While many of you guys may disagree with the Swartzentruber Amish way of life, I actually found it to be quite refreshing. Their commitment to sustainable living and self-sufficiency is something that I’ve rarely seen outside of indigenous tribes in Africa. I also admire the way that the Swartzentrubers prioritize family, faith, and hard work, giving a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment. Lastly, while WE THINK their lives are extreme, they have no idea that other ways of life exist. So who are we to judge? Would love to hear your thoughts down below if you agree or disagree with the Swartzentruber Amish way of life. Thanks for watching!

I might have shed a few tears on the interaction with her mom. Having grown up Amish n after leaving am shunned as well and to see her mom accepting her as she is is just beautiful!

I drive for the Amish here in S.W. Michigan. Some of the greatest people I have EVER known. My wife of almost 26 years just passed away 6/3/24 and the love and support I have received from our Amish friends was amazing. I couldn't ask for better people to be friends with.

I’ve seen Amish people quite a few times. But seeing Lizzie’s life of growing up there is awesome. I’m so glad her Mom let us see everything

Lizzy is one of the finest women I've ever set eyes on! God BLESSED that woman!!! 😍

She is not just beautiful, her vibe, spirit, energy and her strength. This is a great video swear

I have so much respect for these people. Thank you for showing us such a wonderful and eye opening look into their life and culture.

I'm watching from Brazil, it's amazing know more about new cultures! Congrats for video.

Her mom is amazing for many reasons, she accepts her back to visit, she raise all these children alone ? Like seriously how? Can you interview her? Single mom here and I can barely raise one child on my own. This made me cry

I hope she knows how lucky she is that her family still talks to her. You can tell her mother is a good person because she's so sweet and down to earth

Dude! Since i started watching your videos, you made me to love them even more. A day can't pass without watching at least one or two. Much love from Nairobi Kenya and you doing such a magnanimous work for sharing such awesome videos with us ❤😊

I just got a ride with Mel today. I really enjoyed talking with him and getting to see his perspective.

Notice how every single thing in that house is immaculate? The stove, the washer, the water pump... everything looks brand spanking new because they keep everything in perfect working order and cleanliness.

THE BEDROOM talk was very touching, im so glad her mom still welcomes her back to her home. Im sure her mom still has her note.

Hello from England Drew...appreciate your understated and unjudgemental style. Really enjoyed the visit. Thank you.

Very informative and moving. Your friend was courageous to go back, but then, as she said her roots are part of who she has become. She needed to go back. ❤ Bravo, good doc!!

Such a beautiful and eye-opening look into the Swartzentruber Amish way of life. Truly inspiring and thought-provoking.

this is why this guy has 4 million subscribers.. incredible content

I could live this way. I love to can things. I make butter and cheese. I see the meat. Looks like what I can here in NC. I would enjoy learning different and new things to can and cook. I really enjoyed this. I would love to visit. Thank you so much, Kelly.

Hello ! I'm a farmer in France et we have a lots of things to learn about the Amish ! Your video is very beautiful. Thanks a lot !

Everything in the home is so clean. The woodwork and paint are perfect! Simple, fine craftsmanship! No unnecessary plastic junk, nick knacks, furniture. Just what they need to survive. Much respect! Thank You Drew and Lizzie for a great video!

Literally HISTORIC documentary. It truly is unheard of to be inside a Schwartzentruber's house. Hard enough to have a conversation longer than a few sentences with your average old order Amish. I truly appreciate watching this documentary. Thank you for showing us an unprecedented look into their way of life.

