Mennonite Central Committee Peace Office Publication January –March 2009 Volume 39, Number 1 : Immigrants, Citizens, Hosts

IN THIS ISSUE Introduction

3 : by Daryl Yoder-Bontrager A Brief History by Edgar Stoesz n July of this year, people who are part Paraguay was appropriate for Mennonites Iof the Anabaptist tradition will gather in in other ways as well. A somewhat isolated, 6 A Letter from Paraguay: Asunción, Paraguay from all over the world land-locked country in the middle of the The 2008 Elections to celebrate the 15th global assembly of Southern Cone, the southern triangle of by Alfred Neufeld Mennonite World Conference. The assembly , Paraguay contained vast will be hosted jointly by the 8 Paraguayan tracts of sparsely populated lands in its 9 Hopes and Plans for the MWC member churches. In anticipation northwest area. The Chaco region, 2009 Mennonite World of that event, this issue of Peace Office shared with and , is Conference Assembly 15 Newsletter offers some beginning glimpses famous for its climatic extremes. The coun - by Carmen Epp into the people and issues of Paraguay. try had long since merged Spanish-speaking and Guarani-speaking cultures. Today Span - 11 Ernst Bergen, Jumping into Almost anywhere in Paraguay at nearly any ish and Guarani, the language of the domi - Empty Space time of day one can find Paraguayans clus - nant indigenous group, are both official reviewed by Alain Epp Weaver tered in little groups drinking tereré, a cold languages. Moving to Paraguay seemed a tea, sipped from a metal straw stuck into win/win situation. Paraguay got people it a gourd that has been filled to the top with believed it could count on to settle and farm dried leaves of the yerba mate plant. The land it considered empty and unused, and host pours water into the gourd, and passes the Mennonites got a place to live far away it to the nearest person who sips all the from the influences of the world. water from the container and hands it back. The host then refills the gourd and gives In this issue Edgar Stoez recounts a brief his - it to the next person, and so on around the tory of various groups of German-speaking group in a ritual repeated several times daily. Mennonites who migrated into Paraguay. Yerba mat e contains a stimulant much like Their success at turning the Paraguayan hin - coffee. But passing the tea from person to terlands into an economic powerhouse is person—gourd, straw and all—changes the indeed a story worth telling. By organizing morning coffee concept that those of us in themselves into colonies and economic coop - the Northern Hemisphere are more familiar eratives they were able to use the strength of with. Rather than a silent, solitary morning their collective work to survive and then to cup, it becomes a kind of several-times-daily sell their goods in the markets around them. communion with one’s family and friends. Meanwhile the rest of Paraguay struggled With such a custom common in the country, through the 20th century. Geography does it can seem only natural that German- play a significant role in determining a coun - speaking Mennonites with their strong try’s economic prospects. A land-locked emphasis on sharing life together as a com - country like Paraguay starts with the major munity chose to emigrate from Canada to disadvantage of not having its own access to Thanks to Daryl Yoder-Bontrager Paraguay in the 1920s. It was yet another the sea. While managed to for compiling this issue of the move in their centuries-long quest to live out modernize the country somewhat during his Peace Office Newsletter. their own interpretation of the Bible, free 35-year dictatorial hold on power, he also from the imposed laws of worldly kingdoms. was a flagrant abuser of human rights and led When German-speaking Mennonites built a country with the dubious notoriety of rank - their first houses in the Chaco, the area was ing high on the list of most corrupt nations. inhabited by at least five groups of indige - Chaco nous people. The Mennonites’ response to One piece of that modernization was the the indigenous people living around them road that connects Asunción to the Chaco, was to establish mission churches and to a lonely sliver of asphalt that runs through work at community development among some 200 miles of mostly flat cattle ranches them, initially with MCC collaboration. PARAGUAYPARAGUAA GUAAYY Asuncion with houses few and far between. The road The intent was to help set up community itself plays a big role in the history of Ger - and economic infrastructure like roads, man-speaking Mennonites and of Mennon - water systems, schools and health care sys - ite Central Committee’s (MCC’s) role in the tems, and cooperatives of their own. country. Until MCC’s large relief effort after the 2004 tsunami smashed into Asia, the After years of work, missions efforts with highway that connects the Chaco with the indigenous groups began to see fruit. In spite southern part of Paraguay was MCC’s of the missions’ success, however, these new largest single project (dollar amounts Mennonite believers did not become part of adjusted for inflation). It is notable that the the German-speaking Mennonite colonies, road was financed in part with funds from nor of their co-ops. Rather, they were encour - The highway was the United States Agency for International aged to form their own organizations. While Development (USAID), while MCC today the indigenous people do have immensely undoubtedly a factor in maintains a steadfast refusal to accept improved lives as a result, it requires only a moving many German- USAID funding. cursory tour of the Chaco and its peoples to speaking Mennonites observe the old U.S. civil rights movement The increased ease of access to the rest of truism that separate is not equal. toward more integration the country made possible by the highway into Paraguayan society. was undoubtedly a factor in moving many As Carmen Epp notes, when we consider Ger man-speaking Mennonites toward more the history, it is easy to understand why inte gration into Paraguayan society. Their the word mennonite in Paraguay denotes schools began to offer higher quality edu- an ethnic label more than it does a Christian cation. Their churches began mission work denomination. Noting the record of the among indigenous and Spanish-speaking peo - Mennonites in Paraguay provides those of ple. And the businesses of the co-ops grew. us who did not live through the hardships of settling the Chaco a chance to examine Economic success came gradually after many one of the inherent contradictions of the years of hard work and sacrifice perhaps due Anabaptist tradition. in good part to the fact that German-speaking Mennonites could achieve something of an We in the Anabaptist churches take seriously economy of scale as they banded their com - Christ’s call to go into the world and invite munities together. In all likelihood, it would all to come join us. Doing that effectively have been much harder for the Mennonites to requires a church with porous boundaries. achieve their current level of success had they People will pass into and back out of the approached their life without the glue of com - church body, and it may be difficult at times munity and their cooperatives. to determine where some individuals are in their relation to the church. On the other The prominence of Mennonites in Paraguay hand we also take seriously the call to be became obvious when Nicanor Duarte, community, to support one another, to get whose wife was a member of a Mennonite involved in the nitty-gritty of each others’ The word mennonite church in Asunción, was elected president in lives. 2003. He invited Mennonites to join him in in Paraguay denotes facing the country’s difficulties and endemic While it is easy to argue that these two an ethnic label more corruption, and named four of them to his should not exclude one another, that has not than it does a Christian cabinet. Ernst Bergen, one of those cabinet been my experience. The communities where members, reflects on his time in government I have experienced strongest support—finan - denomination. in a just-released book, reviewed below by cial, emotional, spiritual and others—have Alain Epp Weaver. In May 2008 Fernando tended to have boundaries that are quite Lugo, a former Catholic priest, was elected closed, clearly defining who is in and who to succeed Duarte. Lugo is probably more is out. The communities where I have expe - left-leaning than many Mennonites in rienced open and genuine invitations to all Paraguay are comfortable with, but for now have had a wide mix of people and varying the jury to pass judgment on his administra - levels of commitment and have tended not tion is still out. Alfred Neufeld offers some to provide the support that I have enjoyed reflections on those May 2008 elections. in the more closed communities focused on member support.

