Mennonites in Belize

   Photograph by Jake Michaels/New York Times   I love browsing online and discovering other people's views and opinions of the Mennonites in Belize as well as for newsworthy reports. Here's an article by  Mom-on-a-Mission  written earlier this year. Click on the link above to see more colorful pictures and get a close up view at a part of life in an Old Colony Mennonite home and appreciate the simple things in life. And here's some rather disconcerting news about some Mennonites  migrating  to Peru. It appears that their eyes have been set on greener pastures.                                                         A. Mendoza

     It was a clear sunny morning, and by all appearances it was nothing more and nothing less than just another Sunday morning worship service at this church in the modern Mennonite colony of Blue Creek, on the northern border with Mexico. The peace and calm was shattered when several officers in military gear arrived and proceeded to single out and arrest church leaders and pastors. A few phone calls, and many folks from the colony were soon at the scene, declaring that if the police arrested one of them, they might as well arrest them all. A John Deere tractor on tracks was parked right on the middle of the main road to try to prevent the police from leaving. Someone recorded a clip of part of the situation and within a few hours the whole country of Belize saw and heard enough to ramp up an uproar on social media. What crime had the Mennonites committed? In the eyes of the law, the Mennonites had totally and blatantly disregarded the government regulations concerning ...

   If anything, 2020 will be remembered as the abnormal year of the first quarter of the 21st century. But then, who knows what 2021 will bring?   On November 11th, one month ago, elections were held. The two main parties are the UDP (United Democratic Party, which was in power since 2008) and the PUP (People's United Party). The PUP won a landslide victory, more than 20 seats of the 31 being contested. Since there are 31 seats or constituencies, a party must hold 16 of those in order to be declared the winner. PUP supporters took to the streets, held celebrations, lighted fireworks, and for a few hours ignored Covid-19 regulations in their delirium at finally having their party in after nearly 13 years of UDP rule. The majority of voting Mennonites cast their ballots in favor of the PUP. Source: Amandala via Google Water was still rising when this picture was taken Place: San Ignacio marketplace   November was also the month of once in a lifetime flooding. Two hurri...

      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 other...

   For an in-depth, colorful view of the Old Colony Mennonites in Belize, check out this  documentary by the New York Times, published more than a year ago.

     Alright, I learned a bit more about the Beachy Mennonite congregation at Esperanza village in the western Cayo District. Most people nowadays no longer call it by its mission name, Homestead Acres, so when the spokesperson first referred to that I was perplexed. According to him, it began as a mission base established in the 1970's by white missionaries from the US. The decades rolled by and it became a permanent congregation as locals from the area were converted to the Mennonite faith; there were also some Old Order Mennonites from Pilgrimage Valley who joined the Beachy in fellowship.    Right next to the church is a poultry operation owned by Caribbean Chicken, a poultry packing and processing company based in Blue Creek, a modern Plautdietsch Mennonite colony in northern Belize. It used to be Kratzer's Poultry because it was started by the Kratzer brothers, members of a conservative Amish Mennonite church, but in 2003(5) it was purchased by Caribbean C...

   I came across an interesting article concerning the Plautdietsch Mennonites in Belize in the Amandala,  a Belizean news outlet which has already passed the 50th year mark since it was established. Here is the  link to the article.                                                       A. Mendoza

      I spent a short time in Shipyard yesterday; in a hurry due to the fact that we didn't want to be driving at night and also because I had brought a patient to the dentist and she was anxious to return to her home in the south.    On our return trip we stopped in at Elias Multiservice which from the outside looks like a sprawling concrete warehouse; I was genuinely surprised at the tiled floor, air conditioned room, and clean, tidy long shelves stacked with groceries and other dry goods and kitchen utensils. Except for the Old Colony Mennonite married ladies sitting at the cashier's till, it could have been any modern non-Mennonite supermarket. I craved something ice cold so headed straight for the freezers; to my dismay they were very low in stock and variety of frozen snacks.   When I arrived at the cashier I half expected to see a computer. I thought perhaps the church leaders would have made an exception for this wealthy Old Colony storeowner b...

