Our Stories (PDF) - Mennonite Mission Network

Editor’s noteFollow-upIn service, Lord,to theeBy Andrew ClouseAll Christians—no matter what stage of life—are calledto live their lives in service to others.Service itself can be as simple as an afternoon work project, asdemonstrated at the 2011 Mennonite Church USA Convention inPittsburgh, when nearly 3,000 youth and adults served 47 organizationsin the City of Bridges (page 13). This type of service is important,and provides a powerful witness to the goodness of Christ.Moving beyond the mere project, however, is a lifestyle.Some people are called to a short-term stint with a serviceorganization (see Alayna Hyde’s reflection on page 9), orlong-term international service (see Anna Sawatzky’s and TerryWitmer’s reflections on pages 6–8). Many—perhaps most—are called to serve the communitieswhere they live.“Accept my talentsThe blog entries in this great and small,issue of Beyond Ourselves Choose thou theshow how those who servepath for me, Where Iare transformed by the experience.Alayna Hyde, servingshall labor joyouslyin Los Angeles throughIn service, Lord, forDwell, is making the connectionsbetween relationship-—HWB 548 Teach me thy truththee.”based and results-basedmission. Anna Sawatzky comments on how those involved inmission often affect change even when they don’t realize it. AndTerry Witmer writes about having the grace to be served by thosethey went to serve.Service is multifaceted—sometimes a single isolated experience,but, at its best, a life to be lived. Over time, everyone—the “server” and the “served”—has been changed for thebetter. Faith is deepened, communities are strengthened, andthe kingdom of God feels just a bit closer.God’s humor gets creative when it comes tograbbing people’s attention. For Moses, it wasa burning bush; for Balaam, a talking donkey. ForIrene Bornman, it was bathroom floor tiles.A ceramic floor tile pattern in a Senegalese guesthouse was the inspiration for two of the quilts thatwere showcased in the “Senegal Fabrics in IndianaPatchwork” exhibit at the Goshen (Ind.) CollegeLibrary Gallery this summer.Bornman chose beige fabric for the backgroundof one of her quilts as a symbol of the ever-presentsand in the region of Senegal where she ministeredfor nine years with Friends of the Wolof, a MennoniteMission Network partner.Web spotlightSenegalbathroomtiles inspirequilterIrene Bornman displayed her Senegalese-inspired quilts at Goshen College in August.Talking about textilesCheck out a video of Bornman’s quiltsby scanning the QR code or visitingBeyondOurselves.MennoniteMission.netAs Bornman worked on one of the quilts, called Sand and People, stitching the twosquares of African prints together, she interceded with intense longing for those seeking adeeper meaning to their lives.“O Lord, let them come together in churches,” Bornman prayed.Photo by Craig WelscottFeedbackLet us know what you think of this issue.What inspires you? Engages you? Infuriates you?BeyondOurselves@MennoniteMission.netPhoto by Craig WelscottBeyond Ourselves is published by Mennonite Mission NetworkOctober 2011—Vol. 10, No. 3Executive director/CEO Stanley W. GreenEditorAndrew ClouseArt director David FastDesigner Cynthia Friesen CoyleCopy editor Karen Ritchie© 2011 by Mennonite Mission Network. All rights reserved.Mennonite Mission Network exists to lead, mobilize and equip thechurch to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ. Offices inElkhart, Ind., and Newton, Kan.Toll-free: 1-866-866-2872Español: 1-877-665-6662www.MennoniteMission.netPOSTMASTER: Subscriptions and changes of address should be sentto Beyond Ourselves, Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370,Elkhart, IN 46515-0370.Cover: Mennonite Mission Network worker Anna Sawatzky sharesthe computer with her son, Jesse. Photo by David Fisher Fast.