2 MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 Probably for historic reasons that are cen - In July 2009 the world-wide Anabaptist Putting both emphases turies old, it seems to me that Mennonites church will gather for the 15th time. Maybe together under one with European cultural background have some will appreciate the grassy flavor of ter - church roof will likely been apt to emphasize a community that eré as it is passed from hand to hand. Surely supports its members and stays to itself. we can all learn from each other how to be a challenge. Others with other cultural roots seem to me make the church be more the entity that to be better at being a church with an open God wants it to be. We hope this Newsletter door, inviting all to come in. issue can contribute to that. Obviously both emphases are necessary Daryl Yoder-Bontrager is Mennonite Cen - in a successful global church. Putting them tral Committee Director for together under one church roof, however, will and the Caribbean. likely be a challenge for some time to come.

Mennonites in Paraguay: A Brief History by Edgar Stoesz

andlocked Paraguay is sometimes referred arrived in northwest Paraguay—in the Lto as an island surrounded by land, deep Paraguayan Chaco—in 1927, taking the in the South American continent. For many, name . Another group fol - Anglican missionary Barbrooke Grubb’s lowed in 1948, establishing Bergthal and book title, An Unknown People in an Sommerfeld colonies in East Paraguay. They The entire multi-ethnic Unknown Land, rings as true in the early had emigrated from Russia to Manitoba and Mennonite population is 21st century as in 1889 when Grubb first Saskatchewan in the 1870s. After 50 years approximately 60,000. arrived there or as when Juan de Solis sailed they felt threatened by the encroaching world up the River Plate four centuries earlier. and Canadian laws that forbade them to con - duct their schools in the German language. Paraguay has had a troubled history, including two costly wars with neighboring A second grouping of Mennonites immi - nations. Its past is rife with corruption grated to Paraguay in 1930 and established and an abysmal human rights record. The . They had suffered through 35-year rein of Alfredo Stroessner ended the Russian Revolution and then the way in a bloody coup in 1989. There followed opened miraculously for them to leave. After a move toward democratization including a brief stay in Germany approximately one- a new constitution and other reforms. In third of them were helped by Mennonite 2008 a left-leaning former Catholic priest, Central Committee (MCC) to settle in the Fransisco Lugo, defeated the long-ruling northwest Paraguay Chaco region, as neigh - Colorado Party. bors to Menno Colony. (Another one-third moved to Canada, while the remaining one- So what brought Mennonites to this land third pioneered a settlement in Santa Kata - and what made Paraguay so extraordinarily rina, , but most later resettled to receptive to Mennonite appeals? Since the Curitiba, Brazil). first exploration in 1921, Paraguay became a kind of City of Refuge for Mennonites. The largest group of 5,616 Mennonite In 2008 the entire multi- refugees then came to Paraguay in 1947 fol - population, including the indigenous and lowing World War II. Their dramatic story Paraguayan Latinos, is approximately is told in Up From The Rubble by Peter J. The first of four separate 60,000. It ranks in the top ten countries in and Elfrieda Dyck. Half went to the Chaco movements of German- Mennonite World Conference and exceeds where they formed . The speaking Mennonites to the Mennonite population of either Holland other half went to East Paraguay where they or Switzerland. The story of Mennonites formed Volendam colony (some 100 kms Paraguay arrived in 1927. in Paraguay is a marvelous example of north and east of Asunción). They were God’s leading and human ingenuity and assisted by nearby Friesland colony, which perseverance. had broken off from Fernheim colony ten years earlier. How they gathered Beginning in 1967 the first of three unre - from Canada were lated small groupings of “Swiss-origin” the first of four separate movements of Ger - Mennonites immigrated to East Paraguay man-speaking Mennonites to Paraguay. They from Ohio and Pennsylvania. This included

MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 3 an Old Order and a Beachy Amish diligence and God’s blessing and some help ASCIM group from Ohio, and a conservative group from the outside, progressed beyond the that split from the Lancaster Mennonite subsistence level of production. Some have ASCIM, the Association for Indige - nous-Mennonite Cooperative Ser - Conference in Pennsylvania. ventured into business, with annual revenues into the millions of dollars and hundreds of vices, intends to promote interethnic The fourth and last mass migration of Ger - harmony between autonomous employees. A few have ventured into poli - indigenous communities in Paraguay man-speaking Old Colony Mennonites immi - tics, even occupying positions of influence through efforts to encourage growth grated to East Paraguay (and Bolivia) from in the recently-ended administration of Pres- of a solid economic base and to Mexico in four groups beginning in 1969. ident Nicanor Duarte Frutos. Paraguayan make health, education, and tech- Mennonite names will soon, if not already, The indigenous Paraguayan people found nical agricultural assistance more appear on the list of Paraguay’s one hundred themselves in a Chaco they had never known, available. wealthiest families. without having left it. The 1932 –1935 Chaco As the largest Paraguayan partner War and the coming of Mennonites created a of Mennonite Central Committee whole new reality for them. There was room How they gave back to the country (MCC), ASCIM was started through in the vast Chaco for them to relocate, but efforts of the Low German Menno- Mennonites did not come to Paraguay to nite community and MCC to extend they elected to stay and more were attracted do Christian missions outreach. They came support to indigenous people in the to join this unplanned, bicultural experiment. seeking a place to live in accordance with central Chaco. It became an offi - They are very much a part of this story. their religious convictions. Land and freedom cially-incorporated non-profit orga - were their prerequisites. But a missionary nization (NGO) in 1978 and its base How they prospered spirit lay dormant in their souls. In the words is in the city of in the Para- of Gerhard Hein, a lifelong missionary to guayan Chaco. It currently works When Fernheim colony celebrated its the indigenous population, “When we saw with seven indigenous groups, and twenty-fifth anniversary in 1955 it did so the Indians we said, “Is this what God had coordinates with national and local under a cloud of uncertainty whether the in mind when he directed us to Paraguay?” governments to avoid duplication colony would survive. One of its leaders of efforts. said, “We knew we would be poor, we did At the first harvest festival in the Chaco, In its work with approximately not know we would be poor so long.” This during the first year after their arrival, the 13,000 people in 13 communities, was true also of the other colonies, and Fernheim churches lifted an offering and ASCIM intends to accompany many departed for better prospects, mostly gave the call for workers to initiate a mission indigenous communities in their to Canada and Germany. As a new genera - to their unexpected neighbors. The Chaco socio-economic development. The tion took the reins, a series of innovations War between Paraguay and Bolivia inter - organization helps them gain agri - began to have a positive effect. cultural land, gives agricultural sup - vened, but 97 Mennonite families initiated port, provides training opportunities, • Colony cooperatives made quantity pur - Licht den Indianern (Light for the Indians) and promotes good health through chasing of essentials and the marketing on the very last day of that War in 1935. preventive and curative health of surplus products in Asunción possible. services. After 10 years they did not have even one • A 300-mile road was built with the convert to show for their effort. Then in (continued on page 5) assistance of MCC and the United States 1946 Sepe Llama, an Enlhet, came forward government to connect the Chaco to to request baptism. That was the beginning Asunción, which reduced the isolation of a network of 39 indigenous congregations and cost of transport. with 9,100 members served by more than • Robert Unruh, an MCC agronomist, 300 indigenous pastors. discovered buffel grass that gave rise to In the 1950s the indigenous families the burgeoning ranching enterprise. demanded land to create their own chacras • Twice Paraguay Mennonite leaders came (farmettes). Over the years more than 12,000 to request loans from brothers and sisters indigenous people have been assisted, with The second generation in the United States and Canada. Then it help from MCC and European organiza - was a million-dollar development loan tions, to occupy an expanse of 121,400 of immigrants learned from the U.S. government, followed by hectares (300,000 acres or 460 square miles). how to navigate in the substantial loans from Germany. With They have collectively more than 13,000 Latino culture. this credit, Mennonites were able to buy head of cattle. the equipment needed to process raw milk into cheese (and later yogurt and Education was one of four original mission ice cream), logs into lumber, and peanuts objectives. There were no schools and the into cooking oil. indigenous population was illiterate. Bit by bit the indigenous languages were alphabet - The second generation of immigrants ized. Basic primers were written and printed. learned how to farm in tropical Paraguay. After some years, indigenous teachers were They also learned how to navigate in the able to replace German Mennonite teachers. Latino culture with command of the Spanish By 1985, 95 percent of the children living in language. Today the third generation of communities served by the Mennonite mis - German-speaking Mennonites have, with sion had access to at least the first three

4 MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 years of classroom learning. In 2006 just human welfare needs. This included a major under 4,000 indigenous children were role in the rehabilitation of the national ASCIM (continued) enrolled in a network of schools with more psychiatric hospital in Asunción. Now in Farmers in the indigenous com- than 190 indigenous teachers. One hundred the third generation, more than 6,000 youth munities cultivated 1,600 hectares and fifty were enrolled in a high school have served a variety of ministries including (3,955 acres) of land last year and located in Yalve Sanga (situated between child care, prisons, and help to the aged had some 2,000 hectares (4,940 Menno, Fernheim and Neuland colonies). destitute. acres) of land for raising cattle. The crops included sesame, cotton, Improved health was a second mission Following the 1989 overthrow of President peanuts and tartago (castor bean, objective. Indigenous patients were treated Alfredo Stroessner’s regime (1954 –1989) source of castor oil). in Mennonite hospitals, but to serve them there were reports of as many as thirty thou - better a hospital was constructed in Yalve sand children on the streets of Asunción. The education and training oppor- Sanga (adjacent to the Chaco Mennonite Paraguay Mennonites initiated a large-scale tunities for indigenous children and youth includes preschools in 48 colonies) in 1953. In 1968 Dr. Hans Epp program which continues to serve this need. villages. ASCIM has responsibility was appointed as the first full-time physician At the same time the Mennonite Brethren, under the government’s Department serving the indigenous population in Yalve with financing from Europe and Canada, of Education to supervise 57 schools Sanga and also some 16 scattered village built two large schools in Asunción with in the region where some 5,000 clinics. Dr. Epp also introduced an active a combined enrollment of almost two students study, and to manage public health program to address the prob - thousand. one high school of 130 students. lem of tuberculosis, worms and childhood An ASCIM agricultural center offers diseases. As a result, infant mortality has As Mennonites became more proficient in agricultural training to indigenous decreased dramatically, life expectancy has Spanish they were increasingly attracted to young people. business opportunities. In 2008 there were increased, but tuberculosis continues to be The health program runs a small a public health problem. more than 30 German-speaking Mennonite- hospital in the Yalve Sanga com- owned businesses in Asunción. Six of the munity and has trained more than Simultaneously, mission-minded German- largest firms had combined sales in excess of 20 health promoters who work as speaking Mennonites also had a burden to US$140 million and had collectively 2,300 nurses, radiologists and dentists. witness to their Latino Paraguayan neigh - employees. To meet their moral responsibil - In 2007 they served over 12,500 bors, both Spanish- and Guarani-speaking. ity to their employees these business owners patients. Among the early pioneers were Hans initiated a service previously unknown in —Eduard Klassen and Susana Wiens and Albert and Anna Paraguay. Starting with one part-time chap - Enns. After some years of Bible training in lain, Capellania Empresarial now has thir - Eduard Klassen is Director of ASCIM. Argentina they returned to Paraguay where teen full-time and seven part-time chaplains In 2009 he becomes Mennonite Cen - they began evangelistic activities. They serving the spiritual and social welfare needs tral Committee Associate Director were joined by others and the support of of 3,200 employees and families. for Latin America and the Caribbean. North American mission organizations. By 2008 there were 126 churches in eight The story of Mennonites in Paraguay is of Paraguay’s 17 departments (provinces) replete with partnerships. First it was with with a combined membership of 5,300, Mennonite Central Committee and the and still growing. A 24-hour radio ministry North American and European mission and serves Asunción and surroundings with service agencies. More recently 110 business Christian programming, now expanded to and professional persons organized an active also include television. chapter of Mennonite Economic Develop - ment Associates (MEDA). To assist poor Paraguayan Mennonites in 1953 initiated a rural families, they established a plant to Thirteen full-time and mission to serve persons suffering from lep - process cassava. In 2006 they were able to seven part-time chap- rosy in part to thank Paraguay for having return US$3.5 million dollars to 1,800 mem - received them, no questions asked. This ber families. The program was so successful lains serve the spiritual work was pioneered by Clara and John that another plant is under construction. and social welfare needs Schmidt and continues under Paraguayan of 3,200 employees and direction with limited outside financing. In 1994 Mennonites were the driving force Known by the road marker at its entrance, in forming an affiliate of Habitat for families. Km 81—81 kilometers due east of Asun - Humanity. By 2008, 568 families had been ción—more than 15,000 names appear on helped to own and occupy a decent house. the leprosy register of this world-renowned oasis. The future A voluntary service program, Christlicher Impressive as this all sounds, Paraguayan Dienst (Christian Service) was also initiated Mennonites face some steep challenges as in 1953 to staff the new leprosy mission. they prepare to host the Mennonite World The idea of service appealed to young people Conference in July 2009. Economically who were growing up in isolated Mennonite they are positioned to become increasingly colonies. The focus was broadened beyond wealthy, in contrast to their neighbors, Km 81 leprosy work to address a variety of many of whom live in severe poverty. This

MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 5 increased wealth brings with it, as wealth Paraguay Mennonites—a multi-ethnic com - Further Resources always does, increased secularization. Some munity that speaks ten languages—are on decry that the long-standing mantra—“the a journey with an outcome known only to IN SPANISH common good ahead of personal gain”— God. Their prayer would doubtless be— Ratzlaff, Gerhard. Historia, Fe y is being inverted. Personal gain is winning Jesu, geh voran, Jesús va adelante, Kirito Prácticas Menonitas: Un Enfoque at the expense of the common good. The tenonde ho´o, Jesus go before us. Paraguayo. Asunción, Paraguay: remarkable partnership with their indige - Instituto Bíblico Asunción. 2006. nous neighbors is far from complete. Finding Edgar Stoesz began his association with Paraguay in 1966 as Latin American Sec- Indígenas del Chaco Central Christian solidarity and complementarily Paraguayo: Etnohistoria e Identidad with the emerging Paraguayan Latino retary for Mennonite Central Committee Contemporan. Chaco Central church is a constant challenge. Relation- in Akron, Pennsylvania. His MCC career Paraguay: ASCIM. 2005. ships with the large and imposing Catholic included service as Associate Executive Church are fragile. The political stability Secretary 1977 –1984. He is author of IN ENGLISH of the country is not assured. several books, and this article is drawn Alfert, Lucia. “The Mennonite Pres - from Like a Mustard Seed: Mennonites ence in the Chaco from a Catholic in Paraguay (Herald Press, 2008). Perspective,” Mennonite Quarterly Review. July 2002, pp. 337 –352.

Boschmann, Erwin. Paraguay: A Tour Guide, With Special Emphasis A Letter from Paraguay on the Mennonites. Newton, Kansas: Faith and Life Bookstore, 2008. by Alfred Neufeld Bergen, Ernst, as told to Phyllis Pellman Good. Jumping into Empty Asunción, May 2008 jumped into politics offi - Space: a Reluctant Mennonite Busi - cially just eight months ago. His family had nessman Serves in Paraguay’s Pres - ome of you have inquired how it was in belonged to the Colorado Party, but from a idential Cabinet (biography of former SParaguay to live through the recent weeks very early stage went into opposition during Minister of Finance of Paraguay). leading up to and including the elections of Stroessner’s dictatorship. His uncle, Epifanio Intercourse PA: Good Books, 2008. April 20, 2008, and the first days of a new Méndez Fleitas, in the beginning a very close Dyck, Peter J. and Elfrieda. Up From political era. Here are some reflections and ally to Stroessner, fell into disgrace and The Rubble. Herald Press. 1999. observations. became an opposition emblem in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fernando was a school Klassen, Peter P. The Mennonites 1. The candidates in the campaign teacher in his first profession, and then stud - in Paraguay, vol. 1 and vol. 2 (2003, ied theology. He became a priest in the spirit 2002). Indeed, we had a long and tiring election of the “ligas agrarias” (agrarian reformers) Ratzlaff, Gerhard. The Trans-Chaco campaign. Both traditional parties, the Lib - of the 1960s and the emerging Liberation Highway: How it Came to Be. eral and the Colorado, had very “bloody” Theology of Gustavo Gutierrez. He is a internal elections and the wounds had not close personal friend to Leonardo Boff and Redekop, Calvin. Strangers Become healed. There was much at stake, especially seems to have a lot of financial friends in Neighbors: Mennonite and Indige - the risk to the ruling Colorado party that nous Relations in the Paraguayan Germany. During part of the Stroessner it could lose power for the first time. In the regime he studied Sociology in Rome and Chaco. Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Colorado Party, former Vice-president Cas - Herald Press. 1980. later became bishop of the San Pedro depart - tiglioni had the strong support of the Opus ment for about 10 years. In that area there Reimer, Gerhard. “The Green Hell Dei, the big business leaders in Asunción, are also Mennonite immigrant settlements, Becomes Home: Mennonites in the soy bean lobby, the U.S. embassy and all kinds of small and big marijuana plan- Paraguay as Described in the Writ - even some from the Moon sect. But he was tations, and a large segment of small and ings of Peter P. Klassen: A Review strongly opposed by Chavez of Essay,” Mennonite Quarterly Review. impoverished peasants. He became the 2008 and Lula of Brazil. Castiglioni lost the inter - Alliance presidential candidate. October 2002, pp. 460 –480. nal elections by a razor-thin margin which Stoesz, Edgar. Like a Mustard Seed: split the Colorado Party, and about 35 per - The well known, always conspiring ex- Mennonites in Paraguay. Herald cent of that party vote went to the opposi - General Lino Oviedo had regained his free - Press, 2008. tion, mainly to Fernando Lugo. dom partly because his legal process didn’t proceed. He had been close to Lugo and Stoesz, Edgar, and Muriel T. President Nicanor Duarte Frutos, ineligible Stackley. Garden in the Wilderness: the opposition, as long as he was in prison. for re-election, had launched his female Min - But as soon as he recovered his freedom, Mennonite Communities in the ister of Education Blanca Ovelar as the pres- Paraguayan Chaco 1927 –1997. he launched himself independently. Winnipeg, Manitoba: CMBC Publi- idential candidate for the Colorado party. She was known for being hard-working, cations, 1999. 2. Things to be thankful for very social minded, honest and quite capable. (continued on page 7) Her campaign was good, but was strongly • Election Day went very well. It was a good resisted and betrayed by a large and con- experience, with nice weather, so many nice siderably corrupt segment within the govern - people working diligently at the election ing party who saw her as a threat to their tables, and some rich and so many poor peo - interests.

