Kate is a 17-year-old young woman who is planning to become Amish. She has graciously offered to write some Monday guests posts for my readers and has kindly answered many questions (left as comments), too. This is Kate’s last blog entry for us. It’s been interesting and educational to read about Kate’s journey. I know she’s appreciated the warm comments and encouraging words. Please keep Kate in your prayers as she finishes up high school and prepares to become baptized into the Amish church this summer. She’s a very special young woman!
I want to start out by thanking you for all the emails and comments you’ve given me. They’ve truly blessed me in ways you’ll never know. I do want to make sure I say that all the ‘credit’ or any type of glory goes to God. I don’t want any admiration or anything like that because without God none of this would happen. I am simply following Him where He is leading me and serving Him the only way I know how. Therefore…He gets all the glory 🙂 With that said…here’s my last post I think (not sure but I think I’m out of ideas!).
My spiritual journey to the Amish is, to me, the most important part of the journey. There is no point to living the Amish life without a Biblical foundation. The Amish life is all because of the Bible. They live the way they do because they have the conviction from God’s Word. I never understood people that said they’d like to join the Amish but weren’t Christians or close to God. How? Why? I desire an Amish life because I want to follow my own convictions and please Him. I’ll do this post as more of a spiritual timeline about how I came to the conclusion that the Amish faith was right for me, and the Old Order specifically.
I was raised in a somewhat Christian home. Up until the age of 6 or 7 we, as a family, had gone to church and been taught to love Jesus. In 5th grade I accepted Jesus as my personal savior and became a daughter of the King. After I was saved I began to want to serve Jesus more. For some reason my love of the Amish was increasing. This is when I wrote a letter to the Amish family, which is something way out of my character so I look back and know it was a step led by God.
Once I started going to Amish church services I really began to want to serve my Lord. I saw the Amish doing things different and living differently than anyone I’d ever seen. It was then that I started asking questions about the many why’s bubbling in my head. This was the little start of my convictions that would later develop. So I knew a little bit of why the Amish did what they did but I hadn’t dug deeper into it to find out more.
Ninth grade found some major changes in my life. God had got a hold of my life after a year of not really growing in Him. I asked my Amish “Mom” why the ladies wore a head covering. She led me to 1 Corinthians 11 and I spent weeks studying those verses. After praying about it for a long time God convicted me to begin covering. Soon after that I asked about dresses and being simple. “Mom” directed me to another passage and I began to get convicted about dressing more modestly. This wasn’t totally new to me since I have Baptist cousins who dress in only skirts. God really worked in my heart and I began dressing in skirts and dresses. Can you imagine walking into *public* high school doors wearing a covering and jean skirt? I lost some “friends” and realized those who were truly my friends. I was known as the girl who wore skirts & had the funny bun (there were actually 2 other girls who only wore skirts which was a blessing!). It was *hard*.
I began to stray from those things because I was feeling different. By this time the Lord was really directing me towards the Amish and it was scaring me. I mean it was something I wanted but yet it was so different! I started telling God “no” and started wearing pants and going uncovered again. This is something I regret deeply now but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
What changed me? I can’t exactly say. But eventually I was tired of being unhappy and trying to fit in when I knew it wasn’t right. I re-surrendered my life and future to God. At this point, when I gave my future to Him, I felt utter peace that I hadn’t felt in a long time! It was an amazing feeling. I again began to feel God saying “Kate, I want you to join the Amish church. I am asking you to do this and I know the plans I have for you! Don’t be scared I will give you the strength” and this time I trusted Him.
Ever since that day I have felt unwavering peace about my future and life, when it’s in His hands. I’ve also been completely sure that He wants me among the Amish church. Whenever I begin to question that I immediately get unrest and quickly give the “pen” of my life story back to the Author of life.
This time of waiting has proven to be a blessing as well. While sometimes I find it so hard to wait to become Amish and follow that calling, I have grown so much in my faith during this trial. Even my Mom’s disapproval can be counted as a blessing because I know that if I am faithful to God good will come. I am striving to be content and it’s a battle I fight every day.
Being in the Will of God has made all the difference in my life! I am so excited to live out my convictions with others who also share them, Mom makes it hard to live those out right now but I do try.
I know that this won’t be a perfect, cookie cutter, life but I know that with God I can withstand anything! I am not fooling myself into believing all will be well once I’m Amish because I know I will still have struggles. But I know that if I am following God and His will for my life that I will never be lost.
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about my journey and that you will continue to follow it. My only prayer for the blog is that it will help someone, anyone, on their own personal walk with God. I don’t do it for my own glory but for His! Thanks for being such a wonderful encouragement and thank you, Suzanne, for allowing me this pleasure.
