MDS units
to meet in Illinois

Arthur, Ill.—Volunteers and staff of Mennonite Disaster Service from Canada and the U.S. will gather here February 7-8 for the 2003 All-Unit Meeting. MDS Region II will host the event at the Otto Center which is a community centre for the Amish and Beachy Amish churches here.

The theme for the meeting will be, “Love for God and neighbour,” and will include reports from all regions.

To register for MDS event, call (217) 543-3307 or write to MDS 2003, 120 East Illinois St., Arthur, IL 61911. Registration is due by January 8.—MDS release




Reschly reunion
planned for Ontario

Kitchener, Ont.—On October 23, 1854, Joseph and Anna (Schweitzer) Reschly and their three daughters set sail from France to Canada. On December 26, they arrived at the home of Peter Litwiller, an Amish bishop in St. Agatha, Ontario, and in February they moved to Musselburg in Perth County.

Joseph had French newspapers mailed to him throughout his life, and on his deathbed he recited his prayer in French.

Three more children were born in Canada. Joseph, the youngest child, later moved to Iowa, where many descendants of his 12 children still reside. The five daughters married Canadians: Maria and Joseph Zehr, Anna and Christian Gerber, Barbara and Daniel Jantzi, Magdalena and Christian Nafziger, Catherine and Daniel S. Erb.

A Reschly reunion is being planned for July 4-6 in Ontario. The committee welcomes artefacts and family recipes for display. More information about the reunion is available from Mark and Glennis Yantzi, phone (519) 578-3453, e-mail: markyantzi@alumni.uwaterloo.ca.—From report by Norma Erb Rudy (granddaughter of Catherine Reschly)