Amish: A Secret Life (2012) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
1 There is not another Sister, friend of brother Loves the way Jesus can He proved His love for me when He died on Calvary He gave His life for fallen man His love is a boundless love In many ways, they were a typical Old Order Amish family.
His love is an endless love They were maintaining traditions and a way of life that go back 300 years.
Jesus wants to love you There is none above you A quarter of a million Amish live in the middle of modern America today.
He won't kill you.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Just like their forefathers, they believe in holding on to the old ways and leading a plain and simple life.
Moo! There is Power Power? # There is power But what made this Amish family extraordinary was the fact they'd agreed to be filmed.
They were prepared to go against the strict rules of their church, which forbids photography.
In allowing themselves to be filmed, they were taking an enormous risk.
There is power, power Wonder-working power In the precious blood of the lamb The film was to be about Amish family life and faith and a family had been found to take part.
But by consenting to filming, they risked excommunication from the Amish church.
For two weeks, they'd been praying, asking God whether or not they should participate.
Good morning.
Good morning! How are we? I'm good, I'm David Lapp.
Say hello to Steve.
Hello, Steve.
Good morning, David.
It's a lovely day.
It is.
How are you this morning? Very well! It's a beautiful morning.
Hello! Good morning.
Say hi, Ben.
Hi.
How you feeling about filming? We have peace with it or we wouldn't be doing it.
You know, we sought direction from God and if we wouldn't have got Um, if we wouldn't feel it would be OK with Him, we would not be doing it.
Shall we go and meet the family? Ja.
Yes.
Please come in.
We got visitors.
OK! Good morning! Good morning.
How are you? Fine, how about you? Good, it's a lovely day out there, isn't it? Yes, it is.
Yes.
Hi, Steve.
This is Katie.
This is our oldest daughter.
Katie, Lynn.
Actually, it's a little bit dark in here.
Could we possibly pull up a couple of the blinds? This is my son, Daniel.
How old are you, Daniel? Six.
This is Jacob.
How old are you, Jacob? Nine! There you go.
You don't have electricity here, do you? No, we don't.
Why is that? Why do Amish people not have electricity? Well, it's because of the distraction that comes with it.
Like, er, rather than having television and video games and all kind of gadgets that run off electricity we believe that, um That's the reason alone, is because it's to keep out the distractions so you can focus on principles of life, like family time together, reading the Bible The Amish speak a German dialect as their first language.
They came originally from Europe in the early 1700s, settling first here in Pennsylvania.
What do you think people in Britain will make of you and your lives? What will they think? That's a good question.
I have no idea.
Will they think it's real? I don't know, I don't know.
If they look at our lifestyles, without electric, they probably think we're a little, um old-fashioned, maybe, or too simple, I don't know.
What do you know about people in Britain? The only thing I have heard about Britain is the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, I believe, and about the Queen and the King.
But I have no idea how, um How they'd compare with the United States, really.
We've got a new prime minister now, actually.
Tony Blair's gone! OK! Yeah, I don't keep up with the facts.
Without radio and television and the internet, the Amish exist in a world quite separate - but alongside the rest of America.
A great deal of modern technology is rejected.
They live by a set of rules designed to retain their identity.
David and Miriam were breaking the rules by being filmed.
Amish church forbids people from posing or actively giving their consent to photography or filming.
Is lunch ready, Jacob? Who's gonna take a nap after lunch? Not me! Not me! Heavenly Father we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ, our King.
We thank you that you have allowed us to stand up today for the beautiful day, Father.
Heavenly Father, I ask that you will bless Jacob and Daniel and Kate and Benuel James and my beautiful wife, Miriam.
Father, I ask that you will bless me as well so I can do your will.
Heavenly Father, we ask that you would, in the name of Jesus Christ, that you would allow the BBC to bring honour and glory to you, Jesus.
We ask that it would soften somebody's heart and that that result will build your kingdom, Jesus Christ.
We ask for a blessing and strength upon the work that people are doing for it, Father, and we just ask that we could be doing your will throughout.
And that all honour and glory will come to you, Jesus.
Amen.
Go, Ben.
Yeah, like soldiers, because the rooster is not always nice to 'em.
There is the rooster.
Woo! Kidoo kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Was it just five? Seven? Seven? What is your approach to the number of children you have? To me, I don't even have a goal.
I don't Are your children planned? Hmm.
We just rejoice when God gives us another child.
There is no planning on our part.
I'm not sure what the definition of "plan" is, but I think I know what you're talking about.
Well, contraception? No.
Like, control? Yeah.
No, there is no planning.
Um For me, it's I think Miriam thinks about children more than I do.
For me, I'm so busy with the ones that He has given us when He gives us another one, I'm rejoicing, but I'm not really thinking we should have another one because how could I be one-on-one if we had ten, instead of five or four? But God would He doesn't make mistakes.
So I'm sure there is a way.
"Happy is a man that has his quiver full of them.
" I think, a quiver of arrows is 12 arrows.
Is that Am I right? I think so.
And happy is the man that has 12 of them.
Is that how many you would like? Would you like 12 children? Well, I can't quite see it possible any more.
I'm 32! And I've had four.
Er, I need a couple of sets of twins maybe to be able to make 12! But I've always, I thought a family of ten would be ideal.
The family were happy to be filmed shopping.
But it had to be discreet.
Other Amish also shop at the store and could challenge them at any time.
Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me Thank you Lord for giving to me All of my friends and family Thank you lord for your blessings on me All of the days, the rest of my life No matter what life holds for me I could be on my knees Forever you know But I never could thank you enough Everything for your honour and glory, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Let's get started.
It's about 6:15.
.
.
Forever you know But I never could thank you enough.
And now I lay me down to sleep I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.
O, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies O, they tell me of a home far away O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day O, the land of cloudless day O, the land of an unclouded sky O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day O, they tell me of a king in his beauty there And they tell me that my eyes shall behold Where he sits on his throne that is whiter than snow In the city that is made of gold O, the land of cloudless day O, the land of an unclouded sky O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
I love you.
Goodnight.
Sabbath today.
Yeah.
What a beautiful day.
It is.
You are welcome to come in and worship with us.
"We have here" The Amish attend church every other Sunday.
In between, they worship at home.
".
.
Of all time.
Thou shalt not kill "and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement.
" O, let it shine Let it shine, let it shine Hide it under a bushel, no I'm gonna let it shine Hide it under a bushel, no I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Let it shine.
We don't work Sundays more than necessary.
Um, I might go out to the garden if I need an onion that I didn't bring in Saturday, and I decided I'll make some soup and I need an onion.
Things like that, except, but, er We try to use the day totally for um spiritually renewing and, just to spend time with our children.
Sunday before noon, the children don't play outdoors.
And in the afternoon, it's a time with us to play games with them.
Miriam and David have been married for nearly 11 years.
How did you get together, then? Why, you know, in the traditional way, you just, er muster up enough boldness and courage to ask a girl if you can court her.
So that's what I did at the age of 18.
So we had a year and a half of courtship then we were married.
And that was a blessed year and a half.
And I did not doubt that relationship.
I clearly felt it was God leading us together.
Miriam had a conviction for a hands-off courtship, so we had a hands-off courtship.
I mean No touching at all, or, what's the line? A hands-off We didn't embrace each other.
We didn't hug each other, we didn't kiss each other.
But we would sit together.
We sat beside each other and enjoyed each other's warmth.
A squeeze of the hand sometimes.
This is my wedding dress that I had with a white We wear white cape aprons.
I feel it's very important to make the dress in such a way that it adorns our inner spirit and not bring out our our bodily figure.
No, it-it should be, men are attracted to the heart, not to the figure.
As a woman, we can do a lot to not bring a man to lust.
I feel us women don't quite realise men's battle with, um it's just, God made them with that nature.
They have this lustful nature.
The natural instinct is there but if we encourage it, it might make them stumble.
I never knew about it before my husband told me.
You know, the battle that, um he had with women that had a lot of leg exposed or even lower necklines and I had no idea that he had that battle! Good morning! Good morning! Good morning! Come on in! It's 4:30 in the morning.
Every day, Miriam gets up to cook breakfast for Dave before he goes to work at 5:00.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning, Steve.
Two eggs and a cornmeal mush.
It's my favourite.
Heavenly Father, I ask for a blessing upon the hands that prepared this food.
I ask for your protection around my family today as I go to work and Jacob and Daniel go to school, as Miriam and Benuel and Kate are at home, Father, I ask for your protection around them all and that you will keep them safe and that it be your will that we could be together tonight at our supper table.
In Jesus' holy name we pray.
Amen.
Amen.
Dave usually gets a lift to work from one of his staff who isn't Amish.
The rules forbid car ownership, but there's nothing to stop people from accepting a lift or using a taxi.
Hey, good morning, Benuel.
Come.
Danny, Jacob? Let's eat! Jacob, do the blessing for us? Yeah.
OK.
Amen.
Hey.
Have a good day.
God bless you.
OK, see ya.
See ya, Jacob! Goodbye! You get up for Dave? Yes.
Every morning? Yes.
Unless I'm not feeling well.
He'll get his own breakfast and lunch.
But he COULD get his breakfast himself, couldn't he? Yes, he could.
He's very He's quite able.
So how comes he doesn't, then? That's my job! He has other things that are more important and are I'm the I'm the queen of this house, so I need to see that everybody is well fed and What does the Bible say about your role, then? They call on us to be keepers at home submissive to our husbands and look well to the ways of our household.
Mm-hm.
And how do you feel about that? I feel it's perfect.
It's perfect, it's a perfect order.
50 years ago, the majority of Amish were farmers, but, in Pennsylvania, high land prices mean most now work in Amish-owned small businesses.
Dave has his own concrete construction firm, employing Amish and non-Amish staff.
He makes a decent living but is trying to get back to the traditional model of Amish life.
He wants to buy his own farm.
Good morning! This is a bit different from being at home with the children.
It is, it's a lot different.
Something I always enjoyed.
But as my children get older, my heart's not as much here any more.
I think about my children waiting until I come home evenings.
Er, eight years ago, I could have worked from five in the morning to six at night, not a problem.
But now, when school is out, I'm like, "You know what? "My children are at home.
I need to go home to my children.
" So does being submissive work, then? Can that work for a woman? Yes.
Yes.
I do feel we need to share our views.
We can't just quietly submit and not share how we feel about some things.
He still can offend me, which I want to overcome that.
I feel so privileged that he does mention my weaknesses and, er, I don't want to be offended.
I just want to be thankful that he points those out.
Obedient.
I believe it's important that we're obedient to God's word.
So that our family can function in the way he designed families to be.
Dave's asked Miriam to pop to the bank today.
It's a three-mile buggy ride, and most of Miriam's errands are within an eight-mile radius of her home in Lancaster County.
It takes at least five minutes to get my horse out and the children.
But I like it.
I always like to get out with my horse.
His love is a boundless love And he reaches down and touches me His love is an endless love That will love for all eternity Jesus wants to love you There is none above you, you are precious in his sight He will never fail you Good afternoon! He'll be with you day and night His love is a boundless love There you go.
Thank you! Thank you, Margaret.
And it reaches down and touches me His love is an endless love That will last through all eternity His love, his love, his love is a boundless love His love, his love, his love is a boundless love Since the Lord saved me I'm as happy as can be My cup is full and running over 'Tis the old-time religion 'Tis the old-time religion 'Tis the old-time religion It's good enough for me.
Hey! Hi! Hey, Dave! Miriam, the children always seem to play very well together.