Through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Kate
What an amazing story Kate! Thank you for sharing God's plan and your obedience.
How precious!
Blessings to you in your journey!
Oh Thank you Kate for sharing your story. I really enjoyed it. Many Blessings come your way.
I just read all four posts and I'm very impressed. I applaud your initiative and determination to follow your calling. I wish I had the guts to make such a move in my own life and walk with Christ.
What a Blessing for a young person to decide that now is the time to follow Christ. Kate thank you for sharing… I pray that other teens would give their lives over to the Lord.
Kate .. It has been a pleasure to read about your journey. May God walk by your side and lead you the rest of the days of your life.
Kate, it's been a blessing to me, as well, to read how you have followed the Lord's direction. i believe that standing apart by dress and conduct as you had to in school strengthened your faith, tho' looking back it may seem you fell – but you got up again! i am glad that you explained that you do not join the Amish except to follow God's direction, and i trust you do not depend on the anonimity of them direct your faith. Blessings!
Thank you everyone! Shelby, I agree being in public high school really makes you wish everyone could know Jesus 🙁 I pray for those kids I pass by everyday in the hall, those near my locker etc. I wish everyone had the joy I do! God is so good!
Kate
thank you so much kate for sharing your testimony of all the things the Lord is doing in your life. I too ever since I was 14 have been drawn to the Amish and whenever I think about them I pray for them. May the Lord continue to guide you in all that you do.
Thanks for sharing your story – and my prayers will continue to follow you as you continue your journey. You are a brave girl to listen to what is in your heart and follow your convictions even when it is hard. Everything is possible through God, but that doesn't mean it is an easy thing to do!
God bless you, Kate! Your story encourages me to follow God's Will for my life, too! Thank you and God go with you!
Katie thank you for sharing your story. I pray you will continue on this narrow path. My favorite bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 states that God has plans for you and I believe that this is the plan He laid out for you. I wish you the best and I will continue to pray for you.
Thank you for sharing your story, Kate. I wish for you all the best. Hugs!
I want to Thank you and God for your obedience to His call on your life on being Amish. I try to live a more simpler life, but come short. May God keep you in His arms with both your Amish family and your other family. Who knows what God has for your parents, maybe they will become closer to God. God Bless you and both your families.
Remember Kate you can do all things in Christ Jesus. Many blessings to you in your life's journey. Thought about this myself, wondering why everyone didn't help others' the way the Amish do. Loved ready your story and would love to hear how your doing from time to time. God Bless you my friend
Bless you. I admire your strenght and courage. May God continue to give you wisdom, guide you and direct your path every day of your life.
Maybe one of these days you could write a book on your experience. If so I would read it for sure.
I just finished all of your posts and I am very happy for you. Being in God’s will for your life is all that is important and gives one great peace! Much and happiness and blessings for you in the months and years to come. I know you are going to learn a lot of new and exciting things and become a part of a beautiful community! I greatly admire the Amish and their belief in the bible and their convictions, these things must come first then you get to reap the rest of the benefits
God Bless you as you continue on your journey to following in His footsteps and His will for your life
I know that you have already joined the amish so this may be a waste of my time but I’ll ask anyway. I am a young teen and recently I have been having struggles with my beliefs and religion, the three religions that have always intrigued me but that I have never considered as a way of life are Amish, Mormon, and Buddhism. I have been raised in a loose Christian household since I was one, my whole family is Christian. I do believe there is a god or deity but which one I don’t know. I once lived near an amish community in polson and I loved the people and how nice they were. I am just wondering if anyone can give me some insight on the faith and practice because I believe that the amish have a reasonable way of thinking about that of religion, however everyone has always told me to pray and I never feel like I receive an answer from god so please help me if you can.
God Bless
Sparrow,
Your post was a good number of months ago, but it sounds as though you could use someone to chat with regarding faith in general. I’m not Amish, but if you’d like, I can try to answer some of your questions regarding Christianity.
A more private exchange is often more helpful to those in your position – even with the anonymity of the internet, there is a certain amount of exposure involved in any frank discussion of personal faith. Speaking from experience, it can be difficult talking to anyone in the church community you grew up in – I would suggest checking out other churches in your area and finding a mentor you can speak with privately. I would offer, were it not for the fact that you are a teenager on the internet, and I, a random adult.
A final note – depending on where you live, you may be able to find a Primitive Baptist or Free Will Baptist congregation near you. I’ve found that these groups commonly speak more easily about their faith, and they tend to practice a more conservative, simple lifestyle as well. If you’re drawn to the practices of the Amish, Mormons, and Buddhists, these groups may also interest you.
God Bless – I know you’ll find your way to Him.
Sloan