Mission to the Indians

In Paraguay the Mennonites organized a mission for the Indians, (translated) called, “Light to the Indians." The objectives were to:
- acquaint them with the Word of God
- provide education
- promote better health
- enable them to become self-sufficient, faithful, useful and skilled citizens

One story that I must tell is of a time when my mom-in-law was serving at this mission where, at the time, they were ministering to a tribe called the Lengua. This happened while she was in her late teens, before she was married. One day she was alone in the mission house when some Chulupi Indians came to the door. These were enemies of the Lengua and they had never shown themselves to the white people before. They wore loin cloths and held spears in their hands.

To say the least, Mom was terrified but, when she saw that they were rubbing their stomachs, she took them across the yard to the kitchen and gave them some bread and beans. Then they left. Later on she found out that the Lengua had been hiding in the bushes and not shown themselves because of their fear of the Chulupi.

To make a long story short, in later years the Chulupi also came to know the Lord and this brings me to the climax to the story! This Fall (2009) while Mom (age 92) was lying in her hospital bed, three Chulupi Indians came to her bedside and serenaded her with hymns and spiritual songs. They had been sponsored to come to Canada to serve at a local fundraiser for another Mission in Paraguay and since they had a big connection to my brother-in-law, they wanted to meet the first lady who had given their tribe bread, back in about 1935. I love this story.

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The Indians in Paraguay

In case you were asking, I'm almost finished with my history posts! An interesting part in the whole puzzle I've put together, is that my grandmother (as a 16 year old) was on the same ship going to South America as another 13 year old girl who is now my mother-in-law! They knew each other and - if you know anything about Mennonites - you know how they like to connect everyone. (You'd think they invented facebook! ) Imagine when these ladies found out (some 45 years later) 'who was dating who' . . . here in Canada. Of course, we had no idea of the history involved. It's my sentimental side that thinks about these things now.
This next entry tells about an aspect of the Chaco life gleaned mostly from my mother-in-law. I've enjoyed her stories and found some interesting humor in them.

The Indians living in the Chaco came to the colonists with hospitality and curiosity. Despite the fact that the Mennonites were “overdressed” and did strange things such as dividing up the land, they were willing to help them in any way they could. They showed them how to make grass roofs, which trees to use for lumber, how to brew an anti-malarial medication, how to treat snake bites and warned them when danger was lurking. Of course, they were rewarded with food and clothing.

The Mennonites tried to learn their language, but the Indians learned Low German faster and even began taking the names of the Mennonites for themselves, names such as Jash (Jacob), Hein (Henry) and Marie (emphasis on the latter syllable).

I have had to come to the conclusion that my mother-in-law really had a way of relating to the Indians. She told me about some of her experiences with some of their “farm help” Indians. One evening the family had left the house to go to prayer meeting when, upon their return, she found that one of the loaves of bread that she had baked that day was missing. The following day the Indian returned and sheepishly said, “Mina Stehle” (spoken as a toddler learning to speak – “my stealing”). He said that he would not do this again.

Another day one came to her and sold her a rope. He also told her that he was getting baptized that weekend. Later on she couldn’t find the rope, and she found out from another member of the Indian’s family that he had sold it to another family. On Monday morning this Indian came to her and sat down very dejectedly. Mom asked him if he got baptized, and he told her that he had stolen from her and they had not baptized him because he had to make this right first.

When they would come to her and ask for food, she gladly gave them food, but they had to do some work, like chopping wood, first. Sometimes she gave them clothing. One time she gave one of the women a bra, and wouldn’t you know it, the next thing, Mom’s kids came home howling with laughter because they had seen their Indian woman shopping at the Co-cop, wearing the bra and no blouse. The Indians loved the ties that the Mennonite men wore, and when they received one, they would proudly wear them on their bare chests.

I think about these interesting relationships - where people of such different cultures needed each other and I just have to marvel. Cross Cultural training by immersion - while we take university classes in order to attempt this today.
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At the Threshold

The home looks dismal -
Walkers and wheelchairs line the hall
And the aroma wafting from the dining room
Can hardly draw me there too soon.

I look about her little space -
A cot, a dresser, a chair an old T.V.
The only welcome sight is her smiling face
Saying she’s so very glad to see me.

We talk about the past -
These days, it’s what she remembers best
Standing on a stool washing dishes,
A trek across the ocean with hopeful wishes.

Motherhood came quick and hard -
With labor pains that stretched into the everyday,
From clearing the land, sweeping the yard
Kneading bread, while learning to pray.

I’m amazed at the strength and wisdom -
Of one for whom life became her classroom.
And yet, as she shares of the hardships and pain
At the end of it all, she’d do it again!

Finding it discomforting to see this end -
I have to ask myself - what will it be?
Will I focus on the fading beauty all around,
Or on that which I cannot see?

Aged ones, waiting at the threshold of heaven -
Stories of courage, loyalty and faith near forgotten,
But not by the One who’s been there all these years
And who will be there to wipe away all tears.

Anneliese © 2009

Sweet Sound

Did you hear the name he said???? Big smile here!

Bapa

Got this picture in our Inbox . . .

She only got to know us in February on our visit there - when she turned one year old - and she came to visit when she was eighteen months old. Now, at 20 months old . . .

. . . she pulls pictures off the shelf and points out Bapa!

. . . the phone rings and it's Bapa!

. . . Julene asks her to say Papa and she says Bapa!

. . . Julene asks her to say Grammy and she says Bapa!

. . . The day after we talk to her she looks at the phone and says BAPA?

I'm not hurt . . . it's all good! Somehow I knew this would happen - even before we had grandbabies. That's because I think he's pretty special too!

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Fruit and Vegetable Carving

I haven't finished telling you about the cruise! One morning a table was set up right in front of the ice cream stand, on the deck where we were sitting. A kitchen crew came out and put on a fruit and vegetable carving show. I went up close, not wanting to miss a thing, while my H went to get the camera for me.

This was one of my favorites!

The one on the end as well!

Of course, when we got home, I had to try my hand at it. My bird lacks the stately elegance of the crane, but if you have nothing to compare it with, it will work. (I could always direct the wings a bit and call it a swan.) The hardest part was the neck. I thought he used an eggplant for it, but since the eggplant I had didn't look too good inside, I opted for a potato - actually two potatoes. My zucchini also wouldn't flower too well, so I used a little cookie cutter. Otherwise, it was quite straight forward. A nice centerpiece for a fruit or veggie platter.

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