The Amish: Living Simply in a Modern World

Roots of Faith

The sun was setting over the Swiss hills when little Anna heard her parents whispering in the kitchen. The year was 1693, and life was getting harder for families like hers.

"Papa, why are you and Mama looking so worried?" Anna asked, her blue eyes wide with concern.

Jakob, Anna's father, pulled her onto his lap. His beard was dark and his hands were rough from farming. "Sweet child, sometimes we must be brave to keep our faith."

Their small farmhouse sat nestled in the Swiss Alps. The wooden walls kept them warm, and the smell of fresh bread filled the air. But lately, things had changed.

Maria, Anna's mother, was stirring a pot of soup. "We cannot pray the way we believe anymore," she explained softly. "The leaders here want us to follow different rules."

“But why can’t we pray how we want?” Anna asked, playing with her simple brown dress.

Jakob shared a look with Maria. "God gave us the freedom to choose how we worship Him. But some people don't understand that."

The family wasn't alone. Other families in their small group, led by Jakob Ammann, faced the same troubles. They wanted to live simply and follow God's word as they understood it.

One evening, there was a knock at the door. It was their friend Peter, looking tired and worried. "The officials came to my farm today," he said quietly. "We must decide what to do."

Maria held Anna close. "Perhaps it's time to look for a new home," she whispered.

Jakob nodded slowly. "I've heard of a place called Pennsylvania. William Penn has promised religious freedom to all who come there."

A Family’s Choice

That night, as Anna lay in her small bed, she could hear her parents talking about a big ship and a long journey. She didn't know it yet, but her family would soon join others in searching for a place where they could worship freely.

"Will we have to leave our farm?" Anna asked at breakfast the next morning.

"Yes, liebchen," Maria said, using their special word for 'dear one.' "But we'll build a new home where we can live as God wants us to."

The days grew shorter, and more families joined their group. They shared meals together, prayed together, and made plans for their journey. Even though they were scared, they knew they had each other.

"Remember," Jakob told Anna as they looked at their farm one last time, "our real home is not in these buildings. It's in our hearts, where God lives."

Anna held her mother's hand tightly. She didn't know what America would be like, but she knew that as long as they had their faith and each other, they would be okay.

The stars were bright that night as the family gathered for evening prayers. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, they thanked God for their blessings and asked for courage for what lay ahead.

Across the Ocean

The big ship rocked back and forth as Anna held tight to the wooden railing. The year was 1694, and her family was sailing to America. The ocean stretched as far as she could see.

“Mama, will we ever see land again?” Anna asked, her stomach feeling queasy from the waves.

Maria smiled and stroked her daughter’s hair. “Yes, liebchen. God will guide us to our new home.”

Jakob helped other families store their precious items: Bibles wrapped in cloth, warm blankets, and seeds for planting. The ship’s crew spoke English, which sounded strange to Anna’s ears.

“Remember what we’re sailing toward,” Papa would say when times got hard. “A land where we can pray freely.”

Some days were scary. Big storms made the ship creak and sway. ️ Families huddled together, singing hymns in their special language. Anna learned new songs during these times.

Making Friends at Sea

Anna met Sarah, another little girl her age. Even though Sarah spoke English, they found ways to play together.

“Look!” Sarah pointed one morning. “Dolphins!”

The gray creatures jumped and played in the waves beside the ship. For a moment, everyone forgot their worries and smiled.

Weeks passed slowly. Maria taught Anna to sew while they waited. Jakob helped fix parts of the ship with other men. Everyone worked together to make the long journey easier.

Land at Last

“Land ho!” The cry came early one morning. Anna rushed to the deck with her parents. Through the morning mist, they could see trees!

The ship sailed into a wide river. Green hills rose on both sides. This was Pennsylvania, their new home.

“What do we do now, Papa?” Anna asked as they carried their bundles onto the shore.

Jakob pointed to the forest. “We build, liebchen. We build our new life here.”

Other ships were at the dock too. Anna saw more families like hers, wearing plain clothes and speaking their language. They would all help each other start fresh.

