June happenings

It is hard to believe that we are in July already. We plan to be part of two big events this month, the first being the 50th anniversary celebration of MCC Bolivia (July 10-11), and the other the Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay. We are very excited about both events and hope that we will not be so busy that we miss the joys and blessings of these special happenings!

But I want to write about what has been going on last month. We have gone through a few significant things. We attended the funeral of a good friend of ours, Will Goertzen, in June. Will died suddenly of a heart attack at the young age of 43 years, leaving his young wife to be a single mom for their 3 kids ages 5, 8, and 12. How will Justina manage to parent her young children without Will by her side? How will she run the farm on her own? The oldest, Kevin, had said that his Dad was much too precious to be taken away from them already. What a shock for this young family, for the community of Buena Vista where Will was active in taking leadership roles and living out his faith, and for people like us who called him a good friend. May God give comfort to the brokenhearted and sorrowful as His Word promises.

We also hear about brokenness and pain within the Mennonite community of Bolivia. It is hard to process all that we have heard this last month. If it is hard for me, just hearing it, how hard must it be for those who have been directly affected? My heart breaks not only for the victims of the abuse but also for the offenders. What will happen to those accused of raping innocent women and young girls? Are there those who have repented, who have come before God's holy throne of grace to seek forgiveness? And what will happen to all the victims? Will they have a space, a safe place, to process what has happened? To step out in faith and begin to walk on the road that leads to healing? And what is my response? my responsibility? So many questions, so few answers ... May God work in all of us as we walk the journey.