Languages

What about his heart? What was in his heart? He grew up on the farm, hearing only the Plautt Deutch language. And here, I will let you hear his words….

Now about my first day in school. It was another situation that entailed quite a bit of excitement. At home we talked only Dutch, and to go to school where the teacher and all the kids talked English, that was quite a situation. They didn’t know what they were talking about. And you looked at them wondered if they knew what they were talking about. But of course I knew what I was thinking all the time. But I couldn’t figure out what they were thinking and saying. Then the Teacher put me up to the blackboard, and she drew an A and a B and a C, and told me to copy those, and I didn’t know what copy meant. She gave me a piece of chalk. And I stood there and held the chalk real tight in my fat little moist hands and I looked at those things she put up there. I was afraid to go to my seat. So I stood there and looked at the things she drew and didn’t know how to make them. I got so nervous, I threw my breakfast on the floor, and poor brother Dick had to clean the floor. And I could go sit down on my seat.

But I didn’t ever want to go back to that old

blackboard anymore. It made me so sick.

And then, about church. That was another language problem. At home we talked Dutch, I was supposed to learn English, and then at church, everything was in German. I remember one sermon especially. The preacher talked about wounds, blood and terrible suffering and I caught on to what that was. Then they were singing the invitation song. I wanted to become a Christian. They sang a German song in the Germna language, and I thought it meant Be Very Tender With the Rules, and it was Throw Out the Life Line and Save Your Brother. I got it all wrong. That was my first impression of church (Mennonite).

Dad became fluent in English and Dutch and was able to translate letters written in German for his postal patrons during World War II. I learned that my Dad viewed the language problem as a challenge, and his problem-solving skills to bear on any difficulty he had.

I never had any problem determining Dad’s communication, although I never learned the languages he used, except for English. He always made his expectations for me clear. My Dad, Herman Bennie Siemens,

was a gifted story teller. More than once, Mom would listen and ask Dad, “Are you embroidering the Bible stories again?” The Bible stories were so real to us because of Dad’s gift. During a family reunion, Dad always had a group of young cousins gathered around him, listening to his stories.

Many times I would hear Dad quote his favorite poem by Charles F. Adams from the book. Poems Teachers Ask For, Book 1 – Leedle Yawcob Strauss. With his slight German/Dutch accent, reciting this poem was easy for him. This poem was often requested by others just to hear him. Sometimes I thought maybe he was Leedle Yawcob Strauss!

I haf von funny leedle poy

Vot gomes shust to my knee

Der queerest schap, der createst rogue

As efer you did see.

He runs, und schumps, un schmashes dings

In all barts off der house,

But vot off dot? He vas mine son,

Mine leedle Yawcob Strauss.

He dakes der milkban for a dhrum,

Und cuts mine came in dwo

To maker der schticks to beat it mit

Mine cracious, dot was drue!

I dinks mine hed was schplit abart

He kicks oup sooch a touse;

But nefer mind, der poys vas few

Like dot young Yawcob Strauss.

He asks me questions sooch as dese:

Who baints mine nose so red?

Who vos it cuts dot schmoodth blace oudt

From der hair ubon mine hed?

Und where der plaze goes from der lamp

Vene’er der glim I douse?

How gan I all dese dings eggsblain

To dot schmall Yawcob Strauss?

I somedimes dink I scall go vild

Mis sooch a grazy poy,

Und vish vonce more I gould haf rest

Und beaceful dimes enshoy.

But ven he was asleep in ped,

So quiet as a mouse,

I prays der Lord, “Dake anydings,

But leaf do Yawcob Strauss.

There are many words and stories that Dad told and read, and yet as his steps slowed and his breath became more labored, reading the Bible was of greatest comfort for him. The picture that Mom took after one of his 11 heart attacks says it all. Jesus is the bread of life, and in His Word is everlasting life.

Psalm 37:3-6, Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.