《走进阿米什Amish》【左邻右舍系列】

老枪

《Into the Amish》【Neighborhood series】

文/何慧丽 图/老枪 Author/He Huili Photo/Old Gun

原载:《有机慢生活》2013年第12期

Originally published in: 《Organic Slow Life"》

Issue 12, 2013

【老枪补记】最早知道阿米什（Amish），还是在80年代末要到美国来之前，看了一部由哈里森.福特主演的电影《目击者》（Witness）。当时除了对男女主角及孩子的演技由衷欣赏，而印象更深的却是发现：在先进的美国，居然有这样一群不受现实社会干扰的“纯农民”阿米什，真正的自给自足并与大自然和偕相处，这美国的“桃花源“，深深吸引了我。因为当年我也曾在中国的农村“扎根”九年，想当个“世外”农夫。可最后还是没有扭过现实的大腿，被“连根拔起”回到了城市，但这并没有消弱我对土地及大自然的眷恋。

几年后我到了美国，并从南部的佛州搬到了北方宾州的费城附近，于是才知道我家与阿米什聚居的社区仅半小时车程。后来，阿米什的广阔田野及马车田舍，就成了我经常光顾的拍摄“圣地”！

[Old Gun Remarks] The earliest I knew about Amish was watching a movie 《Witness》starring Harrison Ford before coming to the United States in the late 1980s. At that time, in addition to sincerely admiring the acting skills of the male and female protagonists and children, what impressed me more was the discovery that in the advanced United States, there were such a group of "pure farmers" Amish who were not disturbed by the real society, who were truly self-sufficient and compatible with the big Living together with nature, the "Peach Blossom Spring" in the United States, deeply attracted me. Because I also "take root" in the countryside of China for nine years and wanted to be an "outsider" farmer. But in the end, I still didn't twist the thigh of reality, and was "uprooted" and returned to the city, but this did not weaken my nostalgia for the land and nature.

A few years later, I came to the United States and moved from Florida in the south to near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania in the north. Then I realized that my family and the Amish community were only half an hour away by car. Later, the Amish's vast fields and carriage farmhouses became the "sacred places" that I often visited for shooting!

【暮归】【Twilight Return】 2013年我有幸认识了一位任职中国农业大学的专家何慧丽女士，她与我在中国人民大学时期的老友温铁军同为著名的“三农”问题专家，她还曾挂职河南兰考县的副县长多年，为中国的新乡村建设出了不少的力。

当时她正好到美国来考察，住在美东的巴尔的摩，而那里距离阿米什社区也就是一个多小时车程，我就建议她最好去阿米什看看。没想到她通过当地的教会，与阿米什这边取得了联系，居然有一家阿米什家庭愿意邀请她到家里小住一周，于是就有了这篇《走进阿米什》，她可能是华人真正“走进了”阿米什家庭并记录成文字的第一人！

In 2013, I was fortunate to meet Ms. He Huili, an expert at China Agricultural University. She and my old friend Wen Tiejun at Renmin University of China are both well-known experts on "agriculture, rural areas and farmers". The county magistrate has contributed a lot to the construction of new villages in China for many years.

At that time, she happened to be visiting the United States and lived in Baltimore in the east of the United States, which was just over an hour's drive from the Amish community. I suggested that she should visit the Amish community. Unexpectedly, she got in touch with the Amish side through the local church, and there was an Amish family willing to invite her to stay at home for a week, so this article "Into the Amish" came out, and she might It is the first person who Chinese really "walked into" the Amish family and recorded it in writing!

【夕照】【Sunset】

2013年9月的一天，何慧丽结束了一周的阿米什家庭考察，我去兰卡斯特（Lancaster）接她来我家小聚，也难得进入了阿米什的家庭一窥究竟。我们与男主人商量：知道他们的宗教教义是不欢迎拍照的，但很多人对他们的生活都很好奇，也都希望了解一下阿米什的真实生活。如今难得有这个机会，能否让我拍摄一下家里的生活常态，以及为你们的家人们留下一些纪念？

One day in September 2013, He Huili finished her week-long visit to Amish families. I went to Lancaster to pick her up for a reunion at my house, and it was rare to enter the Amish family to see what happened. We discussed with the hostess: Knowing that their religious teachings are not welcome to take pictures, but many people are very curious about their lives and hope to learn about the real life of the Amish. It is rare to have this opportunity now, can you let me take a picture of the normal life at home and leave some memories for your family members?

【阿米什家庭的房舍从外表上看，与普通的美国房屋没什么区别，主要是看不到电线和电灯。房子紧挨着一条繁忙的乡间马路（这才是真正的“马路”！），这样方便主人把自己的产品陈列在路边，推广宣传】【Amish family's houses look no different from ordinary American houses from the outside, mainly because there are no wires and lights. The house is next to a busy country road (this is the real "road"!), so it is convenient for the owner to display his products on the side of the road and promote them】

男主人夫妇与他们的父母在屋里商议了半天，终于同意：家里的生活、工作等设施可以拍，也可以拍摄孩子们的活动，但四位主人则婉言谢绝了！我想这种难得的决定，可能跟他们目前经营的铁木小作坊，因为商业关系经常与外界接触，因此对如今信息时代进行适当的妥协与融入有关系吧！

经主人们首肯，我随即记录了一些阿米什家庭的“内幕”，再配合何慧丽详尽的文字介绍，我想这一定是朋友们感兴趣的。一晃近十年过去，社会变迁、人心不古，而阿米什依旧，这可能就是真正宗教的力量吧？！如今这些文字和照片仍然不显过时，分享给朋友们，希望大家喜欢。以下就是何慧丽《走进阿米什》的全文，我配上了图片及一些简短说明。🤝 老枪（2023/03/13补记于宾州）

The hosts and their parents discussed in the house for a long time, and finally agreed: the life, work and other facilities at home can be photographed, and the children's activities can also be photographed, but the four hosts politely declined! I think this kind of rare decision may have something to do with the small iron wood workshop they are currently running. Because of their business relationship, they often contact the outside world, so they must make appropriate compromises and integration into today's information age!

With the approval of the hosts, I immediately recorded some "insider stories" of the Amish family, and combined with He Huili's detailed text introduction, I think this must be of interest to my friends. Nearly ten years have passed, society has changed, people's hearts have changed, but the Amish remains the same. Maybe this is the power of true religion? ! These texts and photos are still not out of date, share them with your friends, I hope you like them. The following is the full text of He Huili's 《Into the Amish》, with pictures and some brief descriptions.

Old Gun (reposted in Pennsylvania on 2023/03/13）🤝

【马路】【horse road】

《走进阿米什》文/何慧丽 图/老枪

《Into the Amish》Author/He Huili Photo/Old Gun

2013年秋季，我来到了美国宾夕法尼亚州兰开斯特郡阿米什社区的一个家庭——亚伯家去体验生活。一般人的印象是，阿米什人几百年来固守传统农耕和手工艺生产方式，生活简朴，不使用电力、汽车等现代科技，与世隔绝。我怀着对这种另类于主流生活的向往，在与亚伯家相处一周的时间内，感受着并感慨着。今将之描述出来，以飨读者。

In the fall of 2013, I came to experience life at Abel's, a family in the Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. The general impression is that the Amish have adhered to traditional farming and handicraft production methods for hundreds of years, lived a simple life, did not use modern technologies such as electricity and cars, and were isolated from the world. With a yearning for this alternative to the mainstream life, I felt and felt emotional during the week I spent with Abel's family. Now it will be described for the readers. 【蓝天白云下灰顶红墙的住房，整洁而敞亮】【[House with gray roof and red walls under blue sky and white clouds, clean and bright]】 一、亚伯家的日常生活

