September 2016 MAP Update
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| P.O. Box 128 | 575 US Highway 250 | Savannah OH 44874 | Office: (419) 962-1515 |
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In This Issue Personal Greetings Rose Blossoms Housing Former Amish Beyond Measure Bulk Food Store Addition-al News Amish Awareness Conference |
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| Housing Former Amish, By Joe Keim |
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I’d like to start out by giving you an update on the three young men who have been living with Esther and me—Steven, Aaron and Mahlon.
Aaron: After finding Aaron homeless and living in his car, we took him in with us. In late August, we helped him get his own apartment in town. He works part time at MAP and desires to get his GED this winter. Mahlon: At this point, Mahlon is the only one living with us. After many hours of driving practice and failing his driving test, he is finally set with a license to drive his beloved Dodge truck. Mahlon plans on moving back to PA in the near future. Esther and I have seen many come and go. Sometimes, we see them again; other times we don’t. It continues to be our un-dying hope and prayer that God used us in some small way to make a spiritual impact in each one’s life. Without your awesome support, we would not be able to do this. Thank you! |
| Addition-al News, By Jonas Yoder |
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I can hardly believe it has already been two months since the Louisiana mission team arrived and began construction on the new addition to our house! What a blessing they were, going from sub-floor to roof in two short weeks. Since then, the boys and I have been working on it as we get time. We have had two other teams here since then. A former Mennonite/Amish group from Fairview, KY came one Saturday and installed most of the metal siding, and then we had a one-man mission team from Lima, OH, here for two weeks. Russ Doseck was a tremendous blessing to us, working every day in the mid-summer heat installing metal siding on the gables and also the soffit and fascia. We are very close to finishing the exterior of the house, and then we will be ready to begin the plumbing and wiring. It has been a very busy summer for us so far with ministry and construction on our new addition.
(Before) I just want to take a moment to thank you for your participation in blessing our family through the construction of the new addition to our house, whether it was through physical labor or a financial gift. You were a tremendous blessing to all of us. We are grateful not only for the physical/financial labor you provided, but also for your prayer support and kind words of encouragement that meant so much to us. May God richly bless you in return!
(After) God has been blessing richly through the Job Corps and prison ministry as we have seen several hundred salvations in the last couple months. The fields are white unto harvest. Pray for more laborers to help disciple all these new Christians. Within the next few weeks, a young Hutterite man, Josiah, is planning to stay in our mission apartment. Pray for him as he leaves the culture that he has always known and been familiar with and sets out on a new journey to serve the Lord. Pray for us as we minister to him in getting established in his new world. He is very much on fire for the Lord and believes he is called to preach. — Jonas Yoder |
| MAP, Missions, and More Ministry, By Samuel Girod |
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The year is more than half gone already, and I just want to praise God and sing hallelujah from my heart because of all the blessings from above that we receive every day due to His grace and mercy! I think of Jeremiah 17:7: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
My grandmother had passed away in October 2014, and we have not visited my grandfather since, so off we went to Owingsville, KY to visit my grandfather and some uncles, aunts, and cousins. Although we had a nice visit, it just wasn’t the same without Grandma there, and Grandpa really misses her, too. Please pray for my grandfather’s salvation. Another highlight of our busy summer was the opportunity that we had to attend a three-and-a-half-day missionary training program in Greenville, TN with Beacons International Baptist Missions. We learned much, heard other missionaries share their burdens, and even got to share about MAP Ministry. Later that week we presented MAP Ministry at a church in Morristown, TN.
We are now back home in Indiana, continuing to seek and serve God and looking for opportunities to share Jesus and MAP Ministry wherever we can. Thank you to those who faithfully pray for us and give to us so that we can serve God more effectively. Until next time, may God bless each and every one of you!! — Samuel Girod |
Since the last MAP Update, we have been busy. I was asked by a young man, Levi Baker, if I would baptize him in a creek where he once lived. I was honored to do so, and that was my first baptism as a pastor. Later, we traveled to Munfordville, KY and spent the weekend with three former Amish families. We attended church with them and had the privilege of seeing eight former Amish get baptized! 
