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This month's issue of a northern Michigan regional magazine features a lengthy story about a family that "rejected today's American way and crossed over to Amish." I will post a link to the online version as soon as they release it (could be a couple of months) but I'm just wondering how common this "crossing over" is?
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Re: English "Gone Amish"
swisssweetie can you mention the name of the magazine so we can monitor the web for when it gets posted online in case you forget to post it?
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Finally!! -- The article from the Traverse Magazine is on their website:
http://www.mynorth.com/My-North/November-2009/Becoming-Amish-One-Grosse-Pointe-Familys-Journey-to-a-Simpler-Life/
Very interesting!
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Wow! I'm surprised they put it on that fast. Glad you found it and posted the link. I think everyone will find it very interesting.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Sure...It's "Traverse Magazine" and the website is www.mynorth.com. At the right end of the menu bar across the top, there's a link to "Subscribe Traverse." Judging from the articles that are currently posted on it, it will be 2 - 3 months before the "Gone Amish" article shows up.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
i can not think of giving up my camera...i love to take photos of everything
Re: English "Gone Amish"
I am really curious as I know a family in Michigan who joined the Amish from the outside about 20 years ago and are still there. They started out in Holmes County but moved to Michigan because they didn't like what was going on with the young folks. Their youngest is now 15. I don't hear from my friend very often anymore but she has some health problems that sidetrack her frequently. I actually know a number of families from the outside who have successfully joined the Amish and stayed with it. I also know a number who have tried and left. It's a mixed bag. I did hear that the planned "Reunion of those from a non Anabaptist Background" was canceled in part because over half the people on the mailing list were no longer in a Plain church...
Re: English "Gone Amish"
this was the most inspiring article that i have ever read. it just goes to show how many of us are willing to give up the worldly things and go for what GOD intended for all of us to do....after reading this, i would gladly give up my camera and other things so that i could truly be at peace in the ways of our LORD
Re: English "Gone Amish"
So, are you going to give up your camera?
Personally, while I believe we could all benefit from simplifying our lives, I don't think we have to think in terms of "giving up" those things which bring us joy and allow us to express our God-given gifts and talents. Rather, we make sure that nothing comes above our desire to know and serve the Lord, and then use the things He's blessed us with to honor and glorify Him. It's not how much or how little we have but that we learn to be content with what we have, in His strength (Philippians 4:11-13).
Re: English "Gone Amish"
after reading the article, i looked around me and saw the things that i am truly grateful for. glad for the health of both of my children, three healthy grandchildren, the love of me two dogs, my father, who turns 90 in june, loving siblings who support me in my times of weakness, AND THE LOVE OF MY LORD....thank you so much for helping me see ALL of these important blessings.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Swisssweetie, very interesting. I look forward to reading the article. This type of movement from English to Amish is very, very rare. It DOES happen, but most English who try to become Amish become disillusioned over the difficulty and leave after a year or so....but a handful do join and stay.....not very common, though...
Re: English "Gone Amish"
I certainly do admire the Amish work ethic and love of family. As far as crossing over to be Amish, I could not do it. I am grateful to live with them as neighbors and friends.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Very interesting! I would enjoy reading the article when it is online. I think Kevin has said before that people do join the Amish, but it is pretty rare.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Swisssweetie, did they actually join the Amish church? Or did they adopt an Amish lifestyle (no electricity, etc.)? - Janice
Re: English "Gone Amish"
They joined a church that later split up and then they moved to another Amish community and joined the church there. They love their "simple" (it doesn't sound simple to me!) lifestyle and the fact that family, work, religion and life are all blended together. They (the parents) struggle with the language although their kids have grown up with it and do well with it. It appears that the community they are part of is fairly "progressive" in terms of technology. They have, at times, considered leaving the Amish church to join a Mennonite one but their kids love the current community and don't want to change.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Wow, that really is impressive ... I really have to admire folks who can completely give up "our" way of life to embrace the Amish lifestyle and all it entails. We have much to learn from our Amish neighbors and friends, and I try to be more mindful of things in my own life that probably have more to do with convenience and habit than necessity (trying not to be wasteful, trying not to flip on the light switch every time I walk into a room if it's not completely dark, etc., etc.) -- little things really, but they do make a difference. Yet, to "unlearn" a way of life one has grown up with and adopt one as stringent as the Amish ... well, all I can say is I'm very impressed. I wish I could say I could do it, but it's a pretty tall order (which is one of the reasons we admire the Amish in the first place, isn't it?).
Don't forget to share the link with us once it's posted online ... I can't wait to read it! And thanks for telling us about it, Swisssweetie! - Janice
Re: English "Gone Amish"
there are probably more people than anybody thinks that are ''jumping over'' the fence due to the higher costs' of everything that is out there. many of them may be looking for the quieter and more family ways of life, instead of fighting the ''grind'' each and every day. as i said in an earlier blog, we all must look for way to slow down and ''smell the roses.''more power to those who have choosen to live life as GOD planned for ALL of us to do.
Re: English "Gone Amish"
I like this quote on the topic of "Becoming Amish". It was in an article I read but originated from a Small Farm Journal...
"If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admire our sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit, build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deep character and enduring values, live them yourself."
Re: English "Gone Amish"
Cheeselover, very nice quote. Thanks for sharing that! We should all strive to be more like the Amish!