Josh wrote:Wade wrote:Josh wrote:Wade, every Mennonite lady with a large family finds time to do those things.
Not saying the same burden should be on seekers, but it’s obviously possible.
Have you been around Mennonites much?
Do you know the details of every Mennonite ladies life?
Not all of them homeschool without any family that supports their lifestyle or comes over at times to help out or at least watch the children for a time so they can sew. And not all of them grew up sewing clothing to this extent. Nor do all of them have a husband that have made wise financial desicions coupled with a well paying job so they can afford to help support her in this endeavor.
Does every Mennonite lady make there own headcovering?
Every Mennonite lady I have known manages to keep her children and husband clothed. Of course, they have a lot of support to do this.
I don’t expect non-Anabaptist background people to be good at this. I do expect the rest of their congregation to help them learn, and I also expect a seeker to be teachable and willing to change.
I expect a congregation to provide free help to families that don’t make enough money, provided the husband is willing to work. My friends who are single sisters and not Mennonite background tend to get dresses sewn and given to them - sometimes they don’t even know from whom. But that means being content with the style you receive.
I don’t expect anyone to homeschool. I think a congregation should operate a school and should admit pupils of parents who are sincere seekers.
Your expectations do not always mean they are reality.
And the Deacons wife coming over and taking all your wife's dresses without telling her why, altering them, and bringing them back while your wife is asking why - can be taken as questioning and therefore unteachable... While another sister in the church is making rumors and lies about suspecting what styles your wife likes or doesn't. - Possibly because your wife is just asking questions and wanting to learn.
Asking "why" doesn't mean we are unteachable or discontent. It's because we want to learn.
I can see why so many people are turned off from the clothing game played. It can be ridiculous, however we stumble along wearing things that make your conference look immodest from what I have seen...
No wonder seekers leave so they can focus on the inward instead of the outward, meanwhile dressed more modestly but looked down on...
And the schools maybe one of the biggest blessings but with lack of perception they maybe one of the biggest problems too. Again without support or finances which from my experience Mennonites can't seem to relate to, how seekers are handle is not good. But thanks to a Baptist and an atheist the last week we were sold a car for next to nothing and another little truck we were giving for free with six months of insurance included. We could manage our children making it to school finally if we lived near one
Honestly, I don't wish bad on anyone but for sake of learning, I wish you could've experienced literally forsaking all driving 5400kometers with wife and four children. And then living in a 600sq. ft. one bedroom house sleeping on the floor without a bed or table to eat off. And then got to experience the pain of not eating for a couple days at times trying to provide enough food for your family and make sure your pregnant wife has enough. Working 13hour shifts, while walking 2km back and forth to work in -30 degree Celsius weather in the dark with wolves howling at you. Etc. and etc. Nor do I say this to fault a(the) church - but rather to show perception of some of us seekers...
I am no great man and deserve to suffer for my stupid mistakes but to focus on exact styles while not teaching and to focus on school while people are not eating... Maybe to my fault but you can have all your first world better than the rest of us problems, I'm completely sick of it!!!