former camper and wrangler at Youth Farm, Gibson is…
Jump out of your comfort zone at Peace Camp
Have you ever been in a place, space or community where you have been encouraged to try something new? Have you been challenged to take risks and leap out of your comfort zone? Have you tasted the confidence that comes with mastering new skills? At summer camp, youth often have the opportunity to take these…
Accessing different realms of musical exploration
Since Luke Nickel was young, his parents instilled in him the value of thinking critically. He recalls one conversation—the exact topic escapes him—during which his father said to him and his siblings, “I don’t care what you think about it, as long as you think about it.” “It didn’t matter what conclusion we came to,…