     Chiropracting is a popular thing among Plautdietsch Mennonites. In fact, some of the chiropracters have become sort of celebrities within their communities. For example in Spanish Lookout the now deceased Abram K Friesen was well known by the surrounding Mestizo villages as "Don Abram, el que soba".  (Mr. Abram, the chiropracter) I personally never met him but his wife carried on the practice. We often went to her; a quiet but friendly lady. I remember the first ones to greet us as we stepped on her porch would be a big green parrot and a German Shepherd dog. After she remarried we had to find another chiropracter.    For a time we went to an older gentleman who often came to Spanish Lookout from Shipyard. However after he permanently returned to Shipyard we began visiting a female chiropracter also in Spanish Lookout. I suffer from plantar fascitis  so when I visited Shipyard last year I paid a visit to a chiropracter who was recommended to me. H...

  Who are they and when did they arrive in Belize?   Earlier in this blog I explained that when I use the word Conservative with a capital C, I am referring to a particular branch of the Mennonite faith, which has its roots in the Old Order Amish religion. Sort of an Amish and Mennonite hybrid which appeared in early to mid-twentieth century up north in the US. In Belize, these Mennonite churches which often operate independently from each other are made up of Mestizos, Mayas, Creoles and North American Mennonite immigrants; they do not live in autonomous colonies. The men are not easily noticeable but the women are quite conspicuous with their floor length plain cape dresses and white head coverings.   From what I understand the Conservative church firmly established itself in Belize in the 1980's, after an Amish mission organization from the US paved the way earlier in the 1960's, shortly after the "Russian" Mennonites of Spanish Lookout and Shipyard had arrived fro...

   Go for it, buddy!   Oh, I'm sure we all love some crazy fun and daring adventure now and then, something out of the ordinary, stuff that makes our peers open their mouth in admiration or laughter yet makes our parents and groosmamas  shake their heads and stare at us with a sepulchral frown. I myself will never forget my teenage years of popping wheelies on the middle of the road, drag racing , midnight Halloween pranks(my conservative Mennonite parents disapproved of it), nose-diving in an airplane with my buddies, hitchhiking at night on the mountains of Guatemala, etc. Those days are past, and unfortunately those days the smartphone was just invented so I don't have any of my stuff recorded, but here are a few mild reminders of some good old fun. Crazy Mennonites, right? Or to be more honest, Mennonites who are simply being themselves and enjoying it. From  drifting a pickup... ...to custom-made manual Oldsmobile ... ...and don't forget a bit of...

   A girl picks mangoes in Shipyard, an Old Colony Mennonite community in Orange Walk, Belize   Mango season is at its height throughout Belize. In spite of being a small country, not all mangoes can be found everywhere since some varieties grow better in certain areas than in others. How do the Mennonite ladies use mangoes? Well, among the ultra conservative groups, mangoes are turned into jams, jellies, moos , or preserved by canning since they do not use electricity. My favorite way of eating canned mangoes is to pour some Carnation milk over them or a bit of Fanta.    Other modern Mennonites find it easier to slice up the mangoes and store them in Ziploc bags in the freezer; when needed for a recipe or as a snack simply soak the bag in room-temperature water for a bit.    The most popular mango for eating and canning is the Cambrean type, with a thick, smooth orange texture and juice. When full grown it is slightly bigger than a common red apple an...

     Not long ago I saw a comment made by an ex-Old Colony Mennonite on a Belizean social media platform, "those are not real Mennonites they just dress like that because they go to that church". The persons in question were white North Americans who had grown up in the Beachy Mennonite church and were active members. This led me to do some more research. Below is my discovery:   While many think of Plautdietsch Mennonites as a distinct race, the truth is they're not. Yes, they are a recognized ethnic group, i.e. "Russian Mennonites" complete with their own dialect, cultural habits and names, but they are not a race  nor are they the only real Mennonites. Simply because your name is Friesen and you grew up speaking Dietsch and eating glums  and borsch  does not make you more Mennonite than a 20 year old Maya who embraces the teachings of Menno Simons for the rest of his life.   That said, some experts have classified certain groups as ethno-religi...

