I live in Amish country. I moved here for my career, and at first I had an overly romantic view of them, but reality set in when I realized education stopped for Amish girls at the 8th grade. I believe curiosity is a sign of intelligence, and your curiosity saved your life, I think. Your earliest questions, even about the black socks, 😊, we’re a sign of intelligent curiosity starting to save you. No wonder questions are so discouraged in patriarchal systems, especially for girls and women. You are doing such a great public service. Keep up the tremendously brave work. ❤️🥰✨
Thank you! All education stops at 8th grade which is crazy to me as I think about it 🤦🏽♀️ I am grateful I did have curiosity even though it also led to obstacles.
You are truly a super woman! The odds were stacked against you, but look at how far you have come :-) Thanks for having the strength to share your story.
You have had to navigate a lot of life without a good support system -- and look at you now! Listened to your story while working today. Wishing you the best!
Struggling to figure out who I was I made 2 rules = 1. I did NOT want to identify myself as a widow. 2. I did NOT want to identify myself as "Amish" or "X-Amish". My first modern clothes / hair were (Achhh) often LOL embarassingly weird. Great video.
You are a wise woman. Stay true to yourself. People might not realize that literally every step you took was so difficult, yet you kept on going. Please Use your gifts and talents that God gave you for Him. You have an Amazing testimony. ❤️
You weren't that far behind in math going into university. Relatively few Americans ever take trigonometry. Those planning on obtaining a non-STEM bachelors degree may have a year of high school algebra and maybe geometry which they may or may not continue to struggle with in college. I admire your determination.
Hello Emily ! I find your life journey both inspiring and touching. My advice to you is ; 🤗 Have faith in yourself. 🤗 Be true to yourself. 🤗 Create your own tribe of equal minded people if you like. Stay safe and well. Love from Norway 💖
I feel that a lot of UA-camrs (Amish America) romantize the life of the Amish and basically ignore that this is closed society with strict rules and gender roles. Their mostly young viewers seem to eat it up. I would not have fit in as I'm trans. I'm sure LGBTQ folks would not have a good life there. I love that you have found who you are and found your own voice.
@@janeEyreAddict Yes, I understand this but there are still damaging aspects of this cult, such as hidden and impossible to get out of spouse abuse, treatment of LGBT+ people and so on. I admire their work ethic and simple life style but there are serious downsides if someone does not fit in. Not everyone can leave easily at teenage either. IF people leave they are ostracized from all their family and friends. I left a cult at age 20, however I was able to leave and I was able to see my family. I know a lot about cults. And this has many markings of cults (except for a current charismatic leader). But the family and community is basically that. I did not make fun of them in any way. But have read and followed a lot of longer term stories that talk about the experiences of people who leave. My basic point--they are romanticized. There has never been a point that Amish America said that changed my mind on that.
Wow Emily, I just discovered you! I am so glad you've come a long way and seem to be happy. When I look at some of the Amish community and other religious groups, I feel so sorry that they cloud the real freedom found in a relationship with God through Christ. All those man-made rules and regulations take away the liberty God wants us to have within His moral framework. There's no greater artist than God, yet man wants uniformity in dress and behaviour. I love the verse in John 10:10 -"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Christ is the Source of Life, yet He laid down His life for us so we would not bear the punishment of our sins. I owe my breath to Him and my eternal salvation, not because of anything I am but because He loved me unto death. He's only a prayer away. God bless you. Olive Wilson.
Dear Emily, be blessed this day. You mentioned brothers, did they remain with the Amish? I have no negative imagery of the Amish; in truth, America would be better off if the country was majority Amish. I wish that your message reached out further into the whole of America. Our country would be better off. But, yes, your siblings have they remained in the fold? God Bless and Keep You and Yours!
