stories from the

people of Park View

Mennonite Church

September - November 2009

Park View Mennonite as a member of

Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC)

by John L. Horst

Virginia Mennonite Conference—Nine

districts, 65 congregations, 8,292

members as of 2009. Yes, Park View

Mennonite belongs to a wider network.

“Virginia Mennonite Conference, a

member of Mennonite Church USA, is a

network of congregations and ministry

organizations linked by history,

theology, and geography with a shared

call to Christian faith, evangelism,

discipleship, peacemaking and service.”

Now within this broad unifying theme

there is a wide variety of world views.

Conference minister Owen Burkholder

says it this way: “Our world views and

practices range from academia to

Appalachia.”

All institutions have faces. Let me introduce the paid

staff. It totals eight persons with a total of four FTE:

Owen Burkholder, Conference Minister (the only full

time person); Linda Alley, Director, Congregational

Resource Center (located in the Seminary Building);

Steve Carpenter, Conference Coordinator; Jason

Gerlach, Conference Youth Coordinator; James O.

Lehman, VMC Archivist (located in the EMU Library).

The last three persons share duties with Virginia

Mennonite Missions: Diane Bowman, staff assistant and

receptionist; Lavonne Lehman, director of Financial

Services; and Jon Trotter, Communications Associate.

Stop by the conference headquarters sometime.

It’s a busy but friendly place that’s located nearby on

the corner of Parkwood Drive and Route 42.

Conference offices are downstairs and Virginia

Mennonite Missions is upstairs. They are distinct

entities under the same organizational “umbrella.”

Many persons donate significant volunteer time. I’ll

just mention these three: Beryl Jantzi has served for

five years as Conference Moderator, our own Ross Erb

chairs the Congregational Life Commission, and Joseph

Longacher chairs the Faith and Life Commission. Talk

to Ross Erb to get a special feel for the work of these

commissions.

Phil Kniss reporting on the Corinthian Plan to delegates at the 2009 VMCAssembly; Seated: Steve Carpenter, Beryl Jantzi, Lois Shank (conferencesecretary), and Diane Bowman .

Many of our church institutions are affiliated with

Virginia Mennonite Conference: Eastern Mennonite

School, Pleasant View, Inc., Highland Retreat,

Mennonite Disaster Service, just to name a few. You’ll

find their annual reports in the Virginia Mennonite

Conference Reports and Statistics 2008 - 2009. I

counted a total of 26 agencies (local, regional, and

national) that gave an annual report to VMC! I

recommend being informed about the work of the

Mennonite Church beyond the walls of PVMC. Check

out a copy in our church library.

With this brief overview in mind I interviewed Owen

Burkholder, Steve Carpenter, Beryl Jantzi, and Diane

Bowman. I posed four basic questions just for starters:

What does Park View Mennonite have to offer VMC?

Park View Mennonite

is at the heart of

VMC, geographically

and in terms of

leadership and

academic training.

Phrases such as

anchoring resources

of encouragement

and pastoral care for

leaders in small

congregations were

strongly affirmed. Of

course we can also

offer good facilities

for many events such

as the conference assembly prayer breakfasts, as well

as our own men’s and women’s Bible studies and Taize

services that are open to the community. Steve

Carpenter noted that PVMC has contributed an average

of $24 per member to the operating budget over the last

several years. This is deeply appreciated, since some of

the small congregations have very limited financial

resources. At present VMC is experiencing a deficit due

to the tough economic times.

What does VMC have to offer Park View Mennonite?

This is a little less obvious since Park View Mennonite is

a relatively large well-established congregation. The

benefits are more behind the scenes. VMC sponsors

retreats for youth and youth leaders and provides

various resources for leadership development and

equipping ministers. VMC is quite active in working with

congregations undergoing pastoral transitions. Regular

meetings with staff and delegates at the District level

are informative and meaningful.

What are some current future trends at VMC?

There is a renewed interest in paying attention to

“growth at the margins,” which means being attentive to

meeting needs of persons that are overlooked, while at

the same time maintaining a strong emphasis on our

traditional Anabaptist theology and values. A few years

ago there was a significant drop in VMC membership

due primarily to congregations not wishing to join in with

MC USA. However there are now some signs of new

growth. Owen Burkholder believes “to work at what is

meaningful, start with worship.” Services which focus on

a theology of transcendence bring a sense of meaning

and purpose to life.

What’s new and exciting within

VMC?

Everyone mentioned the fact that a new

congregation has been welcomed in

each of the last three years:

• The Table: A congregation of

primarily young persons who are

interested in exploring new

meaningful forms of worship and

community

• The Early Church: A downtown

Harrisonburg church that focuses

on the needs of the poor and

homeless persons in our local

Owen Burkholder gets a light from Loren Horst, chair ofVMM, during assembly (Candleholders, as well ascommunion trays, were borrowed from PVMC).

Trio providing music at the women’s prayerbreakfast during assembly. The women met in thePVMC fellowship hall; the men met in thefireplace room.

community

• Manantial de Vida (Fountain of Life): A vibrant

Hispanic congregation that meets Sunday

afternoons in the Ridgeway Mennonite Church

building

I think these are good examples of “growth at the

margins.”

I asked Owen, Beryl, Steve and Diane if there was

anything that irritated them about VMC. They reported

nothing of any serious consequence. The working

relationships are very cordial, in particular with Virginia

Mennonite Missions. VMM is a commission under VMC

but has an independent operating board and financial

budget. Steve Carpenter, the Conference Coordinator,

did mention he

misses the large

Sunday morning

gathering of

churches in the

Commons at

EMU (during

Assembly). It

was a symbol of

unity and

fellowship

around a

common worship

theme. I miss it

also.

I suggested to Steve that it might be interesting to

have a small exchange of persons attending a Sunday

morning service between two congregation on occasion.

Say a carload of persons from PVMC might attend

Community Mennonite while at the same time a carload

from Community might attend PVMC.

Let me conclude with this special note of

appreciation. I was honored to represent Park View

Mennonite as a delegate to Virginia Mennonite

Conference for the past three years. The summer

conference assemblies and the mid-winter delegate

sessions were meaningful and informative. And I

always enjoyed the fellowship of staff and delegates

from the broad range of congregations.

For more about Virginia Mennonite Conference, see

Miriam Martin’s delegate report on VMC Assembly later

in this issue.

Ross Erb converses with Beryl Jantziat assembly.

H1N1 Influenza A current health concern is

the H1N1 virus. Scientists

are working to develop a

safe and effective vaccine to

be available this fall. The

annual flu vaccine is

necessary for protection

against seasonal flu

outbreaks. When the H1N1 vaccine becomes

available, it will be an additional vaccination.

Although there is less current news about

seasonal flu, protecting against it should be taken

seriously. There is an average of 36,000 deaths in the

U.S. annually from seasonal flu and its complications.

H1N1 differs from seasonal flu in that it is not

limited to the “usual” flu season and is currently active

in more than 70 countries, thus it is labeled a

pandemic. Also, it seems to be more serious when

contracted by people with a compromised immune

system, and it is spread in settings where people are

in close contact with each other.

How can you protect yourself against the H1N1

virus? Practicing the following health behaviors

regularly can protect against this virus as well as

other communicable diseases. Actions:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often

• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow

• Avoid contact with sick people

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

• Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, toys and

other surfaces that are commonly touched (Use

1:10 bleach solution)

If you display any flu symptoms, stay at home for

seven (7) days after symptoms begin, and contact

your health care provider for diagnostic and treatment

advice. Symptoms of ANY flu:

• Fever of 100 F or higher • Extreme tiredness

• Severe body aches • Sore throat

• Cough • Runny or stuffy nose

• Headache • (Rarely) vomiting/diarrhea

Finally, pay attention to developing news on H1N1

over the next several months. New information will be

made available as it is discovered. To stay

“on top” of the news, check out the

website www.cdc.gov.

MC USA Assembly in Columbus, Ohio

June 30 - July 4, 2009

Doing the Church’s Business in a

Different Way

In the 1980s I went to the Mennonite

Church conventions as a news reporter

for the denominational press. I was often

assigned to the delegate sessions. Now,

two decades later, I get to be a delegate

myself. I’ve helped represent our

congregation the last two times.

