ELMER'S FIRST POST FOR 2016

Happy New Year, everyone..  I had to laugh at Bishop Eli's post where he said he thought I should have been Bishop instead of him.  God did not make a mistake.  He chose the right one with Eli.  God knows what He is doing.  We sometimes don't.  But He does and that's all that matters.

There recently was a fire where an Amish house was a total loss.  There were seven people living in the house.  Marilyn asked if I would tell where would the people stay, about clothes, furniture, their house, etc.  So I will start with the night of the fire and move on.

When there is a fire, the Amish neighbors usually come.  With ten fire companies there, our company was not one of them as it was a way from our town, I am sure some of the ladies brought sandwiches, cookies, coffee and tea for the fire departments during the cold night.  Before they got done putting out the fire, the Amish were figuring on where the people would stay.

If they have relatives, they would probably move in with them.  Should they not have relatives in the area or they couldn't take on seven people, it would be decided what home they would go in.  Maybe some would have to go in one home, some in another.  The next day, they would decide where the people would stay until their house was rebuilt.  Could be with the same people as the night of the fire.  Maybe someone had enough room to take them all.  Maybe someone had a house that was vacant that they could move in.  They would not homeless.

Knowing ladies as I do, I am sure,  the day after the fire, they went shopping and got some material to make the people clothes.  I can almost hear those sewing machines going.  They will decide who will make whose clothes, measure them and get to work.  Ladies will make the ladies clothes, men's work clothes and church clothes and children's clothes.

Men will be making plans for the new house.  Sometimes I tell people, there is one good thing about a house burning to the ground - if there is anything you wanted or wished to change - building the new house is the time to do it.  It is a couple of days after the fire so snow or no snow, they might he clearing the lot, and checking the basement to see if it needs repair before building.

Also people are gathering what they can spare.  Furniture, pots and pans, toys for the children, etc., etc., etc.  Where ever the people are living, they need these items now.  I am sure their Bishop has spoken to them about their needs.  Their present needs are taken care of.  I am sure where ever they are living, they have received plenty of food.  Another thing ladies do, give from the canned goods they made, cook, bake, etc.  These people will not go hungry.

Whose house it is, the Bishop and some of the men will be talking of the construction of the new house.  I taken part in houses going up in the winter, but if they can, they would rather wait until the ground is not frozen, the snow is gone and the weather warmer.  But, on the other hand, if the ground is frozen and the basement is fine, it is better to put it up because there won't be a lot of mud.

The finances of building the new house will be discussed between the Bishop and the owner.  If the owner has enough money to buy the materials need for the house that is good.  If he can't, then the church will provide what is needed.  It is not a discussion among the church people.  In fact, we don't know how the house is paid for.  That is not our matter.  It is between Bishop and owner.

When it is decided the house will be built - now or in the spring - they will have a frolic.  It is like a barn raising, but it is for the house.  If they get enough people, the house, floors and roof should go up in a day.  There still has to be, depending on their Amish group, plumbing, insulation, rooms, kitchen, etc. done.  There is either another frolic or the Amish work on it when they can.

I am sure the lady of the house will have her say on the construction of the house especially the kitchen.  She will say what she wants where.  We might be going over and helping with the house going up.  Even though they may a different Amish group, we help one another.  That is our way.  The ladies will also have quilt bees to make new quilts for them.  They will also see they have towels, doilies, etc.  Maybe the lady or ladies from whose house it is will be at the quilt bees helping.

We help one another when help is needed because we know if we needed help, they would be there to help us.  It is our way to help.

I am sure I left out a lot what is being done for these people.  Many times Englisher set up money funds to help the family, at this time.  They also help with the building of the house.  People help people and that is the way it should be.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

P.S.

The house is not a total loss as they said on the news.  They are working on the house to repair it, as of last Saturday.