       My Opinion of the One True Church      First of all, the Holdeman (official name Church of God in Christ, Mennonite) church is not the  only true church. John Holdeman in the 19th century did not receive any special revelation like Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion. In all fairness, he was a sort of Martin Luther, seeing and realizing a need to break away from the lax and lukewarm old Mennonite church in order for a spiritual revival and renewal to begin its work. Well, a revival did happen. A return to the original teachings of the Anabaptists to a certain extent. However as time went by and the church grew and became more organized, the main focus-apostolic teachings-became somewhat obscured by the belief that "we" are the true church. This led to rigid Mennonite traditions that eventually led the church into turmoil in the 1970's in the US. William and Viv Stoppel have written extensively on the Holdeman church and even do...

     At some point, except for the Old Colony group, Mennonites from various branches end up with missionary intentions. The ironic thing is that while they try to convert other Mennonite groups to their  way of life or more correctly their way of viewing Christian life, other Mennonite groups are busy trying to convert them . For example, the Kleine Gemeinde have a mission outreach in the Old Colony community of Little Belize in the Corozal District. Meanwhile the EMMC (Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church) is trying to win converts from both the Kleine Gemeinde and Old Colony. The Holdeman Mennonites arrived in the 1970's as missionaries to the Kleine Gemeinde and succeeded in winning quite a large number. (the converts left for Canada decades ago) Conservative and Beachy Mennonites seem to be more tolerant of other religions which is surprising due to their conservative beliefs; however they too hope to win over the Holdemans from their "one true church" mentality...

     Decades ago a commercial airliner was dismantled and hauled to the Mennonite colony of Blue Creek on the northern end of Belize, where it was converted into a power plant that generated electricity for dozens of families in the community. Here is the  story  of the Mennonite pioneer who made it happen as well as a look at his farm.                                                         A. Mendoza

   The old wood bridge more than a decade ago. The newer one, which was shipped from Canada and installed many years ago already, is fully metal.   As the hurricane season approaches with all its ups and downs of rainy weather, I thought I would provide a link where you can monitor the water level at the Iguana Creek crossing. The bridge is prone to flooding, especially if it rains extensively in Guatemala and western Belize. Usually big trucks are the last to quit crossing as the water covers the bridge, and the first to begin as the water recedes. Here is the blog that provides updates on the  bridge . The flooded bridge. At its highest level, the water easily reaches beyond the black car seen in the distance.                                                                         ...

     According to media outlets, the modern and northernmost Mennonite colony of Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District along with a nearby Mestizo village have been placed under quarantine due to several cases of coronavirus in the area. Government patrols have been despatched and curfews have been established. Close to Blue Creek is also a crossing point for both Mexicans and Belizeans. For developments in this case, follow Breaking Belize News or The Reporter on Facebook.                                              A. Mendoza

     Ronny Plett of the traffic department in Spanish Lookout shares a  video on safety tips while driving. The community has certainly seen its fair share of road accidents however they have also done an outstanding job of providing emergency personnel within minutes of an accident. Several ambulances and fire fighting vehicles are owned by the colony and are doing an excellent service not only to the community but to other surrounding villages as well.                                              A. Mendoza

     What were your school days like? Did you spend your time in a modern building with fans and indoor plumbing? Or with only the minimum basics? Did you have books everywhere you look or did you have to share the same book due to poverty or perhaps due to rigid church rules?  Here  is a glimpse at what education is like for the Old Colony Mennonites in Belize. With a one-room building,  slates, desk sharing, and separation of boys and girls, this schoolroom is certainly reminiscent of the 19th century. A bit like a storybook classic, say Anne of Green Gables  or Tom Sawyer  or Little House books. While my own school days were similar, we certainly enjoyed more amenities and priviledges than these youngsters do.                                             A. Mendoza

     A brief documentary on the  history of the Holdeman Mennonites in Belize. 

