Mennonites in Belize

   Under the smokescreen language of "historic" and "vintage" and "antique", the community of Spanish Lookout hosted its own variation of September 21 Independence Day celebration. On Saturday the 19th, at 3pm, a combination of antique tractors and 70's and 80's pickup trucks wound their way from the Spanish Lookout Heritage Building, aka "the White House", swerved around the Crossroad/Midwest crossing and returned. Several vehicles proudly sported Belizean flags with children and adults happily riding and waving. A truly historic event which for some reason coincided with Belize's 45th birthday.   Two days later we attended the actual Independence parade in San Ignacio but were sadly disapointed due to the cavalry and patriotic march going in a different direction than the carnival. So we were instead treated to a scandalizing sight of barely dressed female dancers, ridiculous behaviour and even saw a group of Pride dancers (Belize i...

Vehicles lined up at a major crossing in Spanish Lookout The last unpaved stretch of road connecting Spanish Lookout to San Ignacio, near Duck Run 1   Youth from several "English" Mennonite churches prepare for a day of friendly volleyball Farmer's Light Plant employees are on call 24/7, just as much as the ambulance and fire trucks. A brand new hardware store in Spanish Lookout Mennonite News View Blog                   A. Mendoza

       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...