I received a complimentary copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity Group and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Herald Press (VA) on February 9th 2015
Source: Litfuse Publicity Group
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Pages: 256
Suggested Age:13+- I feel this book is teen appropriate. While there is mention of drinking and a pregnancy out of wedlock, neither are glorified in any way. Young girls can learn from this mom's struggles and hopefully walk away with a message of hope and the importance of salvation.
Fewer than one hundred outsiders have joined the Old–Order Amish—and stayed—since 1950. Marlene C. Miller is one of them.
In this rare memoir, Marlene recounts her unhappy and abusive childhood, how she throws herself into cheerleading and marching band, and how she falls in love with Johnny, the gentle young Amish man who helps her lace her ice skates.
Against the wishes of both sets of parents, Marlene and Johnny get married and begin a family. Follow the author on this unusual journey to find out how God’s love called her out of bitterness and depression and into the warm embrace of her new Amish community.
Accompany her as she dons an Amish dress and prayer covering and gets baptized. Learn how she endures the strain of ten children, a hundred-acre farm, and accidents and tragedy, and find out how she comes close to walking away from it all. Turning Amish has proven to be anything but plain and simple for this former majorette. But nearly fifty years later, Marlene is still living out God’s call as an Old Order Amish woman.
This is a powerful book with a beautiful and heartfelt salvation testimony. You can’t help but be touched by the sweet saving grace and mercy of the Lord when you read this memoir. I was very impressed with this woman’s account of her background and her story. Not once did she try to convert others into the Amish faith. In fact, she says as much. She never once comes off as being better than thou for having converted to the Amish faith, rather, she is very open about her mistakes and her sins and then her salvation.
Marlene’s conversion into the Amish faith came after several years of marriage and the birth of three children. We learn of her personal heartbreak, both before and after her salvation. Most importantly, we learn about the mercy of the Lord and the peace, love, and acceptance that she found in Him.
Marlene’s heartache didn’t end with her salvation but what did change was that her life was made new in Him. No longer was she alone when the hard storms of life came along. She found her solace in the Lord. Honestly, she and Jerry Eicher (who grew up Amish) have one of the best personal salvation testimonies that I have had the pleasure of reading. I don’t know how much more simple the love of God could be put into words.
I know enough from reading this book to know that the author would never want personal accolades for this memoir so I will give God the everlasting glory for his enduring mercy.. I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I have and that if you have not yet made a personal relationship in Christ that this book may help bring you closer to Him. Most would say that this book is a powerful story of personal triumph. I would say this book is a powerful story of just how much is possible in Christ.
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