The Miting: An Old Order Amish Novel

by Dee Yoder

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting--shunning--that will now be Leah's unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Fiction

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Karen Korb · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts On The Book: This book is not like any other Amish book I have ever read. It is so very real. I felt as if I was a character in this book. If you are looking for a sweet Amish romance then this book is not for you. If you are looking for a book that tells about a young Amish girl who struggles with being Old Order Amish once she has accepted Jesus in her life as her Lord and Savior then this is a must read. Leah finds herself in hot water when the Old Order Amish families and the Bishop believe her conversion is a sin! This young seventeen year old has some very difficult decisions to make about her spiritual life. I could not put this book down and read the whole book in one sitting because I HAD to know what was going to happen to Leah. This story is captivating! I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Amish living and Amish fiction.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Kregel Publication Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Thanks guys for allowing me this opportunity!

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one thing I believe most people never consider when reading Amish fiction, is that it is based on the true facts regarding the Amish way of life. While it can certainly be different in the aspects of learning to deal without the modern conveniences like electricity, cars, and technology. However, even in Amish communities there are those drastic differences that separate the Old Amish Order from the New Amish Order, with the former being more strict in their rules governing the people who were born Amish. From the restrictions on color choices for Amish dresses for women, to the rigid obedience to their religious rules pertaining to who can read the Bible, what version and who can interpret the scriptures is often why so many Amish leave during their rumspringen, or running around period before they make a permanent choice to stay in the community and abide by all the Amish Ordnung, or rules for the church.

In the novel The Miting by author Dee Yoder, we get an inside look at just how rigid and non conforming some of the Old Order Amish can be. When seventeen-year-old Leah Raber begins to question the validity of her faith and the rules of the Old Order Amish, her parents harshly warn her against such thinking. Coupled with the recent troubles surrounding her best friend Martha, who left the Amish community along with her boyfriend Abe, the community believes Leah has been influenced to also follow in the same ways. However Martha has taken the path towards drinking, drugs and a life of promiscuity whereas Leah is just questioning the rules governing her faith and wonders if there is more to the Bible than what her church teaches.

She finds allies in Matthew and Naomi Schrock, who have also left the Old Order Amish faith behind and now live as Englishers running a home for those looking to make the transition to the English world as well as teach a Bible Study class. When Leah makes arrangements by lying to her parents to attend the Bible Study, she learns about Jesus and what the Bible really states. However, just making that choice will have grave consequences for Leah when she returns home and finds her family is taking drastic measures to bring her back into the Amish fold and break the evil influences they believe Leah has fallen under. While they claim it's for her own good, the "miting" is a form of shunning that is supposed to alienate the person to realize the mistakes they have made and promise to give up all their ways and conform once again to the church. But can Leah leave the new found faith she has discovered in Jesus in order to have the love of her family and possibly the love of the man she had hoped to marry to renounce her actions? You'll definitely want to pick this one up and see how it all turns out in the end.

I received The Miting from Dee Yoder compliments of Kregel Publications for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I can easily give this novel a full 5 out of 5 stars because the story is one I have often thought about. What would happen if an Amish person discovered Jesus Christ from the Bible, could they retain their faith and still live in the Amish community especially if it was the strict Old Order community or would they face horrible repercussions for their faith? Without a doubt an exceptional story of persecution, hope and redemption against the love of family and friends and one you won't want to miss.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and very different story from other Amish stories I've read.
Seventeen-year-old Leah is part of the Old-Order Amish and starting to question the ways of her people. Though her best friend is enjoying her rumspringen by partying, Leah just wants to understand God and why different groups of Amish are told to live in different ways. Why is it a sin if your dress isn't a certain length or you have indoor plumbing when New-Order Amish can live this way? Will she ever be free of all the rules? She especially can't understand why the church doesn't do more to stop the abuse her friend is suffering.

When she starts to attend an English Bible study, her parents forbid her. They don't want her reading a Bible because they believe the bishop needs to tell them the Word of God and interpret it for them. They threaten to shun her even though she still hasn't been baptized into the church. She wants to obey them, but has a yearning desire to understand the traditions and faith of her people. She's also torn because a young man she likes has shown an interest in her. Will she have to choose between her family and her God?

I liked how this story points out some of the problems with the Amish faith and way of life. It's not perfect; they're people just like us who sin and make mistakes. For the most part, they try to earn their way to heaven and I'm glad the author points that out. I found it interesting to learn that the author is involved in ministry to the Amish and that she based this story on the lives of her former-Amish friends. I was angry with Leah's parents and couldn't believe how naive she was sometimes to think they would react a certain way. I also couldn't believe the lengths her family went to to get her back in line. It was a little scary near the end! I was disappointed in some decisions she made, though they were understandable. I liked the clear faith message and I think people who like Amish stories might like this, but only if they're prepared to see it's not all hearts and roses.

