July 24, 2006
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Trip to Lancaster PA
( Don’t forget to check out my friend’s family website periodically. She has been posting wonderful suggestions and teachings that I know will bless you and your family. Be sure to check out OUR STUFF on the front page, too. http://www.givengrace.com)
Hubbin’s and I were a bit worn out from all the walking we’ve been doing in D.C. so he blessed me with a day trip to Lancaster, PA. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive through some beautiful countryside. After 4 days of asphalt and thousands of people it was refreshing to see acre after acre of green rolling hills.
Our first stop was at the Mennonite Information Center. They have a display of the outer courts of the tabernacle, the inner court and the Holy of Holies to the exact dimensions given in Scripture. A Baptist man made the tabernacle and then sold it to the Mennonites. They gave a beautiful narration of the Gospel while sharing how the tabernacle was a type and shadow of our High Priest Jesus Christ. We were not allowed to take pictures of the inner court and Holy of Holies but I took pictures of the outer court where the passing on of the sins from the people to the animals took place, the sacrifices and the placing of the blood on the altar and the ceremonial hand washings. The picture next to it is a mural of the tabernacle dwelling in the midst of Israel. It was very interesting.
The Mennonite Center offers Amish tours. We had a retired Mennonite Pastor named Paul give us a 2 hour personal tour in our car of the back countryside. He took us by many Amish homes and shared how to tell the Old Amish order from the newer ones. He was such a nice man and so informative. If you ever take one of their tours be sure to ask for Pastor Paul!
The Amish homes were beautiful! I was fascinated by their laundry hanging out on the lines and front porches for everyone to see. The first home was at an Amish craft and baked goods store. Can you see the clothes hanging on the porch? The second picture shows the clothes line along the side of the house. I tried to get a good picture of their beautiful garden which is in front of the house but the color didn’t show up. All the vegetable gardens we saw were so neat and had beautiful flowers planted in the front row. They were a work of art. All the Amish farms had beautiful flower gardens in their front yard.
This was the first covered bridge made to cross the creek in their county and was constructed in the 1700′s. The next picture is an Amish school house. The children attend from 1st to 8th grade. The Amish do not believe in higher education for fear it will lead their children astray. Do you see the playground next to the building?
This is an Amish graveyard. The deceased are placed in a wooden box which is made by an Amish craftsman. No frills or fluff. Very simple. They had one grave stone that was off by itself next to the fence. Apparently, the man had been ‘shunned’ from the church before they came to America and then he died later in the States. They placed him away from the other stones in case he hadn’t made things right with the church and God. The last picture is an Amish farmer with his team of horses. The Amish do not like their faces photographed so we tried to abide by their wishes as to not offend them.
We stopped by a Mennonite smorgy on the way home and had a down home meal. We had an Amish girl as our hostess. I chose foods that I normally can’t find in California like pickled eggs, pickled beets (very different), vanilla pie, and apple butter. Very good!
Tomorrow, Lord willing, we’ll head back to D.C. to see Ford’s Theater, Kennedy Performing Arts Center and Jefferson Memorial. Wednesday we have a scheduled visit through the Capital and hope to go through a few more of the Smithsonian museums. Thursday will be our flight home. I miss my family very much. My granddaughter goes to our house every morning ‘just in case Mimi and Bapa are home’.
In Christ’s love,
Georgene
Comments (15)
Curious. I just updated my Xanga and looked at the blogrings I belong to. I live in Lancaster PA. I was shocked to see your entry.
that sounds really neat! i love the small story about your granddaughter–she sounds like my nieces, who i am staying with at the moment.
hope all travels go well the next couple of days!! 
Oh sounds like such a wonderful day! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Beautiful pictures…And yes, I checked out your friend’s site…I enjoyed it very much! Her daughter’s entry on boasting was excellent! Thanks for the updates on your wonderful trip! With much love and many prayers, Paula
You were about a half an hour from our place!
She said the pain was high in her chest.
thanks for the pix- i enjoyed them so much! i love reading about the amish.
Good pics and very interesting. I’m so glad you two can do this trip. You’ll never regret it.
We did the Tour guide thing one summer and enjoyed it so much. Turned out that our guide, a Pastor Lester, looked vaguely familiar to me. It wasn’t until we were on the way back to the Center that our discussion uncovered the reason. When I was 10, he’d lived in our home for a week as the visiting revival speaker at our church. I graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School with one of his daughters, too. Small world.
The pain woke her. Would a panic attack happen when you are sleeping?
What a wonderful trip! There is an Amish community about 30 minutes from our house. I love to see the little buggies with the horses pulling them. Very interesting…and I love covered bridges!
We’ve never know her to be full of anxiety. We have been wondering if it was medication. I’m not sure of all the testes. She had a medical stress test, a scan of her heart, liver, kidneys, and gallbladder, and a heart cauterization.
My husband was saved when he was in Harrisburg selling Bible books in 1970! Believe it or not, a true believing Amish man led him to the Lord!!! Because of that, I think I am truly attached to Amish country….also I had a few who lived in my rural neighborhood when I was growing up…they actually attended the public school I was in because they didn’t have a way to do school among the 4 families that had settled there…
What part of Lancaster Country were you in. Matt & I live in Lancaster Country as well. So now you know a few people who live in Lancaster Country.
Blessing,
Amy
I would love to go to Lancaster. It seems like a quaint little place. Glad you enjoyed yourself!
Ann