This past Sunday Jonathan and I along with his brother Steve made the long journey once again back to Big Valley. A glorious stretch of Gods Country located in the Kishacoquillas Mountains of Pennsylvania. The small Amish town of Belleville was our destination.
This trip was different then any other time that I have gone with Jonathan and his family. This trip was to celebrate the life of Abe Yoder, Jonathans grandfather. Grandpa Yoder passed away in the evening on Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
To say that Abe was a well liked man in Big Valley is a bit of an under statement. In his 93 years, Abe had the pleasure of touching many lives, mine included. His undying love of The Lord was reflected in everything he did and to everyone he talked to. The last few months of his life were spent in the hospital or in the nursing home in Big Valley. Many people have said that they went to visit him hoping to cheer him up. When really, Abe was usually the one cheering up the visitor buy the time they left.
Jonathan and I both expected this funeral to be a big event in Big Valley. They weren't able to have the funeral at there own church because they knew there wouldn't be enough room. So they moved the viewing and funeral down to the Locust Grove Mennonite Church, which is also right around the corner from where he would be burried. We believe there were 500 to 600 people who showed for the 2 viewings on Sunday and about 200-250 that came for the funeral service on Monday.
The funeral service was absolutely beathtaking to say the least. Abe had purposefully chosen some of the songs we sang that day. With each song reminding everyone of how much he loved Jesus. I can honesty say that I have never heard singin the way I heard that day. The first song we sang was "The Love of God" and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the room. All 3 of Abes sons got up and also sang for the crowd, one of the songs being a song that Abe had requested. For those that came to our wedding last July, you were fortunate to see Abe singing with his sons for one of the last times.
The picture above really means a lot to both Jonathan and I. We weren't for sure if either one would be able to make the long hot trip from Pennsylvania to come to our wedding last summer. Somehow, they both made it and we were able to get some priceless pictures that will aways be cherished.
On the back of the funeral service program, they printed some quotes that were noted and written in Grandpa Yoder's Bible. One of the quotes written that I felt I related to the most was:
"Knowing about God interests us. But knowing God changes us."
2 comments:
I got to see him only rarely, but he had one of the sweetest personalities of anyone I've ever met. I only know one of his sons, and Roy is his daddy's boy.
Good for people to know.
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