Mattie Shetler

May 15, 2009

While I was Amish, many of my Amish friends, including me, were hiding some of the things we did that were not Amish-like listening to the radio, calling someone on the phone, and other things. I always wondered why God made some people to be allowed to have cars and we were in this little Amish community-having to work hard with our hands alone. Everything about clothes had to be exactly the same, and this bothered me. I was in trouble a lot because of this.

On the first day after I left, some people started telling me that I wouldn't go to hell just because I left the Amish. It was hard for me to believe this, but once in a while I would read my Bible, and go to church, and that helped me to believe it was true. I was still rebellious, though, until I moved in with Joe and Esther. Benny also helped me change my thinking and helped me to grow up. Many other people helped me, too.

Jerry Arman, who is my pastor, Joe Keim, and Rosie Morrison had an impact on bringing me to salvation.

When Benny and I were having our first premarital counseling, Joe had told us about how important it was to have God in our lives before we even got married. He asked Benny what his point was in waiting. Benny realized that there was no point, so he said he wanted to get saved. And then Benny asked me if I wanted to get saved, too, and I said yes.

I'm getting baptized today because I want to follow what the Lord wants me to do.

In five years, I want to be a lot closer to God, and I hope to be raising my children to love the Lord, too.

~ Mattie

^{This Testimony has been published with permission from the owner.}