Called to Be Amish

Each time I read an Amish book or watch a television show about the Amish, I am in awe of their lifestyle. The simplicity of keeping to their faith, while working hard with the modern conveniences we find in our homes like electricity and air conditioning and the love of their community. While most shows on television portray an exaggerated form of Amish living, most are a far cry from what really goes on. They live their lives much like we do, but their faith is what sustains them in trying times.

In the book, Called to Be Amish, author Marlene C. Miller takes readers into what is it like for an English girl raised in an abusive and unloving home and finds love in an Amish young man who laces up her skates once winter day. Knowing the mixing faith cultures that are very different is challenging enough but this true life story is how Marlene eventually made that transition to willingly give up the life she knew living among the English to embrace the Amish way of life. She wasn't pressured into making that decision, since the Amish don't encourage English people to join the Old Amish order unless that can be sure the decision is one made from the heart and not by love for a man.

It shows not only the difficulties on both sides, English and Amish alike that come from learning a new language, a new way of life, and the hard work that truly goes into making a life among the Amish which is far from simple. From learning how to do without modern conveniences like a phone or electricity, to how to learn how to handle driving a horse and buggy, setting up for a home church at your home, dealing with death, and celebrating a wedding. It is far from simply wearing a plain dress, apron and kapp, it is appreciating the life God has chosen for you, accepting God's will for whatever happens in life and never truly being alone because you have the strength of an entire community behind you.

I received Called to Be Amish by Marlene C. Miller compliments of Herald Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are my own personal ones. I loved learning about becoming Amish as my family is quick to remind me of the many times, I have wanted to visit an Amish family and farm for a few days to get a sense of what getting back to basics really means. I treasure their faith most of all as it is one that is lived out with 100% honesty daily. They accept whatever happens in their lives as God's will and they never seek to adopt any of the outside influences of the English changing lifestyle. It is sad to see that not many Amish are left, only 275,000, as most younger Amish are leaving to join the English world now that farming is becoming more challenging and the price of land is growing more expensive than some people can buy as well as limited availability among the growing towns and families. There are some great recipes the author shares at the conclusion of this book and I will be looking for more Plainspoken Series Books in the future, written by Amish and Mennonite men and woman about their lifestyles. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

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Called to Be Amish by Marlene C. Miller

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