| Housing Update, By Joe Keim |
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If you haven't already, we would like to invite you to get involved. Your investment will not only be put toward housing, but people who come through the ministry. With your partnership and support, MAP has already helped hundreds of others who needed a place like New Beginnings to get started. On September 24th, the board will interview a former Amish family who feels called of God to be the house parents. Your prayers for this this meeting would be greatly appreciated. Give toward the New Beginnings Housing Project. —Joe Keim |
We are ever so grateful to the ones who have prayed for the New Beginnings housing project, and given toward this much needed ministry. Since our last update in July, another $1,379 has been donated. This brings the grand total up to $161,914. | Hen Gathering, By Esther Keim |
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In the Amish culture, the moms often had eight, nine, ten, or even more daughters/daughters-in-laws. They would meet each month, usually rotating from home to home. That way the cousins could play and the moms could get some spring cleaning, baking, quilting etc. done. I have been totally amazed at the interest the ladies have in keeping up this tradition outside of the culture. They really miss doing some of these things we all did growing up. We usually have ten or more former Amish ladies show up (some married to former Amish) along with 10-20 children. It’s great to see the children play so well together. We usually do a short devotional before we eat.
Some of the projects we have done so far include having a tea party, celebrating birthdays, canning garden vegetables, making crafts, baking cookies, and making noodles, doughnuts, and even refrigerator pickles. This is a good example of community and doing things together in unity. In the Amish culture, glücking refers to a “hen gathering,” or women getting together. Maybe you could start a “glücking group” in your family, church, or neighborhood. |
Since I left my full-time job, I have been able to make time to organize a ladies’ day—something I have long had a burden to do. In February of this year, we began meeting once a month.
This month’s devotional was on what we can do with faith the size of a mustard seed (based on Luke 17:6) and how to get that faith (Romans 10:17). We each got a real mustard seed as a reminder. Since we were working in the kitchen, it was very appropriate for us to talk about mustard.| Rose Blossoms, By Rose Burkholder |
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Once in a while, MAP is provided with an opportunity to help former Amish girls by giving them a job at the office. Not only does it help the ministry out, but it puts the girls in a ministry atmosphere and provides office training. In this case, Rose has worked at MAP for almost two years. Some of you have met her at Amish Awareness Conferences and churches where Esther and I have presented the ministry. Rose did an exceptional job at MAP. She and her family will be missed. — Joe Keim
I can’t describe to you how much MAP means to me! Saying it’s been a blessing doesn’t even cover half of it! God has taught me much in my time helping at MAP. Like most teens, the last two years have been spent figuring out who I am, what my gifts are, and where to go in life. MAP has helped me realize my talents and my weaknesses. It has also helped me realize that God is calling me to spend my life in the mission field. I am very excited about that, and am planning on spending the next couple of years getting to know God more and figuring out what crazy adventure God has for me next! I don’t know all of you personally, but thank you so much for all your support! It has been beneficial in more ways than one! God bless you for all you do to support MAP! —Rose Edna Burkholder |
Rose writes: At the end of August, my family and I moved to North Bloomfield, OH. We are originally from that area, so we are excited to move back to family and friends! I will, however, miss MAP very much!| Beyond Measure Bulk Food Store, By Joe Keim |
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We are continually pressing forward on the bulk food store. Most of the trees have been cleared from the property, the culvert has been put in place, and legal documents have all been written up and approved by the MAP and church boards. In August, the MAP board approved a 3-member (store) board that will govern Beyond Measure Market, LLC. Several investors have already committed $200,000 toward the project, and others are praying about it. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an investor, please let us know. It is a great opportunity to help young girls who are leaving the Amish get started and, in the process, get a return on your investment. For more details and how you can get involved, please email Joe Keim or call (419) 962-1515. I would be happy to discuss any questions you have. Are you interested? Do you have questions? Email Joe Keim directly: Click HERE
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| Amish Awareness Conference, By Joe Keim |
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Top 8 Reasons to Attend the Amish Awareness Conference in Lancaster, PA
Who is this conference for? The answer is everybody. English, Amish, former Amish, adults and children. No one is excluded. If you register before October 1, the cost for attending two full days is only $65 a person. If you bring a group of four or more, the cost drops to $55. To register, go to our website at AmishAwareness.com or call the office at (419) 962-1515 and ask for Rene’. |
| New Book Project |
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Each chapter focuses on one important biblical topic, and is essentially an Amish and Mennonite systematic theology study. In addition, each section includes a closer look at what the Bible teaches concerning each topic, making this an informative resource for those who wish to know more about the plain people, and a helpful book for Anabaptists who wish to better understand what they themselves are being taught and believe. Help us with publishing costs. Our first printing will cost $4,000. For a donation of $25 or more, we will send you a signed copy when it comes out later this year. |
We are getting very close to publishing our next new book, “What Do the Amish Believe.”
