Menno Bote

For the last five months, our life has been divided between our "homes" in Charagua, a small town in the Chaco, and at MCC headquarters in Santa Cruz. When in Charagua, Ramont does much of the project work. Currently this includes monitoring water systems already built to see how they work and are being used by colony Mennonite families; talking with stakeholders in several potential projects in Guarani communities; and taking around MCC jefes to meet with local leaders. We also still operate the MCC resource center and library and have a few gardens as "demonstration plots" (though perhaps more for our own consumption!).

When in Santa Cruz, I (Elisabeth) do much of the project work. That is, I coordinate and design ("edit") the Menno Bote. This is MCC Bolivia's 20-page monthly magazine that reaches about 2800 homes - mainly colony Mennonites in Bolivia, but it also goes to Paraguay, Argentina, Belize, Mexico, U.S., Canada, and Germany. Contributers include some local folks and (mainly) current and former MCCers. Each issue includes articles on agriculture, health, faith, politics, current events, etc - and photos. Photos are, we think, what keeps the Menno Bote hot!

In any case, here is what a recent looks like (October 2010):