Twittered History

Twitters have taken over my life. I so enjoy reading obtuse and humorous tweets from three of our four children (one has not succumbed as yet) and various grandchildren. The tweets remind me of our Dinner Table (we called it supper) and all the fascinating discussions and verbal ping-ponged thoughts.

From these Tweets I catch glimpses of family life and opportunities to pray. Then one day, I thought about what my Grandfather Suderman would have done with the snippets of chatter called Twitter. What would he have sent on cyber space? Grabbing the ‘big red Suderman’ book by Carolyn Zeisset and Mom’s book “Lines Have Fallen”. I poured through both trying to determine exactly what his thoughts would be and what his situation would be as he gave his twitters.

I loved my Grandpa Suderman. His brown eyes with green flecks reflected the fields where he planted and raised crops to feed his family. His hands were roughened by the farm work and his heart sang praises to Jesus, His Lord. I was his first grandchild, and always felt loved unconditionally.

Gerhard Wiens Suderman was born the 23^rd of November in 1874 in Pordenau Russia. He married Anna Loewen the 8^th of March in 1900. He died on the 16^th of March 1950, in Hillsboro, Kansas, at the age of 75.

· 1878 – We left Russia on the ship Switzerland. I don’t remember much, except we got a baby brother on the ship – his name is Nicholas.

· 1882 – I cried when Isaak and Aganetha died from diphtheria epidemic. I recovered after a time..

· 1884 – We have a depression that affects us – only 25 to 35 cents a bushel for wheat.

· 1891 – 9/14 – Dad became a citizen of United States. I am 17 years old.

· 1893 – Dad had to borrow money from Mr. Good, we prayed about hard times in Ebenfeld.

·1895 – I am twenty one, and then I had a great abdominal pain. When the pain subsided, I was very weak. Soon God gave me health again.

· 1898 – We built a frame house instead of the adobe house. It is a lot lighter in my room.

· 1920’s – I am farming near Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church.

· Mom and Aunt Lena make Schnetkes – a kind of biscuit – not only are we called the tall Sudermans in Ebenfeld, but also the Scnetke Sudermans.

· 1900 – March 8 – I married Anna Loewen. She is a beauty. Our first night, and thereafter, we prayed together before going to bed.

· 1900 – we moved into a dirty shack – on a rented farm. Anna just smiled and cleaned. I am a blessed man.

· 1901 – February 1 – Daniel was born. I truly am blessed

· 1904 – January 27 – baby Gerhard was born. I am undone, for Gerhard died within three months. Why?

· 1906 – Dad noticed a strange sensation in his tongue. It is cancer. Not my Dad – he has always been well.

· 1906 – April 3 – I give God praise today. He has given us Alma, a healthy baby girl.

· 1907 – Dad (Jacob) died, January 21, at 1 am as we sang “In my heavenly home, There is rest for my soul, There is sweet rest, There is sweet rest for my soul”. (In dem Himmel ist Ruh, in dem Himmel ist Ruh, In dem Himmel, in dem Himmel, in dem Himmel is Ruh)

· 1907 – I took Poppa’s place as choir director and church music leader at Ebenfeld. Next to farming, I love praising God with music.

· 1907 – March 20 – Why? Why, God? Why did you take Daniel? Two of my sons lie in Ebenfeld Cemetary – side by side.

· 1907 – July 4 – I praise you. You have given us little Anna. I am glad we have the new party line phone to let our neighbors know, even if the operator isn’t on duty on the 4^th of July.

· 1908 abt – I lost my fourth finger using a new-fangled power saw. I am so weak. I thank Grandpa Loewen when he argued against amputating my arm…how could I feed my family? I will learn to use my crippled hand.

· 1912 – I bought the Reiswig farm for $11,000. 126 acres just south of the Ebenfeld church. I want my girls to not have to walk a long distance to school near to the church.

· 1911 – January 24 – Our Hilda died today. One more little white casket that we carry to Ebenfeld. How can this be?

· 1912 – October 16 – God has given me the desire of my heart – a son – Jonas!

· 1913 abt – I built a sink low enough for children with a red pump that brought water from the cistern in the bathroom. I wonder what else I can do to help my family?

· 1914 – April 24 – Paul Gerhard is born today. Two sons once again. I pray for them and give them to you.

· 1916 – God, you took our Paul away, but you gave me another.August 9 – Eli is with us – I praise you, Lord.

· 1919 – July 10 – Bernice is born today. How I praise you.

· 1922 – December 8 – And now we have Irene…You have given us ten children, and you needed four of them back. We give you the praise.

· 1923 – February 5^th – Momma died today. I have no tears left. I will simply keep her in my heart.

· 1924 – a week before Christmas, we heard the fire bell ring. Ebenfeld church was on fire. We arrived and watched it burn…nothing could save it. I ran to the basement, but couldn’t reach the stacks of choir music. I brought out just one book. I coughed and coughed, my lungs hurt from the smoke. When the concert organ crashed into the basement, I cried.

· 1940 –abt – I am tired, and Anna’s Mom is sick. I know we must move to town and care for her. I want to feed the cattle, watch things grow – but Eli will take care of the farm.

· 1950 – March – Anna and I have been married for fifty years. We have prayed together, raised children you have given us together. When Emily sang about the Still Waters…I told her, I wanted to be there…’beside the still waters where there was peace”.

· 1950 – March 16 – You won’t receive this Tweet – and if you could — I would tell you about the glories of heaven! Praise the Lord! Every sadness, every hurt has helped me see your grace more clearly. I pray for all my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and those beyond…Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!