Genealogy Disease

 Warning: Genealogy Pox

(very contagious after age 50)

 SYMPTOMS:  Continual complaint as to need for names, dates, and places. Patient has a blank expression, sometimes deaf to spouse and children. Has no taste for work of any kind, except feverish looking through records at libraries and courthouses. Has compulsion to write letters and email. Frequents strange places such as cemeteries, ruins, and remote, desolate country areas. Makes long evening calls, and mumbles to self. Has strange, faraway look in eyes.

NO KNOWN CURE

TREATMENT:  Medication is useless. Disease not fatal but gets progressively worse. Patient should attend genealogy workshops, subscribe to genealogical magazines and be given a quiet corner where he or she can be alone.

Remarks--The unusual nature of this disease is . . .the sicker the patients gets, the more he/she enjoys it.

Family Weekend

 Our family weekend at the cabin is always the second weekend in June. It was canceled last year because I was in the hospital recovering from surgery and COVID was circulating. Things have improved now and we were able to have our family weekend this year as usual. Here are some of the highlights and best shots from the weekend.

The deck is one of the favorite gathering spots.

The dining room is another favorite.

Activities are your choice

1000-piece puzzle under construction

Newest family member was Elijah Stauffer, born May 20.

Four generations of Stauffer men--Leroy, Dale, Marcus, Elijah.

Chicken bbq in the making with cicadas providing background music.

Evening campfire and sparklers

We all went to Green Terrace Mennonite Church Sunday morning for Abigail's baby dedication.

We are so blessed.

Prayer Changes Things

  It's not every day that we get a front row seat to see how business and spiritual aspects so clearly intersect in daily life. This story is a picture of how God wants to use business to bring transformative good in our communities and to build His kingdom.
   For more than twenty years, a dark cloud hung over the church community of Port Trevorton. Once a reputable diner where families gathered and friends broke bread, the diner eventually fell on hard times and was sold to someone with less reputable intentions. An adult bookstore replaced the diner, leaving a stain on the landscape that our brothers and sisters had to pass each time they drove through town.

   Susquehanna Mennonite Church was just a few short miles away. Brian and his family, along with others from the congregation, regularly passed by this spot on a Sunday. They averted their eyes and longed for the darkness to be overthrown.

   Members of Susquehanna and neighboring congregations felt the same and prayed against the principalities that besieged this part of Snyder County, Pennsylvania. "At first it wasn't that public of a prayer ministry in our congregation," Brian says. "It was more of a grass-roots movement. But the request was brought up at our prayer meetings at times, and specific prayers were uttered on many occasions."

   While the believers knew of God's promises to overcome evil, little did they know that their prayers, God's power, and a business transaction would align to bring about the change in their small community.

   Just a mile down the highway from the bookstore, Ken of Palace creek Enterprises had been renting a plot of land. Ken is from the Bethel Mennonite congregation of the Nationwide Conference. Palace Creek started almost three decades ago, specializing in sheds, outdoor furnaces, hunting blinds, and outdoor playsets. 

   Ken was not satisfied with the rented location for his display. It sat too far away from the main thoroughfare, lacking the exposure and access needed to draw customers.

   When the bookstore property came up for sale, Ken recognized it as a much more strategic location at a bus intersection. However the timing didn't seem right to buy it, and so the dark business continued to infect Port Trevorton.

   Ken wouldn't know until later how God was moving to one day use his business to answer the prayers of the saints and bring about change.

   Back at Susquehanna, the church continued to pray. Then in 2019, a Christian Aid Ministries billboard appeared above the adult business. It read, "Lust destroys, Jesus saves." Not long after, an evangelist who also answers calls for the CAM billboard ministry shared a week of meetings at Susquehanna. That week he went out to talk with the owner of the bookstore, hoping to sway him from his evil ways, but the owner was not open to hearing the Gospel.

   However, between the evangelist's visit and the presence of the billboard, the congregations became more acutely burdened for the situation. "It made the spiritual warfare more public and brought the specific situation into clearer focus," Brian said. The churches now began to pray in earnest, specifically for the business to be turned into something useful and good.

   Less than a year after the visiting evangelist left, a For Sale sign again appeared at the bookstore. Ken felt something different this time and the time seemed right for him to buy it. "Dad had the money to put in it, and I had the ambition to make it happen," he chuckled. Ken hired a real estate agent and went to look at the property.

   "I wasn't able to make money at this location," the owner declared. "But I wish you well." Ken wasn't deterred. When the owner knew Ken was serious about buying, he pushed hard for a speedy sale. "I want to get rid of it," he declared. "How fast can you buy it?"

   Ken felt the pressure to act fast lest this opportunity slip away. He later learned the owner owed heavy back taxes, further evidence that the business was doomed.

   Ken needed a loan for the sale to go through. He had recently had success with Anabaptist Financial and knew their efficiency was what he needed. The loan was approved, and Ken put in an offer for the property, contingent on the former  business coming in to clean out and sanitize before closing. The owner accepted, and Palace Creek soon had the deed in hand. The spiritual battle had been won.

   A lot of renovating needed to be done before Palace Creek could move into the building. In the meantime, they began the process of moving to the new grounds, setting up the display lot with storage sheds and swing sets. Soon the CAM billboard came down, and the community responded with delight. It was as though God had parted the dark clouds over this part of Port Trevorton and a new light shone there, this time in the form of Palace Creek Enterprises.