　　这是一个温馨的8口之家。父亲亚伯，母亲赛娃，45岁；孩子6个，其中女儿4个，分别是凯特（18岁）、安娜（15岁）、赛玛（10岁）、玛丽（４岁），儿子2个，马林（12岁）和里迈（７岁），比每家平均7个孩子还少1个。 阿米什人没有计划生育，因为在他们看来一切生命都是神安排、赐予的，即使婴儿出生不久夭折了，也要在家庭成员簿中记着其生日和忌日。
1. The daily life of Abel's family

This is a warm family of 8. Father Abel, mother Saiwa, 45 years old; 6 children, including 4 daughters, namely Kate (18 years old), Anna (15 years old), Saima (10 years old), Mary (4 years old), and 2 sons , Marin (12 years old) and Limai (7 years old), one child less than the average of 7 children in each family. The Amish do not have family planning, because they believe that all life is arranged and bestowed by God. Even if a baby dies shortly after birth, the birthday and death date must be recorded in the family member book. 【温馨和睦、开朗欢心的孩子们与小伙伴，看到他们的笑容，就像看到了天使，那么纯洁无暇！大家可以找出谁是谁吗？】【Warm, friendly, cheerful children and friends, seeing their smiles is like seeing an angel, so pure and flawless! Can everyone find out who is who? 】 【家谱】【genealogy】 【闺房】【boudoir】 此外，家庭成员还包括一些可爱的动物，且各有其名。一匹高头大马，12岁，叫猛士，主要用于亚伯家人外出交通——敞篷马车，也会与亚伯兄弟家的马配在一起耕田用；两匹都已怀孕的矮种马，12岁的泰米和4岁的阳光，偶尔在全家外出坐无篷小马车时使用。一只4岁的山羊白雪，每天早晚两次挤奶供全家人和猫咪食用。一只4岁的小巴狗乔治，平时职责是看家护院、与玛丽玩耍。还有两只绵羊、一对猫及刚生下来的5个猫崽，也都有各自名字。 In addition, the family members also include some cute animals, each with their own names. A tall horse, 12 years old, called Warrior, is mainly used for the transportation of Abel's family - the open carriage, and will also be used with the horses of Abel's brother's family for plowing; two pregnant ponies, 12 Tammy, 4, and Sunshine, 4, occasionally use it for family outings in the pony carriage. Bai Xue, a 4-year-old goat, is milked twice a day in the morning and evening for the whole family and cats to eat. George, a 4-year-old puppy, usually takes care of the house and plays with Mary. There are also two sheep, a pair of cats and five newly born cat cubs, all with their own names. 【安娜与玛丽为大马猛士刷毛清理】【Anna and Mary clean up the bristles of the Malaysian warriors】 【安娜给猛士和奶山羊白雪喂偏食】【Anna feeds the warrior and the milk goat Baixue a partial diet】 【奶山羊白雪每天为全家提供羊奶，无怨无悔】【Dairy goat Baixue provides goat milk for the whole family every day, no complaints or regrets】 【定时等待早餐的喵星人】【The cats waiting for breakfast at regular intervals】 【4岁的玛丽与她最爱的小黄毛】【【4-year-old Mary and her favorite kitten little yellow hair】 【12岁的马林宠爱小巴狗乔治】【12-year-old Marlin pets the little bus dog George】 与大部分阿米什人家里一样，亚伯家有一个性能良好的柴油机发电供家用。整个住房没有安装固定电灯、电线设备；照明用的是可以随时移动的手提节能灯，其电源是在柴油机上充好电的12瓦电池，一般持续可用3小时。 家里有三台可以移动的节能灯，一般是人走到哪儿，灯提举到哪儿。客厅或者饭厅的顶部有个铁钩用来挂节能灯。家里的洗衣机、冰箱以罐装煤气为动力，烧火做饭也是煤气。家里没有电视、电脑，至于手机，除亚伯因为制作和销售儿童娱乐器材要联络外界而拥有一部之外，其他人都没有。至于电话，不能装在房间里，只能安装在亚伯家门口旁边一个封闭的亭子里，家里人想打电话的，就到亭子里打。 Like most Amish homes, Abel's has a good diesel generator for domestic use. There are no fixed lamps and wires installed in the whole house; portable energy-saving lamps that can be moved at any time are used for lighting, and the power source is a 12-watt battery charged on a diesel engine, which can last for 3 hours. There are three energy-saving lamps that can be moved at home. Generally, wherever people go, the lamps are lifted wherever they go. There is an iron hook on the top of the living room or dining room for hanging energy-saving lamps. The washing machines and refrigerators at home are powered by canned gas, and the cooking fire is also gas. There is no TV or computer at home. As for mobile phones, no one except Abel owns one because he needs to communicate with the outside world because he makes and sells children's entertainment equipment. As for the telephone, it cannot be installed in the room, but can only be installed in a closed pavilion next to the door of Abel’s house. If the family members want to make calls, they can go to the pavilion to make calls. 【男主人亚伯宽敞的木工作坊】【The host Abel's spacious wood workshop】 【里面各式的作业单摆放得井井有条】【All kinds of homework sheets are placed in an orderly manner】 【作坊内干净整洁、一尘不染，根本不像个木工房】【The workshop is clean, tidy and spotless, not like a carpentry workshop at all】 【大功率的柴油发电机除了为点灯的蓄电瓶充电，还驱动高压气体压缩罐为家中各种气动机器供气，没想到如今还专门有厂家生产气动工具】【The high-power diesel generator not only charges the storage battery for the lighting, but also drives the high-pressure gas compression tank to supply air to various pneumatic machines in the home. I did not expect that there are manufacturers specializing in the production of pneumatic tools today】 【漂亮的LED落地灯，一改过去的煤油灯、汽灯，节能环保时髦！】【Beautiful LED floor lamps, changing the past kerosene lamps and gas lamps, energy-saving, environmentally friendly and fashionable!】 【点灯的蓄电瓶】【Lighted storage battery】 【第一次看到气动的洗衣机和滚轴式衣物压干机，然后在外面晾晒，估计是六七十年代的产品，非常先进实用！】【This is the first time I saw a pneumatic washing machine and a roller clothes dryer, and then dried them outside. It is estimated to be a product in the 1960s and 1970s. It is very advanced and practical!】 【安放在院口的别致电话亭，据弟妹们说：是两个姐姐每天都要光顾停留的小天地！】【The chic phone booth placed at the entrance of the courtyard, according to the brothers and sisters: it is a small world where the two sisters visit every day!】 那么，在一个家庭成员很多、没有电、没有电视、电脑、手机等现代科技产品的家庭里，其每日生活是怎样的？

　　这种相对传统的生活，在高度现代化的美国社会里尤显稀贵。早上，6：30，母亲就开始做早饭了。孩子们也具有早睡早起的习惯而陆续起床。7：00左右，一家人围坐在一张大桌子旁边，父亲母亲坐在最正面的位置上，子女们从小到大依次坐好。父亲带着大家饭前祷告约半分钟之后开饭。早饭一般是燕麦粥拌干浆果、羊奶、牛奶等。中饭和晚饭一般有米饭、面包以及各种酱汁，比如西红柿酱、苹果酱、莓子酱，多种新鲜蔬菜色拉，大都由赛娃从菜园采摘制作而成；也会有一些鸡肉、牛肉和香肠等肉类。饭后，父亲再次带领大家祷告。接着，一天的工作开始了，该上学的上学，做家务的做家务，生计的生计。 So, what is the daily life like in a family with many members and no electricity, TV, computer, mobile phone and other modern technological products?

