Bergit and her sister Katrine had a vision
of true faith and fellowship.
Norway's churches had grown cold,
they gave God service only from the lip.
It grieved them, so they looked afar;
they meanwhile worked hard to make it,
(not complaining or vainly wishing on a star!).
Brother Andrew in America wrote, calling:
"Come over! You're orphans--
but there's
paying work here, quit stalling!"
So they sold the few acres and little house
in Mandal of Holm,
where saintly parents had passed so early on.
What tears they shed soon met salt spray
as the HELLIG OLAF steamed across the northwest seaway.
In years to come their vision met tests
of heartaches and loss and difficult times,
but they never looked back like Lot's poor wife,
for everything given up in Old Norway,
God promised and gave, A NEW LIFE!--
Christmas 2011, Ronald Ginther,
grandson to Bergit Holbek Stadem
and
nephew to Katrine Holbek Lundring.
II
A Second Vision Arises & Becomes Reality
out of Humble Beginnings:
"The Old Turkey Barn"
by Ron Ginther
***************
An old turkey barn in Minnesota was all pulled
apart and taken down.
For years its boards and tin lay stacked out by
some trees, on Plain View's open ground.
Rain and snow, of several seasons took their toll,
but most of the boards survived, and gave
much lumber still sound and whole.
Using the lumber Plain View Farm's machinery shed was built,
and made so strong the Dakota winds will
never make it tilt!
So old things CAN BE transformed into new,
but you first need a Vision to change an old view.
--Ronald Ginther, Christmas 2011
Note: *The turkey barn was sold to
the Stadems for $50, but it was quite a task for Stadems to pull
down such a large structure and then transport it all board by board
to the Farm from a state away. That task was exhausting, but now
a new Machinery Shed stands, composed of
this salvaged lumber and tin bought for almost a song. Much of the lower
level of the new Heritage Center too is composed of
the lumber from the old turkey barn, and the
turkey barn boards even are found in large measure
on the second level, as well as providing the
support the supports for the third level lofts!
What a blessing the old turkey barn was--despite
all the hundreds and thousands of nails that had to be
pulled laboriously from the boards! I was
given the privilege of pulling nails! I pulled
more than I would care to count, handling the boards
and carrying them to various new locations
before they
went into the Heritage Center, so the turkey
barn left its imprint on me, and I left mine on
it!--Ron Ginther
**********************************
Second Note**These two Christmas poems were written in response
to the Christmas letter of Eloise and Ron Hefty. Since then the turkey barn boards and timbers have been transformed into this beautiful
and useful heritage center barn! The first grand event after Dedication, was a wedding of a Stadem/Holbeck descendant and her bridegroom.
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