Well, you're not here every day! Some days they are like children.
They can play very nice, but they also can fight nice! Yeah, there's selfishness in everybody that just needs to be broken.
What's your attitude to discipline? Well, in Proverbs it says "Any foolish shall be driven away with the rod.
" And I have seen very good results with using the rod.
Of course, you always need to have a relationship before you handle a child with a rod.
You need to have a relationship.
I have a small, little paddle.
It's just my baking tool where I, depending on the transgression it'll be just a light tap.
But, er, for instance, if they wouldn't tell me the truth, it might be a hard paddle.
This is what I use.
I call it my smiley, and it often brings a smile in the end.
If I see they have a need of change in attitude, I'll bring out my smiley and often they'll respond with a smile but there is times where there's a there's an ongoing issue.
I like to watch for any signs of rebellion and then I'll address it.
But how would you use that? I feel the seat is the best place.
Depending If they'd be at the table, and got something I'd said no to, then I might tap the hand.
Was ist es, Benuel? Paddle.
Paddle? Ja.
Smiley? Das ist Smiley? Niet tapper.
Niet tapper? Nee.
Benuel ist niet bad.
What's he saying? "Niet tapper" means "Not paddle me"! And I said "No, Benuel's not bad.
" Two months later, the risk of the family being challenged by the Amish church hadn't gone away.
Hey, welcome, Steve and Lynn! Come on in! Good morning.
Morning! Morning.
We're just about ready to get out and set the benches.
Good morning.
Good morning, Miriam.
Come on in! What's happening this weekend? Oh, we're getting ready for church.
Church services are going to be at our house.
Everybody takes turns.
Every two weeks, somebody opens their house up, or their home.
And it's your turn this week? Yeah.
So we're preparing seating and food for, I don't know, 100 people.
20 families.
An average of five children per family.
Danny! Danny! These are the benches for the church that the people can sit on.
You just sit.
It's a little bit over three hours mostly, like eight o'clock to 11.
30 or something.
What's your favourite bit of the church service? Er The last song.
Then you know the church is out! We as Old Order Amish, we don't have a church house, so every able member that has room on their property takes a turn to provide space and food for service.
We need to make sure we have a place to tie up all the horses and feed them.
We need to make sure we have enough lunch for everyone, which is a cold lunch, the traditional schnitz pie.
The word "church" in the Bible, in Greek it means "assembly.
" So, our forefathers assembled in their homes 400 years ago, and that's where the practice started.
An Amish church service is led by a number of elders a bishop and ministers.
They sing from a songbook containing hymns written by their forefathers.
The ministers will read from the scriptures and the congregation says silent prayers.
The church people are very dear.
They are close friends.
We get together every other week.
If there is a need, if you have a hospital bill and you have a need for finances, the church people are there to help you, so it's really a close-knit community.
That was very interesting.
It was the Jonah story.
There's no way we could film tomorrow? You could attend, but you couldn't film.
There's no way you could film, the church would stop if you'd film.
There would be I have no idea what would happen, but it would not continue.
You could attend.
You are invited to sit right here in our midst.
It doesn't happen a lot because people don't understand German and don't like to sit for three hours on hard benches.
For David and Miriam, it was a balancing act.
They wanted outsiders to understand Amish life but also to respect the private traditions of the Old Order church service.
It was decided to film but from a distance.
Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria Salve Regina Mater misericordiae Salve Regina Mater misericordiae Salve Regina Salve Regina Salve Regina Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Regina.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Until now, Dave and Miriam were the only Old Order Amish who'd consented to filming.
But, today, Miriam's holding a tea party for some women friends.
For the first time, there were other Amish who were prepared to take a risk and be filmed.
There appeared to be two different groups of women some were Old Order Amish, others were clearly not.
We've gathered for about three years.
I joined about three years and then we were all members of the Old Order Amish.
But as time went on, a few of them were excommunicated on spiritual beliefs and so now, we are still continuing and we've been friends for so long and it just seems we meet each other so much.
Come on up! As members of the Old Order Amish Church, Miriam and Dave are obliged to shun anyone who is excommunicated.
It means they shouldn't eat together or gather together.
It has been too long! It's about half and half.
About half have gone through the fire of being excommunicated.
But they really hold onto the values and still want to be alike to their own people.
'They see a lot of righteousness in our culture 'and want to keep our values.
'And there's many things we hold dear and don't want to lose.
' I may never fly over the enemy But I'm in the Lord's army Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army.
We're in a time In a generation where I feel the spirit is moving.
I think there's people rising who have studied the Bible and see the need for us to just break down some lies that I believed or that our people believe.
I may never march in the infantry Ride in the cavalry Shoot the artillery I may never Miriam was revealing that she and Dave are part of a movement within the Amish community which is more open than evangelical in its approach, and whose mission is to spread the word of God.
Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army.
Yes, sir! 'I think the rules can be overemphasised 'and we look to that as, you know, a way of' salvation.
It can make it confusing.
Miriam was picking her words carefully, because she didn't want to offend her Old Order family and friends.
It was clear they no longer believed that keeping to every church rule was the route to heaven although they still valued the Amish lifestyle and traditions.
We'll lead you right down to it.
They explained they'd been re-baptised at night, in their garden, a year ago.
They felt their original baptism as young adults was not valid.
This re-baptism was a whole new affirmation of their belief in God.
It was right about this time of evening.
Right in there, it's about three feet deep.
Two-and-a-half, three feet deep.
So, we all came down here and someone held the lantern like this.
About 50 people standing around here, and four couples had decided to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
And that's what we did.
A year ago, on this day.
Two people went out in the water to help you, so you went in the water and knelt down, and then you leaned back till you were completely submerged in water, then you come forth and you're you're buried and you rise up Rise as Christ as Christ, yeah.
