You’ve got a friend in Europe
By Melanie Hess
Connie Byler often begins a sentence with the phrase, “I’ve got a friend….” Connie, in her many years of ministry in Spain, has made friends everywhere. She knows people all across Burgos and throughout the surrounding villages, including military generals to whom she taught English, and a Guatemalan immigrant named Ruth who came to Spain to take care of two blind men.
Her friends call her on the phone and she drops in for visits. She knows the people at the local supermarket because she shops there regularly with men from the hospice where she volunteers. She remembers the illnesses that people are dealing with, the emotional problems, the family issues. Building relationships is her mission.
Amy Schmid, a freelance photographer, and I traveled to Europe to see firsthand what our mission workers are doing and how they’re a part of God’s work there. Our trip was amazing, because everyone we visited took the time to tell us people’s stories and take us to see places where people are carrying out God’s mission.
Connie and Dennis, Janie and Neal, Linda, Mary—all the people who’ve dedicated years of their lives to being in one place, learning about the culture, speaking the language, and loving the people—it’s hard to overestimate how much influence these workers have had through decades of continued presence.
While traveling, I felt a sense of intimidation when I realized that my words and Amy’s photos have to convey what we experienced. It was at a youth meeting in Spain, watching the young adults worship and pray together, that I first found myself wishing that you—mission supporters from Mennonite Church USA—could come and see this for yourselves. This desire returned many times throughout the trip.
But many of you won’t have this privilege, so we want to give you just a small taste of what we saw and heard of God’s presence, in the hope that you will see and hear it, too.