Following the Oct. 2 shootings of 10 Amish girls at West Nickel Mines School, she told police her husband gave no indication of his horrific plans.

In the days that followed the massacre, members of the Amish community reached out to Mrs. Roberts, knowing she too was grieving. The story of forgiveness reverberated in Bart Township and across the globe.

Mrs. Roberts recently put her feelings into words in a statement released by Dwight Lefever, the Roberts family spokesman.

Mrs. Roberts said she and her three young children were “overwhelmed by the forgiveness, grace and mercy” extended by the community following last week’s grisly murders inside the former one-room schoolhouse in Bart Township.

The letter was addressed to Amish friends, neighbors and the local community.

“Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need,” she says in the statement. “Gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe.

“Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.”

Last week, the Amish families affected by the tragedy expressed forgiveness for the gunman who killed himself after shooting the girls.

The mother and grandmother of Marian Fisher, one of the five students killed, welcomed Mrs. Roberts’ aunt into their home the day after the shootings, and they shared a tearful embrace.

Lloyd Welk, Mrs. Roberts’ grandfather, had a similar meeting last week with Marian’s parents. Last Thursday, Welk attended 13-year-old Marian’s funeral.

Mrs. Roberts says in the statement, “Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbors whom we have loved and continue to love.

“We know there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives.”

Aside from spiritual support, the Roberts family is receiving financial assistance.

The Roberts Family Fund, based at Coatesville Savings banks, has received a “strong response,” according to the bank’s CEO, Jim Ziegler.

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Ziegler, who spent several hours with 25 other bank employees Thursday night sorting thousands of letters received at the bank’s Georgetown branch.

Ziegler said the fund was created the day after the shootings at the request of community members.

Nickel Mines Children’s Fund, which benefits the families of the Amish students, also was established at the bank.

“The response has been strong to both accounts,” Ziegler said. The public support has “been wonderful during such tragic times.” blog comments powered by Disqus