Mennonites in Belize

       Her brown eyes shone with pleasure as I praised her work and her skill at handling the power tools. Throughout the day I caught her whispering to herself, Yes I can! I know I can! See? I told you you could! Meticulously she measured the boards, clamped them and carefully slid the electric saw. She quickly caught on to the trick of handling the nail gun and thoroughly enjoyed the jigsaw and sander.   I smiled to myself, and felt glad that in some small way we could help this young Mennonite mom regain her self-confidence and restore her dignity after all the sexual and domestic abuse she had been through, growing up in a strictly traditional church. We shared our lunch and supper with her several times and visited her home with small gifts here and there.   She entered our home several months ago. Now she has left. What her future plans are we don’t know. Last we heard she is happily reunited with her family.   Yet the stories she shared with us...

      I have spoken with several local carpenters and contractors in the area, and their response was unanimous. Lumber is increasingly difficult to obtain. I visited a hardware store and was shocked to see their warehouse devoid of wooden doors and frames and other wood items. I asked questions and was told the Mennonites of Shipyard, who are some of the country's biggest supplier of wooden furniture and wood building material, were complaining of lumber shortage. Were the Belizean forests mowed down by hurricanes or wiped out by fires?   Noone can explain it better than Scott Varro, manager of Linda Vista Lumber & Houses, one of the country's biggest prefab home builders. Below is a link to an article recently published by him: Lumber Crisis in Belize Mennonite News View Blog                   A. Mendoza

Some pictures are from March Large scale business expansion happening in Spanish Lookout The speed of a buggy on Center Ave. Spanish Lookout A school program Quality Poultry is also expanding View ofAguacate Lake Part of the Expo Edental Village in Spanish Lookout celebrated its 50th anniversary Mennonite News View Blog                 A. Mendoza  

     You can't afford to miss it. Perhaps the biggest event for the country this year, the 2026 Commercial & Industrial Expo at Countryside Park, Spanish Lookout on March 13 & 14, opening at 9AM and closing at 5PM. Mennonite News View Blog                             A. Mendoza

     Two things shook Spanish Lookout--and the rest of the country--today, the 2nd of February. Cold weather records were smashed as Belizeans throughout the country endured a shocking plunge in temperatures not seen in several decades. Spanish Lookout recorded 46°F (8°C) while other places recorded 40°F (5°C). I don't know what it was like up in the mountains. Am I the only one who wishes for several months of this weather? I would far rather enjoy 6 months of this cold than 2 months of blistering 105°F (40°C) in April and May. I can honestly say I love this cold weather.   The next event which shook the country and especially Spanish Lookout was the arrival of the president of Guyana today afternoon. Two helicopters and an assortment of police trucks temporarily closed off sections of Route 20 East as the president and his entourage along with Belizean officials landed on an empty field next to Bel-Car. The Guyanese were here to tour some of the grain processing fa...

      I have been urged by some readers and friends to turn my blog into a full-time job and start earning an income from it. Perhaps I should, perhaps I will continue the way it is. A year ago I wanted to switch over to a more modern platform but decided to stay on Blogger for the time being.   My blog has certainly grown. From 40 views per month years ago to well over 400 views per day now. I have intentionally kept a low profile though. No Facebook or Instagram page both for me or my blog. Recently during a busy month for my blog, I reached nearly 100,000 views per month. Although the numbers do not always remain the same, it certainly indicates the potential available in this niche without me personally depending on Facebook or other social media platforms.   This year, Lord willing, I would genuinely want to do something different, now that I no longer have a full time office job: visit the various Mennonite colonies scattered around the country and actuall...

     A website/blog run by a Mennonite family recently published an extremely fascinating and emotionally disturbing piece of history about the early years of evangelical conservative Mennonites in Belize: the murder of Ben Stoltzfus, a missionary pastor in Orange Walk district. I have posted a link to the article below. Murdered While a Missionary Mennonite News View Blog                        A. Mendoza