Articles tagged under gys Home

Somebody help me sing …

July 20, 2009 | posted by Lars under gys, mwc, paraguay! | Comments (3)

… my God is good - oh!  ey e-ey my God is good - oh!

During the Global Youth Summit, each of the five worship services was led by a different continental delegation.  On Saturday, July 11, the African delegates called us to worship with this song.

Picture this….the ride into Asunción

July 19, 2009 | posted by Jon under gys, mwc, paraguay!, photos | Comments (5)

	Filadelfia to Asuncion, PY July 5-8, 2009
			Asuncion and Global Youth Summit July 9-12, 2009

Asunción 2009! We’ve arrived!

July 10, 2009 | posted by Lars under gys, mwc, paraguay!, updates | Comments (38)

A bit after noon yesterday, under a grey sky reminiscent of our first days of biking in Virginia, we rolled into Colegio Gutenberg, where the Global Youth Summit will take place this weekend as a part of the Mennonite World Conference Assembly here in Asunción.  We were accompanied by two youth from a Mennonite church here in Asunción for the last 10 miles or so, and after arriving, being greeted by folks, and reenacting our arrival for the MWC photographer, we began to settle into the campus which is now filling with young adults from all around the globe.

Among the many new faces from Paraguay, Cambodia, and everywhere in between, it’s been wonderful to also see people we left weeks or months ago, from Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, and several from the United States, including the EMU cross-cultural.  We had an informal service last night for those who arrived early, but the summit begins in earnest in 20 minutes, at 9:00; being a part of this incredibly diverse gathering is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to the many interactions and conversations which will come out of it (and already are!).  At the same time, it’s rather surreal to actually be here.  We left Harrisonburg just over 6 months ago, and have traveled though 12 countries and more than 12,000 kilometers (around 7,750 miles), spent time in many places and with many people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs; we’ve been through many seasons and climates, and now we’re here, among many others, also representing many experiences, cultures, and congregations.  May God be glorified in these days - in our interactions, conversations, worship, meals, and recreation!

Nine days!

June 30, 2009 | posted by Lars under bolivia, gys, mwc, updates | Comments (9)

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.