Threads of Heritage in our Tapestries

This past week end Phil and I attended his Aunt Laverna’s funeral in Winnipeg. Hundreds of people, family, friends and relatives were there to celebrate and honor the life of a woman who had touched their lives in many different ways. The service brought smiles, tears and laughter to many of our faces, because as we listened to the eulogies we not only remembered the truths about this special lady, but we were also drawn in and connected to the wider family traits that we recognized in so many of ourselves, our spouses and even our children. We were reminded of rich threads of family heritage (ok, maybe not all good but oh, so many beautiful ones) that have impacted who we are and the choices that have given direction to many of our lives. 

The P.D Reimer family ( Phil's mom Amanda is the daughter with the long black hair)

Phil's family comes from a long Mennonite heritage.  Moving to Steinbach, Manitoba this year, I have been reminded of how extensive the Mennonite family connection goes. 

That's my cute hubby in the middle!

Usually when meeting someone new the conversation goes something like this: 

-Me: “Hi, my name is Tammy Peters”…. "My husband's is Phil Peters".

-Other person: “ Is he perhaps the son of John J. Peters?” (You have to add middle initials in this town because there are so many people with the same name)

-Me: “Yes he is”

-Other: “ Oh I know John Peters.  His wife Doreen is my wife’s second cousin, we went to school together.  That would make your husband and I second cousins once removed..or something like that.”

I usually just smile and nod, but inside there is a nice feeling of belonging and having roots to a place, a country and a people group, something the third-culture-kid side of me has had very little of. 

Grandma Reimer- She prayed for all of her 11 children and 56 grandchildren every day!

                                                                                                                                         I’m discovering this year that character traits which I, for 26 years of marriage with Phil, thought were unique to his person, are actually traits very typical of his Canadianess.

  His diplomatic, non attention-seeking, friendly, consensus-seeking, peacemaking, persevering way are traits that run deep within this Mennonite community.

Opa doing alternate service as a conscientious objector  in B.C

The Mennonites are a group of people who stood for what they believed. Standing up for what they believed in was so important that they left their country of origin and resettled in some new place that offered freedom of belief. There they were given the worst bits of land (in Ukraine).

Opa (on left) in the Ukraine (1925)

From there they moved on to many places in the Americas where they worked and persevered and eventually prospered. 

They are a people of faith, perseverance, strong family values and peace which are admirable traits, but when you spice that up with wit, laughter, straight-forwardness and lots of love (yes those Peters men have a lot of love to give) it makes for a great family heritage to be a part of!

Opa and Michael

Peters 2011 family gathering for Opa's 90th 

What in your heritage has made you who you are today?  We love 

to point out the bad, but there is most likely loads of good thread that God has used to make you into the tapestry you are today. 

This year on the prairies I am learning to see it, embrace it and even be a bit proud of it... eh!

Wonder and Belief!

   

Ice sculpture at the Festival des Voyageurs 

"Your eyes are windows, into your body, If you open your eyes wide

 in wonder and belief,

Your body fills up with light." Matthew 6:22   MSG                                        

There is so much wonder around me that my eye does not see.  How often do I come to the end of a day and feel as if I have been walking in a dark cave? Today was actually one of those days... I have to admit that I often choose walking in a dark cave instead of letting my eyes focus on the light around me.

Living on the Manitoba prairies, it is impossible to ignore the light.  Winnipeg enjoys over 310 days of sun a year (about 2353 hours) . That is a lot of sun compared to the average of 1650 sun hours in Germany.

Snow-shoeing in the White Shell

Amanda standing in an ice fishing shack

 It’s cold up here, but the sun shining down on the billions of snow crystals glistening like diamonds gives the feel of a peaceful and powerful serenity that leaves me breathless and in awe….almost a feel of victory...(can you tell I have been watching the Olympics :-)

Standing on the lake...that's an ice-fishing hole!

So let’s open our eyes to “wonder and belief”. Let the windows of your heart choose to see the God given beauty around us everywhere.  The ugly is certainly there, but I can choose to put shutters on those windows.

