Oh, That I were Amish...

I think the world became fully aware of the Amish Community of Lancaster Co. PA, when the shootings in a small Amish school took place a while back.  I was priveledged to visit this beautiful countryside...and experience the peaceful, quiet ways that these people live each and every day.  Oh....the Amish Way!!

We visited a little place called Intercourse, PA...and took a little horse and buggy ride through the homes and farms of these quiet, humble people.  I felt very awed by the beauty...very calmed by the peacefulness...very inspired by the simplicity of their lives...and very blessed to have visited for a day!

We asked our buggy driver so many questions about the Amish.  He was not Amish himself, but his father had been Amish, and he had Amish relatives...his Grandma, cousins, Aunts and Uncles.  His name was Kaleb, and some of the things we learned were...

1. You cannot join the Amish faith...they don't convert anyone, you have to be born Amish to ever BE Amish (sad for me...I was really thinking about becoming the first Mormon-Amish!)

While our horses were trotting down the street, another buggy came cruising around us like a flash!  Our driver said that sometimes they purchase old race horses to pull their carriages around, and they can go pretty fast!

2.  Different orders have different rules or variance of use of things such as electricity and such...Some have a few electric outlets in their homes...but don't use things such as TV or radios.  Some use no buttons or snaps on their clothes, while others do.  Most have ovens and washers (electric), but use generators, solar panels, windmills, and such to power them.  Almost every house you can see clothes waving in the breeze to dry.  They are usually very high, on a pulley system.

While we were there, it was the Monday after Easter, when they take time off from their labors and spend the Easter weekend with their families...eating a big feast together on Sunday, and then relaxing and playing with their families on Monday.  We saw a few out fishing together on a pond, some youth out rollerblading down the roads...and yes, the plows sitting vacant in the fields...

3.  When the Amish are around age 16...they go out into the real world to experience the lives of ordinary people...called rumspringa...or "running around", and they can then choose to be baptized into the church between age 18 and 22, or they can choose to leave.  During rumspringa, they sometimes get a car...smoke, drink...experience all the rebellious things teenagers do sometimes. 

We saw these three young ladies going down the road on their scooters and rollerblades!

4.  When they are courting...they drive a "courting wagon" that is open, like the one in the last picture.  This ensures that everyone can see what's going on!  Amish only marry once they are baptized into the church and only to other members, if they want to marry outside the church, they must leave the faith and choose not to be baptized.

It was very beautiful and a fun day!  As you can see...I couldn't keep from snapping the photos!