        I lay on my side on a narrow bunk, sweat pouring down while goats bleated outside and an old windmill clunked farther on, wondering what would happen next.    I had heard about this wonderful herbal doctor in the Old Colony Mennonite community of Little Belize in the northern district of Corozal who could cure just about any sickness. Since I suffer from a sciatic nerve and plantar fascitis, I decided to find out for myself. In a few days I had found a young couple who was also going there for treatments and caught a ride.   We spent the night in the town of Orange Walk, with a relative who had left the Old Colony 30 years ago and married a Mestizo (an unpardonable sin among the Old Colony Mennonites, apparently).   By 6 the next morning we arrived at the doctor's farm. He welcomed us in and almost immediately began preparing for our treatment even though we had not made any appointment. The young couple went inside the clinic. Not...

   No doubt the biggest Christian celebration of the year will go down in history as one of the strangest. Instead of church programs, holy services, social gatherings, and pool parties, people stayed home, watched online preachings, did not venture out from their yards, and tried to bear the scorching temperatures of 43°C (110°F). I am not exaggerating on the temperature. Hot, humid, dusty and smoky for about 5 weeks straight with large forest fires raging in western Belize. Crop dusters from Spanish Lookout were hired to douse the communities most affected by the low-hanging smoke in an effort to clear up the air.   Fires were not the only thing reducing property. Mennonite farmers in Spanish Lookout, Blue Creek, and Shipyard were looking for ways to eliminate their surplus products: some gave away chickens, grains, milk, others dumped it. Worries mounted for non-Mennonite employees who were laid off both in agriculture and livestock sectors. I read and listen...

    NEWS: As the global death toll from the coronavirus exceeds 14,000, Belize's Ministry of Health has implemented several regulations with the promise to constantly update and modify as the need requires:   The international airport is closing down for passenger planes this coming week. Only cargo planes are allowed.    The terrestrial borders have all been shut down; only cargo trucks allowed.    Gatherings of more than 25 people are forbidden.    Strict social distancing is strongly advised.    There was more on the list but these were at the top. Each major town is implementing its own regulations, with some towns ordering the closure of bars, casinos, and restaurants. The tourism department is by far the hardest hit as resorts, hotels and lodges have shut down country wide. All schools, private and public, were ordered shut down on Friday, March 20th. Quarantine orders are in effect for residents returning home from ...

  The following groups are inclined towards, but do not necessarily require, immersion (submerge) baptism                                    EMMC    Baptism is usually done at a river, often in groups and from what I understand it is something that is expected of a person after declares he has accepted Christ. Proof of genuine repentance and new birth do not appear to be obligatory, simply a verbal assent of belief in Jesus Christ. It's your heart that matters, nothing else. A baptismal service can be attended by anyone.                Other Charismatic Churches   While there is a stronger emphasis on accepting Jesus Christ and following it with baptism, there is also no questions asked about a person's previous life. A person could appear out of nowhere, attend services for 2 S...

The following Mennonite groups all practice affusion baptism, meaning water is poured or sprinkled on the head of the applicant.                              Old Colony   To become a member of the church requires baptism, which I understand is done just before marriage, which in turn usually happens at an early age. Age 17 to 20 for most girls while for boys it's usually a little older. There is a doctrinal handbook taught in their schools and homes, the catechism , which outlines the Biblical principles that must be adhered to. Unfortunately the spiritual meaning seems to have been lost over the years. There is no genuine repentance, new birth or knowledge of the Holy Spirit, simply a cold and rigid acceptance of community rules and traditions. To many of them, baptism is merely the first step of marriage. Of course, only members of the church can attend the baptismal service and ONLY community memb...

