Fall 2019 | vol 29, no 1

Life-Giving Opportunities contributed by SOOP in partnership with Menno-Hof

Just in time for the holidays comes new research that says you get more satisfaction from giving gifts than receiving. In the same way, when we give of our time and talents to others, it strengthens our sense of connection and

belonging to the community. Serving also increases our faith. When we serve, we shift our focus off of our-selves onto others —we begin to see others as Jesus sees them. When we see what He can do when His power is at work in us, we begin looking for opportunities to reach out. SOOP, a service opportunity through Mennonite Mission Network, provides short-term service opportunities for adults (ages 25+) and families, and is designed to join the experiences and skills of adults with missional faith communities all across North America. SOOP staff and partici-pants, along with local partners, discern the location, time, and length of assignment that best fits current needs. There are about 70 SOOP sites throughout North America, including Puerto Rico and a handful

of international locations. Menno-Hof is one of those locations. Approximately a dozen live-in volunteers over the past 10 years have come to Menno-Hof through the SOOP Program. Many of them return year after year. Larry and Maxine Miller from Macon, Mississippi, represent the “bookends” of the SOOP story. The Millers operate the Mennonite Service Center (MSC) from the Mashulaville Dormitory near Macon, (cont. on page 2)

Sights and Sounds of Shipshewana by Ruth Jansen, East St. Paul,

Manitoba, Canada

We are Canadians from Manitoba arriving on Menno-Hof’s doorstep to once again offer our services as volunteers— this time for the month of September 2019. Our work is to guide tours and provide information to visitors on Anabaptist history as well as operate the gift shop. Cozy upstairs apartments are provided for the duration of our stay and my husband Wally and I are joined by our Canadian friends Candace and Dave Stobbe staying in the other apartment. The supportive, friendly, staff and local volunteers have become our “family” away from home. Homegrown vegetables appear on our doorstep including a 20 pound homegrown watermelon! When a bike is requested it promptly shows up on the front porch ...tires pumped full of air and ready to go! Stories, impromptu harmonica and mandolin concertos, supper invitations, laughter and concerns are shared on a daily basis. Our visitors come from around the globe, eager to hear and learn about the Anabaptist history and Amish culture. We learn as much from them as (continued on page 3)

Larry & Maxine Miller, pictured

above at a Shipshewana coffee shop, deliberately

chose to celebrate their 50th wedding

anniversary by serving at

Menno-Hof during August

2019. The Millers are

from Macon,

Mississippi.

THANK YOU! Richard & Annie Boshart

Lititz, Pa. | December 1-24

Al Mortenson

Louisville, Ky. | December 9-20

Fred Tillery

November & December

Frederick & Sandra Gingerich

Au Gres, Mich. | January & February

“Grace, mercy and peace

be to you

from Jesus Christ our Lord.”

—II Timothy 1:2

Thank you to the LaGrange County Foundation for the distribution of grant funds to Menno-Hof which greatly assisted in meeting various expenses during 2018 and currently.

“We live in Oklahoma but love to visit the

Shipshewana area on our travels. We have actually visited Menno-Hof several times, and always learn something new. It’s an interactive

experience and very interesting. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to learn

about other religions and lifestyles!

—recent online review from Oklahoma

Life-Giving Opportunities (cont. from front) Mississippi, and are a site for SOOP volunteers. In addition, Larry and Maxine participate as workers at other SOOP locations, including Menno-Hof. They also served at the International Guest House in Washington, D.C. – another oppor-tunity to meet and build relationships with people from around the globe. As often as they can, the Millers serve away from home. August 2019 marked the fifth time that Larry and Maxine served as volunteers at Menno-Hof. Larry especially finds great joy in sharing the history of Anabaptists with visitors from all over the world. “Menno-Hof is an

Anabaptist shrine. It is here that the world witnesses the perseverance of our church's historic peace and on-going faith.” Some of his highlights as a tour guide are in the Meetinghouse, reminding visitors to ponder two stories of forgiveness (on the exit route) – Dirk Willems (an Anabaptist martyr) and the Reconciling in Christ display (information about current day reconciliation that has taken place between Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic churches with Anabaptists). Maxine is intrigued by the many positive

Beginnings & Endings host & hostess

by the numbers

responses of visitors as they finish the tour. “There are usually some with contemplative faces as if they are digesting what they heard and read.” She especially enjoys the friendship of the staff and other volunteers. The Millers’ home base, Mennonite Service Center, is a nonprofit organization that serves the people of Noxubee County, Mississippi, who struggle with poverty. This community was recently named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the poorest towns in the country and Larry and Maxine can certainly testify to the great need they see there every day. Offering home repairs, food programs, education and hospitality, there are never enough

hands and strong backs around Mashulaville. Larry and Maxine pray for a continuous stream of volunteers to help with their ever-growing, never-ending list of projects. Whether near or far, the Millers demonstrate the best of being SOOP bookends: being a servant wherever you are. God doesn’t just want to work through you. He wants to work in you. For more information about SOOP opportunities, visit:

www.mennonitemission.net/Serve/soop

260

people attended the annual Menno-Hof

hymnsing on September 8.

$1,973 was given during the hymnsing offering.

