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    Home » Everything Amish » Amish in the News

    Many Hands Make Light Work

    Published: Apr 3, 2014 · Updated: Apr 3, 2014 by Kevin Williams | 4 Comments

    I dislike using cliches and hackneyed phrases but in this case "many hands make light work" - an expression commonly used by the Amish themselves - is too irresistible not to apply. There is a video going viral this week of approximately 80 Amish men moving a whole house without the benefit of machines, simply muscle.   It literally does put one to mind of 100 ants moving a log or something stunning like that. But the video is also an amazing illustration of how the Amish - as part of their culture and religion - act selflessly to help another in need without expecting anything direct in return.

    I'd say there's an informal bargain among most Amish that you pitch in and help others in the church because one day you may need help yourself.  And that bargain is very poignant and well-functioning.   Rarely does an Amish person in need find themselves left alone. None of the 80 men helping to move the house are in the spotlight, they are all just working together as one and that is the essence of Amish life.

    If you look closely to the left in the video frame you'll see a gathering of women watching the menfolk do the moving.  I'm sure they are making sure the men are well-fed and ready for this big move. Click here to go watch the video.  The video clip runs about six minutes and is well worth watching! I will also add that this was more than just "muscle" moving a house and plopping it onto the ground.  There's some real engineering skill needed here to pull this off.  Amish carpenters and craftsmen often have quite a skill for the nuts and bolts of moving and building items.

    The New York Daily News and other mainstream media have splashed the video on their web pages.

    By the way, most Amish would find the amazement of just journalistic pillars like the Daily News amusing.  This type of effort among the Amish is actually not terribly unusual.  It's unusual for it to be recorded and uploaded to YouTube, but working together for common cause is the lifeblood of being Amish. Caption:  Men moving a house, New York Daily News photo.housemoving

    « Vintage Tuesday: The Amish Cook - 15 Years Ago: Carrot Bake and Homemade Chili Soup
    Rich Hill, Missouri - Old Order Mennonites, Part I »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. wes

      April 03, 2014 at 3:39 pm

      Story above made Letterman, as Amish Mafia settling a debt, with their show's logo as the lead in.

      Reply
      • Kevin

        April 03, 2014 at 3:54 pm

        LOL, sounds funny, I missed that!

        Reply
    2. Pam

      April 03, 2014 at 4:35 pm

      Why were they moving the house? And far was it moved to?

      Reply
    3. Pam

      April 03, 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Why were they moving the house and far did it have to be moved?

      Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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