WEAVERLAND MENNONITE FARM

This Weaverland Mennonite Farm is next door to Jean's meeting building (church).

ELMER'S POST

We wish everyone a Happy Labor Day to those who are working and have worked.  To those of you that have jobs, please thank the Lord.   Also, remember in your prayer those that are looking for work.

I had a subject on, but after speaking with Marilyn today, I decided to change it.  First, I want to say, I too, am concerned with Sarah, John, Anna and the baby.  I hope the next doctor is better.  Had I been there, I don't think I would have been as calm as Anna - which may be the reason she left me home. Also, if the baby is normal size or small, it belongs to us and will be loved, taken care of, protected and taught the Lord's ways.  The child is a gift from God to us no matter what size.

Marilyn was driving the car this morning and the brakes went out.  It was a very upsetting situation and I can't blame her.  She is worried what is wrong with the car, how much it will cost and more.  I told her to look on the bright side of it.  The bright side?

Maybe I have said this before, so if I had, it doesn't hurt for all of us to hear it again.

My view was that she should thank the Lord.  She was coming to a stop light and the brakes went to the floor.  When she hit them again, they stopped the car.  They could have failed and the car gone right through the light and hit another car or person, but didn't.

She had to get the car home which was just over a block away so she went slowly down Main Street, brakes worked except once, but when she hit them again, they took hold.  She turned down a side street and parked it in front of her building - the brakes worked.  Again, they could not have worked and she hit a building, car , etc.

It was also lucky that it happened in town when she was going slowly and not on the highway where she could be going 40, 50  or 55 miles per hour.  Again, she could have  hit a car, truck, person, animal, flipped her car or more.  But she wasn't on a Main Road and didn't have any of those things happen.

She was going to breakfast with friends whom she called and told them she couldn't come.  As her friends were at the restaurant already, her friend's husband came and picked her up.  At the restaurant her friend, after hearing what happened, prayed for her.  Yes, right in the restaurant.

Now I am not saying all this to put Marilyn down in any way.  I have her permission to say what I am saying.  She is also typing this on the computer while I speak and if she doesn't like something, she can stop any time.  I just want us to know that even though bad things happen - there are good things in them.

Yes, she can't drive the car right now, but there wasn't an accident and there could have been.  That was God watching over her and the car.  She could be in the hospital with injuries from an accident and Michael on here telling you about it - but it didn't happen.  The Lord protected her.

It seems we all see the bad things in happenings, myself included.  Sometimes we have to stop, think and look at the good side.  Yes, the car is laid up, but at least it is parked safe, no accidents, no injuries.

As far as what's wrong with the car..  Her friend's husband looked it over.  He doesn't think it is a gas line leak.  At least today, there is still the same amount of gas in it as there was - meaning it doesn't appear it is leaking gas.  But he said it could be but very small.  So we don't know what is wrong with it.

It could need new brakes.  It could be a new gas tank like they said when they put the water pump in.  It could be, it could be, it could be.  Now here comes the real hard part.  She and we, at times like this, must trust the Lord.  She can't find out until at least Tuesday as the gas station is closed.  Maybe not until Wednesday as many cars will probably be coming in Tuesday after the holiday.  Also she worries about how she will pay the bill again.  She had only two payments on the service station bill and she would be done, thanks to you.  Also, she's still paying her friend's loan on the garage bill.

My answer was Trust the Lord.  In Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.  Trust that the Lord will see whatever the bill is and that it is paid.  Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Being fed doesn't only mean food fed, but also financial fed, clothes fed, crops fed to grow and more.  I think sometimes the trusting the Lord is the hardest party.  We get situations where we can , help others and more, but Trusting the Lord is the hard part.

I like the first part of Luke 6:38 which the first part says "Give and it shall be given unto to you."  How many times have I given my problems unto the Lord - and taken them back again.  Marilyn agrees she has done the same thing.  You bring it before the Lord and say it's yours, Lord.  But putting it there, leaving it there  - it starts crawling back to you.  Like I say, I've done it, Anna's done and Marilyn has done it.  You have to read the rest: "good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over; shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."  You have to keep your faith, your trust in the Lord, thank the Lord for all he has done for you, hold Him close in your heart, thoughts and prayers.