Thank you!

41

different religious affiliations have been

represented by our visitors so far in

2019.

1,019,404 visitors to-date (since Menno-Hof

opened in 1988.)

In an attempt to save postage and

paper, we invite you to

consider receiving

your Reunion

newsletter via e-mail.

Send your change request to

info@mennohof.org

Sights and Sounds of Shipshewana (cont. from front) they do from us. On non-working hours we are free to explore our surroundings and interact with the locals...a good percentage of them Amish. Lasting friendships have been formed with some of the Amish families. With invitations to their homes, schools and family interactions we have come to appreciate their culture and faith with a new understanding. My heart is drawn to our natural surroundings here in Shipshewana. On bike rides or long walks I take in the rolling farmland, red barns and large white farmhouses surrounded by colourful flower and vegetable gardens. Horses graze in the fields or pull the black buggies to their destinations as the clip-clop of the hooves resound on the pavement. Colourful clothes flutter in the breeze on the wash lines. Young girls in bright, solid coloured dresses and crisp, white bonnets strolling or sitting in groups chatting in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect are familiar sights. Quaint shops and decorative Fall displays all add to the charm of this inviting setting. Invigorating walks on the picturesque Pumpkin Vine trail and ice cream treats at the Amish ice cream stand renew my spirit and I feel blessed! I invite anyone to experience this opportunity. Come as couples! Bring a friend! Menno-Hof welcomes volunteers of all ages.

Ruth and her husband, Wally, (pictured at right) live in East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada, and attend Fort Garry Mennonite Church. They have two adult daughters and two grandchildren. Ruth enjoys reading, rock painting, attending theatre productions and movies, writing, playing

Scrabble and Majong, and walking her 10,000 steps every day.

photos by Ruth Jansen

Are you looking for a way to serve while sharing your faith?

Menno-Hof needs individuals and couples in agreement with Anabaptist values and beliefs to serve as host and/or hostess during the Summer months of 2020. A minimum of 30 days is preferred. Responsibilities include conducting tours and some light housekeeping. Two furnished apartments are available on-site. You also get to experience living in Shipshewana—celebrated for being home to the third largest Amish community in the United States, for having the Midwest's largest flea market, and for

its reputation of hand-crafted wares.

You don’t have to have all the answers to be a tour guide! The tour program is written in such a way that it

speaks for itself and other volunteers can help answer questions if needed.

For more information contact: Ruth Miller, daily operations manager: 260-768-4117 or rmiller@mennohof.org

”

Reunion is published quarterly to keep

our friends informed of happenings at

Menno-Hof. Send questions or

comments to director at

info@mennohof.org

Menno-Hof Amish-Mennonite

Visitors’ Center

PO Box 701

510 S Van Buren St, SR 5

Shipshewana, IN 46565

Tele: (260) 768-4117

Fax: (260) 768-4118

E-mail: info@mennohof.org

Web site: www.mennohof.org

Menno-Hof staff: Jerry Beasley, executive director Ruth Miller, daily operations manager Susan Miller, accounting manager Charlotte Long, program and communication associate Bill Yoder, facility and grounds associate Board of Directors: Larry Chupp, president, Shipshewana, Ind. Lovina Gingerich Rutt, vice-president, Goshen, Ind. Donna Jones, Shipshewana, Ind. Orie E. Lehman, Shipshewana, Ind. Daniel B. Miller, Goshen, Ind. Steve Miller, Goshen, Ind. Jim Neff, Goshen, Ind. Wayne Schrock, Millersburg, Ind. Alvin J. Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind. Fern Yoder, Millersburg, Ind. Norman Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind.

Jerry Beasley

executive director

A s I write this article I find myself

reflecting on how blessed I am to

work with the staff here at Menno-Hof. During my recent vacation, Ruth

Miller, daily operations manager, and

Charlotte Long, program and

communication associate, were faced

with some significant operational and

staff challenges. Not only did they meet the daily challenges, they went

well beyond what I would have

expected—avoiding burdening me with the issues

while I was vacationing. They had the facility and

grounds in outstanding shape when I returned demonstrating high levels of insight, commitment,

generosity, talent and kindness. Thank you to both of

you! Also, please remember in prayer Bill Yoder (our

facility and grounds staff person) as he recovers from

major surgery. Both as the executive director and a member of

the Anabaptist faith community, I’m thankful for the

significant witness all who visit Menno-Hof receive.

By presenting the history and stories and inviting

each visitor to develop or strengthen their

relationship with Christ, we feel it is an effective way of participating in furthering God’s Kingdom. We

expect over 15,000 people from around the world and

all walks of life will receive this witness in 2019 and

over one million have visited since our opening in

1988. I pray that all Christians, and for sure Anabaptists, recognize this great opportunity! I’m

(continued below)

Hours: Monday—Saturday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

NON-PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE

PAID

SHIPSHEWANA, IN

46565

PERMIT NO 17

(continued from above) especially thankful for the volunteers we have that faithfully greet and interact with

our visitors.

You too can be part of it by volunteering,

supporting financially, and/or praying for

the ministry. Thanks to all of you who have

participated and supported Menno-Hof over the years!