Amish

THE AMISH REPORT JUNE 2009

One of the best ways to get to know the Amish and learn their culture is to hire yourself out as their driver. You could take them shopping, to doctor appointments, or to weddings and funerals. I enjoy the trips that are just for visiting family. They usually run from three to seven days, and you stay right there with them in their homes. Of course, you'll have to put up with the inconveniences for the sake of ministering to them. Most hired drivers insist on staying in a motel.

In May, Mr. & Mrs. L hired me to drive the family down to VA for a visit with Mrs. L's family. Her mom's home is not very big, so I stayed with the neighbors. We made this trip last year, and I knew what to expect, yet I was pleasantly surprised to get clean sheets on the guest bed this time. They also had a tub put in with running hot water piped from the wood stove's reservoir!

If you remember my letter from last year, this VA community is known to be much more open to Bible disussion. Sunday's sermon from the bishop was great, but Wednesday's Bible study and the daily morning devotions at my host's home were lacking in even common sense. I find their ignorance staggering. Every morning, my host would read from a Mennonite devotional book, read the scripture, and pray before breakfast. And, every morning, after reading the scripture, he woul express his confusion with the passage and ask me whaat I thought it meant. After a few words from me, he would shake his head and say, "No, I think it means . . ." For example, he read from Matthew about the Abomination of Desolation of which Daniel prophesied. I briefly explained about that time during the Tribulation period. He thought a while, then shook his head saying, "No, I think it refers to televisions and computers."

Another morning, he came to the word "her" (referring to a woman in the prior verse) and thought it was referring to Christ. He said, "That's strange. I've never heard of Christ referred to as a female before." I didn't want to be the one to expose his ignorance so I waited to see what would happen. I was relieved to hear his 21-year old son point out that Christ was talking about the woman mentioned in an earlier verse.

As I related the content of morning devotions to Mr. L, he would in turn tell me about his biblical discussions with this same man. He couldn't get over how this man could pray such lovely prayers in public yet understand scripture so poorly. The man was still clinging to his works to save him from hell, and he wasn't the only one in the community to believe this way. Mr. L came to the conclusion that to move to VA would be no different than the bondage he's been living under here in Michigan.

The actual trip was very enjoyable. We listened to many sermons that I had on CD and discussed them. They just couldn't get enough of the Bible teaching. On the way home, we stopped for a few hours in Ohio to visit a former Amish couple who are missionaries to their own people. Mr L was quite nervous about stopping there lest anyone back home find out. It is against their rules to eat at the same table with an "infidel" (someone who has left the Amish). Of course he doesn't believe they are infidels, but, after a recent six-week ban, he's not taking any chances.

I spent most of that Ohio visit outside with the L's children. I knew the L's had lots of questions for this coulple, in spite of being reluctant to stop, and I wanted them to feel free to bare their hearts and be without interruption. Mr. L seemed to be flying high by the time we left. He was so encouraged by the visit. He couldn't get over that this man's life experiences were identical to his own, and he talked about it most of the way home.

The L's are definitely not content to go on living like they do, yet Mr. L feels God is leading him to stay Amish as long as possible in order to try to open the minds of the other Amish men toward God. This last week he said to me, "I;m feeling convicted about always having to bug my neighbors for the use of their telephone and asking for rides. I feel I should be responsible for having my own set of wheels." Pray that he would know the Lord's clear leading and for boldness to proclaim the truth.

Since the VA trip, I have started a chronological study through the Bible whith Mrs. L and her two oldest children (8 and 10) on Thursday afternoons - upon her request. For the first coulple of studies, the unsaved English neighbors showed up and totally took over the conversation with nonsence talk. On the third Thursday, just the two girls came over, so I asked them to sit down and join in on the study. They haven't been back sice, yet, their mom recently asked Mr. L a theological question. He said it was the first time in all the years he's known her that she has expressed interest in God. Now, he has a chance to share all he has been learning - and to an Englisher at that! He's been convinced up until now that his life-style would say it all - that he doesn't have to speak words in order to lead someone to Christ.

During last year's VA trip, I spent a lot of time teaching music rhythm to Ivan. Remember, he's the one who taught himself solfege using eight glasses filled with different levels of water - all while making goat cheese. This year, he's been working out in the shed more and now has eight different sizes of wrenches hanging from a beam to play his songs on. He and two others taught a regular music class to the young people once a week throughout the winter months. He said he couldn't get the group to understand timing. They could not even clap the beats together, let alone understand dotted quarter and eighth notes. So, he asked if I would give a music class while I was there. What an interesting experience.

We met in the beautiful log schoolhouse one evening for class, and almost 30 of the 40 youths showed up. Even some of the adults were there to observe this new teacher. Working with two new hymns, I reviewed what they had already learned using two ostinatos from each hymn - one involved the dotted quarter and the other the dotted eighth. After an hour, they successfully clapped the beat while singing the rhythm of both hymns. Ivan was ecstatic! I thought that perhaps he was counting his chickens before they hatched when, at the end of class one gal asked, "Why do some notes sound longer than other notes?" I almost gave up, but explained it one last time in as simple terms as I could. I wasn't too discouraged when I found out that she didn't do well in math either.

