The cell phone rings, and my husband, Mitch, answers. “Hi, it’s Jacob.” “Hey, Jacob, what’s up?” Mitch replies. This is not just any friend; this is a call from our Amish buddy. How are they using a phone, and what did he want? How did we help? And how would we have survived in the community raising our daughter Jessica? Our Amish story unfolds one horse hoof at a time.
techNOlogy
Talking on the phone is not easy for Jacob, even though it’s 2026. That’s because he and his family still live as if it were the beginning of the last century. Historically, the decision to keep a “plain” lifestyle was initiated between 1910 and 1930. The Amish didn’t stop using technology because they thought it was evil – well, perhaps in 2026 a lot has become evil – but that’s another blog.
They stopped using technology because they believed it interfered with the cohesiveness of community and family. If you want more (and better) information on the Amish, here is a link.
So, back to our Amish story, Jacob is the son of Eli, and they live in a neighboring town to our home in the Southern Tier of New York State.
The folks in the Amish community, in our region, may use someone else’s phone and ride as passengers in a car; however, they cannot OWN a car or phone.
This is not the first time that we have received a call from their family. About ten years ago, Eli dialed Mitch while we were at our home in the burbs, approximately 1.5 hours away.
Help
“Mitch, he said in his Dutch German accent, I need to get my son to the Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Can you help?”
Mitch, being Mitch, immediately got in the car and drove 1.5 hours to their home, then drove back to the Buffalo hospital. His act of kindness may have saved a life. Jacob has diabetes and needed care that was not available in the Amish community.
Jessica
This makes me think about how we would have handled living in this community with our daughter Jessica. Jessica has significant disabilities from a rare chromosome deletion and needs help with all daily life skills. With all those ambulance rides to the hospital when younger Jess was having seizures, how would we have managed? Would she have survived? Would we?
When I worked at Buffalo Children’s Hospital, I often saw the Amish community bring their young loved ones for treatment. The community comes together to help pay for services. Mitch and I attended an event many years ago, where the proceeds were collected to pay the hospital bills for a child with Down syndrome who also had medical complications and needed hospitalization. FACINATING ARTICLE ABOUT THE EVENT
The Amish community do not exclude their members with disabilities. The community rallies to assist families – the chilren based on what I have read are considered as gifts, not burdens. I like this philsophy. Here’s more on the topic.
Back to This Weekend
So, back to this weekend and the call. “Hi Mitch, it’s Jacob (now an adult). I was hoping you could drive our family to Spruce Lake for a day at the beach.” Spruce Lake is close to our home in the southern tier. Of course, Mitch said yes, and of course, I said, “I want to go too!” 🙋♀️
Jacob informed Mitch that they would drive, and by driving, I mean horse and buggy, to a location about fifteen minutes from our home, and we should meet them there.
The horses are unable to climb the steep hill, and equally alarming is “Where are they going to park their horse on the service road?” 🫨
Mitch immediately agrees and asks, ” How many family members?” Jacob replied that they are all coming, so it will be 15 people. Huh???
Eli, at age 43, has 12 kids and one grandchild.
Another kind helper also assisted with his truck.
Seat Belts? Is that Technology?
In our truck, we had four adults and two babies on their moms’ laps (shh, don’t tell the authorities). No Seatbelts – No Worries . I have been to the home of many Amish – the kids walk barefoot – young siblings are caring for younger siblings, and everyone is outside as soon as they can walk. Yet, all appear to be safe. In our home in the burbs, if the kids are walking barefoot with rocks and tools and other paraphernalia on the ground, someone is bound to end up in urgent care. So, seat belts were optional for the moment.
We drove the ten minutes up the seasonal road to Spruce Lake. Everyone exited the truck and made their way to the lake for a day of family, fishing, food, and fun.
Amish Story
So there you have it: an act of kindness, some ingenuity, risky driving, and friendship help to make a beautiful day at the lake.
Oh, wait! How did they get home? We will have to wait to our next visit to find out or perhaps we can mail a letter with a real stamp!
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gaylecaruso38 
Anonymous 
George MarksNice to know that humanity is still in style. 
Donald Zanella
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