6 MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 ple casting their vote in a climate of absolute the good economic figures were due to the freedom, privacy, and joy. job done by Dionisio Borda, Ernst Bergen, Further Resources and Carlos Walde. (continued) • The election results for the presidency were clear. There was a 10 percent difference Blanca also made a strong point that she IN GERMAN between Lugo of the Alliance and Blanca of would be the first woman president in gov - Peter P. Klassen. Die Mennoniten the Colorado Party. Paraguay does not have ernment. She came from an honest and hum - in Paraguay: Reich Gottes und a second-round run-off election in order to ble home in Concepción, had worked hard Reich dieser Welt. Mennonitischer build a clear majority. But a result with a as a school teacher and school administra - Geschichtsverein e.V., Bolanden— 10 percent difference—40 percent versus 30 tor, with a record of transparent administra - Weiherhof, 2001. percent—is very helpful to keep the peace. tion and no personal enrichment during her Ratzlaff, Gerhard. Robert und Myrtle years of public service. • The election machinery worked very well. Unruh: Dienst an der Gemeinschaft mit nachhaltiger Wirkung. Die On a big screen official results of the fast Against her was the fact that the very aggres - drei mennonitischen Kolonien in count were transmitted immediately. After sive political discourse of Nicanor and the Paraguay: Menno, Fernheim und four hours the official counts and parallel center-left position she shared with him was Neuland, Paraguay, 2007. English counts were finished and published at 9 pm not received well by many businessmen and translation by Phil Roth planned for with almost exact agreement on the results. party bosses. That she had had almost no November 2008 release. prior political party life encouraged some to • Many international observers, OEA and think that she would be merely the extended Ratzlaff, Gerhard. Ein Leib-viele IFES, led by ex-president Pastrana from Glieder: Die mennonitischen arm of Nicanor. Those that had lost privi - Gemeinden in Paraguay, originally , were present and played a very leges during Nicanor’s time feared they would positive role. published in Paraguay, 2001. Eng - lose even more. She was, in fact, strongly lish translation by Jake Balzer titled resisted within her own party, partly because • Both the winning and the losing candidates One Body—Many Parts: The Men - of her gender. So a major factor in her loss behaved in a very helpful way: the winners nonite Churches in Paraguay, Win - was that most of the “Castiglionistas”— nipeg: Kindred Productions, 2008. with humbleness, the losers giving their con - the internal opposition within the Colorado gratulations and admitting their defeat prior Party—voted against her. to 9 pm. b. Fernando Lugo • Our president Nicanor Duarte Frutos pledged on that same election evening a Lugo was able to put together a large coali - peaceful, orderly and transparent transfer tion of parties and movements from ultra- of power to the opposition government- left to liberal free-market right ideologies. elect. It has never happened before in the That gave him the possibility to promote the almost 200 years of Paraguayan political idea of change and opened up a real chance history that one party was willing to turn to displace the Colorado Party from power over power democratically to another party. after 61 years. The present good macro eco - nomic structure made access to power very • Ten days after the election President-elect A joint transition desirable from different segments of society. Lugo visited President Nicanor at the committee was He made the following main arguments. governmental palace. They had a chat for formed in order almost two hours and both came out with • Renegotiation of the hydro power agree - to make important big smiles. A joint transition committee ment at Itaipú y Yacyretá with neighboring between the old and the new government Brazil and Argentina to increase Paraguay’s decisions together. was formed in order to make important revenue even more. Some Brazilian analysts decisions together and avoid “strange have suggested that Lugo wants to wield things” prior to August 15, 2008, the date political influence with hydro electricity in for the government-elect to assume office. the way that Venezuela’s Chavez is with petro dollars. However, Lugo has expressed 3. Basic arguments made during the campaign publicly that his model is Taberé Vazquez and the Frente Amplia experience of a. Blanca Ovelar . Blanca characterized herself as the candidate • Lugo sensed rightly that the Paraguayan representing economic improvement and population was tired of confrontation. He continuity, and she built on a large list of basically did not respond any of the attacks economic and social achievements of the about his associates, to Vatican hints, nor Nicanor era. These last six years of eco - as to whether his presidential candidacy was nomic growth that averaged 6.8 percent legitimate. were the best economic growth rate of the last 25 years. The achievements of the • Lugo was able to convince the voters that Nicanor government include stability, pre - he would identify primarily with the poor dictability, cheap credits, and fiscal budgets and marginalized who make up the big in surplus. Most analysts would agree that majority. He refuses to wear ties and suits,

MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 7 mostly preferring “fishermen sandals”, Pessimistic scenario: Once the honeymoon is Some Impressions making a curious figure in Paraguayan high over, there is real potential for political from the Chaco society which loves glamour. instability and a power crisis. The Liberal Party, Lugo’s main political support, might On May 23, 2008, we arrived in the • Lugo was able to capitalize on popular get disenchanted about their candidate. With Chaco to work with ASCIM (Associa - frustrations, but also to secure big money tion for Indigenous-Mennonite Coop - some smaller alliances it would be very easy and support from media tsars and large for them to displace him from power. Lugo erative Services), an organization agro-businesses. As professional politicians formed by Paraguayan Mennonites knows that and tries to strengthen his politi - in response to initiatives made by these two segments will try to buy or pres - cal support directly through his contact with the indigenous peoples for economic sure him. The old historic Liberal Party, the population. and social growth. whose candidates were unable to win in the last 60 years, has given him its uncon- Extremely pessimistic scenario: Lugo does We live in Yalve Sanga, a unique ditional support. The Liberals also made a not have good experience in public adminis - community of Mennonites of Ger - very good showing in this year’s 2008 par - tration, and many claim that he is a very man origin, indigenous people, and liamentary elections. poor administrator. Several of his cabinet Latino Paraguayans that is adminis - tered by ASCIM. Yalve Sanga con - candidates (health, education, and finance) Time will show if Lugo has the political are good, but too radicalized, and are unable tains a hospital, primary school, high talent to keep his freedom and do what he school, Bible school, an agricultural to get along well with others. Some Liberal program, bakery, and produces and thinks should be done. His momentary allies Party insiders are very open to say that they broadcasts radio programming in could become his worst enemies tomorrow. chose Lugo as a puppet populist candidate the indigenous languages. It is a On the other hand, the Colorado Party, and that they are prepared to get rid of him remarkable place where three cul - which in theory is center socialist, might as soon as he “doesn’t behave” or “gets tures converge and blend in a tapes - well become his strongest support. crazy”. The far left has very ambitious try of faith-based efforts to help the reform programs and might become impa - indigenous peoples of the Chaco. 4. What does the future hold? tient once they see that he has to negotiate with moderate and capitalist forces. The We work in the high school as sub - No one knows the future for sure. Several stitute teachers and provide violin soybean lobby and the meat lobby will not scenarios are thinkable. lessons to students from the 6th –9th happily take cutbacks or heavier tax loads. grades under a country-wide pro - Optimistic scenario: Lugo is a mysterious and The Pope and the Paraguayan bishops con - gram founded by the conductor ference might get into serious conflicts, and of Paraguay’s National Symphony lovable—almost timid—guy. Coming from almost atheist parents he decided to study there is a tense situation between the Opus Orchestra to help poor children and Dei on the one hand and the Jesuits and their families. theology after being a school teacher and doing theater in order to overcome his shy - liberationists on the other. The press is not Set in the driest part of Paraguay, ness. But he knows a lot about Realpolitik independent and it’s thinkable that they where seven- to nine-month periods from his uncle Epifanio, who, while still being might soon become his worst enemies if he without rain are common and hot Stroessner’s friend, introduced torture in the is not willing to play along with the interests searing winds and dust storms of the strong owners. So a coup d’état, a torment the land, Yalve Sanga has mid-fifties. Some strange mixture of piety, love for the poor, Che Guevara, Dom Helder severe crisis and leadership change within positively affected the lives of many the next one or two years is a possibility. since its founding in 1936. We meet Camara and Leonardo Boff, feeling hands-on identification with the peasant movements, people in many parts of Paraguay Shalom, and sophisticated theological and sociological who have lived and worked here Alfred who say that those years were the talk with intellectuals gives him the potential best in their lives. We feel privileged to lead Paraguayan politics into a completely to work with our neighbors of all new era. After this clear positive election, Postscript. three cultures. almost all political segments have promised Asunción, November 24, 2008 support to his government—the Catholic (continued on page 9) omorrow we celebrate the first 100 days Church in general, Opus Dei, and the of Lugo in government. The general mood Catholic Christian Democracy who opposed T in the papers and with political analysts his candidacy. Good signals are coming from is not very optimistic. The conflicts in the Brazil and Argentina and the United States. countryside have been strong. The President Both Lugo and the U.S. embassy affirmed and Vice-President are in permanent dis - that they want to strengthen the “umbral agreement. The Liberal Party and the dissi - pro gram,” to improve administrative effi - No one knows the dent Red Party (Castiglioni), who gave Lugo ciency and the transparency of state and the victory, as well as the Catholic Bishop’s future for sure. government. So we could have a very good Conference, have started signaling consider - five-year period if Parliament is cooperative able distance to the present government. and the main political players are willing to The question of the future will be “govern - produce positive synergy. It is an implied abilidad”—governability. blessing from the Red Party to cede power in such an “elegant” way after a democratic As churches and religious associations and transparent election. we met three days ago, after being called together by the Minister of Education, Dr. Galeano Perrone. I was a little shocked by

8 MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 what he said: “If we continue this way, we There is an increasingly heated ongoing all will lose.” Since this government was “cold war” between Brazil and Venezuela, Some Impressions elected cleanly and democratically with a challenging us in Paraguay to take sides with from the Chaco clear plurality and with a parliamentary Brazil’s Lula or Venezuela’s Chavez. As a (continued) majority, as churches we intend to do our small nation we are almost as defenseless as best to help them to be successful. The big 30 years ago when we had to choose loyalty Despite the long dry season and owners of the media have started attacking between Moscow and Washington. the hot winds and dust storms, one cannot speak of the Chaco without the government in an almost unfair way. mentioning the miracles of nature These days we learn that Paraguayan mari - A newspaper headline today reads: “The population after 100 days of government that abound here. Almost every sun - juana is the best in the world, that we are set is spectacular. The stars are bril - the second-largest marijuana producer on is frustrated, but has not yet lost hope that liant and the full moon so bright that the globe and that the drug traffic alone things can change for good.” you can almost read a newspaper in this herb might produce almost as much by it. Alfred Neufeld is Dean of the School of revenue for the black market as our entire Theology of the Protestant University of The animal and plant life that flour - official exports. There seem to be indications Paraguay in Asunción, Paraguay, and is ish despite the drought is astound - that the marijuana production is financing chairperson for the Summer 2009 MWC ing. A wide variety of birds thrive in a large part of the peasant and “campesinos Assembly 15 in Asunción. this parched land. Trees suddenly sin tierra” (landless) conflict. burst forth in brilliant leaf or flower after many months of drought and the Chaco becomes a symphony of colors in the midst of conditions so hot and dry you would expect the Hopes and Plans for the 2009 land to be consumed by forest fires. However, the contrast between rich Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15 and poor in the Chaco is stark. There are wealthy land owners living on by Carmen Epp large tracts of land who made their fortunes through agricultural enter - he Mennonite World Conference (MWC) one in each of the colonies Fernheim, Fries - prises or businesses, using the land that once belonged to indigenous Assembly 15 is going to be held in Asun - land, Neuland and Volendam which were T peoples. But many indigenous peo - ción, Paraguay in July 2009. Many people founded by refugees from Russia, and there ple still struggle to survive and live are already involved in the preparations: is one congregation in Asunción. in simple houses or shacks or some - conference leaders, pastors, leaders of times under plastic sheets, with the Mennonite organizations and institutions, • The Vereinigung der Mennoniten Brüder source of their next meal often very church members, students, business people, Gemeinden Paraguays (Conference of Men - uncertain. But when we meet them housewives, etc. Many sub-committees are nonite Brethren Churches) is made up of we are almost always greeted with planning arrangements for food, lodging, seven congregations with just over 1,800 a broad smile and warm handshake. transportation, facilities, children and youth baptized members. These congregations We find it amazing that these out - programs, service opportunities, Global are located in the “Russian-Mennonite” wardly poor people seem generally happier than we of the so-called Church Village, etc. One of the criteria for colonies of Fernheim (3 congregations), First World, who have so many appointing members to the various commit - Friesland, Neuland, Volendam, and one in Asunción. material possessions. Perhaps tees is to involve all eight of the host mem - this is why Yalve Sanga feels like ber conferences in the planning and hosting • The Evangelische Mennonitische Bruder - a haven of peace and security. of the assembly. schaft (Evangelical Mennonite Brotherhood) —Mark and Krista Clement The Paraguayan hosts will be the eight Men - consists of one German-speaking mother Mark and Krista Clement attend nonite conferences that are official members church in Fernheim colony with five Span - Church Communities International of the Mennonite World Conference. All ish-speaking annexes in greater Asunción. They have a total of about 900 members. and are sponsored by MCC to work eight of these conferences are the result of with ASCIM in the Chaco region of Mennonite immigration into Paraguay in the The close contact between indigenous Paraguay. 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Three of these are groups and immigrant settlers in the Chaco formed by congregations of German-speaking in northwest Paraguay, and direct mission Mennonite immigrants or their descendants. work to indigenous groups has resulted in • The Vereinigung der Mennonitengemein - the establishment of three conferences. den von Paraguay (Conference of Mennonite The Paraguayan hosts • The Convención de las Iglesias Evangélicas Churches, or General Conference) has 20 Unidas—Enlhet Paraguay (Conference of will be eight Mennonite congregations with a total of about 7,300 United Enlhet Churches) consists of 14 conferences. baptized members. The congregations were churches and three annexes in the Chaco founded by immigrants from Canada in the with slightly more than 4,000 baptized 1920s and Russia in the 1930s and 40s. In members from different ethnic groups Menno colony, founded by immigrants from (Lengua Norte, Lengua Sur, Toba-Maskoy Canada, there are 15 congregations. There is and ).

MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 9 • The Convención Evangélica Hermanos a cultural group, just as “Paraguayan” in the Menonitas Enlhet (Conference of Enlhet common usage is used to refer to the majority Mennonite Brethren Churches) has seven population of Guarani/ and congregations in the Chaco with approxi - culture. Similarly, “Enlhet” or “Nivacle,” etc. mately 2,000 baptized members who speak refer to the indigenous people groups, and Enlhet Norte. “Ukrainian, Korean, Japanese and German” refer to those various immigrant cultures. • The Convención Iglesias Evangélicas When it comes to Christian faith and Hermanos Menonitas Nivacle (Conference membership in a Mennonite congregation, of Nivacle Mennonite Brethren Churches) members of Spanish-speaking or indigenous The diversity of languages consists of nine congregations in the Chaco congregations would more commonly and about 2,300 baptized members. Their and cultures in our global identify themselves as “evangélicos” than language is Nivacle. “menonitas.” However, it is hard for the gen - family of faith is part of our eral population (and indigenous and Spanish- Church-planting efforts of the German- Paraguayan reality. speaking brothers and sisters) to distinguish speaking Mennonites and Mennonite between “cultural Mennonites” and “faith Brethren, mainly in the eastern part of Mennonites.” Paraguay, resulted in two Spanish-speaking conferences: Another hope is that this event will strengthen our Mennonite churches in • The Convención Evangélica Menonita Paraguay, increase our testimony and Paraguaya (Conference of Paraguayan outreach, and be a testimony of unity. Mennonite Churches) has 25 churches and 22 annexes (developing churches) with We hope that Assembly 15 might be a cata - approximately 1,350 baptized members. lyst to help us create better networks and links within Paraguay as well as globally. • The Convención Evangélica de Iglesias Paraguayas Hermanos Menonitas (Confer - We also hope to share the hospitality that ence of Paraguayan Mennonite Brethren is typical of our different cultural groups, to Churches) is made up of 48 congregations offer a friendly atmosphere for all the partic - and an estimated 2,500 members. ipants, and to get to know our guests from all over the world. As can be seen from the outline above, we as Paraguayan hosts do not need to wait for To make Paraguay and its Mennonites better Assembly 15 itself to experience the diversity known, we hope to share our experiences of languages and cultures in our global family and strengths with the rest of the world— of faith. It is part of our Paraguayan reality. what we produce and what we have achieved in different fields. We feel honored to be hosts to the Mennon - ite world that is coming to visit us, though We hope to use Assembly 15 to show our at times we feel nearly overwhelmed by all gratitude to God and to those Mennonite the expectations. Then we tell ourselves that groups who helped the Mennonites settle in everything is possible with God’s help, just Paraguay. as in previous MWC Assemblies. Our Paraguayan youth are looking forward Hopes of the Paraguayan Mennonite church to getting to know their peers from other for the assembly cultures and to share the experiences and challenges they are confronted with in their Young Mennonites also It is hoped that one result of the MWC countries.Young Mennonites also hope to hope to show that we are Assembly 15 will be a better understanding, show the Paraguayan non-Mennonite popu - a people who are peaceful, or perhaps even redefinition, of what it means lation that we are a people who are peaceful, to be Mennonite in Paraguay. The label multicultural and dedicated to service. multicultural and dedicated “Mennonite” is commonly applied to a cul - to service. tural group instead of a denomination, both As we join in this celebration and time of among Mennonites themselves and among renewal we hope to share with each other, the general Paraguayan population. When to get to know each other better, and to someone says “He or she is a Mennonite,” strengthen each other. Together we will be the usual implication is that the person better equipped to fulfill God’s purpose for belongs to the cultural group of German- his church and his world. speaking immigrants from Canada, Russia and Mexico or their descendants, whether Carmen Epp is a Mennonite World Con- or not he/she is a member of a Mennonite ference staff person based in Asunción, church. So “Mennonite” is used to identify Paraguay.

