Monday, March 13, 2023
Dear Lois Jean,
I have followed the final days of your dear mother's life and feel
compelled to write you regarding her influence on my life. I am Susie
Troyer Schlabach, married to the late Raymond Schlabach, who passed away
April 27, 2021. You may share the following with your family.
A Lasting Godly Influence
Many years ago, actually over 70, I had the honor and privilege to spend
a year with Raymond and Anna Mae Swartz as a helper to them in their home.
I was 21, and while attending a Conservative Mennonite conference in
Kalona, Iowa, in August 1951, the mission board asked me to consider
joining the missionary family who was in charge of the work at Mt.
Morris, Michigan. I was somewhat familiar with that work, having spent
several summers teaching Vacation Bible School in Flint and Mr. Morris.
Glenn and Margaret King were in charge of plans to terminate their
commitment. The Raymond and Anna Mae Swartz family would become the
resident pastoral couple.
I was still learning much about my walk with Jesus, having been raised
Amish until I was 17, but attending short-term winter Bible schools was
excellent training. It exposed and taught me the challenge of young
people preparing to serve as volunteers as well as full-time missionary
service. Teaching summer Bible school in Kentucky, Flint, and Mt.Morris
several summers found me fertile soil, so I was ready for a long-term
commitment.
In September 1951, I moved in with Glenn and Margaret with their two
small children into the pastoral residence in Mt. Morris. The parsonage
was a small dwelling with a full basement. I was given the front bedroom,
just the right size for me.
Some weeks later, the King family moved out and was replaced by the
Swartz family with their two children, Lois Jean and Joseph. Lois Jean
must have been about 3, and I soon found my responsibility and privilege
to become a part of this family. I had lots of experience with younger
children, being the oldest of 11 living siblings. I loved working with
children and soon had a weekly group of local children coming to the
house where we had classes downstairs in the basement. Besides Bible
lessons, I did craft work with them, including making plaster of Paris
items. I taught Sunday school and soon felt very comfortable as a part
of the family. I helped in the home with all the household duties and
thrived on being part of the family.
I was impressed with the beautiful relationship between Raymond and Anna
Mae. Their parenting was very consistent and convincing in bringing up
children. The word of my parents was meant to be obeyed, and I admired them.
I worked one day a week doing housework for spending money. My room and
board were covered by the mission. I dreamed of being a self-supporting
missionary which meant I needed some kind of profession except doing
housework. Anna Mae was a practical nurse, and that idea seemed like a
very good possibility. There would always be work for a nurse in most
any part of the world.
I enjoyed teaching summer Bible school in Flint and became very
close friends with several other young girls. We talked and dreamed
about what we would do with our lives. One year of training for
practical nursing seemed just right for me. One of the girls was
planning to enter Goshen college in a four-year teaching program. She
really challenged me to consider going into the three-year training for
registered nursing. But three years seemed so long. I wanted to get
out and be a missionary soon. But I did do just that.
I cannot forget one huge influence which I saw several times daily. On
my bedroom wall was a hanging with Proverbs 31: 30 "Favor is deceitful,
and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be
praised." It was on the wall across the room from my bed, so I saw it
first thing upon awakening and last thing as I retired. I often thank
God for the godly example of Anna Mae, just as that chapter tells us.
She lived before me the truths of that whole chapter.
In 1956 I finished my three-year nursing course, married, and moved to
the jungles of Costa Rica in 1961 to dedicate my life to helping my
husband, Raymond Schlabach on a Bible translation project with the
Bribri Indians of Costa Rica. Many times I reverted back to things I
learned during that year with Raymond and Anna Mae as I mothered three
beautiful daughters.
Lois Jean, (yes, that is what we always called you), I want you and your
siblings to know that your parents have been an everlasting influence in
my life. I am much today because of what I gleaned and tried to
incorporate into my life as a wife and mother. I cherish that year with
them and all the blessings I have reaped because they were the example I
needed as a young Christian girl.
May the memories you have of your mother be healing gems of her godly
life. "Her children rise up and call her blessed."
Susie Marie Troyer Schlabach
