Volunteers and supporters with the Altona MCC Thrift Shop Gift Store got a glimpse this week of what their provincial counterpart has been up to.

MCC Manitoba Executive Director, Darryl Loewen, was the guest speaker at the local thrift shop's annual meeting. He shared from his travels to Ethiopia, Palestine and Israel and described the importance of relaying MCC'S international work back to the local groups.

"It makes vivid and personal the stuff that is most encouraging and the circumstances in the world, particularly in areas of justice, makes those hurts more vivid also. Hopefully, that can be turned into an encouragement for good work."

Loewen added that the sixteen MCC thrift shops across the province are an important part of MCC Manitoba and it's resourcing for international work.

As for what lies ahead for the organization in 2018, Loewen explained there's a lot of work to do in advocating for people facing injustice around the world.

"It tends to be minority/ethnic culture/religious groups that are dominated by larger powers with political power wherever that takes place."

He noted on domestic soil, that includes responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in ways that are authentic and tangible that can help build a community with our Indigenous neighbours.

"There's powerful wisdom that's not my own that says when injustice takes place that some are to blame but everybody's responsible. I think Canadians are recognizing that I think Christians in Canada and in the West...are recognizing that. MCC is so closely linked to Anabaptist churches and is recognizing we need to make a real and true effort to reconcile our presence on the land with those who were here before us."

Every year MCC stores across Canada raise millions of dollars to support MCC’s work.