Return to Blogging

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  I seriously thought my blogging days were over, but apparently fate decided otherwise. I will be taking up writing again since it is a hobby of mine although with unexpected situations popping up, it tends to be placed on the back burner. To be sure there are plenty of things about the Mennonites in Belize to write about, from economic hardship as a result of government lockdowns and unprecedented flooding to political changes in the country. My last article was in August, and since then a lot has happened. Quite a lot. One thing I want to state clearly: while I will describe the economic and social effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on the Mennonite communities, it is NOT my intention to use this blog to promote, advocate, or discuss any medical issues related to Covid-19, for or against it. I will leave that to the popular media and other platforms.
  I have also begun to do a review of my blog, editing some articles, removing a few, and modifying others since my aim is to provide an informative, unbiased site even though it can be quite challenging at times. Thankyou for your support in reading my articles; your comments, questions, and feedback can be left here.



                               
                                                     A. Mendoza

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Mennonite Foods

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         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 m...
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Mennonites and Music

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   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 dur...
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Mennonite Houses

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 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...
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