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).

I’ve known Freida’s father for some time but hadn’t had the chance to speak much with Freida before. I enjoyed my brief visit to her home. I took away an impression of her enthusiasm for the new publication.

Rainbows and Sunshine is meant for children, with stories, activities, crafts, songs, and even stickers in its pages. But there is also interesting content for adults (for instance, a “Do You Know Why…” section, this issue explaining why Amish serve a meal after church).

Freida is Old Order Amish, and the magazine reflects Plain values, but she says it is not meant only for Amish readers. Freida intends to have some regular features in each issue. You can get a feel for the content by these photos.

It has been a family and community effort – Freida says she has tapped family members and others in the community to share stories and make other contributions to the magazine.

For example, she has Sam Stoltzfus, an Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner at Lancaster General Hospital, sharing health advice.




Here are some more photos from the first issue (it’s 40 pages, in black-and-white with some color):

Some Words From Freida

I asked Freida to share some comments on the new magazine for you. Here she goes:

Most of the material in the magazine will be consistent from issue to issue, so a child who has a favorite activity will be able to look forward to this each time.

An example of activities that we will try to have in each issue:

• crosswords
• word search
• logic puzzle
• secret message
• cryptogram
• make your own — (project for girls)
• Things just for fun — (building project for boys)
• and so much more!

My goal is to have material that the whole family can enjoy. What really brings a smile to my face is if a child who does not normally enjoy reading, picks it up and tells me they like it! 🙂

My passion is to show hurting children that there is hope out there, and God really does love them. It’s important to me to put a smile to their face.

I never really thought I’d be doing this. I’m better at thinking up projects than carrying them out. I had so many ideas in my head that I shared with others and I had a few people tell me, “You really need to do this yourself, instead of trying to get someone else to use your ideas.” I also really enjoy researching and writing, so this gives me an outlet for that.

My family has been so supportive and each with their own talent to offer. I am so richly blessed!

So now that I’ve shared some of these goals etc. with you, I really need to go and get those things done that do not appeal to me at all…bake a cake and finish my little girl’s dress!

Freida Stoltzfus

Win a year’s subscription

To enter to win a one-year subscription, simply leave a comment on this post. I’ll draw one winner at random next Tuesday.

Subscribe to Rainbows and Sunshine

If you’d like to go ahead and subscribe, for yourself or a loved one, here’s what to do:

1 Year (8 Issues): $39.00 / 2 Years: $76.00

Canada 1 Year: $53.00

Send to:

RAINBOWS and SUNSHINE Publication,

6591 Division Hwy.

Narvon, PA 17555

Thanks to Freida for sharing with us.

UPDATE: Freida also shares that she can send all back issues at $7.00 each including shipping.

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