David & Margaret Gale

Plow Creek Mennonite Church

David and Margaret Gale were one of the couples that came from Reba Place Fellowship in Evanston, IL in 1971 to begin Plow Creek Fellowship. Their five children grew up on the farm and were very much a part of building the Community as it is today. David has been involved in helping to plan and build all of the houses on the farm and has managed a Fellowship business, Plow Creek Builders, for many years. He has been involved in maintaining our buildings and serves as bookkeeper for Plow Creek Fellowship arid Plow Creek Farm. Margaret worked as a nurse in the Fellowship operated medical clinic while it existed and then for a retirement home for several years. She is currently helping to care for one of the Fellowship members that needs 24 hour care and helping with other Fellowship and Church activities. David and Margaret enjoy being grandparents to ten grandchildren. To their delight one of their sons and his wife and two little girls live on the farm. To read about them see Tim and Carol Gale Family.

Here are some of their sharings in the Shalom Mission Communites Meditation Guide.

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-14

Psalm 86

WALKING THE WAY TOGETHER

Personal Sharing:

In the fall of 1961 Margaret and I, six months married, loaded all our possessions into a VW van and moved from Evanston to a four-room apartment sight unseen on Peoria Street in Southwest Chicago. After five years there (four children) and five years at Reba Place (one more child) we came to Plow Creek Fellowship -- a vast 188 acres with all the choices ready for us to make. Warners`, Gales`, and Wetzels' ideas were molded, created and changed by interaction of the three couples plus lots of advice from Reba brothers and sisters. A single-family home was build for Wetzels -- then a few years later, the gathered body molded their vision of family life to include others, and they gave up their single-family home.

Gales designed and lived in the Corner House. Several years later the community's vision and needs prompted us to move to the Alpha house, though it was difficult and not our personal decision or desire to move, it turned out to be good for us as well as for the gathered body, particularly as in the following wears it became important for Margaret to be free of much stair-climbing.

Six years later we were again asked to move to the Town House -- not our choice, and again it worked out well - beyond our expectations Where else could our needs fit in so well with caring for my mother?

These major decisions in our lives were made more for us than by us. as we were molded by the perceptions and visions of others, and guided as a community by the Holy Spirit. We did not, could not make them alone and they were some of the best decisions we ever made! -- David Gale