This kind of relatively traditional life is especially rare in the highly modernized American society. In the morning, at 6:30, my mother started to make breakfast. Children also have the habit of going to bed early and getting up early and getting up one after another. Around 7:00, the family sits around a large table, with the parents sitting in the most front seats, and the children sitting in order from young to old. My father led everyone to pray for about half a minute before the meal and then the meal was served. Breakfast is usually oatmeal mixed with dried berries, goat's milk, milk, etc. Lunch and dinner generally have rice, bread and various sauces, such as tomato sauce, apple sauce, berry sauce, a variety of fresh vegetable salads, most of which are made by Seva from the vegetable garden; there will also be some chicken, beef and Meat such as sausages. After the meal, my father led everyone to pray again. Then, the day's work begins. Those who should go to school go to school, those who do housework do housework, and make ends meet. 【后院的“自留地”，一年四季种植着各种蔬菜，供全家人食用】【The "private plot" in the backyard, all kinds of vegetables are planted all year round for the whole family to eat】 【漂亮的后花园和储物小屋，以及远处硕大的液化煤气储存罐，以供烧火做饭】【Beautiful back garden and storage shed, as well as a huge liquefied gas storage tank in the distance for cooking and cooking】 【彩旗】【Bunting】 【阿米什用滑轮式晾衣绳露天晾晒五颜六色的衣物、寝饰等，既卫生、环保、节能，又接天地自然之气，是阿米什社区一道亮丽的风景线！】【Amish uses a pulley clothesline to dry colorful clothes and bedding in the open air. It is hygienic, environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and connected to the natural atmosphere of the world. It is a beautiful landscape in the Amish community!】 亚伯家现有三个适龄儿童上学，老三、老四和老五。孩子们上的是阿米什人在当地自建的学校，一般是上完8年级，即初中毕业14岁以上就不再接受教育了。学校里教孩子们一些日常生活中用得着的德语、英语、数学以及一些本土知识，能应对将来的日常生活方式即可。中饭一般是早上在家里做好，孩子们带到学校去吃。下午3:00左右就回家。孩子们上学，或者是走路或者是踩单脚滑板车——斯考特。 There are currently three school-age children in Abel's family, the third, fourth and fifth children. The children go to the local schools built by the Amish themselves. They usually finish the 8th grade, that is, they will stop receiving education when they are 14 years old after graduating from junior high school. In the school, children are taught some German, English, mathematics and some local knowledge that can be used in daily life, so that they can cope with the way of daily life in the future. Lunch is usually prepared at home in the morning, and the children take it to school to eat. Go home around 3:00 pm. The kids go to school, either on foot or on a scooter - Scott. 【私塾】【Private school】 【阿米什非常有特色的是他们的“一间屋课堂”，很像中国以前的"私塾"，大小孩子都在一起上课，一位老师，分不同程度区分教学；学校几乎几个街口就有一所，方便孩子们步行上学】【Amish is very unique in their "one-room classroom", which is very similar to the "private school" in China before. Both children, young and old, attend classes together. One teacher divides the teaching at different levels; the school is almost a few blocks away. There is only one school, which is convenient for children to walk to school】 【前些年风靡一时的单脚滑板车——斯考特，其实就是阿米什孩子几十年前玩儿剩下的！】【Scott, the one-legged scooter that was all the rage a few years ago, is actually left over from the Amish children playing decades ago!】 【下雪是孩子们与大自然“亲密接触”的最高兴时刻！】【Snow is the happiest moment for children to "close contact" with nature!】 已初中毕业的老大和老二也各有分工。老大凯特因已过18岁，每周日晚上要参加阿米什人的青年唱诗班，每周两天要在兰开斯特郡一家本地旅游商店打工，其余时间，每两天一次洗衣服、与妈妈一起缝制全家人的衣物，等等。老二安娜则每周两天在一家老人院做义工，其余时间则协助妈妈做饭、早上晚上挤羊奶、喂养看护家畜等。

此外，家里还有一块菜园，大概半英亩左右，里面种有各种时令蔬菜，以及花生、大豆、玉米等五谷杂粮，采摘、施肥等各种农活则是亚伯夫妻与孩子们一起做。另有一块１英亩左右的草场，是羊、马等牲畜的活动空间。我每天早晨都去看安娜挤羊奶。挤羊奶的时候，7只猫在旁边，它们喝一部分羊奶，另一部分全家食用。

The boss and the second child who have graduated from junior high school also have their own division of labor. The eldest, Kate, is over 18 years old, and she attends the Amish youth choir every Sunday night, and works in a local tourist shop in Lancaster two days a week, and for the rest of the time, she does laundry, Sew with mom for the whole family and more. The second child, Anna, volunteers in a nursing home two days a week, and assists her mother in cooking, milking goats in the morning and evening, and feeding and caring for livestock.

In addition, there is a vegetable garden at home, about half an acre, in which various seasonal vegetables, as well as whole grains such as peanuts, soybeans, and corn are grown. Abel, his wife and children do all kinds of farm work such as picking and fertilizing together. There is also a pasture of about 1 acre, which is the activity space for sheep, horses and other livestock. I go to see Anna milking the goats every morning. When the goats were milked, 7 cats were beside them. They drank part of the goat milk and the rest was eaten by the whole family.

【 阿米什的服装都是在家里自己缝制的，女孩子们从小就跟妈妈学习缝纫，这台气动缝纫机不知省了她们多少劳动，看来阿米什并非拒绝现代文明与科技，只是不想为它们所累】【Amish clothes are all sewn at home. Girls have learned sewing from their mothers since they were young. This pneumatic sewing machine has saved them a lot of labor. It seems that Amish does not reject modern civilization and technology, but just does not want to Tired of them】 【安娜每天早上都会去挤羊奶，一半喂小猫们，另一半供给家人们】【Anna goes to milk the goat every morning, half feeds the kittens, and the other half feeds the family】 【奶足饭饱！喵！】【Milk and food are full! Meow!】 【家里大大小小的劳动鞋摆放整齐，后面是水暖气片，为全家一冬供暖】【The big and small work shoes at home are neatly arranged, and the water radiator is behind them, heating the whole family for the whole winter】 【阿米什的孩子不分男女，从小就要参加劳动，为家庭做贡献，培养生活的能力。另外孩子们从小就赤足，接触大地的触摸，一直到大，据说促进长寿，不知真假！】【Amish children, regardless of gender, have to participate in labor since childhood, make contributions to the family, and cultivate the ability of life. In addition, children have been barefoot since they were young, and they have been exposed to the touch of the earth until they grow up. It is said to promote longevity, but I don’t know whether it is true or not!】 【亚伯主要是制作经营木制的儿童娱乐器材，五颜六色摆放在路边，很是醒目；中间的红棕色小木屋，是他家的电话亭】【Abel mainly makes and manages wooden children's entertainment equipment, which are colorfully placed on the side of the road, which is very eye-catching; the red-brown cabin in the middle is his family's telephone booth】 亚伯负责家里的力气活，以及一个手工业作坊，主要是制作和出售各种家用儿童娱乐器材。亚伯家在通向城镇的大路边，他把一些娱乐设施样品陈列在路边，也帮助巧手太太写一个广告放在那儿——出售各种有机蔬菜和果酱。偶尔，在瓜果丰收的季节也摆个摊在门口，不需要专人看护，只需写出每种蔬菜瓜果的价钱，把一个装钱的玻璃瓶放在旁边即可。亚伯的家庭副业生意已做了10年，有相对固定的客户。这样他既保持了家庭团聚又可以赚得维持生活的现金收入。 Abel is responsible for the physical work at home, as well as a handicraft workshop, mainly making and selling various household children's entertainment equipment. Abel's house is on the side of the main road leading to the town. He displayed some samples of recreational facilities on the side of the road, and also helped Mrs. Skillful write an advertisement to place there-selling all kinds of organic vegetables and jams. Occasionally, during the harvest season of melons and fruits, I also set up a stall at the door. No special care is required. Just write down the price of each vegetable and fruit, and put a glass bottle with money next to it. Abel's family sideline business has been in business for 10 years and has relatively regular customers. This way he keeps his family together and earns a living cash income. 【成品库】【Finished product library】 【工作台】【Workbench】 【气动专用缝纫机】【Pneumatic special sewing machine】 【气动台锯】【Pneumatic Table Saw】 【办公室】【office】 印象深刻的是，阿米什人的家庭教育是相当完善的和极其有效的，其中包括家庭亲情伦理、敬畏动植物生命、传承父辈信仰、崇尚朴素的生活方式、身心合一的劳动价值，等等。这些在现代社会里少有的宝贵品德、习惯和操守，亚伯们通过完整的家庭功能而实现了。亚伯一家的集体活动很多，习惯成自然。有每天饭前饭后的默祷，睡前或英文或德文的跪祷，还有每周全体成员穿着传统服装坐着马拉车走亲访友并参与多家庭的聚会礼拜。