I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miting is a powerful Christian read, exposing some of the misconceptions in some of the Amish sects beliefs. Of course, they are not all alike; this book is focusing on one of the strictest communities, the Swartzentruber Amish.
Miting is another word for Shunning, and even though the main character Leah has not joined the Church, yet she is treated as if she had. You will cry for her, such pain, and heartbreak, and what does she do? She accepts Christ as her savior. Watch or rather read whom God places in her path, coincidence? No I don’t think so.
What a difficult decision to make, and how easy it would be to just accept what her faith is telling her. Accept or walk away, not always that easy, especially when God is leading you in a different direction. If she stays with her parents and siblings, and now a boyfriend, and pretends to be Amish, life can stay as she knows, but can she? If she follows her heart and leaves she loses everything she has ever known, what a decision for a seventeen year old.
Join Leah as she searches her heart, and tries to share salvation with her loved ones. You will not believe what happens to her, and who helps her. I don’t want to believe that things like this happen, but it sounded so real. This is a real eye opening book, and one that readers of Amish fiction should not miss! I am glad I was given the chance to read this, and it will linger with you for a long time after the last page is turned.

I received this book through Kregel Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Miting" by Dee Yoder is most assuredly five stars, I would give it ten stars if I could!

"The miting" is not like a lot of others that I've read in the fact that it doesn't it always paint a pretty picture, it paints a human one. Filled with ups and downs, trials and errors. It's a very good story, painting a truthful picture. It shows the humanness in us all and shows that although our cultures may be so diverse, the reality is that we are all more alike than we realize. This book has made me realize that the Amish that we Englishers adore aren't always the real picture.

While reading this book, there were moments I was yelling at the characters in the story, " are you for real and how can you do that to your daughter and church member and friend?
This book made me cry and then it made me want to hug Leah and another character, Martha, and then once again I wanted to yell at the characters.

"The Miting" kept me turning it's pages because I had to know how things worked out for Martha and the ending has me anxiously waiting for the next book! I was surprised at the way it ended for both Martha and Leah.

I encourage you to read " The Miting" and see the all too often "real" picture of the Amish. But be prepared to be shocked!

[JAKe Hatmacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth or Fiction

For the life of me I don't remember if there was a notation near the beginning saying this story was based on fact. I have the sense that it was, but then again, we all have our own interpretation of "the facts," and whether we have a bias for or against them. Laying the facts issue to the side and just commenting on the story itself I'd have to say that I was content to lay the book down, or in my case close the app, when I had something else to do, and that included sleep when my eyes became tired. The story is applicable to anyone, not just Amish, as it presents the difficult task of making life-changing decisions and dealing with the tough consequences that often go along with those decisions. There are those people that are facile at just going with the flow, while others, for whatever reasons, are conflicted in which path to follow. Those latter people frequently have an internal struggle that if kept inside tears them apart, and if allowed to manifest itself externally causes conflict with others. The protagonist manifests both the internal ad well as external struggle. She is conflicted due to fear and also a love she has for her family, but she must ultimately make a final choice, one which she will most likely not again change her mind about.
As to the flow of the story it was often plodding with description that I felt was not critical to the plot. There were several passages that I needed to reread because I couldn't understand what was being said or who was saying it. One of them toward the end, even after several rereads, I could not make sense of. Despite that, if this was an honest depiction of Old order Amish life and rules without any bias, it was educational, and I did like Jacob's love for Leah. Jacob, Leah, isn't that biblical?
3 stars for the story and 5 for the education, although I should give only 4 for education since I'm leery concerning bias.

[Jessie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story! I feel like I know so much more about the Amish culture (Old Order in particular) after having read this book. It in no way romanticized or sensationalized this people group the way many other books do. The book had me laughing, smiling, crying and tense at different parts. It contains tons of scripture and solid biblical truth. It makes me sad that the Old Order Amish are so deceived by their culture. The inclusion of MAP was great. I enjoy learning about them in fiction books about Amish. The writing is easy to follow and understand. It is detailed but not overly so. I could picture what was happening because of the great descriptions and time spent developing people and settings. I enjoyed this book immensely and would love to read more by this author or others similar.

[Blue North · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is always two sides to any story. Also, it's my view that nothing on earth is completely white or completely black. The Miting by Dee Yoder is about the Old Order Amish Order. This Amish community is very strict. They wear pins in their clothing. They don't wear coats for the cold. They wear capes. Their Bible or Ordnung. It is written in German. If you don't obey the Amish rules or instead choose to live the Christian way of life, you are shunned or the Miting is used. You are not allowed any interaction with your Amish family and friends. This is what happens to Leah in Ashfield. Since this novel is based on truth, it could very well be located in Ohio. This is where Dee Yoder lives.

When the novel begins, Leah is seventeen years old. Instead of becoming wild like some teenagers or like her friend, Martha, Leah becomes more interested in why the Old Order Amish live lives where there is always a rule to make life more complicated: For example, no telephone booths in the driveway, very little mention of the name Jesus and always a cap on the head with the hair pushed up and under out of sight. When Leah begins to question why things are done in a certain way, she is called rebellious.

The novel is powerful. I've always seen the beautiful large farm houses, the sweeping green lawns and the girls, women, men and boys dressed in their solemn colored uniform clothes, and they are smiling, laughing and whistling. This is not the happy world that Leah experiences.

