Amish General Store: There is an Amish-owned store in Montana that is not that much different than the gazillion other Amish stores I've been to: fresh baked goods, bulk foods, an awesome deli, and on and on. What makes this store unique is less what is in it and more what is outside of it: the gorgeous Mission Mountains towering above the settlement. This is a photo I took when I visited this Amish general store about 10 years ago.
Here is an excerpt of the article:
The Amish community in St. Ignatius is similar to those scattered across the state: small and close knit. Roughly 30 families — about 160 people, counting children — pursue a devout Christian lifestyle in the shadow of the Mission Mountains.
“The culture comes from years ago, being constantly driven out by persecution,” Bontrager said. “We’re taught strong work ethics, that you work to survive. We teach the concept of helping people out, all Christian, biblical-based principles.”
All members of the community are raised bilingually, with Pennsylvania Dutch as the main language. Kids are fluent by the age of 7, and mandatory schooling stops after eighth grade.
The Amish of St. Ignatius, Montana comprise the only settlement on a Native American reservation. So there is a mix of culture and beauty here that you won't find anywhere else. The Mission General Store recently changed hands and is now Stutzman's Country Store. It's no longer Amish-owned, but plenty of Amish employees remain and the owners grew up Amish, so there's no much of a change. Click here to read the whole article.
Amish Increase in Northern PA: This is an interesting article for an odd reason. Yes, the fact that the Amish are increasing in numbers in north-central Pennsylvania is noteworthy. But as I was reading this I was thinking to myself, there was a reader, a Barb Wright, who was a regular on this site for years who lived in that area, so I just found myself wondering how she was doing. And, then, of all things as I read this article there is "Barb Wright" quoted...that's be crazy if it were the same one. Anyway, read the article here.
Belize Mennonites: I wrote yesterday about the Amish of Rich Hill, Missouri. They actually have a "sister settlement" in Belize and CNN did an article about it the other day. The photos are really striking. Click here for the article.
Millie's Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits: Let's check in with Millie Otto. She is an Old Order Amish newspaper columnist in Arthur, Illinois. She writes a charming column full of fun and wit and recipes. I had the pleasure of visiting her once in person. Anyway, click here to check out one of her newest columns, which includes a delicious recipe for cinnamon raisin biscuits.
Fire Pit Accident in Ontario: A Mennonite family experienced a tragedy when a gas can near a bonfire exploded. Click here to read more.
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