The Meeting
The Meeting
GroosMom Emilie Brunn Siemens, I remember well. A tiny woman with dark brown eyes, a woman of strength. I considered her my heroine, an every – day woman who lived an extraordinary-day life. A woman who came to this country when she was 16 (1892). She worked for her sister in order to pay for her passage from Russia. She was chosen by Jacob B in 1897, and bore him four sons and two daughters.
But who is Jacob Siemens, my grandfather? My GroosPop. My mother told me that I sat on GroosPop’s lap when I was one year old. That is all I have ever known. Since “What-Ifs?” are a part of my make up, I wondered….what if….I could have a Meeting with GroosPop. What questions would I ask him? What would he ask me? What were his dreams and his visions? How did he live his 62 years? What did he believe and what did he like to talk about?
It was an everyday day for me. I checked email, Twitter, Facebook and news on internet, and planned for the piano lessons I would give later in the day as I took vitamins and supplements and had breakfast. It is a Tuesday, that has become my “Blog Day”. My favorite day. Then the doorbell rang.
Putting my laptop to “sleep”, I answered the door wondering who could be visiting so early? A man of medium height, blue eyes, snow-white hair stood at the door. He said, “Emily?” Suddenly I knew who he was. How old could he be? He was born in 1876 in Inman, Kansas, on a farm. Quickly I did the math….134 years old. Incredible!
Quickly I invited him in, and we sat at the kitchen table, as I made him a cup of coffee. “GroosPop, it is so good to see you.”
“I would know you anywhere. You were just 8 months old when I saw you. You were a wiggly baby. I was afraid I would drop you.”
“GroosPop, Mom told me that you held me…and I wanted to ask you some questions.”
GroosPop’s eyes twinkled as he said, “Ask, already! That is why I came!”
Questions crowded my mind, and I thought for a minute, as I tried to prioritze the questions. I remembered the information written by Mom, Anna Daisy Suderman Siemens, about this man.
Herman B Siemens’ great-great grandfather, Jacob Siemens II was born in South Russia in 1823 at Ruderweide. He was 79 years old when he came to America on a ship called ‘Teutonia’. This was the last safe journey of Teutonia. With Jacob II came Jacob III, 49 years old and his family. Jacob IV (25) with his wife and infant daughter came, too. This was my great Grandfather. They settled in McPherson County in Inman, Kansas.
“GroosPop, did your Father talk about the trip across the ocean to America?
“No, child, he didn’t as there was much to do to raise 11 children. Emily, your great grandfather was hard working, full of vigor and had a teasing nature. He had to provide for his five girls, Anna, Elizabeth, Marie, Tina and Justina, and the six boys, Jacob V, Dietrich, John, Abraham, Frank and Pete.”
” GroosPop, if you lived in Kansas, why did you move to Oklahoma? Wasn’t that difficult?”
“Well, anytime you moved in my time, it was difficult,” he answered, “but that was when the territory of land opened – called Oklahoma. The name came from the Choctaw words for ‘red’ and ‘people’. It was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it became a state. Your Dad, Herman, was just 4 years old then.
“When did you go to Oklahoma?”
“You do love to ask questions, Emily. No, we waited until 1903, and bought a homestead south of Corn, Oklahoma. That was the year your Dad was born. There were storms, drought and food was scarce. But I liked Oklahoma – the open spaces, good land and a new church in Corn.”
“GroosPop, what about earning money?”
“Emily, I did many things. Farming is what I did first was farm, although it had problems with weather, insects and equipment. Every summer I made extra money as a chief mechanic of a threshing crew. It up at 5 am and worked often until midnight by lantern light to keep the team engine running.”
“Groospop, my Mom told me you preached, how did that happen?”
“I remember that I learned to ‘cry’ a sale (auction) and became a Sunday School Teacher. One day by the barn, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I knew God told me to preach for Him, so I went to school. I guess you would call it an outdoor school. I had my Bible, and studied and practiced the art of preaching behind the barn and down the field’s rows of corn. Sometimes when the wind blew, I thought I could hear the corn whisper, ‘Amen! God blessed me, and the Mennonite Brethren Conference elected me as their traveling evangelist. “
“Wasn’t traveling hard, GroosPop?”
“Very hard. I traveled by train, open car and horseback. The most difficult was leaving my Emilie alone with our children. She ran the farm and raised the children despite the accidents that caused blindness to little Jacob VI, the miscarriages and other illness
es. She was my partner and traveled with me in my heart. My sons, Dietrich, Herman, Jacob and Johnnie, grew up working very hard in my absences.”
“My Mom told me that my Grandmother Suderman cried when you spoke one time at the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church. She said that you were very handsome with a shock of curly gray hair and electric blue eyes.” She also commented that your square chin spelled determination.”
“That was the most difficult time of my life. The travel caused arthritic pains which caused many sleepless nights. Traveling was not good for me, no matter how much Alpen Kreuter (herbs of the Alps tonic) I bought. I knew I must go home to my
family. I asked for a word before the congregation and walked slowly to the platform. I said, ‘Someone else must carry on and be the traveling evangelist’. I didn’t know that tears were running down my cheeks as I explained that my health was failing and I couldn’t continue.”
“But, GroosPop, you were so able as a preacher…I understand that with your analytical mind, you could create the points and bring the message to a conclusion without writing anything down. Even the Tabor College students were asked to outline your sermons as part of their class work.”
“That is true, Emily, but sometimes it is good to be home. The arthritis became creeping paralysis. I lived in a wheel chair for six years, then the rest of my life, I was in bed. My Emilie was faithful, and she would not let anyone else care for me. Then it w
as time for The Meeting!”
“What do you mean, GroosPop?”
“It is one that you will experience as well, Emily, God will let you know when. Do you remember the time my dear Emilie died in your bedroom that hot August day? I remember you sitting by her bedside.”
“Yes, I was there, waiting beside you, because I knew she would soon join Jesus. That is ‘The Meeting’ I am talking about. Do you remember the scripture that was read at my Herman’s (your Dad) service in 1979 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (I Corinthians:15:52)
“I remember, GroosPop, but I guess I didn’t really understand it then.”
“Emily, it simply means that there will be a meeting
with Jesus when it is time. And we will be together and we will be one in Jesus. That is the most important meeting there is.”
“GroosPop, are you preaching me a sermon?”
GroosPops grinned at me, his blue electric eyes twinkling – all 134 years of him, “Emily, remember that although we die here on earth, in heaven our generations are one and time is no more. There are no hands on the ‘forever’ time piece.”
With that, we said goodbye and my ‘what-if meetin
g’ was at a close. I know my GroosPop, I understand his life, his sacrifice, his love for his family and most of all, his love for Jesus.
I love you, GroosPop! Thank you for your example to live for Jesus!
Note: My name for my grandmother came from the plattedeutsch. Groos or Groot meaning Grand.
Comment: – eacombs@cox.net