I am sure you all know about what happened to those two Amish girls in upstate New York. Seeing I am Amish, Marilyn came up with several question to me and I am going to answer some of them.
Yes, we forgive people for evil that they do to us. I am sure those girls and their family have forgiven the people that did these crimes. But, we do not forget what they did. We try. But in a case like this, I am sure those little girls and their family will remember that for the rest of their lives. Also in the bible it says revenge is mine saith the Lord.
Our daughter was going to town in a buggy, some years ago, and was hit by a car. We forgave the driver even though he had been drinking, but we still have never forgotten the accident. The accident happened over 20 years ago, but we still remember and once in a while it comes up in conversation.
Marilyn asked how they parents would feel about their children when they came home? Would they make the little girls feel guilty or they did something wrong in what happened? Her parents are Schwartzentruber Amish and I am Old Order Amish, but I don't think they blame the children for anything. I have heard of people blaming girls in their teens and twenties if they had been forced on, but not in this situation. If it happened to one of our daughters, no matter what age, I would not blame them. I believe that when those children came home, their parents hugged them and didn't want to let them go - they were so happy to see them. We do not show a lot of emotion in public especially affection. That is for the privacy of our homes.
Will the girls go to court to testify against the people. I doubt it. It is our way not to testify in court. It is not our place to condemn someone. We do not sue people. If somehow one of the lawyers got laws or papers where they had to go, they would go, but I don't think they would testify.
Another question was what did the girls Father mean when he said he felt sorry for those that did these crimes to the girls? Just what he said. He felt sorry for them. Here they are fairly young people and they ruined the rest of their life doing what they did. I feel the same way. We are not saying what they did was right. We are not saying they should go free. We just hope as Jean did in one of her posts, that they find the way of the Lord, apologize for what they did - even if it is just to the Lord, are born again and follow the way of the Lord. We do not approve of what they did, but we still want them to find their way to the Lord.
When they are old enough to marry - will they be allowed to marry? Would a fellow marry them? Of course they will be allowed to marry. We hope they both find wonderful husbands. As our way, no man should hold this against them. If some young man does, he's not worthy of her. They deserve someone else.
What if one of the girls is with child from what happened to them? What would happen to the baby? If one of the girls were with child, the family would accept the child into the family - both the one with child and the baby when it was born. Depending on the age of the child, the girl that was with child's parents might raise the child. Still the baby would know who it's Mother was. All family love and care would be given the baby as if it were born into a couple that were married. We do not believe in abortion or putting one of our child up for adoption. We would believe that it is the Lord's will.
Do we believe that what happened to those two girl's is the Lord's will? We believe the Lord allowed it to happen for a reason. Why we don't know. We may never know. But we also believe the Lord was there as the girls got home after it happened. They came home to a family where they are loved.
Will the parents of the girls take them to a doctor of psychiatry? Probably not unless it is court ordered. It is our way not to tell our private life to someone outside the Amish. Seeing that their Father is a Bishop, if they had problems, he would take one of them or both to another Bishop to talk with, but no one outside of the Amish.
If any of you had any other questions, please ask. I will try to answer them.
Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer
P.S.
I thank Elmer for taking the time to answer all the questions I asked him. He is the only Amish man I know well enough to ask them of. Elmer, I thank you for answering them for me.
If there are any mistakes in English on here - we did this late last night.
Marilyn
16 comments:
Thank you for answering these questions Elmer. I pray that these girls will have a happy and fulfilling life and be able to put this terrible ordeal behind them.
Doreen
Thank you Elmer. The sisters are in my prayers.
I, too, hope The Lord will bring healing to the girls+their family+show the 2 perpetrators of the crime the only way of salvation in Christ Jesus. Thank you, Elmer, for your continued openness+wisdom. Blessings, Carol
Good Morning Everyone,
Elmer was going to put this on next Monday, but because Anna changed her mind he put it on today. He thought people should know that in some ways Amish look at things different that other folks.
Marilyn
Saloma Miller-Furlong on her "About Amish" blog had a wonder post on Between Revenge and Blind Forgiveness. The saddest part on this situation is the lack of counseling available for these young girls. Physically on the surface they may seem fine, but they will carry scars deep inside for the rest of their lives that need help to heal. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Hi Tom,
I haven't read Saloma's yet, but I agree with her. That question just came as after thought from me to Elmer.
Marilyn
While I totally respect the Amish ways, I would be very concerned that by not testifying, these people could be set free to do this to other children. I hope that DNA testing would prevent that from happening, but what if that was the case? Would the Amish be okay with that and feel that God will punish them in His own way?
What if these girls had been killed, and an Amish witnessed it. Would they testify in that case? It's a very scary thought to think that Englishers could commit crimes against the Amish and feel that they're free to get away with it because of the Amish beliefs (unless of course God does indeed do the punishing).
Doreen
Hi Doreen,
You have some very good questions there. I will ask Elmer to answer them.
Marilyn
This incident with the two little Amish girls happened very close to our area, you would not believe all the volunteers that went above and beyond to help find these little girls either by being part of search parties or by providing food and support to the Fire Department command post where the search was coordinated from. This incident affected everyone who heard the news.
I am NOT worried that the two scum bags that did this horrendous crime will be released. They will be punished.
Hi Bonnie C,
Thank you for telling us. I live south of where you do but it felt like it was hitting home because it being in my state.
Marilyn
Hi Everyone,
I spoke to Elmer and he is having Bishop Eli call me back. He feels that Bishop Eli would answer better than he could to answer the questions. I have met the Bishop and spoken with him briefly over the time I have known Elmer and Anna.
Marilyn
Hello,
I have been asked to answer some of the questions on Marilyn's blog. I am Bishop Eli, Elmer's friend and Bishop.
We do not testify in court unless we are brought into court my legal means. The reason for this is in the Bible Matthew 5:44 "But, I say unto you, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." Another passage is James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
We would let them take blood tests from someone. We ask our people to give reports to the police officer. We do not hire lawyers, but if some lawyer handles the case we give reports to them.
If the girls had been killed and someone Amish had witnessed it, no they would not testify in court.
But, and this is BUT, there are legal ways where we have to appear at court. If they are used on the girls, they will have to. Right now, I know they are trying to go about ways that the girls won't have to testify because of their
age.
We do believe that God will take care of the situation in the end.
I know many people believe we are wrong in your beliefs, but we believe in the bible. It is our teachings to follow the bible - the Lord's way.
God's Peace,
Bishop Eli
Thank you very much for answering our questions Bishop Eli. It was very kind of you to do so.
Doreen
Hi Doreen,
I will see that Bishop Eli gets your message. He is very nice to talk to - telling me stories of him and Elmer together. They are funny.
Marilyn
It was very kind of Bishop Eli and Elmer to let us know how these things are handled in their communities. They have a very strong, close-knit community.
I can understand they are following their beliefs and doing what they believe is right based on the Bible. And I'm sure the love and support of their friends and family will help the girls during this horrific time and hope that will be enough for them to heal emotionally. I hope they do find peace.
But, I also wonder, like Doreen, if some of the despicable people out there will begin to view the Amish and Mennonite communities as prime hunting ground since they may feel no one would testify against them and the absence of photos making it difficult for recovery. We can only hope that doesn't happen!
Good Morning Willow's Quiet Corner,
I agree with you. I hope that crime people do not begin to view the Amish and Mennonites as easy pick. But the Amish and Mennonites believe it is God's will.
Marilyn
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