And you go in the house and grab a towel, real quick.
'If our people were to find it out # we couldn't be Amish.
Cos there was people being There have been people excommunicated because of re-baptism.
So that was That was very hard for me to just er put me in that situation where I'm re-baptised and where I know our leaders wouldn't approve.
But they will learn about it now.
Um, you mean now that? Well, I guess, you know, if you put that on the film.
So, we have We have told my parents.
And I felt their blessing.
Especially Mom's.
There's been much conflict about practices on how to baptise or re-baptism within our church.
It always brings strife and conflict.
And it's because of the spiritual war.
How do you think people will feel if it's known from the film that you've been re-baptised? Well, it's the truth.
A guy can always use the truth.
He can always make good of it.
It If I just dwell on people finding it out, I'm fearful.
You could still be excommunicated for being re-baptised? Oh, yeah.
I have no idea what our people would really do in our church.
Or for taking part in this film? Yes.
Yes.
Less than a week later, another group of people gathered at Miriam and Dave's house this time, to worship together.
Again, many of them were excommunicated, and some of them were driving cars.
You're allowed to get together and talk with excommunicated people, but you're not allowed to eat with them and ride with them.
So there's some risks, yeah.
Some people come here in secret.
The Amish church doesn't know.
Mm.
Yeah.
You know, getting together with a big group regularly that's excommunicated, they would start to wonder, you know, "Why are we getting together?" Because, you know, "Why don't you get together with people that are still Amish? "Why do you hang out with the excommunicated?" Yeah, that makes it uncomfortable.
'That makes the leaders and the elders uncomfortable.
' If we're ready? Let's all stand up and pray.
Heavenly Father, we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ, because Jesus said He is the way, He is the life.
He is the only way to you, Father, so we come in His name and we ask you that you would be with us.
We thank you for the food that we ate, we thank you for the building that you have provided, we praise you, we praise and glorify your holy name.
- In Jesus' name we pray, Father.
- Amen.
.
.
we shall wear a crown In the new Jeru-sa-lem Wear a cro-o-o-own Wear a crown Wear a cro-o-own Wear a crown Wear a If you were excommunicated, what would you lose? I mean, would you be shunned by your family and your friends? Some, I'm sure.
I assume some family would not, but others would.
They would shun you? Yeah.
Yeah.
What would they do, exactly? Well, they wouldn't come any more, they wouldn't invite us to gatherings, or they might avoid us, you know, if they do see us.
They would be required to do that by the church? By some people.
But that would represent a huge loss for you, would it? A huge loss? It might seem so, but Jesus calls us to rejoice if we're put out because of his name.
For his cause.
I know it would be hard, because it would be the reality of rejection.
And I know that's hurtful.
These are people you love.
Yes.
I know this li-i-ife is precious The next breath you ta-a-ake Could be your last one Another day is come Another sunrise Another day God holds Every moment of it! This life we have Is the gift of our maker This sacred freedom Here in our land This divine hour I recognise We'll hold on tight To this precious life Five months later, and the family were moving house.
Dave had managed to buy a farm, 75 acres, a mile away from their old house.
.
.
below me at God's creation And I'm overwhelmed with all the beauty in me He's filled my eyes and I realise.
It's the glory now that fills and fills my soul As I walk the night away.
What can you get, one last hill here? Come on.
A-A-A-Amen A-A-A-Amen A-Amen Amen Amen with the horns now Amen With the rhythm now, A A-Amen A-A-A-Amen A-Amen Amen Amen.
I think God has a special place for farmers.
And it's on my heart, too.
I'll be living by working the land.
There's something special about putting seeds in the ground and watch it grow.
Amen This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine Katie, hey! Katie! The family will have less income from farming than when Dave worked in construction.
Hey! Hey! How was your day? Good.
Hiya, James.
Being together and having each others hearts is more important than finances.
Love requires time.
So If you If you want your cow to feel your love, you will need to spend time with it.
By working together, I expect to be able to connect with them.
Because, once I'm an old man, 80 years old, I'll need to ask Katie, my daughter, if she's going to be my nurse when I'm 80 years old.
I am fully persuaded if I have time to meet her needs now, she will have time to meet my needs Hello, Kevin? This is David Lapp, I'm looking for a brown Swiss cow.
Do you know of anybody that has brown Swiss cows? Yeah, one or two family cows.
Mm-hm.
I'm looking for a cow.
We want to get a cow or two because we want to make our own yogurt, butter, cheese and stuff like that, ice-cream.
We will have all the fresh milk to drink.
This is the phone shanty.
The traditional Amish kind don't have phones in their houses.
So they have a phone in a shanty outside somewhere.
We're quite a long way away from the house now? Yeah.
Most people don't have it this far away.
Er People are starting to have it closer, like in the garage and that's quite acceptable in our area.
Are you going to leave it here or are you going to move it? We'll probably get it closer to the house, yeah.
It's just the way of the Elders' decision to keep life more simple.
Personally, I see it as a waste of time.
The idea had been to make a film about Amish family life and faith.
David and Miriam embraced the risks of taking part because of their beliefs.
The threat of being forced out of the Amish Church has not gone away.
The family see themselves as Amish Christians.
They have put their new beliefs before the Amish rules.
There is no way of life that will bring peace and joy to a person's heart.
Some people think if they would only live a unique lifestyle like the Amish, that will help them to be happy.
Some people think if they would have a bigger house, they would be happy.
But my message is, all those things are good but if that's what your happiness is based on, it's not going to last.
If you accept Jesus, that will be the true happiness.
The reason we took part in the film is because one of the last Commandments that Jesus gave to his disciples before he left was, "go ye and tell the world.
"Go ye to the outermost parts of the world, "teaching and preaching and baptising in the name of Jesus.
" There might be consequences, but we pray that we ask Jesus that we would not offend people.