此外，因为没有那么多的现代科技产品的诱惑，家庭成员就有充分的时间和精力进行家庭内部面对面的交流。比如，三个孩子下午3点放学回家，女的跟妈妈和姐姐学做衣服，在妈妈做饭的时候当帮手，或者去菜园里干活；男的跟父亲学手工或者木匠活计，学刷油漆，切割、制作各种小玩具，甚至还可以有自己的制作坊。秋天的玉米杆子和豆苗需要拔掉了，儿子就和父亲一起拎着砍刀上地干活。更多的闲暇时间里，我总能听到他们满心喜悦地相互感染着、唱着一首接一首的赞美诗。或者，总有人乐意去为马儿梳理鬃毛、逗弄花丛中躺卧着的懒猫、把小狗牵出来在草地上遛玩、打扫院子、一起协作制造玩具……孩子们显得心灵纯洁、精力充沛、仁义友爱。这是一个具有传帮带功能的家庭氛围熏陶出来的。

Impressively, the family education of the Amish is quite complete and extremely effective, including family ethics, awe of animal and plant life, inheritance of beliefs from parents, advocating a simple way of life, labor value of unity of body and mind, and so on. These rare and precious virtues, habits and integrity in modern society have been realized by the Abels through complete family functions. Abel's family has a lot of group activities, and it is natural to get used to it. There are silent prayers before and after meals every day, kneeling prayers in English or German before going to bed, and every week all members wear traditional costumes and sit in horse-drawn carts to visit relatives and friends and participate in multi-family gatherings.

In addition, because there are not so many temptations of modern technological products, family members have sufficient time and energy for face-to-face communication within the family. For example, the three children come home from school at 3 p.m., the girl learns to make clothes from her mother and sister, helps her mother while cooking, or goes to work in the vegetable garden; the boy learns handicrafts or carpentry work from his father, learns to paint, cut and make various small toys, and even has his own workshop. In autumn, the corn stalks and bean sprouts need to be pulled out, so the son and his father carry a machete to work on the ground. In more free time, I can always hear them infecting each other with joy and singing hymns one after another. Or, there are always people who are willing to comb the horse's mane, tease the lazy cat lying in the flowers, take the puppy out to play on the grass, clean the yard, and cooperate to make toys... The children appear pure in heart, energetic, benevolent and friendly. This is nurtured by a family atmosphere with the function of mentoring. 【耕作】【farming】 【大儿子马林的工作台及他的作品，他制作的各式木制品在集市上售卖，填补一下家用】【The workbench of the eldest son Marin and his works, all kinds of wooden products he made are sold in the market to fill the household】 【马林为自己的作品签名】【Marin signed his own work】 【小玛丽与二姐安娜和小狗乔治总是形影不离】【Little Mary and her second sister Anna and her puppy George are always inseparable】 【安娜与她的宠物小猫】【Anna and her pet kitten】 【春】【spring】 二、亚伯家的人生观和世界观

　　人生在世，都持有一定的人生观和世界观。亚伯家继承着阿米什人的信仰，即主耶稣。但是，阿米什人的信仰与一般基督徒不同，没有教堂、十字架等圣器，没有各种正规宗教仪式和神圣典礼，具有一定的“信行”特点：把信仰浸润在日常生活和生计中，奉为人生观和世界观，并日日践行之。我有幸近距离地感受到了。

　　每天，当我有问题时，他们都会耐心解答。从一个普通的阿米什人那儿不经意得到的答案，常常令我惊诧、耐人寻味。 2. The outlook on life and the world of the Abel family

Everyone who lives in this world holds a certain outlook on life and the world. The Abel family inherited the Amish faith, the Lord Jesus. However, the belief of the Amish is different from that of ordinary Christians. They do not have churches, crosses and other sacred objects, and do not have various formal religious ceremonies and sacred ceremonies. I was lucky enough to feel it up close.

Every day, when I have questions, they will patiently answer them. The answers I get by accident from an ordinary Amish often surprise and intrigue me. 【父女】【father and daughter】 【家人】【family】 【伙伴】【partner】 【出游】【Travel】 问：现在小到个人家庭，大到国家社会，都有很多严重的问题发生，担心吗？

　　父亲亚伯：只要按着十诫去做，就没有什么担心的事发生。十诫包括：信主耶稣，不要崇拜各种偶像，要孝敬父母，不可杀人，不可奸淫，不可偷盗，不可作假见证陷害人，不可贪恋人的房屋，也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴并他一切所有的，等等。此外，我们谨记“八福”——虚心的人、哀恸的人、温柔的人、慕义的人、怜悯人的人、清心的人、使人和睦的人、为义受逼迫的人，能做到这些，就是有福的人。这些随嘴说说是容易的，但是真正去做是困难的。只有做到才算真信，也才能避免那些担心的问题。当然，如果有不怕神以各种形式对之惩罚的人，可以不在乎。
Question: Nowadays, there are many serious problems happening, ranging from small to individual families to large-scale national society. Are you worried?

Father Abel: As long as you follow the Ten Commandments, nothing to worry about will happen. The Ten Commandments include: Believe in the Lord Jesus, don’t worship any idols, honor your parents, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t bear false witness against others, don’t covet a man’s house, don’t covet a man’s wife, servants, oxen and donkeys, and everything he owns, etc. In addition, we keep in mind the “Eight Beatitudes”—those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are meek, those who seek righteousness, those who are merciful, those who are pure in heart, those who make peace, and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Those who can do these are blessed. It is easy to talk about it, but it is difficult to actually do it. Only when you do it can you be considered a true believer, and you can avoid those worries. Of course, if there are people who are not afraid of God’s punishment in various forms, they don’t have to care. 【瞧这一家子！】 【欢乐！】【joy! 】 问：阿米什人为什么看重“谦虚”和“简朴”这两种品德？

母亲赛娃：神告诉我们要谦卑和简朴，这是最重要的两个美德。

因为一切自然而然的东西都是神赐予的，都要坦然接受和顺服，并不应有成见。我们较少接触高科技的东西，因为它增加了生活的复杂性，影响家庭团聚，减少邻里和社区内人与人之间面对面交流和互助的机会，但这些则是人生幸福中最重要的事情。孩子上到初中毕业，所学知识对乡村生活足够了，花钱上高中、上大学学到的知识对维持我们的生活没有多少用处，反而滋长了一些攀比心和虚荣心。我们不坐飞机、不开汽车，是因为这些快速的交通工具会扰乱我们的社区生活，助长人的欲望和妄想。我们不愿受外在控制而失去了亲情、平安等内在生活乐趣。我们以谦卑简朴为荣，以浮华虚荣为耻。 Q: Why do the Amish value the two qualities of "modestness" and "simplicity"?

