A whole community is virtually leveled by a tornado, the churches destroyed, and physical and emotional landmarks forever gone. One would hardly expect people who have experienced such a tragedy to be ready to give to others.
   Yet that is exactly what the people of Greensburg Mennonite Church are doing. Their loyalty to the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) began many years ago, and it will not waver now. At a recent planning meeting for the sale, Paul Unruh, church liaison from Greensburg, was quick to report his church’s commitment to pay for the equipment and maintenance budget line item for the sale.
   “Because we haven’t any (equipment),” said Unruh. The item amounted to several thousand dollars. They also donated to a few smaller items in the budget, and their penny collection is going very well.
   When Phyllis Schmidt and her daughter saw the wreckage of their church a week after the May 4 tornado, they noticed portions of two colorful comforters sticking out of the debris. After pulling out the two muddy, dusty comforters, Phyllis took them home, washed them twice, and she and husband Ken brought them to the Central States MCC Center in Newton for the Kansas Relief Sale quilt auction.
   “Not all our quilts survived,” said Phyllis, “but these had been put away for some sort of emergency that might come up.  But I’m planning to get well and come to the sale,” she added. (The sale takes place April 11-12 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.)
   Then there is Mildred Schmidt, in her 90s. She donated a handmade baby blanket and a crib quilt for the sale. She often makes these items for the pregnancy crisis center. Mildred and her daughter both lost their homes in the tornado.
   Greensburg Mennonite Church was one of seven community churches destroyed when the EF-5 tornado (registering winds of 200 struck the town of 1,400. All seven are rebuilding, with two smaller fellowships probably dissolving, according to Unruh.
  Unruh estimated that about 80 persons were normally in attendance at his church before the storm. Now, while meeting at the nearby Mullinville school, about 55 or 60 attend. The congregation, however, gathered new momentum on March 9 when 80 persons huddled in a small tent erected for groundbreaking for the new church to be built over the old church basement.
   “The church will survive,” Unruh declared, “even if 60 percent of our members lost their homes.”
   He reported that a month ago 125 building permits had been issued, and that the first new building completed is a “Care and Share” facility with a food pantry. “Now there is also a Kwik Shop with a small Dillons food market tucked within, which the kids jokingly call a ‘Kwillons,’” said Unruh.
   Until that was in operation people had to drive at least 10 miles to purchase groceries at Haviland.
   The school is functioning in mobile classrooms, where Unruh’s wife Shirley is a middle school science teacher. Many residents still live in FEMA trailers, as will the Unruh’s until their new home, built with insulated concrete forms, is completed.
   As difficult and challenging as the whole experience has been Unruh says he is most surprised at the optimism he sees in many people. “You choose how you will react,” he said. “Yes they ask the question, ‘Did God protect?’ and some will say, ‘No, He didn’t.’ Others will say, ‘Yes, He did. There were only 12 deaths (related to the storm). There could have been many more.’”
   The attitude comes through clearly in a book just off the press titled, Tornado! Up from the Debris--to Thank God , which is a compilation of stories written by Greensburg area Church of God in Christ Mennonites (Holdeman) who experienced huge losses. Several copies will be sold at the KMRS.
   Among other Greensburg Mennonite Church people who lost their farms are Dewey and Minnie Koehn, who served as KMRS liaisons before the Unruh’s.
   “We’re just really thankful that the whole family was taken care of. What we lost was just ‘stuff,’” said Minnie. “We’ve been blessed with people helping us and still are, but I hope to never go through it again.”
   The Koehn’s, as did many others who tell their story, survived the tornado crouched under the basement steps while their farm blew away. “When we came out we could look right up to the sky,” said Minnie.
   She said that it was a big decision whether to rebuild on the farm and they prayed about it. Within a couple of months they plan to move into their new log home located over the old basement. At present Minnie cooks often for a crew of six. Some of them are teenagers who “eat pretty good,” she said.
   “We’re all learning a lot of patience,” said Minnie “and the town is looking a lot better.”
   As many others, the Koehn’s still reside in a FEMA mobile home located on the quarter acre lot where the more-than-200 trailers were placed in August. She explained that it took some time to establish sewer systems, streets and rock pads before the trailers could be placed, and by now some have been vacated and moved out.
   “We have had so many blessings,” said Minnie. “We have not been in need of anything. So when we see a need we want to help.”
   Actually KMRS sale guests have been getting a sampling of what Greensburg Mennonites have to offer for the past 19 years at the Olde Iron Junktion located just outside the main entrance to the Meadowlark Building. Here the family of the late Harvey Schmidt, who was a faithful donor to the sale, makes available a huge selection of antique iron items which were first purchased by Schmidt at numerous farm sales.
   It was by the efforts of son Ken (husband of Phyllis who rescued the storm tossed comforters) that the unique sale project took shape. With 12 years of service in administration and service of Mennonite health and welfare programs behind them, the couple is of the same generous mindset as their fellow Greensburg Mennonite brothers and sisters.
“That’s an attitude,” said Ken. “People with the least give the most--just like the story of the widow’s mite.”