A day of connections
Suzanne Lind sends this lovely report of the send off for Marie-Jeanne and Gaston last Sunday!
It was a hot, dusty Sunday morning. Mama Cisca and Suzanne made their way through many, many crowded streets and alleys full of children, little tables covered with food and other items to buy, trash and brightly dressed church-goers, to Bondeko church. After all the planning and preparations, it was time to say goodbye to Marie-Jeanne and Gaston!
About 50 people met in what will eventually be the church building. For now, lengths of cloth define the small worship space under the high roof. Neighbors' voices mingle with the sounds of worship and their laundry becomes part of the décor.
John and Danile Martens of Silverwood Mennonite Church were also there, with John's brother Phil and his family -- all visiting sites where John and Phil spent their childhood years. They were warmly welcomed by church members who knew their missionary parents years ago. How surprising to have two CCC Michiana Friends of Congo members at this important service in Kinshasa!
It was a truly "Mennomenical" (Mennonite + ecumenical) group: The church belongs to the Mennonite Church of Congo (CMCO), John and Phil grew up as missionary children of AIMM missionaries who worked with CMCO churches, the guest pastor (Pastor Mattieu Shimatu) is from the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo (CEM), Cisca represented the Mennonite Brethren Church of Congo (CEFMC) and Mennonite World Conference (MWC) and I was there from MCC and MFC and CCC! What would we do without acronyms!!!
I told the story of how Michiana Friends of Congo, and then the Congo Cloth Connection, got started, with a wonderful translator imitating my intonations and gestures in rapid sequence. I went into some detail about how determined we are to find ways to know more about and have more
relationships with Congolese Mennonites.
Then I told about Chris Nofsinger's visit to Kinshasa and her passion for Congo cloth, and showed the photo of her with her cloth. I talked about what a wonderful surprise it has been for all involved to see how the beauty of cloth, color, design, sewing creativity provides such a fun and exciting way to learn and pray. Heads were nodding, everyone smiling, so pleased to hear what a "ministry" their cloth and their creativity can have.
I told about Pittsburgh and the display there then stopped and said,
“But how could we have a whole big display of cloth and information about Congo without someone from Congo there? Oh! We had to invite a Congolese seamstress!"
And I pointed to Marie-Jeanne, who beamed her brightest smile, and everyone broke into whoops and hollers, laughter and clapping.
I talked a bit about the itinerary for Marie-Jeanne and Gaston, where they would be staying and some of the activities planned, and a bit about CCC committee members. Showed a picture of Nina in the river baptizing (Tim in background). Also a photo of Nina in Pasadena with Reverends Komuesa and Shimatu (who was sitting right behind me -- I hadn't known he would be there, but of course he was really pleased). Also a picture of Nina with Sylvia Shirk, who will be a translator. The congregation got a big kick when I said,
“Although Marie-Jeanne and Gaston will have translators with them for presentations, when they stay in homes they will have to use their English.”
The grand finale was to show the quilt Chris made and Florence folks knotted for Leya. This was the perfect way to underline once again the "each stitch a prayer" theme. People were very moved. I concluded,
It was all great fun and I think gave an idea of what Marie-Jeanne and Gaston may experience.
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