A few years ago, when Ervin Stutzman of our

congregation was moderator of the denomination, and

we were facing some tough issues, he helped change

the way the delegate sessions were run.

Delegates used to sit in an auditorium in sections

marked with signs for their local Mennonite conference.

Now all the delegates are mixed together and

assigned to round tables. When you enter the delegate

hall on the first day, the ushers look at their lists that tell

them where each delegate is supposed to sit. Each

table ends up with a diversity of states, age, gender,

ethnicity, etc.

In the midst of our business—debating the issues,

passing resolutions, hearing reports, etc.—the

delegates get to know the people at their table. Time is

designated for table discussions, prayer and even Bible

study (led this year by none other than Ervin Stutzman).

You spend four days with an interesting mixture of

people, some of whom you may disagree with. I got to

be friends with the person to my right. On the last day

we were startled to find that we disagreed totally on one

issue that we were voting on. We had to work through

that on a personal basis. But that’s the point. This is

how the business of the church should be conducted.

—Steve Shenk

Are You Tingling?

Breathe and be filled: this direct and simple invitation

was theme for this year’s Mennonite Convention in

Ohio. Throughout the week we looked at different

aspects of the Holy Spirit and the ways in which we

could take the steps which would allow the Spirit to

possess every part of our lives. Brenda Mathews shared

her powerful poetry, calling us “as God’s young people”

to stand and claim His grace. Shane Hipps shared his

insights into the divine breath which is God’s gift to us.

Shane Claiborne challenged us to stop complaining

about the church we have experienced and start living

like the church we wanted to be.

Worship sessions in the stadium

were charged with excitement. We

crowded outside and surged forward

when the curtains were opened. Our

enthusiasm rarely waned throughout

each service. The joint worship session

was, for me, one of the most significant

experiences of the week. This is the

worship session where both youth and

adults worshiped together. The energy in the room,

which I had assumed had already reached its height on

the first day of convention, peaked that night. I

remember turning to one of my friends and whispering,

“Are you tingling?”

“YES. You?”

“Yes.”

When we began to sing I thought, “WOW. This is

what church means.” and also, “This must be a little bit

like what it is to sing in heaven.”

The convention also opened my eyes to how much

is going on in the Mennonite church. Wandering through

the booths and displays, hunting for free t-shirts and

pins, I was impressed with the immense variety of

outreaches that our church is involved in. Here were

people passionate about Christ, missions, recycling, and

fair trade. It was my experience of Park View Mennonite

Church magnified immensely. I saw where our church fit

into the whole. The ministry which Park View is a part of

is larger than what I see of our participation in Penny

Power, the Mennonite Relief Sale, and the comforters.

I experienced a similar feeling to this when I realized

one day that my experience of convention was only a

fraction of what was actually going on that week. One of

the most difficult things about convention was choosing

which seminars to attend. The administrators tried to

stay in tune with which seminars were in the most

demand in order to schedule repeats of the most

popular seminars. Still, when the door opened to one of

the seminars I was attending, people pressed toward

the door and I was nearly crushed. I got in, but nearly

two-thirds of the people were turned away

at the door.

I wondered exactly how long it would

take a single person to attend every

seminar, volunteer for every service activity,

and listen to the speakers in both adult and

youth worship sessions. Would the

marathon take you three months? Four

months? Six? At any rate, I knew that in

every seminar and every worship session,

that if God was not at that moment working

in me, He was surely working in several hundred other

people down my row.

The conventions that the Mennonite church holds

every other year are meant to be times of connection,

unity, and grounding in our identity as Mennonites and

as followers of Christ. I know that this happened in

Columbus. —Hannah Cranston

Left: MYFers

discussing what they’ve

heard in workshops &

worship; Right:

Carissa Boettger

modeling the MYF’s

entry in the trash

fashion show; Below:

MYF service in

Columbus

Mennonite World Conference

Ascuncion, Paraguay July 14 - 19, 2009

Ed and Edie Bontrager (tour hosts):

Mennonite missionaries have ministered with

the Tobas, an indigenous tribal people

located in northern Argentina, for almost 70

years. One of these missionary couples was

Mike and Mattie Marie Mast who served there

for 25 years, but who now live in Ohio. They co-hosted

our tour, carefully planning out our three days of visiting

among the Tobas before the MWC began. Our group of

39 travelers met the present missionaries and only a

few of the 50,000 Tobas who live in this wide expanse

of the Argentine Chaco. Boarding two minibuses, we

drove for miles out of Formosa and enjoyed an asado

(outdoor barbeque). We visited remote congregations

for both Saturday evening and Sunday cultos, and sang,

prayed, and fellowshipped together. Their spirited

worship, complete with 150-200 dancers sporting

multi-cultured costumes who circled around the floor of

the church scores of times accompanied by blaring

keyboard music, was an inspiration to us all.

Caption: After the asado the tour group gathered for a

picture, joined by a few of the Tobas who were acting as

our wonderful hosts!

Gene Diener: Our trip was the realization of my life-long

dream to visit the German Mennonites in the Chaco. As

a development worker in Costa Rica and Nicaragua in

the 60’s and 70’s I heard bits and pieces of what the

Mennonites had done in Paraguay, including the 250-

mile road built by the "Pax boys" in the late 50’s.

The hundreds of miles of roads, the

cooperatives, schools, hospitals, retirement

communities, and, of course, churches gave

testimony to the vision and expertise of the

founders and their successors, as did the

mission focus to the indigenous population

from the inception of the colonies.

Our home stay with a young Mennonite

family in the Fernheim Colony provided

additional insight during our visit.

The visit enriched our lives and challenged us to

consider ways in which we can more faithfully live out

God’s call/mission in our North American context.

Gloria Diener: Snippets from MWC in Asunción:

People reach across culture and language to greet each

other. ´¿De donde está Usted? someone asks. “Where

are you from?” A stranger smiles, “Bienvenido,

hermana.” Welcome, sister.

Gene and I travel back in time—and forward too—as

we enter the week of worship, the familiar mixing with

the unfamiliar. Well-loved songs twist into extraordinary

sounds, the Paraguayan harp, Indonesian guitar,

Canadian violin, with nearly six thousand voices singing

in eight languages, blend the almost-impossible.

I meet a woman who looks much like I do. Clearly

we’re both from Swiss-German descent, but I can’t

speak German and she doesn’t speak English, so we

try Spanish to bridge the distance.

Jaime Prieto, a 12-year old kid in the Costa Rican

Mennonite Church in the ’70’s, quotes poet Machado

during his report.

Todo pasa and todo queda, he reminds us.

He’s right, of course. Everything does pass: God,

the church, time, experience. Faith.

And everything stays.

Mary Kratz Showalter: The Chaco held great interest

for both Millard and me. Reading Edgar Stoesz’s book,

Like a Mustard Seed, helped us understand why

self-preservation would be the goal in this “green hell.”

However, the Fernheim colony immediately felt called to

minister to the indigenous Indians. It took 10 years

before Sepe Lhama, who had worked closely with the

missionaries, requested baptism. Several others

followed suit.

While in the Chaco, we visited Yalve Sanga, the

headquarters for the indigenous group of Mennonites.

During lunch they entertained us with music. Lucus, the

son of Sepe, was playing a Paraguayan harp along with

others on the guitar, cello, and accordion. They sang

many songs while we ate. Before we left, our group

starting singing, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,”

and almost immediately the musicians began playing

and singing along with us—a very moving moment—our

brothers in Christ.

Millard E. Showalter: On our trip to MWC in Paraguay,

Mary and I had the privilege of spending two nights in

the home of a Beachy Amish family. The father, Samuel

Bontrager, was born in Indiana and the mother is a

native of Paraguay. They have six children. Samuel can

speak six languages: English, Spanish, High German,

Low German, Pennsylvania Dutch and Guarani.

Samuel is an electrician and has several men working

for him. Each morning, when assigning jobs for the day,

he easily switches from one language to another to

accommodate the employee’s preference.

The second morning of our stay, Samuel’s daughter,

Judy, commented that shortly before our arrival they

had hosted two families from the States. Imagine my

surprise when she mentioned the names of a niece and

nephew of mine. I could hardly believe it! My nephew

(from Alabama) was showing his two adopted

Paraguayan children their country of birth.