The Miting by Dee Yoder takes us through Leah's feelings about the Amish world and the English world. I have to say the story is heart breaking. I didn't realize how bad life could become for Leah once she chose to seek out Christianity. As an Amish, there is no idea whether you are saved or lost in your spiritual journey until death. The Old Order Amish teach that until death there is no way of knowing whether you will be saved. So, you live with the fear of Hell in your sight all the time whereas in Christianity, reading the Holy Bible, Leah discovered Grace.

Although we are sinners through and through, Jesus' blood covers us, and we become saved, promised eternal life, the moment we believe in His name in most Christian sects. For Leah, this Good News or Gospel is freedom. All tension removes itself and she can see life is worth living. She is no longer bound by this rule or that rule made by any Bishop who comes to their community. All Leah wants to do after finding spiritual freedom is to read her Bible and learn more about this spiritual freedom that will lead to a more fulfilling physical life. Of course, this need to know about Jesus and the Gospel is horrible to her community. In Old Amish households there are no Holy Bibles. When her mother throws the Bible in the oven to burn, I was shocked. Leah was beyond hurt.

The Miting by Dee Yoder is a journey from the Old Order to another household where there is a couple who were once Amish but could not live that lifestyle either. It is the Shrocks' home where Leah finds practical life skills with prayer and Bible Study. While there she becomes more free. Martha chooses a different route, parties and boyfriends. Although Martha's journey is different, she is still wanting the same thing, less rules that seem to have no reason.

Leah always maintains her integrity. This is why it's so hard to believe her family can treat her so harshly. Before the book ends, she is literally a prisoner in her parents' home. However, there is no room to judge Martha. Her life at home was far more abusive than Leah's. Martha is even afraid for the safety of her sisters. Each girl's home life is totally different which makes the novel more realistic.

When I first began the novel, I was afraid that it would just down the Amish. However, Dee Yoder knows this world personally. The ideas presented in the novel are very sensitive. I could feel the author trying to tell the honest truth without hurt to anyone. Dee Yoder also presents the New Order Amish who do allow you to remain Amish and read your Bible too. I think they might allow you to wear English clothes as well. You can also drive a car. Leah could have never driven a car before moving in with the Shrocks.

There are basic messages in the novel: To change a lifestyle, there is definitely a need for a support system. I don't think it's possible to do it alone. Leah has her boyfriend, Jacob, he is very understanding and helpful. She also has Martha. They choose to live life differently but still, she is a friend to Leah. Then, there are the Shrocks. Leah had to have a place to live, a job, clothes to wear, etc. The Shrocks and Sally and Hannah were there for that support. Then, there was Leah's trusted Bible which she read daily without shame.

Another message is no matter how badly a person is treated there is a day when they have a convenient memory. The abuse dissipates in their memory, and they want to go back home. Leah experienced unbearable homesickness. She could hear the horse hooves clopping along the road. She missed her sister, Ada. She missed her little brother. She missed her mother and the smells in the kitchen, she missed her father. When Christmas came, the emotional pain just enlarged itself. Although the Amish Christmas isn't lighted and flashy like the Christian christmas, there is a good feeling of home and love. It's no surprise what Leah does next.

I think this is a powerful, painful and joyful novel. I trust Dee Yoder's words and look forward to reading her other books while at the same time, I still feel free to read the Amish authors we know so well. http://www.mapministry.org/authors/De...
Complimentary Copy given by Kregel

[Billee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read " The Miting " by Dee Yoder in 2018, and re-reading it for our Book Chat this evening ( Feb. 12th, 2019) with Keeping Up with the Amish! It held my interest from beginning to end! I rated this book 5 Stars, it was while written and it lets you understand what the Amish go through with their families and in their communities.

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story very different than other Amish stories I've read. Leah who just wanted to know and have a deep relationship with God and read her bible. Her family and strict Amish elders can't handle this.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different than most Amish novels. The darker side of living Amish.

[Evangeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next book on order. Can’t wait to read “the rest of the story.”

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.


Book Description:

Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. She does not desire Englisher fashion, all-night parties, movies, or lots of boyfriends. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. She wants to know why Amish life is the only lifestyle her family accepts, why the church has so many rules, and . . . most disturbing, how godly men can allow her best friend to be abused in her own home. In the pressure-cooker environment of church and family, Leah is not allowed to ask these questions. When finally she reaches the breaking point, she walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. Though adapting amiably to the Englisher world, Leah is tormented with homesickness. Returning to the community, however, entails a journey of pain and sorrow Leah could never have imagined. The miting—shunning—that will now be Leah’s unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?



My Thoughts:


The Miting is Dee Yoder's first book and well it is SPECTACULAR. As my followers know I am a HUGE fan of Amish Fiction, it's one of my favorite genres, so when I saw this book I was drawn to it. This book is fiction but is based on true stories and experiences. Leah Raber is part of an Old Order Amish community in Ohio. She has been to the New Order communities and doesn't understand why her community cannot step into this new order. The rules and expectations leave Leah feeling confused and stifled. She wants so much to please her family but feels drawn to something else. Her best friend, Martha confides in Leah about an abuse situation and the bishops really don't do much about. Treating Martha like she is the problem so Martha tells Leah she is leaving the order to move in with her boyfriend, also Amish, Abe Troyer. Abe and Martha are doing wild things like drinking, smoking, drugs, driving, and being reckless. One day Leah is invited to a bible study at the home of an Ex-Amish couple, The Schrooks, feeling she wants to know more. She attends and finds herself drawn to Christianity and that it gives her peace. When her parents find out they are livid. Now Leah has to make a choice to turn away from Christianity or have to be put under the miting, which is basically shunned. Leah has to decide what she wants for her life.

