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Nine days!

June 30, 2009 | posted by Lars under bolivia, gys, mwc, updates

It’s hard to believe after nearly 6 months of traversing the American macrocontinent that in nine days we’ll be rolling into Asunción, the day before the Global Youth Summit begins on July 10.  In order to make this journey manageable, I’ve taken it day by day and section by section.  Now, with the end of our ride very much on the horizon (not literally, yet; though much of the chaco is flat), there are many thoughts, large and small, running through my head.  More on those may come later; for now, a bit on our time in Santa Cruz.

We had a wonderful extended weekend in Santa Cruz spending time with the two Mennonite churches in the city and with MCC Bolivia, which has its headquarters and much of its present work there as well.  Saturday evening, we were able to get together with some of the youth who are planning to attend the youth summit and world conference assembly for an interesting and lively time of fellowship and discussion on the theme of the summit, which will be ”service: live the difference.“  Their final fundraiser for their trip was a meal the next day after church, which we (and many from both churches) gladly joined them for.  I didn’t hear how much was raised, but it surely seemed like a (delicious) success to me.

It’s amazing to think of all the people who have been making preparations to be a part of this assembly.  By this point, the first of many trails from around the world are no doubt beginning to converge on Asunción to prepare for the swarms which will follow.  More incredible yet, we who will be in attendance will only be representatives of diverse Anabaptist congregations from many disparate communities around the globe; and we Anabaptists, only one of many confessions of faith in the same triune God, incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth.  I can only imagine, that, as one of the youth on Saturday - a YAMENera from Zimbabwe, who was at Assembly 14 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - said, of the assembly, “it must be a little taste of what heaven will be like.”

In order to make the assembly more financially accessible to all, registration is based on a fair share principle, where fees are pro-rated according to basic costs of living in one’s home country.  Beyond that, there are travel funds to assist delegates who have been chosen by their church conferences as representatives to the general assembly and youth summit (for North American readers, in this context, church conferencesrefers to members of the MWC - MCUSA and MCCanada would each be such a conference).  For those of you who have browsed this site or spoken with us, you know that helping raise money for the global youth travel fund is part of the goal of this bike ride; for those who haven’t, you’ve been informed.

We tend not to make solicitations, but several times throughout our journey churches have spontaneously taken offerings for our trip expenses, which has both surprised and humbled us.  Our expenses largely being covered (and being relatively low), these offerings have been designated for the global youth travel fund.  On one occasion about two and a half months ago, a small church gave us what they called “a small gift,” lavishing us with US$50.  I couldn’t help but think what it would be like if each of the 939 Mennonite churches in the USA were to contribute $50 to help youth from around the world attend the gathering in Asunción.  That $50,000 alone would easily cover the fund’s remaining goal as of last January of $30,000 (the most recent data I have); and that doesn’t even begin to include Mennonite congregations outside the United States, or Brethren in Christ churches anywhere.

Whatever your accounting of $50 is - whether it’s your dream, your bank account or your pocket change - big things are easily achieved with the contributions of many.  If you’d like to make a donation - in any amount - to the global youth travel fund, click here or on the icon on the left sidebar of this (or any) page.