Don & Rita Steiner: Having served a three-year term of

service in the late 1960’s teaching on the Navajo

Reservation, Rita and I were especially interested in

how the Mennonite communities in the Central Chaco

relate to the indigenous people among them. One

workshop entitled “In the Spirit of the Indigenous Heart”

was particularly informative

since indigenous

representatives of both

North and South America

discussed issues related to

acculturation of their youth

to modern culture, lack of

land, poverty, health and

education.

We also traveled to the

Central Chaco after World

Conference to visit

Fernheim and Neuland

colonies. Together we

spent an afternoon visiting

the nearby Indian

communities of Yalve

Sanga, a reserve located

between the two colonies.

The Enlhet and Nivacle

predominate in the Central

Chaco among other indigenous groups. Together they

number 28,000 people or 52% of the total population

while the German-Paraguayans represent

approximately 32% of the total. Latin-Paraguayans

make up the remainder.

The ASCIM (Indigenous Mennonite Association for

Inter-ethnic Cooperation) offers assistance. ASCIM’s

vision is “to create autonomous communities living and

working together in harmony in an inter-ethnic....” The

organization promotes land acquisition for indigenous

communities, agricultural extension services,

educational and training services, health awareness and

medical care. We visited a hospital and a food

distribution warehouse, but were unable to visit the local

schools since students were on winter break. Early

education involves a gradual transition to a more formal

Indigenous mother and child,

Mennonite World Conference

2009, Asuncion, Paraguay

school setting. Children receive the first 3 years of their

education with indigenous teachers using a bilingual

curriculum. A major challenge is to help indigenous

youth succeed in the higher grades. We were

encouraged by the number of indigenous young people

who participated in the music program of the World

Conference general sessions.

What a great time we had experiencing Mennonite

World Conference and subsequent travels to the Gran

Chaco, Eastern Paraguay, and Brazil. We’d do it again

in a heartbeat (if we had the money)! It was worth every

penny!

Ervin Stutzman: When I signed up to stay in a private

home, I didn’t realize what it would mean. I was hosted

with others in a summer home about a 50-minute bus

ride south of the conference location. Six city buses

transported us to a camp each morning and evening.

Some stayed there; some of us went from there to

homes. Our group had delightful hosts, a Hispanic

family new to the Mennonite Church in Asunción. They

radiated the life of Jesus.

The bus rides were exhausting but the fellowship

was great. I had conversations with people I wouldn’t

have met otherwise—a young German church planter

from Brazil, a Dutch lawyer-turned-seminarian from

Amsterdam, a Pennsylvanian accountant with his family

of five, an indigenous widower struggling to make a

living in the Chaco, a teacher from India with a delightful

British accent, a German Mennonite born in the Chaco,

and many more. Mennonite World Conference delivered

on its promise to help us get to know Mennonites from

around the world.

Sharon Kniss: I attended the Global Youth Summit

(gathering for young adults, ages 18-30, for 3-4 days

prior to Assembly Gathered) as a delegate for United

Kingdom youth. There are very few Anabaptist youth in

the UK so I enjoyed the challenge of making

connections between Mennonites, Brethren in Christ,

Church Communities (formerly “Bruderhof”), and other

young “Anabaptist-sympathisers” as I prepared to be a

UK voice at the gathering and to bring back learnings

afterwards. The summit included morning and evening

worship (youth from each continent led a service), and

delegate sessions (or workshops if attending not as a

delegate). Over 700 youth participated in the summit

(up from 200 in Zimbabwe 2003) and between 1,000

and 3,000 youth were present for the worship services.

I appreciated the privilege of being among such

amazing young people from all around the world sharing

convictions but also having diverse worship styles,

perspectives, and cultural contexts.

During Assembly Gathered I was also able to lead

two workshops on church conflict which were filled to

over capacity of 100+ people. It was clear to me that

this is a subject that we need to talk about as

Mennonites, and work together to address.

Virginia Conference Report The theme “Jesus is

our Peace” guided

much of the

discussion at the

Virginia Conference

Assembly held July

23 to 25, 2009 at

Eastern Mennonite

High School. The

high point of the first

evening worship was

a presentation by

David Shenk, veteran

missionary now living in Pennsylvania. He continues to

have global interaction with the Muslim world and

shared some moving examples of how the message of

“Jesus as the way of peace” is spreading in many

places globally.

Some reports at the Delegate Sessions Friday and

Saturday were quite routine while others were inspiring.

Much of the reporting was organized by the framework

of “reasons for hope and work to be done.” Several

persons were recognized for service to the church, and

we joyfully received a new congregation into the

conference: Manantial De Vida. Juan Carlos and Wendy

Malvaez provide leadership for this Spanish-speaking

church that meets at Ridgeway church.

We heard from several men from the Tidewater

area who are embarking on a ministry called Oasis of

Hope to aid in the healing of soldiers returning from war.

Both workshops I attended were informative and

well attended. “Dialogue on Difficult Issues: Beyond

Avoidance” was led by David Brubaker from Park View.

Loren Horst and Linford Stutzman presented “Can we

read the signs? The Church’s changing course,” a

report on declining church membership. Some of the

discussion made me wonder if our focus should also be

on supporting people in their faith journey when

organized religion doesn’t include them.

As the meeting progressed, I became aware of

gender imbalance at several levels. A tabulation of

congregational delegates revealed that 23% were

female. Most of the public presentations were by males,

although Phyllis Miller, Mission Board Chair, gave an

excellent report. Dorothy Jean Weaver led a challenging

Bible Study on Saturday morning; and one of the final

announcements was that Aldine Musser from Stephen’s

City Mennonite Church has been selected as the new

Overseer of the Northern District. Several women also

spoke during open mike times. All in all, we heard many

stories of how God is working among us.

I urge you to consider attending Conference next

year. It will be held at North Carolina State University

June 24 to 26, 2010 with the theme “Our

Christ-centered Love.” In addition, watch for a number

of local events that will take place during 2010,

celebrating the 175th anniversary of the beginning of

Virginia Mennonite Conference.

—Miriam E. Martin

Making Applesauce: An Activity for Families

The Keim and

Mast families

recently held an

applesauce-

making

marathon in the

church kitchen.

Chemical-Free Fruit

for Your YardWhat are the most common

fruits that people grow in their

yards? Apples, peaches and

pears are traditional. They

even have dwarf varieties that

take up less space. However,

they are difficult to grow without

sprays or pesticides. Peaches often rot in the humid

Virginia climate unless chemicals are used. Apples are

subject to pests and malformation.

Some fruits are even more problematic to grow

without chemicals. According to Mike McConkey, a fruit

tree nurseryman in Afton, the apricot and nectarine are

the worst fruits for the home (“The Home Orchard,” The

Washington Post, June 11, 2009). The apricot is subject

to having its early blooms killed by frost, while the

nectarine is prone to brown rot.

However, some fruits can be grown and enjoyed in

limited space without chemicals. Blueberries,

blackberries, raspberries, figs and grapes can be easy to

care for. Currants, juneberries and Asian persimmons

(recommended for fall color), are also options.

Consider placement of fruit throughout your yard, not

just in a vegetable garden. For example, blueberries, a

native shrub, can be grown as an ornamental plant. They

produce pretty white blossoms in April. Front yard

placement of blueberries is increasing. Since it is

acid-loving, there are growing considerations; netting is

useful to harvest the berries before the birds do.

With a little more space, mulberries can be grown,

providing food for humans and birds. You might see

sharing your fruit with birds as creation care. One

negative of mulberries is that this tree does lose fruit, and

you may see evidence of this on sidewalks around town.

If you choose to plant this tree, you may want to give

careful consideration to its placement.

Some grow blueberries, strawberries or certain

varieties of figs as container plants. A sunny deck or

porch can be a new home to tasty fruit-bearing plants.

Integrating fruit within your landscape plan can be a

type of creation care and can be accomplished by

apartment or townhouse dwellers. Small lifestyle

changes can enable you to grow more of your own food.

Could you grow more fruit in your yard or on the porch as

a way of caring for God’s creation and being a good

steward of your resources? —Sherwyn Smeltzer

Albania Christian SchoolSome of you already know

more about this school than

I do. However, I was

privileged during the Virginia

Conference Assembly to

attend an informational

meeting with the founder of

the school, Klementina

Shahini. She is very confident, engaging,

inspirational, visionary, and has a reputation as an

educator and an extremely able administrator among

the political and educational leaders in the city where

the school is located, Lezhe, her husband, Dini's

hometown.

