Day 8 – Amish Country

I have learned so much on this trip! Sadly, one thing I’ve learned is that what I thought I knew, I really didn’t. In my classroom, if I don’t know a topic I will research it so that what I tell my students is true. If I’m not sure about something I tell them that and then I find out and get back to them. Well, I’m embarrassed to say that there are things I thought I knew to be true that I am finding out were not. I had no reason to question myself because I shared what I was taught. One of those topics is the Amish. I never was very sure what the difference between the Amish and Menonites is but I knew that the Amish don’t drive cars and Menonites do. I’m happy that this is true, but there are a host of other facts that I have led my students astray. I have always believed Amish to live in self-contained communities. I thought they dealt only with each other and only sold their wares to the outsiders, like an export only market.

Today has shown me so much more of these gentle, simple people. They have chosen a life-style that is simple and relatively free of unhealthy stress. They live within communities of non-Amish. I now know what anabaptists are. They are not the only religion who practices baptism at a later age. Mormons (Latter Day Saints) also baptize later, but not as adults. They baptize on the child’s eighth birthday. However, I have not heard Mormons refered to as anabaptists, but again, I’m not sure of that.

Today was the best day of the whole trip. The countryside was beautiful and the people were beautiful. Did I understand correctly that Ada is 90 years old? Ben looked to be about 13 and his dad didn’t look much older than 17, which is how old Ben really is. It’s amazing what a simple, wholesome life does for the body and soul!