Growing Up Amish (By: Ira Wagler)

For anyone who's ever wondered about the road not taken . . .

One fateful, starless night, seventeen-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2:00 a.m., packed all his earthly belongings in a little black duffle bag, left a scribbled note under his pillow, and walked away from his home in the Old Order Amish settlement of Blooomfield, Iowa, into a world much wider and more foreign than he could ever have imagined.

Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life--from his childhood on the family farm and his Rumspringa rite of passage at age sixteen to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish church for good at age twenty-six.

Growing up Amish is the true story of one man's quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming-yet poignant coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of one of the most enigmatic cultures in America today--the Old Order Amish.

In addition to providing a rare insider's look at the popular, yet mysterious Amish culture, this book is, at its heart, Ira's testimony - the story of a man torn between two worlds, who ultimately chooses the redeeming power of Christ over tradition and strong family expectations. (271 pages)

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About The Author:

Ira Wagler was born in the small Old Order Amish community of Aylmer, Ontario. At 17, frustrated by the rules and restrictions of Amish life, Ira got up at 2 am, left a note under his pillow, packed his duffel bag and left. Over the course of the next 5 years, Ira would leave and return home numerous times, torn between the ingrained message that abandoning one's Amish heritage results in eternal damnation, and the freedom and possibilities offered by the "English" world. Upon becoming a Christian at age 26, Ira left the Amish for good. He is currently general manager of Graber Supply, LLC and Pole Building Co. in Lancaster County, PA.
 

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