Read Online Wonderful Lonesome by Olivia Newport - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Olivia Newport
Tags: United States, Romance, Historical, Literature & Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian fiction, Inspirational, Amish, Amish & Mennonite, Christian Books & Bibles, Religious & Inspirational Fiction
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it is news of a minister. Without church for over a year, this is a wonderful lonesome place to be.”
The men gathered on a motley arrangement of chairs, milking stools, barrels, and bales in the Mullet barn. It was the only space that would allow them to sit in a lopsided circle where most of them could see each other’s faces. Willem sat beside Rudy at the curve in the circle nearest the open barn doors. He had also carried two jugs of water in from his wagon and now offered this token of refreshment as he studied the mostly bearded faces of the assembly. Only two gave the slightest sign that they knew the purpose of the meeting. Everyone else appeared as uninformed as Willem and Rudy were.
Eli Yoder cleared his throat. As one of the first Amish men to arrive in Elbert County five years ago, Eli held a certain if unofficial role when the families gathered. Around the circle, conversation ceased as he commanded attention by the gutteral signal that he was ready to begin.
“I thank you all for coming.” Eli nodded at Eber Gingerich. “We are blessed to have some among us who have been ill and brought back to us by the grace of God.”
Murmurs confirmed the shared gratitude for Eber’s presence.
Eli continued. “We will begin with a time of silent prayer so that we may know that we are acting in accordance with the Lord’s will in our decisions today.”
Willem glanced at Rudy, while around them others bowed their heads. Willem was accustomed to prayer, and he supposed Rudy was, too. Living and working alone on a wide expanse of plowed land allowed ample time to hum the hymns of the Ausbund and speak the words of Holy Scripture as prayer. Generally, though, when Willem was instructed to pray he preferred to know what he was praying for. What decisions did Eli Yoder expect they would be making? Willem inhaled softly and bowed his head. He could pray for the Holy Ghost to make His presence known. Such a prayer seemed relevant to any situation Willem had ever encountered.
Eli waited a good long time before speaking an audible “Amen.” Willem heard the relief on the breath of other men that they would now find out why they had gathered.
“We need a minister,” Eli said. “I have come to feel certain that if we were to nominate a faithful man from among our midst, we could invite a bishop to come and ordain him.”
Rudy’s hand went up.
Eli raised his eyebrows. “Do you have a nomination already, Rudy?”
“No sir. I have a question.”
Eli shifted his considerable weight on the small wooden chair.
“A year ago a bishop was here and left without preaching or giving us communion. I would be dishonest if I said I have not been wondering for many months why this was so.”
Heads turned from Rudy to Eli.
“We are not here to discuss the past,” Eli said. “Our need is for a future, and if we have no minister, we have no future. Now, I myself have come prepared to make a nomination.”
The only shade Ruthanna saw was in the shadow of her own buggy. She kept her word to Eber and did not situate herself anywhere near the Mullet barn. This was the first time he was out of her sight since that day in their own barn, and every moment stretched interminable. At intervals that did not exceed fifteen seconds, she lifted her eyes to make sure Eber was not emerging from the barn overheated and freshly ill.
Ruthanna spread the blanket on the ground beside the buggy, lowered herself onto it, and unfolded the bundle of sewing she had brought. She was nearly finished with a small quilt and just had to put the hem into two long white infant dresses. Feeling the tension rising in her chest with each glance toward the barn, she began to recite Psalm 23. When she came to, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” Ruthanna stopped. A lump rising in her throat threatened to cut off her air and she skipped ahead to, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Then
The men gathered on a motley arrangement of chairs, milking stools, barrels, and bales in the Mullet barn. It was the only space that would allow them to sit in a lopsided circle where most of them could see each other’s faces. Willem sat beside Rudy at the curve in the circle nearest the open barn doors. He had also carried two jugs of water in from his wagon and now offered this token of refreshment as he studied the mostly bearded faces of the assembly. Only two gave the slightest sign that they knew the purpose of the meeting. Everyone else appeared as uninformed as Willem and Rudy were.
Eli Yoder cleared his throat. As one of the first Amish men to arrive in Elbert County five years ago, Eli held a certain if unofficial role when the families gathered. Around the circle, conversation ceased as he commanded attention by the gutteral signal that he was ready to begin.
“I thank you all for coming.” Eli nodded at Eber Gingerich. “We are blessed to have some among us who have been ill and brought back to us by the grace of God.”
Murmurs confirmed the shared gratitude for Eber’s presence.
Eli continued. “We will begin with a time of silent prayer so that we may know that we are acting in accordance with the Lord’s will in our decisions today.”
Willem glanced at Rudy, while around them others bowed their heads. Willem was accustomed to prayer, and he supposed Rudy was, too. Living and working alone on a wide expanse of plowed land allowed ample time to hum the hymns of the Ausbund and speak the words of Holy Scripture as prayer. Generally, though, when Willem was instructed to pray he preferred to know what he was praying for. What decisions did Eli Yoder expect they would be making? Willem inhaled softly and bowed his head. He could pray for the Holy Ghost to make His presence known. Such a prayer seemed relevant to any situation Willem had ever encountered.
Eli waited a good long time before speaking an audible “Amen.” Willem heard the relief on the breath of other men that they would now find out why they had gathered.
“We need a minister,” Eli said. “I have come to feel certain that if we were to nominate a faithful man from among our midst, we could invite a bishop to come and ordain him.”
Rudy’s hand went up.
Eli raised his eyebrows. “Do you have a nomination already, Rudy?”
“No sir. I have a question.”
Eli shifted his considerable weight on the small wooden chair.
“A year ago a bishop was here and left without preaching or giving us communion. I would be dishonest if I said I have not been wondering for many months why this was so.”
Heads turned from Rudy to Eli.
“We are not here to discuss the past,” Eli said. “Our need is for a future, and if we have no minister, we have no future. Now, I myself have come prepared to make a nomination.”
The only shade Ruthanna saw was in the shadow of her own buggy. She kept her word to Eber and did not situate herself anywhere near the Mullet barn. This was the first time he was out of her sight since that day in their own barn, and every moment stretched interminable. At intervals that did not exceed fifteen seconds, she lifted her eyes to make sure Eber was not emerging from the barn overheated and freshly ill.
Ruthanna spread the blanket on the ground beside the buggy, lowered herself onto it, and unfolded the bundle of sewing she had brought. She was nearly finished with a small quilt and just had to put the hem into two long white infant dresses. Feeling the tension rising in her chest with each glance toward the barn, she began to recite Psalm 23. When she came to, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” Ruthanna stopped. A lump rising in her throat threatened to cut off her air and she skipped ahead to, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Then
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