The Peacemaker, page 31
Ada contemplated how thankful she’d been when Ephraim accepted her apology for not trusting his word when he’d tried to tell her that he hadn’t harmed Rosa. More than anything, she was grateful that Ephraim had been willing to start anew.
What a shame Rosa couldn’t be here to witness her brother’s marriage to Salina. I’m sure Rosa would be happy for them, just like the rest of Norman’s family are today.
Ada clenched her fingers, compressing the handkerchief into a tight ball while reflecting on how Ben Ebersol had harmed Ephraim’s family, along with many others in Mifflin County who had lost their barns as a result of his actions. Ben had been apprehended two days after setting fire to the Peights’ barn when he’d been found hiding in an old, abandoned barn in Reedsville. Surprisingly, he had admitted his guilt and said he’d done it for the thrill of watching barns burn. Ben was now in prison, serving a sentence of twenty years for his crime. Susan Petersheim had been shocked to learn that the young man she’d been going out with had been guilty of deliberately setting the fires that had destroyed people’s barns and livestock and that could have killed Ephraim and his father. Ada felt sure that attending her brother’s wedding today must be difficult for Susan, who had claimed to be in love with Ben.
Ada looked forward to marrying Ephraim in November and embarking on a new life together. Her goal as Ephraim’s wife would be to love her husband with her whole heart, and using her peacemaking nature, she would apply healing balm to any discord they might be faced with in the days to come.
Ada closed her eyes for a moment and offered a prayer. Dear Lord, please help me remember that in order to please my husband, my aim should always be to please You first. From now on, I will do my best to put my trust in You, regardless of what might happen. Amen.
ADA’S MYSTERY PIE
INGREDIENTS:
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
21 Ritz crackers
1 cup nutmeats
Unsweetened whipped cream
DIRECTIONS:
Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and vanilla. Crush crackers and fold into egg white mixture. Fold in nutmeats. Put in buttered pie pan and bake at 300 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Don’t allow it to brown. Serve with unsweetened whipped cream.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ada Detweiler had been a nurturing person since she was a child. Ada always put other people’s needs ahead of her own. She acted as a peacemaker when there was discord between two people, including family members and friends. The Bible tells us that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. Do you interpret that as meaning we should always put the needs of other people above our own? Is there ever a time when we should put our own needs ahead of others?
2. How did acting as a peacemaker affect Ada’s relationship with her family and friends? Is standing up for someone or trying to resolve another person’s problems always a good idea? What does the Bible say about being a peacemaker?
3. Ephraim Peight had been pretty wild during his rumspringa (running around) years, but he’d settled down after his girlfriend, Rosa, disappeared. Even so, some people in his community, including Rosa’s brother Norman, were suspicious of Ephraim and thought he had something to do with her disappearance. Ephraim insisted he was innocent, but Norman did not believe him. Have you, or someone you know, ever been accused of something you didn’t do? If so, how did you deal with their accusations?
4. Ada had been in love with Ephraim even when he was dating her friend Rosa, but she’d kept her feelings to herself until Ephraim declared his love for her. She worried, however, that he might still be in love with Rosa, even though she was no longer part of his life. Have you been in a similar situation, where you had strong feelings for someone but kept quiet because they were dating a friend or relative? What would be the best way to deal with such a situation?
5. In this story, Rosa’s family is still dealing with the uncertainty of what happened to her. Although they keep moving forward in their lives, her disappearance has affected each of them in different ways. How would you handle having one of your family members go missing? How much of a challenge would it be to move forward with your own life?
6. After Ephraim’s grandfather died, Ephraim left his home in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, to live with and help out his grandmother, who lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was a sacrifice on his part to leave the area and job he liked, but he felt that it was the right thing to do. Have you ever felt the need to move somewhere in order to take care of a loved one? If so, did you see it as a sacrifice on your part? Why?
7. When Ephraim’s father suffered a heart attack, Ephraim and his grandmother came back to Mifflin County to help out. He took charge of his father’s harness shop, and she helped out at his parents’ home. What are some ways we can help a family member or a friend when they are dealing with illness and can’t do the things they normally do?
8. In this story, several barns were burned, and the authorities believed it was arson. But they hadn’t been able to figure out who the arsonist was or what the motive was for setting the fires. The community rallied together and did all they could to help those who had lost a barn, which often included the loss of livestock. Have you ever lost a home or an outbuilding on your property and not known how the fire got started? How did you deal with your loss?
9. Who was your favorite character in this book, and what made them special?
10. Was there a character in the book who frustrated you, and did you see them as the antagonist or a threat to one or more of the main characters?
11. Did any of the Bible verses mentioned in this story speak to your heart? If so, in what way?
12. Did you learn anything new about the Amish way of life by reading this story?
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than one hundred books, some translated in four languages. With over twelve million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are read and trusted by many Amish people, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.
A MIFFLIN COUNTY MYSTERY
A Mysterious Disappearance Shakes a Family’s Faith in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country
The Protector
BOOK 1
Rosa Petersheim disappeared without a trace. Norman always considered himself his sister’s protector and can’t believe she would have left home of her own accord—so he must have failed her. He throws all he has into helping the authorities search for Rosa, while trying to support his parents and siblings who are struggling both mentally and physically. Salina Swarey loves Norman and hopes they are headed toward marriage, but his obsession with Rosa’s whereabouts is driving them apart. Can Norman find a place of peace and contentment if he never learns where Rosa is?
Paperback /978-1-63609-760-2
The Pretender
BOOK 3
Two years after Rosa Petersheim disappeared from the Big Valley, she suddenly reappears at her parents’ home with a husband in tow. Rosa is ashamed of the choices she made that caused her to leave home, and now that she is pregnant, she needs her family more than ever. Knowing her Amish father will be furious about a baby out of wedlock, she convinces her friend Anthony Reeves to accompany her home, posing as her husband. The plan is that he’ll “abandon” her after experiencing the strict Amish ways. But what if he likes her family? What if he enjoys the community? What if he falls in love with Rosa?
Paperback / 979-8-89151-034-0
Wanda E. Brunstetter, The Peacemaker
