Letters from the Grieving Amish

We are indebted to Terry Mattingly at Get Religion for bringing this story from the Baltimore Sun to a wider audience. The Baltimore Sun article is unique because it is based on letters to the editor to an Amish newspaper during the last year, many from the relatives of the girls who were killed or injured. The letters and thus the article are deeply moving. Here’s an excerpt from TMatt’s blog entry on this. The link to the longer original Baltimore Sun piece is at the end. We agree with Terry. The article is really must reading.

But the newspaper letters also offered insights into the lives of the children who survived, which is a side of this drama previously kept private. Four of the girls were quickly back in school, even as they continued to recover from their wounds. But that is not the end of that story:

A fifth girl, 7-year-old Rosanna King, suffered a serious brain injury. She was removed from life support within two days of the shooting and was expected to die. Instead, she has become a living miracle for the Amish, who found inspiration as she progressed from bed to wheelchair and began to recognize family members and laugh out loud. But progress has been slow. . . .

One writer wondered whether the community could do more for her.

“Maybe we are not praying hard enough,” wrote Yonie Esh of Georgetown. He seemed to hesitate at the idea. “But then again we want to say, ”˜Thy will be done.’ If I write something that I should not, I do apologize. I certainly do not want to offend anyone.”

When Rosanna returned to church for the first time after the shooting, the moment generated considerable excitement.

“She doesn’t talk . . . but so precious to have her around,” wrote Susanna Stoltzfus.

This is a very simple story, based on these letter from inside a community that prefers to keep its sorrows and joys private. The simplicity is what makes the story so powerful.

Life continues in Nickel Mines. It was fortunate that the Sun found a way to take readers inside that story, without violating the lives of those who are living it. This is must reading.

Here’s Terry’s blog entry.

Here’s the full Baltimore Sun feature article by Julie Scharper.