Thursday, October 29, 2009

~A day being "Amish"~

The Amish have always intrigued me. When ever I would see an Amish person my eyes would be fixed on them until they were out of sight. Something about their life, their simple ways, unique way of living and the mystery of what life being Amish would be like entranced my mind. Yet finding a way to "get in" to an Amish community or to really see the "inside" of how the Amish really lived or who they really were was never something I ever imagined would come to pass.

Then it happened...I was doing prenatals with the dear midwife that I was training under when she mentioned that she had some Amish clients that she would like me to assist her with. Was I ever excited or what?! Through that I was able to work with two sweet Amish couples and to see a bit inside what their lives were like.

A typical "English" person would never get past the front door to most Amish homes, yet as a midwife they let you right in and warmly welcome you into their lives. I had the wonderful opportunity to see the natural side of such an un-known culture. Even after their babies were born I have gone to see them a couple times and have been joyfully welcomed into their homes.

The opportunity arose for me to attend Dr Mary Ann McNeilus and Patti Barnes out to Montana to drive Dr Mary Ann there and to help teach a Midwifery Seminar in an Amish community in a little town in western Montana. It was an Amazing trip!!! I took a train, for the first time, to Minnesota and spent a few days there doing home visits to some Swartzentruber Amish and helped get ready for the seminar and then we started on our LONG journey to Montana.

Parts of that journey are soo boring, yet others are just breath-taking. We spent both Sabbaths in Black Hills which was great, esp the second weekend. The first weekend I was "locked" in our room because the day before I coughed and dislocated my ribs and tore my intercostal muscles and so I really couldn't do much. Yet, praise the Lord we were at a Lifestyle center and they gave me treatments most of the time until we left.

I was like a little girl that just came downstairs Christmas morning and saw tons of packages under the Christmas tree as we were driving into the sweet little Amish village. Dr Mary Ann got some entertainment from my little squeals of joy when I saw the first buggy driving down the lane. I was practically floating I was so excited, we were working with the Amish and living with them as well. We were going to be part of the Amish community for a whole week!

"Mennonite?, English?, Mennonite, AMISH?????" Was the question that everyone seemed to be trying to figure out. Each day I seemed to come to the class as something different. Being that I was helping with the seminar I sat in the back row with all of the local Amish women. This was wonderful as it opened up opportunities to get to know them. One day I was sitting next to a sweet looking Amish young lady. Not being afraid to talk to people I don't know I decided to start talking to her about... of all things... midwifery stuff ;) we soon started talking, and talking, and talking, and we talked the whole class! Good thing I already knew the topic that was being discussed eh? :)

After the class the three girls that were staying with her, Amy, started walking to her house. She had mentioned that I could come over some time, so I decided to take her up on it.

"What was I thinking..." was the thought going through my mind as we kept walking, and walking, and walking to Amy's house. If I had known how far away it was I would have driven!

After about a half an hour of walking we could finally see her house!! An adorable home for a newlywed couple. Her husband was gone hunting for the week so it was girl's time for us all, and did we ever enjoy it!

After dinner we had a blast taking pictures, here and there and everywhere. So much fun that we lost track of time and were late for the next class. Amy invited me to come spend the night, her sister-in-law was going to be staying too, and after convincing Dr Mary Ann that it was a good idea I joyfully took my things and, this time, drove over to Amy's house. Come to find out she lived in Ohio when I was there and her sister-in-law lived in the community in MI where we did some deliveries and we knew many of the same people!

"So Laura, why don't you be Amish tomorrow..." Amy said with a little smile on her face, just waiting to see my response.

"Great!, I'll do it!!" I quickly responded

"What? Are you serious? You'd really do that??" She replied in complete disbelief.

"Of course, why not" I said to her in a nonchalant way. "I think it's a great idea."

And then followed the hour of "does this dress look right? Or what about this one"... "AMY!!!.... I'm stuck and can't get out of it!"... "HELP!!... how do you ever do this on your own?"

Surprisingly we were just about the same size, which made it helpful, I guess.

After trying on 6 dresses I finally realized that nothing was going to look "natural" on me. So, I picked my favorite of the 6 and let her finish me off by putting the bonnet on.

"You look great Laura, just wait until tomorrow when everyone sees you!!" Amy said with a cute little laugh, still in shock that I was going to be Amish the next day.

"Um... Amy... can you please help me get this off???" I said with a smile.

The evening flew by, we made popcorn and had some wonderful times sharing stories about the people that we knew in common.

Bzzzz....bzzzzzzzz....bzzzzzzzzzzzz.... the alarm went off, it seemed like only minutes since I had fallen asleep.

"Laura?" Amy said still laying on the couch with her eyes shut. "Are you still going to be Amish today?"

"Yup, but let me go turn the generator on in the barn so the girls can cook and then I'll be back so you can turn me into an Amish girl" I whispered as I quietly slipped out the front door.

It's kinda hard to sneak anywhere in an Amish community early in the morning when you're driving down the road with the lights on. I finally figured out an easier way to see the generator in the barn... I pulled in directly in front of the bar and turned the brights on, and with that light I could see the generator clearly enough to turn it on.

Having successfully accomplished my task I drove back to Amy's house.

The girls were all excited and eagerly anticipating everyone's response to seeing me "Amish" when I went in to class that morning. I had two classes to teach that day and they were even more surprised that I was going to teach all dressed up too.

Amy had a great day getting me all ready so that I looked genuine. And did she ever do a good job!

"One thing....if you pass some Amish on your way to the building duck and don't let them see you since you'll be driving."

"Um... ok, I'll do my best" I said, not realizing that I was leaving at the time when ALL the school children were on their way to the school (the same building we were using.)

So as I drove out her driveway I realized my predicament. Well... I had a shirt next to me... "ok, that can go on my head", it just happened to be bright blue, "oh and I can wrap my coat around my shoulders and duck down."

Who knows what all those little Amish children thought of this strange lady driving down the road!!

I have to go now... will continue my story of being Amish and driving into town, going to an "English" store and more later... but for now, here are a few pictures of that day.








4 comments:

  1. I thought you looked great! The outfit was really cute.

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  2. That is hillarious! You are too funny Laura!! Reminds of another time...:) I know Amy's family just a little but never knew her well- it looks like you all had a blast!!:)Wish I could've been there! Amy

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  3. okkkkayyyy... hopefully nobody that knows me will ever read this!! Talk about embarrassing. Hey, I saw Amy Renyolds the other day at an Amish singing, here in NY. Amy

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  4. Amy and Amy, how neat that you both met eachother!!!

    I know, it reminded me of Ohio too, only the dress there was easier to take off ;)

    Embarrassing??? How so?? I know, Amy texted me and told me!Hope you're doing well!! :)

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