After class, the girls swarmed around me to ask for my address or ask questions about different hymn tunes. I used my recorder to play the tunes in class - something they had never heard before and thought was beautiful. They are not allowed to have any musical instruments - not even the usual harmonica - so this was a real treat. I told them that in Germany most children learn the recorder in school - hoping that would impress them to change the rule. They have asked me to come back sometime for a whole month to teach more music theory.

Upon reaching home, I had another three-day trip lined up for the weekend to southern MI. This trip was with Mr. & Mrs. PW - the woman with whom I had started a Bible study over a year ago but stopped because she fell asleep each time (instead of telling me she wasn't interested anymore). Amish are pretty good at conveniently falling asleep when they don't want to listen to you. The PW's have even been to church with me three times over the last three years - not because they are interested in learning the truth, but, as I found out later, because they are naturally rebellious and love to get away with breaking the rules in secret.

After spending the weekend with her parents, I understand why Mrs. PW treats me with disrespect. Her mother lumps all Englishers into the same mold and seems to despise us. She said things to me like, "I bet you sit around all day crocheting in front of the TV." And, at mealtimes, the family spoke only Amish most of the time. Oh boy, I sure felt like I was in the way. Mrs. PW's dad seemed friendlier but carefully steered all spiritual talk away. I'm sure Mrs. PW warned them about me ahead of time. She once exclaimed to Mrs. L, "That Charlotte! She's always talking about the Bible!"

When traveling with Amish, the husbands usually sit in the front seat. Since Mr. PW is somewhat mentally challenged, not much meaningful conversation happens, so I took advantage of the time to listen to sermons on CD's. Both the PW's "fell asleep" during the sermons, but Mr. PW promply woke up when the sermon ended and exclaimed, "That was a powerful sermon!" They usually are listening while pretending to sleep. :)

Please KEEP PRAYING FOR THE AMISH. Your prayers and concern are greatly appreciated and they do make a difference!

Neighbors, Christians and Manners

I only have a few minutes to put my thoughts down, but I wanted to ask you to please continue praying fo us and our situation with our neighbor. To explain it all would take a long time, so I'll skip that. Thank you for all who have prayed, who are praying , and who will continue praying. It is really terrible to have a neighbor problem. You feel very intimidated, and that every move you make, is under their scrutiny. We'd love to resolve it all, but seeing that Mr. B is in his late 70's there is little chance of anyone changing him except the LORD JESUS.
Several years ago I read this quote on a magazine ad for Roman Meal Bread.
"You can't change a man, unless he's wearing diapers"
This is so true. I spent alot of time trying to change my husband, or things about him, but I can't. The things I tried to change weren't bad, they just bugged me. When I realized that all I was doing was bugging him about what bugged me about him, and that I was hurting us, and he wasn't going to change for me, a little bell went off. The only way any man is going to change is because he wants to change or God does it, and/or a combination of the two.
The past few weeks have been eye opening in a way. It hurts when people you think love and care about you, outright lie to you, or covertly decieve you. I'm talking about bretheren. Of course, Bob has always said that alot of the bretheren are less kind, gracious, longsuffering... of one another than lost people are of us and each other. Sadly that is true. The saying about people disappointing you is so true.
It has been hard to accept that some people I care about deeply, do not reciprocate those feelings. People I regard as close friends barely acknowledge phone calls, or emails, or letters....
And don't get me started about Pastors! No offense to any of you preachers/pastors and your wives. Any one desiring to be a pastor, preacher, missionary etc should be REQUIRED to take a thorough course in manners and etiquette; it is a sad sad day when the business man has more courtesy and respect for his collegues and customers, than a pastor, preacher et al does for the bretheren, his friends, etc.
I am not talking about true absent-mindedness. In fact, a very dear brother we know makes no bones about his memory problems, which he's had for years. He is truly afflicted, and hates it. But always apologetic and gracious.
In particular older pastors and preachers et al, with huge ministries, who travel world-wide preaching and teaching etc, seem to have mastered the art of responding to correspondence-email or snail mail, phone calls, etc. and we have the letters to prove it. Why is that? What has happened to the more recent generations?
My opinion is that somewhere along the way, we take people and fellowship for granted. The brethren and sisters who read this, who because of where God has called them, find themselves isolated from their family, church home etc....they KNOW what I am talking about. They treasure every second of fellowship they can get. They soak it up like a sponge, for the dry season they know is somewhere ahead, that might be 3 months or 3 years.
We take tomorrow for granted; but tomorrow never seems to come. We put off writing, or calling, so when we have more time, or things are less crazy, we can make a connection.
Aren't we supposed to love one another? Why is it that we write our own version of that, not in words but actions, to read, tolerate one another?
I promised to be short, and I have to get back to my pots and pans, which beckon me to cook some more.
Thanks to those who love us and pray for us.

