News

Louella Klassen Friesen, in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, is producing a Christmas CD of 21 songs that is sure to prepare you for the Advent and Christmas season.  This is no ordinary CD.  This production has a special project and mission attached.

"Producing a CD for a fundraising project has always been appealing to me," states Klassen Friesen, "and I am delighted to be able to be a part of making this a reality."

"The choice of MCC as the organization I want to work with was really simple.  I respect and acknowledge the ongoing work of this organization around the world.  I know many people who work within MCC, and know that I can alight myself very easily with their philosophy of being "church" in today's world."

Louella, who is from Waldheim, together with pianist, Audrey Falk Janzen of Rosthern, has previously produced 2 CD's: "A Gift of Hope" and "Endless Song".  These included timeless Classical and Art Song Repertoire, as well as many favourite hymns and spirituals.

This new CD "Christmas with Family and Friends" wil include well loved Christmas Classical repertoire such as Messiah's "I Know my Redeemer Livith" and Gonoud's "Ave Maria".

Her new CD includes a number different ensembles - all who, have generously donated their time and voices to this project.  Joining Klassen Friesen are her children, Rachelle, Justin and Coby, AYUVE (a 7 voice accapella group), Pauline Roth, Caroline Klassen and Matthew Pauls.

Arrangements of favourite Carols "Away in a Manger", "Silent Night" and songs from the folk and jazz tradition, "The Huron Carol" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", are just some of the songs you will hear.

New materials written and arranged by Falk Janzen - "Aurora Borealis" and "O Tannen Baum" - have been included to round out this special presentation.

So, why is Louella passionate about this project? Her reply is simply stated in this fashion, "I grew up and lived on the farm of my parents in my childhood and teens, and have now lived and worked on our farm for 27 years with my husband Don and and our three children." She continues, "Sustainable agriculture and healthy, safe food production has been a part of our philosophy of life and living out our faith for all these years.  We cannot appreciate enough the fact that we can have access to healthy food on a daily basis."

In conversation with MCC, Louella became aware of a project called "Food for All".  "After Claire Ewert Fischer," MCC Saskatchewan's Executive Director, "related the objectives of this program to me", Louella notes, "this project became the most obvious choice to me."

MCC has a long history of addressing issues relating to food security and food injustices.  MCC food programs include direct food assistance, water projects and agricultural supports.  MCC also works with community groups and governments to advocate for just trade and fair economic policies.

MCC's "Food for All" porgram addresses the urgent needs as a result of drought, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and now rising food costs.  Millions of the world's poorest people don't have enough to eat and the numbers are rapidly growing.  We are currently in a Global food crisis.  Escalating food prices are pushing more people in low-income countries into poverty.

"Many families in Africa, Asia and Latin America spend between 50 to 70 percent of their household income on basic food staples," says Bruce Guenther, (formerly of Saskatoon) Bruce is a coordinator of humanitarian assistance, now working out of MCC's Winnipeg office.  "Food prices have come down from the extreme levels they were last year, but they are still up to triple what they were," he continues.  Families are spending so much on food that they have little money for other essentials such as education and medicine.  The stress and shock is enough to throw many families that were able to get by into poverty.

Guenther recently saw the impact of hunger firsthand in Kenya, where severe drought conditions have increased the need for humanitarian assistance.  MCC is reponding by providing emergency food for 3,000 Maasai families and nutritious meals to 43 primary schools. 

As well, MCC has organized food for work programs where participants can collect maize, beans and cooking oil in return for community work in sustainable agriculture.

MCC food aid reached record levels this past year as the organization responded to hunger caused by natural disasters, skyrocketing food prices and climate change.  THe next year is shaping up to be worse.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recently reported that the number of hungry people in the world is on track to reach more than 1 billion in 2009 - the highest number ever.

In March, 2009, the World Bank said the recession was expected to trap 53 million more people in poverty this year, defined as subsistence living on less than $1.25 a day.  Poor people in developing countries have little buffer to protect them against the effects of the crisis. 

"The high cost of fertilizer and fuel, in combination with extreme weather conditions, are affecting access to food and the amount of food grown," says Willie Reimer, director of Food, Disaster and Material Resources for MCC.

"And while there is still a surplus of food being produced, it is not as large as in previous years."

That there is even a surplus of food being produced in the world is of great importance for Reimer.

"This is really more than a food crisis.  It is a hunger crisis.   There is still more than enough food produced in the world to feed everyone."

MCC's "Food for All" porgram is working in partnership with local agencies throughout the world, closely monitoring the impact of the food crisis and formulating appropriate responses.

So, how does one respond to a situation like this?  Often it is through the passion of people like Louella Klassen Friesen, her family and many friends.  Louella's desire is to help raise awareness and mobilize many others.

Louella, along with accompanist Audrey Falk Janzen, is inviting everyone to her new CD launch on Sunday November 1 at 7pm at Zoar Mennonite Church in Waldheim.  The Zoar Mennonite Church, Louella's home church, has been instrumental in making this dream a reality.

Production costs of the CD have been covered by the Zoar Mennonite Church as well as a number of private donors.  This will ensure that all proceeds of CD sales and any additional gifts are directly attributed to the "Food for All" project.

Your purchase of this CD for $20 either at the event or at the MCC Saskatchewan office in Saskatoon will support MCC's agricultural work aroudn the world.