Over the weekend, Lancaster Online published an interesting article on the Amish and Old Order Mennonite schools of Lancaster County. The situation here is unlike most other Amish communities, in that some schools have both Amish and Mennonite students. Lancaster County has a large Old Order Mennonite presence, centered in the northern half of the county. So in those areas, you’ll find mixed classrooms of students and may have a Mennonite or an…
You read that right – an Amish smoking study. Many are surprised to learn that some Amish people smoke. A certain segment of Amish (notably Lancaster County) produces tobacco as a cash crop. Smoking is considered a part of tradition in some Amish communities. And as in any population you’re going to find some smokers just as you do drinkers, drug users, Boston Creme donut…
This past Monday, Amish at Ethridge, Tennessee were victims of a pair of armed robberies. In both cases a truck was used to block the road, and an armed individual emerged to demand money. The assailants even shot at one Amish buggy as it fled. The good news is that authorities have captured three suspects. It sounds like, for their trouble and likely impending prison sentences, the trio acquired a grand…
Today’s guest post is by Bill Moser and Jeff Smith. Those names might ring a bell – you might recall a post here last year on the book Becoming Amish, about the Moser family’s conversion to Amish Christianity. In this first of two guest posts, Bill and Jeff share one side of the experience with us today. — Seeking a community of faith that aligned with…
This is not really an Amish story, but “Amish” ended up in the headlines incidentally. A group of Amish boys in Hillsdale County, Michigan stumbled across a body in the woods last week. Authorities have determined the 37-year-old-man died of multiple gunshot wounds. From the Hillsdale Collegian: Joseph Graber, a 12-year-old boy who lives less than a mile away from the crime scene, was one of…
Planning an Amish wedding for a few hundred guests, and want to make sure the special day goes off without a hitch? You’ve never found yourself in that situation, you say? Well, if you ever did, you might do well to pick up a copy of Das Hochzeit Büchlein: A Wedding Preparation Booklet. This handy guide was produced by members of the Lancaster County Amish community. It’s…
Several years ago we hosted a giveaway for the book Northkill, based on the Jacob Hochstetler massacre, famous in Amish lore. Authors Bob Hostetler and J.M. Hochstetler have returned with the conclusion to that story, The Return. I hope you enjoy today’s interview with Bob and Joan, in which they explain why this story is important to Amish and Mennonites, the historical basis of The Return, and…
On my recent trip to the Amish community in Lancaster County, I had a chance to visit with Freida Stoltzfus, creator and editor of a new publication called Rainbows and Sunshine. Today I’ll share a bit about that visit, some words from Freida, and then you’ll have a chance to enter to win a year’s subscription (to enter, simply leave a comment on this post)….
A fun culinary event enjoyed by Amish youth at Belle Center, Ohio, is the “mystery supper”. Participants receive a menu of creatively-named items to riddle through, and have a time limit in which to make their picks for each of three courses. Guess poorly, and you can end up with, for example, only utensils and water for one of your courses. A few years ago, Belle Center…
I arrived Thursday evening in Lancaster County, will be staying with Amish friends here for the next several days. I was out and about yesterday and snapped a few photos to share. It was a brisk, beautiful morning. Below are a few of the things I saw. I meant to post this for you yesterday, but let’s just say the internet is limited around here…