Dee's News March 2013

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Little Katherine Susanna was born on January 8, 2013, to Aaron and Esther Miller. She weighed 5 lbs. 12 oz. and was 18 1/2 inches long. She joins older brother James.

Congratulations to the Miller family!

Joseph Slabaugh and Mary Troyer recently earned their GEDs  from the State of Ohio.

Joseph received his GED certificate on the 28th of January 2013.

Mary Troyer received her GED certificate on  the 28th of December, 2012.  Both Joseph and Mary worked hard to achieve this accomplishment. Congratulations  Mary! Congratulations Joseph!

Ervin Yoder and Teri Green announced their engagement on January 7th, 2013.

Ervin is from Ashland, Ohio and is employed at  Ashland University.

Teri Green  is studying accounting at Ashland University with a minor in Math. Her parents are Dale and Rebecca Green.  She is from  New London, Ohio. The wedding will take place this summer. Congratulations Ervin and Teri!

This note comes from Barbara Burkholder: “My brother-in-law Aden Keim is currently deployed in the Middle East. Prayers are much appreciated and if anyone is interested in sending him a care package or a letter of encouragement they can e-mail me for his address at barbarakeim72@gmail.com. Until we get the OK from Aden to publish his address we don't want to have the address published for security reasons. But I know he would be greatly encouraged with any kind of correspondence! It has been a difficult time and he could use the encouragement! He is scheduled to be deployed through the end of September.”

Let’s remember to support our troops as they do the job require of them. For tips on how to pack a care package, see the article below. Thank you, Aden, and others, for serving our country. We appreciate you all!

Everyone loves to receive care packages from home. And for our military personnel serving overseas, the care packages let them know we are thinking of them.  What better way for us to let our soldiers know we care, miss them,  and that they are in our thoughts and prayers? Sending a card is also a great way to let the soldiers know we remember them.

Here are tips on how to send a care package overseas. For those not familiar with sending care packages, you want to avoid things in glass, anything that is breakable, or anything that would explode like aerosol cans, etc. Everything needs to be non-perishable; care packages are sent on a "space available" condition, so you never know how long your package will sit in a warehouse. When you send a package, the best way to send it is in the Flat Rate box, do a delivery confirmation, and there is a customs form at the post office you have to fill out because you have to declare the things in your package and the value.

Some ideas of items to send:

• Trail mix
• DVDs, music
• Jerky
• Gum, non-chocolate candy
• Travel size baby wipes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.
• Instant soups
• Extra batteries
• Mints
• Photos from home
• Motivational books
• Children’s art
• Magazines of sports, hunting, fishing, etc.
• Pens, pencils, paper
• Energy bars
• Local newspapers
• Nuts and crackers
• Powdered drink mixes
•  Small cans of chicken or tuna
• International calling card
• Chips and snacks

Last night I dreamed I was home again,
Away from the fear and strife,
Back to the place where my loved ones wait
And keep vigil for my life.

I looked around, from the eastside aisle.
I clearly was not alone.
Though no one noticed me, yet I stood
Surrounded by living stones.

The church was full; people rose to sing.
I searched for a place to sit.
Just one seat empty, but left behind
This coat looked a perfect fit.

I moved to take the spot there for me,
And sat in the coat’s embrace.
Such warmth it gave as it wrapped me ‘round,
What comfort, what peace and grace!

The white-haired warriors, frail but strong,
Raised voices in songs of praise.
Their stance, so straight, seemed beyond assault,
Their hedge blocked the devil’s plays.

Just like that coat, prayer enveloped me.
I knew from this erstwhile dream,
I did not go to the fight alone.
With me, God sent hosts unseen.

Though I am a soldier far from home,
In step with my own platoon,
He covers me, as my people pray,
Secure in His sure cocoon.

Edy T Johnson

Samuel Girod and Polly Bontrager were married on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Bible Baptist church in Kahoka, MO., by pastor Glen Yoder.

Maid of Honor was Ruth Graber. Bridesmaids were Rosemary Graber, Dorcas Graber, and Elizabeth Yoder.

Best man was Frank Davies. Groomsmen were Victor Girod, John Yoder, and Jerry Miller.

The flower girl was Mary Girod and the ring bearer was Ivan Yoder.

Samuel’s parents are Daniel and Miriam Girod. Polly’s parents are Leroy and Katie Bontrager.

Samuel and Polly were later honored at a reception for them at Wayne and Chris Vallowe’s home in Ashland, Ohio on Saturday, January 5, 2013.

Samuel and Polly will be moving to Canaan, Indiana in March. Congratulations Samuel and Polly!

Samuel’s testimony: I was born in 1982 into the Swiss Amish culture. My parents and grandparents were born and raised in the Swiss culture also. My grandfather moved out of Adams County, Indiana where there is a large Swiss settlement. I was an Amish single man, 30-years-old, who had everything any Amish man wanted of what their culture allowed. But often I was unhappy and depressed.  I tried not to show it, because I knew it would worry my parents.

 I was the oldest in my family of 13 children. I belonged to small church group of about 15 families. We didn't have fellowship with any other church in the nation, so it made it hard for someone to try and find a date outside the community. I tried once in another church that didn't shun as strongly as we did, but my church wouldn't allow me to date that girl. So in order to keep my church together I broke up with her.

On May 17, 2012, two of my younger sisters had a double wedding. Six of my siblings were now married, and I, the oldest, was still single. So after my sisters’ wedding I would go and have dinner and hang out with some of my English friends. I watched TV with them, an activity forbidden in the Amish faith, but I did it anyway. My English friend told me about a show on TV called Amish: Out of Order. I had thought about leaving the Amish before, but was too scared and   I didn’t know where to go for help. We were always told we should not talk to former Amish because they were of the world and would lead us the wrong way. After watching the show I contacted Mose Gingrich. He told me about a man in Ohio named Joe Keim who helps people leave the Amish life. I thought:  How could this be possible? A former Amish man reaching out to others who wanted to leave?

