Mennonite Weekly Review

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — The 2009-11 Mennonite Your Way hospitality travel directory is now available, listing more than 1,700 Mennonites, Brethren and Christians of like spirit in more than 60 countries who offer space in their homes to travelers on a donation basis.

The directory gives MYW host locations, family profiles and contact information for about 330 hosts in Canada and 1,100 in the United States. There are also more than 200 hosts in other countries covering all other inhabited continents.

The new edition offers 30 host or contact listings in Africa with new listings in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In Asia there are 28 hosts with new hosts in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand and Turkey. Six are in Australia and New Zealand. Nine are in Central America, including new hosts in Panama. There are more than 150 hosts in Europe, including new listings in the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Four listings are in the Middle East. There are 17 in South America, including new hosts in Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.

MYW relies on hosts who enjoy sharing hospitality as well as travelers who appreciate the friendships that develop.

Hosts offer lodging in their homes when it is convenient for them to do so. The suggested donation for lodging is $10 per adult per night, $2 per child, and, if it is convenient to offer breakfast, $2 per meal — or roughly that in international settings.

When they are able, guests also often leave a hostess gift — a practical item from their home area such as a family photo, a jar of jam or something handmade.

Using the directory, travelers can plan where they wish to travel, then e-mail, call or write to MYW hosts to see if a visit is convenient.

Since many MYW hosts prefer that their host information not be posted on the Internet, the directory is only available in print.

However, it is kept up-to-date, as new hosts and updates are added daily.

This new host information is available to travelers by e-mail. MYW normally responds by e-mail six days a week to inquiries regarding new host locations, listing updates or other MYW travel questions. E-mails may be sent to myw@mywdirectory.com.

Hosts offer what they have with courtesy, and guests receive what is offered with appreciation. Those agreeing to this plan are welcome to order and use the directory.

Founded in 1976 by Leon and Nancy Stauffer, Mennonite Your Way continues the Anabaptist traditions of courtesy, fellowship and hospitality by organizing a network of hosts and travelers.