Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Doug,
You're right, I didn't know that Milwaukie, OR. was such a dangerous place to live. Thanks for the heads up. I understand that Matthew is a fish out of water. I, myself, come from a religious background that many view to be too sheltering. Not Amish, mind you, but certainly not involved in "worldly" ways.
Doug, I'm not trying to attack you and I think you see that. I certaily would not discount the fact that we can be angels to those around us. In fact, that is my whole point. Matthew has grown up...nevermind, lets make it more general here because I don't know him. People who grow up with such high moral standards are rare people. You've heard the phrase "salt of the earth?" These are they. While you are undoubtedly helping this young man in many ways, he is undoubtedly helping you and probably just about everyone he meets, too. :D
So, you're right again. I can't discount that the fact that we can all be angels doing the Lord's work. So why not encourage him to meet as many people as he can? Think of the effect that could have on Milwaukie. He just might help make it into a safer place to live. I think that you're a great person for helping someone in need, just because they need it. No one could discount the honor in that.
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
The Mother in me is screaming, "please be very, very careful". Not all things are as they appear to be. And I mean that for you, Doug.
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Betty Hiner
The Mother in me is screaming, "please be very, very careful". Not all things are as they appear to be. And I mean that for you, Doug.
Funny, I thought the same thing.....
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Dear Betty,
I am being cautious. I will not rush anything. I will only be a bystander, not a close friend. Matthew's encounters with the outside world are out of my control, but I have some pull around here and I'm going to be an ear for him.
Everything is cool! I woke up this morning!!! That's good!
This is just another (Strange) chapter and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
I will not be transporting him in my vehicle or giving him food or money. It's up to him whether he makes it around here. There is a big turnover here, so there are no guarantees he is going to survive renting here.
Doug
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Our farm in Alberta was right next to the Hutterite Community. Most Hutterites use modern equipment on the farms but The sect near us were like the Amish and did not use modern conveniences. A very few ever left the colony. They were a joy to talk to and the best neighbors one could have. If I got the tractor mired down to the axels in spring mud I could count on two or three of the young men to show up with a pair of percheron draft horses. In no time They would have me out of trouble. Never would they take anything but my thanks. We bartered livestock, vegetables, feed, etc with them. Never did I best them in bartering. They were fair but firm.
If Mathew is the genuine article you will get as much from Him as he gets from you. Just be careful and you should be fine.
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Our home in PA is right in the middle of Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish country. You didn't say where he is from though and there are a number of Amish communities across the US.
Normally, I wouldn't label any of the Amish that I know as naive or unworldly, althought there might be some that are in the Amish communities, as there are in any walk of life. He could simply be a scared or confused runaway kid, notwithstanding that he is (or was) Amish, and he may not have yet joined the Amish faith (something not normally done here until the boys and girls are past their teen years - rebellious times for all of us - so he may simply have left his family behind, not his formal religion.
One of the reasons that the Amish do not formally join the church in their youth is so that children have enough maturity to make that decision on their own, and there are a number of "former Amish" in our community who choose to leave the church, and their lifestyle, behind when the time comes for them to make that decision. That may be what this fellow has done -- or, there could be other reasons.
In any case, you may have found a new friend, and if so, the better for the both of you. In any event though, I would not look at this boy any differently than another kid of his age, simply due to the fact that he is - or was - Amish.
John
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
John,
You are a very wise person. You touched on what I was thinking and that, HAS Matthew totally cut himself Off from his Amish Roots?? No he hasn't. He writes his Parents letters. He seems to be probing into our world. Matthew's case isn't running away from home because he's mad at the Amish Community. That's good for me, since I am not dealing with a rebellious person. If Matthew can't make it, then he will most likely go back home to Spokane WA.
This encounter has been a SHOCK to me, since I had no previous contact with an Amish person.
Doug
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Well guys! Tonight I visited with Matthew and he told me he visited the Lake Oswego Library, like I suggested to him yesterday. It was the first time he had ever been in a Public Library! He was impressed with how big the place was. Matthew also got some instruction on the Library computer/Internet.
Then Matthew told me something that confirmed his credibility. Matthew (18 yrs old living by himself here) was the Guest Speaker at SIX History Classes at Lake Oswego High School. He told the Story of his Amish Family's Daily Life to High School Kids!! and he will do it again tomorrow.
Matthew's day starts with the Rooster Crowing, so he is used to waking up early and going to bed early.
With MY sleep schedule, I would not be eligible to join the Amish. :(
Betty! Some EXCITING NEWS!!!! Friday Oct. 5th 2007!! I PREPARED My FIRST MEAL from Scratch!!!!
It only took me 54 yrs and 6 DAYS! to accomplish this FEAT!!!!
First; Baked 4 Chicken Breasts in my nifty toaster oven (20 minutes)
Next; Poured ONE Box of Wild/Brown rice in a can of chicken broth. Cooked (25 min.)
Then; Chopped, 1 Green Pepper, One Red pepper, 4 baby carrots, 3 leaves of Spinach, 1 cup of Broccoli, 1 teaspoon of garlic.
Cooked vegetables in Wok for ten minutes and added Rice and cooked chicken and simmered for another 5 minutes. Added a little bit of lemon pepper and that was it!
I was actually AFRAID to taste it!! :lol: but it was good!
On my Litter Patrol Friday, I found 2 quarters, 3 dimes, 1 nickel, and 7 pennies!!!!!!! Almost enough for a CUP of gasoline!! :lol:
Doug
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Doug, don't worry about the cup of gasoline. It doesn't go well with chicken.
Ed
Re: Surreal Experience (not ff)
Ed,
Can you hear the Waiter?? "Would You approve of the EXXON year 97.... ????? :shock:
Doug