From the Warsaw Gazette (Gazeta Warsawa): Polski Amisz: W Warszawie nie da się żyć (Amish in Poland – No life in Warsaw)

People come from all over Poland to Cezarowa, where they live. They look, nod, smile, then talk about them. They live in the forest, they have seven children, and time. They bake bread, and rarely shop. He wears a beard, she … etc.

Jacob Martin: We cannot live in Warsaw. Warsaw residents do not know how to use time. They do not have time because of the money chase, which equates to happiness for them. Once, at night, people sat on benches in front of houses and talked about everything. Now they only have time to sit in front of the television. They become depressed, go to a psychologist. There, for an hour, they talk and pay for talking with a neighbor. Anyway, here it is a bit like a village. But, people still do not want to cooperate. Everyone must have his own tractor. The world is stupid…

Anita and Jacob Martin (she is 43, he – 41) come from large Amish families who settled in Pennsylvania. The Amish strictly observe norms of behavior. The most orthodox do not use phones, household appliances, and use horse-drawn carriages for transportation.

17 years ago, several Amish families came to Poland on a mission. They were representatives of progressive churches, which allowed the use of electricity and cars. They settled in Cezarowa near Mińsk-Mazowiecki, building a settlement. The project collapsed after three years. All but Martins’ returned to the States. Their families did not accept their decision to stay, and the Amish community renounced them. In Poland, they are alone.

Jacob Martin: This project had no chance. American missions cannot succeed in Europe, because people have a different mentality. What can we say to the Poles? That our religion has 400 years of tradition? People will respond: and our’s has two thousand years of tradition!

Jacob Martin: There are three things you need in life: food, clothes and a house. However, people are chasing after things they do not need. Throughout the year they work hard to have two weeks off and spend their savings. Instead of considering what God wants, people do what they want and think it gives them good luck.

The church, which sent the Martins’ to Poland no longer exists.

Jacob Martin: There are communities to whom Lord Jesus comes quietly once, and to whom He never returns.