Summer 2014 | vol 23, no 4

Why the 600-mile trip is worth it From spectator to Richard & Annie Boshart, Lebanon, Pa. participant by Lawrence Greaser, Goshen, Ind. In 2008 Richard and Annie Boshart came to Menno-Hof for three months as live-in host and hostess and have returned every year I stood in the crowd in 1986 as a since—except in 2011 when they went to for one spectator watching and month as a gesture of reconciliation with the Reformed Church Mennonite carpenters assemble individual pieces of lumber into in Bäretswil outside of Zurich. It was here that Richard sections. Pitting united strength rehearsed and sang with the choir for a worship service. against the forces of gravity, they Richard states the following as one of the reasons he is lifted the sections into the places excited to return to Menno-Hof. “The Courtyard room has a designated by the architect. Like a replica of a fountain that still stands today in Zollikon outside time lapsed photograph of a the first home where the early Anabaptists met at the invitation blooming flower, the Menno-Hof of Rudi Thomann, to hear the barn came into focus before me. news about the new preacher Watching the mortise and tendon Ulrich Zwingli and his followers, large beams placed, each at it’s , , and location in the structure, at a George Blaurock. Rudi’s son-in- particular time in the building law, Marx Boshart, is moved by process, fitting together perfectly the expounding of the scriptures was and still is amazing to me. They stand as a testimony of skill by Felix and the strong invitation and unity of strength and purpose. to follow Christ by the very direct When Menno-Hof opened it’s George Blaurock. Marx is doors to the public, being a baptized by George and travels spectator was not an option for with Conrad Grebel to spread the me because I was and am a good news to many places, strong supporter of the purpose including Bäretswil, his home and mission it provides. Being an congregation.” This is a on-call-as-needed volunteer for compelling and inspirational the past 25 years has been a experience in Richard’s personal privilege and a blessing. Having faith journey as he realizes that spent my pre-retirement years in the commitment Marx Boshart (a mission in Latin America, I possible relative) had to face in especially enjoyed serving as a tour guide for Spanish speaking his faith journey with life visitors at Menno-Hof. threatening times of imprison- Interacting with the visitors has ment and persecution. Richard been an enjoyable and enriching readily shares this with experience. I am grateful for those Menno-Hof visitors. who had the original vision for the “Meeting visitors from many ministry and mission of Menno- different faith groups and Hof and for the board, staff and nationalities is another reason other volunteers who are carrying for coming back to Menno-Hof on this significant mission. I am with the rich exchanges that thankful for having been given the happen.” Also, the personal Top: The fountain that stands in Zollikon, Switzerland, opportunity to move from being a sharing that takes place as outside the house where one of the earliest meetings spectator to a participant in this important ministry. Richard relates his conscientious of the Anabaptists was held in 1525. objector experiences in the Bottom: Richard Boshart stands beside the fountain In June 2014, Lawrence ended his time Mennonite Central Committee replica in the Menno-Hof Courtyard that visitors view as a volunteer at Menno-Hof. We are PAX program where he helped as part of the tour. grateful for the many hours he so build homes for World War II graciously gave through the years. refugees and also helped one photos provided by: Richard & Annie Boshart cont. on page 2 Why the 600-mile trip is worth it meantime, she began praying. At the end of the (cont. from front) Meetinghouse presentation, listeners are invited to stop and ask themselves “what do I believe year in the seven year restoration of a Lutheran and how do I live out those beliefs?” After he School, the Karls Schule, in downtown Vienna. returned to the gift shop, the visitor thanked In an attempt to He also helped start a project of laying Annie and said, “I will take all that I have save on postage foundations for six homes and a church south learned to heart as I go back to Germany.” and paper, we of Salzburg for the Nazarener Gemeinde (the Richard reports a recent Menno-Hof invite you to Apostolic Christians). All of these experiences encounter with a gentleman from Grand Rapids, he can relate in the barn area of Menno-Hof Michigan, who engaged in conversation. Since consider where the peace position raises many Richard and Annie had served at Hillcrest receiving opportunities for discussions of faith beliefs. School in Nigeria, Africa, they were familiar with your Annie loves to greet visitors that come to Christian Reformed Church missionaries, many Menno-Hof and often works as cashier. She Reunion who were from Grand Rapids. While he was provides a very good orientation as to why and reading the Anabaptist Timeline in the display newsletter how Menno-Hof came to reality and informs the area, Richard inquired of the gentleman via e-mail. visitors about the importance of the quilts and whether he was from the Christian Reformed Send your about the Northern Indiana Quilt Garden tour. Church and indeed he was. Richard inquired change She encourages visitors to ask questions that further “would you happen to be a clergyman?” request to open many doors for interesting conversations “Yes” was the response and the conversation [email protected] and even deep theological discussions and continued with much positive sharing. The final stories. She comes with openness to hear comment expressed by the Christian Reformed others’ faith journeys and is enlightened and Church pastor: “One of my biggest regrets is the challenged in her own faith walk with Jesus. It way our early church persecuted you is the “open door” policy and the reunion with Anabaptists. Today it is wonderful to have other volunteers and staff that makes the 600- moments of reconciliation such as we feel mile trip from Lebanon, Pa., so worthwhile coming here to Menno-Hof and working together along with practicing speaking Pennsylvania with in the world today.” Dutch. Annie says “while in Shipshewana it takes us back in time and we feel we can Richard and Annie live in Lebanon, Pa., and most recently choose to live a simpler lifestyle. The living served as host and hostess at Menno-Hof the month of April arrangements are provided and we are treated 2014. They have two children and four grandchildren and are members of Akron Mennonite Church, Pa. They enjoy singing as family. Visiting Mennonite churches in the together in church and with a Hospice group, as well as area teaches us various worshiping styles and photography and birdwatching. Richard and Annie love being singing patterns. We take ideas back to our grandparents and mentoring their grandchildren in their interests own church.” (tennis and sewing). Annie shares an encounter with a

