Village News

When it comes to the calendar year, those of us from an agrarian background (like Mennonites) would probably agree that harvest season is the climax. Before harvest, there is suspense, rising action (plants growing), complications, and 11th-hour heroics as harvesters work late to get crops off before the impending rain and frost. Finally, the denouement of Thanksgiving is the time when we celebrate how it all came together. May we all be grateful for the food we have!

It used to be that this life-and-death story engaged everyone. My mother-in-law has a few stories of harvest days including bringing lunch meals for dad that included a thermos of cold coffee. One time she got so engrossed in her book while waiting at the edge of the field that she didn’t see her father jumping up and down by his combine waiting for her. She still wonders how long he had been waiting. In this tradition and to express our appreciation to the farmers in our community, Mennonite Heritage Village’s (MHV) Livery Barn Restaurant has been providing ‘Meals on the Farm’ for several years in partnership with Golden West.

After a couple of years of loss, our restaurant is finally a source of revenue for the museum again. It is amazing to see the joy and enthusiasm that gathering around the table with loved ones has brought back to MHV this summer. For those who came and enjoyed the Livery Barn offerings, we thank you!

With a major operations budget that provides community programming, education, and the preservation of 17,000 artefacts, we are so thankful for any support that comes our way. The giving that starts in October and continues through December is like a harvest season for non-profits such as MHV. We are thankful for your support so that we can keep fulfilling our mission of care and well-being for the community.

Did you know that MHV is a charity? We may not directly feed the homeless, but we do tell stories of when Mennonites were landless and needed help and helped others. We may not directly shelter families in need, but we do provide free passes to those who need a safe and positive place that provides grounding perspective and distance from current woes. We may not directly heal minds and bodies, but we do provide a place and activities that nurture healthy minds and bodies.

Well-being is not a one-time work; it is ongoing for all of us. None of us have arrived, but all of us must keep working at it each day. Museums like MHV are one of the best places for the continuous work of well-being that we all need to do for ourselves and for the communities that support us. The upkeep of culture, heritage, and strong community connections that MHV provides is vital. May you have a great Thanksgiving this year!