ohio jones wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 3:58 pm
Ernie wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 5:16 pm
2. On one side, you might have folks who live very simply, and engineer their own way of getting their van started such as a push button to run the fuel pump for 15 seconds prior to trying to start the car, and a metal rod sticking out of the dash that adjusts the vent. (I rode in such a vehicle recently.)
Okay, I have to ask about this one. Is there an actual objection to starting the vehicle normally, or did something stop working and they rigged up a cheap fix instead of repairing it?
The latter. But this family would encourage everyone to do this, so as to live a more simpler life and not feel a need to keep up with the Jones's. And if I did not have the time or know how to do what he did, the husband in this family would offer to do it for me for free if I would let him.
About a year ago, this husband (a man not raised Christian or Anabaptist) was encouraged by an Old Order Mennonite, to stop charging labor for his work and simply accept donations. The idea is to trust God more and not be so capitalistic. So this brother took the OO man serious and started doing so.
I asked whether he gets as much income as he did before switching to donations and he said, "I do not. But I have enough to meet our needs. Things do get a little tight sometimes. But if I made more money, then I'd have to think about what to do with it. I don't have that worry anymore."
If I was in his shoes, I would charge labor and buy myself a van that is 10 years old, and get rid of my 28 year old van. But his values are different than mine, and I actually admire him for being radical. He is currently building himself a house out of 4 shipping containers.