She clearly believes that God has led her there,

prepared the way for the school, and opened a door

that no one can shut. Now that is faith and belief in all

boldness! Virginia Mennonite Missions (VMM) helped

to start a church in Lehze and as a congregation we

are helping to support the school and the church.

In 1967 under the communist dictator, Albania

was officially declared an atheistic nation. The

ancient Orthodox Church building was destroyed. At

times since the 1200s it was a mosque depending

upon who was the ruling power.

In 2009 a prayer team and mission workers from

VMM stood next to the remains of that church

building as representatives of Jesus and declared in

prayer God's purposes that He lays claim to the

people of that nation. A statement from their

newsletter, "In the same place where the enemy

sought to destroy the church, steal a generation and

unleash a youth movement of destruction, God is at

work to win a new generation and unleash a new

movement of youth who are taught and who embrace

the way of Jesus Christ." "Greater is he who is in (us)

than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4. That is

exciting to me!

Their mission: Albania Christian School, a

nonprofit organization, offers rigorous academics with

a Biblical world view to prepare students to become

leaders who apply Christian principles to life. I think

you can join their prayer team. Call VMM.

Park View

at Worshipin the

CommunityMorrison Park

July 26, 2009

Pat Santiago, manager of Prayer Shawl

Project, presents shawls to Carmen

Schrock-Hurst for hospice patients.

Evelyn Maust, left, with the quilt she

appliqued.Mamie Hartzler with the 4 baby quilts she

cross-stitched (she quilted 3; MW quilted1).

Peggy Landis, Missions

Commission chair, speaks of

Mennonite Women’s work as

analogous to feeding the 5,000.

Pastor Phil lights candle of

blessing.

Milly Stoltzfus, president of

Mennonite Women, speaks of

the year’s accomplishments.

Mennonite Women

Feast of CelebrationAugust 5, 2009

Mennonite Women Celebrate“Feast of Celebration” was the theme for the end-of-the

year program, August 5, for Mennonite Women.

Displayed for the celebration were prayer shawls (15),

items for the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, school kits

and bags (800 sewn),and comforters (45), made

throughout last year. The items donated for the relief

sale this year are: a quilt, Dogwood pattern, appliquéd

by Evelyn Maust and quilted at the monthly meetings, a

wall hanging and three crib quilts cross-stitched by

Mamie Hartzler; three of the crib quilts and wall hanging

were quilted by Mamie.

Peggy Landis, Chair of the Missions Commission,

affirmed the work of Mennonite Women and noted that

a person from Mennonite Women serves as a

representative to the Commission. She also gave a very

interesting meditation comparing the commitment and

service of Mennonite Women to “one of the truly big

feasts of the New Testament”—feeding the five

thousand. Patricia Santiago presented the

Prayer/Comfort Shawl Ministry and named the persons

who have received shawls at difficult times and

transitions in their lives. She also reported on the

enlargement of the Prayer/Comfort Shawl Ministry to

Rockingham Memorial Hospital Hospice and Chaplains

at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. Carmen

Schrock-Hurst was present and received shawls to be

given to RMH Hospice patients who do not have family

or a support group. Shirlee K. Yoder, Chaplain at

VMRC, was out of the country and will be given shawls

later to be used in the same way. Erma Brubaker, Marie

Moyer and Lois Martin make the shawls in their “free

time.” Pastor Barbara commented on the value of this

ministry and led a prayer of blessing and continued

healing for those who have received the shawls this

year. Pastor Phil ended the program with comments

and a prayer of thanks for the “feast” for those who

have given and for those who will receive.

Mennonite Women meets the first Wednesday of

each month, and all are welcomed. In addition to that

meeting, MCC Work Nights are scheduled for October

8, December 3, February 4, April 8, and June 3

beginning at 6 p.m. Work will consist of knotting

comforters, preparing batting for comforters, and

quilting on the quilt for the 2010 Virginia Mennonite

Relief Sale.

The leadership for 2009-10 is: Dorothy Logan,

President: Alice Borden, Vice President; Una Lee

Wilkins, Secretary, Doris Rosenberger, Treasurer,

June Martin, Project Manager; Lois Martin, Kitchen

Manager, Marian Martin, Card Sender, and Patricia

Santiago, Prayer/Comforter Shawl Ministry Manager.

Special thanks are given to Milly Stoltzfus, President

and Virginia Shenk for their past leadership.

A special thanks to the PVMC family and the

Working Committee who made it possible to send

1,001 School Kits to MCC, through donations of

$2,226.43 and through participation in the MCC Work

Night on August 12. There are many who worked

behind the scenes—custodians, John Kauffman, John

Fast (who also provided his truck to transport supplies),

Joan Horst, office, David Brubaker and Sharon Kniss

who set up the tables, and those who sewed the 1,000

school kit bags. For

this year, MCC has

received requests for

school kits from

Sudan, Ukraine,

Honduras, and

Nicaragua.

—Milly Stoltzfus and

Dorothy Logan

Developing Countries Capital Projects: A HistoryRecently, the Shalom Sunday School class devoted one

session to reviewing the history of the Developing

Countries Capital Projects (DCCP) carried out by

PVMC. The program began when the new sanctuary

was being built in response to a concern that we were

spending a great deal of money to build our own

worship space when others in various parts of the world

were struggling just to have a roof over their heads on

Sunday morning. The plan was adopted to direct a

portion of the funds we raise each year toward a

specific project, such as completing a roof on a church

building, as long as our own structure was not paid for.

As you know, Climbing the Peak is still in progress.

The review is timely, as this is the 15th year of the

DCCP program. Following is a list of the projects funded

to date. We are not aware of any other congregation

that has sponsored such support to brothers and sisters

elsewhere in the world. Perhaps it should be noted in

some way by Mennonite World Conference.

The process involved formation of a DCCP

committee of about five persons from PVMC to consider

projects for funding each year. A set of guidelines was

developed to help make choices. Ideas and proposals

were solicited from the congregation, and preference

was given to projects that included possible on-going

interaction with receiving congregations through our

members who are acquainted there. Both Virginia and

Eastern Mennonite Missions also were given opportunity

to suggest projects. There was never a lack of

proposals and choices were often difficult to make

because of dire needs. Sometimes a second project

sneaked into the process, such as the sand dam

building project in Kenya in 2007. Last year, given the

strong desire to respond somehow to the destruction

from hurricanes in the South, the Missions Commission

considered changing the name from Developing

Countries Capital Projects to “Developing Communities

Capital Projects” to reflect openness to helping

domestic congregations to recover from destruction and

to put a roof over their heads.

Current chairperson of the committee is Kathryn

Fairfield. She would be delighted to receive proposals to

be considered for the next church year. —Ervie Glick

Projects of the

Developing Countries Capital Projects CommitteePark View Mennonite Church 1994 to 2009

1. 1994-95 $?? Roof completion, Kataraharjo Mennonite Church, North Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia2. 1995-96 $4,270 School construction in Ethiopia3. 1996-97 $4,680 Church construction, Yalva Sanga Chulupi Church, Paraguay4. [1997-98 nd Rebuild typhoon-damaged school and free clinic, Vietnam]5. 1998-99 $2,825 Land purchase, Faith Mennonite Church, Spanishtown, Jamaica6. 1999-2000 $6,000 Constructed roofs for some churches, rebuilt Busumi church, Tanzania7. 2000-01 $3,500 Church construction in Trinidad;

$2,500 Two classrooms for Wellega Bible school in Ethiopia8. 2001-02 $2,287 Construction of Semilla Seminary, Guatemala

$3,283 Church construction, Faith Mennonite, Spanishtown, Jamaica9. 2002-03 $6,500 New classroom buildings, Meserete Kristos College, Ethiopia10. 2003-04 $6,402 Roof for Faith Mennonite Church, Spanishtown, Jamaica; includes $970 for work crew

sent summer ‘0411. 2004-05 $6,000 Construction of church for Anren, China12. 2005-06 $6,000 Hosted delegation from Kartaraharjo Mennonite Church, Indonesia13. 2006-07 $5,000 Church benches and windows, Lumban Mennonite Church, Philippines

[2007 $10,683 Sand Dam project in Kenya; includes travel assistance for work team. Not officially aDCCP project]

14. 2007-08 $5,000 Roof for Hope Mennonite Church, Trinidad15. 2008-09 $5,000 Church floor, Colca Mennonite Church, Cuzco, Peru &

greenhouse repairs, Lucre Mennonite Church, Cuzco, Peru

Reflections on Leaving London...Having just engaged in a 30-minute conversation with

the last participant to leave the London Mennonite

Centre, I leaned against the door frame heavily and

sighed. I was tired; it had been another week full of

training. As with most courses I was also energized by

the training which had happened, and this time I was

particularly pleased to be able to lead mediation skills

training, which I hadn’t done for nearly a year since we

changed our course

programme. But unlike

all other courses, this

was my last. My time

was done; at the close of

the door as the last

participant left, three

years of work with

Bridge Builders at the

London Mennonite

Centre were over. I still

had one final day in the

office to attempt to tie up

three years’ worth of

loose ends to enable a

smooth transition for my

future successor and a

clean departure for

myself, but the main work was done.

