7/31/13

Desperate Amish Parents

Mosie's dad gave it to him.

Josh and Harvey each got one from their parents.

Sarah received hers a few weeks ago. Her brother Monroe (who lives with us) came home and threw it in my lap.

What am I talking about?

The "Letter." A warning letter (or a paraphrased version) desperate Amish parents give their wayward children who leave for the "outside" life.

The first time I read Mosie's (our "adopted" ex-Amish son) letter I thought it was so ominous, so callous, so negative and devoid of any mention of love. I don't know how Mosie withstood the forlorn words of condemnation and shame. While he didn't express his feelings, I perceived Mosie's self-doubt, pain, and confusion. His letter told of those who left the Amish to face the "dangerous path" and how miserable their choice made the parents and how they broke the parents' hearts.

By "disobeying parents," the child was on his path to hell! Only obedience to parents and returning to Amish gives one a hope of Heaven.

7/24/13

Monroe on the Run, part I

Seventeen-year-old Monroe left his Amish settlement late Thursday evening.

We received a call from his cousin, "Two of my cousins just left. Can you give them a place to stay for just one night?"

My husband and I drove to the meeting place and brought Monroe and his sister to our home. They immediately needed English clothing, toiletries, shoes, showers, and Monroe wanted to cut his required Amish haircut. Equally necessary was getting each their birth certificate and social security number so they could establish themselves and move on in a non-Amish society.

I've already shared with you about Sarah (see "Saving Sarah"). Taking her 17-year-old brother to obtain these legal documents proved more challenging . . . and frustrating!

7/17/13

Breaking Amish LA

They emailed me. The subject line said, "documentary."

"They" were a California film company asking if I'd participate in a new Amish reality show. Hmm, I wondered, how real?

Most TV reality shows are scripted hype (with foul language), and far from factual. In truth, many of my ex-Amish pals know the young people on TLC's Breaking Amish show. No, those characters are not just now "breaking" from anything - they've been out for a while! Other reality Amish TV shows feature characters who've been English for several years; producers are simply exploiting the history of these individuals to script a show. Go ahead and watch if you want silly entertainment.

(Warning: I'm climbing up on my soapbox) The ex-Amish I've met are vulnerable and easily persuaded. Since they've been told everything to do or not do, they have immature decision-making

7/3/13

Amish Best Kept Secret

It's true. They exist!

I first learned about them from my "son" Mosie. He said, "We had our own."

"So what were they like?" I asked.

"They pulled out our teeth."