Dee's News July 2013
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| PO Box 128 | 575 U.S.250 | Savannah OH 44874 | (419) 962- 1515 |
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| Mary Schwartz Earns her R.N Degree |
Laura Yoder Gets her Driver's License |
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Congratulations, Mary!
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Laura lives in Ashland, OH. Congratulations, Laura! |
Mary Schwartz graduated as a Registered Nurse from Marion Technical College with an associates degree. She reports she is currently still looking for a nursing job. In the meantime, she is working with her sister at 8 Sisters Bakery.
Laura Yoder was excited to show her driver’s license paper. She took the written and road tests to earn her license in May 2013.| Top of Page |
| Malinda Schrock Earns her GED |
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Malinda is married to Abraham Schrock and lives in Mansfield, OH. Abe is rightfully proud of his wife and her accomplishment. Congratulations, Malinda! |
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| Welcome Iva Miller! |
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I was taught that if I was obedient to my parents and to the Amish church, I would have hope for salvation. At the young age of 12, however, because of a summer Bible school ministry and MAP’s Bible club, I received Jesus Christ as my Savior. I remained Amish and became a baptized member of the Amish church at age 17. For the next three years, I read the Bible more. I found myself discouraged because I did not understand the Bible or even how to read it. Discipleship and Bible study are not allowed within Amish culture. I wanted to know God more deeply, and I wanted my life to be meaningful. I turned again to the Bible, this time to study it with a real hope to find answers and to know more of God. I began to study the book of Romans. God’s Word held the answers to every question I had. I shared this with my mom one day, not expecting her extremely negative response. Her fear was that this would cause me to one day leave the Amish. She was right. In April, I committed my life to God. Immediately following this was the most challenging season of my life. As I read the Scriptures daily, the fruit of His Spirit grew within me. My mom noticed that I was not the same person. Though I was now more patient and loving, she did not like that I was different. I would urge my parents to have devotional time with me, knowing that if Christ is the center of our family, conflict would have to leave. My mom’s response was that the Bible was brainwashing me. One day after work, I was broken to find that my mom had taken my English Bible away from me. It became clear that I would either need to stay and submit to my parents or I would need to leave the Amish. The pressure got more intense. In October, I had the opportunity to live in the apartment of an elderly couple. Though my parents did not think I would ever leave the Amish, on January 2nd, 2010, I left at 6:30 a.m. with my last bag, leaving only a note on the counter for my parents. As the van took me past the place where my dad was working, intense emotion filled me, and tears ran down my face. I realized the reality and seriousness of the choice I had just made. My parents tried to get me to return. They even tried to arrange for me to become a patient at the mental facility where I was then volunteering. For two months I continued to dress Amish, but attended a non-Amish church. I was awed at the simple freedom of taking my English Bible with me to the church services. I loved the joyful songs and corporately praying freely to God instead of the written prayers given in our antiquated German language. Another turning point in my life came in April. I was still Amish, and I was obligated to attend council and communion services. If I would not attend, my Amish church and community would know that I had left. I would be shunned. As I sought and prayed through this very important decision, I realized there was no turning back for me. I chose to no longer be part of the Amish culture. I earned my GED in June. Desiring to know Jesus more, I began attending a Bible school in PA. I needed to Because I had been so hurt previously, I would never have chosen to go to Indiana or to see another Amish person again. God, however, changed my heart, and now I am looking forward to working at Mission to Amish People and helping the Amish and former Amish with their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles that I know so well. I count it a great joy to have the opportunity to lead these precious people to Jesus. |
I grew up in an Amish community in northern Indiana. I am the youngest child of four. I was ten when my 21-year-old brother died after a two-year battle with a brain tumor. My oldest sister is married, and another one is no longer Amish.
know the Bible much better than I did. I recognized that I did not have a solid foundation in Christ, and I could easily fall prey to unsound doctrine. I needed to be able to differentiate what was truth and what was tradition. As I began studying and learning the Bible more, I was filled with a great love for my parents and all Amish people.| Top of Page |
| Wedding of Rachel Marie Keim and David Garwood |
The ceremony was presided over by Pastors John Bouquet and Phil Conrad. Joe Keim officiated the vows at his daughter’s wedding. The wedding ceremony was held at Bethel Baptist Church, Savannah, OH. The reception took place at Baptist church in Savannah, OH. Rachel’s bridesmaids were Mary Schwartz, Rachel Littler, Anna Wolfe, Rebekka Foreman, Wendy Hauger, and Sarah Columbus. David’s groomsmen were Paul De Vos, Michael Garwood, Jacob Garwood, Charley Garwood, Jonathan Keim, and Chris Sherwood. The flower girl was Faith Hall and the ring bearer was Malachi Keim. Junior bride and groom were Loriann and John William Keim.
Congratulations David and Rachel! |
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Rachel Marie Keim and David Garwood were married on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Rachel’s parents are Joe and Esther Keim of Ashland, OH. David’s parents are Dave and Mary Ellen Garwood of Plain City, OH.
David and Rachel are residing in Hilliard, Ohio. Rachel reports “David and I are completely overwhelmed with gratefulness to our families and friends for all of the support throughout this whole process. Our families put weeks and weeks of hard work and time into the reception hall and planning and were behind us every step of the way. Then, on the big day, we were just shocked by the turn out and completely blessed by all of the love and kind words we received; we still feed like a million bucks!” | Top of Page | |
| 37 FREE Things to Do with Your Family This Summer! | |
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11. Watch old family videos Play Games: 17. Board Game night with friends or family Your Local Community:
Look in the "what's happening" pages of the newspaper or online
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| Cross Point Events! | |
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| Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund: Behind the Title | |
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Emma Miller |
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23. Take a walk around your neighborhood, stopping to visit a few neighbors
the ball around and have fun
31. Organize a Neighborhood Block Party
Emma left the Amish when she was 16 so she could continue her education. She is currently working at Shell as a Risk Marketing Analyst in London, UK. She has a Masters degree in Economics and Finance from London Metropolitan University and a BA in Economics from San Diego State University. She strongly believes that education should be available to everyone who wants it. If you have any questions about ADSF or would like to ask her any questions about Amish life, you can email her at emmamiller.adsfund@gmail.com. 
Naomi grew up in Jamesport, Missouri and graduated with her nursing degree from Goshen College in Indiana. She is now working at the Goshen Hospital, following her dream of being a nurse. Naomi is passionate about ADSF and has worked really hard to make it happen.
Saloma was born and raised in an Amish community in Ohio. Driven by her desire for freedom and more formal education, she broke away from her community––not once, but twice. She graduated from Smith College in May 2007 with a major in German Studies and a minor in Philosophy. Her education has included research on the Amish with Dr. Donald Kraybill and a semester abroad in Germany, where she studied at the University of Hamburg. She is the author of the memoir Why I Left the Amish. In February 2012, she was featured in the PBS documentary The Amish that aired on American Experience. During her thirty-year inner struggle of coming to terms with her Amish past, she has gleaned a better understanding of herself and her heritage. It is this perspective that she brings to her reflections about Amish. 
William grew up in Parkman Ohio where he started working full time straight out of the 8th grade. At the age of 18 he left the Amish and moved to Celina Tennessee, where he helped start the Dutch Craft Mattress Company. After 4 years of managing the factory he decided to act on his aspirations of acquiring a higher education. He currently resides in Akron Ohio and attends The University of Akron, where he is pursuing his BA in Finance.