God bless you in Jesus's name.
God bless you.
Bye!
His love is an endless love They were maintaining traditions and a way of life that go back 300 years.
Jesus wants to love you There is none above you A quarter of a million Amish live in the middle of modern America today.
He won't kill you.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Just like their forefathers, they believe in holding on to the old ways and leading a plain and simple life.
Moo! There is Power Power? # There is power But what made this Amish family extraordinary was the fact they'd agreed to be filmed.
They were prepared to go against the strict rules of their church, which forbids photography.
In allowing themselves to be filmed, they were taking an enormous risk.
There is power, power Wonder-working power In the precious blood of the lamb The film was to be about Amish family life and faith and a family had been found to take part.
But by consenting to filming, they risked excommunication from the Amish church.
For two weeks, they'd been praying, asking God whether or not they should participate.
Good morning.
Good morning! How are we? I'm good, I'm David Lapp.
Say hello to Steve.
Hello, Steve.
Good morning, David.
It's a lovely day.
It is.
How are you this morning? Very well! It's a beautiful morning.
Hello! Good morning.
Say hi, Ben.
Hi.
How you feeling about filming? We have peace with it or we wouldn't be doing it.
You know, we sought direction from God and if we wouldn't have got Um, if we wouldn't feel it would be OK with Him, we would not be doing it.
Shall we go and meet the family? Ja.
Yes.
Please come in.
We got visitors.
OK! Good morning! Good morning.
How are you? Fine, how about you? Good, it's a lovely day out there, isn't it? Yes, it is.
Yes.
Hi, Steve.
This is Katie.
This is our oldest daughter.
Katie, Lynn.
Actually, it's a little bit dark in here.
Could we possibly pull up a couple of the blinds? This is my son, Daniel.
How old are you, Daniel? Six.
This is Jacob.
How old are you, Jacob? Nine! There you go.
You don't have electricity here, do you? No, we don't.
Why is that? Why do Amish people not have electricity? Well, it's because of the distraction that comes with it.
Like, er, rather than having television and video games and all kind of gadgets that run off electricity we believe that, um That's the reason alone, is because it's to keep out the distractions so you can focus on principles of life, like family time together, reading the Bible The Amish speak a German dialect as their first language.
They came originally from Europe in the early 1700s, settling first here in Pennsylvania.
What do you think people in Britain will make of you and your lives? What will they think? That's a good question.
I have no idea.
Will they think it's real? I don't know, I don't know.
If they look at our lifestyles, without electric, they probably think we're a little, um old-fashioned, maybe, or too simple, I don't know.
What do you know about people in Britain? The only thing I have heard about Britain is the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, I believe, and about the Queen and the King.
But I have no idea how, um How they'd compare with the United States, really.
We've got a new prime minister now, actually.
Tony Blair's gone! OK! Yeah, I don't keep up with the facts.
Without radio and television and the internet, the Amish exist in a world quite separate - but alongside the rest of America.
A great deal of modern technology is rejected.
They live by a set of rules designed to retain their identity.
David and Miriam were breaking the rules by being filmed.
Amish church forbids people from posing or actively giving their consent to photography or filming.
Is lunch ready, Jacob? Who's gonna take a nap after lunch? Not me! Not me! Heavenly Father we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ, our King.
We thank you that you have allowed us to stand up today for the beautiful day, Father.
Heavenly Father, I ask that you will bless Jacob and Daniel and Kate and Benuel James and my beautiful wife, Miriam.
Father, I ask that you will bless me as well so I can do your will.
Heavenly Father, we ask that you would, in the name of Jesus Christ, that you would allow the BBC to bring honour and glory to you, Jesus.
We ask that it would soften somebody's heart and that that result will build your kingdom, Jesus Christ.
We ask for a blessing and strength upon the work that people are doing for it, Father, and we just ask that we could be doing your will throughout.
And that all honour and glory will come to you, Jesus.
Amen.
Go, Ben.
Yeah, like soldiers, because the rooster is not always nice to 'em.
There is the rooster.
Woo! Kidoo kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Kidoo! Was it just five? Seven? Seven? What is your approach to the number of children you have? To me, I don't even have a goal.
I don't Are your children planned? Hmm.
We just rejoice when God gives us another child.
There is no planning on our part.
I'm not sure what the definition of "plan" is, but I think I know what you're talking about.
Well, contraception? No.
Like, control? Yeah.
No, there is no planning.
Um For me, it's I think Miriam thinks about children more than I do.
For me, I'm so busy with the ones that He has given us when He gives us another one, I'm rejoicing, but I'm not really thinking we should have another one because how could I be one-on-one if we had ten, instead of five or four? But God would He doesn't make mistakes.
So I'm sure there is a way.
"Happy is a man that has his quiver full of them.
" I think, a quiver of arrows is 12 arrows.
Is that Am I right? I think so.
And happy is the man that has 12 of them.
Is that how many you would like? Would you like 12 children? Well, I can't quite see it possible any more.
I'm 32! And I've had four.
Er, I need a couple of sets of twins maybe to be able to make 12! But I've always, I thought a family of ten would be ideal.
The family were happy to be filmed shopping.
But it had to be discreet.
Other Amish also shop at the store and could challenge them at any time.
Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me Thank you Lord for giving to me All of my friends and family Thank you lord for your blessings on me All of the days, the rest of my life No matter what life holds for me I could be on my knees Forever you know But I never could thank you enough Everything for your honour and glory, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Let's get started.
It's about 6:15.
.
.
Forever you know But I never could thank you enough.
And now I lay me down to sleep I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.
O, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies O, they tell me of a home far away O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day O, the land of cloudless day O, the land of an unclouded sky O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day O, they tell me of a king in his beauty there And they tell me that my eyes shall behold Where he sits on his throne that is whiter than snow In the city that is made of gold O, the land of cloudless day O, the land of an unclouded sky O, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise O, they tell me of an unclouded day.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
I love you.
