We just returned from 10 days in Colonia Menno, in the heart of Paraguay's very hot, very dry Chaco. The trip was amazing in many ways. I (Liz) got to probe my grandmother for stories about settling in the Chaco and life thereafter. Thanks to visits with all nine of my mom's siblings who live there--and many more adult cousins--we saw and heard about all kinds of professions: cattle ranching, milking, water hole digging, credit union manager, crop research director, Cooperative commerce administrator, colony slaughter house and milk production workers, nurse, anesthesiologist, hair stylist, satellite TV business owner, computer programmer, caretakers at a home for mentally disabled children, and the list goes on (and on). We were deeply impressed with the Mennonite colonies' political organization and especially the cooperative system. But we also have many more questions than could be answered in ten days!It was a unique and meaningful way to spend Christmas (four times, with different families each time) and to welcome in the new year. May it go well!
With Oma Toews in Loma Plata. [More photos in the Paraguay 2008 album to the right].
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