I LOVE Amish Country and I love the Amish!  Everywhere you looked, whether in town or out in the country, was like looking at a postcard!  If I told Donnie once, I told him 12 times, “I could be happy here!” He just shook his head, but then I saw that deep concern come across his brow as he thought, “OH NO! The last time she said something like that 8 months later I found myself moving to TEXAS!!!”   But, NO WORRIES!  I quickly realized that I could never live there, because if I did I would weigh 500 pounds!  The baked goods were so amazing that I ate out loud and invited some odd looks my way.  At the risk of talking too much about food, I’ll stop with this question:  Have you ever tried broasted chicken? Because until you do, you are one meal short of fulfilling your life’s eating experience! 

But, let me back up a little, we were met at the Akron, Ohio airport by the Inn owners, Eric & Carol Gerber, a wonderful couple with which we became fast friends.  No, I mean really GREAT friends! In our travels we always meet wonderful people who leave a lasting impression on our hearts, but with Eric & Carol we had EVERYTHING in common!  Donnie and Eric, and Carol and I had all the same likes, dislikes, hobbies and interests.  It didn’t take us long to figure out that if we lived in the same town we would be best friends!  So, much so we were truly sad to say goodbye.  Our prayer is that we will travel back to see them or they to Texas to see us, but if that doesn’t happen on this side of heaven we know we will have an eternity of time to spend together.

The Inn at Amish Door put this event on themselves and advertised it throughout the community.  Their hope was that some of the Amish ladies in the area would attend.  I prayed and asked God to please bring a few to the conference.  I desired in my heart so much to meet these wonderful ladies and have a chance to interact with them.  God did it and He did it BIG!  Not only did He bring Amish ladies to the conference, but we met a lovely young Amish lady who worked at the Inn’s gift store and we spent a long time visiting with her.  She was so sweet and answered our many questions.  I, of course, asked if she minded us asking her questions about the Amish lifestyle and she assured us she was not at all offended.  I could honestly write a book on the 3 short days we were there, but time and space will not allow.

I will close with saying that the conference was filled with a wide variety - from nonbelievers to the mature in Christ, with Mennonites, Baptists, Pentecostals and, yes, the Amish.  After I gave my testimony on Friday night a few of the Amish ladies approached me and thanked me for my message as they had recently lost their brother in a tragic accident and also their father who they had cared for with a long term illness, had just passed on.  The Lord truly ministered to them through my story and helped them to see the truth that God’s Will is perfect, though we may not always understand it and that God can prevent things from happening, though sometimes He doesn’t.  But we can find His peace that surpasses all understanding by knowing that He makes NO mistakes!

Thank you for the honor of allowing me to minister to each and everyone of you. I think of my time with you so often and will cherish them forever.