JEAN IS ANSWERS QUESTIONS!

Marilyn told me, I have pages of questions to answer, so I guess, I better get to them.  Someone asked about Porter and his wife traveling with Grandmother Olive, Grandfather Albert, Fanny and Amos on their trip along with our relationship with Englishers.

Porter and his wife, did not really have to be approved by Bishop Joseph and Bishop Eli, it's just that we had never met them before and wanted to know them.  Bishop Joseph said he wouldn't let them go unless he met Porter and his wife, because Grandmother Olive was protesting.  She felt we were treating them like children.  Maybe we were.  It was not because Porter and his wife, were Englishers, but we didn't know them.  If it had been David, our children and myself going some place with people my parents or grandparents didn't know - they would like to meet them before we left - does not matter if they were Old Order Mennonite, Amish or Englishers.

In this day in age you have to be careful who you travel with, unless it is someone you know.  We felt Porter and his wife were fine people because he had worked at the same job for many years, was willing to meet us, understood our concern and more.  No one could have taken better care of them during the trip, including ourselves.

Some of our drivers are Weaverland Mennonite, but many are Englishers.  Most of them have been drivers for the Amish and us for many years. If someone moves into the area that we do not know and is willing to drive us, the men usually find out information about them.  Our men usually ride with them before they will us ladies and children.  They want to make sure we are safe.

Are we allowed to have Englishers that we know into our home for visits and meals.  Yes, we are.  MARILYN: I will vouch for that.  I have had many meals in Jean's house, Anna's house, Bishop Joseph's house, Bishop Eli's house and more.  JEAN: They should be people we know well. We are also allowed to go to their house to visit and have a meal in their home.

Yes, Englishers can help in a barn raising.  In the pictures of the barn raising Marilyn had on there were Englishers handling one of the tractors.  They are also allowed at house buildings.

Really, no where does it say we can not associate with Englishers.  But we must be careful that they do not influence in anyway to change our religious beliefs.  This applies not only for adults but especially our young ones who are under influence especially at that age.

Some Englishers are forceful, telling us our religion is wrong.  We have even had people tell us we are going to burn in hell.  Some tell us we must be born again.  When we explain that we are born again, they tell us no because of the way we live, they way we dress, etc.

Also, they are evil people in the world who would hurt us or our children or even steal our children.  We must be most careful.  Some people are very nice but would do evil things if they thought they could get away with it.  It is sad that there are people like that, but there are.

So if you come upon someone who is Amish or Old Order Mennonite and they are bit stand offish, especially if they have children around - they are trying to be careful - to get to know you.  Especially after what happened to those two girls in Upstate New York has made us more protective.

But I think all people are more protective now.  There are things happening now that we would never would have believed would happen in our areas now.

That's why I say:

Be With God,
Jean