When I was in the Army I knew a fellow soldier who had been in the Amish. He scored high on the test and he later got a GED with the army. I asked him if he could go back and visit and he told me, that's not a problem to see his family. For one reason he was never baptized. That happens when one is 21 and he joined the army when he was 18. He told me that the Amish learn German and can read the Bible in German but among one another they speak English. He told me that Rumspringen where Amish teens at age 16 can go out and experience the "English World" is blown way out of proportion of how it's portrayed in the media. He said that the documentaries he saw on that were 98% exaggerated. He said 50% don't even take part in it. "Oh mother, I could never take part in that." And it's well known by them what drugs are. Maybe they'll drink a beer or two. They'll go see a film, or try bowling and most after two or six weeks no longer take part in it. He told me things are changing. It's not easy to make a living with farming anymore so they reach out for jobs. Hotel cleaning, carpentry work, work on a farm, handy man, house construction. He said that women as well as men have to have their clothes in an exact way and be uniform with the community. Told me that there are people who have this romantic idea about being Amish and want to join up. The Amish always warn them that it's not easy. But there are some who actually try it and it never works. For that type of life one would have to be born into it. It's way too difficult for anyone to get accustomed to. Cold showers. It's not easy to travel around on a horse and buggy. The horse will only last for about 30 miles for a day. And the horse can not maintain that every day. He was still religious and he went to the Baptist church. He did very well as a soldier, he was an E6 at age 25. He was a good leader. Members of his unit always did the work that needed to be done. Women soldiers liked him a lot and had great respect for him. Don't know what happened to him. I looked for him in FB and he's not there. I asked around in FB and no one knows what became of him.

I am familiar with the Amish. Thank you for doing the video. I am amazed by your friend’s beautiful attitude. She is so real! No judgement. Loved this!

I live very close to this area. I am so happy that you came here. I have always grown up seeing the Amish and going to their markets and buying their products. It’s a wonderful and peaceful way of life. Thank you for sharing this ❤

Thank you for showing us in such a respectful way. I’m glad your mom has had you for a visit and that you still keep in touch with your family there.

That's the most romantic story I've ever heard! Thanks for sharing Lizzy!!❤❤❤

Lizzie is an amazing wealth of information for people learning her culture. I love Berlin! Come to Ohio 2x a year and always make a day for Berlin.

This is nice. I was raised Swiss Amish, and it is considered conservative by Amish standards but not as conservative as Swartzentruber or Nebraska Amish. It's very lucky that she is welcomed back by her family. I don't have that, but I am happy with my decision.

This is the Drew Binsky style I fell in love with some years ago! This is raw, talented journalism, amazing editing and storytelling, and most of all, taking risks in conflict areas to tell a powerful story. Keep up the amazing work, Drew! 👏👏👏

Im glad they are able to enlighten us on their lifestyle, its fascinating how much dedication is in their culture.

I have so much respect for Lizzie’s mom. She is a strong woman. The peaceful country life looks amazing

I’m impressed with your coverage of this particular Amish family. You were very positive and respectful about your subjects. I’m very glad that faces were blurred to protect the family. Thank you for this video. ❤

Your Mom is a good woman for wanting to still be your friend! I have seen and read that when an Amish person is shunned it’s game over, don’t let the door hit you in the ass. I hear the gratitude you have for your special relationship with your mother. ❤

Such A Beautiful And Peaceful Way Of Living Life 😊 Amazing 👏🏽👏👏🏻💥✨💞💫 Thanks Again For Sharing Another Beautiful Video GOD BLESS 🙏🏽🙏🙏🏻

Great video! There are Amish in Southern Maryland-I did a report on them for a college paper. It was great visiting there.

Lizzie reflecting out her childhood window was such a beautiful moment.

19 kids? Omg my great grandparents had 15 and I thought that was alot. I like the fact that the older gentleman stated that Amish isn’t for everyone,it’s just a way of life but not the only way of life. Their young people aren’t condemned to it,they have choices.

Lizzy is an amazing and beautiful woman. I believe she may have benefited from the best of both worlds. I can't imagine the courage it took for her to leave her Amish life. I live and grew up in Pennsylvania where we have many different orders of Amish and Mennonite especially in Lancaster county. My mom and her sisters, all gone now, weren't Amish or Mennonite but always spoke "Pennsylvania Dutch" to each other as did many others in this part of Pennsylvania. I grew up around it and can understand most. Lizzy's accent and hearing her speak to her mom brought back many of my childhood memories of my mom and her sisters. We also always had homemade bread and apple butter. As a teenager I and my brother helped on a neighbors farm where they farmed with the type equipment shown in this video although converted to be pulled with a tractor instead of horses. Took in hay loose, no bales, husked the corn by hand, one cob at a time, had a Binder to cut the grain then ran it through a Threshing Machine to separate the grain from the stalk, dug potatoes using a one row potato plow to expose the potatoes then bent over days at a time picking up one potato at a time, all hard dirty work. Thank you Drew for producing this video and special thanks to Lizzy. It was a pleasure to hear her speak and her story brought back so many pleasant memories.

amazing....those lanterns we used them de ades ago. nostalgia...Liz is gorgeous. little suprise shes into fitness/wellness.Love how she stands tall and strong❤❤.Thanks for sharing, so different

Love you Drew..your videos helped me a lot when I was in the hospital fighting cancer ..God bless you and your wife.and family..thank you

I first encountered these communities , Amish and Mennonite in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They have excellent fabulous food. Though they live a very frugal life their food is spectacular and lavish. Most of it is grown on their farms, so fresh and without additives. Lovely wooden furniture too.

