Travel Featured
Everyone should try the Amish experience
Last summer , my family and I had the privilege of visiting Lancaster County in Pennsylvania , which is on the east coast of the United States of America . Lancaster County boasts green rolling hills and beautifully cultivated farmland . We spent five days exploring this beautiful part of the country , however , no trip to this part of the country would be complete without a visit with the Amish people on an Amish farm .
Farming
The Amish prefer farming as a way of life . They maintain their lifestyle and their families in a rural environment . They do not permit the use of tractors in their fields , as such ; their farm equipment are pulled by teams of horses or mules . It was so refreshing to see horse and buggies everywhere . It was almost like you stepped into a nineteen forties western movie . During our visit , I often saw their horses and buggies on the local roads .
Faith
The Amish people are very devout in their faith . They believe in the literal interpretation and application of Scripture as the Word of God . They take seriously , the Biblical commands to separate themselves from the things of the world . They do not own or operate automobiles . They believe that cars would provide easier access to the ways of the world , and that worldliness can keep them from being close to God . Worldliness can introduce influences that could be destructive to their communities and to their way of life .
One of the things that struck me was that they all seemed to be happy . They were pleasant and very giving . They seemed proud of their way of life and enjoyed showing us how they lived . It really made me wonder and question all the things I tell myself that I cannot live without . What if I did not have cell phones , broadband Internet or even motor vehicles , would I still be able to enjoy my life ? Is it a case of , you don ’ t miss what you never had ? The fact is that the Amish people live with these modern conveniences all around them . They just choose not to partake .
Trade
We watched in amazement as the women sewed beautiful quilts by hand . They also made other beautiful handcrafts , which are sold in the gift shops in the village to the thousands of tourists who visit every year . My husband loves corn and he was in heaven . They had some of the sweetest corn we had ever tasted and plenty of it . This brings me to the food .
Food
The Amish have a reputation for good food . Numerous tourist restaurants feature “ Pennsylvania Dutch ” and “ Amish-style ” cooking . Amish food typically is very filling , and not lowfat . We went to a smorgasbord called Shady Maple for dinner . This is an allyou-can-eat restaurant . I had never seen that much food in my life . There was something for everyone and the price was amazing . It costs twenty dollars per adult and that included soft drinks . If you love food this is worth trying . The produce was fresh and understandably so , they did not have far to travel from farm to plate .
My biggest takeaway from this trip was a challenge to myself , to take at least one day every now and again and unplug myself from technology and just be . The Amish experience is definitely one to add to your list .