proclaimed Agnostic visitor at Menno-Hof. “He and his family came for a tour just after we Beginnings & endings opened. The family became weary and hosts & hostesses wanted to leave and get Fred Tillery lunch. He was not October 2014 - December 2014 ready to leave as it seemed he was spend- James and Doreen Houston ing time reading Penticton, British Columbia, Canada | October 2014 everything he could during the tour. While J. Laurence and Marilyn Martin the other family Kitchener, Ontario, Canada | November 2014 members insisted on leaving, he negotiated Thank you! May you be blessed for your coming back after willingness to serve in this way! lunch to finish his tour. The others

reluctantly agreed to Menno-Hof wish list: Richard and do something else in Shipshewana and come ~37”- 42” flat screen TV Annie Boshart, back to get him around 3 p.m.” When this man ~8’X12’ garden shed Lebanon, Pa., in came to the Meetinghouse at the end of the ~ sweeper for apartments the Menno-Hof tour, he wanted to talk with Annie. He said If you are interested in donating any of these items, gift shop. “You have it right. You practice what you contact Jerry or Susan (260.768.4117) believe and it makes sense.” Annie said she would pray for him and that he should allow God to reveal to him what He intends for him to Thank you to various friends of Menno-Hof for donating believe. She then invited the man into the the following items: washer and dryer, refrigerator, sofas Meetinghouse to listen to the program. In the and love seat, coffee maker. 2 Plan to attend! 6th Annual Singspiration Sunday, September 14, 5 p.m. Come and enjoy a cappella singing of familiar hymns on the Menno-Hof lawn in the traditions of the Amish Church, Church, Conservative Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church USA. There will be ice cream and pretzels and more singing inside following the worship service. Bring lawn chairs for seating. Rain location: Farmstead Inn pavilion, Shipshewana (just north of Menno-Hof).