My first thought was what a bad person I am; however, I kept the number Mose gave me for a couple days until I had enough guts to make the call. When I called Joe a few days later I was so scared I was shaking. But every time I talked to Joe, I sensed a calmness in him that told me something about him. We talked on and off for four months or so. Then one night in September, I called him, and we made arrangements for someone to pick me up. On September 22, 2012, at 9:30PM, I walked away from two houses and half-ownership of a construction company with my father. I went to Joe Keim to live. Two days later, on September 24, Joe led me to the Lord after explaining Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” 

Also, my eyes really opened up when we read Col 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” 

I praise God every day for leading me to Mission to Amish People.

Tom and Ada Lendon celebrated their wedding anniversary on Jan. 28, 2013. They have been married 25 years.

Their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Paul Lendon, also celebrated their anniversary on Jan. 28, 2013, but they have been married for one year.

What a wonderfully special day for all of them! The two couples decided to celebrate together by going to Rocky Fork Ranch in the Salt Fork Lake Region near Cambridge, Ohio. Congratulations to Tom and Ada and to Jennifer and Paul!

Above: Christmas with John Schmidt at Bethel Baptist church in Savannah, Ohio. It was a festive and fun Christmas evening!

Below: Singing at Johnny and Miriam Keim’s house. Stephen and Rosetta Schmidt, along with Samuel Girod, provided a great evening of music!

More and more young people who have left the Amish are sleeping together and having sex before they are married. Wild parties and getting drunk seem to be the norm. Sadly, many who are involved in sex and beer parties even claim they prayed a prayer and got saved.

I've wondered in my mind:

Maybe the young people just tie sex before marriage and drunkenness in with the Amish rules and, now that they have left, they want nothing to do with those rules.

Maybe the young people realize that sex before marriage and getting drunk is wrong but no one has ever pointed out what God actually says about it.

It is for those two reasons I felt the unbearable desire to write this letter and send it out to all the former Amish on our mailing list. And with God's help, I would like to share and explain a couple Bible verses that discuss the two issues I mentioned - sex before marriage and drunkenness. At least that way, if you should die and stand in front of the God, someone pointed it out.

Now before we read what God has to say, let me explain what some of the words we are going to study. That way, when you read them, you'll know.

The word fornication describes a person who has sex before he or she is married.

Most people who are reading this already know what the word drunkenness means.

Now that we have a clear understanding of these three words, let's see what God says will happen to the person who does these three things.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither FORNICATORS...nor ADULTERERS...nor DRUNKARDS...shall inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Corinthians 10:8: "Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand."

Galatians 5:19-21: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; ADULTRY, FORNICATION...of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Romans 1:28-32: "FORNICATION...Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death..."

Jude 1:7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to FORNICATION, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

In our generation:

The Devil has done a great job at convincing people that God will not get angry at those who get drunk and commit fornication.

That the rules are somehow different today, but God says "He changes not" (Malachi 3) and that "He is the Same Yesterday, Today and forever." (Hebrews 13)

Don't forget that we are still accountable to the same God that destroyed the world with a flood, rained fire and brimstone on the sexually perverse and wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

God didn't spare the Angels that sinned, but will cast them into outer darkness forever at His return. He caused the children of Israel to be murdered when they lived wicked lives and opened the ground and swallowed up thousands of men, women and children because of their disobedience.

Don't cast aside the fact that God sent the evil men from the city of Babylon to overthrow and destroy His people the Jews because they refused to obey Him even after He warned them through His Preachers, are being warned at this moment. 

You may have heard your parents say: Don't let the devil deceive you. They were right! You see, the devil desires to destroy your life into shreds and spit on you.

Run away from sin and run to Jesus. He waits for you and desires to receive you. When you do that, Jesus will save your life. With that you will know real happiness and have full assurance that you are on your way to heaven.

Let's not ever forget that Jesus suffered the following on our behalf: He was beat with a whip. He was slapped and spit on and mocked. And finally, He was nailed to a cross and left to die. Why? Because of your sins and mine!

God desires to wash you with the cleansing blood of His Son, but before He can do that, you and I have to see the wickedness of our Sin before a Holy God and repent.

There will be singing and shouting in heaven when one soul repents of their sinful lifestyle. The Lord God will receive you even now, regardless of your past.

John 3:14-16 says: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Will you turn from fornication and drunkenness and believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and everlasting life?

It is a decision. 

It is a choice.

Please, for the sake of your soul and eternal future, consider it!

From Organic Authority website:

You don’t have to wait until the last average frost date in your area to start a vegetable garden outdoors. As soon as the ground can be worked, onions, peas and spinach can be added to your garden. If you are going to grow your own onion seedlings, start them indoors approximately eight weeks before transplanting time. Onions sets, which are small onion bulbs, can also be purchased for planting. Peas should be directly seeded in your garden and do best with support from a trellis or other structure.

In early spring, approximately two weeks prior to the last average frost date in your area, it’s safe to plant lettuce, beets, carrots, radishes, dill, cilantro, cabbage, broccoli, celery, kale and potatoes outdoors. Both lettuce and celery seeds need light to germinate. Be careful to only cover these varieties of seeds lightly with soil during the planting process. Directly sow carrot, radish, dill and cilantro seeds. Transplanting is not recommended for these types of vegetables and herbs. To learn more, go to:

http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-gardening/organic-gardening/your-spring-vegetable-garden-when-to-plant-what.html