Monday, July 24, 2006

• 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

   

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