Buenísimo el video! Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷

First of all May God Almighty bless her father who was physically taken away in that fatal incident 💔. Second Lizzy is so beautiful. Third I pray to God Almighty to keep the Amish the way they are because it makes them special and extra interesting! May God Almighty bless them all.

So great to see a Schwarzentrupper house inside. Thank you.

I'm just gob-stopped and smiling from ear to ear! I just can't get the stupid smile off of my face. I LOVE that you were both able to go back to Lizzie's childhood home and they welcomed both of you. This is absolutely unprecedented and a beautiful insight to the hidden world that most don't get to see. Thank you!

Amazing community... unbelievable...Thank you for sharing.

Her family home is so beautiful. Amazing inside.

Growing up in nearby Maryland, we see and encounter the Amish all the time and as long as I’ve known them, they are the warmest, nicest and friendliest people I know. They’re incredibly down to earth and very humble people and Lizzie is the perfect example of this. If you ever get a chance to get to Lancaster or any other Amish areas, remain humble and open and you will have an incredible experience.

One of the best videos I have seen on YT. Being interested in Mennonites and Amish, coming from a tiny country in the middle of Europe (Slovakia) where noone really heard of these cultures + watching your videos on regular basis = great one ! Love and hugs to the mom and daughter ❤

As an autistic asperger and hermine man. This video was really enjoyable to watch. Thank you dear friend.

Super, merci pour ce merveilleux reportage. Qui nous rappel la simplicité de la vie.

This is amazing to see the wonderful old-fashioned tools they use. They're so hard to buy these days, but they were made so well and lasted forever. I love this video.

Incredible video, and very true to Reality.. My Grandfather grew up Amish and left in the 8th grade as well, and would go visit them every couple of years as I was growing up. When I was younger there was one summer I spent up there with my Amish family and it gave me a complete overhaul on how I viewed things and how my time was spent for years to come. This video brought back many of those feelings I got from that summer. Thank you.

Lizzie was such a delight to listen and watch!! Excellent documentary

Video genial . Traditions are part of culture and religion, of countries, of towns and communities. The Amish give up progress in exchange for preserving it. That forces them -paradogically- to be very ingenious, disciplined and with a lot of order. I admire them

Lizzie is an incredible human being with such a unique story. Whomever she ends up sharing life with is a very very lucky human being ❤

Thank you for introducing us to Lizzie, Drew. And for sharing this video. Safe travels. ❤

Thank you so much, Lizzie!