I was relieved. It is a good feeling to complete

something which you are proud about and which has

wholly been a positive experience. I also felt within

myself that this was indeed time to move on. I didn’t

know to what, I still don’t know, but I knew I had served

my time in London and that the whispering of God was

starting to stir again.

Three years…of experiencing and learning the

“British” life: I took part in a regular “Breakfast

Wednesdays” group of friends who got together at

different English cafes in the city to sample their fare

(and particularly their fry-up) once/month.

[www.breakfastwednesdays.org.uk] I can now talk about

(and sometimes dream about) beans, eggs, toasts,

veggie alternatives to meat, tomatoes, mushrooms…in

that morning classic breakfast.

I walked Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast path, 200

miles stretching from the west coast to the east coast of

the North of England. I experienced Northern hospitality,

the beauty of the stunning lake district to the stark

Yorkshire Dales, and the quintessential English

pastime, walking (or hill-walking, or fell-walking…).

I played tennis at the local tennis club and

discovered grass courts, artificial grass courts, and the

thrill of Wimbledon.

I mediated conflicts with church-goers, and learnt

more about the distinction between the Christian

precept of loving your neighbour versus its sanitized

understanding as “being nice at all costs.”

I trained church leaders in dealing with conflict while

I learned that I still

needed training in

dealing with my own

conflicts.

I worshiped in a

post-Christendom

context where churches

are likely to inspire

tourists for their beauty

but less likely to attract

worshipers on a Sunday

morning. I heard stories

of Christians

rediscovering that faith

in the way of Jesus has

impact on the way you

live your life, and that

Jesus had a message of

peace and social justice to proclaim, a message which

was also a call for those who followed him.

I was convicted through a course on community

work that the church needs to be a place of

encouraging and equipping its people for partnership

with God’s work in the world, and not a building which

hosts all our spiritual experiences; that the focus is not

on “gathering in” but rather “sending out.”

I came not knowing anyone in the entire country,

and left having experienced the grace and faithfulness

of God through significant friendships.

I continue on the journey, grateful for the support

Park View and many of its members offered to enable

the opportunity of the previous three years of this

journey. Thank you, and I continue to welcome your

prayers as I transition to the U.S. and listen to the

whispering of God.

—Sharon Kniss

The London team; Sharon is in back, third from left.

La Florida, Peru A seed was planted in my heart several months ago

when Millard and Linda Fuller spoke at PVMC one

Sunday morning. He mentioned a work project in Peru.

That’s all it took; I was hooked! By May, everything was

pretty well settled. Our team leader challenged us to

pack in one backpack so that we would not have to

check luggage. First mission accomplished, even if my

hiking boots had to dangle off the bottom of the pack.

In Atlanta, I met Jim and Margaret Favre, directors

of the Fuller Center’s Global Builder Programs. When

we finally arrived in Lima, we met the other five team

members plus Wendy, a Fuller volunteer and our

“house mom” and Zenon Colque, the spirit of Millard in

Peru, though he would

modestly deny that.

He knows everyone

and can make things

happen.

From Lima, it was

a two-hour bus ride.

From that town, we

took the local mini bus

to our dorm house

about a mile and a

half from the actual

building project in the

town of La Florida. I

now know where the

“middle of nowhere”

is. No TV and no

computer, only rarely

a phone—life just got a lot simpler.

Because we are the first work team, the whole town

is out to greet us. There are speeches, fruit baskets,

pictures from the children, and plenty of music and

dancing. Along the canal road, there are newly planted

trees—one for each year of Millard’s life. A family is

assigned to take care of each tree. They build a fence

around their tree and water it daily. This day, the trees

were also decorated with signs, balloons, and

streamers. In a dry desert pueblo, these trees have

brought hope and are a source of pride for the people.

The next morning begins with a visit to the local

school. We were introduced and took a picture in every

class from kindergarten through high school. The

teenagers’ dreams were no different than those of our

own children—a lawyer, doctor and architect. The

difference is their path—the opportunities for the

students are few and far between. Most of their parents

are field workers in the irrigated fields outside of town, if

they are lucky.

The next day, the building begins. Here the houses

are built in stages. The group of houses we are to work

on have had foundations poured and brick walls erected

inside and out. Our job is to build forms atop the walls

and fill them with concrete to form the support for the

roof. This involves lots of wood, rebars, and twisted

wire. One group takes the huge fiberglass container and

buckets to the canal. There is no running water. Once

there is water and the forming is done, cement is mixed.

No, there is no cement truck. Fortunately, there is a

portable gas powered mixer. One bag of concrete, 37

shovels of a sand, dirt,

rock mixture, and one

and a half buckets of

water. That’s the

Peruvian recipe for

concrete. The job is

finished with

wheelbarrows, shovels

and buckets. The

family members help

as much as their work

schedules allow. Many

are women with young

children. Together, we

finished about a house

per day.

Zenon loves any

excuse to celebrate!

We have an

impromptu party for Edwin, one of the hired workers and

a July 4th cookout that Zenon wanted to have for us.

Yet another fiesta took place in La Florida. Each of the

team had purchased a new tree to be planted along

side the others. So, following speeches, a parade with

clowns and Paso horses, a live band, and more

dancing, we were paired with a family to plant our trees.

On those days, we went home with faces stuck in

perpetual grins and sides sore from laughing.

The day of our last house was very hard. Goodbyes

were very difficult. Several of us were taking a side trip

to Machu Pichu before heading back to the States.

That meant a trip back to the Lima airport. For the

second time during our visit, there was a strike by the

public transportation workers in progress. Zenon found

two men willing to drive us into Lima, at night, after the

The work team; Carla is seated in front, wearing the hat.

strikers had gone home. It was a quiet, eerie ride.

Cuzco is a quick ride by plane. The tour operator

collected us at the airport and took us to the center of

town where our hotel was. We had the rest of the day to

adjust to the altitude. We left about four in the morning

to be transported to a train station about an hour away.

An hour and a half later brought us to Aguas Calientes,

the entrance to Machu Pichu. It is a tiny town with the

Urubamba River cutting it in two. The bus ride to the city

of Machu Pichu began at six a.m. in the pouring rain

(the climate has changed). The little ladies selling

ponchos seemed quite pleased! Our tour continued rain

and all. All the pictures have a mysterious, misty quality.

Down the mountain, back to Cuzco, then back to Lima

to catch the “midnight special” back to Atlanta and

beyond.

Writing about the trip is easy because it was a

cram-packed two and a half weeks. Writing about how it

has affected me is something else. The words just don’t

come easily. I know it has affected me deeply and for

the long term. I feel like I left things there unfinished.

Zenon always introduced me as a teacher. Somehow

word got out that I love to plant and grow things and do

crafts. There

was a little time

for those things

during our visit.

On our last stop

in Lima, we met

Zenon for a

meal. He read us

a letter written by

the La Florida

home owners

group. The entire

second

paragraph was

asking me to come back and teach them. I would feel

like a hypocrite to refuse such a heartfelt request. Then,

the two big questions echo in my head. How can I not

go back? My joblessness seems perfectly timed, so I

have time to return to La Florida. On the other hand, I

also have a family to consider and financing the trip.

