Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale

 

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 73: Today, I am grateful for the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale.

The Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale happens today (3/14) and tomorrow (3/15) and the Interstate Center in Bloomington. It is appropriate that it is "pie day" because there will be many pies served, usually including shoo-fly, strawberry, and rhubarb. 3.14 pieces might not be enough, so buy the pie!

Tiny little bags of pfeffernusse(peppernuts) will delight all ages. When our sons were little, they rolled ropes of pfeffernusse as part of a service night activity at church. Teaching the young the old food traditions is important in any family... including church families.  

My first pfeffernusse came from Mama Hilda Knief, the pastor's wife at the Chebanse Lutheran Church back home. She was the mother of one of my best friends, Kristin. I loved hearing her talk about food traditions in her family. She was a master of doing much with little. Hospitality was certainly one of her gifts. I always think of her when I see pfeffernusse. 

Quilts warm the toes and warm the hearts. Real homemade quilts from local churches and some from Amish country, too. They are works of art. 

Many local churches join in the labor of love. The money raised goes where it is needed, including right here in the USA. Relief buckets go where people have disasters and the most basic needs have not been met. Both Chase, Walker, and Emma served with youth. Chase and Emma after hurricane Katrina, and Walker went to Appalachia. I am grateful for the youth leaders who courageously went with them. They are experiences you never forget. You see things you have not seen before. Suffering is not lack of wi-fi or on cell phone connection. 

Love is an action verb. In a time of activism, it is action that changes lives. For 67 years, the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale has been raising funds to provide basic human needs when people are hurting, including the gospel. 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Our daughter-in-love's family started the sale. This will be the first year without "Papa" Herb. I am so grateful for the many ways he showed us all how to serve. Herb, Darlene ,Don, and Ruthie Roth lived for the sale and worked on it all year long. A life of service is a life well lived. 

Today, I am grateful for the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale.