As measles — a preventable disease the U.S. considered eliminated in 2000 — spreads through West Texas’ rural expanse, Klassen is sticking to an approach on vaccines that is a key tenet for Mennonites. Family leaders are the top decision-making authority — not outside recommendations, certainly not government mandates.

The measles outbreak is growing in West Texas, but neither Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor Gov. Greg Abbott are rushing to tell people to get the vaccine.