I've read that the Amish do not have their births recorded, so there is no birth certificate with the state, and that a person [who leaves the Amish world] has to get people present at the birth to make written attestation to establish a birth certificate with the state [to work outside the Amish world], which is foundational for social security identification for [outside the Amish] work, etc etc. I also realize that Amish communities vary widely. Did you run into this as an obstacle and if so how did you deal with it? Thanks. 4 24 2022
Emily, as you have said, you have learned to find your voice and yourself, but how are your boys? Divorce no matter how bad the situation, will affect the kids in certain ways. Do you see any signs in your boys that they have been affected by being emotionally abandoned by their father? This is a personal question, and I don't expect you to answer this publicly, but they may need help. Also, do they have a relationship with their grandparents? Do you speak German to your boys? Not sure why I was shown your channel, but I subscribed to hear more about your journey. PS Don't let the public school systems warp your boy's minds. The social engineering they are doing is horrible. If you are in FL maybe it won't be so bad.
My boys have been affected by it which is why they have gone through therapy and I will continue to get them the support they need. I speak some German to my boys not a whole lot. They do have a relationship with the grandparents too.
Proud of you for finding your happiness. ❤️ i dont straighten my hair much. I dont wear makeup except on random occasions (i dont like trying to keep up with all that). I wear t shirts and shorts in the summer and t shirts and lounge pants usually in the winter. Im in GA and it is so hot here. You said you were in FL?! Hows the weather there?
I follow another ex-Amish guy called Eli Yoder how conservative was your community how challenging was it for you to leave, how did you get out and are you able to go back to the community to catch up with family?
Do you use any of the things you’ve learned from your up bringing? I guess I’m thinking of things like growing food and doing things that are close to nature.
I wonder if amish people are healthier in general. I never see mentally or physically disabled people in such communities, at least the ones I have seen on youtube. Also tribal people, who also live in smaller communities, eat what nature gives them and they are healthy and fit till old age....to me the amish type of natural life , working outside, grow your food, being offgrid is appealing to me but to choose it consciously with the knowledge I have now, and available on youtube, without the knowledge and choice it seems a scary, restrected kind of living...
That wasn't an option for me. You don't get the choice to leave during that time. That is all made up by a tv reality show which I am actually talking about in my next video 🙂
I have some questions.... but I'd feel more comfortable asking privately. I'm trying to understand, because I'm deeply curious and I want to learn as much as I can, yet it's also, for the sake of someone that I care about.
Hi Emily, Firstly, please do not be repulsed by the knowledge that I am a faithful servant of God (meaning appointed and taught by God alone). Spare me a few minutes as you've done with the rest. You see, since it is out there, I decided to give ear to your story. I'm definitely not charmed as it were by your Amish background but rather intrigued by your supposed Christian background. For, at the end of the day, that is what it surmounts to, whether one is running away from so-called 'Christians' or from Christ. Indeed, just as it was to be expected, you still have your people - and exactly where you want them to be. But you don't have Christ, and I believe you never did have Him in the first place. I know you're not likely to share in my grief you've actually run away from Christ. Whatever it is you'd made Him out to be in your head is what you actually run away from. For instance, you accused in a previous video how despite the claim 'God is Love' you didn't experience it amongst your people. The question beggars, if the surpassing Love of God is not experienced from God Himself then from whom?? Are you not guilty of equating your people (who are no different from yourself) with God? If people could actually replicate True Love, the surpassing Love of God, Christ would have no need to come at all. But the fact is, whether one accepts it or not, Christ did come and is due at the Appointed Time to return and consummate His divine Love for His people by taking them Home with Him. You don't realize you really have no clue who God is. Sadly, it appears you neither have the desire to know Him. For, if you'd any personal knowledge of Him you'd know He grieves for the oppressed more than you can even begin to imagine. For example, note the charge He has consistently brought against the rulers of His people: "You drive the women of My people from their pleasant homes. You take away My blessing from their children forever." Next, "For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here, a little there.... So then, the Word of the Lord to them will become Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there - so that they will go and fall backward, be injured, snared and captured." There are scores more like these. But no, you'd rather be taken in by the crocodile tears this world sheds for you, wouldn't you? What is worse, you commit the unpardonable sin (if not repented) of becoming a False Witness of the Lord. What woman is not a victim of the Enemy, along with her offspring/Offspring? And why? What woman is not called to be the God-ordained 'enemy' of the Enemy? Both in the literal sense and in the Spiritual sense - the redeemed of the Lord as the holy Bride of the holy Lamb! And yet how many women out there truly turn to God and live the blessed existence of Gen 3:15b? As opposed to the accursed existence of Gen 3:16 they show themselves inclined to remain subjected to? Hardly any. Yes, even in the so-called Christian communities. For men/rulers would not have it any other way as the peoples themselves like it this way - just as God has revealed through prophet Jeremiah. This, despite the fact that the superior calling or election of the woman continues to be reiterated all through the scriptures right from the very beginning to the end. Even going as far as to proclaim, "The Lord has done a new thing on earth - a woman will compass a man." The first of the fulfillment of the prophesy, "The first will become last and the last first," even as God created her last among all His creations and declared for the first time in the superlative, "IT IS VERY GOOD." To truly come to know the Lord is to experience the Truth and to triumph over the Enemy as He had Himself done. I can only pray and hope your eyes will open before it is too late.
Ah, Christianity, my favorite deadbeat dad story. Check it. God fathers this kid and then disappears. And only after the kid becomes famous does God ask him to come live with him.
George Flanigan, Just because she left the Amish culture does not make her without Christ. We can all believe in Christ and choose to lead a life with him in our lives without being Amish. There are no Bible verses that say you need to be Amish but there are plenty of Bible verses against legalism.
ua-cam.com/video/He95scy7pj8/v-deo.html
I live in Amish country. I moved here for my career, and at first I had an overly romantic view of them, but reality set in when I realized education stopped for Amish girls at the 8th grade. I believe curiosity is a sign of intelligence, and your curiosity saved your life, I think. Your earliest questions, even about the black socks, 😊, we’re a sign of intelligent curiosity starting to save you. No wonder questions are so discouraged in patriarchal systems, especially for girls and women. You are doing such a great public service. Keep up the tremendously brave work. ❤️🥰✨
Thank you! All education stops at 8th grade which is crazy to me as I think about it 🤦🏽♀️ I am grateful I did have curiosity even though it also led to obstacles.
education stops for everyone at 8th grade, not just for girls...
You are truly a super woman! The odds were stacked against you, but look at how far you have come :-) Thanks for having the strength to share your story.
Thank you for your kind words!
You have had to navigate a lot of life without a good support system -- and look at you now! Listened to your story while working today. Wishing you the best!
Your life story is so heart wrenching for me to hear. I hope you and your 2 boys have a happy and bright future.
We definitely have a bright future! 🙂
Struggling to figure out who I was I made 2 rules = 1. I did NOT want to identify myself as a widow. 2. I did NOT want to identify myself as "Amish" or "X-Amish". My first modern clothes / hair were (Achhh) often LOL embarassingly weird. Great video.
Thank you for watching!
You are truly remarkable. What a story. You never gave up . great.
Thank you for your kind words.
You are a wise woman. Stay true to yourself. People might not realize that literally every step you took was so difficult, yet you kept on going. Please Use your gifts and talents that God gave you for Him. You have an Amazing testimony. ❤️
Thank you for your kind words and I will definitely continue to be a testimony!
Do many ex-Amish women have relationship problems ?
@@marvinhunger8169 I can't answer that since I only know from my experience and the way I was raised.
I appreciate your experience, I've too left community and am still adjusting
I hope you find peace! Let me know how I can support!
@@EmilyAdams_ thank you sooo much! I wish I had met you ling ago. Sometime I'd like to share my story.im still healing..
I'm honored by your voice!!
