Today, an early morning start on our bus ride home, winds up our week in Pennsylvania. It has been informative, interesting and very filling! The folks down here in Amish country like to eat. We are all wishing we had packed our stretch pants to make for a more comfortable ride home.

 

Yesterday we visited the town of Hershey. Yes, the home of Hershey chocolates. You might not know is that Milton Hershey the originator of the milk chocolate Hershey bar established the town of Hershey and then left behind a tremendous legacy at the time of his death. Hershey and his wife did not have children of their own. After they had amassed their fortune they decided to direct their money to the care and education of orphans and under-privileged children. To this day students are selected to come to Hershey to study in the private school which houses 1800 students from JK to grade 12. They live in student homes, are cared for by ‘house parents’ and are provided for in every way. As the tour guide stated, “Every time you buy a Hershey chocolate bar it supports the foundation which educates the children at the Hershey school.” It is a remarkable story of generosity and forward thinking on the part of Milton Hershey.

 

The other theme that has run throughout our trip is forgiveness. As we toured the Amish farmlands on Tuesday we were reminded of the five little Amish girls who were killed in their school house. It was about five years ago. A man, greatly disturbed, burst into the school with a gun. It was a tragic story but the turnaround in it was the way the Amish people immediately moved to a state of forgiveness for the man, who ultimately killed himself, and his family who were left to wonder what had gone wrong with their loved one. The most newsworthy part of the story was the forgiveness and grace shown by the Amish.

 

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Sight and Sound theatre – an incredible place - and saw the play ‘Joseph’. This biblical story tells about a young man wronged by his brothers. In the end Joseph moves to a place of forgiveness. The production today retold the story in a way that was both touching and inspiring.

 

Generosity and forgiveness – two tenets of the Christian faith. We have been given several opportunities to think about them over the course of our days here in Lancaster County. Have there been occasions or people who have helped you reflect on generosity and forgiveness?