Carole from Minnesota donated the Basket Quilt Block and shared a wonderful story that occurred during the "House Traveling Quilt Half Hour Benefit" during the MCC Relief Sale in Minnesota in November.
Our 10 year old Granddaughter, "Annie" has been attending TCMCC Sale for 5 years now. Todate her biggest involvement was collecting Penny Power pennies, hoping each year to surpass the previous ..... and she did! This year her grand total was $132.00.
However, our Family will forever recall a magical moment from this year's sale. The Theme for the Sale was "Building Homes for Bangladesh ". At the time of live auction support for this project, we noticed "Annie" very intently listening to instructions and watching the plastic tent on Stage become filled with small children. Suddenly as the bidders raised their hands for a show of hands for $400 to build a entire home for a family, she appeared confused.
So I explained these dollars could build a home far, far away for especially needy families, to which she replied "really ? ? "..... still not getting the full understanding. It was then that Papa and I decided to give her our bid number and allow her to sponsor a house. She very slowly raised her hand , the auctioneer acknowledged her small little hand and thanked her. She smiled the biggest smile!
But later as the live auction proceeded, she shyly asked me ..... how can I build a house? and for just $400? a house like yours Nanny? with bedrooms? with a kitchen? isn't a house more dollars than what I bid? they really have no home? So she and I shared some quiet time. I explained to her that homes in Bangladesh are smaller, more simple, more basic but "YES" truly she had sponsored a whole home for a family who was now living in just a plastic blue tent like the one on stage and she would be giving a Bangladesh family a most wonderful gift .
But how? Where do the dollars go? How does the house get to Bangladesh? Who builds it? How faraway is Bangladesh? How big is this house? Who gets a house? how many people in a family? Basically I replied that MCC with many helpers, workers and volunteers makes sure that each home gets built in Bangladesh. (Because we cannot build a home here in USA and ship it over there). Then came more and more questions ....... What about clothes? Blankets? A stove? Food? Beds? Books? All families need those things...yes? Again, I explained that MCC provides as best it can all that a family needs.
She was quiet for ever so long and finally she smiled and said "I did that!" ....... her eyes became as big as saucers when the true meaning of what had just happened seemed to register with her. Her eyes may have been as big as saucers, but mine were brimming with tears.
"They get it!" - a much over used phrase.......... but "Annie" did really "get it!"
All at once the full impact of why Nanny and Papa had been taking her to Sales, helping her collect pennies in jars, bidding on auction items, sewing during the winter, volunteering our time and coming home with a new quilt made sense!
In the moment, was born another MCC Supporter .......... only 10 years old but ready for the future!
I add here that we had each year made purchases of baked goods, boutique items, even a new quilt most years and seen her Great Grandmother drive nearly 500 miles from Canada to attend this Sale.......but to a child of 10 years old it is difficult to understand how and why a blanket from a MCC Sale is any different from one bought at the local department store ...... a blanket is a blanket! Big Deal! But a $400.00 bid for a home for a family half way around the world, now that is something that a 10 year old can understand !
... I am a daughter and granddaughter of families who came to Canada in 1920's as a result of the formation of the MCC to bring Mennonites to Canada from Southern Ukraine. My Grandparents and parents were so very grateful to the MCC and all that was done to relocate their families.
("Annie" is a substitute name for privacy reasons.)
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