The questions will keep echoing, but the dilemma itself

has been given to God. Phil’s sermons of the past few

weeks have been meaningful to me. Thanks, Phil!

—Carla Zook

Have You Met Jeongih, Yunjeong and Yejeong?

It was December 31, 2008 when a family of three

left their homeland of Korea and arrived in

Harrisonburg. Jeongih Han graduated with a BA in

Biblical studies from Korean Bible University in Seoul,

and at that time she was encouraged to come to EMU

to continue her studies in theology.

Jeongih has learned that through tough times God

is faithful and provides her peace.

In 2000 her husband Hakyun, a faithful servant of

God, died from a non-curable illness, leaving her with

two beautiful daughters. Jeongih testifies that times

were tough, but “I have been blessed on my journey by

God’s grace.”

At EMU Jeongih must continue studying in EMU’s

Intensive English Program (IEP), which she began this

last January. Her daughters, Yejeong and Yunjeong, will

be in seventh and eighth grades respectively at Thomas

Harrison Middle School. Both girls play piano. Yunjeong

also plays violin and Yejeong plays the flute.

Jeongih’s education includes an early childhood

education certificate that prepared her for operating a

church daycare center from 2001-05. This experience

deepened her love and desire for the Word of God, and

that’s when she enrolled in the Korean Bible University.

Pastoring Sunday school youth at her Presbyterian

church in Seoul, studying, her involvement in the

daycare center and the role of mother kept her busy.

Jeongih admires St. John. She claims, “I feel safe

just thinking of John in the arms of Jesus. Since I was

young the church has been a safe harbor for me. In

2003 I experienced the rebirth of my life and my faith.

In 2008 I found my diary where I had written a dream: ‘I

wish to study in America and then give my life to God as

Yejeong, Jeongih, and Yunjeong Han

a missionary.’ This dream happened 13 years ago, but

God remembered and put this desire back into my

heart. One of my Korean professors directed me to my

destination.”

Learning English is her big challenge. Presently she

has English conversation with two members, but she

wants more regularly scheduled one-on-one

conversations and Bible study opportunities. Jeongih

would welcome the opportunity of joining a family in

their household or connected apartment that would

lower her financial costs and help with conversation.

Jeongih and her two daughters live in an EMU Village

apartment. Her daughters wish they could continue

piano lessons.

The family likes the neighborhood of Harrisonburg.

“It’s so different from Korea’s small apartments,”

Jeongih expresses; “United States has big homes.

Korea’s shops are small; here there are large stores.”

She appreciates Park View’s formal worship style and

the kind, friendly welcome she receives. She keeps in

touch with her three sisters and two brothers in Korea

via email.

Jeongih hopes to

complete her IEP

courses quickly so she

can study at Eastern

Mennonite Seminary to

receive an MA in Church

Leadership. And along

the way she trusts that

her daughters will

become faithful servants

of God. Her goal: “I’d

like to serve God the

rest of my life as a missionary of the third world. I desire

to give my life while keeping my eyes on St. John in the

arms of Jesus.”

Her bravery in joining a new culture, learning a new

language, with ambition to study theology is remarkable.

Please pray for this family regarding seminary

scholarship and housing. Please say “hi” and catch

Jeongih’s beautiful smile the next time you see her and

her lovely daughters at Park View. They will welcome

your supportive friendship!

—Hannah Mack Lapp

Mary Florence Shenk

December 22, 1916 -

July 17, 2009Mary Florence Shenk died

Friday, July 17, 2009, at

Virginia Mennonite

Retirement Community. She

was born Dec. 22, 1916, in

Elida, Ohio, the fourth of 10

children of the late Levi J.

and Amanda Yoder Shenk.

The family moved to

Denbigh, VA, when she was a young child.

Mary Florence graduated from Morrison High School

in 1934 and from Eastern Mennonite University in 1959.

As a teenager she began teaching Sunday School at

the Warwick River Mennonite Church, where she grew

up. She taught in Bible Schools and Sunday Schools

most of her life. Mary moved to Harrisonburg, VA, in

1941. She was an active member of the Park View

Mennonite Church and participated in the Mennonite

Women's organization, where she often held offices.

She served 40 years as administrative assistant to

the deans of the college and seminary at Eastern

Mennonite University from 1943-1983 with deans

Chester K. Lehman, Ira E. Miller, George R. Brunk II,

Richard C. Detweiler and George R. Brunk III. In

addition, this included assistance in advising foreign

students. Her faithful labors enhanced the productivity

of those whom she has served.

After retirement, she was involved in a variety of

volunteer assignments. These included working in MCC

Ten Thousand Villages ministry in Akron, Pa. and at

Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift Shop, where she served on

the Board of Directors a number of years. She also

reviewed books for Choice Books. Mary Florence loved

to travel and was able to visit many points of interest in

the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Alaska.

Mary Florence was a woman with many gifts, talents

and interests. She enjoyed entertaining family and

friends. Family was very important to her. She was very

diligent in planning family reunions.

Mary Florence is survived by three sisters, Mildred

and her husband, Sylvanus Moyer, Miriam and her

husband, Daniel Baer, all of Harrisonburg, Martha and

her husband, Ernest Godshall, of Newport News, Va.;

one brother, John M. Shenk and his wife, Evelyn, of

Harrisonburg; and many nieces and nephews.

Author Hannah with Jeongih

Work and Play in the Colorado Rockies

Ten days in the Rockies were filled with work and play

for us the last week of July and into August. Friends met

our flight into Grand Junction and then took us directly

to their ranch land for a vacation of hard physical work

and some relaxation. Our assignment this time was to

help them with interiors of their new yurt/cabin and

make land improvements.

Located at 9,200 ft altitude, Black Mesa is about a

mile from the rim of the Black Canyon River Gorge. The

land was homesteaded by a group of hearty ranchers

and then handed down through basically two families.

Our friends purchased some of this prime ranch land—

with water rights—several years ago as the first to ever

actually buy the land. Surrounding land is “free range”

pasture and aspen groves. Their land is fenced to keep

roaming cows and horses from contaminating the

spring. The rule is: you fence animals out— not in.

Cowboys spend the summer at this altitude following the

herds. They still tip their hats when the “ladies” pass.

We stayed alone in an old cabin with no electricity,

no cell phone, radio, TV or flush toilet. We did have

spring water, propane cooking gas and one of the most

compelling views of the distant Uncompahgre

Mountains you can

imagine. Alpine flowers

were in full bloom among

the sage brush. We

heated bath water in big

plastic shower bags left

out in the sun all day. A

solar panel powered a

generator to pump water to

a holding tank. The

nearest town was an hour

and a half away. The

second nearest was two

hours away.

Our work started early in the mornings. Ron was

often out before breakfast. We tore down about 800 ft.

of old border fence and wound about 4,000 ft of rusty

barbed wire that had to be untangled from sage brush.

Ron lifted the posts and Shirley stacked and helped

haul them to a place for disposal.

We fed horses, hauled high organic matter soil to a

raised garden area; hunted, shoveled and then spread

by hand wheelbarrow loads of horse manure; picked up

by hand and hauled loads of rock for a flower bed and

then harvested wildflower seed for planting by the cabin;

Ron hung sheetrock, installed cabinets, and Shirley

scrubbed the cabin floor “cleaner than it has been in the

past 30 years.”

A humorous event occurred near the end of our

stay. Late one afternoon, Ron and I rode the fence line

to hang signs that said, “Do not hunt without

permission.” The signs pointed outward toward the

bordering free range land. We were suddenly surprised

to see not one, but four, eight-point bucks watching us

work from the opposite meadow. They did not seem

afraid of us and

watched what

we were doing

with curiosity.

The next

evening we

saw them

again, but this

time it was on

our side of the

fence; we

concluded the

bucks could

read, and that

they knew they would be safer

inside rather than outside the

fenced area.

We usually quit work about 4

p.m. and relaxed until supper. If it

was warm enough, we ate our

supper outside so we could watch

the sun cast orange and purple light

onto the mountains. Following

supper, we rode the pickup out to

feed the horses. By the time we left

we knew their names and their

personalities. Horses fed, a large bonfire was usually lit

inside a stone enclosed fire pit. We often just reflected

on the day or sat in silence until the moon came up. We

tended to go to bed early and to get up with first light.

