ELMER'S - THE TRUTH BE TOLD

The truth must be told !!! Marilyn takes all the questions you give her for all of us and writes them on a pad of paper.  Then she calls us and gives us the questions.  Well, back when she was sick - she lost the pad.  It's in her apartment, but she hasn't been able to find it.  So we have been doing posts on recent questions and things we could remember or coming up with subjects.  Today, Sunday, she went back to January 1st and came forward writing down all the questions you asked.  So if you asked a question and it didn't get answered - ask again.

It was kind of fun going back in the posts. Some questions we gave to different people than you asked.  Like some questions you asked me, I felt would be better answered by Bishop Eli.  Most of the children's questions - went to Jean as she has small children.  Anna says, I was trying to get out of answering some of those hard questions.  So I gave her some questions, too.

The one I gave the most questions to, were Eli.  Being Bishop, I think he could answer and go deeper than I could in some questions - and you would still understand what he meant. Eli  laughed when Marilyn called him and told him, I was giving him some questions.

So here I go with some of your questions.

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Someone asked how baby John is doing?  He is getting bigger every day.  The doctors feel that he will not be a small person, like me, but wouldn't be tall like his father, either.  As men go, they feel, that he will be about five feet 5 or 6 inches.  But, they won't know for sure until he grows it.  We don't care how small or tall he is - as long as he is healthy.

Does our community allow smoke alarms in our house?  That was a big, long discussion when the subject first came with our Amish group.  At the time we lived in Pennsylvania and there was another Bishop.  We were not allowed.

Being a volunteer for the fire department, I have seen where fire alarms would have saved lives.  I was not the only one of our group that thought we should have them.  It was voted and it was decided against it.

When we moved to New York, everyone is suppose to have a fire alarm in their homes.  Bishop Eli opened it for discussion.  After much discussion, prayer and hearing from us fire volunteers, it was decided we could have them in our house - if they are battery operated.

Some people felt them wrong and I am sure had them in when the house was inspected, but took the batteries out when the inspector left.  Other people, like us, have them in our home in working condition.  Bishop Eli has them in his house.  Seeing they are battery operated, we also have them in our barn.

Now, let me explain, not all Amish Groups have them in their homes.  We do, but many don't.  The say "It is God's will" if their houses catches on fire whether the Lord will let them know or not.  Bishop Eli says that "It is God's will", if the house catches fire and the fire alarm goes off.  He has had discussions with other Bishops who disagree.  Even with people in our own group.

On April 26th Anna gets her cast removed.  She wanted it done two weeks earlier, but the doctor said no.  They had a go around and Anna lost.  The cast makes her leg itch.  Anna uses a knitting needle to scratch.  Both Anna and I will be glad when it comes off.

Keep those questions coming.  Even if you asked before.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer