The editors and MWC communication staff invited a series of persons who have served in leadership or staff positions with Mennonite World Conference to contribute particular memories from their years of involvement.

by Leonor de Mendez

     "That is where you will preach," said the woman who had come to pick us up at the airport as she pointed out the stadium in Winnipeg. When I received the invitation to preach at the 12th Mennonite World Conference Assembly in 1990, I had no idea of the magnitude of the event. I thought it would be a gathering of about 300 people. My pastoral experience had not prepared me to communicate with an audience of over 10,000 people, so I trembled whenever I thought about it.
     The thought that gave me complete confidence, however, was to remember that even though the people to whom I was going to preach were of different cultures, races and languages, underneath we were all joined together by our faith and love for Jesus.
     On the appointed day, in accordance with the program, I preached to a great multitude of persons from five different continents. Linda Shelly did a wonderful job of translating my sermon from Spanish to English.
     How did it go? I don't know. What I do know is that I didn't just preach, I shared my life. I felt the need to give of myself to all those people--people for whom I had prayed even though I didn't know them personally.
     It's a beautiful memory. Ten years have passed since that first encounter with the worldwide Mennonite church. Etched in my personal history is the memory of a great multitude of people who shared the fellowship of Christ through their attentive listening. I also carry Jack and Irene Suderman in my memory and my prayers. They hosted us in their home in Steinbach and shared their warm Mennonite love with us. To all of them I express my enduring love and my encouragement.
     The 12th Assembly in 1990 concluded with the Lord's Supper. There was a time during that Sunday service that I felt the Holy Spirit moving among us to make us more completely one amidst our diversity. The second conviction I had during that event was that our Mennonite community in Guatemala "was not working alone for God." We felt like we were a part of something and Someone; and that sense of belonging is still with us.
     When we were leaving the stadium that last Sunday, we were in a long line of cars ready to go to pack and return to our homes. Something happened that shows the kind of relationships we had shared during that intense week. A car loudly honked its horn and a man, waving his arms, yelled, "Hey, Mario (Mario is my husband), I'll see you in India in 1999." "Who is that?" I asked. "A friend," he answered as he waved and yelled, "See you in India!" Many cars began to honk their horns and others yelled out, "See you in India!"
     An Assembly is a large gathering after which we all return to our homes and continue our mission; but we always maintain the hope that we will meet again to renew the vision and the fellowship.
     My next experience was in Puerto Rico. On that beautiful island I had the honor of being elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the Mennonite World Conference. This appointment was very significant for Central American women. This was the first time a Central American woman would represent Latin America on the MWC Executive Committee. Can we consider my participation in the 12th Assembly as a sign that ministerial and pastoral spaces are being opened for females?
     Prior to the 13th Assembly in India, the work agenda included a preparatory trip to Africa, with stops in the U.S., Europe and Brazil. During that time, as I traveled in a European city, I came face to face with the great economic contrasts that exist between the European cities and the city of Calcutta and some of our Central American cities. I still don't understand the mystery of human suffering. But the contrast I observed caused me to feel profound pain in my heart, and I still ask the Lord, "Why can't all human beings live in the same conditions of dignity that some live in?"
     One thing is certain. For those who live in conditions of abundance, as well as those who live in adversity, the Holy Spirit calls us to follow Jesus with fidelity and to carry out in an extraordinary way our vocation as the Church of Jesus Christ.
     When I departed from Guatemala for Canada, Europe, Africa and India, I left with a small mental picture of my Mennonite community and my own ministerial role. The church of our Lord goes beyond what our eyes can see and our hands can touch. It transcends barriers of race, language and culture. God is building the body of Christ in all nations, and we are a part of that divine project.

Leonor de Mendez, Guatemala, was a member of the Executive Committee representing Latin America.