Old gen-X Swiss lady here from French Valais. So many things are familiar to me in this video because I was born in the 60ties from families of mountain farmers who were still living pretty much the same self sufficient life. My parents had left their mountain villages to have a "better life" in the city, but we'd come back very frequently to see the family (uncles & aunts, and numerous cousins) and spend the holidays in my grand-parents home. My grand-ma was cooking on the wood-stove all the winter, and my grand-pa spent a lot of time going to cut wood by hand in the forest. I was taught sewing on my great-grand-ma's sewing machine run by a pedal, just the same we see on the video. At school we had to learn on pedal-drawn machines (Singer and Bernina) before we were allowed to use the electric ones. Our cellar was full of vegetables and fruits preserves we'd prepare every year to live until the next year. I went gardening with my family, make hay (with rakes and forks) and fetch wood and other wild stuff like berries, mushrooms and diverse herbs (nettles, wild spinach, medicinal plants, etc.) in full nature . When I see this video, I feel extremely sad to realize how much young generations have forgotten things from their own not-so-far past. For example, everyone thinks Swiss people are so rich and privileged, but we owe our prosperity to the hard life of our ancestors, their extremely hard and painstaking work to get food from a scarce bad soil (no flat easy rich land like on the video !) and 5 harsh winter months to survive with their numerous family and animals. Switzerland was one of the poorest country in Europe due to having very scarce ressources and being isolated in the mountains. My ancestors (which I knew very well for some of them) would spare everything, and I was taught that too : keep every bit of paper, every bit of rope, use the pencil, the candle and the soap til the very end, don't trow away food, and don't forget one single rake strike when you'd collect hay. My other grand-ma spun and wove wool too. For her (and even for me, to say the truth), changing a 1k electronic device every few years because technology "has become obsolete" would have been both totally shameful and mind blowing. She'd knit jackets for all the kids in the family, and the people in the village could spot us from those woolen jackets, lol. I'm grateful I could still have witnessed that and learned from it by helping them. I'm sad for nowadays spoiled children who have never seen anything else than virtual stuff on their screens, never tasted freshly milked milk, never eaten real home made sourdough bread with wild berries jam on it. Some have even never seen their parents prepare a real meal in their whole life, and have no idea what food really is, how to grow it, how to cook it, not to say sew or knit anything by hand. I don't know how they will manage when this world collapses when all what they have ever experienced is urban life and fake friends and life on social media. Luckily, the Amish are keeping the old know-how, and maybe they will be the ones to save the world, lol.

I lived in a cult from 19-39 yo,& I am 63 yo now…there was good & bad,& so when I left in 2000 I discarded the bad & kept the good…most important of all, I kept my faith in Jesus Christ my Lord & Best Friend since I found Him in 1979❤

Lizzie is beautiful and a beautiful soul. She seems like such a graceful person. This is a really really good video. Top tier content!

Loved this video❤. Personally, I would love to live like the Amish 🙋‍♀️. I've always been a bit of a farmer girl anyways... I've ridden horses, always been able to build my own fires, grow vegetable gardens, ohh and i could sew ANYTHING😁. I made dresses, quilts, jackets and anything! 🥰. Thank you for sharing this lovely lady's parent's homestead💞

Lizzie, You have the most beautiful smile. and thank you for the education.

I really enjoyed this. It's respectful towards the Amrish and teaching us English about their community. They live peacefully with themselves and outter community. We could all learn something from them

Wow! Great work Drew! I work at the Amish and Mennonite Center in Berlin, Ohio not too far from Lizzie’s family. To answer a question you asked in the video - the Amish population doubles every 17 years. Swartzentruber's have a 95% retention rate.

I really enjoyed how the video was done with a quest to learn about the Amish with no judgment. An interesting way of life. God Bless the Amish and America that respects all walks of life.

You should hang on to Lizzy - that's a rare woman ❤❤❤ Gorgeous outside and raised in a clean environment

I’m so proud of Lizzie and how far she has come and pushed herself to grow. I knew her soon after she left. Great video documentary.

This is an incredible video -- not just a travel video, but in addition a time-travel video, a trans-cultural essay, and a comparative philosophy lesson of great depth. Congratulations!

This is amazing way of life,we now a days really have lost touch with nature. I love it!!!

Awe the way she just stairs out the window and her past hit her hard,she made a choice and huge leap in life,what a great amazing person

This is some of the best editing and cinematography you’ve done in a while. The moment in her bedroom with the transitions to b-roll was perfect!

I live in a community with Schwartzintruber Amish. I was shocked the first time I saw the buggies at the liquor store. Also, watching them buy beer in the grocery store. In this community, the Amish eat lots of white bread, and crackers. The grocery carts are filled with pop. Yes, they have gardens, and fields, and animals. But in our community here, we also had a young girl of 12, fell pregnant by her brothers. Unfortunately, sex education is not a topic discussed in the Schwartzintruber Amish. Two of the brothers were over 18, so they went to jail, two brothers were younger. The baby was taken from the girl to be raised by someone else. The saddest thing of it all she’ll probably never get married, and have any more children. They are not any different than those in the society. Thank you for sharing.

❤what a different life from what we live. And what an amazing mom that still loves and accepts her daughter even though the community doesn’t. Thanks Drew for sharing.

I enjoyed this so much, a sincere thank you to Lizzy and her family for welcoming us into their home so that we can understand their culture.