Mother Seva: God tells us to be humble and simple, these are the two most important virtues.

Because all natural things are bestowed by God, they must be accepted and obeyed frankly, and there should be no prejudice. We are less exposed to high-tech stuff because it adds complexity to life, hinders family reunification, and reduces opportunities for face-to-face interaction and mutual assistance between people in the neighborhood and community, but these are the most important things in life's well-being. When children graduate from junior high school, the knowledge they have learned is enough for rural life. The knowledge learned by spending money on high school and college is not very useful for maintaining our lives, but instead breeds some comparisons and vanity. We don't fly or drive cars because these fast modes of transportation disrupt our community life and feed desire and paranoia. We don't want to be controlled by the outside and lose the inner joy of life such as family affection and peace. We are proud of humility and simplicity, and ashamed of pomp and vanity. 【同行】【Peer】 【大路朝天】【The road is facing the sky】 问：你不喜欢穿漂亮衣服、戴好看的首饰吗？像现代女孩那样的。

　　二女儿安娜：从祖辈、父辈那儿一代代传承下来的道德心和良心，告诉我们什么是错误的，什么是正确的。错误的东西不去看它想它做它，正确的东西则要学习，要跟从。我们相信，内在的东西，比如家庭成员之间的相亲相爱、人与人之间的诚实友善，勤劳工作、节俭生活，满足日用所需，是美的、永恒的；外在的东西，如金钱、美貌、首饰、衣物，等等，都是短暂的，不值得看重的东西。 Q: Don't you like to wear nice clothes and nice jewelry? Like a modern girl.

Second daughter Anna: The morality and conscience passed down from generation to generation from grandparents and fathers tell us what is wrong and what is right. Don't look at the wrong things, think about them and do them, but learn and follow the right things. We believe that inner things, such as love among family members, honesty and friendliness among people, hard work, frugal living, and meeting daily needs, are beautiful and eternal; external things, such as money, beauty, jewelry, clothing, etc., are ephemeral and not worth paying attention to. 【相依】【dependence】 　如果像我这样的十多岁女孩，喜欢耳环、项链、纹身、戴手镯的话，那么，我的心就不安稳了，我将不会知足。兄弟们和父亲大都在平时习惯于身穿吊带长裤、头戴草帽；我们姐妹们和母亲习惯穿棕色、蓝色或者黑色的长裙，外出时则系上围巾戴上白帽。这都是妈妈和姐姐教我们做的，不用花很多钱买，穿上也很舒服合体。至于头发，是上帝给的，无论是黑的、灰的、金黄色或者白色，都是自然的。现在有人不以自然为美，将头发染烫，于是出现了赚钱的理发店，这就走入了邪路。父母也教导我们，不能喜欢拍照，因为容貌是上帝赐予的，是外在的，也是短暂的。看重外在忽视内在，是自夸自大的愚蠢行为。 If a teenage girl like me likes earrings, necklaces, tattoos, bracelets, then my heart is not stable and I will not be content. Most of the brothers and father are used to wearing suspender trousers and straw hats; we sisters and mother are used to wearing brown, blue or black long skirts, and we wear scarves and white hats when we go out. This is what our mother and sister taught us to do. It doesn't cost a lot of money to buy, and it is very comfortable and fit. As for the hair, it is given by God, whether it is black, gray, golden yellow or white, it is natural. Now some people don't regard nature as beauty, they dye and perm their hair, so there are barbershops that make money, and this has gone into an evil path. Parents also taught us that we should not like to take pictures, because appearance is given by God, it is external and short-lived. Focusing on the outside and ignoring the inside is a foolish act of boasting. 　 【骑手】【rider】 【本色】 问：现在是现代社会、金钱社会、工业社会，如何看待科学技术、赚钱现象、传统农业耕作的前景？

　　父亲：我们不反对科技本身，但是提防它对人的控制作用和负面影响。科学技术我们在合适或不得已的时候也使用。比如我因为要做生意，就得有传真机、手机与外界联络。我们有时候外出活动也要用小汽车。但这些只限于工作场合或使用上。家里不装电话、不通电网、不用空调、电视机等“世俗”电器，不使用拖拉机耕田。但是，会在不损害集体协助和幸福生活的前提下允许租用汽车、在商店里安装电话、在马车上安装电灯、做饭洗衣用煤气，等等。

　　拥有钱、去赚钱不是一种罪行，但是让钱控制了你，支配了你，违背了神的信仰和理念，那就是一种罪过了。我妻子老是担心害怕，假如银行的电脑由于没有电或者其他原因关闭了，不再能打开了，银行将不再出钱的时候，人们是否只能去偷和抢生活用品了？但是我们希望这样的情况不会发生。 Question: Now is a modern society, a money society, and an industrial society. How do you view the prospects of science and technology, the phenomenon of making money, and traditional farming?

Father: We are not against technology itself, but beware of its controlling effect and negative impact on people. We also use science and technology when it is appropriate or necessary. For example, because I want to do business, I have to have a fax machine and a mobile phone to communicate with the outside world. Sometimes we also use a car when we go out for activities. But these are limited to the workplace or use. There is no telephone, no power grid, no air-conditioning, TV and other "worldly" electrical appliances in the house, and no tractors are used to plow the fields. However, the hire of cars, the installation of telephones in shops, the installation of electric lights in horse-drawn carriages, the use of gas for cooking and laundry, etc., would be permitted without prejudice to communal assistance and the well-being of life. 【办公用品】【Office Supplies】 【地下室的烧煤锅炉通过水暖器，负责全家一冬天的取暖】【The coal-fired boiler in the basement is responsible for heating the whole family in winter through the water heater】 【草根】【Grassroots】 【助力】 我们有自己的住房，有菜地种新鲜瓜菜；一些耕地作了草场。我开了一家手工业作坊，为的是在家里传承木制手工技术而且有一份赚钱的工作。但我的其他亲戚有大块土地用以耕作。兰开斯特郡里有粮食和酱汁加工业，旅游业和有机食品现在很赚钱，所以，农耕作为传统，也是可以获得利润的。 We have our own house, and we have vegetable fields to grow fresh melons and vegetables; some cultivated land has been used as pasture. I opened a handicraft workshop in order to pass down wooden handicraft skills at home and have a lucrative job. But my other relatives have large plots of land to cultivate. There are food and sauce processing industries in Lancaster County, tourism and organic food are very profitable now, so farming, as a tradition, can also be profitable. 【阿米什的秋天，遍地的大南瓜无人采收，经常会烂在地里，看着真心疼！】【In the fall of the Amish, there are no one to harvest the big pumpkins everywhere, and they often rot in the ground. It really hurts to see it! 】 【阿米什人禁烟，但他们种植的无害烟叶却远近闻名】【Amish people don't smoke, but the harmless tobacco they grow is famous far and wide】 【黄金叶】【Gold Leaf】 自从祖先于18世纪移居到宾州乡村三百年来，我们的生计就一直围着农业打转，因而适应了乡村生活，形成了我们的宗教观。刚出生的马驹，肥沃的土地，成熟的庄稼，甚至一些打雷下雨等天象都是神圣权威的见证。我们与神的交流就在日常与自然的接触中。农业耕作不只是一个工作和职业，它是祖先代代传承下来的、受神惠顾和保护的一种生活方式。我们知道，“当你与农耕以及一些相关产业脱离的时候，就是与自然、与主的神灵相脱离的时候”。

现在我们的年轻人也可能会受到外界的诱惑。孩子在儿童阶段接受我们的家庭教育、信仰和乡村社会实践，年满18岁以后可以在几年内选择非阿米什人生活方式。即使有这样的选择机会，也只有五分之一的年轻人会选择离开社区闯荡世界。而且，在外闯荡的年轻人日后大多数都又回到原社区接受阿米什生活方式。

In the three hundred years since our ancestors immigrated to rural Pennsylvania in the 18th century, our livelihood has revolved around agriculture, and this adaptation to rural life has shaped our religious outlook. Newborn foals, fertile land, mature crops, and even some celestial phenomena such as thunder and rain are all witnesses of divine authority. Our communication with God is in our daily contact with nature. Farming is not just a job and a profession, it is a way of life passed down from generation to generation and protected by God. We know that "when you are separated from farming and some related industries, you are separated from nature and from the spirit of the Lord".

