Connexio visits Langenthal - an enriching cooperation
In June, members and guests met in Langenthal for the General Assembly and Connexio Atelier - with special guest Socheata Chap, our country coordinator from Cambodia. The two days were characterized by lively exchanges, inspiring encounters and shared energy.
The general meeting was entertaining and provided space for interesting discussions. The interview with Socheata in particular was met with great interest - the numerous questions showed how touching her work is. Jürg Bertschinger, who had actually only come as a listener, was spontaneously deployed as a translator and mastered the task with flying colors! The atmosphere was characterized by curiosity, commitment and a dose of humour, for example when an interactive word cloud showed that many people first think of food when they hear the word "Cambodia" - and we did indeed have plenty of culinary delights to offer.
Let's talk!
The Connexio Atelier was all about dialog. Socheata's contribution offered plenty of scope for questions, and the audience showed great interest - for example, in how to Workshops with small farmers or how a Christian church can grow in Cambodia.
Another question was: How can we get others excited about Connexio? The answer lies in the people who are passionate about it themselves. Ambassadors such as Sister Elisabeth Meier, Esther and Werner Steiger and Monika and David Brenner told us what motivates them: the conviction to spread the gospel in today's world - and the formative experiences with other cultures ("I have learned so much!"). Her commitment is diverse: talking about Connexio in church services, collecting collections at lunches. Or: "When a sister has a birthday, we collect for a project," says Sister Elisabeth: "Sometimes a sister asks me if I have an idea for a project. I always have an idea."
Scarf and pepper
A special highlight at the dinner in the garden: the raffle of two handmade scarves made by women with disabilities in Cambodia - a beautiful combination of encounter and support. There was also a small gift of Cambodian pepper in delicate palm leaf containers, which was not only a culinary delight but also a symbol of global solidarity.
It was particularly nice to see how guests spontaneously helped out - from the lady who did the washing up to the gentleman who handed out napkins while laying the table.
Making a difference together
The days in Langenthal showed once again: Connexio thrives on co-creation - in conversation, in practical help and in spreading the idea. A big thank you to everyone who contributed!
Here are a few impressions - we would like to thank Jörg Niederer for the photos!
