Adventure 253: Rod and Karen Franz/Manhattan, KS/Post F

Miracle sighted.

Rod and I rolled out of the drive way about 5:45 A.M. on the way to Newton for a day of sorting shoes, bundling clothes, and babbling B.S. with the boys. Rod volunteers every week down in Newton at the MCC center, which has a profitable service mission of recycling used clothes, purses, blankets, and shoes. Two of the main events are pairing up shoes that arrive loosely packed in large garbage bags from various 
Et Cetera Stores (For those unaware, these are second hand stores operated by the Mennonites. There are Et Cetera Stores wherever Mennonites gather). The other main event is to pack used clothes (Which arrive the same way) of all types from T-shirts to jeans to PJs, bras, slips, and gym shorts into a giant  bundler. When the load weighs about a thousand pounds it is bound with wire and and loaded by front loader onto a great pile of other bundles. Bundles of quilts and blankets are loaded in another stack. At some point, the whole lot is trucked off to a wholesale dealer (What happens then, I'm not sure). The Mennonites are an impressive lot. In general, they live lives of service, preach non-violence, and believe an open relational brand of Christianity. They are leaders in disaster relief work, world wide missionary work, and many Mennonite congregations give more than half of their tithes to those in need. One example I heard today was that of a young Christian man from Mississippi (Likely a Baptist) , who is serving somewhere in Africa. He wrote home to his father saying, "Dad, I'm really impressed with the work these Mennonites are doing here. We should help support them." His dad responded by funding the entire program for the next two years. Another example is that a Presbyterian Church in Southeast Kansas was looking for help in a fund raising effort. The Wednesday "volunteer" crew  drove down there (And have years since) to help them do the work. The Presbyterians marveled at interfaith cooperation. Mennonites have that effect on people because as a whole (At least from my observation), they lead by example with little fanfare, little "conversion" pressure, and even less expectation of gain or reward. The rest of us could learn a thing or two from them. Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, the sisters were inventing things to do, and they managed two mini-miracles. Their mother's refrigerator is legendary in the family for two things: One is is bounty (Always full of goodies); Two, is mystery containers-often long forgotten biological treasure troves which are always grudgingly tossed (Only after the Every time I've seen Karen's, hers does; Miss Jane's did (Kel's probably still does), and so does Arlene's. It's a family trait that the girls wear like merit badges. Today, when Rodney and I got home from Newton, not only was the refrigerator sparkling, but shelf space was visible, and there wasn't a neon green tupperware container in sight. Besides that, Karen's pantry had been cleaned out, re-organized, purged to a manageable state, and even more miraculous, a walking path into the place was recreated. Truly an amazing day! I'm sure Dorothy was grinning like a kid with a secret as she watched them from heaven, and I'm sure they had a wonderful time sharing, tossing, gibbering, and jabbering. That's what sisters do, and it's for sure what Mennonites do (And, to be fair, probably a few Catholics, a share of Baptists, and most likely  some other flocks as well). Life is best if captured in simple pleasures. The boys did it matching shoes, and the sisters did it matching memories. Clearly, life is good, especially today.

 Look, actual floor space made for walking!

Miracle confirmed!