Episode Three recap:
“Hellloooo... Hellllloooooo!”
That's me down here in this imaginary hole I've crawled into in the last week. Things have come so thick and fast with thousands of emails, text messages, phone calls, and random people stopping by my workplace that I have found a happy place in the back of my mind where I go and hibernate for long periods at a time. That being said, please keep the communication coming; I enjoy it, albeit a bit overwhelming at times.
No one was more relieved than was I when I was finally allowed into the hospital room where Jonas was being held. A little behind-the-scenes info on the hospital scene. It is difficult to get a hospital to agree to let in professional film crews. Mainly, nobody there wants to make that call, and it takes quite a while for our request to filter up the chain of command and finally reach someone who is allowed to give us that permission. In the meantime, some of the footage, like the scene between Hoss and I, was shot outside on the sidewalk, which was not on hospital property.
Another scene, one I didn’t even remember us filming, can be found on NatGeo’s website. In it, I am visiting Jonas at the hospital, and I feel bad that his only food was liquid, fed through a tube and into his stomach, so I snuck in a bag of cheese and when the hospital staff had their backs turned, he indulged in solid food. You can see that clip by clicking the link below...
One of the beautiful things to watch is when one of the Ex-Amish falls upon hard times, and the rest fall back upon their default settings—that is, everyone comes to show support, donates money, and promises any future assistance when needed.
You may remember that when Amos M first left the Amish, he moved in with my wife and I. He worked on my construction crew until 2010, when I finally switched careers. At that point, Amos moved on, bought his own place, and continued the ‘chain of love’. It was after he was established in his new home that he met Hoss and Peggy, and although Hoss and Peggy aren’t former Amish, the Ex-Amish bonded quite easily with them. Currently they are there for the Ex-Amish with assistance in things like fixing broken cars.
Curtis, oh Curtis. Although I didn't allow him to get too close, it is not unusual for someone like him to hover around Columbia and try to inject himself into the Ex-Amish community. Usually, and in almost all instances, these hoverers, bring some form of religious manipulation with them, figuring that by using God as a method of argument, surely no Ex-Amish can reject that message… Mose’s Thoughts: Literally every Ex-Amish kid ever, left the community to get away from the Curtis’s of the world. We can smell religious manipulation from a mile away, and frankly, anyone attempting that method will get a very cold, stiff shoulder.
Episode Four preview:
I make a trip to Pennsylvania to help build an Amish-style barn.
Michaela visits another Amish place. A strange thing happened while watching Michaela search for a good fit within the Amish. I often drew parallels to her and my story, the difference being that I spent most of my life trying to flee the life, and now she is trying to flee the English life and do what I rejected. The irony…
Joplin, Missouri, about three hours from us, was hit by a tornado, The tornado was a half mile wide and six miles long, and pretty much flattened the entire city. With the help of Chris and Albert L, we got together a bunch of Ex-Amish boys to go help rebuild. Everywhere, people were telling stories of harrowing experiences, some ending in the loss of a friend or relative, still others, narrow misses. One such story, as told by a father, was of him and his son driving in the rain; the tornado sucked the sunroof off their SUV and sucked his son right out through the sunroof, even though he was wearing a seatbelt. But the father insisted he never felt any suction at all, sitting in the seat right next to his son. They never found the body of the son. There was another story of a father and his two very small daughters, found face down in a bathtub. The father was laying on top of his daughters, his arms around them, sacrificing his life to save theirs. All three perished. Yet another story of an employee of a restaurant who, when the tornado hit, ushered his fellow employees into the icebox, while he stayed on the outside and wrapped his belt around the icebox door latch to keep it from sucking open. He saved the life’s of sixteen employees, but his own body was never recovered.
A small amount of time in episode four is spent with me looking for, but unable to find a place among the Amish for Michaela.
Mose’s food for thought: Is it just me, or do I talk slow and monotonous on the screen? Because when I’m watching the show, I admit, I can’t wait for someone else’s mug to appear and replace mine…
All criticisms of Mose aside, Episode Four digs deeper than any episode to this point. I hope you like it.
About Author
Mr Gingerich!
I cannot tell you how moved I have been from watching the Out of the Order documentary and now the Out of Order series. I could fill this entire page with praise for the wonderful work you are doing for the people who need you, especially as their experience is one shared by few. Sincerely, there are not enough words for how much happiness I feel at knowing that you are helping people to make decisions best for their own lives, whatever those decisions may be! I was particularly touched by your work with Michaela.
My question to you: WHAT CAN WE DO? I feel compelled to help, but how can someone from another part of the United States help you, help the ex-Amish community? What could I do to make a positive impact on what is going on in your corner of the world?
What is needed? Donations? Books? Supplies? Man-hours?
I suppose at this point there is really not too much that can be done. I am in the process of setting up a legal account to put donations into, so some of these new kids that leave can afford high school and college instead of just leaving and going straight to work.
Well, sir, the minute it is up and running I would be more than happy to share what very little I have with those that you are helping. When there is so much darkness in the world, truly, I have been so touched by your life experiences and you have reminded me that there is so much good and human left in this world.
Just the fact that you took the time to reply to me personally touches my heart. Thank you again for sharing this part of your life with the world, and with me.
Mr. Gingerich, you sir are the very definition of a TRUE visionary missionary!! Not to say that you have any motives that are religious in nature. What I mean is that you have an amazing ability to see possibilities and potential, and then carry it out. I wish there were more people like you. Everyone on your show seem to be truly good people. I wish all of you the best of luck and look forward to watching the show.
I wouldn’t be human if I hadn’t cringed after hearing Jonas’ family’s reaction to his accident and then wouldn’t allow him to visit unless he stayed. I cannot imagine a mother being able to turn her back like that, but she has to, doesn’t she? As an Amish wife? If that is the stance her husband takes, sadly she must follow. It makes me sad just to think of it!
It is more a church and the elders of the church thing, sadly enough.
You are an awesome man. Maybe THIS is the path God chose for you?
Sometimes I really wonder what is the path GOd has in store for me. Like you said, maybe this is it. But somehow I can’t help but feel like there is more.
I am amazed at the people I have ‘met’ through this TV show! Thank you for what you are doing. It must be very hard on these young people trying to find their way and on their family that is left behind. You all are in my prayers as you walk through this journey.
I’ve thought long and hard about both the Amish and the “English” ways of life because who can really say which is the right way, so to speak, since valid arguments can be made back and forth. But what I think really tips the scale over to the “English” side is the issue of education, or lack thereof as a means of control. In our world you may be limited in the educational level you could achieve because of economic obstacles, but other than the time and money an education would cost, you are encouraged to complete whatever you can, earning plenty of “atta boys” from society along the way. But if the Amish elders truly believed that their way of life was the most righteous and best, why would higher education be a threat to their way of life? Why couldn’t there be Amish doctors or journalists? In my opinion, that’s what spans the difference between a religious sect and a cult. A cult needs to brainwash it’s members to ensure that they remain members. A religious sect does not.
As difficult as it is to leave family, friends & familiarity, there is a reason that people feel the need TO leave. God created man with the desire to live free.
Mose, my husband & I recognized your WI accent & he feels vindicated since I discovered & told him you are from Greenwood. My husband spent his teen years in Neillsville & we lived there a few years ago. In fact, earlier this month, we attended the Annual Elmhorst / Peaceful Pines Pancake Feed to celebrate the maple harvest.
{Mormon} Dan Elmhorst runs a taxi service for the Amish.