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Eighty-six year old Ruby Warkentin is a vivacious and gracious woman with a heart for mission and service.  From an early age, her family set an example of helping others meet their material needs, so it’s no surprise that this has become a way of life for her and her family.  For eight years, Ruby and her husband Leo travelled to Alaska in their motor home to work at a Christian camp where they served in many different ways.  For the past few years they have not been able to travel due to Leo’s health, however this has not stopped Ruby from her desire to serve others.  She has instead sought ways to use her gifts locally.  As a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Reedley, California, Ruby faithfully hand embroiders tea towels for mission workers, and for the last four years Ruby has been cutting comforter blocks for the Mennonite Quilt Center. She does this the old fashion way, by drawing a square on the fabric and then cutting it with a scissor. This process takes a great deal of time and patience, which Ruby demonstrates as she faithfully cuts diverse fabrics to send overseas.  
 

Ruby’s life has not been easy, but she has not allowed disappointments or losses to get in the way of her heart’s desire to serve the Lord. She has even written a song as a prayer: “I want to serve you Lord, anywhere with you I’ll go…” Her desire and example continue to touch others, like her daughter and son-in-law, Larry and Bev Christman. They moved from Michigan several years ago to be closer to Ruby and Leo.  Bev hand quilts for MCC, and she has quilted a large number of quilts for the MCC West Coast Relief Sale and Auction, in Fresno, California.  Bev’s inspiration comes mainly from the matriarchs in her family, one who made quilts for mission workers, and the other who made over 100 comforters for MCC. Her grandfathers also helped to cut and tie comforters.  “Having parents and grandparents that serve is quite an example for me” she observes.  Bev especially has a heart for teen moms and has given many quilts to a local women’s center.  Ruby and Bev are committed to serving others by continuing the examples of generations of women before.