I fought the desire to abandon my car in the middle of the lane and run to her. I’d missed my friend more than I would have thought possible. As I parked, she stepped off the porch and slowly crossed the yard.
I shut down the engine and bolted toward her. “Your letters didn’t quite describe the changes in you.”
Anna enfolded me in a hug, as much as possible given that she had entered the ninth month of her pregnancy. The child kicked and I let out a squeal. “He’s a feisty one.”
“Ya. Mammi says it’s a boy for sure and for certain. Any problems getting here?”
“You gave good directions. Otherwise I may never have found you.”
“It’s a bit remote.”
“I’ll say.”
We sat at the picnic table under the pecan tree. Erin had already laid out sandwiches and tea.
“You like it here?”
“I do. We all do.”
Erin and Mammi joined us for lunch, as did Jacob and Samuel, who had been working in the fields, completing the last of their harvest. Jake, the old hound dog I’d seen the morning of Anna’s speech, lay beneath the table—no doubt hoping for a stray scrap.
If anyone had driven by, which was doubtful, they would have seen an ordinary Amish family sharing lunch with an Englisch woman. Not such an odd sight.
But we realized what a special celebration it was. Three years had passed since the accident. Each person sitting under the pecan tree that day had witnessed something incredible. We had been a part of something quite special, and we would never be the same.
Perhaps that is the definition of a holy encounter—you come away forever changed.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I highly recommend Samuel: The Amish Boy Who Lived by Robert J. Hastings. This book was a great resource for me as I wrote Anna’s story.
The town of Cody’s Creek does not exist in Oklahoma. The place I visited and researched was Chouteau, which was originally called Cody’s Creek when it became a stop on the Katy Railroad in 1871. The Amish community in Chouteau does allow the use of tractors, both in the fields and in town. They still use the horse and buggy when traveling to church, a wedding, or a funeral.
Project Linus is an organization that began in 1995 and now has chapters in all fifty states. Please check out their website for more information at www.projectlinus.org.
I would like to offer a special thanks to all the people who wrote me regarding miracles they had witnessed or experienced. Their input helped tremendously in the writing of this story.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. At the beginning of the story, Anna is full of self-doubt. She doesn’t understand why she isn’t interested in dating. She isn’t sure her aunt and uncle want her staying with them. She has no idea what direction her life is going to take. Have you ever had a deep level of self-doubt? What did you do to remedy it?
2. Anna and Chloe’s friendship may seem a bit strange to some, but I have witnessed and even experienced many such friendships between Amish and Englisch. What makes friendships stick? And how can we nurture this very important gift God gives to us?
3. The Amish of Cody’s Creek (my name for the town of Chouteau, Oklahoma) are quite different. They allow tractors to be used both in the fields and to ride to town. They are a little less put off by contact with the Englisch. What do you think of this? Does it make them any less Amish? Are they still following God’s path for their families and their communities?
4. After Jacob rescues Miguel, he meets with the church leadership. They remind him about the commandment to turn the other cheek. Jacob replies, “I’m familiar with Christ’s words, and if I had been slapped I am certain that I would have been able to turn the other cheek.” He’s not smarting off. He honestly believes the situation with Miguel required a different response. What does the Bible teach us about dealing with others, especially those who would intend us harm?
5. When Anna first learns of her paralysis, she has trouble accepting the diagnosis. The Bible has many verses that assure us that God will help us through the most difficult of times. What are three verses you depend on when life becomes a struggle?
6. Mammi loves Anna. She also is an amazing example of Christian faith. Who in your life has been this sort of example for you? How have they helped you in your faith walk?
7. Do you believe miracles are possible? What does the Bible say about miracles? And why do miracles happen to some people but not others?
8. When Anna is kidnapped, we want to dislike Spencer, but the more I wrote about him, the more I felt sympathy for him. He is a desperate man who is doing desperate things he will regret, but he’s also someone who loves his wife dearly. Did you feel Anna’s response to Spencer was believable? Why or why not?
9. Dreams figure strongly in Anna’s story. What do you think about dreams? Should we ever pay attention to them? And what does the Bible say about dreams?
10. In the end, Anna decides to move away. It seems, for her and her family, that starting over is best. I could have written a different ending—one where she stays and ministers to the people in Cody’s Creek. How do you make the decision of whether to stay (in a job, a town, or a relationship) or whether to begin again?
GLOSSARY
Aenti—aunt
Boppli—baby
Bruder—brother
Daddi—grandfather
Dat—father
Danki—thank you
Dochder—daughter
Englischer—non-Amish person
Fraa—wife
Gotte’s wille—God’s will
Grandkinner—grandchildren
Grossdaddi—grandfather
Gudemariye—good morning
Gut—good
Kapp—prayer covering
Kinner—children
Lieb—love
Mamm—mom
Mammi—grandmother
Nein—no
Onkel—uncle
Ordnung—the unwritten set of rules and regulations that guide everyday Amish life.
Rumspringa—running around; time before an Amish young person has officially joined the church, provides a bridge between childhood and adulthood.
Schweschder—sister
Wunderbaar—wonderful
Ya—yes
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published more than one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel Falling to Pieces was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner. A Promise for Miriam earned a spot on the June 2012 Christian Retailing Top Ten Fiction list. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband. For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com
Brian’s Choice
(ebook-only novella prequel)
Brian’s Choice is an e-only novella prequel to the brand-new Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman (A Promise for Miriam). These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.
Brian Walker has it all—a trust fund, the job of his dreams, and a beautiful woman at his side. But all of that changes in one tragic moment. Six months later he finds himself in the small town of Cody’s Creek, Oklahoma, and eventually becomes a member of the Amish community located there.
Brian feels God’s hand directing his path, and he begins to hope that perhaps his past is behind him for good. However, nothing prepares him for the day his bishop asks him a question.
Brian’s choice changes everything.
A story about the miracle of faith, the solace of love, and our ability to forgive and be forgiven.
Fall in Love with the Amish of Pebble Creek!
A
Promise for Miriam, A Home for Lydia, and A Wedding for Julia introduce the Amish community of Pebble Creek, Wisconsin, and the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.
Enjoy These Free Short Story E-Romances
Download Them Today from Your Favorite Digital Retailer!
These two short story e-romances are an exclusive bonus from the Pebble Creek Amish by Vannetta Chapman. Fans of the series will enjoy this chance to briefly revisit Pebble Creek, and new readers will be introduced to an Amish community that is more deeply explored in the three full novels.
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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
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To learn more about Harvest House books and to read sample chapters, visit our website:
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