For grammy

For Grammy Byler

From Kaelyn and Aunt Amy

Charity Bible School

All week the young people attending the Youth Bible School hosted by Charity Ministry in Ephrata, Pennsylvania have been practicing a selection of songs, a capella, to be presented Sunday evening. Over six hundred young people between the ages of sixteen and thirty gathered from across the country for the intensive week of Bible teaching and fellowship.

Many of the Charity folks were raised in Anabaptist groups such as the Amish, Hutterites or Mennonites. Not everyone comes from a conservative background, such as leader Denny Kenaston who is known for his "Godly Home" series of sermons. Whatever their background, the Charity folks emphasize personal Salvation and godly living.

The goal of godly living is reflected in the standards of dress and conduct during Bible school. "Principals" and "Matrons" supervise every aspect of the twelve-hour day, even assigning seats at meals. The sisters wear skirts or dresses and headcoverings and are "double covered" (i.e. two layers over the bust, such as a cape dress or jumper). The brothers aren't to wear jeans. Except for pre-approved courting couples, "all other special boy-girl relationships are prohibited."

Youth Bible School is a refreshing and spiritually invigorating week for hundreds of the young people who attend. The purpose is to encourage young people in their Christian faith. The true impact of the week-long school will be evident next week when the young men and ladies return home, and then over the weeks and years as Biblical teaching is applied to everyday lives.

Whoopie pies

Whoopie pies are an Amish-Mennonite speciality. They consist of two cake-like cookies sandwiched with fluffy frosting. Traditional whoopie pies are chocolate, but oatmeal and pumpkin are also popular.

Guided by the cookbook Judith purchased earlier this week, Judith, Kaelyn and I measured and stirred, whipped and frosted. The cookies smelled so yummy and looked so good, that one of the cooks couldn't wait until they were frosted to try one.

Photo by Judith

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2 cups pumpkin

2 egg yolks

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups flour

.

Cream together pumpkin, egg yolks, brown sugar, oil and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture. Using a spoon or cookie scoop drop cookies onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for about 10 minutes. Let cool. Frost bottom side of one cookie with a generous amount of frosting. Place a second cookie on the frosting to make a sandwich.

Frosting

2 egg whites

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup shortening

2 tablespoons milk

1 lb. powdered sugar

Using an electric mixer whip together egg whites, vanilla, flour, shortening and milk. Add powdered sugar and continue mixing until the frosting is smooth and creamy.

Niece

I am an aunt, an aunt who is visiting her adorable, pacifier-loving, bear-hugging niece. It is my duty as a camera owning aunt to photograph such a cutie.

A cutie who protests when Aunt Amy snatches her pacifier from her mouth.

A cutie who peers out the window waiting for a truck or tractor or motorcycle or anything with a noisy engine to roar past.


And mimics her aunt with the camera.

A fun-loving, squeaky, giggly little girl who waits behind corners just waiting for her daddy or an aunt or uncle to pop out and scare her silly.

Pennsylvania walk

It was sunny and relatively warm Monday. At least, everyone but the aunt from Arizona thought it was warm. The blue sky and the falling leaves made it a perfect afternoon for an autumn walk in Lancaster County.

Road maintenance must be expensive in Pennsylvania--instead of one dotted line in the middle of the road there are always two solid lines.

Visit

Judith and Kaelyn playing before lunch.

Friday afternoon Aaron, Betsy, Brian and I made the long and tortuous journey from the middle of Michigan to central Pennsylvania. My siblings signed up to attend the Charity Youth Bible School in Ephrata, Pennsylvania and they grudgingly allowed me to hitch a ride to Joel and Judith's (I have a reputation for going crazy after a couple of hours in the car).

This is the fourth year that some of my siblings have attended the weeklong Bible school that attracts hundreds of young people from across the country. It's an intense time filled with large group activites such as attending sermons and practicing with the choir, along with smaller group activities such as meeting with prayer groups and spending time with their host family.

By coming out a couple of days early my siblings had a little time to spend with family, including Aunt Carolyn who is visiting from Arizona, before Bible School officially began.

Aunt Carolyn and Kaelyn pose beside the orange wall in Judith's kitchen.

Judith combing Kaelyn's hair while Kaelyn brushes her gums (Kaelyn doesn't have any teeth to brush yet).

Rejoice