JEAN ANSWERS QUESTONS

Thought I would ask some questions that people asked me and Martha, a while back that never got answered.  Martha and Joseph are still waiting for their first grandchild which should be due in November.

Some asked if Thomas has gained any weight?  He has gained a little weight, but not much.  The doctor said he is doing fine and he is just a person that burns off food fast.  He also said that Thomas will probably he a thin person.  But he is healthy and not to worry about his weight.  I think that was a nice way to tell me not to be fussing over his weight all the time.

It was not our religious ways to teach children to kick and scream if someone should try to take them as we never had this problem.  Since the girls were taken in upstate New York, Bishop Joseph had a meeting with us parents at school and it was decided that the children should be taught.  They had classes at school and here at home teaching what the children should do if someone should try to take them.  We also explained why they should not take candy from anyone or look at the puppy in their car, etc.  None of our little ones are allowed to go sell at our stand unless one of the bigger children like Thomas, Michael or Edward are with them - or David or myself,  Somehow people are the most afraid of Edward. which comes in handy with our little ones sometimes.  Edward is over six foot tall, a big fellow and black skin.  His height and the color of his skin make some people take notice.  Of course, they don't know how harmless he is.

In our community do many people leave the Old Order Mennonite Church?  Not too many.  If they do leave, the usually go to a more wordly Mennonite Order.

If an Old Order Mennonite boy fell in love with an Englisher would it make him sway to leave the church?  Working with Englishers they are bound to meet someone outside the church.  We encourage our young folks to court folks that are Old Order Mennonite.  Some. sometimes, do date outsiders like Martha and Joseph, but Martha joined our religion.  Again, I say, if someone does want to marry someone outside Old Order Mennonite, they usually change to another Mennonite Order.

With the changing times with new technology like computers and cell phones influence the young to want to leave your ways?  We do not have computers, but we do have a cell phone in our house because David is with the Fire Department. We also have a regular land line phone.  I do know that Michael has gone to the library to use their computer, but he has not been baptized, as yet.  Really, I don't think that has a great influence on children leaving our church.

We are still working on Grandmother Olive to see if we can get her to put on another post.  She thinks she doesn't have anything to say.  But like Anna, I think she has a lot to say that we would be interested in.

Someone mentioned smelling soil.  Maybe you have to live on a farm to smell it.  Right now, we can still smell it as it is getting one last plowing to be put down for the winter.  Oh, the men smell it too.  David always tells me he smells it especially in the spring.

Someone asked about Kevin and Bridget.  I will have to see if I can get one of them to do a post.  Most likely it would be Kevin because Bridget wants nothing to do with computers.  Of course Anna said that and Martha said that and they both have had posts since them.  I guess Bridget is another I will have to work on.

I guess I have answered all your questions for now. I also wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Be With God,
Jean