Mennonite Sports

-
 
  Among the Mennonites in Belize, there is no sport unique to a particular group. I mean something that would be recognized as typically Mennonite. In other countries there are "Mennonite" games but none that I would know of in Belize.
   While volleyball is the most common sport, soccer is increasing in popularity but more so with the liberal Mennonites. In youth gatherings of any group, volleyball will usually be the first one chosen.
  With the exception of the Old Colonists who view games as worldly, most conservative Mennonites enjoy ball and other outdoor games but consider sports outside of the religion. They will not involve games with their church affairs; they will not "pray for the upcoming baseball game", nor will they encourage their children to practice a specific sport. Boys and girls are expected to learn these games in school. In short, games are acceptable as long as it doesn't distract the members from their beliefs. Those liberal Mennonites who have left the traditional churches, like the ones from EMMC for example, have a deeper interest in sports and games to the point of having their own soccer teams, going on cycling groups, bending elbows at a pool table, etc.
  Another popular sport that might be unique to the Mennonite order sometime in the future is the old favorite pasttime: card games. Depending on the players, these card games are often more exciting than outdoor ball games. I have had the priviledge of joining some of the youth who really got into the game. Things got so wild sometimes, I wished I had declined; but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Popular card games are Dutch Blitz, Rook, Traders, Uno, Skip-bo; dominoes and dice games are not as popular. However, you will not find the kings, queens, joker, aces and spades in their card games. Those are viewed as devilish cards, since in Belize those cards are generally played with and for money, and the places that keep stacks of them are the bars and saloons; interestingly, these cards WILL be found among some of the rebellious boys in the Old Colonist group.
   Basketball is rarely played, and baseball usually only at school. Cricket, tennis and golf are practically unknown to many Mennonites.
  Motocross: the only ones so far to be involved in motocross sports are mostly youth boys from the Plautdietsch liberal Mennonites of Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek. Official motocross races have been held a few times, with competitors from Guatemala and Mexico. Few local Belizeans can afford to own and maintain these sports bikes all year long, therefore this one sport is left to the "rich Menonas".


Popular posts from this blog

Mennonite Foods

-
Image
         The Old Colony, Kleine Gemeinde, and Old Order have a diet which mainly consists of homemade bread, cottage cheese, noodles, pork, potatoes, and stewed beans. Milk is used in many of their meals, such as casseroles and faspa foods. Some dishes from the Plautdietsch groups are:   nuddelsuppe:  noodle soup made with home-made noodles    werenaki:  (perogies see picture above ) made of pockets of flour with  glums  (cottage cheese) filling,  schmaunfat  (white gravy made of flour, milk and black pepper), and  formavorscht  (pork sausage). The perogies are then boiled and served. I recommend it to anyone who wants to try out Plautdietsch foods although I prefer the fried ones.  Cheesy or creamy casseroles: often it will contain meat and cream with potatoes or macaroni   borscht:  a vegetable soup with bits of meat sometimes added to it    Clops: patties from either ground meat or potatoes   And then there is that unique Mennonite meal known as faspa, a late afternoon snack or earl
Read more

Mennonites and Music

-
   Music, the comfort of the soul, the way of sin to some, a sign of true worship to others.   Within the Mennonite family in Belize music to some degree is used or listened to, with each branch viewing it based on their understanding of the Bible.                          The Kleine Gemeinde   Used to consider any musical instrument as wrong. But after acapella recorded music was approved, it introduced a need for tape recorders, then slowly over the years other instruments were approved. Church singing is still acapella, and radio and TV are still not accepted. However, instruments such as violins (which is often played by KG youth girls) and guitars are used during youth singing, community concerts, and personal entertainment or family singing. The organ is also used sometimes in such events.       The Beachy and Conservative Mennonites     Also sing acapella style during church services and other singing services. While musical instruments such as guitars and violins are not
Read more

Mennonite Houses

-
Image
 Mennonites in Belize have become famous for their custom-built wooden "Mennonite houses". The two main  house builders in the country,  Plett's Home Builders and Linda Vista Lumberyard , both located in Spanish Lookout, have become reknowned for their prefabricated houses which are built in Spanish Lookout and shipped countrywide. Houses are built from lumber or colored sheet metal and prices will vary of course based on the amount of details a customer wants. A small house with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom and kitchen may cost you an estimated US$12,000 to US$15,000. (Check directly with the company for up-to-date pricing and delivery fees.)    A "Mennonite house", custom built by Plett's Home Builder's; photo via Facebook   Plett's Home Builders offers both metal and wood siding with a variety of porch and window designs. Linda Vista, which is just down the road from Plett's, also offers excellent building options. Also inside Spanish Lookout i
Read more