@@maryhenderson4929 thank you 💕 here to serve
You weren't that far behind in math going into university. Relatively few Americans ever take trigonometry. Those planning on obtaining a non-STEM bachelors degree may have a year of high school algebra and maybe geometry which they may or may not continue to struggle with in college. I admire your determination.
Thank you for sharing! I find this very interesting!
Your welcome! If there are other topics you would like for me to cover please let me know and I will make a video on it.
That is so interesting how Amish drops education at such an early stage. Glad you have gained your education and became who you are today!
Me too!
I love this video! Great advice!
Thank you ❤️
Hello Emily !
I find your life journey both inspiring and touching.
My advice to you is ;
🤗 Have faith in yourself.
🤗 Be true to yourself.
🤗 Create your own tribe of equal minded people if you like.
Stay safe and well.
Love from Norway 💖
Thank you for your kind words.
Thank you beautiful!! I appreciate your authenticity.
Your welcome 🙂
I'm 46 and still can't do my hair, and I grew up Englisch
It's a challenge for sure!
I feel that a lot of UA-camrs (Amish America) romantize the life of the Amish and basically ignore that this is closed society with strict rules and gender roles. Their mostly young viewers seem to eat it up. I would not have fit in as I'm trans. I'm sure LGBTQ folks would not have a good life there. I love that you have found who you are and found your own voice.
Yes a lot of it definitely not the way it seems
Amish America is respectful of them
@@janeEyreAddict Yes, I understand this but there are still damaging aspects of this cult, such as hidden and impossible to get out of spouse abuse, treatment of LGBT+ people and so on. I admire their work ethic and simple life style but there are serious downsides if someone does not fit in. Not everyone can leave easily at teenage either. IF people leave they are ostracized from all their family and friends. I left a cult at age 20, however I was able to leave and I was able to see my family. I know a lot about cults. And this has many markings of cults (except for a current charismatic leader). But the family and community is basically that. I did not make fun of them in any way. But have read and followed a lot of longer term stories that talk about the experiences of people who leave. My basic point--they are romanticized. There has never been a point that Amish America said that changed my mind on that.
@@515aleon So how do you define "cult". If I\you were to look at a group of people, what characteristics do you look for to make that claim? Thanks!
Wow Emily, I just discovered you! I am so glad you've come a long way and seem to be happy. When I look at some of the Amish community and other religious groups, I feel so sorry that they cloud the real freedom found in a relationship with God through Christ. All those man-made rules and regulations take away the liberty God wants us to have within His moral framework. There's no greater artist than God, yet man wants uniformity in dress and behaviour. I love the verse in John 10:10 -"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Christ is the Source of Life, yet He laid down His life for us so we would not bear the punishment of our sins. I owe my breath to Him and my eternal salvation, not because of anything I am but because He loved me unto death. He's only a prayer away. God bless you. Olive Wilson.
Thank you for your kind words! 💖
@Steven Bathurst thank you for your kind words 💖
Beautiful natural curly hair style. Some women pay a lot of money for perms to try to get their hair look like yours!
Thank you! I know I need to embrace the curls 🙂
@@EmilyAdams_ yes your natural curl is beautiful. 😊
@@QuestionThingsUseLogic thank you!
Thank you for sharing your life story. I was wondering if you've been able to reconnect with your family, especially your mom. God bless.
I have connected with my family again 💖
@@EmilyAdams_ that's wonderful. It's so important for your boys to have grandparents. I'm glad for you too. 💜
Hi Emily, been watching your videos, on episode 3. Your a tough lady and I could only imagine how your life was once you made the jump in episode 1.
Thank you for your kind words. My journey did make me stronger!
Powerlifting helped me so much as well 💕
It changed my life! Do you compete?
Dear Emily, be blessed this day. You mentioned brothers, did they remain with the Amish? I have no negative imagery of the Amish; in truth, America would be better off if the country was majority Amish. I wish that your message reached out further into the whole of America. Our country would be better off. But, yes, your siblings have they remained in the fold? God Bless and Keep You and Yours!
