What? Why? How? An ex-Amish Interview

Amish Jonas (Josh)

English Josh

I interviewed 25-year-old Josh, asking the questions some of you might ask him. Josh is a valued part of our Nixon family; legally he’s my son-in-law’s cousin so we are related by marriage but, Josh has moved into our hearts; emotionally he belongs to us.

  What was the best part of growing up Amish?
 
"For me, the best part was sitting around the table to eat with family; Amish seem to value family. They all help each other such as barn raisings (nobody gets paid). Amish make a lot of their own things like food, clothes, and furniture. They work hard. Kids are taught to work for a living, no sitting around playing video games while expecting someone else to pay the bills."

  What do you feel was a challenge to being Amish?

Cost and Rules of Buggy Ownership

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Last week I was chatting with Josh (birth name, Jonas) about buggies. I had talked with Mosie about this before but, it was interesting to confirm the information or hear new stuff from Josh's perspective. Did you know the cost of a buggy ranges from $1,300 - $20,000? Josh said he used to build buggies, remove wheels and grease, wash, etc.

Mosie

He softly crept out the door of his farm house. It was a still, dark night. For two miles he walked along the shadowy country road and debated his decision to leave. 

Eighteen-year-old Mosie, born into a New York Amish family, one of twelve children, turned from his society and all he knew because “there had to be more.” Tears welled up in his eyes as he feared being caught and stopped, and dreaded the painful shunning if he succeeded. Wearing his handmade, Amish clothes, and with $50 tucked into his pocket, he made his stealth escape.

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Mosie & his Amish brother

I admit it; until three years ago, I knew little of  the Amish. I neither romanticized nor criticized this culture even though I live in Ohio, home to the largest number of Amish settlements nationwide.

Then, by divine ordinance, Mosie, Uria, Andy, Dan, Harvey, Levi, and Jonas came into our home. By mutual adoption, our "son" Mosie became a daily and valued family member.

Then Harvey - who grew up Amish and left - married our daughter. Marvin, Uriah, and John were brief relationships. Jonas (who prefers Josh) moved into our hearts and is a permanent family member now. And there's sweet Mary, Sarah, Martha, Noah, my pals in the Amish & Beyond group, and more via Twitter. I'm on a vertical learning curve about this society; those both inside and outside. I'll have stories and fascinating details in coming weeks. So follow by email (see right column) to stay informed.

Feel free to ask questions, leave comments, give suggestions. After all, the great minds are always learning, right?   ~ Brenda

(C)Copyright 2012, Brenda Nixon.

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9/17/14 Update - Thanks for reading this blog. What is 200,000? The number of readers worldwide who come to learn accurate details or entertaining stories about the Swartzentruber (and sometimes Old Order) Amish.

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