2016-2017 Yearbook International Volunteer Exchange Program Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network Serving And Learning Together mcc.org/gsl An IVEP group picture during an outing at their mid-year conference in British Columbia in February Bridges. I’m sure you’ve seen a bridge or two this year. Maybe a rickety one across a ravine — a bridge that required you to take your courage in both hands in order to step onto it. Or a great feat of engineering that has proudly stood for a century or more. This year has been about building bridges. Within these pages you will read many stories of connection, and of finding commonalities across striking differences. You are not the same person who left a year ago — well, of course you are on one level. You probably have the same name and hair color, but things, and people, and you yourself have changed. You have matured, and been affected by your experiences. For some of you, events in your home community or home country have also changed life to the extent that it is hard to recognize the place you are returning to. Some of you will find your changed viewpoints open up new opportunities or relationships you had never seen before. On your return there is a mighty need for bridge builders — people who can span different understandings of life, find the common ground of our human experience and notice where the spirit of God is present. There will also be a need for the internal work of bridge building as you reflect on your year. Be sure to give yourself time and space for the spirit of God to be present there. As you read the stories within the yearbook, I invite you to identify where bridges were built. And as you step into the next stage of your life, I invite you to continue the work of building bridges. As you spend time with your friends and family, or speak at gatherings, or return to work and studies, I invite you to hold those conversations that lead to greater understanding. Like Jesus, be a channel through which God’s unconditional, reconciling love is expressed. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, … and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Helen Yocum GSL Administrative Assistant IVEP participants IVEP Name Pages Name Pages Isabel Asumwishe ....................................... 4, 8, 41 Irene Irawati ............................................... 4, 14, 39 Ermias Tessema Beyene .............................. 4, 8, 40 Memory Kamoto ........................................ 4, 15 Shraddha Bux ............................................. 4, 8, 41 Leticia Kasaka ............................................ 4, 16, 42 Souda Chirdchung ...................................... 4, 9 HyeonJeong Kim ........................................ 4, 16 Jonas Da ..................................................... 4, 10, 39 Krystin Kotze ............................................. 5, 17, 40 Abhijit Das ................................................. 4, 10, 40, 41, 42 Michelle F Kundishora ............................... 5, 17, 41 Barbara Franzen ......................................... 4, 11, 40, 42 António Lembranca ................................... 5, 18, 40, 41 Michael Ghaly ............................................ 4, 12 Valeria Martinez Castillo ........................... 5, 18, 41, 42 Felipe Gonçalves da Silva ........................... 4, 12, 41 Hisar (Sam) Mirino .................................... 5, 19 Nataša Gudalo ........................................... 4, 12, 42 Olena (Helen) Mordovets .......................... 5, 19, 40, 41 Abenezer Habtemariam ............................. 4, 13, 39 Nkhatoheng Justina Mphi ......................... 5, 20, 40, 41 Judith Hege ................................................ 4, 14, 40 Elizabeth (Bethsy) Mulya ........................... 5, 20, 40, 41 2 Name Pages Name Pages Eirene Mulyaningtyas ................................ 5, 21, 40 Ram (Simon) Nath Raut ............................ 6, 30, 42 Johanna Muñoz.......................................... 5, 22, 39 Proshongsita Rema ..................................... 6, 31 Wesley Bisset Ncube .................................. 5, 23 QingRun Shi ............................................... 6, 31 Joseph-Joel Nduku Atiyia Nsulunka ......... 5, 24, 39 Alfius (Alfa) Taime ..................................... 6, 32, 41 Donald Nyakyema ..................................... 5, 25 Kaoxeeyeng Thao ....................................... 6, 33, 41 Wycliff Ochieng Otieno ............................. 5, 25 KiengKham Thor ....................................... 6, 33 Moses Osiro ............................................... 5, 26 Shirley Vaca ................................................ 