Maxine (Kauffman '64) Miller and her husband, Larry, have been instrumental in helping Bethany students learn about civil rights in Mississippi the past two years (see J-Term story). Following is Maxine's account of their commitment to a life of service:

"In my early teenage years I went with my parents to the Ozark Mountains to help with a Bible school. That experience opened my eyes to service opportunities beyond my home community of Middlebury/Goshen. My husband-to-be, Larry Miller, worked for two years in Mississippi in alternative service instead of going to Vietnam. At the end of those two years we got married and made our home in Mashulaville, Miss. We both taught in the public schools for twenty-five years and are now retired.

Maxine with one of her grandchildren."Throughout these past years we became good friends with our African-American neighbors and participated in local community activities. Racial tensions during the seventies pushed us to decide with whom we would identify. We felt uncomfortable to become typical white Southerners and were led to be a part of the struggles of our African-American friends and neighbors. This led to political involvement, pushing for African-American leadership in our county’s political positions. Changes slowly came, but we still see the need for more racial equality.

"We continually encounter economic poverty that often leads to hopeless attitudes. So we move ahead trying to impact youth and children. I do some tutoring and my husband mentors teenage guys. We own a large, old dormitory, which we use for community activities. In the summer we sponser a day camp for neighborhood children. The call for justice from Old Testament prophets and Jesus’ call to give a drink, serve a meal, and house the homeless continue to motivate us to look for ways to better someone’s life.

"The past winter (2010-11) we spent six months at Menno Hof in Shipshewana, Ind. It was refreshing to reconnect with old friends and all our relatives in the community in which we grew up. We really enjoyed meeting new people and deepened our interest in the history and beliefs of our Mennonite heritage."