Other Things about the Belize Mennonites
Since Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout are the most progressive of the Mennonite communities, they each have their own medical center. The one in Spanish Lookout is complete with ambulance and rescue squad. The staff at the clinics are all female nurses who receive training through first hand experience. They do not go to any university or even high school. The rescue team however does have licensed male attendants and first aid personnel.
Spanish Lookout also recently bought its own 2 fire trucks. Firefighters are community volunteers who serve terms. Both the ambulance and fire trucks are available for anybody with an emergency and as such this has greatly benefited the surrounding villages. A permanent police station is in Spanish Lookout, but the police are Hispanics or blacks. However due to some issues with the government and police force, no officer resides since 2012.
The Old Colonists and Old Order Mennonites have no central government, hence no taxes and no road maintenance, no medical center and no emergency volunteers.This is due to their beliefs and customs.They depend some on government services, mostly for pipe water except for those who either build or buy their own tanks. Midwives and chiropracters serve as nurses and doctors, using mainly herbal and other organic foods as medication.
The Beachys and Holdeman Mennonies live more like the locals, entirely depending on the government for electricity, water, medical care, road maintenance and other such things.
A popular Christian radio station is Horizon Radio, owned by a Methodist type of group in Spanish Lookout. A huge park is also located in Spanish Lookout. A man made lake, with islands and a bridge, has made it more attractive. The big building on the park has become popular countrywide for holding concerts, weddings, evangelical conferences and funerals. It is also the place where the nation's business expo is held every 2 years. Political gatherings and government conferences are NOT allowed there under any circumstances or conditions.
Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout have their own private airstrips, with privately owned airplanes and ultra light gliders.
Loud music will not be heard in any Mennonite home throughout the country, except for the rednecks or punks who own sports cars or other GMC trucks with expensive stereo systems.
Some things held in common by nearly all Mennonites in Belize are church membership, private schooling , separation of church and government, and living in close knit families.
Higher education for children is decided by the parents and if approved is carried out in government institutions. However only the non conservative Mennonites from Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout do so. All other groups consider education beyond primary schooling as unnecessary and not Biblical.
Spanish Lookout also recently bought its own 2 fire trucks. Firefighters are community volunteers who serve terms. Both the ambulance and fire trucks are available for anybody with an emergency and as such this has greatly benefited the surrounding villages. A permanent police station is in Spanish Lookout, but the police are Hispanics or blacks. However due to some issues with the government and police force, no officer resides since 2012.
The Old Colonists and Old Order Mennonites have no central government, hence no taxes and no road maintenance, no medical center and no emergency volunteers.This is due to their beliefs and customs.They depend some on government services, mostly for pipe water except for those who either build or buy their own tanks. Midwives and chiropracters serve as nurses and doctors, using mainly herbal and other organic foods as medication.
The Beachys and Holdeman Mennonies live more like the locals, entirely depending on the government for electricity, water, medical care, road maintenance and other such things.
A popular Christian radio station is Horizon Radio, owned by a Methodist type of group in Spanish Lookout. A huge park is also located in Spanish Lookout. A man made lake, with islands and a bridge, has made it more attractive. The big building on the park has become popular countrywide for holding concerts, weddings, evangelical conferences and funerals. It is also the place where the nation's business expo is held every 2 years. Political gatherings and government conferences are NOT allowed there under any circumstances or conditions.
Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout have their own private airstrips, with privately owned airplanes and ultra light gliders.
Loud music will not be heard in any Mennonite home throughout the country, except for the rednecks or punks who own sports cars or other GMC trucks with expensive stereo systems.
Some things held in common by nearly all Mennonites in Belize are church membership, private schooling , separation of church and government, and living in close knit families.
Higher education for children is decided by the parents and if approved is carried out in government institutions. However only the non conservative Mennonites from Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout do so. All other groups consider education beyond primary schooling as unnecessary and not Biblical.
