Beachys keep web diary
Nathan and Rochele Beachy, family doctors from Cleveland, Ohio,
are maintaining a web diary while on a short term MCC assignment
in Nigeria. The site, www.mcc.org/themes/nigeria/index.html
tells of their work and the people with whom they meet at Faith
Alive Clinic. The clinic provides free medical care and specializes
in ministering to people with AIDS. They are welcomed into a support
group and encouraged to share their stories with others.
African church leaders have asked MCC to walk alongside them as
they provide home care for people living with AIDS, care for vulnerable
children, host prevention seminars and training events, and support
clinics and hospitals. Through the Generations at Risk program,
MCC committed $1 million in HIV/AIDS programming in 2002 to respond
to requests for assistance.
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AIDS Quilt raises funds
Bob Frey, the auctioneer at the Kidron, Ohio relief sale, presented
a special challenge to those attending the August 1 and 2 event:
"We need to raise at least $10,000 for the AIDS Quilt this
weekend, so that the quilt passes the $100,000 mark before it leaves
for Mennonite World Conference in Zimbabwe next week." Those
attending the sale generously opened their hearts to raise over
$12,000 in two days for the AIDS quilt and MCC's Generations at
Risk program.
Since April 2002 the AIDS quilt, made by MCC West Coast quilting
coordinator Pauline Aguilar from fabrics sent to her by MCC volunteers
in Africa, has traveled to over 24 MCC events in North America.
The quilt was created out of Paulines' desire to make a contribution
that would help alleviate the suffering caused by AIDS, particularly
in Africa, where more than half of the world's 34,000,000 people
suffering with HIV/AIDS are living and where more than 6,000 people
die of AIDS each day.
All of the funds raised by the AIDS quilt support MCC's Generations
at Risk program. The GAR program provides home care for the sick,
support for vulnerable children, supplies for hospitals and clinics,
and education to prevent HIV/AIDS.
For more information and resources about the Generations at Risk
program or to learn more about supporting GAR, contact Brenda Wagner
at bmw@mcc.orgor telephone (888)
563-4676.
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Postcards against military
recruiting
In January 2002 a new education reform bill, H.R.1. (also known
as the "No Child Left Behind Act"), became law. This new
law requires educational agencies receiving federal assistance to
give military recruiters access to secondary school students' names,
addresses and telephone listings.
Youth themselves, or together with their parents or relatives,
can mail postcards to their school administrators and superintendents,
stating: "I am writing to request that you do not make my name,
address or telephone listing available for military recruitment
purposes, as is provided for under Paragraph 2, Subsection (a) of
Section 9528 of Public Law 107-110. I look forward to your prompt
response to this request." Public Law 107-110 provides that
either students or parents may request that this information not
be released to military recruiters without written parental consent
and that schools must notify parents of the option to make such
a request and must comply with any request.
Postcards to school officials should include the name of the school
where the student attends.
–from an article by David M. Whettstone, legislative assistant
at the MCC U.S. Washington Office
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MCC
US Coffee Project
The MCC US Coffee Project was launched on July 1, 2003. In
collaboration with Equal Exchange, an organization that buys
coffee from small farmers at fair prices and markets it in
the United States, the MCC U.S. Washington Office and regional
offices are inviting U.S. Mennonite and Brethren in Christ
churches to purchase and serve "fairly traded" coffee.
Participating congregations will receive reports on the communities
that benefit from the project as well as educational and advocacy
materials on economic globalization.
Ten Thousand Villages stores, a co-sponsor of the Coffee
Project, sells Fair Trade coffee. Ten Thousand Villages stores
in Goshen and Mishawaka, Indiana are hosting a time for education
and sampling of fair trade coffee on October 4. Individuals
who purchase the coffee for congregational use are invited
to come and learn why it can be an act of mission and stewardship
to purchase and use fairly traded coffee for the fellowship
times of the congregation.
Mennonite Mutual Aid is also a co-sponsor of the Coffee Project,
and as a shareholder, they are in dialogue with major coffee
roasters to increase their use of this crop. This will off-set
the imbalance created by the current crisis in the world coffee
market, when small farmers are forced to sell their corps
at prices below the cost of production while major coffee
roasters are making generous profits. Some 25 million coffee
farm families, most in the Third World countries, are unable
to afford adequate food, clothing, or education.
