Background stuff

Well now that Michael Krahn has drawn attention to my blog, I had better fill in a few gaps for people who may not know me.

As is evidenced from my blog title, my family and I are parked out on the left coast of Canada, nestled between the Coastal mountains and the Pacific Ocean, in beautiful North Vancouver, BC. And yes, I am indeed Mennonite, by religious tradition and by my German-Dutch ethnicity. In this part of the world (North Vancouver), the idea of being Mennonite draws blank stares or visions of horse and buggy style Amish, even though we’re less than 100 kms from one of the three Canadian Mennonite meccas (Fraser Valley, southern Manitoba, and portions of Southern Ontario). I laugh when people ask me if I’m related to the Friesen that they know from high school, work, wife of a friend, etc. My answer is “No, but in actuality, I am probably related.” A professor at grad school said that if you’re Mennonite and your family came through Prussia, you’re at most 6th cousins with any other Mennonite whose family came through Prussia. He told his kids that this explained why they weren’t normal--he and his wife were sixth cousins. He thought it was funny but I’ll keep his name private in case his wife didn’t think so.

For all you non-Mennonites, there is a good write-up on the Canadian Encyclopedia. Of course, Wikipedia has lots of good info too. The quick summary that my wife gives our friends is that the Mennonite identity is kind of like being Jewish--partly ethnic and partly religious. The analogy does break down in one significant way--Mennonites have been very mission oriented, particularly in the last 150 years, believing that the good news of Jesus was meant for everyone to hear. You can certainly see the results of this in the denomination that I grew up within (Mennonite Brethren). Currently, the largest number of Mennonite Brethren are in India and Congo; each of those countries eclipse the numbers of MBs in the US and Canada combined (courtesy Wikipedia).

I think that’s good for now. I’ll keep adding bits to my background as this progresses along.

Comments

[Darryl Smith]

Hello from Southern Ontario - I'm one of those that Michael Krahn tipped off about your blog AND I'm even closer than you to one of the Canadian Mennonite meccas! Does that count for something?

I've always admired the lifestyle of some Mennonites near where I live and want you to know that I appreciated reading this. Thanks! I've become a person who appreciates history much more now than in my youth - It's is so interesting to learn of different cultures and how they ended up where they are today.

[Oasisofone.blogspot.com]

HI from the Fraser Valley mecca. Good description. I'm the aforemetioned Michael's aunt and I look forward to more blogs.