Do the Amish Play Sports?

Do the Amish play sports? Yes! We watched Amish young ladies in Mt. Hope one year playing in a volleyball tournament. It was serious business! This article from The Wooster Daily Record, a few years back, describes sports among the Amish. Volleyball and softball seem to be the favorite games.

One caveat - the author of this article is a bit off about rumspringa. It's not about "tasting the world" before joining the church. It's more about joining the youth for singing on Sunday nights and the beginning of finding a good match for a spouse.

And part of that rumspringen experience is similar to English teens: Sports!

Amish Farm Tools Redesigned for Use on African Farms

What a great idea being presented on Michigan Radio about redesigns of Amish farm equipment for African countries ! The Amish certainly still make use of hand equipment and horse powered farm implements so their knowledge and manufacturing would be a wonderful asset to tap into. Here's a quote from the article: 

"Many of the tools Tillers looks to as models are still produced by Amish manufacturers. According to Kline, these tools still work well and they are also very sustainable." 

This is insight that can be quite relevant to countries where a simpler way to farm is essential to life. It's a win-win collaboration. Be sure to listen to the radio podcast included at the top of the article for more information.

Jack Witt shares his three-day jaunt through Ohio's Amish country in this article shared on my Dee Yoder Author of Christian Fiction Facebook page. It's a good itinerary to follow for those with a short amount of time to spend in Amish country.

The photo is of an Amish young lady applying chocolate decorations to the yummy confections created at the Coblentz Chocolate Company in Walnut Creek.

Ohio's Amish country is a great place to visit!

I have Amish and Mennonite in-laws there, too, so it's usually a family gathering that takes my family to Holmes County and surrounding areas, but there a lot of wonderful things to see!

Just remember, though, that most shops close on the weekdays and Saturdays at five or six o'clock, and most shops in the Amish areas are closed on Sundays. That's when nearby Millersburg is a good place to explore. Enjoy the journey!

Lael Harrelson's Tremors of Doubt Book is Fantastic!

If you haven't yet read Lael Harrelson's Tremors of Doubt novel, you're in for a treat. It's a wonderful story filled with great characters and situations.

Learn more about Lael and the reasons she wrote this story at Amish Fiction Authors website. Her book is unique, well-written, and chock full of details about the conservative Mennonite's she knows well. I highly recommend it!