Maria unpacked their precious Bible. “See?” she said, showing Anna the well-worn pages. “Some things stay the same, no matter where we are.”

The air smelled different here – like pine trees and fresh earth. Birds they had never seen before sang in the trees. Everything was new and exciting, but a little scary too.

That night, as the families camped by the shore, they sang their old songs under new stars. They had made it across the ocean. Now their real adventure would begin.

A Home in the Wilderness

The morning sun peeked through tall trees as Anna watched her father swing his axe. Thunk! Thunk! The sound echoed through the forest as Jakob worked to clear their new land.

“Will this be where our house goes?” Anna asked, touching the rough bark of a nearby tree.

“Ja, right here,” Jakob smiled, wiping his brow. “God has blessed us with good land.”

Learning New Ways

Other families worked nearby, helping each other build simple log homes. The sound of hammers and saws filled the air.

Maria learned from Native American women how to plant corn and squash. They showed her which berries were good to eat and which plants could help when someone was sick.

“Look what I found!” Anna held up bright red berries.

“No, liebchen,” Maria said quickly. “Those are not for eating. Running Deer showed me which ones are safe.”

New Friends, New Ways

A Native American boy named Little Fox often visited their clearing. He taught Anna words in his language, and she taught him words in hers.

“Danke,” Little Fox said carefully, making Anna giggle.

“Wado,” Anna replied, using the Cherokee word for thank you.

The community grew stronger each day. Families shared what they had and helped each other. They built a small school and a meeting house where they could worship together.

Keeping Their Ways

Even in this new land, Anna’s family kept their special traditions. They wore their plain clothes and spoke their old language at home. Every evening, they read from their Bible by candlelight.

“Why do we live differently from others?” Anna asked one day.

Maria smoothed her daughter’s apron. “Because these ways help us remember who we are and what we believe. They keep us close to God and to each other.”

Growing Community

As autumn came, the families celebrated their first harvest together. They shared food, sang songs, and thanked God for their new home.

“See how much we’ve done together?” Jakob said, looking at their neat farms and houses. “This is why we came – to build a place where we can live in peace.”

Before winter, more families arrived from across the ocean. The community welcomed them, sharing food and helping them build homes. They were making their own special place in this new land.

At night, Anna would sometimes sit on their new porch, looking at the stars. They were the same stars she had seen on the ship, but now they felt like home. Their new life was different from the old one, but it was good.

Jakob and Maria smiled as they watched their daughter grow stronger and braver in their new home. This was just the beginning of their story in America.

Keeping Our Ways

Sarah smoothed her plain blue dress as she watched cars zoom past their farm. She was sixteen now, and sometimes wondered about the world beyond their community.

“What’s on your mind, Sarah?” her mother Rebecca asked, noticing her daughter’s thoughtful look.

“I was just thinking about Jenny Miller,” Sarah said. “She left to live in the English world last week.”

Making Choices

Rebecca sat next to Sarah on the porch bench. “Yes, each person must choose their own path. But remember why we live this way.”

Inside their home, Sarah’s younger brothers were doing homework by lamplight. No electricity meant no bright lights or computers, but it also meant more time together as a family.

School Days

The next morning, Sarah walked to their one-room schoolhouse. Children of all ages learned together there, just like their parents and grandparents had.

“Today we’ll learn about running a small business,” Teacher Martha announced. Many Amish families had shops or sold handmade items.

Working Together

After school, Sarah helped her father in their furniture workshop. She loved the smell of fresh wood and watching simple boards become beautiful tables and chairs.

“Quality work honors God,” her father always said. “We build things to last.”

Outside, horses pulled plows through the fields. While their neighbors used tractors, the Amish chose to farm with horses. It kept them close to the land and to their traditions.

Community Decisions

“Can we use phones for our furniture business?” Sarah asked during dinner.

“We have one phone booth for emergencies,” her father explained. “But too many modern things could pull us apart instead of keeping us together.”

Special Times

On Sunday, families gathered for church in different homes. Sarah loved these days. Everyone wore their best clothes, shared big meals, and sang beautiful hymns.

