Rain damped the grass but not the spirit at the MCC Sale April 13 and 14 on the main FPU campus. Early estimates put the amount raised ahead of last year.

Among the behind-the-scenes highlights was outgoing President Merrill Ewert's introduction of zwiebach to President-elect Pete Menjares. The traditional treat is a symbol of the underlying philosophy of the sale: Doing good can be delicious! Pictured are Ewert (center, selecting a zwiebach from one of the volunteer bakers) and to the right Pete Menjares, Pete's wife, Virginia, and Priscilla Ewert.

The West Coast Mennonite Sale & Auction for World Relief celebrates 42 years of helping people around the world while enjoying friends and family right here April 3 and 4, 2009, at Fresno Pacific University, on Chestnut Avenue in Fresno, south of the Butler Avenue intersection. The theme is "Caring in the Name of Christ."

Helping others does not have to be a sacrifice, and Mennonite relief sales are living proof: everything from quilts and furniture to art and old books get sold, food from a variety of traditions gets eaten and everyone has fun, while raising millions for those facing poverty and disasters--natural and manmade. One such sale happens in Fresno April 4 & 5. Kevin Enns-Rempel gives a historic background to the event in this week's Scholars Speak.