Now our young people may also be tempted by the outside world. Children receive our family education, beliefs, and rural social practices during childhood, and can choose a non-Amish lifestyle within a few years after turning 18. Even with this choice, only one in five young people would choose to leave their community for the world. Moreover, most of the young people who wandered outside later returned to their original communities to accept the Amish way of life. 　
【春耕】【Spring plowing】 【全家福】【Family portrait】 【朴实】 亚伯家的客厅、卧室、厕所的墙上都有一些名言警句，其主题大都是关于亲情、爱、幸福等祝福的。比如――

亲人聚在一起的地方，是世界上最好的地方；忠诚、友善和信任是家里人的品德。让爱成为你最伟大的目标。时间不是被年月日衡量的，而是被你的真诚行动、你的欢乐心情和幸福所衡量的。 There are some famous sayings and aphorisms on the walls of the living room, bedroom, and toilet of Abel’s house, and most of the themes are about blessings such as family affection, love, and happiness. for example--

The best place in the world is where loved ones get together; loyalty, kindness and trust are the virtues of family members. Make love your greatest purpose. Time is not measured by years, months and days, but by your sincere actions, your joy and happiness. 【家园】【home】 【家训】【Family instruction】 【歌谱】【Song sheet】 三、太婆祝寿奇遇记——坐马车听唱诗

一天傍晚，凯特在给马上鞍备车，说一家人要去太婆家为她祝寿。她还将一个青年唱诗班带去。我很兴奋，因为要坐马车了，要去参与他们的活动了。

凯特的太婆，也就是她母亲的外婆，今天90周岁生日。太婆这辈子生有11个孩子，其中3男8女；外婆也生有11个孩子，其中7男4女；到了母亲这儿，6个孩子，2男4女。现在，太婆已经有近200个重孙子、70个孙子了。

3. Grandmother’s Birthday Blessings and Adventures—— Listening to Poetry in a Carriage

One evening, Kate was saddling the horse and said that the family was going to her grandmother's house to celebrate her birthday. She also brought a youth choir. I'm very excited because I'm going to take a carriage and participate in their activities.

Kate's great-grandmother, her mother's grandmother, turns 90 today. The grandmother had 11 children in her life, including 3 boys and 8 girls; the grandmother also had 11 children, including 7 boys and 4 girls; when it came to the mother, there were 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls. Now, the grandmother has nearly 200 great-grandchildren and 70 grandchildren. 【假日】【holiday】 黄昏时，除了凯特要召集年轻人、亚伯要与其他男性亲戚一起来之外，全家人加上我有7个人挤坐在两排座的敞篷马车上。马车是若干年前花9000美元买的，也有装电池照明用的装置。母亲和安娜都会驾车。猛士真是老马识途、训练有素。在女主人驾驭下，它一出门，先左顾右盼看路上是否有行人车辆，感到安全后，只见女主人将左边缰绳一拉，马便明白要去哪儿了，沿着道路右侧，一路小跑起来。铁轮在路上发出“咯咯”的声音，４个轮子的“咯咯”声与四个马蹄间的“哒哒”声交错合和着前进，旁边不时有轰鸣着的汽车奔驰而过。但是，大路朝天，各走一边，面对身旁不断奔驰而过的“铁箱子”，马儿一点也不惊慌失措，它竖起耳朵，睁大眼睛，灵敏地辨别周围的路况以及从主人那儿发来的声音指令和动作指令，迈开四蹄飞奔一路。

人都说马色盲，辨不清红绿灯，但是不要紧，可以由驾车者的指令以及马对周围路况的综合觉察来补充。一路上，红绿灯、转弯、避让等都应付自如。即使在路况极其复杂的情况下，马儿也显得镇定若常。从车里向外看，有不少汽车主人为了给我们拍照而摇下车窗，伸出照相机，正如刚来时坐在汽车上的我们。马极其忠实，纵然跑得一身大汗，也不减速。当然，它也清楚，整个路程就是几英里而已。熟悉的亲人，熟悉的路，不是这个亲戚家，就是那个朋友家，或者就是去镇上，对于这些，一位猛士，12岁的老马，家里的一个老成员，再清楚不过了。

At dusk, except for Kate who was going to gather young people and Abel who was going to come with other male relatives, the whole family plus me had 7 people crowded in a two-row open carriage. The carriage was bought some years ago for $9,000, and it also has a battery-powered light fixture. Both mother and Anna drive. Warriors are really experienced and well-trained. Under the control of the hostess, as soon as it goes out, it first looks left and right to see if there are pedestrians and vehicles on the road. After feeling safe, the hostess pulls the left rein, and the horse knows where it is going. It trots along the right side of the road. The iron wheels made a "cluck" sound on the road, and the "cluck" sound of the four wheels and the "da da" sound of the four horseshoes intertwined and moved forward, and there were roaring cars passing by from time to time. However, the road was open to the sky, and each side walked. Faced with the "iron box" constantly passing by, the horse did not panic at all. It pricked up its ears and opened its eyes, sensitively discerning the surrounding road conditions and the voice commands and action commands sent from the owner, and galloped all the way.

People say that horses are color-blind and can't distinguish traffic lights, but it doesn't matter, it can be supplemented by the driver's instructions and the horse's comprehensive awareness of the surrounding road conditions. Along the way, traffic lights, turns, avoidance, etc. are all handled with ease. Even in extremely complicated road conditions, the horse appeared calm and composed. Looking out from the car, many car owners rolled down the windows and stretched out their cameras in order to take pictures of us, just like us sitting in the car when we first arrived. The horse is extremely loyal, and will not slow down even if it is sweating profusely. Of course, it also knows that the whole journey is only a few miles. Familiar relatives, familiar roads, either this relative's house, that friend's house, or going to the town, for these, a warrior, a 12-year-old horse, and an old member of the family, could not be more clear.
【车队】【Caravan】 【单骑】【Riding alone】 大约半个小时７英里的路程之后，我还沉浸在坐马车的奇妙的感觉之中，一家人已到了太婆家。太婆很神奇，90岁了，会按摩、懂养生，头发大部分还是黑的，也耳不聋眼不花，显得很精神。凯特的母亲、外婆以及其他女眷10余人都来了，大家先做了些简单的饭菜吃过之后，用一些桌板拼成一个可以围坐20余人的长桌。不久，太婆的诸多男眷10余人也来了；凯特所在的阿米什人唱诗班20人（由10位少男和10位少女组成）也到了。　 About half an hour after the 7-mile journey, I was still immersed in the wonderful feeling of riding in a carriage, and the family had arrived at my grandmother's house. The grandma is amazing. She is 90 years old and knows how to massage and keep in good health. Most of her hair is still black, and she is not deaf or blind. Kate's mother, grandmother, and more than 10 other female relatives came. After cooking some simple meals, they used some table boards to form a long table that can seat more than 20 people. Soon, more than 10 members of the grandma's male family members also came; 20 members of the Amish choir (composed of 10 boys and 10 girls) where Kate belongs also arrived. 【九十岁的太婆四世同堂，欣然同意为自己拍照，真是难得！ 何慧丽 摄】【The 90-year-old grandma is living in the same family for four generations, and she readily agreed to take a photo of herself, which is really rare! Photo by He Huili】 先对这个唱诗班进行简单介绍。任何一位阿米什人从小就可以唱很多赞美诗，阿米什年轻人的唱诗班，一般由18岁之上20岁左右的成年人组成。这个唱诗班是兰开斯托郡范围之内的阿米什年轻人的自发组织，凯特的一个舅母是他们的义务辅导员，成员有50余人。唱诗班活动主要是在每周日晚上，轮流在团队成员的家里或者亲戚家里唱赞美诗。