10 MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 BOOK REVIEW Jumping into Empty Space: A Reluctant Mennonite Businessman Serves in Paraguay’s Presidential Cabinet reviewed by Alain Epp Weaver

n 2003 the Paraguayan president selected businessperson in hiring ex-convicts in his Ernst Bergen, as told to Phyllis IErnst Bergen, a successful Mennonite busi - businesses. Bergen’s life embodies Menno- Pellman Good, Jumping into Empty nessman who had grown up in Filadelfia nite movement outward from the colonies Space: A Reluctant Mennonite in the Fernheim Colony, to be Minister of towards an integration into and deep iden- Businessman Serves in Paraguay’s Presidential Cabinet. Good Books, Industry and Commerce, and then in 2005 tification with all of Paraguay’s people. Men - 2008. as Minister of Finance, a post from which nonites have been called to faithful witness he resigned in the summer of 2007. Bergen’s in Paraguay, a witness which has led to the story, narrated in concise, conversational, ongoing transformation of Paraguayan Men - and accessible fashion with the assistance of nonites from a German cultural group to a Phyllis Pellman Good, provides an intriguing multiethnic church. insider view of a Mennonite who ascended to one of his country’s most prominent and The bulk of Bergen’s narrative concerns the challenging political positions. It provides challenges he faced as government minister. material for reflection on the nature of Chris - Appointed by President Nicanor Duarte Fru - tian participation in state politics, while also tos—whose wife Gloria Penayo de Duarte He broke with much offering one window onto Paraguayan Men - was herself an active member of a Mennonite Paraguayan business nonite realities. congregation—Bergen strove to advance multiple agendas. They included: to balance practice by operating Bergen grew up within the colonies of the country’s budget; to combat corruption; in full compliance with German-Russian Mennonites who settled to eliminate piracy of copyrighted material; the law in Paraguay in search of religious freedom to increase public revenues; to improve and freedom from persecution. The early Paraguay’s standing with the International chapters paint a warm picture of Bergen’s Monetary Fund (even as he ironically notes upbringing in Fernheim, describing the solid the double standards whereby the IMF religious upbringing he received from his expects countries like Paraguay to work parents, who both worked as nurses (his towards balanced budgets, while countries father served with Mennonite Voluntary like the United States operate with massive Service in a psychiatric hospital) and who deficits); to achieve more equitable arrange - stand for Bergen as examples of piety and ments with Brazil over revenues from a service and who sought out relationships hydroelectric dam; to increase job oppor- with Paraguay’s indigenous peoples. tunities for Paraguayans; and to address the starkly inequitable distribution of wealth in When Bergen turned 16, he left the “closed Paraguay. A very tall order. community” of the colony to study at an agro-mechanic school many hours away from Especially as Finance Minister, Bergen Fernheim. The move away “forced” Bergen became a lightning rod at the center of “to identify and appreciate the Paraguayan numerous controversies, and some of the culture,” while also leading him to a deeper book’s most captivating moments recount “faith and relationship with God.” Bergen how Bergen attempted to negotiate these began to excel in his studies and the Menno- controversies in a win-win fashion. The nite colonies began to vie with each other to book begins dramatically as Bergen must hire him as a teacher. Bergen, however, began defuse a tense situation in which a victim university studies. Marrying Lucy Giese - of the Alfredo Stroessner military regime brecht, another Paraguayan Mennonite, he threatens to jump from a radio tower in Bergen attempted started work with Record Electric, a major Asunción unless the Finance Ministry pro - electrical contractor in Paraguay’s capital. vides compensation for his suffering under to negotiate these He also established his own business of the dictatorship. Bergen convinced the man controversies in a buying and selling spare parts for cars. He to come down, but then had to determine win-win fashion. quickly moved up in the business world, and how to treat him fairly without exposing became a successful entrepreneur who broke the government to a flood of budget-busting with much Paraguayan business practice demands from other Stroessner regime vic - by operating in full compliance with the law. tims, all while operating under the scrutiny Bergen also set himself up as an unusual of the media. In another striking incident,

MCC Peace Office Newsletter / January–March 2009 11 Mennonite NONPROFIT ORG Central U.S. POSTAGE Committee PAID AKRON, PA 21 South 12th Street PERMIT #3 PO Box 500 Akron, PA 17501-0500

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

an opposition political figure threatened to interested in how Christians generally and The Peace Office Newsletter is pub - conduct a strip-tease in front of the ministry Mennonites particularly have understood lished quarterly by the Mennonite if Bergen did not meet with her to discuss participation in governmental politics. Central Committee International Pro - her concerns. Bergen’s brief account leaves the reader at gram Department. Editor is Lawrence points wanting to know more. How does Rupley. Consulting Editors are Bob Herr, Bergen emerges in this account as reflective Bergen understand his Mennonite faith? Judy Zimmerman Herr and Amy Erick - and self-aware. He is critical of his some - son. Opinions expressed in this newslet - What elements of that faith pushed him into ter reflect those of the authors and not times unsuccessful struggle to control his political work? What tensions, if any, did he necessarily those of Mennonite Central temper and to exercise patience. Running discern between his Mennonite faith and his Committee. themes throughout the book are Bergen’s political responsibilities? How does he under - awareness of the human tendency to abuse Additional subscriptions welcome— stand the relationship of Mennonites to other see address below. To keep paper and and misuse God’s good gifts and his stress Christian churches in Paraguay? How is energy waste at a minimum we ask that ultimately the result of human actions Mennonite identity in Paraguay changing you to inform us if an address should be depends on divine, not human, action. as it becomes increasingly multi- ethnic? This changed or if a name should be dropped Reflecting on the temptations which come reviewer would have appreciated more sus - from our mailing list. Telephone: with business success and the responsibility tained discussion of questions such as these. (717) 859-1151. Printed in the U.S.A. such success brings for service, Bergen indi - This quibble aside, Bergen’s engaging account To subscribe to the Peace Office News- cates that the faithful Christian enters politics of his participation in the upper echelons letter, please send your address to MCC, not for glory or wealth but in order to serve of Paraguayan politics will appeal to a wide PO Box 500, Akron PA 17501-0500 or and to help rebuild a ruined polity. The suc - readership, from those interested in the e-mail: [email protected]. Direct cess of that work, however, finally depends Paraguayan Mennonite church to those who requests for additional copies of the upon God. newsletter to: [email protected]. reflect on the role of Christians in politics. A donation of $10.00 per year per sub- This volume also contains several appendices, scription is suggested. Peace Office Alain Epp Weaver served as MCC co- welcomes contributions to its work. including helpful and concise overviews representative for Palestine, Jordan and of Paraguayan history and the story of the Iraq. In early 2009 he becomes Director The Peace Office Newsletter can also be Paraguayan Mennonite community written of the Program Development Department accessed on the MCC Web site: mcc.org/ by Paraguay Mennonite theologian Alfred respub/pon/ of Mennonite Central Committee’s Inter- Neufeld. The book will appeal to anyone national Program Department.