“Will we keep making cheese even if no one will buy it?” I ask. “Milk doesn’t last,” Mother answers. “Cheese does. Hopefully, there will be better days ahead.” “I don’t want to hope,” I say. “I want to know.” Mother smiles at me, but there is uncertainty in her eyes. “We can’t always know. Sometimes hope is all we have.”
“We have a new message. A message for today.” “We need the gospel today.” “Times change. We have to change too. Have you even heard of the Enlightenment? We don’t want to be thought of as ignorant. Uneducated.”
“Education doesn’t conflict with the gospel,” Father says. “Not if it’s proper education. The truth doesn’t change.”
"We have one Reformed church in Otten. You’ve heard of troublemakers in other towns, starting new churches, not part of the state-approved church, mind you. These churches are free of government control.” Mr. Jonkeer’s voice is tinged with anger as he continues. “These new churches are a disgrace. Something must be done.”