Sometimes we think of asking the Lord so much, but we also must thank Him, too.  Praise Him for all He has done for us.  Take time or times out of our day to pray to Him and thank Him for all He has done.  Sure, you can ask the Lord, but it is our place to thank Him and Praise Him, too.

I can go with more quotes from the Bible, but you see it is that we must stop and thank for the things that we want and need.  Also, I told Marilyn, when she finds out what the bill is, the Lord will provide.  It may be just something little that she can afford.  Or it could be a big bill like last time.  Somehow the Lord will provide the payment of the bill.  He did last time and He will again.  It does not do any good worrying over it until you find out what it is.  I know I don't have a car, but still we have horses that have gotten sick.  We had a buggy at one time that needed major work.  Somehow when the time came comes, we came up with the money.  But I told her don't worry until you know what it is.

I hope this gives us all something to think about.  That we must trust in the Lord.  We must turn all our problem over to the Lord.  That's what He wants us to do.  He is more powerful and knowledgeable than we are.  He is our Father.

But we must also remember to thank Him and Praise Him for all he has done for us.  Again, I am not trying say anything against Marilyn, but we got talking and that made me change my post.  I hope it gives all of us something to think about.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

GRABBER'S ROADSIDE BARN STAND

The Grabber's are the first Amish people I ever took pictures of in New York State, which you can find in the very first post on here.  Grandmother made rag rugs so I thought I would stop by and take pictures of them to put on here.  Well, Grandmother has moved to live with her son in Mount Morris, NY which really isn't far from where they live - well I guess it is by horse and buggy, but not to far to drive by car.  Anyway, the lady I spoke with said another brother makes bird houses.  So I took pictures of his bird houses.    They also sell vegetables and canned goods inside their barn.  Thought you might like the pictures of the bird houses and their buggies.

NOTE:  We are changing things around next week as Sarah and Anna are going to the new doctor.  Anna asked me if you folks would be interested in how they make out with the second doctor and I said I am sure you folks would.  So Anna is going to put on a post later in the week - after they go to the doctor.

Also if my new sunflowers open all the way, I may have post on Sunday.

OLD ORDER MENNONITE SUNDAY MEETING BUILDING (CHURCH)

As you can see, they were on their way to Sunday meeting (church).  I had the meeting house on here before when Bishop Joseph took me there, but they were not having service.  Really was in their area to take pictures of something else when I saw all the buggies.  Jean recognized my car as they passed in their buggy and invited me to come with them.  I would have except I had on shorts.  Jean said it wouldn't matter to them, but I said I would come back another time when I was better dressed.  Jean said dress doesn't matter, you do. Still, I told her I would come back again.

The first two pictures are the outside of the church.  Note in picture 3 and 4, the men's hats hanging and the ladies caps hanging.  The rest of the pictures are where the bicycles, and buggies are parked.  The last picture I thought was cute at one of the entrances.

I pulled in front of the church and listened to them singing.  They were really beautiful singers. No instruments - just them singing.

WHERE ARE THE OLD ORDER MENNONITES GOING?

I took these pictures back in July.  Saw all these buggies and people walking so I pulled over to the side of the road and started taking pictures. They were coming from all directions.    Do you know where they were going??

DAVID'S MOTHER'S FRESH FRUIT PIZZA

David's Mother went to a quilting and recipe exchange.  Each person had to bring a dish to pass for lunch and the recipe to exchange.  This recipe was a hit with all the ladies.  She made the recipe at home with a couple of changes.  I will put her changes in parenthesis.  We made this at our house and we all agreed this was a keep.

