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Marlin spends much of his
time managing the farm. This includes merchandising genetics, overseeing the
hog barns, taking care of the bull facility, and grain farming. The rest of
his time is spent playing sports with the boys, camping and traveling with
the family, reading to the children, and being a busy husband and
father.
Becky, a full-time
homemaker, stays busy at home educating the children, cooking, and gardening.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, scrap booking, and sewing. She also has
taken up the study of nutrition and the whole family has benefited greatly
from it!
Chelsy (18) enjoys music,
photography, writing, babysitting, and teaching piano lessons. She mostly
keeps up with the laundry, and cooks wonderful meals for all the hungry chore
boys. After getting her driver's license last year, she has enjoyed driving
and especially going to town to run errands for mom or dad. Chelsy also came
home with first place in her division at the piano competition.
Mitchell (17) loves sports,
reading, and driving. He has started helping with many important breeding
decisions, and seems to excel in that area. Mitchell does a wonderful job
with the evening milking.
Allison (15) is the baker,
florist, and social girl of the family. She loves
helping out with some of the secretarial aspects here at Shema Holsteins, as
well as working out in the barn occasionally. Violin is a great love of hers
and she has started giving a few lessons from the home.
Carson (13)
is in charge of feeding the cows, and he often can be found
out in the barn milking in the wee hours of the morning. In his spare time,
Carson likes wood-working, basketball, playing his bass guitar, and fixing
things.
Joshua (12)
spends much of his time reading, piano, playing with the
cats, and storytelling (we have recently discovered that he tells stories
that are almost better than dad's!). We are also very proud of Joshua for
winning his level in our district piano competition this year. Joshua is in
charge of the calf-chores, and does an awesome job.
Denver (9)
enjoys reading, playing sports, and TALKING! He has also
recently started taking violin lessons from Allison, and really enjoys that.
Denver's chores on the farm include helping feed the calves and feeding the
kitties. Learning to milk is his most recent hobby.
Taylor (7)
is a good help to his big brothers with the calf chores and
also has various chores in the house. He likes making toy farms, riding with
daddy in the combine, and being with his brothers.
Elizabeth (5)
Is a mommy to her family of dolls, and spends much time
dressing, feeding, and playing with her many dollies. She also loves playing
with Taylor and Hudson and doing whatever her big sisters are doing, and is
thrilled to have a little sister.
Hudson (3) Is an active little boy who loves
bugs, toys and FOOD! He enjoys riding along with daddy in the pickup,
playing with Liz and Taylor, and being with his big
brothers.
Rebecca Shania (1) Rebecca was born on September 9, 2007. She
has her daddy's black hair and her mommy's name. She is a good baby and
already gets lots of attention! Of course, her favorite activities are
eating, sleeping, being held, and her newest activities include crawling
(well, almost!) and scooting. Rebecca is now the baby of the family and
Hudson has already felt that there now seems to be a lack of attention given
to him!
The Bontrager Family enjoys
singing as a family and they are excited to see what God will do with this
ministry in the future. In the meantime, the children practice their
instruments regularly and love to sing and play together. They have performed at nursing homes, street missions and
soup kitchens, prisons, and churches. The
older family members provide their own music to
accompany the family's vocals and play guitar, keyboard, banjo, violin, and
bass guitar. Being together as a family and sharing God's love with others is
the best part of their ministry. Click here to visit our family
ministry site.
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