To Help As We Are Helped

To Help As We Are Helped

There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.

Deuteronomy 33:26

For Amish young people who decide to follow the ways of their ancestors and get married, work a simple job, and dedicate themselves to family and church, a “community” of resources is available. The members of their community will be there to celebrate a wedding; they will give the young couple gifts and assist in establishing a home. A new wife and, later, a new mom, can count on her sisters, her mother, and other women in the community to help and support her. But for those who want to work outside their communities or attend college, he odds are stacked against them:

What happens when a needy student cannot get financial aid? Like other students of Amish descent, Naomi Kramer, a 2012 graduate of Goshen College, faced that dilemma because her parents did not support her decision to attend college.

After five years of sacrifice and struggle, Kramer has achieved her dream. Now she is trying to help others by co-founding the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund, which aids former Amish people who want to go to college.

Kramer started the fund along with three other former Amish: her cousin, Emma Miller, who has a bachelor’s degree in economics from San Diego State University; William Troyer, who is studying at the University of Akron; and Saloma Furlong, who graduated from Smith College and is the author of the memoir, Why I Left the Amish.

In many cases the student cannot get any financial help “since the parents are not supportive of them getting their education,” said Miller. . . . In addition, most students of Amish descent cannot receive federal aid because in order to qualify students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which requires a parent’s signature if the student is younger than 24.

Even though their families are not often active in helping these students, God is there to help them. He is helping them with their own good futures. He’s also helping others through them.

Dear heavenly Father, so many people face obstacles I can’t imagine. Thank You, Lord, that Your majestic splendor reminds me of Your ability and willingness to help.