August 1st & 2nd, 2008 Goshen, IN Every five years we gather to share our common heritage. Attendees constitute an uncommon and unique mixture of those descendants who have not wavered from their Amish and Mennonite roots, and those who have modernized and blended with today's modern world. It is always a moving and educational event that only takes place once every five years, so descendants will not want to miss it! The Fifth Nationwide Gathering of the Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler will begin with a dinner program on Friday evening, August 1, 2008 prior to the main gathering on the following day (dinners must be prepaid) and the dinner will feature food cooked by our Amish neighbors and a keynote speaker of prominence. It is the "kick-off" of our Gathering and highly recommended! The format of the all-day Saturday event will be to have breakout sessions on topics of interest in the morning, a group lunch and a business meeting and general program in the afternoon. There will also be relevant displays and sales of general genealogical interest to the family as well as plenty of time for the informal, unplanned aspects of visiting and meeting relatives from all over. There will also be planned activities for children. As the Goshen area boasts one of the larger Amish and Mennonite populations in the United States,  attendees are encouraged to allocate time to visiting communities in the area.   Mennohof, in Shipshewana, is an excellent place to begin to learn more about the peaceful lifestyle that these people have created for themselves. A list of campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, and hotels can be obtained from  www.AmishCountry.org, or by calling 800-517-9739 We've made reserving and paying easy. Just download this food prepayment form, write your check and send it in (and be sure to visit Bethany's Christian School's (the Gathering location's) website). There is a deadline on prepayments of food reservations of July 1st, 2008, so please take a minute and get it taken care of.     Jacob Hochstetler Family Association Post Office Box 2085, Elkhart, IN 46515 Jacob.Hochstetler.Descendants@gmail.com There is an updated events list that also lists local hotels and attractions at this link. A Little History . . . JHFA's first quinquennial meeting was held in 1988 at the Elkhart County Fair Grounds in Goshen, Indiana. Subsequent quinquennial gatherings have been at Kidron OH, AccidentMD, and Kalona, IA. The first attracted an estimated 1,100 family members and subsequent gatherings have attracted 600 to 800 members. This year's attendance is expected to top these numbers due to the location (Goshen is in the heart of Amish and Mennonite country), and increased marketing & invitational efforts.