MARTHA HAS SOME NEWS

I am glad to be back, but I don't know how to tell what I have to say.  When Joseph became Bishop, Erin was not happy in our house, so we finally let him move in with Kevin and Bridget.  About a month , Kevin came to us and said something was wrong with Erin, but he couldn't say what it was.  As Erin came over every day to work on our farm, we asked him and he said nothing was wrong.

We knew that Erin was courting a lady and who it was.  One evening her parents came to our house and wanted to see Joseph and myself.  When we went into our office, they advised us that their daughter was with child and Erin was the father.  Joseph and I were in shock.  We had no idea.

I have to stop here and say that having been Englisher and became Old Order Mennonite there are certain things I disagree with.  One is that young people are not told the facts of life.  They are not explained what goes on behind closed doors.  I strongly feel that young people should be told so they know.  But that is not the way of the Old Order Mennonites and after talking with Anna, the Amish either.  When two people get together and go to far, they don't realize what is going to happen.

After the lady's parents left and Joseph and I calmed down, we spoke with Erin.  He had known she was with child and was going to tell us at the right time.  We don't know what he considered the right time, but we already found out.  When this happens, in our ways, they must get married, which was fine with Erin.  Erin said that were courting and were going to get married anyway. He moved back into our home until they were married. As they had to be baptized before they got married, they got baptized when Edward did.

Before they were baptized, they had to come before our meetinghouse and confess what they did.  Then they are sent outside while we vote on whether they will be accepted, which they were.  They came back into the church and one of the deacons told them rather Bishop Joseph.  Before baptizing they underwent instruction as Edward and the others did before baptism.

After they were baptized, their new house and barn were built on the land that we owned. We gave them the land as their wedding gift.  It is near Keven and Bridget's house. Erin had chosen that land a while ago. People from our meeting house, Amish and Englishers helped build the house and barn.  Also much of the furniture was made for their house.  Because of the short time, some of the furniture will come later.

So on June 19th, Joseph married Erin and Lovina.  It was a spiritual and beautiful wedding in our ways. It was held in Lovina's parents home.  Many people came.  Erin and Lovina are now in their new home and we are waiting for our first grandchild in about five months.

We know Kevin and Bridget are happy for Erin and Lovina, but are sad as they have not had a child.  They will receive their child or children in God's time not ours.

Also, we are sorry that Marilyn couldn't take pictures of the house and barn going up, but it was done during the week, when she works.  Maybe next time it will happen when she can be there.  We also thank her, Jean, Elmer and Anna,  for knowing what was happening and not saying anything.  They felt it was our place if we wanted to tell. So we decided to tell here.

After much discussion between us, Joseph and I decided to tell the rest of our children the facts of life.  We feel that it is something they should know.

God is with us,
Martha

ELMER WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK .