Burky's Blog

Dear kith and kin, it was raining when I was on way home from work, but time wore on as I sat with my computer, I see the sunbeam shining between the mini blinds.  I was hoping for a quiet time with my computer to get this update written.  But Jay came around and start watching TV, and of course have to call my attention to TV when I prefer to be undisturbed.  I suspect it is because he just want to spend a good evening with me before he leave for Oklahoma.  I say nothing to him about this, really.

It has been very long time since I wrote my update.  It is interesting that my interest in keeping journal and writing emails is good when I am good, but when I feel careless in my Christian life, I find myself not feeling like writing updates.  Now recently, I came across an interesting website, www.writequickly.com and I couldn't help but think I need that.  That website assented that a best-selling novel can be written within a month.  It talks about one author wrote a book on 12-hour flight, and I thought about it is 11-hour flight straight from Newark, NJ, to Honolulu, Hawaii.  Perhaps I should be serious about writing too. 

Even I became lacking in proofreading Jean Pichya's book that she ask me to read.  I sure wonder if she think I had forgotten about her book.

When did I last write the update?  I don't remember.  But I will try to write all I remember and want to record for my blog.

My trip to Canada was fascinating, but it put hole in my finances.  I shouldn't have went, since I was the only one from CDI to be at Henry Friesen's wedding.  To top it off, I didn't even get to use my camera, and I don't know where the reception was, so I left soon after the wedding to go home.  I was glad for that, because I got well rested to go to work on Monday.  That same weekend, I slept overnight at Aaron Stoltzfus' home, in the same room where he slept when I first slept in that house.  Meeting my old Amish friends sure bring back the spiritual awakening. 

I was thinking for some time that I skipped church on two Sundays in March because of Quixtar meeting, and I didn't like that too well.  It make me feel evil for some reason.  So when I left after Henry Friesen's wedding, I got home in time to get good night's rest enough to attend two church services that morning.  I went to LCBC at 9am service and then went to Manor Church at 10:30am service.  It works out pretty well, as I left quickly soon after the main message was over.  Mark was hoping to ask me to dine with them that afternoon, but I was so glad to be home.

I was glad to have quiet April 19 to myself; that evening I and Paul went to Shady Maple for his birthday.  He got a free meal, but interestingly, it is obvious that he didn't enjoy it.  He seem so unsettled about something, and I wish he would come back to us.

April 26 finds me at the wedding just few miles east of here.  My coworker got married and it was interesting to attend a wedding whose wedding party have all 5 brothers, plus a best friend.  I don't know, but it must be the today's fashion to have wedding clothes so mismatched, in my opinion.  The green shirts that groomsmen wore isn't my taste and they wore white ties over it.  The bridesmaids wore white shirts with lavender skirts.  Now, what is so matching about lavender and green?  Especially that shade of green?!  The groom himself wore white tie as well, and I was bit puzzled, because he told me once he didn't know how to tie a windsor tie.  I was tempted to wear a tie to his wedding, but decided aganist it as it seems like most of my friends wouldn't wear so sharply at that wedding.  So I wore that dazzling western shirt and khaki to that wedding.  They did compliment my apparel.

Since there is a long wait until the reception, I decided to stop at my home and watch TV for 45 minutes before going over to reception.  I must admit that I am glad that wedding is so close and the reception is had my home right on the way from the wedding.  I was almost late to the reception, but it works out pretty good, as I would know where to sit.

May 3.  I went to Brooklyn to pick up Louie, my New York friend, to attend ASL Expo in Long Island.  Unfortunately, we were disappointed that ASL Expo was canceled unexpectedly and one woman wonder if it is scam, because they ask for $5 entry fee.  But I thought that was my opportune moment to go to WTC and Central Park, something I have always want to see of New York City.  But alas, we stopped at shopping center, because Louie kind of prefer to, and I kind of regretted later that I "lost" my $100 to shopping spree.  I told my friends later that if we wouldn't have went shopping, we wouldn't know what stores have and we would have saved that money.  But Louie have some ideas, it is obvious that he didn't understand the real life.  I tried explaining that "just once" is still losing money, because he say that so often.  "Just once" buy candies for occasional pleasures.  "Just once" buy a suit that you can have for parties to come.  "Just once"..."just once"....  I told him that my understanding of the Bible is that everything other than food and clothes is just a luxury, a convenience.  So I decided to cut off some of the bills, and plan to pay off the pressing bills.  There is more to living less.  Of course, I am bit unwilling to let go of things that cost money to attend like deaf days at Six Flags, Dorneypark, and plays at Fulton.

May 4.  Edna Jane and her boyfriend and her deaf sister, Anita, came down to our deaf church from Union county.  Charlene Zimmerman and her sister attended FDMC with us.  It was rare treat that I can't miss, as I am thinking of quitting attending FDMC.  Then we had all day at my home.  We sure had a nice time.

May 10.  I work that Saturday morning, then went over to Curtis and Paula's place for baby shower.  We did have a good time, but it seems like everyone have to act so old.  I like to keep acting young and fun.  The upbringing I have had had trained or brainwashed me that being mature is a boring life.  Being mature don't appeal to me most of the time, but there are times when I wish I would be more mature, that's for sure, but those occasions is becoming less and less now.  But it is nice to meet more deaf people.

May 11.  I went to Community Christian Fellowship, formerly Hess Mennonite Church, which is less than a mile from Charlene's house.  I went there because the interpreter would have short presentation about her experience in Jamaica.  Hearing about it and seeing the picture slides sure bring back my fond memories when I was there.  Yes, she was at the same school I went in December 2000.  I told Jay we gotta go back!  He said that Dexter and Patty are talking about gathering up a work team.  If they do, I wanna gooooo!

May 14.  That evening I was home from work.  I was surfing the Internet, curious if brothels still exist today like they do in Civil War era.  I didn't see any, but I got fascinated by ghost stories.  There is a brothel build in 1777 just off old Route 30 near Mann's Choice in Bedford County that is filled with ghost stories.  To make that place more decent, it is now an antique shop, but shoppers, especially women, find themselves running back downstairs without ever getting to the second floor, simply because they felt the overpowering presence.  Ghosts.  Then as I surf around the interesting landmarks and ghost stories of PA, I stumble across the information that Pocono have their annual garlic festival. Garlic?  Did you say garlic?  Then for sure I wanna go!  $7.50 if order tickets ahead, but $10 at gate?  Not bad.  Imagine sampling all kinds of things that have garlic in them or uses for garlic.  Garlic ice cream?  I wanna taste some!  So, I registered at www.poconogarlic.com for update, hoping I would got latest from them and attend there on August 30 and 31.

May 16.  Immediately after work, I went home.  Alvin Martin is there already, but left again.  He left behind his bike trailer, so I knew.  I quickly took shower and try to hurry.  Alvin got back before I was fully clothed, but I ask him to get packed.  Excitedly we got ready and in time, we are on road to sleep overnight in Newville.

May 17.  It is beautiful Saturday morning.  I thought about some ideas or folklore or whatever you call it about clearing after night.  It was raining and cloudy before the sun set.  Now at the sunrise, it was bright and shining.  No clouds in sight.  I woke at 6am and went outside.  I wasn't warmly dressed, but it isn't too cold to chase me indoors.  I enjoy browsing the farmland that the couple build.  They do have nice greenhouses, which conjures my dreams for my future home.  Marlin Martin and Alvin Martin are brothers and they want me to drive them to their home in KY.  They came downstairs at 7am and we breakfasted together.  Marlin drove to Driver's Lisence office, and he passed and got his Permit!  He was glad, well, ecstatic, about the whole thing and drove the whole way home, stopping few hundred feet short of his home lane to switch with me, so his parents wouldn't know he was driving.  Yes, they are horse-and-buggy Mennonites and members, so driving a car is a big no-no for them. 

May 18.  It rained off and on that morning while in church with James Burkholder.  Titus Whatever-is-his-last-name interpret for us.  Preaching without notes isn't that interesting for me and interpreting is not professional enough for me to follow entirely, but what stood out to me was we are to live in conscious of God's presence.  I know that is true that we are to be conscious of God and our relationship with Jesus, but what Mennonites, I have noticed, often miss out was there are times when we DON'T think about God...we still glorify Him.  Take Song of Solomon, for example.  I won't be surprised if there are many man and wife who don't think about God when they are all dovey-lovely about each other, but that alone glorifies God.  Of course, I better be careful what I say, because I didn't want to be critical.  Still, I wish that the legalistic Mennonites would move beyond their pet doctrines and think about God do have 27-dimensional viewpoint and is not like what we think He is with our 3-dimensional viewpoint. 

That afternoon, James and I went over to youth party for the rest of the day.  I really enjoy playing volleyball and thought it was a first real exercise I had for a long time.  It felt good, even if my legs felt tired.  I got thinking maybe I should participate with Horning youth parties or Wenger's and get exercise I need on weekly basis.

For supper, we had mystery supper.  Fortunately, I had the first course almost right.  Corn, "Chicken Scratch", isn't too bad for dessert.

May 19.  Monday.  I was glad to be going home, but I wish I can hang around with Mahlon Martin a bit longer.  He was Old Order Mennonite when he got married, and less than a year later, today, he is no longer Mennonite.  The way I see him, or guessed, I can see him as a sensitive person who want to be Christian, but without setting his righteousness by man's laws.  I want to talk to him more about his faith and Christianity and see where he stands.  I suspect he is a lot like me, wanting to be a Christian, but felt that the burdens of man-made rules is bit overbearing.  Still, I hate to think about his son growing up, not knowing which church is best as his mother still goes to Jake's church and his dad goes to Galilean church. 

I am thankful, though, that morning was beautiful with few clouds dotting the dawning sky.  I follows James' dad to his other field and brought him home again so he can drive his other tractor over.  Then I went to Albert's sawmill and had a nice visit.  One thing that impress me is his water heater.  He had made his own water heater which heats the water with sunlight.  I mentally endorsed that I would want that for my future home.  During winter, he use woodstove to heat the water.

After a nice visit, I decided to take a curious look in one bulk food store.  I see they do sell some NSP products and other health foods.  It is obvious that those Mennonites living in Casey County do have respect for their health.  Even the food there isn't to my particular taste.  The homemade cheese and self-perpared meat don't taste that good.  They must not like their food with spices.  If they grow produce, why don't they grow herbs?  I got myself a blueberry cider, date/nut roll (yummy!), and Hawaiian party mix.  That was my food for my trip that day.

Alvin Martin went home with me.  He almost thought of going with other couple and be in PA on Wednesday.  But he decided to tag along with me after all.  I am kind of glad because he brought along some moonshine.  It was my first taste of a real moonshine.  It looks like water, but it certainly don't smell like water.  Wow!  That stuff is strong and I felt my chest is on fire.  I couldn't help but think...I wonder what would happen if I put some moonshine in my gas tank....?

I got home about 8:45pm that evening with 65,000+ on my mileage.  It turned to 65,000 at 8:15pm on Route 283 that day.  I then remembered that my car turn 63,000 miles on way home from New York City two weeks back.  With all that traveling I have done, it is obvious my mileage would be adding up real fast.

Hopefully, I would do this update again....soon....

--
Omar Burkholder
1091 Martindale Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

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