   Few people are happier about it than the families of Susquehanna Mennonite and the neighboring churches. Brian says, "For our young children, it will leave a lasting impact on the power of prayer and how God does love to see His light shine through." 

(Adapted from the Anabaptist Financial newsletter)

   

2021 Miracle

 This family seems to be on the receiving end of miracle babies. Last year we rejoiced in the miracle birth of our granddaughter, Abigail Ruth Stauffer. She is eight months old today, growing nicely, and a delightfully pleasant little girl.

   Last week our third great-grandchild was born and the fact that he is alive is another act of God. Marcus and Irene expected their first child to arrive May 9. When the baby was nine days overdue, labor was induced but not much progress was made. After two days, the doctor decided it's time to do a C-section. They got the baby out but worked for ten minutes to get him to breathe. When they were about ready to give up, he finally breathed.

He was placed in NICU in a cold incubator to prevent seizures and brain swelling. On Monday, May 24, he was slowly warmed up and by evening was disconnected from all life support equipment. He is breathing on his own and tests show he does not have cerebral palsy. He will remain in the hospital a few more days and perhaps be home by the weekend.

I know what it is like to give birth to a baby that does not make a sound. But in our case, we knew our baby was going to be stillborn. I can imagine the sheer terror of those ten minutes for first-time parents waiting for their child to breathe and fearing the worst. 

It is God who gives and takes life. Doctors do what they can, but God gets the credit for giving the breath of life to Elijah Carter Stauffer. After that rough start, we pray he will grow up well and healthy.

A Mother's Way

   I'm a day late for Mother's Day but there is a good reason. I wanted to post this story by Temple Bailey in honor of my mother and couldn't find it---until just now. In July it will be 28 years since my mother died but she and what she taught me live on in my memory. So, it's a day late, but here's to a mother like no other.

   The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked.
   "Yes," her Guide said, "and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But ---," He stopped to smile warmly, "the end will be better than the beginning."

   The young mother was so happy, though, that she could not believe anything could be better than these early years. She played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams. The sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this!"

   Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark. The children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close, covering them with her mantle. Her children said, "Oh Mother, we are not afraid when you are near." 

    The mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day for I have taught my children courage."

    Then the morning came, and there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary. The mother was weary, too, but she kept encouraging her children. "A little patience, and we will be there." So the children continued to climb. When they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother." 

   And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked past the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last. My children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I taught them courage; today I have taught them strength."

   With the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth---clouds of war and hate and evil. The children groped and stumbled. The mother said, "Look up. Lift your eyes past the blackness to the Light."     The children looked up and saw an Everlasting Glory above the strange clouds. It guided them and brought them through the darkness and evil. 

    That night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have helped my children learn to see God."

   The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old, until she was very little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and they walked with courage. When the way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough they lifted her for she was as light as a feather. At last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and a golden gate flung wide.

   The mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. Now I know that the end really is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them."

   The children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

   They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. They said, "We can't see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory."

Adjusting Our Sails

   It's almost two months since Leroy retired from Shank Door on March 5. I think we're getting adjusted to this new phase of life without a struggle. It was still cold in March and not much happened. But now spring is here and this month we have been plowing through the annual spring rush when everything seems to need to be done at once. As we get to the end of the month, yard and garden work are up to date except for the rose bushes that still need trimming.

   Life is moving at a slower pace. We don't get up at 5:30 in the morning anymore. I sleep in until 6:30. We have time to do things together like grocery shopping and housework. I appreciate having someone on hand to fetch and carry for me, especially with a cranky hip that makes walking unhandy. Leroy is learning where things are kept and how to help himself a little.

   We are free to go places and do things any day of the week. Leroy has been doing some volunteer work a couple times a month. We only have one car so we have to be careful we don't both have something the same day. It hasn't caused a problem so far. 

   Living without a paycheck requires different budgeting but we're getting along fine. We have adequate resources that are meeting our needs. Our expenses are not nearly what they were when we were a household of eight. We've always been frugal so living on a limited income isn't a big adjustment. 

   This phase of life won't last forever. Quite a few of our friends passed in the last year. Sooner or later one of us will leave the other. In acknowledgment of our mortality, one of the things we did this month was to order our own gravestone. It's something we had talked of doing for a long time so neither of us has to do it alone. That's one less thing our children will have to deal with when it's time to settle an estate.

   I'm thankful we get this time to spend together for as long as it lasts. It may be a long or short chapter. Only God knows.

Crown of Thorns

This Friday is Good Friday when we remember the suffering and death of Jesus. The cruel treatment He received is hard for us to imagine. He was whipped, spit on, and mocked before being crucified. Part of the mockery was placing a crown of thorns on his head which is recorded in all four Gospels.

"And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee and mocked him, saying Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17 and John 19:2, 5).

The soldiers who made this crown of thorns and placed it on Jesus head intended it as an instrument of torture. They were blind to symbolism in it. The earth God created did not include thorns. They were part of the curse sin brought on the earth.

"And unto Adam he [God] said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee (Genesis 3:17-18).

The thorns Jesus wore on His head were a symbol of sin, separation from God, and what He was dying for. He took our sins to the cross. "Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).  The sign on the cross said who He was and the crown of thorns showed why He was dying. Jesus death provided a way for us to be saved from the power of sin and reconciled to God. The curse of sin has been broken!