阿米什人认为，一个好的榜样是最有力的启示或布道，希望有一些条件和机会以传帮带的方式鼓励年轻人，使他们在慈善、忠诚、纯洁等方面培养美德。年轻人参与这样的活动，一来培养对社区信仰的理解和忠诚；二来以此方式参与阿米什人的祝寿等活动，也是年轻人尊敬老年人的见证；三来作为自组织，年轻人在其中满足社交、恋爱、社会化等功能。

First, a brief introduction to this choir. Any Amish can sing many hymns from an early age, and the choir of Amish young people is generally composed of adults aged 18 to 20. This choir is a voluntary organization of Amish young people within Lancaster County. One of Kate's aunts is their volunteer counselor, and there are more than 50 members. Choir activities are mainly on Sunday nights, taking turns singing hymns at the homes of team members or relatives.

The Amish believe that a good example is the most powerful revelation or preaching, and hope that there are some conditions and opportunities to encourage young people in a way of teaching and leading, so that they can cultivate virtues in charity, loyalty, and purity. Young people participate in such activities, first to cultivate understanding and loyalty to community beliefs; second, to participate in Amish birthday celebrations and other activities in this way, which is also a testimony of young people's respect for the elderly; third, as a self-organization, young people can fulfill functions such as socializing, dating, and socialization. 【小聚】 年轻人围坐在长桌边一整圈，家长们和亲属们则坐在后面的沙发上、小凳子上，人手一册赞美诗。在这样一个男女老少约50人的聚会场合里，大家全都手捧着书用心地唱着，年幼的则躺在父母怀里静静地感受着。阿米什男孩显得高大俊朗，女孩显得虔诚纯善。这里，除了挂在头顶的移动节能灯之外，再也没有其他的声光电滋扰，没有照相机，没有伴音用的琴弦，没有录放机的电子声乐。

每一首歌，都是由其中一个女孩吹哨定好音，大家就一起跟着唱起来。每一首歌唱完了，就会随机地有人说第几页的哪一首，大家都会翻到那一页，然后定调，齐齐地清唱起来。纯美的合唱在整个大厅里到处回荡，时而雄壮高亢如万马奔腾，时而清脆嘹亮似百鸟啼鸣，时而纯真亲切若拨动心弦，时而婉转悠扬伴低沉和声。大家以唱歌见证信仰、抒发感情、寄托祝福。他们从晚上8:00开始唱，一直唱到9:30，共唱了18首歌。最后，亲眷们端上一盘盘的小吃和点心，大家边食用边交流。

The young people sat in a circle around the long table, while the parents and relatives sat on the sofa and small stools in the back, each with a book of hymns. In such a gathering of about 50 people, men, women and children, all of them sang heartily with books in their hands, while the young ones lay in the arms of their parents and felt quietly. Amish boys are tall and handsome, and girls are pious and pure. Here, except for the mobile energy-saving lamps hanging above the head, there is no other sound and light interference, no cameras, no strings for sound, and no electronic music from VCRs.

For each song, one of the girls whistled to set the tone, and everyone sang along. After each song is sung, someone will randomly say which song is on the page, and everyone will turn to that page, then set the tone and start singing aloud in unison. The pure and beautiful chorus reverberated throughout the hall, sometimes majestic and high-pitched like galloping horses, sometimes crisp and clear like birds singing, sometimes pure and cordial like touching the heartstrings, sometimes melodious and melodious with deep harmony. Everyone sang to testify to their beliefs, express their feelings, and express their blessings. They sang from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and sang 18 songs in total. Finally, the relatives served plates of snacks and refreshments, and everyone communicated while eating. 【出行】【travel】 到晚上10:30左右，我们才坐马车回家。夜里的乡村路上，汽车很少驶过，天空的月光格外皎洁，星星也亮晶晶地闪烁着。高大的猛士，担负着全家人回家的使命，一路“哒哒”地小跑着。两个小孩子在父母怀里睡着了，父母和老大老二不断地唱着一首首歌儿，孩子随着歌声的高低起伏而在睡梦中合和着。女主人不断对奔跑着的猛士感恩地说：好儿子，好样的！好儿子，好样的！马儿听到了，跑得更欢了……此情此景令人陶醉不已。 It was around 10:30 pm that we went home in a carriage. On the country road at night, cars rarely pass by, the moonlight in the sky is extraordinarily bright, and the stars are shining brightly. The tall warrior, responsible for the mission of the whole family to go home, trotted all the way. The two children fell asleep in the arms of their parents. The parents and the eldest and the second child kept singing a song, and the children joined in their sleep with the ups and downs of the singing. The hostess kept saying gratefully to the running warrior: Good son, good job! Good son, good job! The horse heard it and ran even more happily... This situation is intoxicating. 《归队》 【晚霞】【Sunset】 四、小结

　　感谢巴郡中华圣经教会凌云等朋友的帮助，使我顺利进入亚伯家体验生活。在这一周里，感慨良多。

不进入美国基层，不知道美国还有现代性之外的另一面。这个16世纪早期宗教改革形成的瑞士再洗礼教派后裔，18世纪艰难移民到此繁衍生息的阿米什人，在美国现代社会的洪流中不卑不亢地保持着祖先流传下来的农耕美德和族群智慧，犹如在川流不息的汽车旁边仍平稳地踩着欢快步伐载着主人的马拉车一般。阿米什人用生活方式和生产方式恪守自己的信仰：他们还在使用马骡耕地、马拉车做交通工具；为了保持家庭生活与土地、与邻里生活的亲密性和完整性，他们刻意与现代化工具——电灯泡、手机、电话、电视等电力和电器保持距离；尽量夫妻子女以本地工农互补的方式生活而不外出打工分离；每天节俭朴素地享用自家以动植物偱环利用而有灵性的健康食品；深信金钱和科技不是罪恶但被金钱和科技所控制是罪恶的道理……我享受着他们内心的幸福、忠实和喜乐，以及因为“信行”合一、手脑并用而拥有的健康身心、美满家庭与幸福生活。

而如果不是从中国农民中养成的对土地、农业、动物的朴素感情以及自性具有的素面本色，我也很难打破他们的戒心，进入他们的家庭一起做包子、吃饺子，一起祷告，一起在菜园里干活，从而自然而然地成为他们的朋友。我也大概只能像别的游客那样到旅游景点看一看，买买纪念品和阿米什人的有机农产品；或者，站在路边，侥幸看到有马车跑过赶紧拍几张照而已。在我走之前，亚伯家允许我随意拍几张照，不可太多。最后父母也同意我与孩子们合张影，但他们绝对不参与。我感恩于他们对我的宽容和妥协。

4. Summary

Thanks to Ling Yun and other friends from the Chinese Bible Church in Berkshire for their help, I have successfully entered Abel's house to experience life. In this week, I have a lot of emotions.

