MCC Relief Sale and 5K

The Kansas MCC Relief Sale and 5K were held last Friday and Saturday in Hutchinson, or as the locals call it, "Hutch". For our non-local readers this event is for the Mennonite Central Committee, a ministry of Mennonite, Brethren in Christ, and Amish churches here in Kansas that shares God's love and compassion by providing basic human needs worldwide. A couple examples of their work are: building houses after Katrina (actually this is on-going) and after the huge tornado in Greensburg, KS, as well as providing clean water in third world countries. Brett's church, Hope Mennonite in Wichita, runs the tee-shirt table. The theme this year was "Come Neighbor Share our Table!" with the scripture verses Hebrews 13:2, 16, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it ... And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

The highlight for Esther and Moira, especially, was to run the MCC Run for Relief 2011, which was held Saturday morning. When they returned home they were so excited to share their results with us! Esther did the 5K in 33.46, her personal best, and Moira ran it in 26.35! She placed second in her division, 10-14 year olds. This was Moira's first race, other than in PE! In PE, she doesn't like the boys to pass her! A tad-bit competitive, you think? :) A track program is definitely in her future!

Our MCC dinner on Friday evening was burritos, prepared by the fairly new Hispanic Mennonite congregation here in Newton. The burritos were, as Brett said, "solid". Actually the best Mexican food we've had in Newton - actually had some flavor and not grossed up with some yucky cheese sauce. (I know, we feel like we're becoming Mexican food snobs, but we have to go to Wichita to get anything good. There's nothing here like what we've been used to all our life in California!)

And what's better for dessert than whoppie pie! Audrey and Isabel are the first to try them. Pretty yummy!

The eyes say it all!

The girls wanted to go down the big slide. They loved it! Climbing the stairs to get to the top would have been enough to freak me out! Isabel said she was freaked out and that it made her stomach queasy, but wanted to go again and our little Dare-devil Dewey, Maeve, LOVED it! She came down with the biggest grin on her face and wanted to go again!

The big slide was hit with some of the local Amish families as well.

Back to the exhibition buildings where the sale was going on, some of us had pie and of course, kettle corn. Brett worked the tee-shirt table and we all socialized. Auctions were going on, entertainment was happening, quilts for the Saturday sale were on exhibit, and vendors of many types were selling their wares. It's a great event to help a lot of hurting people!