My brothers are still in the Amish culture
I've read that the Amish do not have their births recorded, so there is no birth certificate with the state, and that a person [who leaves the Amish world] has to get people present at the birth to make written attestation to establish a birth certificate with the state [to work outside the Amish world], which is foundational for social security identification for [outside the Amish] work, etc etc. I also realize that Amish communities vary widely. Did you run into this as an obstacle and if so how did you deal with it? Thanks. 4 24 2022
This isn't true. I'm not sure where you received this source of information
Emily, as you have said, you have learned to find your voice and yourself, but how are your boys? Divorce no matter how bad the situation, will affect the kids in certain ways. Do you see any signs in your boys that they have been affected by being emotionally abandoned by their father? This is a personal question, and I don't expect you to answer this publicly, but they may need help. Also, do they have a relationship with their grandparents? Do you speak German to your boys? Not sure why I was shown your channel, but I subscribed to hear more about your journey. PS Don't let the public school systems warp your boy's minds. The social engineering they are doing is horrible. If you are in FL maybe it won't be so bad.
My boys have been affected by it which is why they have gone through therapy and I will continue to get them the support they need. I speak some German to my boys not a whole lot. They do have a relationship with the grandparents too.
Proud of you for finding your happiness. ❤️ i dont straighten my hair much. I dont wear makeup except on random occasions (i dont like trying to keep up with all that). I wear t shirts and shorts in the summer and t shirts and lounge pants usually in the winter. Im in GA and it is so hot here. You said you were in FL?! Hows the weather there?
There's no reason to keep up with everyone 🙂 the weather here is good!
@@EmilyAdams_ it isnt scorching hot? Its been hitting 100 already here! Its only spring. 😅
@@leaelizabeth23 I'm used to it lol
Emily, what did you get your degree in? What is your current profession?
My degree is in Organizational Leadership and Supervision and I do online coaching and project management.
I follow another ex-Amish guy called Eli Yoder how conservative was your community how challenging was it for you to leave, how did you get out and are you able to go back to the community to catch up with family?
Do you use any of the things you’ve learned from your up bringing? I guess I’m thinking of things like growing food and doing things that are close to nature.
I do use some of the things I have learned
I wonder if amish people are healthier in general. I never see mentally or physically disabled people in such communities, at least the ones I have seen on youtube. Also tribal people, who also live in smaller communities, eat what nature gives them and they are healthy and fit till old age....to me the amish type of natural life , working outside, grow your food, being offgrid is appealing to me but to choose it consciously with the knowledge I have now, and available on youtube, without the knowledge and choice it seems a scary, restrected kind of living...
They are not healthier and they still go to grocery stores and they do have mentally and physically disabled people as well.
Where is part 2 ?
Here is the link to the playlist
ua-cam.com/play/PLJmdgBlIuEA8xsoTgk-l1nI7GFdUKsd75.html
how did you get SSN and drivers license?
I already had my SSN and then driver's license I was able to sign for myself.
Where in Indiana were you from?
The Milroy area.
Do Amish women tend to have home births? Did you have your children at home? Just wondering! Much love to you 😊❤️
Some of them do. I did not, I had my boys at the hospital
Hi dont know if you remember me. I went to church in Milroy and was friends with your dad. I hear you mom and dad are moving to Ohio.
Yes they are moving.
Why didn't you leave the Amish commumity during rumspringa /
That wasn't an option for me. You don't get the choice to leave during that time. That is all made up by a tv reality show which I am actually talking about in my next video 🙂
Where do I fit in? NOT Where do I fit in at. Drop the at.
Thank you for pointing that out. However please keep in mind I'm also human 🙂
It's called a crossover of languages. Speak multiple and you will see as well.
