Enriching


Lives, Together


A BROTHER’S JOURNEY TO WELSH MOUNTAIN HOME


For David, the youngest of the three siblings, the path to Landis Communities was less straightforward. After moving several times, he wondered where he truly belonged. With encouragement from his siblings and the persistence of friends and pastors, a room at Welsh Mountain Home opened: just one, perfectly timed.


“I felt God was putting things in place,” David said. “Tis is where I want to be.” Since arriving in April, he has embraced the community, from worship in the chapel to shared meals and devotions. “Te food is excellent,” he added with a laugh, admitting he sometimes skips evening snacks because the meals are so filling.


Te spiritual life at Welsh Mountain Home has been especially meaningful. David, who grew up in a Mennonite congregation where a cappella singing was the norm, finds joy in the rich congregational singing and daily devotions. “It’s uplifting,” he reflected. “You don’t think anything bad when you’re singing; you’re joyful.”


BROTHERLY SUPPORT AND SISTERLY ENCOURAGEMENT


David’s transition was made possible in large part through the love and persistence of his brother, Dale. From doctor visits to paperwork, Dale walked beside David, ensuring his younger brother found the right home. “I don’t know how I could have managed without him,” David said quietly. “He really helps with everything.”


For Dale, this sibling support is an extension of faith and family. Living in downtown


Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2025 • 7


Lancaster, he and his wife are part of the Downtowners, a mutual-aid network that helps older adults remain independent in their homes. Whether providing rides, sharing resources, or connecting socially, Dale embraces the same values of service and community that first drew Mary Ellen to Landis Homes. (And his son- in-law, Trace Oberholtzer, works as the HR Manager for Landis Communities!)


A LIFETIME OF SONG


Perhaps the strongest thread tying the siblings together is music. Raised in a home where their parents sang regularly, both in church and around the house, the Umbles learned harmony from an early age. Family car trips became rolling singalongs, with every sibling chiming in. Arguments quickly gave way to four-part harmony. Even today, the siblings can pick up a hymnal and instinctively blend, their voices weaving together as naturally as they did in childhood.


“Music is a language of its own,” Dale reflected. “When you’re singing, everybody is on the same level. It’s a God sort of thing.”


For the Umbles, song is more than music—it is prayer, joy, and connection. Just like their connections to Landis Communities, the siblings continue to be united in harmony of both voice and spirit.


Lancaster Downtowners is an independent non-profit organization that engages in a collaborative partnership with Landis Communities via a Management Services Agreement to facilitate office space, Human Resources for staff, and consultation with select centralized services.


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