Sources for more information:
www.mcc.org/us/washington/coffee
www.mma-online.org (news
section)
www.tenthousandvillages.com
(to locate a store near you)
or call MCC Great Lakes office at (574) 534-4133
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Resource Library at Great Lakes Office
Carolyn Heydon was preparing for Bible school
in August and noticed that a recommended resource was the
UNICEF video A Toy is What You Make It. She called the MCC
Great Lakes office and was happy to learn that they had the
video, and that it was available for loan. Carolyn observed
that the children loved the video. "It was a real positive
thing," she said.
Along with videos, the resource library at the MCC Great
Lakes office in Goshen, IN includes teaching guides, worship
materials, and posters. The resources are designed to promote
awareness of issues, and to facilitate discussion, in Sunday
school or small group settings. The Bible school setting in
which Carolyn used the video was perfect for developing international
awareness by featuring children in Kenya who make their own
toys. The American children who watched the video were fascinated
with the creativity in which the Kenyan children approached
toy making.
Produced by MCC or similar agencies, the resources in the
MCC Great Lakes library cover a variety of topics such as
immigration, racism, the death penalty, sexual abuse and domestic
violence. Peace resources, both written and on video, are
available for all ages. Other resources promote the work of
MCC around the world. Whether showing a group in North America
putting together a health kit or school kit, following an
MCC worker teaching in China, or looking at an MCC project
such as corn shipments to Zaire, the videos illustrate the
many ways that MCC connects with people on various continents.
Several resources that have recently been produced are now
available:
MCC and Quilts.
In this video, storyteller Elda Martens – the "quilt
lady" – shares heartwarming stories of quilts, comforters,
coats and sewing kits donated to MCC. Learn how David and
Bessie Martens' donation of a coat to MCC following World
War II led to a lifelong friendship with the recipient. As
Martens' stories illustrate, relationships developed through
MCC are like patches that, when pieced together, make a beautiful
quilt. Grade 9 to adult. Available in 28- or 51- minute version.
Walk Humbly: An Orientation for Christian
Servants. A great video to prepare a mission team
for service. A mission trip's success is determined by how
open mission participants are to trying new things and adapting
to new ways of doing things, the relationships made, and how
willing participants are to learn from partners. Shares stories
and advice on these topics: preparation, goals, partnerships,
logistics, flexibility, respect and gift giving. Grade 9 to
adult. Question sheet included, 23 minutes.
For a complete listing of the resources available, go to
www.mcc.org For free loan or more
information, contact Pat Frazier at the MCC Great Lakes Office.
The resources can be borrowed at the office or mailed to those
at a distance.
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Update on material
resource project
Health kits for Honduras is the top material aid project right
now. The response for the school kit drive for Iraq has been wonderful.
We are still collecting school kits but they will be sent to a number
of other countries yet this year. There may also be additional requests
from Iraq or other countries in the coming months.
In addition, MCC can use comforters, new bar soap, relief kits,
sewing kits, and newborn kits. All of these items are always being
shipped and we need to replenish the supply for the next emergency
or on-going request.
On behalf of our partners around the world, thank you for your
excellent response to requests for material aid items. The material
resource centers in Goshen, Indiana and Kidron, Ohio have been very
busy this year. The Kidron facility at MCC Connections is adding
on to the current building because of the volume of material aid
that is being processed there. Stop in and visit us at either Goshen
or Kidron.
For up-to-date information, please check out the MCC website: www.mcc.org
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Great
Lakes Annual Meeting
God's Table – Come Share With Us is the theme for the MCC
Great Lakes annual meeting. Beginning the evening of March 5 and
continuing all day March 6, 2004, the event will be held at Roanoke
Mennonite Church, Eureka, Illinois. Mark your calenders now and
plan to attend.
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In Exile –
For a While
MCC Great Lakes Goshen office is hosting a Refugee Simulation
for area youth. In Exile - For a While is a program designed
by MCC Ontario to help youth realize the many perspectives
of refugees in a 24-hour simulation. The event will take place
October 4th and 5th, concluding with a worship service Sunday
morning. Individuals or youth groups (Middle School-age and
higher) are encouraged to participate. Contact Will Eichelberger
at 574-534-4071 or weichelb@mcc.org for more information.
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Musical
tour update
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The Radiant Sonchild tour is well underway. The tour performed
Alberta, Vancouver, Oregon and Callifornia.
December the group will perform in Texas.
Check out www.radiantsonchild.com
for booking information
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Radiant |
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Sonchild |
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