Jul 3, 2025 — Esther Yoder: Amish Journey

Bulletin for July 3, 2025

Featured Speaker: Esther Yoder

From Amish to the World — A Spiritual Awakening, Health Transformation, and Life Reimagined

OPENING

The meeting began with a prayer led by Benny. Frank led the Pledge of Allegiance.

"One visit to a country without freedom makes one realize that freedom is a precious gift worth fighting for."

— Ernest E. West, United States Army Medal of Honor

CLUB BUSINESS

• Member Recognition: Frank, Dana, JP, Skip, and Dick were acknowledged as founding contributors who dedicated decades of energy and passion to build the club.

• Recuperating Members: Pete is at Saint Francis Hospital and doing better. Gary Nelson had a lung transplant — club members are rooting for both.

• Rodeo Parking: Cash lot fills quickly; arrive early. Marty will send a detailed email with parking updates.

• Christmas Party: Space reserved at Valley Hi Country Club — decided against the Peel House due to setup/cleanup requirements and alcohol restrictions.

• Frank's Life Book: Frank discussed his memoir, encouraged by his lifelong best friend Jerry Carley — Colorado College football coach and Colorado Springs Hall of Famer. The book was written for future generations; reader reactions ranged from 'stinks' to 'wonderful,' with one member suggesting it would make a great movie.

• Annual Jeep Trips: Members recalled four-day convoys through southern Colorado, hitting golf balls off Engineer's Pass. One trip included a memorable 'holdup' involving former president Ed Gendron and a Pontiac raffle won back for an extra $8,000.

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Bed-building event being organized. Initial sign-up sheet circulated; Mike Cimino will coordinate.

KEYNOTE: ESTHER YODER — FROM AMISH TO THE WORLD

Esther is a mother of four and a wife of 26 years. She grew up in one of the largest Amish settlements in the world — Holmes County, Ohio (~40,000 people in a 500-square-mile area). She has made a remarkable transition from her Amish upbringing in a family of 13 kids, and now aims to elevate human consciousness through health, wellness, and spiritual depth.

Origins of the Amish

The Amish trace back to the Anabaptist movement that began around 1520 during the European Reformation, splitting from the Catholic Church. Key beliefs include adult baptism and pacifism (ancestors were persecuted as conscientious objectors). The Amish movement was started by Jacob Amon, who broke from Swiss Anabaptists and advocated stricter discipline.

Amish Community Life

Church districts consist of 25–30 families gathering twice monthly in homes, garages, or barns. The Ordnung (an unwritten set of rules) is interpreted by bishops. The community emphasizes simplicity, modest dress, communal self-insurance, and rapid barn/house raisings. There are approximately 400,000 Amish in the U.S., a number growing due to high birth rates.

Esther's Spiritual Awakening

Her questioning began at age 21, triggered by her brother's profound spiritual experience and his subsequent excommunication. Forced to participate in a shunning ritual, Esther felt deep discomfort and began asking: 'Who am I? Why am I here? And where am I going?' This culminated in a personal spiritual awakening — a powerful sense of divine energy while riding in her buggy.

Leaving the Amish

The family's departure unfolded from approximately 2002 to 2012 — a decade of transition, social pressure, and identity reconstruction. Esther describes years of 'deep reprogramming' to shed ingrained Amish patterns. The family spent time in Montana, in a Pentecostal/Mennonite community, and eventually settled in Colorado Springs in 2009.

Health Transformation

In 2008, Esther was diagnosed with diabetes at age 28. Motivated by witnessing the devastating effects of the disease on family members, she and Ruben adopted a whole foods approach from a library book. She has been diabetes-free for 18 years. Her current passion is coaching others in health, wellness, and emotional healing.

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

— Michael Jordan

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