Today my mind is wandering to the future. Many questions are whirling around in my head. Alot of them have come about as a result of the mission's conference last week. The need for workers in the fields is great. Each missionary, each field, made me ask, "Is that where one of my children will go?" In our flesh, in our physical world, at least in our family/home, we don't have much to give as far as money goes. Yes, our home is beautiful, glory to God, and it is a great gift of love from Him to us, but our home is more than just the painted walls, and furnishings. What we have to give is priceless. We have offered up our children for His use. Now I realize that their full surrender to God is a personal choice that they must make for themselves, but we as parents desire our children to be vessels fit for the Master's use. Our heart's desire is that God will take them and use them, and that not one of them would refuse Him. These thoughts have alot of emotions attatched to them. As a mom, in one way the last thing I want is for my children to go live in a distant land, and only visit with us every few years. I don't want to go to bed at night and wonder if my child is safe or being watched or taken to prison for preaching the glorious Gospel of Our LORD Jesus Christ. In my flesh, in the natural mother's heart, I don't want them to go very far from home, EVER. But with eternity in view, I want them to go for God without thought for dear old mom and dad. I want them to be consumed with Jesus. In fact, the last few months I have really begun to expect that in my golden years, if the LORD tarries that long, I will sit in my rocker, praying for my children, grandchildren, and maybe great-grandchildren, to stay by the stuff, to keep on for God, to fight the good fight, to finish the course, to reach for the prize of the high calling of God. My mind is set upon them all being far from me, and yet close to my heart. I am expecting them to be warriors and servants in distant lands, to go to the regions beyond and to say with all that in them is, "Here am I LORD send me" And if the LORD determines that they need not all go so far away to serve Him, then i will be extra blessed. I give up my children for the service of the KING of Glory-Jesus Christ. What more can I give? The other question that naturally follows, well several of them, are: when and where will they go? will they marry? who will they marry? when will this all come about? David is on the verge of marriage, Godwilling. What plans are in his future after that? We are so isolated, it is hard to keep my eyes of the practical issue of meeting prospective brides or grooms. Years ago I wrote to a precious sister about this matter. I told her that I believed that if necessary God would bring them to our front door-their car could break down, or asking for directions, or "accidentally" finding the wrong house. When I get a case of "how in the world will..." I remind myself of this...God's way are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. He can do anything, nothing is impossible with Him. All we know is we want God's choice.When a family friend was about to marry, I began to fret, and wonder how we would ever be able to give our daughters wedding gowns and pull-off even a small wedding. This was going through my mind on a Tuesday as we drove home from town. Tuesday was the day that the clothes house was open (over the years we have gotten many items from them free of charge) so we decided to stop on the way. We ran in and then out pretty fast for us. But oddly enough they had a wedding dress that particular day. Never before had I seen one there. As we drove up the hill for home, I went on and on about the wedding dress, chiding myself for not getting it. After we unloaded the van, Bob told me to take Charity back and look at it again. Off we went. The wedding gown was still there. We carefully removed it from the hanger, and one of the workers came over and held it close to Charity. I looked like it would be a perfect fit. Then more of them workers gathered nearby, formed a circle and prayed for her. They GAVE us the dress! As we were leaving they asked when she was getting married. I just had to laugh as I told them, she didn't even have a "boyfriend". They were amazed, and yet happy to give the dress to her. To Charity, it seems to be a promise that one day she will need that gown.To me, that was more a blessing to me than to Charity, because I'd be wondering about buying all the things you'd need for a wedding. It was God's way of telling me, in a dear, loving, gentle way, "Terry, see, you don't have to worry about anything. I've got it all under control" During the missions conference, they had special sessions for just the ladies with the main speakers wife, Mrs. Ireland. She spoke on the topic of "Prodigals". I wasn't able to talk to her but she really helped me by repeating my own words back to me, though we have never met. But during her lesson she said something very profound. "Control is an illusion" God is the one at the controls, He allows things to occur for our good, and learning. The greatest thing I can do as a wife and mother is to stop trying to control anything and reliquish control to my great Father, who doeth all things well. The future of our family will be full of changes, the unexpected-good and bad, but God is in control. And we know His way is perfect.

Sermons and Soap

This is just going to be brief because I am totally wiped out today. The late nights, up to 2am+ for over 2 weeks has caught up with me. Today we figured out how to put sermons online. The first one is from today. It is called COME OUT. You can listen to it on our site www.boazbaptist.com/sermons or www.sermon.net/boazbaptist Remember that we are a small home-church, with a relaxed atmosphere. The purpose of putting this sermon out there is to help, to edify, to encourage. We apologize for the less than great quality. We are in the process of getting the proper equipment to record digitally. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Redecorated Bedroom-before, during, after

Photobucket Album