Theme Baskets & School Kits

Africian Singers & Children

– Brethren Disaster Relief Auction –

Part 6

Friday & Saturday, September 23 & 24

Theme baskets are a big deal at this auction.

South East Hall was filled when the auction began on Friday evening.

East Hall was a buzz of activity early Saturday morning when 12,000 “Gifts of the Heart” School Kits were packed.

Kit Building began at 8:00 a.m.

Contents of a kit.

These will be shipped to any area where disaster relief is needed.

Earl moving a box full of kits.

A sealed, completed box is loaded on a skid, then to the truck.

Meanwhile, the main auction began with a few acapella songs led by Bob Kettering.

Earl Ziegler introduced visitors from the Church of the Brethren in Africa.

After sharing a bit of information about the church in Africa, they sang two African songs.

They brought this African floor mat for the auction.

It is made of leather.

I forget what this brought on auction, but it was somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000.

There were several activities to help keep the children occupied.

The Puppet Tent

You can tell that this song was something about caterpillars and butterflies.

We are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field. You are God’s building. As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation for that building. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it.

1 Corinthians 3:9-10 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

~~~

No one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

World Champion Chain  Saw Carver

~ Brethren Disaster Relief Auction ~

Part 5

Friday & Saturday, September 23 & 24

I was in the process of posting this last night when the Internet went down in our area. I didn’t ask the tech what happened, but knew it was more that our house.  It’s nice to have it back this morning.

I was pleased to see that Dennis was at this event, as he is an amazing chain saw carver.

We have a hummingbird carving he did at our local farm show several years ago.

He was cutting a piece off of a log when I went by one time on Friday evening. I told him I wanted to see some sawdust. He said, “Okay, I’ll give you sawdust.” This is just before I got sawdust all over me.  Most of it brushed off easily, but I needed help to get several pieces out of my hair.

A crowd always gathered as his show times approached.

We did not see him designing this bar, but did get to watch him creating a woodland scene.

Beautiful

I thought this would be nice for our pavilion area, but Cerwin did not think so.

A small bear peeking out of a log.

A Wolf

Beginning a new project

Looks like this one is going to be a dog.

By this time we could see a coon dog by the shape of its face.

After the burning and finishing process.

His skills amaze me.

The finished products were taken to the main auction room.

Each piece brought between $425 and $500.

How wonderful are the good things you keep for those who honor you!

Psalm 31:19 (Good News Translation)

~~~

God is good all the time!

A Few of My Favorite Things

At Brethren Disaster Relief Auction

Part 4

Friday Evening, September 23

Fresh Vegetables

Layered Angel Food Cake

Warm Soft Pretzels

Handmade Purses

Overstuffed Snowmen

Skinny Glass Bottle Snowmen

It looks like they are made with glass salt & pepper shakers.

Songbook Dolls

Pretty Angels

A Handmade Monkey

Made by our friend Lois Minnich

I was so tempted to bid on this cute critter.

It brought $300.00!

I thought I had to find a place in our house for one of these.

Loved these plates and bowls.

My Favorite Quilted Wall Hangings

A Beautiful Day for Sailing

Christ is not only God-like, He is God in human flesh. When you have Christ, you are complete. He is the head over all leaders and powers.

Colossians 2:9-10 (New Life Version)

~~~

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.

Helen H. Lemmel

Brethren Disaster Relief Auction

~~ Friday, September 23 ~~

Part 2

Of course there is information on ways to volunteer with Disaster Response – the reason for this weekend of raising funds. Our friend Jim Kime (red shirt) was available to answer questions.

This was a popular place for children.

Across the aisle several people were making caramel popcorn.

Adding caramel mixture to a large kettle of popcorn.

Stirring the sweet gooey stuff into the popcorn.

Putting the warm, finished product onto trays.

Bagging it.

Mark and Marty – our friends from dating days – are ready to sell it to you.

Doran is a favorite of those who attend the auction. He makes pot holders, and gives every bit of profit to Disaster Relief.

At noon on Saturday, Auction Chairman, Duane Ness, told a neat story about Doran. Craft persons are encouraged to keep a percentage of their income to puchase more products for the following year. When the person receiving the money, prepared to give Doran his allotted percentage – he said, “No, all for Jesus.”

All for Jesus! That tells you a lot about Doran’s heart. What do my words tell others about my heart? What do your words tell othes about your heart?

~~~

Part 3 Tomorrow Night

~~~

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (New American Standard Bible)

~~~

Everlasting God
The years go by but you’re unchanging
In this fragile world
You are the only firm foundation
Always loving, always true
Always merciful and good, so good.

Vicky Beeching

Brethren Disaster Relief Auction

Friday, September 23

I was asked to take photos again this year, and looked forward to spending one and a half days looking for photo opportunities.

The welcome table is one of the first places you come to when entering the Lebanon Expo Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Because this is the 35th Annual Auction, there were several memorabilia items for sale.

One of the first things I do is find a seat where I can easily photograph the auction and leave and return without having to disturb people – then use a removable label to save it. This was my view from a front row seat a bit to the left of where the auctioneers would be standing.

Because the area was clear of people at the moment, I took advantage of taking closeups of nearby items.

Next I went to the pole barn where the heifer auction was being held.

These young animals are donated by farmers in the area.

There were a few very young ones.

I didn’t ask anyone how many there were, but there appeared to be about twenty-five to thirty heifers. (CORRECTION: Lois Roop said there were 65 heifers and 2 bull calves!)

On the way back to my seat, I stopped for a few freshly fried donut holes.

Donuts are quite popular at this auction.

~~~

Part 2 Tomorrow Night

~~~

We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.

Hebrews 10:25 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

~~~

In today’s language, “Go to church.”