  With all the news and speculations about the global coronavirus floating around, I decided to do a bit of questioning around to see the Mennonites' response and opinion concerning the virus. I spoke to several persons, all under the various branches of  the Mennonite tree.   Old Colony, Holdeman, Old Order, Kleine Gemeinde, etc. While each spoke his opinion and view, one common thread could be heard in their voices: acceptance that God is the only life-giver. We can do nothing beyond our allotted time on earth. It is only God who can say when and how our lives will end. We should do our part in keeping and promoting a balanced diet and take the right vitamins, but whether or not we die from it nobody can control it. We should also do our part in protecting ourselves and our fellow-citizens and we should act responsibly in sharing the right information and follow government regulations. Tens of thousands of children die every year from malnutrition and hunger, not ...

  I am currently working on a Spanish article : Menonitas en Belice. In the meantime I have closed the Instagram, Facebook and Twitter page under the name "Belize Mennonites" due to personal reasons. Only the Youtube channel remains but I have been debating on whether or not to close that one too. You can leave your feedback or opinion  here .                               A. Mendoza

  This blog about the Mennonites would not be complete if I didn't write about the old-fashioned hand-cranked  ferry at Baking Pot, commonly referred to as the Spanish Lookout ferry because it used to be the only entrance although it is no longer part of SL. It connects 2 narrow dirt roads over the Belize River and at certain times of the day there is even a rush hour with non-Mennonite employees and customers on their way to or from San Ignacio.   Originally it had been built farther downstream at Mennonite Beach, the spot where the Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites arrived in 1958. It was washed away more than once, recovered and rebuilt and later in the 1960's relocated to the Baking Pot area, about a mile upstream.   Now that there is better and faster access to Spanish Lookout via the Iguana Creek Road, the ferry road on the government side is usually left uncared for long periods. On the SL side a grader levels the gravel every now and then. During heavy rains...

  About 3 weeks ago, a motocross competition was held in Spanish Lookout. A race track was built years ago just before the BNE headquarters. Over the years this event has slowly gained in popularity. It is usually held on a Sunday afternoon, is open to anyone (a small entrance fee is charged) and includes participants from other parts of the country unless I am wrong. I heard of one accident this time but did not investigate how serious his injuries were.   Although it draws a sizeable and mixed crowd, (including curious Old Colony Mennonites) not all Spanish Lookout residents approve of it, more specifically the ones on the conservative and traditional end. But those are only some. Racing is a sport that most humans everywhere enjoy, isn't it?   I enjoy watching motocross sports, so for me I saw nothing wrong with an afternoon of mud-splattering and bike jumping and cheering. It just shows in another way how far Spanish Lookout has progressed and modernized. To watch p...

                  Screenshot from a Youtube documentary   Little Belize is an Old Colony Mennonite community in Corozal, the northernmost district of Belize. It is smaller than  Shipyard and in some ways they tend to be more traditional in certain areas of dressing and household items. Other than that their lifestyle is the same as those in Shipyard. I have provided a link to a video documentary  here  since I feel that explains their community better than I can with words. I have personally lived in Little Belize for a very short while and although they might seem to be rigid, old-fashioned and aloof, I have made a number of friends among them and enjoyed the meals with the families. Enjoy and share the video!                                         A. Mendoza

  This year, Universal Hardware's (Center Road, Spanish Lookout) annual sale day will be held the 21st and 22nd of February. Usually it's a one day affair but this year it has been extended; their display room has also been upgraded. Their store used to be mostly of hardware and appliances but over the years they have added other lines to their business such as automobile dealership and paint. They also have a branch or two outside of Spanish Lookout. Although they sell a wide variety of items, perhaps what they are best known for is their Meilun and Lyfan motorcycle line and their outdoor power tools. Food, raffles, discounts, promotional items, you can't miss this deal!

  The National Expo has been officially announced to take place this year on the 6th and 7th of March, at  Countryside Park, Spanish Lookout . See map for directions. In 2018 I believe they estimated about 15,000 people had attended. We'll see if this year breaks that record. As the name says, it is a national affair. Businesses from all over the country have their goods and services on display and many of them hand out discount coupons and raffle tickets; there is also food and drinks everywhere. Come out and enjoy! Below is a link to an expo held at the same place a few years ago:   Click  here  to watch.