Amish Country Arson (19 page)

“
With word spreading on radio and
television, now the outside world is stopping in at my store,
asking questions about the burnings,” Malcolm Yoder told me. “They
ask directions to see the barn that burnt. I pointed out that we
had already set things right for Jonah Stolfus by having a barn
raising. Now Jonah Stolfus tells me a steady stream of cars drive
by his farm to see the new barn that just went up.”

One customer at Yoder Country Store, who
asked to leave his name out of the article for fear he might be
burned out for speaking up, listened to Malcolm Yoder's comments.
This reporter took the opportunity to ask for his thoughts on the
arsons. He stated, “The questions brought up among us are about why
this is happening to us, and what building will go up in flames
next. These evil acts are not limited to our Plain community.
English might find their buildings in flames, too.”

Some of the Amish are having their faith
tested as they keep a watchful eye on their property. One day this
reporter traveled to the Amish community south and west of
Wickenburg to view the damage for himself. As I passed by a
blackened cornfield, I realized what a loss of winter feed this was
for Rudy Briskey, the owner. I stopped to ask him to give his
thoughts on this matter.

“
Why did the arsonist pick on us?”
Asked Rudy Briskey. “We believe because we are God's sheep, we mean
this person no harm. Matter of fact, we choose to forgive him. If
that person was caught after burning a farmer's buildings on a
non-Amish place, you might be writing his obituary. That is the
difference between English and Plain people.”

That made this reporter wonder just how an
English farmer would feel about Rudy Briskey's comment. I stopped
at the century old Carter family farm to visit with Bud Carter.
Here is what he had to say. “I have nothing but respect for the
Amish community. We should all be peaceful, more forgiving of
others and mind our own business which is their life long
practice.

As for how an arsonist who is that mentally
sick going to be treated in our justice system, I believe we have
good law enforcement officers that will eventually catch the guy.
They will see that due process of law is done, and the person will
be in prison or a mental institution for a long time.

I can understand how any farmer feels upset
that lost his winter feed supply, a barn that houses a large herd
of milk cows or the children's school house to such terrible
acts.

Rudy Briskey is right. A devastating fire
could happen on my farm before this person is caught or at any
other non-Amish farm. We should all be vigilant until this sick
person is arrested. Am I going to sit up nights to keep watch over
my property? Probably not, but my dog is running loose. He is a
good watch dog, and my rifle will be close if I need to use
it.”

After extensive interviews and investigations
for this story, this reporter found there could have been even more
serious repercussions if it wasn't for our fine Wickenburg Fire
Department. The first fire was at Jonah Stolfus's farm with the
burning down his dairy barn. The intense heat curled the house
siding, coming close to setting the house on fire if the Wickenburg
Volunteer fire department hadn't been on scene so fast. Our hats
are off to them!

Mr. Stolfus lost some of his livestock to the
fire and has others so badly burned they have been sick ever since.
His dairy herd's milk production is down because of the fire which
means he's losing income. Even with this much loss, Mr. Stolfus
considers his family fortunate. If the animals hadn't woke them up,
the house would have caught fire, and some of his family might have
perished.

Next came the fire to corn shocks in a farm
field which was a loss of Rudy Briskey's winter cattle feed. A fire
went through that dry field as if the shocks were made out of
paper, coming very close to the house before the firemen arrived.
If Mr. Briskey's animals hadn't woke him up, the fire trucks might
not have made it in time before his house caught fire. As it was,
the whole cornfield burnt almost to the house yard.

This reporter understands the next fire was
in the barn of John Lapp. In the middle of the night while the
family slept, a bale of hay in the barn was set on fire. Mr. Lapp's
wife, Nurse Hal, happened to be in the barn to check on a recently
purchased milk goat. She was brutally attacked from behind. The
hard blow to her head and inhaled smoke was enough to keep her in
the hospital overnight. If not for the dog barking, and the upset
cows and horses, the barn would have been a total loss with the
Amish's well liked Nurse Hallie Lapp unconscious on the barn floor
as it burned.

The last fire, a low blow indeed, was the
burning of the Amish's innocent children's building of learning,
their school house. Of all the senseless acts, this one was the
lowest blow.

Now the outside world is coming around,
asking questions about the burnings. The fires have left people in
this county sympathetic with the Amish Community and nervous about
where the arsonist might strike next. This sort of crime is so rare
here that members of the Christian sect consider it a test of their
faith as much as the Amish do. We all pray the person is caught
soon.” John folded up the newspaper again.

Hal cut the thread from the secured button on
the shirt and put away her needle and scissors. “Phil did a gute
job of stirring up people to be on guard for another fire.
Hopefully if that happens, someone gets a look at the person so he
can be arrested the next time.
What kind of man is Bud
Carter?”

“
A gute man. I have known him for
years. He would not hurt anyone. He is just trying to send a
warning message to the arsonist for all of us like Rudy Briskey
did.” John smiled. “Last time I talked to Bud was the carriage sale
at the salebarn when your father bought the courting buggy. Back
then, Bud was trying to impress a woman so that day he bought a
Cinderella coach.”

Hal giggled. “Where on earth did that come
from?”

John shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“
Did the coach work?” Hal
asked.

“
Jah, all Bud needed was a matched pair
of horses to make it go,” John said.

“
Nah, John. I meant did he get the
woman's attention?”

“
Ach, that! Jah, they got married,”
John said.

“
Wait a second. Is Mr. Carter the
sister of Susie that owns the Maid Rite? I remember she mentioned
she was excited about her brother Bud and his wife expecting a baby
when we dined there. That was when we shopped for Emma's wedding
dress material,” Hal said.

John stifled a yawn. “Jah, that is the
family.”

