During the Depression, Abe gathered eggs from prairie chickens. Abe was hired help for John Peters, who became his spiritual father. At John’s home, Abe met John’s niece and babysitter Susan. Abe’s parents weren’t pleased when he left the Sommerfelder Church to join Blumenort Mennonite. In 1955, Abe and Susan moved from Gnadenthal, Man., to B.C. Abe and Susan rededicated their lives to God at the Brunk crusade in 1959. He taught Sunday school and was president of the men’s fellowship at West Abbotsford (B.C.) Mennonite. They mourned 5-month-old Kenneth in 1959 and 6-month-old Abram in 1961. Abe’s parents watched Abe and Susan’s faith hold through adversity, and their relationship improved. Abe enjoyed hard work. When he was bedridden for 7 months, he repeated Hebrews 13:5.
