“We all have events that are difficult to forgive. Write down one today and picture yourself handing it over to God, trusting that he will take care of it for you. Conflicts are an opportunity for forgiveness so that Christ will live within us.” – Amish reading at church.

I visited the Amish farm up the road yesterday afternoon, and when I drove by today on the way to the gym, I was startled to see Moses and some of his children swarming all over a new vegetable and food stand.

The framework was almost done. His sons rode up and done the driveway in a horse cart carrying planks of wood – Moses is a miller.

By the end of the week, their stand will be finished. It was a familiar affair. His sons brought wood on their carriage, his daughters helped him move the boards and place them.

Moses said the family would be selling baked goods and vegetables from their farm this summer; the stand had to be built before the sun got too warm.

I’ve never seen the kind of focus and industry the Amish bring to their work. Having a whole family behind works is transformative; it makes the Amish way of life possible.

Day by day, they become more organized, self-contained, and enterprising. I see their vision of their farm coming together. The fields are plowed, the vegetables will have a place to go. In a few weeks, the family will begin construction on their new house, which will be on top of the hill.

They work hard but with great creativity. They have no electricity or technology; they have strong and willing laborers right on the farm. And almost everything that is needed is built, not bought.

The children all welcomed me, calling out “hi, Jon,” and making me feel welcome. They smile and wave at me but keep working. Five of Moses’s daughters surrounded my car and stuck their heads in the windows while he hammered and sawed.

The boys came over to ask me if I had any more Hardy Boy books.  They are a hit.

I said some were coming, and I told them I also ordered some Boxcar Children books.  They were curious about them; this would be something new.

The girls were much taken with Laura Ingalls books, especially the Little House series.

Barbara asked me about hardcover books; she said they were neater and lasted longer than paperback books.

The children are helping me by telling me what they liked and didn’t like, and it is a joy to drive by and seeing them sit by the food stand reading.

Moses and his wife – I met her the other day – are pleased about the books and the reading.  I’m ordering some Little House photo books for the younger girls.

I asked Moses if I could take a photo of the Food Stand Construction from across the street. “Oh, sure, he said; why not?” I promised not to show at faces at close or near range.

The girls are used to me by now, I am not part of the family but it feels like it at times. Sometimes, I just stand and watch these people work. I can’t quite get over it.

I suggested that they just turn their back to the camera while I was taking a photo; it would only take seconds.

That worked for everyone. I hope that one day I will capture some of these remarkable faces, but I won’t push it. It has to come naturally, just like today. I think I’ll get there.

In one sense, I love the idea of no faces.

We all have to use our imaginations. The children are both open and charming.

One of the children told me that God brought me to them to have more books to read.

I didn’t know what to say. I never expected to be bringing books to the children of Amish neighbors, that is for sure.

I found two old Amish cookbooks online, and bought they both.