Thursday, between tours, Mart mentioned that he would be busy the next two weekends helping with the harvest and filling silo. He really didn’t have to tell her this, since they didn’t have a standing Friday-night date. But the thought crossed her mind that he must care about her at least a little to make a point of letting her know.

But who do I care for more?

On Friday morning, while Anna helped Sadie make breakfast before she left to see Emmie, she brought up the differences in her church and their own. “I’ve often wondered why churches differ in the focus of their preaching or what’s allowed, when really, our Lord and Savior loves all of His children equally. We’re all called into His family and fellowship,” she said.

“Jah, folk can tend to get hung up on one thing or another.”

Anna nodded as she mixed the eggs with a hand beater. “I’ve begun to realize, just since coming to Strasburg, that there are more similarities between the Anabaptist churches than I ever expected.”

“And when all’s said and done,” Sadie replied, “does it matter how long the Preachin’ service lasts, or if the People sit on comfortable pews or hard, backless benches, or even some doctrinal differences? I daresay things like that don’t matter to our heavenly Father.”

But they matter to my parents, Anna thought.

All the same, she understood what Sadie was saying. “Yet what about the churches that put such an emphasis on works and good deeds, and not as much on grace? All my life, I’ve heard that Old Order Amish set their church ordinance high, but after visiting your church, I see that not every district is alike.” Anna realized that by asking this she might be signaling an interest in their church.

“Well, we’re blessed with a devout bishop who reads and studies the Bible, including the book of Romans. He says that works should be a sign of what’s inside one’s heart. After all, without God’s grace, where would we be?” Sadie said, pouring coffee.

Anna listened, shocked that Sadie was stating exactly what she had been raised to believe.

“So, jah, I can tell you that we’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ,” Sadie stated without blinking an eye, “but I don’t make a point of boasting ’bout it. I want to continue bein’ Amish, as well as a witness of grace amongst the People. There’ve been a few who’ve wanted to discuss this with me, and some have received the gift of salvation as a result.”

Anna sat quietly, soaking in every word.