DAVID'S MOTHER'S FRESH FRUIT PIZZA

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk - not evaporated milk
1/2 cup sour cream (David's Mother used yogurt)
1/4 cup Real Lemon reconstituted Lemon juice (David's Mother used juice from a fresh lemon)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar (David's Mother used Splenda brown sugar)
1 cup unsifted flour
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
Assorted fresh or canned fruits (strawberries, grapes, blueberries, orange, pineapple, banana, raspberries, watermelon, etc.)
Mint leaves (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In medium bowl combine sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla; mix well.  Chill. In large mixer bowl, beat margarine and sugar until fluffy; mix in flour oats and walnuts until thoroughly blended.  On lightly oiled pizza pan or baking sheet, press dough into 12-inch circle forming rim around edge.  Prick with fork.  Bake 10 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool.  Spoon filling evenly onto crust.  Arrange fruit on top of filling.  Garnish with mint leaves, if desired.  Chill before serving.  Refrigerate leftovers.

ANNA'S POST TODAY

Poor Marilyn, again.  Here it is Monday evening and she doesn't have a post for tomorrow.  Jean had am emergency come up.  No, none of the family is sick or injured.  She was asked by Foster Care to take in another child for a few days and they are on the way to her house with the child.  So here I am.

Sarah went to the hospital for an ultrasound a few days ago.  Last time, she asked me to go in with her.  In fact, she did this time, too, but I felt her Mother should go in with her. She feels that things don't upset me like they do her Mother.  But she and her Mother went in and then John was called in.  Pretty soon, John comes out and says I better gone in. Sarah is afraid and her Mother is crying when I got in.

There is a nurse there and said the doctor would be in to talk with me.  I tried to find out from the nurse what was wrong, but she said the doctor would tell me.  He had already talked with Sarah and her Mother so I tried to find out from them.

All Sarah told me is she wanted to get our of there.  Her Mother was crying so hard, she couldn't tell me.  I am thinking maybe the baby had passed or something was wrong.

Finally the doctor came in and started telling me what was wrong in medical terms.  Some I understood, some I didn't.  Finally, I asked him to tell me in plain English.  He felt there might be something wrong with the baby.  Wanted to run a group of tests on the baby while it was in Sarah. So I asked what they thought was wrong with the baby.  Again, he spoke in medical terms.  He said Sarah and her husband had given permission to tell me, so he wanted me to come in his office.

I told Sarah to get dressed.  The doctor said, no.  I said yes.  Also, I told Sarah's Mother to go out in the waiting room and send in John to calm her down while I spoke to the the doctor.  Sarah's Mother was still crying.

Followed the doctor down to his office.  Again, he is all in medical terms and he felt this test should be done and that done.  I said, I would have to call my Bishop to see what he thought.  All during this he hasn't told me what he thought was wrong with the baby.  I told him I had to know what he thought was wrong with the baby before I called Bishop Eli.  When he told me, I told me, he had never met my husband.

It is possible that Sarah and John's baby might be a small person.  So I explained that my husband is a small person.  Also explained that we accept our children, just the way they are.  We  consider a small person like everyone else.  The only thing I was concerned about was the child's heart.  Doctor said it was normal.  He asked me if I was going to call the Bishop.  I said no, Bishop Eli would tell him what I just did.  I guess he was not happy.

When I left the doctors office, I met with Sarah, her Mother and John.  We got in the car with driver and drove to our house.  At our house Sarah's Mother finally stopped crying.  Sarah said she would never go back there again.  John didn't know what to say.

When Elmer came in, I explained the whole thing to him.  He grinned.  Maybe another small person.  Elmer then called Bishop Eli and asked him to come over to our house.  I told Bishop Eli what happened.  He told me  I spoke to the doctor right.

Sarah said she will not go into the hospital for the baby delivery.  John still wanted the hospital.  It did help when Elmer he wasn't born in the hospital, I wasn't born in a hospital and neither was John.

I explained the doctor did not say for sure the baby was going to be a small person, but could be.  In all that happened, I didn't get to see the ultrasound this time.  I did last time, but not this time.

Bishop Eli explained if the baby was in danger of life and death or it was something major, he would have to pray before allowing them to do anything to the baby before it was born.  We believe it is God's will.  Bishop Eli led us in prayer.  We continue to pray at home.

Eli asked when the baby should come.  I explained the doctor said November, but I say October.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Anna




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