The Miting is SPECTACULAR. As a HUGE fan of Amish Fiction and of debut books this book fit both bills and I am so glad I read it. Dee Yoder writes with such heart and expertise on all things Amish, both new and old order, the laws in Ohio, abuse within the communities, and help for the Amish looking to leave. As I read this book, I could really feel Dee's heart in the words. This book is not a typical Amish Fiction book. The issues addressed and the experiences are much different than the ones I have read in the past. This book really made a huge impression on me, especially how issues are handled in this Old Order Amish community. I could not put this book down. I enjoyed the characters in this book especially Leah. My heart felt for Leah in her struggle to find herself and make decisions. I truly felt like I was there watching this story unfold. I found myself crying in parts and holding my breath in others as Leah went through all of her trials and successes. I just can't do this book justice! I hope Dee Yoder is continuing with this series, as I would like to know whats in store for Leah and her life. The ending definitely leaves you wanting more, in a good way. For anyone interested in Amish Fiction, I HIGHLY recommend this book to them! You will NOT be disappointed. I cannot wait to read more for this spectacular author. I give this book 5+ Stars.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miting is an Older Order Amish Novel by Dee Yoder. Within the pages of this well written book you will read of Leah, a seventeen year old Amish girl who is questioning the Amish way. Although Leah is in her rumspringen she has no desire to experience the Englisher's world in a wild way, she just wants her questions answered. Why does the Amish church have so many rules that are not in the Bible? Why can't she read the Bible? Why is it okay for some Amish communities to do certain things and not for a different Amish community? Why does the Bishop get to make the rules and each Bishop makes different ones?

Since Leah lives in an Old Order Amish community her questions and her desire to read the Bible are seen as rebellion. She decides to go to a Bible study that is held by a former Amish couple. While there she begins to see the one true God and asks Him into her heart. Her family is very upset about her behavior and go to the Bishop. They ask her to stop reading the Bible or she will be shunned (miting means shunning). To "scare" her into submission the Bishop tells her family to give her a taste of what the shunning is like. Now that her family will not talk to her she decides she must leave. She goes to the home of the former Amish couple and they take her in and help her get on her feet. She continues to draw closer to God, but is constantly torn between her faith and her family.

Leah's best friend Martha is being sexually abused by a family member. Martha confides in Leah, but Leah feels it is a secret she cannot keep. Leah is relieved to know that the Bishop is going to handle the situation. Come to find out though, the Bishop really doesn't do anything about it. Leah does not understand how a man of God and a community can sit back and let these terrible things go on. Martha on the other hand goes wild and leaves the community to party it up with the Englishers.

There is also Jacob Yoder. He is the only person that seems to understand Leah, but will her leaving the Amish community ruin their relationship?

When Christmas time rolls around Leah misses her family so much that she decides to return to the community. She has changed a lot but her family and the Bishop still demand that she not read the Bible or profess her faith. Will she turn her back on her faith to be with her family? You are going to have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I even found myself discussing it with family members. Being from an area were there are some small Amish communities I have learned a few things first hand that would shock a lot of people about the Amish, so what was within the pages of The Miting was not much of a surprise to me. I read Amish fiction on occasion and I do feel that the Amish way of life is usually glorified. I enjoy those books, but realize that they are just stories. The Miting is not a true story, but definitely a story that could very well take place. I know that different Amish Communities are not as strict as others and that there are some that allow you to read the Bible, but for those that don't it truly is sad.

The author of The Miting is actively involved in the Mission to Amish People ministry as a mentor and volunteer. I think that is such a wonderful thing. So many times we think that we need to go to far off countries to be a missionary when in fact there are many souls all around in the U.S. that need Jesus and how refreshing to know that the Amish have not been forgotten.

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my review.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I am familiar with a lot of Amish fiction. You know the kind, all romance and sometimes mystery. There is almost always a happy ending. I am also familiar with books that talk about people leaving the Amish lifestyle for various reasons. My former daughter-in-laws grandmother was Amish until she was shunned. Living in Sarasota, Florida I see everything from Mennonite to all levels of Amish. Knowing all of this made this novel seem so dark. Unfortunately from people I know, I understand that there are Old Order Amish that go through situations like this all the time.
A lot of young Amish kids go through a Rumspringa, where they try out the Englisher world. This is done before they decide whether they want to join the church or not. Leah wasn’t that type of kid. At age 17 she loved God so much she wanted to know more about him. In her order she was only allowed to read the German Bible, which she had difficulty understanding. She also didn’t understand why her order had certain rules that were extremely strict compared to other orders. She learned very quickly that you didn’t voice those questions aloud. She also learned that you didn’t read an English Bible and you didn’t question what more God had for you. To do so in her order was considered being disobedient to her family and her bishop. The consequence of this was to be counseled. Unfortunately this wasn’t the type of counseling we might go through. The counselor could put her in a hospital and treat her with drugs and other things against her wishes. It didn’t matter if she was 18 or older. They would take it so far as to keep her prisoner until the counselor would arrive. Anyone trying to rescue her would be kept away. In Leah’s case her boyfriend Jacob stood by her side. Other members of the order stood guard in the barn and around the property to make sure there was no rescue attempt.
I could identify with Leah. Their belief system reminded me of a time in Catholic history when Bibles were chained to the pulpit and people were kept illiterate so they couldn’t read the Bible for themselves. They could only believe what they were told. When my mom became a Christian I was five years old. She had no one to guide her in her walk so she decided to err on the side of right. She got rid of all board games because they contained dice and since people used to shoot craps with dice then games with dice might be a sin. Dancing became a sin. The worst spanking I ever received was because my cousin and I were pretending to be ballerinas. Most TV shows were a sin. I had to wear dresses most of the time because to wear pants to church was a sin. You see where I am going with this. Sometimes rules and regulations can become more important than God’s word. I applauded Leah for wanting to have a personal relationship with God. This is a book I would recommend to everyone whether they like Amish fiction or not.

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading Amish fiction, and especially did this book. Not that I would want Amish people to have problems, but the idyllic life portrayed in many books is only showing one side of their lifestyle. This book actually addresses questions I have wondered if Amish youth might struggle with.
Seventeen year old Leah loves the life she leads, the closeness of family and community, and traditions. Her friend Martha was in her rumspringen and using that time to experience many sins the world had to offer. Her desire was to leave the Amish permanently. Leah on the other hand had no desire to explore the English world or leave her home. Her rumspringen was one of a spiritual nature.
The Old Order Amish she was a part of were very strict. Until reading this book I was not aware that the Bishop could set rules for the community he was over. Leah’s Bishop was extremely strict. The only Bible they could read was the German one and she didn’t understand it. Dark purple curtains were only allowed in windows, reflective triangles on buggies were sins, yet sexual abuse within a family was dealt with lightly. It wasn’t that way in other Amish communities and Leah wanted to know the “why” behind all the rules.
After secretly attending a Bible Study at the home of an ex-Amish couple, Leah’s eyes are open to the gospel of Christ and the way of salvation. She accepts Christ as her Savior. She realizes following the Ordnung and being a member of the church will not get her to Heaven. She hungers to learn more about God and read His Word. She tries to be open with her parents but they see desire to grow as rebellious and sinful.
The Bishop advises her family to treat her as if she were shunned to give her a wakeup call. Torn between the love of her family and following Christ she feels forced to leave her home. She moves in with the ex-Amish couple and becomes a part of the English world. While she finds it exciting at first she truly misses her family. How can she remain honest and not denounce her true salvation? Homesickness wins out. Leah returns believing God can work in her family’s hearts and she live Amish yet still read her Bible and be true to her new faith.
Her homecoming is a painful shock. Her family still rejects her. The Bishop insists she must give up her Bible. I will not reveal the ending but I learned of the extreme and harsh measures the Amish will take to keep a member from disobeying. The ending is a special surprise!
The book was excellent. It truly made me think about situations all over the world where people are forced to choose between Christ and those they love the most. The story is a beautiful example sacrificing all to take a stand for Him.
I received this book free from Kregal Publishers. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Deanna Gottreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miting by Dee Yoder is the most enlightening Amish novel that I have ever read. Leah Raber is torn between her Amish beliefs and her desire to read the Bible which is forbidden by the Old Order Amish Church. She has no desire to go through rumspringen as many of the Amish teenagers do, she only wants to be free to read her Bible, to understand her relationship with God, and to attend a Bible study conducted by an ex-Amish couple. She does not understand how so many of the Amish “rules” are not in the Bible so she asks questions and this causes her family and the bishop to call her rebellious. Leah’s best friend Martha is also Amish but her family and the church do not prevent her from being abused by a family member. This and all the other unanswered questions cause Leah to finally leave the Amish life. She adapts well to the Englisher world but she is suffering greatly from homesickness. She finally goes back to her family but the miting/shunning is extremely severe and very painful but if she will give up reading the Bible, the miting will be lifted. Leah also wonders if everything that is happening to her will prevent her from having a lasting relationship with Jacob Yoder.

I have read many Amish novels but none has ever explained shunning so well. I knew what shunning was but it had never really registered with me how devastating it could be to the individual being shunned. I was surprised at the large number of things that the Amish are not allowed to do, many in my opinion seem ridiculous. Dee Yoder did an outstanding job in the development of this story. Every character in the story came to life and I felt as if I knew them. Many I loved and several I could barely tolerate. All the scenes were so realistic that many times I was in tears as I was reading, and if not in tears then sometimes fighting mad. There were a few twists and turns in the story but they added to the suspense of the story. Would Leah stay Amish or become English and will Jacob become part of her life? After reading this story, I have great respect for those who want to leave the Amish life for the freedom to read and study the Bible and to accept Christ as their Savior. I never realized how very hard that could be. I definitely hope that there will be a sequel for I want to know more about Leah and Jacob and would also like to know if Martha ever found happiness.

I very highly recommend this book to all who would like to know more about the Amish while reading a very enjoyable story that will touch the heart.

Kregel Publications provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Tina Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know there is more than on religious book for you religion, how would you feel and or respond to someone telling you you can't read but only one religious book?

What would you do if you had religious questions about what you are reading, but you are told you can't ask those question because it is considered disrespectful to a district leader?

How would you feel when you know of other districts as yours are allow to read a different religion book than yours? And those same districts allow different accommodations than your district?


Not all Amish sects are alike. Swartzentruber Amish, also known as Basket makers, are the strictist and the poorist among all the Amish sects. Old Order Amish are strict. New Order Amish are modern with running water and indoor plumbing and allow the use of King James Bible in English.

What a powerful book Dee Yoder wrote. Dee's book The Miting: An Old Order Amish Novel is based on true details that happened in an Old Order Amish community or communities, from those that have left the Amish way of life, while Dee Yoder changed their names to protect them.


The Miting: An Old Order Amish Novel is about seventeen year old, Leah Raber. Leah has questions and she's unable to get answers that she needs to her questions; not even the bishop will help as it looked upon as disrespectful to a district leader.

She doesn't partake of the traditional rumspringen that most Amish teens do before baptism into their church district. All Leah wants is to be able to read an English Bible in peace.
How far will Leah's parents and church leaders go to keep her from reading an English Bible?
Who helps her in the end?


If you are looking for a sweet Amish romance then this book is not for you. If you are looking for something that gives you more insight to an Amish community then this book is for you to read. If you are looking for more insight of Amish struggles then this book is for you to read.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

This is an amazing story! Leah grew up Amish, but she had so many questions about the Amish faith, and the ordnung, and the strict rules the Bishop made their community abide by. Should she stay Amish, or should she see what the Englisch world was all about? Then Leah finds out about a couple who actually helps Amish leave the Amish faith, and she was very interested in a Bible Study they have in their home. She slips and goes to one of the meetings, and when her father finds out, he demands she stay away from this couple. And as the story unfolds, it is heartbreaking at what happens, and how her family reacts.

I have to say this is the first book I’ve ever read about a ministry for those leaving the Old Order Amish Faith! I really felt for Leah because she wanted to follow the Bible and what it says, but her father, the Bishop and the other pastors of the Old Amish community demanded that the devil was taking over her life and demanded she repent of reading her Bible and the life she was living.

I have read many Amish fiction, and it seems the men of the Old Order Amish are so rude and hateful. And to be people who lived so strickly, these men sure do show a lot of true anger. It is evident that there is an anger control problem. I know they act this way to try to scare or force their members to follow their orders. And these leaders and this father went even beyond this anger, something else I had never read about. Thankfully in this story Leah had an Amish boyfriend that was willing to stay by her side, no matter what. But in real life, what would happen to a person that didn’t have additional help? It give me chills, and not in a good way!

I really want to encourage you to pick up a copy of this book to read. This is Old Order Amish in reality. I appreciate Dee Yoder for writing this book, and I look forward to more from her in the future. I have listed several site in this review that I hope you visit, and I will add this one again so you can check out this ministry for yourself.

Mission to Amish People

I received this book from Kregel Publishers and the author Dee Yoder to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

At one time I put the Amish on a pedestal and then I came to realization after having stayed with a New Order Amish family that they are humans just like us and they have issues too, making them Amish doesn’t keep them from sinning or being human – no matter how simple their lifestyle appears. This is one of those books that while true to what the Amish believe also shines a light into some places that we ‘English’ ignore when we put the Amish on some sort of pedestal – sexual abuse within a family, thinking that being Amish ‘may’ get you into Heaven but one can’t be sure of their Salvation and if they are then they are guilty of pride. My heart went out to Leah while I read this book, struggling to be the good daughter and do what the Amish elders want her to do but also knowing that the Lord is moving in her life and is giving her the hard questions which no one wants asked, let alone answer and also to be a good friend to Martha even though she is walking on the path of destruction as well as trying to find herself – so much for a 17 year old to endure. I’ve never read Dee Yoder before and I must say this book makes me want to seek out even more of her writing because it really hit home for me – what price are willing to pay to follow Christ?



Thankfully there are no in depth descriptions as to what Martha suffers at the hands of her step-brother, Abner but with the way she was treated in the Community made my blood boil and I’m so glad that it was fiction even though this does occur both in the ‘English’ world and in the Amish, where unfortunately the victims are not likely to get support or the help they need. I don’t want to give too much more away because that will spoil the book but I must say that by the end, while it wasn’t all rose-colored, my heart was happy for Leah even though it ached for some of the other characters that I encountered – and I must say that even with some heavy subject matter it was a great book that pulled me in from the first page and for that I’m grateful.

**I was given a copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion, no other compensation was given.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miting is a very thought provoking book. Dealing sexual abuse, stubborn adherence to what is taught while shutting off communication, and of course, the Miting (shunning).

We like to believe that the peace loving Amish are always at peace. This book shows that things can LOOK peaceful but that does not mean it is.

This is about Old Order Amish which is taken several steps further into adherence to every rule. Their bishop enjoys being able to apply ever-tightening rules upon his community. The rumspringa is not allowed. So much is restricted that for a "thinking" young woman like Leah who only wishes to have a little freedom as well as to learn about God.

She loves her family and one the whole she loves her life except for the constant rules. As she grows into a woman, she is finding that the Ordung as applied by their bishop restricts even from learning about God. The Bible at home can ONLY be read in German. The reader and the listeners are to listen to the words but never think about them.

I dare not write more or I will give away too much. I found the book one that I read INSTEAD of other stuff I really needed to be doing. Frankly I couldn't wait to finish the book. Highly recommend. I will look for more books by Dee Yoder

Part of the book concerned the Mission to Amish People ministry. The author is actively involved in MAP as a mentor, volunteer, and author.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! This book is very real. As you all know I read a lot of Amish fiction and even non-fiction. Some of you may not know this though - I live in the finger-lakes area of NY and there are a LOT of Amish here! I am surrounded by them in my everyday life. I go to an Amish store at least two times a week during the summer. Thats where I get most, if not all, of my veggies and plants.

This book had a very different feel to it than the other stories I have read. The other ones were great, nice reading and there is usually someone who does want to leave the Amish but I feel like it is always candy coated to make a nice story - and I enjoy that too don't get me wrong. This book doesn't do that. This book is so real - I feel like a fly on the wall eavesdropping. Sometimes I even felt like "Should I be listening to that? LOL"It says that her fiction is based on real people so its no wonder it feels so real.

This is a very interesting book that kept up the pace all throughout! With its very good descriptions and excellent character development. I loved Leah and I could really feel her dilemma. Once she accepted Jesus as her Savior she struggled staying with her Old Order Amish family. They and the Bishop believed it was a sin! Imagine! She, even at only seventeen, had some very hard decisions to make about her own life.

I read the whole last half of this book in one sitting because I HAD to know what was going to happen to Leah. This story moves right along and is a very interesting read! I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Amish living and Amish fiction.

[Cathy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of Amish fiction, but I had heard enough buzz about The Miting, I was pretty sure I would like it. What I didn’t expect was to be blown away. Not only was the story compelling and the characters life-like, Dee Yoder’s novel is an eye-opening look at Amish life and faith for us “Englishers”.

For example, I didn’t know that there are different Amish groups who are as diverse in custom, tradition, and religious doctrine as Christian denominations are. The novel’s main character, Leah, grew up Old Order Amish – one of the strictest of the strict.

What I love about Leah is that she doesn’t resent her home, her chores, or the expectations laid upon her. She doesn’t even resent the rules we would consider strict. She loves the church and her family, enjoys her life and her work, and is overall satisfied. All she wants to know is why the rules aren’t consistent among the Amish.

Leah’s troubles begin when she turns to a Gideon Bible she was given as a child for answers that no one is willing (or able) to give. Reading the Bible in English is forbidden, and for the first time in her life, Leah rebels against her Amish faith and her parents. Torn between the Truth and Life she finally finds in Scripture, and her heartbreak at her parent’s anger and unwillingness to understand, Leah faces a decision she never imagined she would have to make.

Dee Yoder has created characters so real, they almost became a part of my life. The Miting is a fabulous novel, and I’ll probably read it again. And again.

My Rating: 4½ stars.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE: You can get the Kindle edition of this book for free on May 19, 2014!

"The Miting" by Dee Yoder tells the story of Leah, a seventeen year-old Amish girl who has questions about the Amish lifestyle in which she has been raised. She is not seeking the English life, but rather she is reading the Bible (a forbidden act) and developing her own faith.

"The Miting" is not the typical Amish fiction that I have read in the past... this story involves someone who leaves the faith, enters another church, waivers on that decision, pays the harsh consequences by being shunned in her own home, and then ultimately is forced to make life-changing decisions. It wasn't a flowery picture of the fairy tale Amish life, but a gritty and realistic-feeling story about what it's really like to live with the multitude of rules and restrictions that the Amish must follow. I appreciated that this wasn't a fairytale with a "perfect" ending. I was quickly drawn into this story and found myself considering things that I didn't know before-- like why can't an Amish girl read the Bible for herself?

All in all, this was an excellent read and I will be looking for future books by Dee Yoder.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of "The Miting" in exchange for posting my honest review during Kregel Publishing's Blog Tour of the book, May 19-23, on my blog. I will also post this review on Amazon and Good Reads.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Fiction Book Like No Other!

I literally could not put this book down. I was totally drawn into this storyline and so fascinated with it. The character Martha, faced a certain kind of abuse that isn’t discussed much in Amish fiction. I know this goes on in the English world but it is kept underwraps in the Amish world.

I loved Leah the main character in this book. A 17 year old girl bound by her Amish upbringing but not understanding why her bishop and her family are so against her wanting to read and study the scriptures in the English Bible. Leah has such a hunger and thirst to learn more about Jesus and what He taught.

Leah’s life is not easy as she follows her heart to do what she has to do to find freedom in her relationship with Jesus Christ. Will her family understand? Will she be put under the Miting if she doesn’t give up her daily Bible reading?

