Reader Frank shares a few photos from a recent visit to Holmes County, Ohio. No snow in these shots, but lots of nice views. Frank also passes along two anecdotes demonstrating the friendly community feel of the area. If you’ve ever spent time in Holmes County, home to over 30,000 Amish people, you won’t be surprised: While shopping at Hershberger’s Store outside Berlin, an elderly gentleman explained to…
This story at pennlive.com is a couple of weeks old, but since we’ve covered the Amish and exercise before, it’s worth circling back to. Leroy Stoltzfus is a 22-year-old Amish man who did something remarkable–ran a marathon in an impressive 3 hours and 5 minutes–dressed in full Amish garb. I am an amateur runner, and this sounds completely miserable to me. Running long distances is hard…
As you might know, top Amish scholar Donald Kraybill is retiring (here is a short interview we did with him when the news was announced). If you’ve been interested in the Amish for any length of time, odds are you have read one of Don’s many books on the Amish and other Anabaptist peoples, or appreciated his other work in the area of Amish studies, such as in…
In our previous installment of An Amish Girl’s Adventures, Rebecca Miller of Holmes County, Ohio shared her family’s vacation to Niagara Falls. Rebecca is back with the story of a trip with friends to Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. As you’ll learn below, something about Mackinac Island made Rebecca and her friends feel right at home. Mackinac Island Tour – Sept. 26-29, 2007 Wednesday We started…
I hope you enjoy the following story from Serving The Amish author Jim Cates, about an unlikely meeting, and the healing it brought one young Amish woman. The Power of Love “Love is a smoke, and is made with the fume of sighs.” Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1 The popularity of Amish romance novels remind us a) a good love story is…
Snyder County in central Pennsylvania is home to a small population of Amish residents. Reader Jerry recently paid a visit to the county and captured some scenes showing the fall colors and more. In honor of the season, here are some of Jerry’s photos from his visit taken in mid-October. And here’s a little background from Jerry on what you’ll see below: When most people think…
Do you believe in miracles? Ohio Amish church member Rebecca Miller describes the following dramatic story as “a true happening here in the community.” She notes that “I took the liberty to change names to protect identity and took a writer’s liberties to add minute details to get a better story line. I heard the original event by word of mouth, so I embellished it slightly but…
Do you ever meet those people who have extraordinary stories…but are the last to share those stories with the world? You know who I’m talking about. The modest folks who abhor boasting about themselves. Today, Jim Cates writes of one Amish bishop whose humble demeanor masks a dedication to service which has greatly benefitted his own community and beyond. When God Calls I believe in Christianity as I…
Do Amish people go on vacation? Yes, but the meaning of “vacation” varies. For some, a vacation means a trip to relatives in another settlement or attending an out-of-state wedding. But also popular are more traditional vacation destinations of natural beauty or historical interest. Today we have a look at one Amish family’s vacation from the perspective of Rebecca Miller. I hope you enjoy Rebecca’s account…
The Slow Moving Vehicle triangle is just another part of the scenery in most Amish communities. The majority of Amish people willingly use the warning insignia and probably give it little thought. In most places they are such a standard part of the buggy’s appearance, that it is odd to see a vehicle without one. Some Amish object to the SMV sign however, on grounds including…