6, 33, 40 Melissa Oxla Roman ................................. 5, 27, 40 Karen Marie Valladares Cano .................... 6, 34, 40 Koll Phann.................................................. 6, 27 Ayda María Villalobos ............................... 6, 35 Sarou Pheng ............................................... 6, 28 Majaga Juma Wanjara ............................... 6, 36, 41 Mohau Phooko .......................................... 6, 29, 39 Vilasith Xayalath ........................................ 6, 37 Chansocheata (Socheata) Poum ................. 6, 29, 41 Sovannara Yoeun ....................................... 6, 37, 40, 41 3 IVEP Isabel Asumwishe Ermias Tessema Beyene Shraddha Bux Souda Chirdchung Jonas Da Abhijit Das Barbara Franzen Michael Ghaly Felipe Gonçalves Nataša Gudalo Abenezer Habtemariam Judith Hege da Silva Irene Irawati Memory Kamoto Leticia Kasaka HyeonJeong Kim 4 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM IVEP Krystin Kotze Michelle F Kundishora António Lembranca Valeria Martinez Castillo Hisar (Sam) Mirino Olena (Helen) Mordovets Nkhatoheng Justina Mphi Elizabeth (Bethsy) Mulya Eirene Mulyaningtyas Johanna Muñoz Wesley Bisset Ncube Joseph-Joel Nduku Atiyia Nsulunka Donald Nyakyema Wycliff Ochieng Otieno Moses Osiro Melissa Oxla Roman INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM 5 IVEP Koll Phann Sarou Pheng Mohau Phooko Chansocheata (Socheata) Poum Ram (Simon) Nath Raut Proshongsita Rema QingRun Shi Alfius (Alfa) Taime Kaoxeeyeng Thao KiengKham Thor Shirley Vaca Karen Marie Valladares Cano Ayda María Villalobos Majaga Juma Wanjara Vilasith Xayalath Sovannara Yoeun 6 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM IVEP MCC Global Service Learning Department Staff Smiling through the glare of Manitoba sunshine bouncing off a frozen lake, from left to right, Wade Snowdon**, Kathryn Deckert***, Chris Landes*, Helen Yocum*, Danilo Sanchez*, Andrea Geiser*, Katie Froese** and Kendelle Fawcett** Global Service Learning (GSL) Department’s purpose and mission is to develop and resource short-term, introductory service-learning opportunities within MCC, with the aim of facilitating increased understanding and relationships among communities worldwide. Current programs include: SALT, IVEP, YAMEN and Seed. GSL also resources Work and Learn Teams and Learning Tours, SOOP (Canada), Summerbridge and Summer Service. *Based in Akron, Pennsylvania **Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba ***Based in Toronto, Ontario INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM 7 everything they need in such organized ways, even though they are living in rural areas. Isabel Asumwishe (Zambia) Program assistant, Camp Crossroads Differences: In Ethiopia people in general like to be Torrance, Ontario, Canada involved in your life, giving suggestions, showing a gesture to help, or just talking to you, even though they First Impression: My first impression about Canada are strangers. In Canada people try to respect your was that most people in the community are friendly, boundaries and expect you to ask if you need anything. especially in the stores. The bus drivers are friendly too. Also, people talk about the weather a lot, and most of Memorable or Funny Experience: That orange-shaped the streets are clean. People love to drink coffee, even chocolate I got from my hosts, which was their when they walk on the streets. Christmas tradition to their children. Made me feel special and at home. Those worship times at Felipe’s Differences: There are so many differences between (another IVEPer from Brazil) house with his hosts Canada and Zambia. In Canada there are four seasons, in Calgary. I got energized, refreshed and felt more in Zambia there are only three. Zambia has no snow in connected with the Holy Spirit. And of course the the winter. The transportation systems are more reliable priceless smile of their baby Malachi. That time when me in Canada than in Zambia. The security systems are and Simon are singing loudly at the Broadway Bridge in more advanced in Canada. The Canadian education Saskatoon while filming ourselves. My birthday surprise system is more advanced in terms of technology. In at my workplace; it was thoughtful and epic. Canada, parents are very protective of their young kids; they don’t let them walk to school by themselves. Relationship with God: Back home my spiritual life was highly dependent on the encouragement and involvement Memorable or Funny Experience: The first time I saw of my church brothers and sisters in different ways. They snow I stopped working and ran outside. I picked have actually made it easier for me to follow Christ. up some snow and tasted it. My friend said I should Here I have to take care of my spiritual growth.