In another s shoes There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 W While serving with Mission Network in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, Alyssa Rodriguez was walking down the street one day. As she walked, she saw a few middle-school boys who stopped men and women in business suits and begged to shine their shoes. Almost every person refused to look at these boys, and waved them away like you might wave away an annoying mosquito that keeps landing on your shoulder. Without thinking twice, by ignoring the boys who were asking to shine shoes, the people in business suits had built an imaginary wall between them and the boys, who, instead of going to school, were forced to shine shoes to earn money to help their families. One of the boys came up to Alyssa. She looked him in the eyes and asked him his name. Anderson, he said. Alyssa told him about her church, Quito Mennonite Church. She invited Anderson and his shoe-shining friends to attend a peace education workshop she was offering at the church. I have to work, he replied, and then he shined her shoes. Over many weeks, Alyssa saw Anderson again and he always asked to shine her shoes. Alyssa didn t always have the money to say yes, but she always asked Anderson how he was and about his favorite sport, soccer. Over time, Anderson s curiosity grew, and he asked Alyssa when she could show him where her church was! What are ways that Alyssa acted differently with Anderson than other people did? What do you think made Anderson feel a warm welcome and interested in attending her church? Alyssa reached out to people who were ignored by others. How would you feel if you were treated like one of Anderson s shoe-shining friends, and were ignored by everyone? In what ways can you reach out, like Alyssa, to your own classmates who may be ignored at school or church? Story and game by Alyssa Rodriguez and Mennonite Mission Network Put yourself in the other s shoes Game One way to give a warm welcome to others, especially to those different from us, is to try to understand them. This game will help you think about how other people live. Using the sheet titled Put yourself in the other s shoes, which can be found in your mission bank folder, copy eight sets of shoe prints. (Adjust the number of copies for the number of players.) On the back of one footprint from each set, write one of the scenarios from the sheet. During this game, you will have a chance to think about how you would respond. Lay the shoe prints in a circle. Walk around the circle as you sing the song, Jesus loves me. When the leader tells you to stop, stop on the set of shoe prints you are closest to. Each set of shoe prints depicts a different person. Have each person around the circle read their situation and think about how you would respond based on each set of shoe prints. Making connections through shoes Everyday experiences can become opportunities to connect with others and share God s love. Our gifts can help support mission in Ecuador. $5 can help pay for Ecuadorian and Colombian children to attend the peace project workshops. $25 helps to purchase Sunday school materials for children and youth. $150 a month helps the church rent a property for their worship and ministries, with green space where the Colombian refugee children and the Ecuadorian children can play. Gift designation. All gifts to support ministries in Ecuador should be sent to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515-0370. Please indicate that the funds are for Mission Banks: Ecuador or Project #1423. For more activities and stories, visit www.mennonitemission.net/missionbank. PHoto by Juan Madera C13-290/JAN-2014
Giving a warm welcome I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35 E Esther is a Colombian refugee. Since her home wasn t safe, she brought two kids with her to Ecuador after her husband was killed in Colombia. Esther had invited some friends for a meal, including several North Americans. But when they arrived, Esther was embarrassed to welcome them. There was nowhere to sit. There were no beds. Her home was dark and small. She apologized. In the Bible, Jesus shows us that inviting others is important, but so is accepting the invitation of others. Giving and receiving hospitality are both great things that everyone can do so the group sat on the cold, wood floor as Esther served one of the most delicious Sancocho (vegetable beef soup) the group had ever had. It was one of the warmest welcomes the group had ever felt. Why do you think? As everyone enjoyed every last drop of the soup, Esther felt good about what she was able to give, and slowly her embarrassment went away. Sancocho (Ecuadorian Vegetable Beef Soup) Ingredients 2 ½ quarts water ½ lb beef chuck 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 T white onions, finely chopped ¼ tsp pepper ¼ tsp ground cumin 1 oz rice 4 oz peas 3 small ears of corn 1 plantain, unripe and not too large 4 oz carrots, peels and diced 12 oz yucca root, peeled and cubed Salt 1 stem cilantro 1 stem parsley, small Garnish 1 T white corn, very finely chopped 1 T cilantro, finely chopped Soup for the soul Sharing a meal together is a way of helping people feel welcome and at home. Photo by Linda Shelly Story by Alyssa Rodriguez Directions 1. Place 2 quarts water in large soup pot, with beef, onion, garlic, pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for at least one hour for meat to get tender. 