Since we now realized that our relationship with Jesus had nothing to do with whether or not we were Amish and that the Amish did not appreciate or approve of the fact that we thought we can know whether or not we are saved we decided to leave the Amish.
LV asked one of his friends to take him to take his driving test. He passed the written one with flying colors and when the instructor asked if he wants to take his driving test right away he thought "Why not?" When he came home he was carrying his drivers liscense and had plans to go looking at a vehicle the next day. By the next evening we were the owners of a vehicle. It had all happened so fast that it was a little hard to grasp that this was all real and not only a dream.
Sunday arrived and we weren't exactly sure what church we would be attending. We had heard through the grapevine that a nearby Mennonite church had a policy of not accepting any ex-Amish (that was later proved to be untrue) and we didn't feel like going through another round of rejection right away and opted to attend a little Mennonite church in Arkansas.
It was a nice little church, but almost too little. Consisting mostly of elderly people, there was only one family there that had children. We couldn't really see much of a future there for our family but decided to attend there until we found somthing else.
Trying to keep up with you this summer has been SO HARD! But I sure appreciate your writing and have been waiting to hear how faithful God was/is (always) in bringing you to His Truth!! You were able to leave without the dread of "what if." God's word spoke volumes for you then, and still does :-)
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ReplyDeleteWow, such huge changes in such a small amount of time. You were brave!
ReplyDeleteYour story is a bit sad, but isn't it good to be free to worship the Lord as He said - in Spirit and in Truth. I hope we will always be free to do that...
ReplyDeleteSo many changes... Good thing you had that wonderful feeling from that night to keep you strong enough to deal with them all!
ReplyDeleteso brave, both of you.
ReplyDeleteyour story is so inspiring and I just love the way you write. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to follow your blog. thank you.
TanasiGirl, I'm sure being used to driving tractors for years helped a little too.
ReplyDeleteLV must have been so excited to get his license. I have enjoyed reading your journey to a personal relationship with Christ.
ReplyDeleteI bet your mind was totally fluttering with emotions - ALL different kinds of emotions! I would want to just keep telling people and showing them in the Bible why I was doing what I was doing, but of course you can't actually do that all day every day. I know it was freeing but I know there was sadness mixed in. I'm glad you're sharing this.
ReplyDeleteJust stick with your convictions and know that you are now children of God and your future is secure. I praise God that you got saved. My daughter actually had read your blog and asked me if I had seen that. I was so excited.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I had thought you had already left the Amish church. I must have missed some posts.
Anyway take care and know that there are folks praying for you and yours.
debbieo
debbieo,
ReplyDeleteThey have already left the Amish church. These are memories, if you look down at the bottom of the post, if they are memories, she always has that as a "label"
I enjoy following your blog. It is wonderful to hear you tell of God's power and saving grace in your life.
ReplyDeleteI have been so amazed and surprised as I've read your blogs and your trip through the Amish life and non-Amish life. My family lived in the PA, WV, Ohio area (altho we didn't - my dad was in the Army and we traveled)..so I've heard Amish stories most of my life. I've been reading your accounts to my husband and he, too, is also surprised how your family was treated when you actually became saved by our glorious Savior.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your stories and wish you and your family a blessed life with many joys.....
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful, difficult, emotional time with all of us. You have a way of drawing your reader right into the story. I look forward to hearing about the transitions you faced.
ReplyDeleteAs you have been telling the account of your walk in God, it reminds me of my own and the same journey of so many others I have talked with and read about. It is so hard to walk on yet so spiritually freeing to walk in the Lord and the path He sets for us. The road at times gets rocky and rough, but we always have His assurance, “It is well with my soul”. It is this hope we are asked to speak of and it is this same hope some will not understand and even reject. That is the hardest part and the sad part, the witness that is rejected, because we grieve for the close heart to the truth. I pray for your old relationships to have their eyes open by your witness and life of obedience, God bless you.
ReplyDeleteMrs. J.
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ReplyDeleteYou were so courageous! I can't imagine all of the things that were going through your head during that brief period of time. Did you weigh the consequences it would have on your family, or did you just have your eyes fixed firmly on Christ? I can't wait to read what happens next!!! (I wish I could just turn the page and find out, but alas, I will continue to patiently devour each little morsel you give us! LOL!)
ReplyDeleteOne thing's for certain... this is an amazing testimony of the life changing power of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Leaving behind the Amish church and beliefs must have been difficult for you, but I admire your bravery.
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