Mennonites in Belize

    View from The Lookout, several hundred feet above Spanish Lookout. At the bottom of this steep hill lie the Cara Blanca pools, a series of pools documented and photographed by Tony Rath and rich in history. In this picture, Spanish Lookout would be just out of sight on the right side.   A few months ago on a Sunday morning, I rode along with some relatives to an area known to western Belizeans by the general label of Yalbac, a sprawling mixture of jungle and farmland in the southwestern corner of the Orange Walk District, much of it owned by Spanish Lookout now. The area lies directly north of Spanish Lookout and is protected by the Mennonite community and the owners of Yalbac Ranch. Area in red is the new area purchased by Spanish Lookout not too long ago   I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The scenery, the thousands of acres of ripening corn, the rolling hills, the lush green pockets of forest tucked in mysterious valleys, a calm lake. It was wonderful seeing the ...

    Things I Like: 1. Most of them are raised with strong work ethics and the value of self-discipline and commitment. It's rare to find a Mennonite male who does not know how to repair engines or build a house on his own. 2. They are united in wanting the best for their community both in progress and discipline which causes other around them to admire the rapid growth and orderliness of their colonies. 3. Schools are all private which ensures that a child will be taught by approved and trusted teachers chosen by that particular church district. 4. Their infrastructure and system of taxation within their own community. Some of those taxes are much higher than what a non-Mennonite Belizean would pay (or would ever want to pay). But the results in the communities are obvious. 5. Economic planning and investment not just by the community in general but individuals. You will not easily find incomplete buildings left to themselves for many years because the owner could not afford t...

 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...

        Here's a  glimpse inside Linda Vista Shopping Center in Blue Creek, a superstore in the modern Mennonite community on the northwest corner of Belize. Their new store rivals the Farmer's Trading Center in the other Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout in the west, otherwise referred to as the "Wal-Mart" of Belize. To contact Linda Vista Shopping Center, you can dial 501-672-0320.                                                      A. Mendoza