ELMER ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

Keep send those questions in, so we know what you are interested and it gives us something to write about.

What kind of business do the Amish or Mennonite run in our area?  Most of both Amish and Mennonite is farming.  We plant and harvest crops.  Most of us have cows.  Of course we have horses.  Most have other animals like pigs, chickens, lambs, too.

Most of us have a second business that we do especially during the winter.  Like, I put siding on houses.  David, Jean's husband, is a carpenter, and painter.  He and his son, Thomas, also make items out of wood like toys, and furniture.

Jean's Michael and Bishop Joseph's Kevin both have repair businesses where they repair just about anything from farm machinery, washers, dryers, refinish furniture, etc.  I also have a son that makes wood furniture.  He made some of the furniture for our house and replaced the coffee table that the ladder fell on when Anna broke her leg.

Edward, Jean's son does bookkeeping, and taxes in addition to farming.  There are some Amish and Mennonite that do roofing.  I know there are more different shops that Amish and Mennonite do, that I am just not thinking of right now.

Are there Amish carpenters who do work for Englishers?   Carpentry is a job and I am sure an Amish person would do it in an Englishers house as well as an Amish house.  I am not a carpenter, but I have done siding work for Amish, Mennonite and Englishers.

Another question is: are the business at their home or in separate locations.  I believe most Amish have their "office" in their home.  My "office" is a desk where Anna keeps all the records, purchases, installations, appointments, payment, etc.  Obviously, I put on siding at their homes.  David does his carpentry at other peoples home, but he and Thomas make their wood items in their wood work barn at home.

Michael, has a building on Jean and David's farm to do his repair work.  Kevin, also has a special building on his farm to do repair work. I have a special area of the barn for my siding equipment, but I take what I need with me to the job.

If we have a job to do, we sometimes do more than one thing.  Like I have but siding on a house and someone has wanted a room painted.  So I have done both jobs while I was there.  Sometimes we inter work - like I need a hand doing doing a job, I got Bishop Eli to help.  I have also asked David, Jean's husband, for a hand when I needed one and I have helped him when he needed a hand.  Edward has helped David with carpentry jobs, although Michael would rather be working on someones accounts than doing carpentry.

I guess I have answered here some questions you had for Bishop Eli, Jean and myself.  Another time Eli and I switched questions.  Please keep those questions coming in.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer