Tour Leader’s Blog

When I recently read a story in The Mennonite about a trip taken by North American Christian journalists to Jordan, I underlined part of the article. These journalists met Prince El Hassan bin Talal, who talked with them about what he called the “hatred industry” – actions taken by religious fundamentalists of every religion.

I underlined the prince’s response to fundamentalists: he emphasized “peace through tourism: leaving home for a purpose, learning knowledge, practicing people-to-people diplomacy.”

This is exactly what TourMagination promotes as we build bridges with Mennonites, other Christians and faiths around the world on our tours. When you travel with TourMagination, you are engaging in people-to-people diplomacy, bringing peace through tourism. I find this exciting and I know you do too!

~ Wilmer Martin

Our hearts are all torn as we see the photos of the suffering of the people in Haiti. What a tragedy! Here in the TourMagination, Waterloo, Ontario office we learned yesterday that 67-year-old Yvonne Martin, a Mennonite Brethren nurse from the Waterloo area, died in the earthquake on her fourth mission trip to Haiti. She and six other volunteers arrived in Port-au-Prince 90 minutes before the earthquake and she was killed at the guesthouse in Port-au-Prince.

This morning I spoke with Edgar Stoesz who served on the Albert Schweitzer Hospital Board of Directors. His daughter Chris worked as a nurse at the hospital for a number of years. He informed me that the hospital, located 90 minutes outside of Port-au-Prince, had been built to be earthquake proof and did not suffer damage. The hospital is functioning and is swarmed with persons seeking care. Please pray for the leadership of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital as they give much needed care at this time.

Mennonites have worked with various agencies in the country of Haiti. Mennonite Central Committee has had a long history of working in Haiti. If you wish to donate through Mennonite Central Committee, please visit their website.

This morning I received an email from David Snell, the Executive Director of the Fuller Centre for Housing; founded by the late Millard Fuller. The Fuller Centre for Housing is planning to send work teams to help rebuild after the earthquake. I am a member of the Fuller Centre for Housing Advisory Council and know that donated dollars for rebuilding in Haiti will be used for this cause. This is another opportunity to donate either from your wallet or your time. Visit their website where you can either sign up to help rebuild or to donate dollars.

Even though TourMagination has never taken a tour to Haiti, many of our colleagues, friends and family members have worked in that country. When my daughter Janelle worked with MEDA, she helped to coordinate and lead a group traveling in the country of Haiti to visit MEDA programs.

Please remember with your prayers the people of Haiti and the many service groups walking with them through their suffering at this time. As we have opportunity to donate and provide support, God will bless us for our generosity.

Tomorrow our Highlights of Jamaica tour begins. I’m sure as we travel in that country, so close to Haiti, many conversations will take place about the people of Haiti.

~ Wilmer Martin

TourMagination was one of the corporate sponsors for this year’s annual MEDA Convention. We chose to use this event to highlight our 40th anniversary.

On Friday morning we hosted the breakfast and conversation with keynote speaker Stephen Kreider Yoder, San Francisco bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal. Yoder challenged us with his more than 35 years experience working at the Journal and reminded us that we are “in the World but not of the World.”

In our display area we highlighted our MEDA-sponsored tour, our Oberammergau tours and our other tours for 2010 and 2011. It was very rewarding to meet many tour alumni and other persons interested in our tours.

When Henry and Charlotte Rosenberger congratulated me on our 40th anniversary, it created good conversation. We have met and traveled with so many people. Many friendships and discoveries have been made over the last 40 years.

MEDA also promoted my new book, “Building Bridges,” in their literature and bookstore. Following the Saturday evening session, I had a book signing at a table outside the bookstore.

Janet and I always enjoy attending and participating in the MEDA Conventions. This year we were pleased that Audrey Voth Petkau and her husband Terry could also participate. As Audrey said, these are our people!

~ Wilmer Martin

The excitement is building for Oberammergau 2010. The last week of November I spent a few days in Manitoba working with several pastors, inviting them to be advocates of TourMagination’s tours and encourage persons to attend the Oberammergau Passion Play. We will have 15 tour groups that will attend the Oberammergau Passion Play, beginning in May 2010 and ending in September 2010.

Yesterday I returned from Vancouver where I also met with a pastor who is excited about traveling to Oberammergau to see the passion play with his parishioners. I informed him that our tours are 30% subscribed. Invite your pastor to talk to TourMagination to organize a group from your congregation.

Don’t miss out on this excitement that is building at TourMagination. Email office@tourmagination.com today.

My wife (Norilynn) and I were sad and extremely worried to hear about the earthquake in China. The epicentre of this earthquake happened to be about 25 km from the town, Ya’an, where we lived and taught in the mid 1980’s.

Our thoughts and prayers immediately went to the people from that area. I was part of the MCC team that visited Iran right after their earthquake in 1990, and remember all too well the razed cities and stories of families torn apart by the tragedy. We know others are joining us in our prayers for the people of Sichuan, China at this time.

I am planning on leading a tour to China October 8-21 and we are visiting Sichuan province. I know that some might wonder if this is a good idea. The areas we are visiting are not affected directly by this earthquake. More importantly, however, is that when such things happen to a country, the ongoing economy is vital to recovery. The worst thing that can happen is that people stop coming. The tourism industry, so vital to China, needs people to come. The very fact of a group coming and spurring that economy is part of the recovery of the province. We will also be visiting Amity Foundation, a Chinese Christian Development Agency, who will be active in bringing relief and recovery to these areas. I am hoping that we as a tour group can make contributions to their efforts at bringing hope and recovery to these areas. We could deliver this when we meet with Amity. This would certainly fulfill TourMagination’s mission of building bridges among Mennonites among other Christians and faiths around the world.

~ Ed Epp