Naomi Bachman has had her share of grief. She lost her father, mother and sister in a drunk driver / buggy accident and her brother is still in a catatonic state from the accident. Just a year ago her husband left to join the Army. It's not permissible for Amish men to enlist in the military, so a bann was put on Micah Bachman when he left. When he returns from serving as a medic in Afghanistan, the bishop gives him three days to repent or the bann will not be lifted. He cannot speak to or eat with anyone in the community; however, he can live with his family. Micah feels that God called him to serve as a medic and refuses to repent. Naomi begins to understand Micah's reasons for sticking to his beliefs and prays earnestly for God to do a miracle. Will the bishop and ministers have a change of heart? How will the community react if they do?

AN AMISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS is a delightful story about praying for God to change the hearts of people. It's about challenging traditional ways that have been followed for hundreds of years and really hearing from God as to what He would have them do. The characters possess a strong faith as they say throughout the story that this is God's problem, not theirs. How far will their prayers, love and faith take them? It's not until another tragedy occurs that things begin to change for Naomi and Micah. Fans of contemporary inspirational fiction will enjoy Murray Pura's story. It's a quick read and one that I highly recommend.

Book Summary

After tragedy strikes the family of young Naomi Bachman, her sister-in-law Rebecca Bachman does all she can to help. But things get complicated when Micah--Rebecca's brother and Naomi's husband--returns from a combat tour in Afghanistan. He is under the Meidung--the shunning--because of his enlistment, and none of the Amish are permitted to speak to him or eat with him, even his wife Naomi. How then can this young couple, still in love, ever find happiness? How can the healing process even begin when Micah refuses to repent of what he has done?

Still, God has a way of working on the hearts of His people, especially at Christmastime. At just the right time, events conspire to birth a miracle that may set things right for Naomi and Micah--and for the Amish community itself.

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