If you don't enter the grassroots of the United States, you don't know that there is another side of the United States other than modernity. This descendant of the Swiss Anabaptist sect formed in the early 16th century religious reformation, and the Amish who immigrated here with difficulty in the 18th century, have maintained the agricultural virtues and ethnic wisdom handed down from their ancestors in the torrent of modern American society, just like a horse-drawn cart that is still stepping cheerfully and carrying its owner beside the endless stream of cars. The Amish stick to their beliefs with their way of life and production: they still use mules to plow the land and horse-drawn carts as means of transportation; in order to maintain the intimacy and integrity of family life, land, and neighborhood life, they deliberately keep a distance from modern tools—electricity and electrical appliances such as light bulbs, mobile phones, telephones, and televisions; The truth that technology is controlled is evil... I enjoy their inner happiness, loyalty and joy, as well as the healthy body and mind, happy family and happy life they have because of the unity of "faith and action" and the use of hands and brains.

And if it wasn’t for the simple feelings for the land, agriculture, and animals that I developed from Chinese farmers, as well as the plain nature of my own nature, it would be difficult for me to break their wariness and enter their homes to make steamed buns, eat dumplings, pray together, and work in the vegetable garden together, thus naturally becoming their friends. I probably can only go to the tourist attractions like other tourists, buy souvenirs and organic agricultural products of the Amish; or, standing on the side of the road, I was lucky enough to see a horse-drawn carriage passing by and take a few photos. Before I left, Abel's family allowed me to take a few photos at will, not too many. In the end, my parents also agreed to take a photo with the children, but they absolutely did not participate. I am grateful to them for their tolerance and compromise. 【南山】 【归属】 同时，我又一直在想：我们中华民族虽然不是宗教国家，但是也有一套几千年传承下来的、建立在农耕文明基础上的生产方式和生活方式。可是，在追逐现代化的过程中，我们从某种程度上否定了老祖宗的智慧，视之为落后的东西，断了乡村之根些迷失了……如今，我们想钱花钱太多，人情乐趣太少；抱怨牢骚太多，真爱宽容太少； 妄想见闻太多，踏实真诚太少；电脑、手机、电视太多，亲情、交流和信任太少……。

当我听到亚伯说“如果你们的农民只是为了赚钱而种地，不是为了从祖先传承下来的神圣使命而种地，或者你们抛弃传统，这是最坏的事情”时，我似乎有种想哭的感觉。当我由于在阿米什人家里受他们的影响而整整一周自觉地不开电脑、不开手机、按时作息、耕读随心的时候，我吃得香，睡得好，颈椎也不酸疼了，精神也好了，心眼也明亮了很多……我有种返朴归真的感觉。在回巴尔的摩的一个月里，我收到安娜代表全家亲手写的两封信，信上的字体以及画的花儿，令我倍感亲切和珍贵。

At the same time, I have been thinking: Although the Chinese nation is not a religious country, we also have a set of production methods and lifestyles that have been passed down for thousands of years and are based on farming civilization. However, in the process of pursuing modernization, we have to some extent denied the wisdom of our ancestors, regarded it as a backward thing, cut off the roots of the country and lost it...Nowadays, we think too much about money and spend too much, but too little fun in human relationships; too many complaints, too little true love and tolerance; too much delusion and knowledge, too little practicality and sincerity;

I seem to want to cry when I hear Abel say "If your farmers are only farming for money and not for a sacred mission passed down from your ancestors, or if you are throwing away traditions, that's the worst thing". When I was influenced by the Amish people in their home, I consciously did not turn on the computer or mobile phone for a whole week, worked on time, and read as I liked. I ate well, slept well, and my cervical spine was no longer sore. During the month of returning to Baltimore, I received two letters written by Anna on behalf of the whole family. The lettering and flowers on the letters made me feel very kind and precious. 【摩登】【modern】 我知道，像我这样一个执着于中国乡村建设的知识分子，不能随便地将阿米什人的经验给予放大和做比较，因为具体社会环境不一样，历史传统和信仰特征也不一样，人口、土地压力以及生活资源状况也不一样，他们也面临着自身的一些问题。但是，在现代化大潮之中如何保持一个本土社区共同体的安定感和幸福感，并且为解决我们已经面临的生态环境破坏以及各种经济社会问题做出必须的探索，这是共同的使命。 I know that an intellectual like me who is obsessed with China's rural construction cannot amplify and compare the experience of the Amish casually, because the specific social environment is different, the historical traditions and belief characteristics are also different, the population, land pressure and living resource conditions are also different, and they are also facing some problems of their own. However, how to maintain the sense of stability and happiness of a local community in the tide of modernization, and to make necessary explorations to solve the ecological environment damage and various economic and social problems we are already facing, is a common mission. 【2020年初恰逢美国总统大选，几辈子不问政事的阿米什，居然拖家带口、倾巢出动为大选造势，并投下自己百年不遇的神圣一票！这说明了世道在变：你不关心政治，政治不会忘掉你，切身利益只有靠选票才可能得到保证，不然“桃花源”危矣！】【The beginning of 2020 coincides with the U.S. presidential election. Amish, who has never cared about political affairs for several lifetimes, unexpectedly mobilized his family and his family to build momentum for the general election, and cast a sacred vote that he has never seen in a century! This shows that the world is changing: if you don't care about politics, politics will not forget you, and vital interests can only be guaranteed by votes, otherwise the "Peach Blossom Spring" will be in danger! 】 【惜别】（何慧丽与孩子们一一拥抱、告别）【Farewell】(He Huili hugs and bids farewell to the children one by one)

【家人】（何慧丽与孩子们就像一家子！）【Family】 (He Huili and the children are like a family!)

【老枪后记】2014年冬，老友温铁军来美考察、讲学，将路过我家，于是何慧丽和我就力嘱他来阿米什看看，感受一下美国的另类“三农”，他欣然同意。经主人家安排，这次主要接待我们的依然是几个大孩子。两位大姐姐介绍家居生活已是轻车熟路，大家相逢甚欢、笑声连连！

【Old Gun Postscript】In the winter of 2014, an old friend Wen Tiejun came to the United States to inspect and give lectures, and he would pass by my house, so He Huili and I urged him to come to the Amish to experience the alternative "three rural areas" in the United States, and he readily agreed. Arranged by the host family, this time the main reception for us is still a few older children. The two big sisters introduced that home life is already familiar, and everyone met happily and laughed a lot! 【温教授对气动洗衣机很感兴趣】【Professor Wen is very interested in pneumatic washing machines】 【隔壁老祖父操办的铁工厂对外加工配件】【The iron factory run by the grandfather next door processes accessories】 【温教授也喜欢小巴狗】【Professor Wen also likes puppies】 【电话棚也很别致】【The phone booth is also very chic】 【童心未泯，温教授也玩儿起了真正的“脚踏车”】【Children's innocence is still alive, and Professor Wen also played with a real "bicycle"】 【温教授为了鼓励孩子的创作，收藏了很多大儿子卡林的木制作品】【Professor Wen has collected many wooden works of his eldest son Karin in order to encourage children's creations】 【阿米什的孩子们与何慧丽、温铁军和游小建三位中国学者】【Amish children and three Chinese scholars He Huili, Wen Tiejun and You Xiaojian】 【老枪也混迹其中，留此存照】【Old guns are also mixed in, keep this photo】 （全文完）