Ron usually built a wood fire in the cabin stove and

made coffee in the early morning.

We also played. On the weekend we rode into the

little town of Olathe for its eighteenth annual Sweet

Corn Festival. It was operated much as a county fair,

but once we paid an entrance fee we could eat all the

roasted corn we wanted free. The newspaper reported

the next day that there were 75,000 ears of corn

consumed along with 500 pounds of butter. We were a

little out of place without cowboy hats on.

We also visited the Delta County Fair on the

morning that they were judging the animals. (Hey, there

isn’t much going on in the rural counties of the western

slope on a hot August morning.) A pass through the

town of Montrose, and a stop at the local farm market,

brought another surprise. There was one somewhat

conspicuous Mennonite couple selling bread. We

introduced ourselves and discovered it was a second

cousin (Byler) of Ron’s whom he had never met. They

were every bit as surprised by Mennonite connections

as we were. His father had left Big Valley years ago for

weather that would help his arthritis.

A fascinating array of colorful characters has come

to visit our friends on this land over the years we have

been vacationing there. They all seem to be related in

some way, and they all stop to tell stories of conflicts

over property boundaries, “You know you should never

trust a surveyor. The old way is just to eyeball it.” There

are also conflicts over inheritance, water rights, mineral

rights, cattle grazing payments or general orneriness.

Several referred to how mean the second or third wife of

Uncle “X” was. We encountered one rancher who could

not find about 50 of his cattle. He wondered if we had

seen them on our hike to the lookout and across

another rancher’s land. He was quick to say that while

we could walk there, he could not because he and the

land owner just “did not get along.” For each complaint

we quickly learned there was another part of the story,

and we had heard the other part of that one the day

before. So we agreed that the rancher did not like him,

and said that we were sorry we did not know where his

cattle were, but we also replied that we would let him

know if we found them. (How we were to know they

were the ones he was looking for, we do not know, but

that seemed to be the polite thing to say.)

We were often reminded that we were not the first to

enjoy the Black Mesa. There is evidence that Paleolithic

Indians also lived on the same land. They left behind

stone tools and remnants of weapons that the ranchers,

our friends and we have found. According to local

history, this was mastodon hunting territory. We like to

think they lit their fires on the same volcanic lava cliff we

did; and that they, like we, went to sleep under the

aspens and looked up at the same bright stars; and that

they, too, rose in the mornings to see a dusting of snow

on the distant Uncompahgres. —Ron and Shirley Yoder

The LossI have experienced many losses in my life. But my

actual situation of joblessness drew more attention than

ever. I did not expect it to last forever. We are in a

recession. I did not expect it to be so long. Why do I

complain! I survive anyway. God continues to take care

of my needs through my friends, my church, and my

community. Oh, what blessings! What is the secret

behind all this survival?

After the loss of something we cherish (a home, a

loved one, a job, etc.), we feel pain, anger and a sense

of tremendous loss; we are upset. Sometimes we are

left with unresolved anger and a lingering or lifelong

feeling of unjustness and unfairness.

Other times we experience a greater sense of

ourselves and our abilities. We realize that we can not

only survive but that we have intelligence, instincts, and

strengths beyond what we previously believed. We

realize that we have a tremendous source of energy

and enthusiasm for life: we have a family, friends, a

supportive church, a community. With the loss, our faith

and hope grow stronger and stronger. We shall

overcome any sad situation.

Sometimes we experience a peace that is more

profound than we ever imagined. Other times our

self-confidence expands. Many times we learn the

power of letting go. We learn that we are not the things

we own. We are not the things we do. We are neither

our titles nor our accomplishments. We are not what

other people think about us. We are simply who we are.

Unfortunately, during quiet moments, questions invade

our minds: What is life about? Why do these “losses”

befall us? Why are we here?

I believe that we are here to learn who we really are,

to grow in our faith, love, intelligence and sense of self.

We are here to demonstrate to ourselves that we can

survive and that after and through survival we rise to

higher levels of spiritual and internal power: that ability,

capacity and action of generating—of creating—this

divine power within that many times has lain dormant

waiting to be awakened.

God has set up for each of us a high level of

perfection we want to reach at a certain moment of our

life. Any event in our life must help to reach one more

level up toward that divine perfection.

—Jean Ndayizigiye

From The JUDITH to the Round Barn

by Ervie Lowell Glick If you decided to write your family history, how would

you begin? With what unusual title would you hook your

readers into your story? The publication of such a

history by a PVMC member provides an excellent

example: Ervie Glick’s 2009 ancestral history, From the

Judith to the Round Barn, has been newly added to the

church library.

Intrigued by the

mystery of his first

ancestor to America,

Ervie Glick sets out to

unravel the story of his

great-great-great-great-

grandfather, Peter Glick,

who arrived in

Philadelphia on the good

ship Judith in 1748,

probably from

Switzerland. After Peter’s

murder in an Indian

attack on the Glick family

in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the story continues with

3x-great-grandfather “Indian John” Glick, the one family

member—a very small child--who escaped and was

raised by a kind Amish couple. After several

generations in Pennsylvania, it is John’s great-grandson

Levi, Ervie’s grandfather, who goes West and eventually

establishes the Glick family farm in Minot, North Dakota,

where he constructs a round barn—the key landmark of

the book’s title. Ervie’s parents, Andrew and Amy, raise

their family on the farm with the round barn, where

Ervie’s brother John and his son were the last farmers

before dairying ended on the home place.

This Glick family history, while unique (they appear

not to be related to the Church of the Brethren Glicks of

the Shenandoah Valley) in many respects, is easily

identifiable for many Park View readers with similar

Swiss-German ancestry, but it is good reading, simply

for folks who like pioneer tales. I enjoyed the extensive

excerpts from Ervie’s father’s journal as well as his

mother’s and his brother’s memories in their own voices,

which enhance the tone of the later chapters.

How fitting that Ervie, youngest of Andrew’s

children, should be telling the Peter Glick family story,

preserving it for his own and other Glick progeny.

—Jay Landis

Eastern Mennonite University

Park View has 7 undergraduates there:• Peyton Erb, junior, elementary education• Doreen Ndayizigiye, senior, international business,

minor in economic development• Deb Nyce, senior, management & organizational

development• Jonathan Nyce, sophomore, history education• Grace Schrock-Hurst, senior, Culture, Religion and

Missions• Lucas Schrock-Hurst, sophomore, undeclared• Meg Smeltzer, first-year, music, & English

Undergraduates at other campuses

• Elizabeth Anderson, senior at James MadisonUniversity, history

• Laura Anderson, sophomore, VirginiaCommonwealth University, interdisciplinary studies /elementary education

• Tiara Coleman, sophomore, Blue Ridge• Amy Cousins, junior at Blue Ridge, sociology and

psychology• April Cousins, first-year at Blue Ridge, nursing• Hannah Cranston, first-year at Bridgewater College,

English• Christina Kniss, junior at JMU, graphic design• James Lofton, junior at William & Mary, political

science• Timmy Nguyen, sophomore at JMU• Austin Shank, sophomore at Bridgewater College,

biology• Julian Sider, sophomore at Goshen• Bergen White, sophomore at Butler University in

Indianapolis, harp / music, biology

Graduate students• Rachel Bowman, University of North Carolina,

Greensboro, English• Shirley Yoder Brubaker, Eastern Mennonite

Seminary• Nick Buckwalter, University of Virginia Medical

School• Kari Hershey, Medical College of Virginia, doctor of

physical therapy• Keri Kauffman, Ryerson University, Ontario, Master

of Arts in Photographic Preservation and CollectionManagement

• Tim Kennel, University of Maryland, Ph.D. in SurveyMethodology

• Elizabeth Phelps, Cornell, Ph.D. in anthropology

Notes of Appreciation for Educational Grants, Part 2

Jeffrey Smoker: I thank you for your contribution

toward my first two years at Eastern Mennonite High

School. This scholarship has allowed me to experience

all the great things EMHS has to offer, like music, new

and old friends, and chapel, which I had never before

experienced. One really important aspect of EMHS is

their classes which challenge my Christian faith. The

teachers there really push you to do your best, but they

also help you every step of the way. One major highlight

I had as a freshman was playing percussion in MSEC.

