WELCOME ELMER-WHY AMISH DON'T USE ELECTRIC

Thank you for letting me put a post on New York State of Mind.  This is something I wanted to do since I had an interest in computers.  As I am Amish, I am not allowed to own a computer.  My son owns one, but it is in his store and used for business, so he is allowed.

This question that was asked is: Amish in this person's area don't have electric, but use wringer washer with a gas engine or some kind of engine.  What is the difference between using electric and some other kind of engine?

First let me explain us Amish a bit before I answer the question.  There are three major Amish, the  Swartzentruber, the Old Order Amish, and the Beachy Amish.  Also, there are other groups like the New Order Amish, Peachy Amish and more, but I am going to discuss the three major Amish.  Of the three major groups, I, my wife and family are Old Order Amish.  Now within the Old Order Amish, there are also different groups or divisions.

Why I tell you this?  Well say our plumbing in our Old Order Amish house.  We have three bathrooms and a powder room.  We have two full  bathrooms upstairs, one full bathroom downstairs off our master bedroom and a powder room off the living room for guests to use.  In our bathrooms are sink, full bath tub and shower plus a toilet.  We have running water in all the bathrooms, the powder room and the kitchen.  A Swartzentruber house has a pump either at the kitchen sink or outside and out houses.  The Beachy Amish have full plumbing like ours, electric throughout their house, and drive cars. So you see there are different Amish and different answers for these three major groups, but all are Amish.

Even within our Old Order Amish, some groups have pumps at their kitchen sink or outside and use out houses instead of indoor plumbing.  On the other end are a few Old Order Amish that have modern plumbing and electric in their houses.  I have a cell phone because I am a volunteer with our local fire department.  When the issue came up, it was brought up before the Bishop, deacons and then the church, where it was voted.  Myself and a couple Old Order Amish are allowed to have these cell phones as we are volunteers.  Should I, for some reason, stop volunteering with the fire department, I must get rid of the cell phone.  Discussing this with another Old Order Amish friend in another town, he was shocked that they would allow me to have a cell phone.  Old Order Amish in his area are not allowed cell phones under any circumstances.  I am not trying to confuse you, but I want you to know that different Old Order Amish areas allow different things.  What you might find at our Old Order Amish house would be different than you would find in a Swartzentruber Amish house or a Beachy Amish house or even another Old Order Amish house.

Now that I have completely confused you, let me answer the questions.  There is no evil in electric, it is what we would do with it.  My son is allowed to have electric in his store, only, for the lights and computer.  He had gas lights, but it did not show his merchandise so that customers could see it well.  Because he deals with people throughout the United States, Canada and more countries, he is allowed to do business on the computer and use a telephone.  He is not allowed to get on ebay or alike, have face book, etc.  A friend set up an advertising webb for him that gives his e-mail and phone number if they are interested in buying his merchandise.  None of this is allowed in his home.

In our Bible we follow Romans 12:2-" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God."  If we had electric in our homes, we would put in plugs in which we could plug in our stoves, refrigerators, appliances etc.  But, we could also plug in computers, television, DVD, radio, items that we are opposed to.  Having these items could effect our attention to our church needs, doing our chores, visiting our family and friends and more.  Electric could also bring us closer to the outside world that we want to avoid.

I know when 9-11 happened, I went to my englisher neighbors to watch his television-I felt it was important to see. I also went when I heard of the Nickel Mines as I also felt that important.  Our stove and refrigerator are on gas in our home.  We milk our cows powered by generator-I remember when we did them all by hand, so in some ways, we are coming more ways of the world.   Our washing machine has a gasoline engine.  We have gas lamps in our home and more.  But, we also try to stay away from the ways of the world as much as we can.

Hope I answered your question.  I guess I will be coming back as Marilyn has another question that was asked about the difference between the Old Order Mennonite and Amish.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

ELMER HAS A QUESTION. WHEN ASKED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD ORDER MENNONITES AND AMISH-DO YOU MEAN WHAT SEPARATED THEM YEARS AGO? OR THE DIFFERENCE TODAY??????

The picture above is a handmade children's barn that was for the Haiti Auction.  I have more pictures of it.  Elmer wanted something from the Haiti Auction as a picture maybe something farming.  I hope this pleases him.

Marilyn

SUE ANN'S SAUERKRAUT CANNING IS ON TOMORROW !!!