Goodnight.
Sabbath today.
Yeah.
What a beautiful day.
It is.
You are welcome to come in and worship with us.
"We have here" The Amish attend church every other Sunday.
In between, they worship at home.
".
.
Of all time.
Thou shalt not kill "and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement.
" O, let it shine Let it shine, let it shine Hide it under a bushel, no I'm gonna let it shine Hide it under a bushel, no I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Let it shine.
We don't work Sundays more than necessary.
Um, I might go out to the garden if I need an onion that I didn't bring in Saturday, and I decided I'll make some soup and I need an onion.
Things like that, except, but, er We try to use the day totally for um spiritually renewing and, just to spend time with our children.
Sunday before noon, the children don't play outdoors.
And in the afternoon, it's a time with us to play games with them.
Miriam and David have been married for nearly 11 years.
How did you get together, then? Why, you know, in the traditional way, you just, er muster up enough boldness and courage to ask a girl if you can court her.
So that's what I did at the age of 18.
So we had a year and a half of courtship then we were married.
And that was a blessed year and a half.
And I did not doubt that relationship.
I clearly felt it was God leading us together.
Miriam had a conviction for a hands-off courtship, so we had a hands-off courtship.
I mean No touching at all, or, what's the line? A hands-off We didn't embrace each other.
We didn't hug each other, we didn't kiss each other.
But we would sit together.
We sat beside each other and enjoyed each other's warmth.
A squeeze of the hand sometimes.
This is my wedding dress that I had with a white We wear white cape aprons.
I feel it's very important to make the dress in such a way that it adorns our inner spirit and not bring out our our bodily figure.
No, it-it should be, men are attracted to the heart, not to the figure.
As a woman, we can do a lot to not bring a man to lust.
I feel us women don't quite realise men's battle with, um it's just, God made them with that nature.
They have this lustful nature.
The natural instinct is there but if we encourage it, it might make them stumble.
I never knew about it before my husband told me.
You know, the battle that, um he had with women that had a lot of leg exposed or even lower necklines and I had no idea that he had that battle! Good morning! Good morning! Good morning! Come on in! It's 4:30 in the morning.
Every day, Miriam gets up to cook breakfast for Dave before he goes to work at 5:00.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Good morning, Steve.
Two eggs and a cornmeal mush.
It's my favourite.
Heavenly Father, I ask for a blessing upon the hands that prepared this food.
I ask for your protection around my family today as I go to work and Jacob and Daniel go to school, as Miriam and Benuel and Kate are at home, Father, I ask for your protection around them all and that you will keep them safe and that it be your will that we could be together tonight at our supper table.
In Jesus' holy name we pray.
Amen.
Amen.
Dave usually gets a lift to work from one of his staff who isn't Amish.
The rules forbid car ownership, but there's nothing to stop people from accepting a lift or using a taxi.
Hey, good morning, Benuel.
Come.
Danny, Jacob? Let's eat! Jacob, do the blessing for us? Yeah.
OK.
Amen.
Hey.
Have a good day.
God bless you.
OK, see ya.
See ya, Jacob! Goodbye! You get up for Dave? Yes.
Every morning? Yes.
Unless I'm not feeling well.
He'll get his own breakfast and lunch.
But he COULD get his breakfast himself, couldn't he? Yes, he could.
He's very He's quite able.
So how comes he doesn't, then? That's my job! He has other things that are more important and are I'm the I'm the queen of this house, so I need to see that everybody is well fed and What does the Bible say about your role, then? They call on us to be keepers at home submissive to our husbands and look well to the ways of our household.
Mm-hm.
And how do you feel about that? I feel it's perfect.
It's perfect, it's a perfect order.
50 years ago, the majority of Amish were farmers, but, in Pennsylvania, high land prices mean most now work in Amish-owned small businesses.
Dave has his own concrete construction firm, employing Amish and non-Amish staff.
He makes a decent living but is trying to get back to the traditional model of Amish life.
He wants to buy his own farm.
Good morning! This is a bit different from being at home with the children.
It is, it's a lot different.
Something I always enjoyed.
But as my children get older, my heart's not as much here any more.
I think about my children waiting until I come home evenings.
Er, eight years ago, I could have worked from five in the morning to six at night, not a problem.
But now, when school is out, I'm like, "You know what? "My children are at home.
I need to go home to my children.
" So does being submissive work, then? Can that work for a woman? Yes.
Yes.
I do feel we need to share our views.
We can't just quietly submit and not share how we feel about some things.
He still can offend me, which I want to overcome that.
I feel so privileged that he does mention my weaknesses and, er, I don't want to be offended.
I just want to be thankful that he points those out.
Obedient.
I believe it's important that we're obedient to God's word.
So that our family can function in the way he designed families to be.
Dave's asked Miriam to pop to the bank today.
It's a three-mile buggy ride, and most of Miriam's errands are within an eight-mile radius of her home in Lancaster County.
It takes at least five minutes to get my horse out and the children.
But I like it.
I always like to get out with my horse.
His love is a boundless love And he reaches down and touches me His love is an endless love That will love for all eternity Jesus wants to love you There is none above you, you are precious in his sight He will never fail you Good afternoon! He'll be with you day and night His love is a boundless love There you go.
Thank you! Thank you, Margaret.
And it reaches down and touches me His love is an endless love That will last through all eternity His love, his love, his love is a boundless love His love, his love, his love is a boundless love Since the Lord saved me I'm as happy as can be My cup is full and running over 'Tis the old-time religion 'Tis the old-time religion 'Tis the old-time religion It's good enough for me.
Hey! Hi! Hey, Dave! Miriam, the children always seem to play very well together.
Well, you're not here every day! Some days they are like children.