The characters in this book were real to me. I worried for Leah, I prayed for Leah, I cried with Leah. I wanted to be her friend and give her comfort.

This is one of the very best Amish fiction books I have ever read. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

I highly, highly, recommend this book to anyone reading this review. It will hold you captive!

I won this book on LibraryThing to read and review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leah is a seventeen year old Amish girl who has a desire to deepen her relationship with God, thing is as an Old Order Amish she has rules she must follow and truthfully questioning those rules is forbidden, that doesn't stop her for thirsting for God's word, and seeking answers. How will her family and the elders of her strict community handle this?

The Miting by Dee Yoder isn't your typical Amish fiction, sure there is a young girl looking to find her place,trying to figure out where she belongs, there is a bit of romance along with family drama but there is also a true look at the Old Order Amish lifestyle and the strictness of that life. Leah was a young girl that was very easy to connect with, and the things she wanted were very simple, she wanted to read her Bible, but the questions that brought about caused a rift, and the consequences she faces are harsh. Ms. Yoder did a wonderful job of allowing me to glimpse the Amish lifestyle. From the rules the community followed to the shunning that took place it was easy to be drawn in and become emotionally invested in the character of Leah. I think anyone who enjoys Amish fiction will find this book a must read, but it is also perfect for anyone who wants to learn a bit about the Amish. An emotionally stirring story that lingered long after I finished reading it.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly gripping. This book is a Christian book, but it is one that exposes the life and religion of the Old Order Amish. Ms. Yoder knows her subject very well as she works with the Mission to Amish People charity and their mandate is to help those who wish to leave the old religion and start new lives in the "Englisher" world. The heroine in this book is Leah and we watch as she begins to question the tight rules and regulations of the Old Order Amish to which her and her family belong. She discovers a different and rewarding life and becomes a born-again Christian. Leah faces tremendous odds, punishment and banishment pursuing her new religion. With the help of her Christian friends and her young Amish man, she finds the strength to hang onto her beliefs and to her God even though she is ostracized from her Amish family. Even though I've always been interested in the Amish faith and lifestyle, I don't know if I would have read this book on my own. I was asked by the publisher to read and review it, and I am glad that I was chosen to read this book. I really enjoyed it and I thought Leah was a tremendous character - realistic and believable. I feel that I learned a lot about religion and faith after reading this book.

[Linda Yezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

what happens when the worst a young lady does is get a job, wear jeans, and attend church on Sundays? What happens when her biggest sin against the Amish is reading a King James Bible?

In the Old Order Amish, the Meidung, or shunning, is just the beginning.

Dee Yoder tells us the story of seventeen-year-old Leah Raber, whose inquisitive mind leads her in a quest for a relationship with the loving God, a rebellious act that subjects her to the terrible choice of denying her family, or denying her Savior. When a young woman is caught in a world unfamiliar to her, when she longs for family and home, when she wishes to cling to her new-found faith in disobedience to the church bishop, what choices does she have?
Each Amish order is different, some stricter than others. Inside the strictest orders, some kids feel the need for escape and freedom. Some endure things not often recorded in the novels we read. As a mentor and volunteer for Mission to Amish People, Dee tells of a darker side of the religion. MAP is a ministry developed to help those who wish to escape a religion that often seems oppressive. Dee's fiction is based on the lives of those escapees whom she now calls friends. The Miting, a coming-of-age story is her first full-length novel, and it is well worth the read.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like to write book reviews in general. "It was a good book" or "Loved it" is mostly my comments and review. Sometimes I read a really good book (in my opinion) and its worthy of a review. The Miting was one of those books. It didn't take me too long to read either. Yes I got bored and lost in the middle somewhere but I had to know what happened.

Most Amish fiction is meh to read. I do enjoy reading it but many of them seem to be about the same thing..... Love and the teen years. The Miting was different though. Much different.

The Amish community appears to many to be a perfect society. They are far from perfect. Their communities are much like our own Englisher communities, with the same problems we have. However the Amish communities tend not to "air their dirty laundry" like the Englisher society does.

This story is about 2 old order Amish girls, Leah and Martha, who are best friends. Martha's older stepbrother abuses her. She has lost all faith in her community. Leah questions different things about her Amish faith and the ordnung.

I highly recommend reading this story.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is realistic and shows how stark different the old Amish way of salvation is compared to Christianity. I like this book, because it shows how serious it is to be in Christ, and loved ones don't share your beliefs. IT's especially hard if you are under 18 yrs old.

I recommend this book, because it's based on true events, from what the author points out. A lot of Amish books delve into the love story, the family setting... rural and good, but they don't point out the differences of Amish way of salvation, and the dangers of it.

I don't know if the Amish started out like they are now spiritually. Way back then, they were so much like the community in that they were agricultural, dressed the same because of the time period, and no one else had electricity either. Maybe they were true believers- trusting on the finished work of the cross, what Jesus did for us.

They are not that way now, and this book points that out. It shows the effect of multi generations going further and further away from Christianity- Jesus our Saviour, the only way to heaven. He died for our sins so we could go to heaven. He's our perfect sacrifice.