Loyalty, generosity and talent Very informative! It never ceases to amaze us how God blesses We enjoyed learning about the Menno-Hof with such loyal, generous and different religious groups. It was talented volunteers. Such is the case with Dan and Norma Grieser from Sebring, Fl. We were one of the highlights of our trip! pleasantly surprised when Dan and Norma -July 2014 online visitor review arrived in the area this summer and informed us that they were interested in covering the expense and doing the work involved to upgrade our A welcome and a good-bye lighting systems to new energy efficient products. Not only will this improve the appearance of the Carrie Miller began as housekeeper at facility and displays but it will also reduce Menno-Hof the beginning of July 2014. Carrie ongoing energy consumption here at Menno-Hof. and her husband, Perry, live in Shipshewana, This, coupled with our Ind., and are members of the Old Order Amish recent audiovisual Church. They have five children ages 7-14 who equipment upgrades, will help with the cleaning. The family owns result in significant Countryroad Carriage where they manufacture improvements and position and repair new and used buggies. Carrie is a us to be better stewards of busy mom who enjoys sewing, gardening energy and resource (especially flowers), making cards and utilization. scrapbooking. The family enjoys reading by their Dan and Norma are fire pit in the evening or the woodstove during nearing the end of their time here this summer and the winter. Welcome, Carrie and family! will likely not be able to Thank you to Ruby Knepp and her family, complete the entire project Shipshewana, for faithfully cleaning the but will leave products to Menno-Hof facility almost daily for 5+ years! be installed by staff or other volunteers. Dan experienced firsthand yet another act of by the numbers generosity several weeks ago when a Menno-Hof 3,445 local volunteer hours were donated in visitor observed Dan 2013! installing some lights and in the ensuing conversation expressed a desire to donate Dan Greiser 2,821 visitors were at Menno-Hof in June and towards the effort. The man is a distributer of works on visitors in July 2014. lighting products in a large Midwest community. upgrading one of 3,006 This is not the first time a visitor has expressed the driveway interest in supporting Menno-Hof and some have visitors to-date (since Menno-Hof lights beside the 915,543 done so in the form of financial donations. Menno-Hof lane. opened in 1988). All of us at Menno-Hof are grateful for the wonderful volunteers, visitors and other 17 —the total number of driveway lights supporters that help make Menno-Hof more that were upgraded at Menno-Hof with effective in sharing the Anabaptist story and PVC post sleeves and new light encouraging individuals to strengthen their faith fixtures. in Jesus Christ.

319 butter caramels were sold from the gift shop in July. Yummy!

3 DIRECTOR’S DESK hat was I thinking? It is with the first day of my new task and counting the four W some reluctance I’m sharing a sinks, two stalls and five latrines in the men’s room recent experience here at Menno-Hof and six sinks and 10 stalls in the women’s room— that in the end had a positive impact each of which require individual attention. To say the on me and my level of appreciation for least, it took me several days to get the routine down team work. In the short run it made and organized so that I could finish the task in the me ask “what was I thinking?” Our established time frame. I also found myself housekeeper here at Menno-Hof, who sometimes distracted and delayed by other has done a great job for us for many discoveries I made during the course of completing Jerry Beasley years, resigned from her role the the work (blown light bulbs, loose fixtures, squeaking executive director beginning of June. Without careful doors, etc.). As I approached the third week of my thought to what I was saying and doing, I volunteered new experience, we were very fortunate to contract to do the cleaning until we could find someone to fill with Carrie Miller as our new housekeeper. (Read the position. Many of you are aware that our facility more about Carrie on page 3). With a whole new is quite large and includes a gift shop and two very appreciation of this role and with some weariness, I large restrooms. I still vividly remember coming in on was very ready to hand off the duties! (continued below)

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565 PERMIT NO 17

Director’s Desk (continued from above) Reunion is published quarterly to keep Menno-Hof staff: our friends informed of happenings at Jerry Beasley, executive director I share this little experience not to boast but Menno-Hof. Send questions or Susan Miller, managing director to communicate the high level of sincere comments to director at Charlotte Long, program and appreciation I have for each of the team communication associate [email protected] members here at Menno-Hof and what they Don Miller, facility and grounds contribute to the team as a whole as we Menno-Hof Amish-Mennonite associate Ruth Miller, guest services associate accomplish our objective of effectively Visitors’ Center presenting the Anabaptist story to our PO Box 701 Board of Directors: 510 S Van Buren St, SR 5 Larry Chupp, president, Shipshewana, Ind. guests. In our troubled world we feel Shipshewana, IN 46565 Lovina Rutt, vice-president, Goshen, Ind. blessed to be able to reach thousands of Andrew Eversole, Goshen, Ind. Tele: (260) 768-4117 individuals in a pleasant, well-kept facility. Rachel Nafziger Hartzler, Goshen, Ind. Fax: (260) 768-4118 Dorothy Hostetler, Shipshewana, Ind. Thanks be to God for each volunteer, staff E-mail: [email protected] Donna Jones, Shipshewana, Ind. and board member! Web site: www.mennohof.org Orie E. Lehman, Shipshewana, Ind. Daniel B. Miller, Goshen, Ind. Hours: Wayne Schrock, Millersburg, Ind. Monday—Saturday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Don Stauffer, Union, Mich. Alvin J. Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind. Summer hours (June, July, August) Fern Yoder, Millersburg, Ind. Monday—Friday: 10 a.m.—7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.