So take more pictures, write a blog, have a "thankful list" diary, laugh more and open your eyes in Wonder and Belief"!

At the  Festival des Voyageurs in Winnipeg

Enjoying frozen maple taffy at "la Cabane au Sucre"

The French Canadian actors enjoying the festivities

Maple taffy, made by pouring maple syrup on the snow and wrapping it on a stick

Tomorrow I take off for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sun shines brightly there, but it is a place of many dark corners. I appreciate your prayers as a team of Congolese colleagues and I prepare plans for a new school in the city of Kinshasa. I hope to blog from there next.

The Real Heroes

Feb 11, 2014

I’ve been surprised at my focus on THE COLD while living here on the prairies. Every morning since about November, I get up, open the blinds, check the thermometer outside, run upstairs, check my iPhone to confirm the minus temperatures that I already have seen, but somehow have a need to have it sink in even more and check the usually colder wind-chill factor which is also indicated on the phone.  Now I have herd that this is one of the coldest winters on record here in the Canadian prairies, but what shocks me is my “being stuck” on the COLD.  Why?  In my privileged, 1^st world life my outlook should be outward, giving, others-focused….not inward, in a self preoccupied and in my case silly survival mode.

How quick am I to judge others who do the same in focusing on their survival needs. 

Phil and I have been working more and more in developing nations.  How often have I thought. “ God helps those who help themselves”, or why do you expect us to give a helping hand when you don’t seem to be able to maintain it on your own or simply “Do something!”

My narrow focus on surviving the cold is nothing compared to real survival.  I could give you a heart wrenching list here.  Phil and I hear and see more and more of this real survival. Children who are trying to survive man’s wicked and sick desires, corruption, hunger, and economic injustice.

Who are the real heroes?   

 You read about them once in a while, usually not the ones who write autobiographies, because it is never about them, always about others. They are the people who can set aside their need for survival and can channel their love into a sacrificial making a difference for others.    

 We think of names like Mandela, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, but they are all around us.    

 You know them.  I know them.

Buingo, a Congolese brother on the school start-up committee in Kinshasa I work with. Educated in Brussels, but has chosen to return to his native country, lives on a salary well below the poverty line, couldn’t even afford a second-hand computer until my brother gave him one, works for the Congo Alliance of Churches, is helping us start a school, and oh “on the side” has opened a home for unwed mothers and has plans to open a summer camp for young Congolese juveniles.  

                                  
A woman Phil met in South Africa who has moved into a slum neighborhood to work with over 100 street kids, many who have aids and no parents. She provides for them a safe place to come to where they can learn to read and write and be shown God's love in practical ways

My 85 year old aunt Shirley, who is still taking care of my disabled 56 year old cousin Cindy without a single complaint, gives most of her money away to missions and who still sends me birthday cards.

So what am I saying to myself in this blog. 

Don’t judge, 

learn from Jesus and those people who are examples around us, 

 love and help others,

 be thankful,

 give when you can,

 ...and put on an extra layer of warm clothing if it helps to change your focus.

Winter Moments

Winter view of Lake Winnipeg

Whispers of winter....

There is something about a real winter.  I mean like the ones your grandparents told you about or the ones you read about in books that make your eyes twinkle, your hearts glad and bring a smile to your face.



Here some of my favorites:

Winter slows me down- It seems to help me make more time 
for the more important things- time God,
with family and with others.

A visit to with my godson Caleb!

Winter makes me stop and look,

 maybe take a second look 

at the little things I might have missed.

...or that go unnoticed to my hectic eye.

Winter makes me want to snuggle, enjoy the closeness and warmth of others.

Ev and Amanda

 The white gentle snow that falls

 reminds me of God's gentle and beautiful gift of grace.

 Grace that forgives,

 covers up

 and makes all things beautiful and right.

Oh the beautiful sunset reflections on the majestic white snow.
 What gentle winter beauty.

A prairie grain elevator

Well, some day I will be that grandma, who, with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face will tell of the real winter of 2014 on the Manitoba prairies and my heart will be full of glad memories.