@@redmoon08 some people don't understand 🤷🏽♀️😂
I have some questions.... but I'd feel more comfortable asking privately. I'm trying to understand, because I'm deeply curious and I want to learn as much as I can, yet it's also, for the sake of someone that I care about.
Hi Emily, Firstly, please do not be repulsed by the knowledge that I am a faithful servant of God (meaning appointed and taught by God alone). Spare me a few minutes as you've done with the rest. You see, since it is out there, I decided to give ear to your story. I'm definitely not charmed as it were by your Amish background but rather intrigued by your supposed Christian background. For, at the end of the day, that is what it surmounts to, whether one is running away from so-called 'Christians' or from Christ. Indeed, just as it was to be expected, you still have your people - and exactly where you want them to be. But you don't have Christ, and I believe you never did have Him in the first place. I know you're not likely to share in my grief you've actually run away from Christ. Whatever it is you'd made Him out to be in your head is what you actually run away from. For instance, you accused in a previous video how despite the claim 'God is Love' you didn't experience it amongst your people. The question beggars, if the surpassing Love of God is not experienced from God Himself then from whom?? Are you not guilty of equating your people (who are no different from yourself) with God? If people could actually replicate True Love, the surpassing Love of God, Christ would have no need to come at all. But the fact is, whether one accepts it or not, Christ did come and is due at the Appointed Time to return and consummate His divine Love for His people by taking them Home with Him.
You don't realize you really have no clue who God is. Sadly, it appears you neither have the desire to know Him. For, if you'd any personal knowledge of Him you'd know He grieves for the oppressed more than you can even begin to imagine. For example, note the charge He has consistently brought against the rulers of His people: "You drive the women of My people from their pleasant homes. You take away My blessing from their children forever." Next, "For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here, a little there.... So then, the Word of the Lord to them will become Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there - so that they will go and fall backward, be injured, snared and captured." There are scores more like these. But no, you'd rather be taken in by the crocodile tears this world sheds for you, wouldn't you? What is worse, you commit the unpardonable sin (if not repented) of becoming a False Witness of the Lord.
What woman is not a victim of the Enemy, along with her offspring/Offspring? And why? What woman is not called to be the God-ordained 'enemy' of the Enemy? Both in the literal sense and in the Spiritual sense - the redeemed of the Lord as the holy Bride of the holy Lamb! And yet how many women out there truly turn to God and live the blessed existence of Gen 3:15b? As opposed to the accursed existence of Gen 3:16 they show themselves inclined to remain subjected to? Hardly any. Yes, even in the so-called Christian communities. For men/rulers would not have it any other way as the peoples themselves like it this way - just as God has revealed through prophet Jeremiah. This, despite the fact that the superior calling or election of the woman continues to be reiterated all through the scriptures right from the very beginning to the end. Even going as far as to proclaim, "The Lord has done a new thing on earth - a woman will compass a man." The first of the fulfillment of the prophesy, "The first will become last and the last first," even as God created her last among all His creations and declared for the first time in the superlative, "IT IS VERY GOOD." To truly come to know the Lord is to experience the Truth and to triumph over the Enemy as He had Himself done. I can only pray and hope your eyes will open before it is too late.
I wish you nothing but the best in your life. Love and light!
@@EmilyAdams_ I thank you for responding and continue to hope and pray the Best for you.
God gave you your looks. Don't need to cover your face with makeup
💞
I wonder if you can at least read today's german?
If so, I can show you something interestingly regarding English and Geman.
I can read German
why all the giggle giggle ? like a small child.
What do you mean?
How are you any better off today without Christ?
I believe Christ is in all of us, we are never without.
Ah, Christianity, my favorite deadbeat dad story. Check it. God fathers this kid and then disappears. And only after the kid becomes famous does God ask him to come live with him.
George Flanigan, Just because she left the Amish culture does not make her without Christ. We can all believe in Christ and choose to lead a life with him in our lives without being Amish. There are no Bible verses that say you need to be Amish but there are plenty of Bible verses against legalism.