The Amish don't seek publicity, but their way of life became well known to the world after the 1985's movie "Witness", (starring Harrison Ford and Viggo Mortensen, as the young boy). The Amish avoid cameras because their religion teaches them that photography represents vanity. The Amish religion also forbids the acquisition of money and materials, goods simply for the sake of having them or impressing one's neighbors. I have been reading several books on their lifestyle and beliefs. One author wrote that "although they dress differently and travel differently, but their goals are essentially the same as the goals of most other people - to live happily in this life and to do the same in the next life. They just happen to have chosen a road less traveled to reach their goals.
Really, the Amish life isn't about what they don't have. Instead, it's about what they do have ... My wife and I respect the Amish for their Christian faith and their simple way of life - focusing on God, family, community, and hardwork.
- The Amish have a powerful work ethic. For many people, work is a means to an end. To the Amish, work is something different. It's a way to make money to to pay the bills but it also has its own inherent worth. The Amish work because their faith tells them that work has value.
- The Amish are enterprising - Because the farm economy is volatile and often weak, almost all Amish families have cottage industries to supplement their farm income. In particular, the Amish women make quilts, which require a lot of artistic skills and patience. One piece can take one year of 12 hours daily sewing to complete. Hence, the handmade quilts are very expensive. A piece of quilt to cover a queen/king-size bed can costs up to US$7,000. My wife adored a piece called "I promise you a rose garden", but it was just too expensive at $6,800!
- The Amish are frugal, not poor. In their culture, the acquisition of wealth simple for the sake of having impressive material goods is unacceptable. Their beliefs tell them that cars and other modern gadgets won't help them find happiness or salvation.
- Whilte most outsiders will have difficulty understanding how one can live without 20th century conveniences, the Amish are happy in their way of life.
p/s - Lancaster County is 2.5 hours drive from Happy Valley. I have just found out from my readings that Big Valley (closer to Happy Valley, 1 hr) also has a big community of Nebraska Amish, which is considered to be the most conservative of all Amish. Big Valley (near Belleville) is also considered the most scenic setting in all of America's Amish country. We will definitely bookmark this as a place to visit next spring.
References:
S. Bill (2003) Guide to the Amish Country
Yoder, D. and L.A. Kelly (1992) America's Amish Country
http://www.mennolink.org/books/search.cgi?bk.mg.07.txt
