Few outsiders join the Amish faith— and even fewer stay for a lifetime. Since 1950, less than 100 people have joined the Amish, and Marlene C. Miller is one of them. In this flowing memoir, Marlene recalls a life that took an unexpected turn, from being a cheerleader and majorette to becoming a Old Order homemaker.
After an unhappy childhood, Marlene fell in love with a young Amish man named Johnny. Against the wishes of both sets of parents, Marlene and Johnny got married and began raising a family (they would eventually have ten children).
With the help of her new community, Marlene began wearing Amish clothing, and learned to sew, cook, and help her husband on their hundred-acre farm.
God's love gradually called Marlene from the bitterness and despair of her childhood, leading her to embrace her new life, despite hard work, family tragedy, and the inevitable strains of living in a new culture. More than 40 years later, Marlene is still an Old Order Amish woman, and believes her life was directed by God.
From Herald Press Plainspoken Series, which publishes true stories about Plain People.
- Paperback
- Author: Marlene C. Miller
- Published 2015