REAPING ONE LIFE AT A TIME

We can't expect a harvest if we don't plant the seed

Living in the center of an Old Order Mennonite settlement comforts the soul and erases the fast life. To hear the clomping of a horse and buggy pass by is music to my ears.

Spring comes early here in Kentucky. farmers are busy plowing the rich dirt preparing the fields for corn, sorghum, peppers, pickles, and for the non-convicted....tobacco.

Growing tobacco is the main income of Kentucky natives, but as the market dwindles other sources of farming are being considered. The Mennonites strongly oppose both using it or growing it.

When we first moved to Kentucky from Michigan 27 years ago, with just ten children, we grew our small allotment of tobacco. We were non-convicted believers in growing it, but strongly against using it.

Our children questioned why it was all right to grow it, but not to use it. We listened seriously to their concerns. When a hail storm wiped out our crop, we decided to take a stand against it. We grew 3 acres of pickles and 2 acres of peppers.

I remember coaxing the children to keep picking as I tried to keep going myself. I had a wet towel around my neck to keep cool as I rolled over the vines. After four hours in the blazing sun (sweat bees having the time of their life under my long dress) I wanted to stop. However, I couldn't give up, or the whole gang would quit. Teaching the children to work is more effective when you stay at their side and show them.

Those tiny pickles brought the highest dollar per 100 lbs...something like 20 cents per lb. The big pickles brought as little as 4 cents. Of course, it took me longer to fill a bucket with the little ones.

Some of the children proudly displayed their buckets as they went after the watermelon sized pickles that filled their buckets more quickly.

All-in-all, we worked as a family. I'll never forget those precious years.

Spring fever has a way of stirring up emotions. The warm breezy winds and birds chirping energizes the spirit.

If you've never been among the horse & buggy people, you can't imagine the serenity of watching the horse drawn plows overturn the earth. Gardens are being planted by the women and children to harvest for the coming winter. We are blessed, as they share their abundance with us here at the Galilean Home.

As for our mission and duties - our harvest is children, pigs, cattle and chickens. The most important being the children, of course. Sixty-five continue to bless our home. We have a revolving door with children of all ages coming and going.

Our newest arrivals, from Honduras, are Noe (age 8), Elizabeth (age 5) and Sandra (age 12). The first two are here for burns, and Sandra is returning for an orthopedic exam of her leg.

Ruth Molina, our Honduran representative, escorted the children to our home. She has faithfully worked for us in obtaining passports and visas, completing paperwork, and cutting through all the red tape that is required to get the U.S. Government to allow children to come here for medical treatment. Ruth is a true and diligent servant to God and His children. We truly appreciate all that she's done in the year's we've known her.

Our financial income from our faithful supporters tends to slump after Christmas, and yes, we do struggle to get through it. For instance, Jerry and I do not receive a paycheck and our volunteers give of their time. However, our employed staff, who are also the instruments of care and upkeep of the ministry, depend on their paychecks to support their families. Many of them live below poverty level. As we cannot deprive them of their hard earned income, we have to let some of our other bills be unpaid. We must keep our dedicated, and much needed staff, for the children, the school, and the babies at the Angel House.

You know that we hardly ever ask for help except when necessary, but we are in a drastic financial pinch. We continue to depend on God's people and don't accept state funding. We've never been let down, as God always answers our prayers and requests.

I humbly share this prayer with you, hoping that you'll understand how hard it is for me to write this. God has inspired me to ask, and we shall receive.

I leave this request with you as you pray for guidance for this ministry. God promises to multiply even the smallest contribution as he blesses the gift as well as the giver.

We can't expect a harvest if we don't plant the seed. The farmer plants the seed in the ground as he invests in seed and fertilizer. Then he waits to reap the harvest. We plant the seed of Jesus Christ in the children of God's garden and tenderly nurture them with the water of life. The investment is more than we can provide alone.

Reaping one life at a time.

Thank you for caring and responding.
Jerry, Sandy and Children.