We took a fieldtrip to the MCC Material Resource Center in Ephrata today.   MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) is an organization that seeks to demonstrate God's love by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster.

We donated some school kits and had a tour of the Material Resource Center.  They ship a lot of things to 3rd world countries and to places that faced natural disasters or are war torn.  We saw them making rugs out of denim (they sell the rugs and use the $$ for their relief efforts), we saw the storage part of their warehouse.  It was amazing at all the food, clothing, school, health, newborn, aids health (for Africa) kits they had packaged and ready to go.  They also had models of the different water systems that they help set up and use in 3rd world countries.  They have a tractor trailer truck set up for canning meats that they take all over the eastern half of the US and can meat to send for relief.  We saw the piles and piles and piles of that canned meat that was inpected, packaged and ready to ship.

The children had fun trying them out.  I had my children in a lot of the photos that I took and I only post pictures without my children in them on my public blog.  So here are a few pictures that didn't have them in:



The clothing compactor.




Boxes of canned meat that has been inspected, packed and ready for shipping.

Packages of clothes ready for shipping.

Health kits ready to ship.  They people are very glad to have the buckets as well as the kits because the buckets can be used for so many things!

We saw them sewing bags for kits, cloth bags that they sell to those who want to use cloth rather than paper and plastic bags for shopping (the money from the sell goes to helping with the relief efforts), ladies quilting quilts to be sold at their auction, etc. They also recycle old books, plastics and other things like that. The money from the recycling projects go to their relief efforts. The boys learned so much and really enjoyed their trip.

I took a lot of pictures but I need to remember to take more pictures without my kiddos in so I can post more here.  LOL

© Copyright 2008 Peaceful Meadows

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Tuesday our homeschool support group celebrated Thanksgiving. The boys wanted to dress up. I bought a colonial outfit for DT since he had been begging for one for a year and made JT and DA Native American costumes. I dressed up to look like a colonial lady and dressed JM up in black pants rolled up and a white shirt. He wore a pirate hat that the boys had (it is a tri-corn hat and doesn't have any pirite emblem on it so it looked cute when he left it on - which wasn't very long). LOL

We had a good time. We ate off of tortilla shells (which was to be our flat bread) with our fingers. We ate hotdogs wrapped in bread (pretend venison LOL) corn, strawberries and pumpkin bread (which I provided). Afterwards we threw away our trash and the children played games.

I was in charge of the 3 and under group. We made headbands and drums. The older children did relay games and made a mix of nuts, bugels, pretzels,and candy. They each made two bags one to give away and one to keep. Here is the note that was attached to the bag.

Bugels: Shaped like cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nations abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy Corn: The sacrifices of the Pilgrims first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernals of corn a day.

Nuts or Seeds: Promise of a future hervest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts from our bountiful land.

M&M's: Memories of those who came before us to lead us into a blessed future.

Hershey Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

We are studying the Pilgrims and both the boys and I are learning a lot! LOL I had forgotten that they went to Holland before coming to America. I also didn't realize (or forgot) that they planned on heading towards Jamestown and joining the settlers their but were blown off their course.

We have lots of fun activities that we will be doing as well. We will also be making a meal that the Wampanoag's would have eaten. Here is a fun website that the boys are enjoying.

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We went to Pennsbury Manor (William Penn's summer home) and it was awesome!  I learned some things that I either forgot or never knew.   One thing that I learned was that people in those days used to swaddle babies from head to toe with legs and arms straight because they thought that if they were not swaddled they would remain limp and never be able to walk. They also hug their babies up on walls to keep them safe and when they were older would stand them in wooden walker type things (without the wheels) but not allow them to crawl because of fears they would never walk but rather crawl around like animals.

My boys were impressed with how they would have had to come running up to me right away (or if near take a step towards me), bowed, and said 'yes ma'am' in a polite, respectful and happy manner when I asked them to do something.  They were also impressed with all the chores they would have had to do.
They decided that they have it very easy! LOL

I was very impressed with the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and worked well with the children and the tour was very hands on. The children in the group got to get water, gather eggs, sweep the house, sit on a rope bed, water plants in the garden, etc.  My boys had to go and gather eggs, which they thoroughly enjoyed doing and only greatened their desire for use to get chickens for them to raise.  LOL  The boys loved going there and said different times, "I am so glad we came." :-)

We were the first homeschool group they had tour the place and our guide commented to me on how attentive and well behaved our group was.  She said she wasn't used to children listening that
well. :-)  So it was a positive day for all.

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