I just got onto your channel via, this video. My husband's late grandmother, was a school teacher in an old order Amish community in and around Arthur IL. It was her very first teaching job she told me and she worked there for quite a while. She learned many many things from them and then, she told me and I can't thank her enough for that. I go to Arthur about 3 times a year now, (it's about an hour drive south of me) and I specifically go to an Amish grocery store called Beachy's. I buy thier Roll butter (it's so good you could eat it with a spoon) pasta in HUGE bags, candy, gallon jars of honey and most especially the Cheese, BEST AROUND, in my opinion and much much more. This video, really does go into more detail of thier lives, so thank you for taking us along on this extremely informative trip. It was absolutely amazing. ❤❤ Blessings, Laurel 😁

She may have ran away, but that lifestyle gifted her with many things that she may not fully appreciate until she's a lot older.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane!!! My Dad was PA Dutch, old order Amish. His family loved us to much to shun us when he left so I was able to grow up exposed to the lifestyle. I miss it always & consider it my true background!! Miss it everyday, living in Houston.

Excellent documentary!! Really enjoyed watching this and learning so much about their culture and history. What an awesome experience for you and for them! Please keep those experiences coming!

The moustache fact was so interesting! Something i never thought about before either 😮

Drew, I cannot believe you had to ask what kerosene was at 22:40!!!!

I'm amazed at how they make life day to day with no electricity as well as other things. Would love to chat with this beautiful lady and learn more.

Great video, thank you for sharing 🇺🇸🙏🏼

Sounds like an intense trip down memory lane with Lizzie in the Amish country. Bet that took some nerve to revisit and share.

I like their way of life. Also saving our planet. Thank you for putting this together.

Very interesting for sure. Thank you for sharing Lizzies story and her community.

Having a big family that stays together helps with emotional health and family wealth. Everyone is helping and everything is clean and in order . I love that culture

I love that yuo and Lizzy showed a positive view of this way of life. My daughter is married to an ex Hutterite, and although he knew it was not a life he wanted to live (he ran away at 17 with $20 in his pocket), he has only positive things to say about how he was raised and his life growing up...he wouldn't change it for the world. He came away from that lifestyle with determination, positive values, love and respect for family and an incredible work ethic. -- He fortunately came from a colony that does not shun, so he has a relationship with all of his family. My daughter loves them and can't wait to introduce them to that world.

Very interesting and growing up Mennonite, so many memories came back. The outhouse with newspaper or catalogues...no toilet paper, Saturday baths...youngest to oldest using the same water, we had cold running water and electricity, church on Sunday....men on one side, women on the other, Mom always canned meat, vegetables and fruits. I really enjoyed this video.

I‘m from Switzerland and I can definitely follow and understand them, when they speak their language! 😃🇨🇭

Thank you for being respectful to their way of life unlike other influencers who took them out to a club

What an amazing Family! They respect the choices and ways of live. Thanks for your video🎉

That Amish house was spotless! I was without electricity for 20 hours last week, and felt my whole world ending, sitting there in the dark eating my cold can of Chef Boyardee, bored out of my skull, and hot with no air conditioning. Watching this, I need to learn something from these people!

Hermoso video, gracias! Me gusta mucho la cultura Amish. Saludos desde el Sur de Chile🇨🇱

Que bacana melhor coisa que sua família faz é ficar longe mesmo dessas redes sociais não estão perdendo nada 🙏👏👏👏 amei esse vídeo❤

This was an amazing video. Thank you! I lived in Lancaster County PA for years and miss the daily bike rides through the peaceful Amish countryside.

this was beautiful. This captures the meaning of "America, the land of the free" because you can live as you want.

They are beautiful and very peaceful people . They don’t harm anyone and deserve respected and their privacy shouldn’t be violated…. Thanks 🙏🏽

First off, this was (to me) a very nice overview of a community that holds a lot of mystery. It's not that I have no experience with the Amish but it isn't up close. Documentaries about them are fascinating, and always leave me with a little bit of envy with regard to the way they live so simply, and so clean and organized and how hard they work. I've always been puzzled by their interpretation of the Bible and how it commands them to live so simply and proudly and as they think is Gods wants them to, without the convience of electricity and media and higher education and modern machinery. When I pass their horse and buggy, I feel so sorry for their horse. But those people are wonderfuly unique and who's to say they aren't right and living God's way. Surely not me. Very nicely done! Thank you.