Dee's News January-February 2011

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It’s hard to believe the New Year is here! It seems the older I get, the faster time passes. This is something my grandmother used to tell me, but as I young person, it didn't seem to be true. I often thought the days passed very slowly, especially when I antici-pated a special event.

A funny thing has happened, though, since I’ve left those young girl days behind: time is speeding up! I can readily believe now that inside older people there truly IS a young person wondering how the time flew! One good thing about our Savior and His time frame: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never grows old and tired. He never changes. He always loves us and is waiting for us to come to Him! Isn’t that good news? In this new year of 2011, let’s remember this:

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me…Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:5-6,8 KJV

Lo,
children are
an heritage
from the
LORD,
and the
fruit
of the
womb is
his reward.

Psalm 127:3

Matt and Susie McCann welcomed a new baby girl into their home on December 6, 2010. Bre Lilly weighed 6 lbs. 8 0z. “She is very healthy and mother is recovering nicely” reports little Bre’s proud aunt, Sarah Garber. Welcome to the world, Bre Lilly! So cute!

There’s a new little girl in the Schrock household! Little Destiny Faith was born to her parents, Willie and Elsie Schrock, on November 3, 2010. Destiny weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. She has two big brothers who also welcomed her home: Matthew and Michael. Isn’t she cute?

The Keim family brought a new little boy into their family! Johnny and Miriam Keim welcomed little David Michael on November 19, 2010. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 0z. He has two older siblings to enjoy him also: John William and LoriAnn. How sweet he is!

Katrina Zgela, Mose Slabaugh, and Uriah Gingerich participated in a witnessing trip to New York City. Here is Katrina’s testimony about that trip:

I was blessed to participate in a witnessing trip to New York City the first weekend in October. My boyfriend Mose went this past spring, and I was excited to be able to go on the fall trip. I knew God would use the experience to stretch me, and He certainly did. I am not naturally bold, so sharing the gospel has, at times, been difficult. The Lord taught me on the trip that sharing the gospel is not about me, my personality or my capabilities. It is all about Jesus and what He did for us because of His infinite love! The highlight of the witnessing, and a great example of this truth, was when I was able to witness to a fourteen year old boy who had never before heard the gospel. His heart was touched, even though I felt my words were awkward. For the power of the gospel is not in our words, but in the person of Jesus. He saves people; we don't. We should not fear to witness. Jesus commanded us to share in Matthew 28:19-20. When we are obedient to this command, He will do incredible works in people's lives and in ours. Let your light shine in the darkness. For where our lights shine boldly before men, the darkness runs and hides, and people are drawn to the light and life of Jesus! This is beautiful when it becomes reality. Jesus uses us, humble vessels that we are, to help bring people from the king-dom of darkness into the kingdom of Light. It is amazing that He chose us to be His witnesses in this world. Let us not fear, but be bold, "for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Can you imagine yourself jumping out of a plane? That’s what Malinda Hershberger did! Malinda and some friends took off from the South Canton airport. It was Malinda’s first time in a plane! Malinda said even when the door was opened, it was “a crazy rush of wind” and there was no turning back. “It was the scariest 5 seconds of my life! After we were out 10 seconds, the scare was all worth it. We did flips in the free fall. It was very peaceful; the rush of wind made me feel like a bird. It has changed me in some ways. I’d say if you have a dream, chase after it, even if it’s scary, because heights is like my biggest fear. I did not exactly get over my fear of heights but I learned that it will give you confidence you didn’t know you had.” Congratulations, Malinda, on your huge accomplishment!

Elizabeth came to Ohio from Michigan in July. Right away she took her written driver’s test and got her photo ID. She got a job at Liqui-Box in Ashland, and began to drive herself and Esther to work every night as practice. A few other friends also took her for practice driving. Her hard work has paid off! She got her driver’s license on November 12th. Then the hunt for a car began, and she found and bought one on November 27th. Elizabeth goes to GED classes in the evenings. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

The first thing I notice about Mary Troyer is her shy smile. She has a friendly way about her that makes me like her immediately. Mary came to Ohio from her hometown of Elizabeth, Kentucky. She is currently working on her GED and trying hard to find a job. She already has her driver’s license and her social security number.

Mary says she has had to start over, and that is not always easy, as we all know. Her life has had its ups and downs but she has found a precious gift: Jesus Christ. When Mary talks about Jesus, her face lights up! In Him there is a strength and a peace to start over. She is planning to be baptized soon.

Mary knows about the MAP ministry through her friend, Barbara Gingerich. It was wonderful to hear how she is helping out in the MAP office as much as she can. She is staying at Joe and Esther Keim’s as she establishes her new life in Ohio.

Welcome to Ohio, Mary! And most importantly: welcome to the family of God!

8 Sisters Bakery opened in a new building on October 28, 2010. Here is a report from Sarah Garber:

“The bakery is doing well! I would like to say that Emma, the owner, was finally able to quit her job of 6 years as supervisor at Dutch Heritage bakery and is now running her own bakery full time. We are all thrilled about that. She will now be pursuing a lot of wholesale business as well as keeping our own shelves full at the shop. It has been difficult to keep the shelves loaded, and that was because people bought it as soon as it was out!! We are having a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, December 14th, and will be having some specials the whole week. We have already outgrown our baking area, but will continue there as long as we can!”

The bakery is located at 29 South Main Street, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. It is open from 6 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Saturday.

For more information about 8 Sister’s Bakery, or to place an order, you can call them at 419-946-2252 or 419-946-BAKE.

Congratulations 8 Sisters Bakery!