YahBut: Abundant Living!: Mennonites conduct craft fair for the cause of Christ

Making fresh apple cider

Last Saturday, our family attended and participated in the 37th Rocky Mountain Mennonite Relief Sale at the Arkansas Valley Fairgrounds in Rocky Ford, Colorado. This is the third year in a row that we have assisted in the Kid's Auction, in which children bid for toys and other goods. We had a great time.

According to the sale's website, it is "a joint
effort of over 30 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Congregations in Colorado, New Mexico and West Texas." It is a great way for people all over the Rocky Mountain Region to contribute to the Mennonite Central Committee in a creative and fun way. All profits from the sale are donated to this committee and are distributed to areas of need around the world for "relief, development and peace" in the name of Christ. The Kid's Auction is only one of the activities.

Selling cheese until it's gone

People sell fresh cheese, homemade sausage, bierrocks, Middle Eastern

Selling crafts in the Christmas booth

street food, New Year's Cookies, fair trade coffee and tea, freshly-made apple cider and butter, an array of baked goods, including homemade pie; delicious and generously portioned scoops of ice cream, kettle corn, foodstuffs, craft items, mounds of fabric, and fair trade gift items. The list goes on and on. There are four auctions at the sale. The Kid's Auction, which I have mentioned, a silent auction, another main auction that sells general items like antiques, fruit, a tractor, a loaf of bread that usually sells for $1,000 or more, and the quilt auction (my personal favorite).

A small quilt from Christmas booth

The quilt auction is amazing in itself. Each quilt is made by local women, people from the region and also by quilters in Pennsylvania, where MCC headquarters is located. The quilts are wonderful and I apologize for not getting pictures of them, but I was too caught up in the atmosphere to remember. Two of the wall hangings from the Christmas booth are pictured. These will help you get some idea as to the craftsmanship.
This sale is huge and it takes a lot of time and effort on part of the committee members and others who participate. Every year that I attend is encouraging to me. It's great to see a group of people get together and put on an event of this magnitude to help other people. Relief Sales take place all over the country. Maybe there is one near where you live. If you have never attended one, I suggest you do. It will be an unforgettable experience.