HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-02, Page 27The suntan is still intact, but Brent
Kipfer brought much more than that
home with him from a recent
sabbatical in Belize.
Kipfer, who is pastor of Brussels
Mennonite Fellowship, along with
his family, wife Sarah, children, Joel,
11, Micah, nine and Joanna, six,
spent two months on a “family
mission” in the Central American
country. Accompanying them for one
month was Nancy Hiebert, a teenage
member of BMF.
The idea for the sabbatical, which
Kipfer took with his church’s
blessing, started taking shape a
couple of years ago. “I became aware
then of a growing desire to connect
with other cultures. A mission trip
seemed a great way to do that.”
Kipfer had some experience with
this type of travel having spent a
week teaching in Jamaica just over a
year ago. “I was instructing a group
of young adults preparing for short-
term mission assistance. It inspired
me to take my family. The prospect of
connecting with local people, trying
to spread the Good Word of Jesus and
partnering with them was very
appealing.”
As well, said Kipfer, he thought it
would be good for him and important
for family learning. “It was a good
chance to stretch our vision.”
The idea for Belize came through
two church members, Fred and
Hilaria Valdez now of Bluevale.
“They grew up there. That was a huge
part of the attraction for us.”
Also, Kipfer said the former British
Honduras, now Belize, is fairly
accessible, English speaking and has
a stable government. “Which is kind
of important to consider when taking
three kids somewhere.”
The mission was arranged through
Eastern Mennonite Missions. Kipfer
explained the organization has a
partnership with Dangriga Christian
Fellowship. “Dangriga is a town of
about 10,000 people in Belize.
Eastern Mennonite Missions helped
us make a connection and we worked
out the details with the local church.
Kipfer left first, spending May 16
until the end of June in Pennsylvania
for orientation. The family then flew
out of Pittsburgh July 3 and returned
Aug. 27.
Belize, said Kipfer is a beautiful
country of about 300,000 to 350,000
people. It’s a rich mix of cultures
with the major ones being Créole,
Mayan, Hispanic and Garifuna, the
main group the Kipfers were with.
“The Garifunas are people who
descended from Native Caribbean
people and former African slaves
who inter-married on the island of St.
Vincent.”
Kipfer said their history traces back
to the early 1600s. “Their culture
formed there until the early 1700s
when the British exiled them to the
Atlantic coast of Central America. It
is a rich history of injustice.”
Because Belize was British
Honduras until it gained
independence in 1981, it still has a
system of government similar to
Canada’s said Kipfer. As well there is
certainly a visible British influence,
though not a lot of British people are
there.
The country is also a mix of
economies. “There is certainly
significant poverty in Belize. Within
our neighbourhood proper, people
lived in simple wooden structures and
people who could afford it had solid
cement homes.”
Many of the houses are built on
stilts to guard against flooding, said
Kipfer.
While there, Kipfer did what he
does, preaching and teaching.
“Largely the goal was to give
encouragement to the local church
and to learn from them.”
His wife taught Sunday school, and
the family together cleaned the
church building. “We wanted to
involve the kids. It was about
building relationships in the church
and community.”
But it wasn’t all work. The family
enjoyed some vacation time at a
couple of beachside towns and took a
trip to Guatemala. They explored the
ancient Mayan city of Tikal and the
island city of Flores.
They visited a zoo and did some
hiking in a tropical moist forest.
“This is similar to a rainforest but not
quite as damp.” Despite seeing the
jaguar crossing signs, the family
didn’t have any unpleasant jungle
experiences, but did have the pleasure
of swimming under a beautiful
waterfall.
There was also a trip to Tobacco
Key where they enjoyed a boat ride,
did some snorkelling, collected conch
shells and swam.
The weather was hot, and there
were no storms during their stay.
Though it was the rainy season,
Kipfer said most of the precipitation
fell at night.
While the children had initially had
some reluctance about leaving their
hometown for the summer, it didn’t
last long. “They dove right into the
experience. They tried the new food
and loved the geckos. The boys were
curious about tarantulas, too, but they
were less cute.”
The mission was everything Kipfer
had hoped for too, for himself and his
family. “For sure we have a deeper
appreciation for the faith of our
brothers and sisters there. I was very
moved by their vision for sharing the
Good News despite the obstacles they
face.”
Belize’s tropical beauty “increased
our appreciation for the beauty of this
Earth. The experience really provided
rich times together as a family.”
And the tan? Kipfer smiles. “It is
safe to say that I certainly came back
with a deep sense of God’s blessing
and grace.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008. PAGE 27.
On the road
Brent and Sarah Kipfer and children, Joel, 11, Micah, nine
and Joanna, six, had some time to make like tourists on a
bus to Guatemala while on mission work in Belize this past
summer. (Photo submitted)
Making friends
With their parents making a decision to spend their summer in Belize doing mission work, the
children, Joanna, Micah and Joel dove right in to the experience according to their father
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship pastor, Brent Kipfer. (Photo submitted)
Pastor and family return from mission trip to Belize
Happy Birthday
Howard, Dad,
Grandpa and
Great-grandpa!
on September 30
You’re still
in perfect tune.
Love from all of us
8800tthh BBiirrtthhddaayy
CCeelleebbrraattiioonn
for
Bill Young
Saturday, October 4
2~4 pm
Londesboro
Community Hall,
Londesboro
Best Wishes Only
Happy 55th
Anniversary
October 3
Roy and Iris Young
Love from all your family
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Cucksey- Farrell
Jonathon and Sophie
are pleased to announce their
forthcoming marriage on Saturday,
October 4, 2008 on the grounds
of Ridgewood Farm, Mono
Centre, Ontario
Congratulations from
Mom and Dad