They can play very nice, but they also can fight nice! Yeah, there's selfishness in everybody that just needs to be broken.
What's your attitude to discipline? Well, in Proverbs it says "Any foolish shall be driven away with the rod.
" And I have seen very good results with using the rod.
Of course, you always need to have a relationship before you handle a child with a rod.
You need to have a relationship.
I have a small, little paddle.
It's just my baking tool where I, depending on the transgression it'll be just a light tap.
But, er, for instance, if they wouldn't tell me the truth, it might be a hard paddle.
This is what I use.
I call it my smiley, and it often brings a smile in the end.
If I see they have a need of change in attitude, I'll bring out my smiley and often they'll respond with a smile but there is times where there's a there's an ongoing issue.
I like to watch for any signs of rebellion and then I'll address it.
But how would you use that? I feel the seat is the best place.
Depending If they'd be at the table, and got something I'd said no to, then I might tap the hand.
Was ist es, Benuel? Paddle.
Paddle? Ja.
Smiley? Das ist Smiley? Niet tapper.
Niet tapper? Nee.
Benuel ist niet bad.
What's he saying? "Niet tapper" means "Not paddle me"! And I said "No, Benuel's not bad.
" Two months later, the risk of the family being challenged by the Amish church hadn't gone away.
Hey, welcome, Steve and Lynn! Come on in! Good morning.
Morning! Morning.
We're just about ready to get out and set the benches.
Good morning.
Good morning, Miriam.
Come on in! What's happening this weekend? Oh, we're getting ready for church.
Church services are going to be at our house.
Everybody takes turns.
Every two weeks, somebody opens their house up, or their home.
And it's your turn this week? Yeah.
So we're preparing seating and food for, I don't know, 100 people.
20 families.
An average of five children per family.
Danny! Danny! These are the benches for the church that the people can sit on.
You just sit.
It's a little bit over three hours mostly, like eight o'clock to 11.
30 or something.
What's your favourite bit of the church service? Er The last song.
Then you know the church is out! We as Old Order Amish, we don't have a church house, so every able member that has room on their property takes a turn to provide space and food for service.
We need to make sure we have a place to tie up all the horses and feed them.
We need to make sure we have enough lunch for everyone, which is a cold lunch, the traditional schnitz pie.
The word "church" in the Bible, in Greek it means "assembly.
" So, our forefathers assembled in their homes 400 years ago, and that's where the practice started.
An Amish church service is led by a number of elders a bishop and ministers.
They sing from a songbook containing hymns written by their forefathers.
The ministers will read from the scriptures and the congregation says silent prayers.
The church people are very dear.
They are close friends.
We get together every other week.
If there is a need, if you have a hospital bill and you have a need for finances, the church people are there to help you, so it's really a close-knit community.
That was very interesting.
It was the Jonah story.
There's no way we could film tomorrow? You could attend, but you couldn't film.
There's no way you could film, the church would stop if you'd film.
There would be I have no idea what would happen, but it would not continue.
You could attend.
You are invited to sit right here in our midst.
It doesn't happen a lot because people don't understand German and don't like to sit for three hours on hard benches.
For David and Miriam, it was a balancing act.
They wanted outsiders to understand Amish life but also to respect the private traditions of the Old Order church service.
It was decided to film but from a distance.
Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria O clemens O pia O dulcis Maria Salve Regina Mater misericordiae Salve Regina Mater misericordiae Salve Regina Salve Regina Salve Regina Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Salve Regina.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Until now, Dave and Miriam were the only Old Order Amish who'd consented to filming.
But, today, Miriam's holding a tea party for some women friends.
For the first time, there were other Amish who were prepared to take a risk and be filmed.
There appeared to be two different groups of women some were Old Order Amish, others were clearly not.
We've gathered for about three years.
I joined about three years and then we were all members of the Old Order Amish.
But as time went on, a few of them were excommunicated on spiritual beliefs and so now, we are still continuing and we've been friends for so long and it just seems we meet each other so much.
Come on up! As members of the Old Order Amish Church, Miriam and Dave are obliged to shun anyone who is excommunicated.
It means they shouldn't eat together or gather together.
It has been too long! It's about half and half.
About half have gone through the fire of being excommunicated.
But they really hold onto the values and still want to be alike to their own people.
'They see a lot of righteousness in our culture 'and want to keep our values.
'And there's many things we hold dear and don't want to lose.
' I may never fly over the enemy But I'm in the Lord's army Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army.
We're in a time In a generation where I feel the spirit is moving.
I think there's people rising who have studied the Bible and see the need for us to just break down some lies that I believed or that our people believe.
I may never march in the infantry Ride in the cavalry Shoot the artillery I may never Miriam was revealing that she and Dave are part of a movement within the Amish community which is more open than evangelical in its approach, and whose mission is to spread the word of God.
Yes, sir I'm in the Lord's army.
Yes, sir! 'I think the rules can be overemphasised 'and we look to that as, you know, a way of' salvation.
It can make it confusing.
Miriam was picking her words carefully, because she didn't want to offend her Old Order family and friends.
It was clear they no longer believed that keeping to every church rule was the route to heaven although they still valued the Amish lifestyle and traditions.
We'll lead you right down to it.
They explained they'd been re-baptised at night, in their garden, a year ago.
They felt their original baptism as young adults was not valid.
This re-baptism was a whole new affirmation of their belief in God.
It was right about this time of evening.
Right in there, it's about three feet deep.
Two-and-a-half, three feet deep.
So, we all came down here and someone held the lantern like this.
About 50 people standing around here, and four couples had decided to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
And that's what we did.
A year ago, on this day.
Two people went out in the water to help you, so you went in the water and knelt down, and then you leaned back till you were completely submerged in water, then you come forth and you're you're buried and you rise up Rise as Christ as Christ, yeah.
And you go in the house and grab a towel, real quick.
