What do we think of musical instruments like the piano or the organ? We consider them ways of the world. Children are not allowed to learn how to play the piano. Once in a while a young man may play the harmonica at young folks singing to get them started off in tune, but that is even looked down on. We don't have any musical instruments in our meetings (church). Music is just for singing and to Praise the Lord.
We do not allow clapping in our meetings although young folks sometimes clap or stomp their feet at their young folks singing.
If someone is an artist in our group, they are allowed to paint. I don't know if they would be encouraged or not. We consider artist painting the same as house painting - you don't do it on the Lord's day (Sunday). But if someone was an artist and wanted to do it in their spare time it would be allowed. We do not allow peoples faces to be in pictures - hand painted pictures included. Edward is an artist and paints pictures. He has even sold some of his paintings. As long as he doesn't do it when he should be doing school work or chores or prayers, we allow him to do it.
The school is one large room. It is not divided into separate room for each grade. All the grades are in one room.
Susan and most of the children enjoy the school. There are some students that would rather be doing something else than going to school. They feel they learned all they need. The school has to measure up to certain achievements set by the state. Children take state tests a few times a year to make sure they are measuring up. These are the same tests the public schools take.
Yes, we do send cards for birthdays and anniversaries, etc. We don't send cards for Halloween, or send a lot at Valentine's Day.
Children start dressing like adults at a very young age. Men do not always wear their black suits to such places as auctions, Farmers Markets, etc. When going to auctions or Farmers Market they mostly wear jeans and light blue striped shirts. They do wear their straw or velvet hats.
In our family, we do celebrate birthdays with cake, ice cream and gifts for children and adults. If we are having friends or family, we do not decorate the cakes with flowers and design. It is just a cake with frosting. I say with friends and family as Susan likes flowers on her birthday cake, but we only have that cake just for our immediate family. It is our ways not to have cakes with fancy decorations on them.
I hope I have answered some of questions. If you have more questions, please ask.
Be With God,
Jean
MARTHA HAS A POST THIS THURSDAY ABOUT LIFE SINCE JOSEPH BECAME BISHOP.
JEAN HAS SOME GREAT NEWS IS NEXT WEEKS POST.
8 comments:
Good Morning Everyone,
Hope you enjoy Jean's post this week. She has another one with some great news next week.
It is raining and in the 60's today.
Marilyn
Thank you for answering these questions. I'm glad to hear that you allow Edward to paint. I live a very creative and artistic life, so it's nice to know that Edward will have that same opportunity. I would love to see some of his paintings.
I would really miss hearing musical instruments. I love to hear singing, but I love music along with it too.
I can't wait to hear the great news.
Doreen
Good Morning Doreen,
The next time I go to Jean's, I'll see if she and Edward will allow me to take pictures of some of his paintings.
I prefer music, too, but their church singing is beautiful even without the music.
Marilyn
Thank you Jean and Marilyn for the post! Hope you are both doing well.
Thank you, Chasity. We are doing fine at Jean's house and mine.
Marilyn
I know a lot of you like Sauerkraut. Kevin Williams, The Amish Cook, has a recipe on for Sauerkraut Brownies. So, take a run over to Kevin Williams and get his recipe. I get nothing on this. I like to read Kevin Williams The Amish Cook and Erik at Amish America, so I pass them on to you. I read them long before there was New York State of Mind. It was by reading Erik's that I found out about Amish Stories. So if you get a minute, run over to read them.
Marilyn
Do your schools stop at 8th grade? My friends stops at 8th, but some families opt to then send their children on to high school at the local Christian School. But those students who go on are usually ones wanting to be a mid wife, nurse, teacher...something that requires additional education. Other families usually bring their kids home to learn the family trade and they homeschool them thru 12th grade. Most all of our Mennonite families drive and have either a home phone or cell phone. A few have tv or radio. Most use modern farm equipment. Its interesting how different areas are more or less libral than others.
Hi April,
Old Order Mennonite children go to the 8th grade. The Weaverland mostly go to 8th grade but some go to 8th. If some of the Weaverland want to go to High School, they have to do correspondence classes. The Old Order Mennonite drive horse and buggy, most, but not all, have electric and telephones. Weaverland have electric, telephones, some have TV and radio and they do drive cars. Maybe we can Jean, Martha or Elmer to do a post of the weaverland Mennonites.
Marilyn
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