For the second time this year, we’re pleased to share reporting by AW staff who traveled to lesser-known parts of the Anabaptist world.

The July 7 issue featured Tim Huber’s reports from South Korea. In this issue, Eileen Kinch shares her experience in Bolivia, where she visited Mennonite colonies with a Mennonite Central Committee learning tour.

As with any reporting trip, there were memorable moments that didn’t fit into the article. Eileen told about a time when, after being hosted by a local family for a meal, the question arose: Did the Low German Mennonites feel as one with the visitors?

Eileen said, “This is a good question, and some in our group believe they did, even as we practice our faith differently. They opened their homes, and their bounty, to us. There is a phrase for this, said one in our group who grew up in a colony: Gott woat Sikj’ doa met wetten (God will know what to do with this).”

God will know what to do with this. The phrase stood out to Eileen, as it does for me.

I couldn’t help but think about other happenings with Colony Mennonites in other parts of the world.

Over the past few years, there have been efforts to approach some Colony Mennonites regarding their farming practices and how they contribute to deforestation and destruction of ecosystems. Our columnist Sarah Augustine has mentioned this work.

A few years ago, the Coalition to ­Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery was approached by a Maya community-led organization based in Campeche, Mexico. They were looking for support in the situation of land conflict as they worked to find common cause with their Low German Mennonite neighbors. Specifically, they wanted to address the negative effects on ecosystems and communities of industrial agricultural practices like clear-cutting forests and the use of genetically modified seeds and agrochemicals.

That connection has resulted in a long-term partnership as well as relationship-building and has supported an expanding network of Indigenous communities facing similar challenges. This past August there was a delegation to Mexico involving members from the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and Mennonite translators, at times facilitating communication between Maya communities and Low German Mennonites.

Together, they worked to follow their Indigenous partners’ lead and support them in their efforts. Keep an eye out for more about their work in upcoming issues.

God will know what to do with this.