Amish country

There's something serene about seeing Amish country.

When you grow up surrounded by it, you don't think twice about it. I take that back. Seeing something different is still something to rave about.

Traveling behind a slow moving buggy can be annoying especially if you're running late. But moving away and coming back home, well it's like all of a sudden I'm just like a tourist! These scenes so common to the natives become totally fascinating to others like me who rarely see action like this.

We enjoyed seeing these Old Order Mennonite children eating lunch. The two teachers are Amish. Yes, they are slight differences in the two but I won't elaborate on that now. I myself don't know all the things they differ in. To tourists, Amish, Mennonites, and Old Order or team Mennonites are all Amish.

It was interesting to note that the girls were on one side and the boys on the other, just the way it was when I went to school.

Then it was time for a good game of softball......

.....while this boy watched wistfully from his wheelchair. I wonder what was going through his mind.

 

On the other side of the street, these dear children played in the sandbox in the back yard.

And it's hard to tell what thoughts were running through these girls' heads. It looks to me that the boys were keeping them very entertained or they were rather tired from lack of sleep with having so much out of state family in the area!

And this charley brown is a typical boy who l.o.v.e.s. to be outside!

 

The Amish folks who live here tend a greenhouse and have a beautiful showcase of phlox on the hillside, a nice advertisement. Amish usually don't have more than an 8th grade education, yet they are great business folks and entrepreneurs.

School's out and these boys munch on their lunch while walking home.

Scooters are a means of travel for the Amish, while the 'fancier' Amish mow lawn with a rider. Years back, they were only allowed to use a push mower to mow their yard. The stricter Amish still do that and some hook up a horse to a mower.

It was a lovely spring day and time for planting. Men farming with horses can usually work the fields earlier than those farming with tractors

 

It's already time for the first cutting..

These girls are on their way home from school. One walks and the other scoots while they enjoy their companionship.

Yes, Amish in PA usually have large houses and barns. They take turns hosting church services about twice a year. It all depends how many families are in your district. The latest trend is to have church in their shed or barn instead of the house, at least in this county.

The Old Order Mennonites depend on their bikes and the usual sight is to have a cardboard box in the back. Bicycles are a faster mode of transportation for the young folks than a horse and buggy. Bikes were usually a no-no for the Amish. I think by now that has changed for some.

It's a unique culture, yet they're people with the same tendencies as everyone else. It's up to each individual to choose Jesus. Being born into a 'good' family doesn't give anyone a ticket to heaven. We need not HOPE we will get to heaven, we can have the assurance of salvation through the precious blood of Jesus that we will see Jesus face to face.

Listening to these surveys gave me a burden for the people in the culture I was born into. Many Amish read only the German Bible, a language they are not fluent in and can barely understand. They are discouraged from reading it. Many depend on their good works and the 'hope' of heaven. It's so sad!

I am very thankful for the many faithful people in Lancaster county who are active in sharing the Gospel to the Amish. May God bless you.