'If our people were to find it out # we couldn't be Amish.
Cos there was people being There have been people excommunicated because of re-baptism.
So that was That was very hard for me to just er put me in that situation where I'm re-baptised and where I know our leaders wouldn't approve.
But they will learn about it now.
Um, you mean now that? Well, I guess, you know, if you put that on the film.
So, we have We have told my parents.
And I felt their blessing.
Especially Mom's.
There's been much conflict about practices on how to baptise or re-baptism within our church.
It always brings strife and conflict.
And it's because of the spiritual war.
How do you think people will feel if it's known from the film that you've been re-baptised? Well, it's the truth.
A guy can always use the truth.
He can always make good of it.
It If I just dwell on people finding it out, I'm fearful.
You could still be excommunicated for being re-baptised? Oh, yeah.
I have no idea what our people would really do in our church.
Or for taking part in this film? Yes.
Yes.
Less than a week later, another group of people gathered at Miriam and Dave's house this time, to worship together.
Again, many of them were excommunicated, and some of them were driving cars.
You're allowed to get together and talk with excommunicated people, but you're not allowed to eat with them and ride with them.
So there's some risks, yeah.
Some people come here in secret.
The Amish church doesn't know.
Mm.
Yeah.
You know, getting together with a big group regularly that's excommunicated, they would start to wonder, you know, "Why are we getting together?" Because, you know, "Why don't you get together with people that are still Amish? "Why do you hang out with the excommunicated?" Yeah, that makes it uncomfortable.
'That makes the leaders and the elders uncomfortable.
' If we're ready? Let's all stand up and pray.
Heavenly Father, we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ, because Jesus said He is the way, He is the life.
He is the only way to you, Father, so we come in His name and we ask you that you would be with us.
We thank you for the food that we ate, we thank you for the building that you have provided, we praise you, we praise and glorify your holy name.
- In Jesus' name we pray, Father.
- Amen.
.
.
we shall wear a crown In the new Jeru-sa-lem Wear a cro-o-o-own Wear a crown Wear a cro-o-own Wear a crown Wear a If you were excommunicated, what would you lose? I mean, would you be shunned by your family and your friends? Some, I'm sure.
I assume some family would not, but others would.
They would shun you? Yeah.
Yeah.
What would they do, exactly? Well, they wouldn't come any more, they wouldn't invite us to gatherings, or they might avoid us, you know, if they do see us.
They would be required to do that by the church? By some people.
But that would represent a huge loss for you, would it? A huge loss? It might seem so, but Jesus calls us to rejoice if we're put out because of his name.
For his cause.
I know it would be hard, because it would be the reality of rejection.
And I know that's hurtful.
These are people you love.
Yes.
I know this li-i-ife is precious The next breath you ta-a-ake Could be your last one Another day is come Another sunrise Another day God holds Every moment of it! This life we have Is the gift of our maker This sacred freedom Here in our land This divine hour I recognise We'll hold on tight To this precious life Five months later, and the family were moving house.
Dave had managed to buy a farm, 75 acres, a mile away from their old house.
.
.
below me at God's creation And I'm overwhelmed with all the beauty in me He's filled my eyes and I realise.
It's the glory now that fills and fills my soul As I walk the night away.
What can you get, one last hill here? Come on.
A-A-A-Amen A-A-A-Amen A-Amen Amen Amen with the horns now Amen With the rhythm now, A A-Amen A-A-A-Amen A-Amen Amen Amen.
I think God has a special place for farmers.
And it's on my heart, too.
I'll be living by working the land.
There's something special about putting seeds in the ground and watch it grow.
Amen This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine Katie, hey! Katie! The family will have less income from farming than when Dave worked in construction.
Hey! Hey! How was your day? Good.
Hiya, James.
Being together and having each others hearts is more important than finances.
Love requires time.
So If you If you want your cow to feel your love, you will need to spend time with it.
By working together, I expect to be able to connect with them.
Because, once I'm an old man, 80 years old, I'll need to ask Katie, my daughter, if she's going to be my nurse when I'm 80 years old.
I am fully persuaded if I have time to meet her needs now, she will have time to meet my needs Hello, Kevin? This is David Lapp, I'm looking for a brown Swiss cow.
Do you know of anybody that has brown Swiss cows? Yeah, one or two family cows.
Mm-hm.
I'm looking for a cow.
We want to get a cow or two because we want to make our own yogurt, butter, cheese and stuff like that, ice-cream.
We will have all the fresh milk to drink.
This is the phone shanty.
The traditional Amish kind don't have phones in their houses.
So they have a phone in a shanty outside somewhere.
We're quite a long way away from the house now? Yeah.
Most people don't have it this far away.
Er People are starting to have it closer, like in the garage and that's quite acceptable in our area.
Are you going to leave it here or are you going to move it? We'll probably get it closer to the house, yeah.
It's just the way of the Elders' decision to keep life more simple.
Personally, I see it as a waste of time.
The idea had been to make a film about Amish family life and faith.
David and Miriam embraced the risks of taking part because of their beliefs.
The threat of being forced out of the Amish Church has not gone away.
The family see themselves as Amish Christians.
They have put their new beliefs before the Amish rules.
There is no way of life that will bring peace and joy to a person's heart.
Some people think if they would only live a unique lifestyle like the Amish, that will help them to be happy.
Some people think if they would have a bigger house, they would be happy.
But my message is, all those things are good but if that's what your happiness is based on, it's not going to last.
If you accept Jesus, that will be the true happiness.
The reason we took part in the film is because one of the last Commandments that Jesus gave to his disciples before he left was, "go ye and tell the world.
"Go ye to the outermost parts of the world, "teaching and preaching and baptising in the name of Jesus.
" There might be consequences, but we pray that we ask Jesus that we would not offend people.
God bless you in Jesus's name.
God bless you.
Bye!