Free A Hope for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher Page A

amount of time was allowed now—two years—Bishop thought, and he received nodded agreement from several of the men. This allowance was intended to reduce the financial hardship caused by the transfer, especially for young couples.
    But some believed the two years allowance was too lax. Should this rule be amended to one year? The extra time might simply promote complacency and unwanted accommodation to English ways. Several of the men nodded their heads, but several others didn’t look too happy with that idea either.
    In the questions and vote that followed, the proposed change raised enough objections that Bishop cancelled the move. He stated that the time allowed would remain two years. Hannah felt relief. Though she and Jake had no electricity left at their place, she didn’t know what the future held, and their own financial hardships made her sensitive to others, such as young Sylvia beside her. Sylvia and Ben’s place still had full electric power, which included lights, and might well be the reason the rule change was brought up. The ministers could be nervous, she thought, when time went on and young couples made no attempt to start the changeover. Yet she didn’t want to prejudge. There might be good reasons Sylvia and Ben hadn’t switched.
    Bishop continued with his last remarks. He noted that communion service would be held in two weeks and Bishop Amos Yoder from one of the Nappanee, Indiana, districts would travel here to participate. Afterwards a new minister would be ordained. That was, of course, if there was no objection from the congregation, which there wasn’t. A quick vote confirmed the matter.
    The announcement of an ordination was the surprise. Bishop dropped the news just like that—no warning, no preparation, just the cold hard facts. Several of the men shifted on their seats, and a few women suddenly became very interested in their children. The new minister could be anyone from among them, provided he was male, preferably married, and in good standing as a member.
    Hannah felt a chill because Jake qualified. But surely he was a long shot at best. He was simply too young for such a position. Although he could sing very well, that didn’t translate into minister material. As for exactly what did translate into minister material, she didn’t know. Nobody did for that matter. There was no set pattern, no guideline, and no attention paid to speaking ability, elegance in bearing, or commanding presence. The only requirements were those read from the Scriptures. Those, of course, fit most of the men in church.
    The tension subsided as church dismissed. If any of the men felt like the executioner’s ax was poised over their necks, the feelings got lost in creamy peanut butter sandwiches, hard cheese, and the crunch of sweet dill pickles.
    Betty found Hannah after the first table setting was through. “Did you like our snowfall?” she asked in a teasing voice.
    “I do if it somehow scared away our bear,” Hannah whispered. She didn’t want the news to spread too far.
    “It should,” Betty said. “Did you get the pressure cooker to work?” Betty whispered now, obviously trying to keep the accident a secret between them. “I did write to your mother about it.”
    “Yes,” Hannah said with a grimace. “I finally got enough nerve to go back into the kitchen.”
    “I imagine that took courage,” Betty said, “but it could happen to anyone.”
    “I suppose so,” Hannah allowed and then got to the news she really wanted to share. “Jake lost his job.”
    “You don’t say!” Betty was all sympathy. “Has he found anything else?”
    “Not yet. He went to the hardware store on Friday. They’re not hiring until the snowy weather settles in.”
    “More snow brings in the skiers,” Betty said. “What are you doing till then?”
    “Jake will think of something,” Hannah said, more confidence in her voice than in her thoughts.
    “I hope so. Let us know if it gets too