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YAMEN! experience feeds passion for helping children
Joint release by Mennonite World Conference and Mennonite Central Committee Bogotá, Colombia – Within days of her arrival in Bogotá on 21 August 2013 for her YAMEN! term, Rut Arsari already knew it would be difficult for her to leave. The wonderful people she would meet and the close relationships she would develop would make…
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Central American youth explore aspects of their Mennonite identity
Heredia, Costa Rica – Mennonite young people from a variety of countries came together for the annual Central American Mennonite Youth Conference in Costa Rica 27-30 March 2013. One hundred and twenty youth representatives from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Puerto Rico and Mexico shared with each other around the theme of “Mennonite Identity.”…
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Congolese youth strengthen ties
DR Congo — In a world where differences and distance often divide people of faith, Mennonite youth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are participating in an exchange program to strengthen ties among the country’s three Mennonite conferences. The exchange program, called Menno-Monde, or Menno-World, allows youth to spend a week or two living…
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Young adults learn to love God and others through cross-cultural service
Uganda — Among the many memories that Shammah Nakawesi of Uganda brings home from her one-year service assignment in Indonesia is her new understanding of loving God and others. “Even in the uncertainties of life, loving God and loving others is all that matters,” says Nakawesi, who served as an English teacher and community worker…
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My experience of culture shock from Indonesia to Colombia
My name is Rut Arsari Christy and I am from Indonesia. In my home country, I attend a Mennonite church called GITJ Kelet, part of the Mennonite World Conference member church Gereja Injili di Tanah Jawa. The influence of the Dutch’s culture and religion are quite strong, because Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch. There…
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Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace – Reflecting on Mennonite contributions to the Global Ecumenical Movement
Mobility and flexibility are necessary in today’s world for many young people: university in another city, intercultural encounters during travels, broadening one’s own horizons. And somewhere between all of this there is this “Mennoniteness” that shapes part of who you are. These experiences perfectly describe my reality. Coming from a small town, and an even…
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Young Anabaptists prepare for 2015 Global Youth Summit
Akron, Pennsylvania, USA – Preparations for the 2015 Global Youth Summit and transitions within the committee marked the annual meeting of the Young Anabaptists (YABs) Committee held here 23-28 May 2013. The committee welcomed Lani Prunés of the United States as the new North American representative, replacing Kristina Toews of Canada who is now serving…
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No longer foolish and small
Sukodono, Indonesia–In 2008 I went to Cairo, Egypt, under YAMEN! to work at the Anaphora Retreat Centre of the Coptic Orthodox church. I used my limited English language as a basis for learning Arabic. After a month and a half, however, just as I was getting the feel of Egypt, a friend drove me to…
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Straddling Lao PDR and Zimbabwe
Vientiane, Lao PDR — Godswill Muzarabani grew up straddling two cultures in Zimbabwe. His father was from the majority ethnic group, Shona, and his mother was Ndebele, the minority ethnic group – classifications that have led to violence between the groups at worst and a recognized distinction at best. “I became a person who can…
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Young Anabaptists (YABs) Network Terms of Reference
Young Anabaptists (YABs) Network Terms of Reference PURPOSE On the foundation of our Anabaptist identity, through global and local networking, we as young people want to walk together, empower and support each other in fellowship, decision-making, and peace-making initiatives.