2. Cut the corn into 2 rounds. Set aside. 3. Peel yucca and remove the fibrous string in the center. Cube and set aside. 4. When the meat is tender, add rice, peas, peeled plantain in one piece, carrots, and the yucca. 5. When the yucca is soft, after about 20 30 minutes, add salt to taste, the last half-quart of water, and a whole stem of cilantro and parsley. Cook for 5 minutes. 6. Remove the cilantro and parsley stems and discard. 7. Remove the meat, cut in bite-sized pieces, and return to the soup. 8. Remove the plantain, cut into bite-sized pieces, and return to the soup. 9. Mix the finely chopped onion and cilantro for a garnish, and sprinkle on top of the soup when served. Our gifts can help support mission in Ecuador. $5 can help pay for Ecuadorian and Colombian children to attend the peace project workshops. $25 helps to purchase Sunday school materials for children and youth. $150 a month helps the church rent a property for their worship and ministries, with green space where the Colombian refugee children and the Ecuadorian children can play. Gift designation. All gifts to support ministries in Ecuador should be sent to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515-0370. Please indicate that the funds are for Mission Banks: Ecuador or Project #1423. For more activities and stories, visit www.mennonitemission.net/missionbank. C13-290/JAN-2014
A new life in Ecuador Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Q Quito Mennonite Church welcomes many people who flee Colombia because of violence and war. Expecting to start a new life, they usually arrive in Ecuador with only a backpack or a small suitcase with some clothes and legal documents, since many begin their life in Ecuador with no place to live, no place to sleep, and no place to cook. The Mennonite church in Quito offers refugees a welcoming community and material assistance through its refugee program. In October, Teusaquillo Mennonite Church in Bogotá, Colombia, sent the García* family from their congregation to Quito Mennonite Church. The family needed to flee from their home in Colombia because someone threatened to kill them. After a 30-hour bus ride from Colombia, the Garcías* arrived in Quito. People at the church, including David Shenk, who serves with Mennonite Mission Network, invited the family out to lunch, gave them beds, mattresses Chocolate Caliente (Hot Chocolate) Ingredients 8 c milk 2 T Ecuadorian or Mexican chocolate, grated Sugar to taste Powdered cinnamon to taste 2 c water Queso fresco or mozzarella cheese Directions Boil the water with cinnamon and chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted. Boil the milk in a separate pan. Combine the water and milk together. Add sugar and allow to simmer for 10 minutes while stirring. Pour into cups while very hot, and add small pieces of cheese. and blankets to sleep on, and explained how things work in Ecuador. Luckily, the García* family was able to find an apartment to live in, too. Over time, they became a special family in the church and participate regularly in church activities. Even though the García* family has help with basic living supplies, life still isn t easy for them. Finding jobs and adjusting to a new country can be hard. Nevertheless, people from Quito Mennonite Church continue to show Christ s love and walk with the Garcías* in their struggles. The people at Quito Mennonite Church also pray for peace in Colombia so that the war will stop. But until then, they will continue to welcome people with open arms and support them in any way they can. David Shenk *Pseudonyms were used in the story and photo caption to protect the identity of the families. Dancing to the cultural Beat Each culture has its distinct music that feels like home to someone of that culture. Even though Colombia and Ecuador are located next to each other, their music is very distinct. Listen and dance to the songs linked on Mennonite Mission Network s website. The first song is from the Andean region in Ecuador; the second song is from the Caribbean region in Colombia. What instruments do you hear in each song? What do you like about each song? Why do you think that Colombians might feel homesick when they hear their music from Colombia? Think about the people in your class at school or church. Are there new people who are also homesick? How can you make them feel welcome? Examples of Ecuadorian and Colombian music can be found on our website at www.mennonitemission.net/missionbank/ Ecuador. A new life in Ecuador Paula prepares to walk her children and a friend to school. The Quito Mennonite Church program helps refugee families find schools that will accept Colombian children like Sebastian, Diego and Mariana.* Our gifts can help support mission in Ecuador. $5 can help pay for Ecuadorian and Colombian children to attend the peace project workshops. $25 helps to purchase Sunday school materials for children and youth. $150 a month helps the church rent a property for their worship and ministries, with green space where the Colombian refugee children and the Ecuadorian children can play. Gift designation. All gifts to support ministries in Ecuador should be sent to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, IN 46515-0370. Please indicate that the funds are for Mission Banks: Ecuador or Project #1423. For more activities and stories, visit www.mennonitemission.net/missionbank. Photo by Linda Shelly C13-290/JAN-2014