Sunday School class

An interesting event happened on September 27. In our Sunday School at Mennonite Christian Assembly in Fredericksburg, OH we belong to the Lamplighter Class, ages 55 and above. Once a month we have a social time, mostly at the church on a Sunday evening, where Lamplighters bring their favorite foods, and games, and we have fellowship together.

A couple weeks before, Lucy invited the class to come to our place on Sunday evening. She suggested we’d have a hot dog roast and people could bring food. A couple of people offered to bring firewood for the campfire.

Saturday, we were invited to a wedding and we woke up to a light rain. What a day for a wedding! We traveled about 40 miles to our destination, being soaked by passing trucks and tractor trailers who stirred up wetness of the roads, and we had to deal with rain which made me put on the windshield wipers to fast speed.

But a few miles from our destination the rains stopped. It was heavily cloudy but we arrived at the farm where the wedding was held. During the whole ceremony and reception there was no rain although the weather was so heavy that it became almost foggy at 2 p.m.

On the way home we encountered rain again. We wondered what it would be like tomorrow (Sunday) when we would have the Sunday School class at our place. I chose not to worry about it. We never had the Sunday School class at our place and it would be nice if the weather would cooperate so we could have a good time. If the whole class would show up we might not have room for them although the house is rather spacious. But it will be a nice day. The Universe will make sure of that. I felt rather confident, and chased away any little doubts that would crop up. You remember what it says in Scripture: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

Sunday morning we went to church in a light rain—a 37 mile trip. While we were in Sunday School Lucy pointed out to me that it was still raining. So? . . . When it was asked who would be coming to the Hackmans, there was show of hands which represented a little less than half the class, but it was a good number. When someone wondered if we would indeed have them come rain or shine, I said, “Yes, come—you’re all invited.” They noticed the rain, but anything can happen in a few hours.

It was raining a little when we set out for home around noon. Lucy wanted to stop at Walmart for hot dogs. It’s a 37 mile trip home and we traveled on Route 30. Pretty soon I saw a glimmer of light in the clouds which showed that the weather might be breaking up. And it stopped raining!

We drove to the Walmart in Ashland. The clouds were continuing to break up as the sun started to peek through. We shopped for awhile and when we came out the sun was shining and it was quite windy. The clouds still looked threatening in a couple of directions but it was mostly sunny by this time. And the clouds were moving fast!

We arrived home and Lucy did some more preparation. The outdoor picnic would be at 5 p.m. I had asked Jason about mowing the back acreage during the week and he got a young man with a Bush Hog mower that chopped down the tall weeds and grass, a couple of acres in size. I also had suggested that the burn pile be cleaned up but they didn’t have the time or the equipment so that was left undone. When I asked Lucy about having a campfire she told me she knew where it would be. She was in control of the whole thing, and she wouldn't tell me. "Yes, dear." (I always have the last word.)

At 4 p.m. Sunday, Eli and Clara Mast showed up with firewood and he started the fire right where Lucy had placed a marker. It was at a stony part of the lawn just southwest of the house. By this time the wind was not as brisk but still a little stiff to try to build a fire. I suggested that he park his car on the windward side.

Because of the wind, the grass and everything dried off, making it nice for an outdoor picnic. More people came and I was still watching Eli tend to the fire when I saw a couple of women carrying the picnic table and chairs onto the cement parking area where I usually park our vehicles. The ladies set up the eating area, laid out the food, and by 5 p.m. we were ready for the picnic. A couple of men roasted the hot dogs over the now hot fire. Three-year-0ld Nolan was there to watch and supervise and roast a hotdog or two. I don't know where his brother Nathan was.

It was amazing to see how the weather changed to a suitable atmosphere for a nice time at our place. I should have chronicled the weather change with my camera. Everything came together in what you could call a miraculous way. And twenty-two people showed up.

We had hot dogs, casseroles, salads, cheese, nuts, sodas, desserts. We were not disappointed in anything. After we ate, we all gathered around the fire and talked until almost dark.

The group started to break up and they remarked about the good weather, the good time, and that they finally know where we live. Some of the ladies took it upon themselves to clean everything up. Men and women put chairs back in their customary places, whether they were brought by some, or taken from the house.

Lucy was able to connect some of the families she knew with the people that were there, many of them being ex-Amish. It was a nice time for a private conversation with some. It was really her day. We’ll have to do it again.