During that event I was able to connect with some old

friends from Pennsylvania, and also met many new

people. Overall, EMHS has been a great experience for

me and I thank you for your contribution. I am looking

forward to my sophomore year.

Carissa Boettger: This past year, my sophomore year,

was my fifth year attending EMHS. I have really

appreciated the opportunities that I have at EMHS like

smaller classes, Bible classes and a Christian

atmosphere. I was on the Junior Varsity volleyball team

and really enjoyed it. Playing a sport let me be able to

interact and get to know students outside my grade and

close group of friends. This was definitely a highlight of

my sophomore year. I enjoyed my classes and the

teachers seem to really enjoy teaching their subject.

Another highlight of this school year was participating in

E-term with other high school girls traveling around

Harrisonburg. Through this opportunity I was able to get

to know my teachers outside of the classroom setting

and I got to know other students that were not in my

grade. Thank you for helping me attend EMHS!

The Lee and LaVerne Yoder family returned to North

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for a week in July 18-25,

with ocean water temperatures of 84 degrees. The

family had not been at Myrtle Beach since 1990, but this

time (after 19 years) the family has increased by two

daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren. Meal times

were special events when all were assigned to meal

crews on a rotating basis, of mixed ages, to plan, shop

and prepare the meal. Reading together the poem,

“Sea Fever” by John Masefield, was a highlight,

especially the opening line, “I must go down to the seas

again….” A super “Surf and Turf” barbecue was

prepared Brazilian style by Mary’s brother who lives and

owns a restaurant in London.

In July, Lee attended the AdvancED Quality

Assurance Review Chair Training sessions held at

Fredericksburg, VA, for SACS CASI (Southern

Association of Colleges and Schools and Council on

Accreditation and School Improvement). He is now an

AdvancED Certified Chair which serves K-12 schools in

a combined North Central Association and Southern

Association of Schools under a new parent organization

of AdvanceED with offices in Tempe, Arizona and

Decatur, Georgia. Lee will work primarily with schools in

Virginia through the Virginia SACS CASI office in

Richmond. AdvancED provides accreditation, research

and professional services to 23,000 public and private

schools and 4,500 school districts in 30 states and 65

countries.

On August 1 & 2, Lee and LaVerne attended the

annual Sharp Reunion in Belleville, PA. Lee’s mother

was from the Christian and Elizabeth Sharp Family. It

was a reunion of cousins from Alaska to Pennsylvania

and Florida. Cousin Dennis Sharp, President of the

Sharp Shopper Grocery Stores in PA and VA

(Harrisonburg and Waynesboro), was present with his

family and brothers. Storytelling and diary readings

brought the past family history alive. A special “playing

in the barn” of party games of the first half of the 20th

century was enjoyed by all, including 88-year old Cousin

Lizzie playing the harmonica. A Sunday morning

worship service with Pastor Don Sharp speaking and

group singing was concluded with the traditional “bean

soup and moon pies” for lunch.

This past May, Elizabeth Phelps completed her

comprehensive exams at Cornell University and is now

a PhD candidate in Anthropology. Meanwhile, husband

Terry Jantzi traveled to Uganda to do a program

evaluation for MCC. Elizabeth will be conducting her

research here in Harrisonburg this year while Terry

teaches at EMU.

The Boettgers write: “This summer our family traveled

to Hawaii for a wonderful two-week vacation. Kiara had

gone a week earlier with the SVCC to participate in the

Pacific Rim Children’s Choir Festival. We spent a week

on Oahu, seeing the sights on the island, snorkeling,

and enjoying various beaches. The beautiful vista from

the top of Diamond Head was a highlight. On the Big

Island, we had a private tour on the east side that

included the town of Hilo and surrounding area, but

focused on the volcanoes of Hawaii, including the

world’s most active one, Kileaua. A highlight was being

able to see the volcano’s red hot lava flowing down the

side of the mountain and into the ocean at night.

Observing the various geographic zones of the

world in one relatively small area was amazing. Other

highlights included learning about the history and

culture of the islands, going to the southernmost point in

the US, enjoying an evening meal with some friends

that live in Honolulu, taking in the beauty of God’s

creation, and spending time together as a family.”

Abraham Davis writes: “In the April-May inView I noted

that I usually visit three Johns during my Lancaster, PA

trips; now I can visit only two of them, for the one (who

was my schoolmate and retired in Fayetteville) went to

heaven last May; one is still in Manheim and one is still

at Garden Spot Retirement Community in New Holland,

both of whom I visited July 25. Preceding that short

drive, I have driven longer ones such as to Potosi, MO

last April for an elderhostel and to my home town in

South Carolina last May; on such long trips I would

welcome a driving companion who might help pay some

expenses! Come along ‘on the road again.’”

Jim and Doris Bomberger traveled by train

(Martinsburg, WV, to Elkhart, IN) to visit Jim's brother

Elton and family in mid-August. They saw the Potomac

valley going and coming but sleep and darkness hid the

Ohio plains. Elton and Helen took them on a tour of

Elkhart County's garden quilt patches, thousands of

colorful plants arrayed in quilt type patches on gentle

slopes.

Sharon Harman and her seven brothers (and spouses)

(including Harley & Sadie Showalter) traveled to Sioux

City Falls, South Dakota, for the August 1 wedding of a

nephew.

Ed and Mildred Stoltzfus traveled to Goshen to visit

Mildred's three oldest sisters in August. A highlight of

the visit was sleeping and eating meals together in the

house in which Mildred and her siblings grew up. It was

later purchased by the expanding Goshen Hospital and

then moved to Goshen College property. It is now used

by GC for student housing and as a summer guest

house.

John and Joan Horst were in Mount Joy, PA, August 2

for the sale of her mother’s personal property and real

estate. (Her mother, Dorothy Hershey, has recently

moved to Landis Homes Retirement Community near

Lititz.) The day was a reminder that “things” are

important only for the associated memories. It was a

good time of connecting with family. On Sunday, they

attended Grantham Brethren-in-Christ Church where

son Michael sang with the a capella men’s group

“Heritage Rising” as they led the morning’s music.

Note to those receiving inView by mail: If you would like

to receive inView by email rather than by US mail,

please email office@pvmchurch.org to let us know. Go

green and we’ll save on postage!

Why Walk?In a few short weeks the 3rd annual

Harrisonburg CROP Walk will take

place. CROP Hunger Walks are a way

to have fun, raise awareness of hunger

needs and raise funds to alleviate

hunger here in our community and

around the world. On Sunday, Sept. 20

at 2:30 p.m., several hundred men, women, children,

and maybe even a few dogs will walk approximately 3

miles on a route mapped out by Sherwyn Smeltzer to

raise funds. CROP Hunger Walks have been around for

over 60 years. Church World Service, the umbrella

organization, begun in 1946, is a cooperative ministry of

35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations

working to eradicate hunger and poverty. Mennonite

Central Committee is one of the affiliated organizations,

so money raised by CROP walks can be designated to

MCC, if a donor indicates that.

My first experience in a CROP Walk took place in

the early '70s, when John and I were serving in Kenya

with MCC. I don't remember many details. What I do

remember...it was a HOT day, the roads were dry and

dusty, and the walk was 6 miles. Since that time, in

almost every community we have lived in, we have

participated in a CROP Walk. Our two young sons had

bright red decals ironed on white tee shirts that boldly

proclaimed, “Help CROP stop Hunger.” Eventually those

tee shirts made their way into our rag bag. For 13 years

in Orrville, Ohio, we joined together in the community

CROP Walk, and I have memories of walking in heavy

rain for at least one of those years!

So why do I walk? It is one small way to make a

difference. I walk because "they" walk. There are 854

million people who go to bed hungry every night. They

are people like us, but because of poverty they must

walk to accomplish the most basic tasks: obtain water,

gather firewood, find food, escape violence, seek

shelter, farm their fields, search for a job, go to school.

So why do I walk? It is fun, is good exercise, builds

community, provides an opportunity to learn what millions of

people have to do each day just to survive...they WALK! But

more than that, it is my Christian calling to do what I can to

help the least of these, my brothers and sisters here and

around the world, who are suffering. When you walk in a

CROP Walk, you walk with the world. At least once a year

for three miles, I am reminded of that.

Be a walker...be a sponsor...be in prayer!

—Barbara Moyer Lehman