Posted on 07/16/2004 3:01:21 PM PDT by Preacher777
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - President Bush met privately with a group of Old Order Amish during his visit to Lancaster County last Friday. He discussed their farms and their hats and his religion. He asked them to vote for him in November.
The Amish told the president that not all members of the church vote but they would pray for him.
Bush had tears in his eyes when he replied. He said the president needs their prayers. He also said that having a strong belief in God is the only way he can do his job.
This story has not been reported before. You might think an observant press follows the president everywhere, especially during a re-election campaign, but no reporter attended this meeting.
Sam Stoltzfus, an Old Order historian and writer who lives in Gordonville, spoke with a number of people present at the session with the president.
He related what happened to the Scribbler, saying the Amish “caught Bush’s heart.’’
The 20-minute meeting with Bush occurred immediately after the president addressed a select audience at Lapp Electric Service in Smoketown Friday afternoon.
An Amish woman who lives on a farm across Witmer Road from Lapp Electric that morning had presented a quilt to the president with a card thanking him for his leadership of the country.
Bush said he would like to talk to the quilter and her family.
So the Secret Service invited the family to meet the president. Friends wanted to come along, and the entire assembly eventually numbered about 60. They were evenly divided between adults and children of all ages.
The group walked together across the road to Lapp Electric.
Stoltzfus reports: “It took a while to get them through the metal detectors as these were farmers and shop men, with vice grips, pocket knives, and nuts and bolts in their pockets. Some ladies had baby gear. All pockets had to be emptied.’’
When the Amish were “found not to be a serious threat to national security,’’ they were allowed inside the office area of Lapp Electric and waited about 30 minutes for the president to appear.
“Babies got restless. Children squirmed,’’ Stoltzfus reports. “Suddenly the president and five Secret Service men stepped into the room. One housewife said, ‘Are you George Bush?’’’
The president replied in the affirmative and shook hands all around, asking the names of all. He especially thanked the “quilt frau,’’ who operates her own business selling quilts and crafts.
“He seemed relaxed and just like an old neighbor,’’ says Stoltzfus.
Bush said he had never met any Amish before and was curious about why the men were wearing straw hats rather than black wool hats. The Amish explained that they wear cooler straw in summer. Bush tried on a hat.
The president commented on the appearance of Amish farms, and an Amish man spoke apologetically about how he and his friends were not expecting to see the president and were wearing soiled work clothes. Bush said he did not mind that.
Another man remarked that he has twin daughters, as does Bush. The man said one of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the president and now she actually had done that.
“One of the young girls wanted to give Bush a whoopie pie cookie,’’ Stoltzfus says. “Bush declined it. The Secret Service man took it, as presidents aren’t supposed to eat untested food.’’
At the end of the session, Bush reportedly told the group, “I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.’’
As the president left the room, one Amish man wished him good luck in November.
“The Amish group headed back to their farms and shops,’’ reports Stoltzfus. “Mothers took their children home for a nap and went back to their sewing and gardens.’’
Bush moved along to an appearance in York County, leaving behind a group of Old Order admirers who have tales to tell for the rest of their lives.
The Scribbler column runs Tuesdays and Fridays in the New Era.
Well ya gotta admit, it IS a bit over the top.
"I really enjoyed watching the movie 'Witness'...it reminded me of my days in Vietnam...I want to sit on your front porch (after all, that line worked with the NAACP crowd) and talk about our values...God bless you..."
Uh...something like that?
Yeah, something like that.
"who amongst us has not seen "Kingpins" and does not know of the plight of the amish?"
"The man said one of his twins had dreamed the night before that she was shaking hands with the president and now she actually had done that."
Speechless Bump! Darn these tears that keep getting in the way of my typing!
Well he is at the top.
It is good to know he does not consider himself the ultimate authority.
Heh!
Lysie I love that area of the country and those people...if I ever hit the lottery I'm moving out there and buying a farm..
What a great story!
I go out there at least once a month...I love the people....and I agree the traffic is horrible.
May some clever organizer point out that even the orthodox Amish who won't vote CAN register and have one of the English vote on their behalf. This happens all the time with certain RAT precincts in Philadelphia that have 100% plus voter turnout when (as one black resident put it), they can't get 40% turnout when the government is giving away free cheese.
Not at all...that doesn't mean he thinks everything he does is what God has instructed him to do...he means that he prays to listen for God's guidance. Sometimes, we think we hear his guidance, but are really just trying to push our own agenda. The humility comes when you hear what you don't want to do, but are sure is right.
I am sure this happened with the president when he ordered us into Iraq. He knew that men would die on both sides, and that it could cost him the presidency.
Great post!
All my kinfolk out there wouldn't like Kerry if they knew his heart.
(But it's doesn't surprise me that the Democrats would nominate a Jane Fonda in pants with the blood of a million Cambodians on his hands)
LOL...........Wonderful story about some fine people meeting a fine president!
We visited Shipshewana, IN, last month, where there is a large and prosperous Amish community.
Dear Mr. President:
It's the Quakers you've gotta be quiet with.
You can talk with the Amish all you want.
u ;-`
Well it's one thing to pray for God's guidance...
It's quite another to say that God speaks "through" him.
Save your money! I live out here, and it's getting all built up with shopping malls, super highways, etc. The poor Amish have to try crossing highways without having a traffic light in most areas. Drunk drivers and hit and runs are very common with the Amish being the victums. I used to love it here, but it's getting worse. The Amish are cool people. Just don't ever try to outbid them at an auction...lol. They come with alot of money, and if they want to bid on something, they are most likely gonna outbid ya! But if you wanna hire someone to put on a new roof, or build a porch, many Amish men I know are the best around.
I don't think so.
The last time they tried it .. the Christian community had a flying cow right back at them.
It should be noted that Amish (and Mennonites) are committed pacifists. It's funny to hear they didn't scold Bush over the war (yes they are aware of it) unlike some other "pacifists".
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