I guess I am filling in for both Jean and Elmer. Elmer asked if I could fill in for him this week and next week until he and Anna get home and settled from their trip to Pinecraft. So I told them I would.
Thought I would answer some questions that you folks asked Jean that didn't get answered. The first one being did David give up the car when he and Jean got married like Kevin and Bridget did? Yes, he did. When he asked Jean to court him and she agreed, he got rid of the car. Joseph, also drove David's car until David sold it. So driving cars is a long memory in their past now.
Are there "poundings" for new marrieds? First, I better tell what poundings are. Maybe telling one would be better. Like our teacher at school. On Valentine's Day, we had a pounding for her. Each of the children bought a can of food for the teacher. After lunch, when lessons were suppose to start, the children started rolling the cans of food up the isle. Soon all these cans of food were coming toward the teacher. She and one of her students picked them all up. Most of the cans had labels on them, but some of the older children (especially the boys) thought it was better to take the labels off so the teacher would get a surprise when she opened the can. Teacher was very grateful for the gifts. She also wondered how all those cans were snuck into her classroom and she didn't know it.
We have poundings for ladies about to be married, for Mother's about to have babies (we have baby items for them), and more. It is a lot of fun to give and receive. Food is something someone can always use and it is not an expensive gift. Sometimes ladies give canned goods that they have made.
Men have sort of a pounding for men sometimes. If they are newly weds or maybe had a fire when they need new tools. One night the man goes to bed without them and the next morning all sorts of tools, nails, screws, lumber, etc. are on their porch or in their barn.
If someone is going through problems and need food, we usually donate at one persons home. When we feel the people are in bed asleep, we set it on their porch. We try not to let people know who we are. Our belief is we all help one another in one way or the other. It might be food, a hand at work, care of the sick and more. Whatever we can do, we try to help. Just to see someone's problem eased a little and happy for even a few minutes is return enough for us.
Another questions is if someone is not baptized are there some events they are excluded from? Yes, until someone is baptized in our meetings they can not receive communion, get married, or vote in our meetings.
If the young do not get baptized during the age range, is it open to them the rest of their life - even old age. Even after years of shunning. First, if they are not baptized, they can not be shunned. People can only be shunned if they go against our ways after they are baptized. If they are not baptized when they are young, they can be baptized in to our meetings at any age as long as they are in good standing. No one is ever too old to be baptized.
I hope I have answered some of your questions. Please ask questions so Elmer and I know what you are interested in.
Be With the Lord,
Martha
