GOSHEN, Indiana (Mennonite Mission Network) – The worship area at the Ninawachi Bible Institute in Huaticocha, Ecuador, was filled to capacity with youth and adults from the Ecuadorian rain forest. In the front row, 13 Cofán youth and two church leaders from distinct communities proudly donned their traditional dark-blue cushma shirts and red handkerchiefs. Other seats were filled by Kichwa young people from a dozen communities nearby, as well as the institute’s Kichwa, Shuar and Mestizo students. A handful of participants from Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru and the United States topped off the mix. More than 100 people were gathered at the institute as the body of Christ to worship God together at the evening youth service.
This convergence of diverse Christ followers on the evening of May 26, 2017, was no coincidence. It was coordinated by Jane and Jerrell Ross Richer, who serve through a partnership with Mennonite Mission Network and Goshen (Indiana) College, together with the institute’s administrator, Ignacio Mireles.
"Cristo, Cristo, Cristo junde jija!" (Christ, come soon!) The Cofán song rang through the dimly-lit room. On stage, 14-year-old Charles Yiyoguaje led the group of four Cofán singers with his guitar, as the crowd watched in silence.
Many of the people gathered had never met indigenous youth that were as proud of their identity as the 13 Cofán teens, especially ones who could sing so well. To the Ninawachi students, hearing Yiyoguaje and the other youth from Zábalo sing in their native language was an inspiration. Juan Grefa, a student at the institute, said, "Hearing them sing makes me want to learn songs in my own native tongue, Kichwa, before they are lost."
The Ross Richers have built relationships with Cofán leaders and youth from different communities over the past year and a half. As they listened to their challenges and hopes for the future, they thought Cofán youth and their spiritual leaders might benefit from an opportunity to step away from their daily routines. In doing so, they could get to know each other, think collectively about their future as the next generation of Cofán leaders, and expand their view of the body of Christ. The 2017 Cofán youth retreat marked the realization of this dream.
"We wanted to give Cofán youth an opportunity to discover more about God and to strengthen their faith as part of an encounter with young people from other indigenous communities," said Jerrell.
To the Ross Richers, it was important that this experience be not only formative, but also physically exhilarating. "We wanted to create an opportunity to get outside of comfort zones," said Jerrell. "We hoped to demonstrate that following Christ is not boring. It’s not just about sitting still in church and listening quietly."
Jane added, "Following Christ is not something we do alone. It is something we do in community."
The second day of the retreat brought the youth and leaders to the Jondachi and Hollin rivers where, together, they encountered class IV rapids.
Following the rafting trip, Cofán Pastor Ramón Umenda drew on the experience to illustrate walking with Christ in community. He compared riding in the raft to life with God, and the guides giving instructions to Jesus’ teachings.
"It works best when everyone listens to the guide and works together," he said. "Sometimes, life is too rough and we fall out of the raft, but as quickly as we can, we must return to the raft where we are safe … We’re better off together, on the boat, listening to the guide for instructions!"
Hearing the illustration, Mission Network Latin America Director Linda Shelly reflected, "I hope that as Cofán youth experience life’s challenges, they will remember falling off the raft and having their companions pull them back in. The reminder that we are better off together, in community, is one of many lessons to be learned from indigenous Christians."