Young people played volleyball and had singings in the evening. It was fun to be with friends who understood their way of life.

That night, Sarah wrote in her diary by candlelight. She thought about Jenny Miller and the English world. But then she remembered the peace of their simple life, the joy of working together, and the strength of their faith.

“This is where I belong,” she whispered, watching fireflies dance outside her window. ✨

Tomorrow would bring more lessons in balancing old ways with new challenges. But for now, Sarah felt sure about who she was and what she believed.

Moving Forward, Staying True

The summer sun was setting as Jacob Miller looked over his farmland. His solar-powered greenhouse sparkled in the fading light. It was new, but the community had agreed it fit their values.

“Times are changing,” he told his son David. “But we change carefully.”

Smart Choices

Inside their workshop, Jacob showed David their horse-powered tools. They made beautiful furniture without electricity. Some pieces even sold online through non-Amish neighbors who helped them.

“Why can’t we use power tools like the English?” David asked.

“Our ways keep us close to God and each other,” Jacob explained. “When work is slower, we spend more time together.”

Growing Food, Growing Together

In the greenhouse, Mary Miller planted tomatoes with her daughters. They used simple drip pipes to water the plants.

“The greenhouse helps us feed more people,” Mary said. “That makes it right for us to use.”

Market Day

At the farmers’ market, Amish families sold their goods next to modern vendors. Their fresh bread and handmade items always sold quickly.

“Your pies are the best!” English customers often said. “How do you make them so good?”

“We take our time,” Sarah explained with a smile. “And we use recipes passed down from our grandmothers.”

Finding Balance

Some families started small shops. Others made special furniture or foods. They worked together to stay strong.

“We don’t need to be rich,” Jacob told David. “We need enough to live and help others.”

Evening Peace

As night fell, families lit their gas lamps. Children played quiet games while parents talked about the day. No TVs or phones meant more family time. ️

Outside, horses rested in their stables. The only sounds were crickets and soft voices singing hymns.

David looked at his father. “I think I understand now. We’re not against new things. We just choose what helps us live better.”

Jacob smiled. His son was learning the wisdom of their ways. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but their faith and community would help them face them together.

In the quiet evening, stars shone brightly over their peaceful farm. ⭐ The modern world rushed by on distant highways, but here, life moved at a perfect pace.

Keeping Faith Alive

The morning bells rang across the valley as Sarah’s children gathered for breakfast. Three generations sat at the long wooden table, sharing fresh bread and stories.

Teaching the Young

“Tell us about the old days, Grossmammi,” little Emma asked her grandmother.

“When I was your age,” Grossmammi began, “we worked harder but smiled just as much. Our happiness comes from God and each other, not things.”

In their one-room schoolhouse, children learned reading, writing, and their special ways. Teacher Mary showed them how to be good helpers at home.

Growing Together

Outside, the community gathered for a barn raising. Everyone had a job – even the smallest children carried water to the workers. ️

“See how much we can do together?” Father smiled at young John. “That’s why we stay close.”

Looking Forward

More Amish communities grew across America. They found new ways to live their faith while staying true to their beliefs.

Sharing Their Ways

“English” visitors often came to learn from the Amish. They wanted to know about living simply and working together.

“We don’t think our way is the only way,” Sarah explained to some visitors. “But it works for us because it keeps us close to God and each other.”

The Next Generation

Young David watched his little sisters playing in the garden. He knew he would teach his children these same ways someday. ‍ ‍

“Our ways may seem old,” Father said, “but they keep us strong and happy. That’s why they last.”

A Bright Future

As the sun set, families walked home from the fields. Lanterns glowed in windows, and the smell of fresh bread filled the air.

The Amish had come far from those first brave families who crossed the ocean. Their faith grew stronger with each new day.

Little Emma hugged her mother. “I love our life,” she said simply.

Sarah smiled. Their way of life would continue, passed down with love from one generation to the next. While the world outside changed fast, the Amish would keep their special traditions alive.

Under the starlit sky, horse hooves clip-clopped on quiet roads. The peaceful sound reminded everyone that some things never need to change. ⭐