As I said last week, when the young men get to age 16, many of them get a buggy like the one above. Sometimes their parents purchase the buggy and horse for them. Sometimes they purchase it themselves. Also some young ladies get one. Not many of them, but a few do.
"Rumspringa" is time that allows the young folks to see and do some of things in the world that they are not allowed other times of their life. It is to help them make the decision to stay in our world - to be baptized into our church. It is not a time for them to be let lose and do anything they want in the world, although, unfortunately, a few do.
In the evenings on church Sundays, the people that hold our church service also have the young folks, age 16 and older, over to their home. This is a time the young folks, both ladies and men, are together for singing. After singing, depending on the season they may play volley ball or soft ball. Of course, there are homemade snacks and soft drinks. Before they leave, the usually have a few more songs. Maybe the man, at whose home this is at, will say a few prayers.
Also during the season, sometimes some will just invite the young folks over for volley ball, soft ball, ice skating, skiing, dinners and more. These are times for the young folks.
During this time young folks do things that we parents are not suppose to know about, but some how we find out. Some go to movies, buy CD's, buy cars, etc. I really liked it when one of our son's bought a car and tried to hide it. How to do you hide a car? They sometimes park them behind Englisher friends barns. Sometimes inside an Englisher friends barn. Sometimes they park in the woods, Somehow we parents always find out. Of course, sometimes we find out when they are driving it down the road and pass our buggy.
When Anna and I were "Rumspringa" or rummage age, the worse things our parents had to worry about were smoking and liquor. Sometimes and I do say this sometimes, young folks have parties where the have music, smoking, liquor and drugs. Drugs has become a problem in some areas. Times have changed.
This is also time when young men and young ladies are looking for the right person to marry and spend the rest of their life with.
Do any of our children do things like on that television show? To be honest, I only saw part of that show once. I don't see the children in our area doing things like that. Do we have children that leave our church and homes? Sometimes. Usually if they leave, they come back. I forgot what Bishop Eli said, but it is something like only 10 per cent or 20 per cent of the Amish leave and go into the Englisher world. So far, our Old Order Amish has not had that happen. When I say ours, I mean our area where we live. I am not talking about all Amish groups. I don't know about the others.
Anna calls "Rumspringa" parents hair pulling time. No, we don't really pull our hair, but we are very concerned about our children as we are all the time. But this time is the time of most concern. We want our children to make the decision of staying within our church and being baptized.
Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer
12 comments:
Good morning, Marilyn. I think that all parents go through the scary time of our children losing their way, whether with their faith, trying drugs, being unsafe. When my son turned 16, he became more active in church groups and the like, but I still worried what he did AFTER the groups. He stayed safe, stayed smart...he is one of the blessings of my life.
Thanks to Elmer and Marilyn for this interesting post. I am curious how the young people obtain a driving license without their parents knowing about it. Or do they just buy a car and drive it without a license? I'd be a hair-pulling parent too.
I agree that we all go through this time of worry about our children - sometimes the older they get, the bigger the worries.
Mary
All good parents are concerned when their children reach this stage in their life. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Good Morning Angela,
I think all concerned parents go through that. Looking back I gave my parents a lot of agrivation when I was that age. But back when I was a teenager, we didn't have or do all the young folks have now.
Marilyn
Good Morning Mary,
I agree, that all parents go through that. Will ask Elmer your questions about the driving the car.
Marilyn
Good Morning tom,
You are right. The sad thing is not all parents are good parents.
Marilyn
A great post by Elmer. I am wondering the same thing as Mary.
Good Morning Vickie,
I will see that Elmer gets your message and question.
Hugs to Mable and Henry,
Marilyn and Pierre
Marilyn: Good post! I agree with Anna, it's hair pulling time, no matter the faith, when kids think they are old enough to find their own way. Also, when Elmer asked (tongue in cheek) "how do you hide a car?"... well, all teens think they are smarter than parents. Guess it's a rite of passage.
Carol in SC
Children in our church are baptized a little earlier than age 16. Like you, parents work very hard to teach the little children about Jesus Christ and the gospel, very gently, so they can accept baptism. They have a choice. Generally, people don't understand that the trouble Lucifer got into in heaven before the earth was formed was over allowing choice in earthly life. Lucifer said he would make certain all returned home to Heavenly Father spotless, and, for that, Lucifer wanted all the glory. Jesus, on the other hand, promised to love us and be a perfect example for us to follow, should we choose to do so. He did much more than that, and is still working for us constantly. He promised to take upon himself, our sins. He promised to glorify the Father by obeying Him perfectly. We hope our children will find Him, personally, and learn to follow Him, throughout their lives. When we are connected with the Savior and allow him into our lives, we can live in a way acceptable to Heaven. If we choose to live as the world would have us live, there's not much hope of qualifying for the kingdom on high, unless we repent and turn away from worldliness. All god-fearing parents hope they can be effective in helping their children learn to follow the Savior. It is our heart's desire. How glad we are when we see them accept the gospel by their own choice!
Hi Carol,
I guess think they are smarter than their parents are sometimes. Will see that Elmer and Anna get your message.
Marilyn
Hi Prairie Stitcher,
I think most parents try to teach their children the right way. Sad, some parents don't. Maybe they weren't taught. I never had children, but I am glad when I see someone accept gospel of their own choice whether child or adult. Will see that Elmer and Anna get your message.
Marilyn
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