Hal looked puzzled. “Millie, the previous
owner of the Maid Rite before Susie, was an Alperson. That's
Susie's mother. Where does Bud Carter fit in?”

“
His mother was married to a Carter
that owned the farm Bud farms. She had Bud and Susie. Her husband
died and she married an Alperson,” John explained.

“
I see. This has been a long day. Do we
have to wait up for the boys? I'm bushed.”

“
Me, too,” John said, placing the
newspaper on the floor by his rocker. “The boys are big enough to
take care of themselves. We can go to bed.”

As soon as Hal blew out the lamp, she heard
John snore. She just remembered Emma's news and had to tell right
away. “John, I forgot to tell you something.”

“
What is it?” John mumbled.

“
Emma wants me to share that you're
going to be a dawdi next spring,” Hal said softly.

John rolled over and stared at Hal. “Why is
it you have to save everything you want to surprise me with until I
am almost asleep?”

“
Sorry, I forgot until now,” Hal
said.

“
You are forgiven with es voonderball
gute thing like this,” John said as he rolled back on his
side.

Hal put her hand on his shoulder. “Wait!
Don't go to sleep yet. Not before I tell you that you're going to
be a daed next spring, too.”

John plopped back over. “Are you sure? I am
going to be a daed and a dawdi at the same time?”

“
Jah.” Hal paused. “Well, nah, maybe
not at the same time. We cannot know that, but Emma and I've
talked. We're sure we are both expecting. At this moment, she's
telling Adam the news, too.”

“
Adam will make a gute father,” John
said while he yawned.

“
That is what I told Emma. Adam will be
so proud, and I am going to be a mammi. How about that?”

Hal waited for John to answer. His reply was
a series of long and loud snores.

The Sunday worship service was at Eli and
Mary Mast's house. Following the hymn and a prayer by Bishop
Bontrager, Deacon Enos Yutzy gave a scripture reading. Next Luke
Yoder came forward to give a message. He linked his fingers
together in front of him and looked at the congregation. “It is the
law of the Ordnung to live a simple life. Are there those among us
in our group, maybe some of the youth that are covetous of English
conveniences which is against our Ordnung? If we were to introduce
modern conveniences into our lives we might start small with a cell
phone, television or a transistor radio. I have heard over the
years about our youth being attracted to these English items. Maybe
a cell phone seems like a small thing, but we have our phone sheds
when there is a need to use a phone. Television and radio are a
sewer line to the American cesspool. We should avoid them.

As for automobiles and electricity, if we had
these things would we not then become dependent on them? Might we
begin seeking to prosper beyond our needs to be able to afford to
pay for such conveniences? Might that make us put money first in
our lives ahead of God and family?

Our buggies take us where we need to go. We
do not need shiny new cars that are gas hogs which pollute our
environment. Our fields and gardens produce food for our livestock
and us. We do not need to spend a huge amount for food with rising
prices in the grocery stores. If we only take the time to think
about it, we have what we need, and that is enough. We should
always be content with what we have.” Luke looked toward the back
rows filled with teenage boys in the rumspringa age group. “To our
youth, I say as you mature you should remember this sermon. One
day, you will be able to look back and say Luke Yoder was
right.”

Daniel felt as if Luke meant the message for
Noah and him. He wanted the hard bench seat to swallow him up, but
that wasn't going to happen. He wiggled on the seat, feeling guilty
for even knowing about Noah's radio.

Luke continued. “We are raised with basic
convictions and know to live our life with meaning and purpose. We
surrender to God by living in a way that pleases God and by obeying
religious authority.

Gelassenheit is layered with many meanings.
One such is self surrender. Another is self denial which includes
modern conveniences that is not of our world such as computers,
cell phones, televisions and radios.

Resigning ourselves to God's will,
gentleness, a calm and contented spirit and quiet acceptance of
whatever comes is the only way to live.

Take a look some time at a wren. It is as if
this tiny brown bird knows Romans chapter twelve verse two first
hand. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind. That ye may prove what is that is gute,
and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

The wren perches on fence posts and watches
the world go on around it. He is happy to live a simple life, build
a small nest for two eggs and eat only what is needed to survive
and feed the babies.

The tiny bird is content. How do I know? You
can tell by the cheerful songs he sings.”

As a demonstration, a wren lit outside the
window and warbled a bubbly tune for the congregation. That caused
Plain heads to nod, and the room filled with amens as the
congregation smiled while they listened. The bird's song caused
Luke Yoder to give a silent denki to God for emphasizing his
message. “Listen to the wren sing. He pleases us with his natural
tune and has no more need for modern conveniences than we do. Now
Bishop Bontrager will deliver his message.” Luke returned to his
seat.

Bishop Bontrager came forward. The fact that
he focused on the boys toward the back of the room was not lost on
Daniel. “Luke Yoder's message is very timely. I fear that too many
of our youth in rumspringa have been tempted to buy a phone or a
radio. Two items that are small enough to hide from parents. Take
it from me if your parents do not find out, the more you think
about your dishonesty to your parents, your faith and God, that
alone will haunt you. Come forward and confess this sin and admit
to wrong doing so God may forgive you.

Now I have been trying to decide what sermon
to use for a special message. We are so blessed to be able to help
each other in time of need. It is my feeling that we can endure any
hardship put in our way as long as we have our church community to
come to our aid. It is well for us to help others when the need
arises, knowing some day we might need that help returned to
us.

I have decided to talk about
Paul's Request for Prayer this morning.
Paul
prayed about some people's idle ways.” Bishop Bontrager opened his
bible and read, “He said to his brethren, “
Now we command
you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and
not after the tradition which he received of us.

For yourselves, know how ye ought to follow
us. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. Neither did
we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and
travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of
you.