Do You Know These 10 PA Dutch Carpentry Words?

Do You Know These 10 PA Dutch Carpentry Words?

Most Amish speak a dialect known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch as their primary language. It’s generally not used as a written tongue, though that doesn’t mean it’s not written, in one form or another, from time to time. And so today we have a list of terms for you to guess (or if you know PA Dutch already, this should be pretty easy). Ohio…

Amish Among Investors Who Lost $3.9M In Alleged Scam

News came last week of another financial scandal involving Amish investors as victims. According to the federal lawsuit, Earl D. Miller began recruiting investors in 2008 to join a number of investment vehicles, despite having no experience in fund management. The Goshen, Indiana resident is accused of “misrepresentations that Miller raised at least $3.9 million from at least 70 investors, but repeatedly lied to prospective investors.” According…

Steven Nolt To Succeed Donald Kraybill At Young Center

Steven Nolt To Succeed Donald Kraybill At Young Center

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…

The Amish In Idaho

The Amish In Idaho

Since 2012 there has been a small community of Amish people in eastern Idaho, not far from the town of Salmon (Lemhi County). This video report takes us to an Amish-owned market owned by the Paul Miller family. Locals seem pleased to have the Amish in town: The bulk of the above video is on the Miller family’s Country Market and the produce, cheese, and…

An Amish Girl’s Adventures: Mackinac Island

An Amish Girl’s Adventures: Mackinac Island

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…

Jim Cates: A Real-Life Amish “Romance”

Jim Cates: A Real-Life Amish “Romance”

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…

23 Ways to “Live Amish”

23 Ways to “Live Amish”

Have you ever tried to “live like the Amish?” There have been quite a few books and articles written on the subject. It’s easy to see why. In a hectic, disjointed world, many of us crave things we see in Amish society. Things like strong community, life oriented around nature, and less dependence on technology, to name a few. Of course, you can’t truly live like the Amish….unless you…

Autumn Scenes From Snyder County, PA (20 Photos)

Autumn Scenes From Snyder County, PA (20 Photos)

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…

Look Inside a New York Amish Farmhouse (9 Photos)

Look Inside a New York Amish Farmhouse (9 Photos)

Earlier this year we had a look inside an Ohio Amish home, photos of which had been posted to a realtor’s website. Though it’s not especially common, Amish homes are sometimes listed online, to reach potential buyers beyond the local Amish community. You can currently view another Amish-owned home on the market in the Clymer, New York community. According to the listing on Zillow, this is…

Rebecca Miller: Miracles Still Do Happen

Rebecca Miller: Miracles Still Do Happen

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…