Mennonites in Belize

     Update: The victims of the car collision that occurred last week near Spanish Lookout are in stable condition, according to a person who assisted the victims. The occupants of the red SUV were treated in a hospital nearby while in the other vehicle only one young woman was hurt but there were no life-threatening injuries. She was released from the hospital a day or 2 later. -------------------------------------------------------------   There was a vehicle accident this afternoon near Spanish Lookout. Unconfirmed reports are that up to 8 persons, including children, were injured but it is not known to what extent. Some were carried to the hospital.   According to information from some individuals in Spanish Lookout, the occupants in one of the vehicles are close relatives of a  couple  from Spanish Lookout who passed away in a  car accident six weeks ago. They had traveled to southern Belize to visit family over the holidays and were ju...

       The 17 Mennonites who were  kidnapped in Haiti by gangsters two months ago are all free now. Five had been released earlier and the remaining 12 escaped last week, traveling by foot until they reached a place where they could send a phone call. An 8-month old baby and a toddler were wrapped in blankets to protect them from thorns as they walked through rough terrain. According to Newsweek and Christian Aid Ministries, the victims were not physically harmed and their captors provided "food suitable for the children". The rebels had initially demanded a million dollar ransom for the Mennonites but there is no official statement as to whether their request was fulfilled. Based on other Mennonite missionary stories during the civil wars that raged in Central America, I know that there are some Amish Mennonite church groups who have a policy that they do not pay ransom for kidnapped missionaries, choosing instead to send out international calls for prayer and...

       Join this Youtuber from Spanish Lookout as he takes us on a  tour of the Ark in Kentucky. Subscribe to his channel and enjoy his videos as he travels the world.                                         A. Mendoza

      See above a school Christmas  program at Mennoniten Gemeinde Rosenort, a conservative church in Spanish Lookout which is made up of (mostly) ex-Kleine Gemeinde and ex-Old Colony Mennonites. Although services are mainly in Plautdietsch, English and Spanish translation is available for visitors. The way the children are dressed is not part of their traditions, simply due to the special occasion. While this church is conservative, they are not necessarily traditional. Sort of a hybrid between the older established Anabaptist and the newer evangelical ones.    See  below another Christmas program at EMMC, a much more modern evangelical church also in Spanish Lookout. The way part of the recitals are set to fast music and the fact that there are children of mixed cultures all speaking English shows to what extent these Mennonites have modernized.                             ...

   The Belizean side of the western border crossing at Benque Viejo, Cayo District. Across the river is the Guatemalan town of Melchor.    With Covid cases and deaths on a downward trend, curfews have been rolled back, just in time for the holiday season. A vaccine mandate that was supposed to come into effect on the 15th of December was also pushed back. Merry Christmas from the government.   Even though the Covid situation is improving, the Mennonites of Spanish Lookout have been having a rather frustrating time of it. In November, the minister in charge of the police department announced the formation of a team of cops whose sole purpose would be to focus on communities where mask-wearing is not being followed. He specifically named Spanish Lookout. No kidding, the last three weeks have seen an increased presence of government police in Spanish Lookout, issuing ticket fines to mask violators. Not much of a Merry Christmas there .   Nearly two years ago, ...

     I recently did a review to see which words are typed the most in the search bar of my blog. To my great surprise, the phrase "dating a Mennonite girl" was at the top of the list. Mennonite girls appear to be in demand. Thankfully nowadays we can blame everything on Covid-19. The next phrase was "Holdeman Mennonites"--not a surprise-- and at the bottom of the list was "how to get a Mennonite man". Well boys, not much hope for you if you come from the Mennonite faith. Again, blame it on Covid-19.   For those of you interested in dating a Mennonite girl, life will be made a little easier in just a few minutes. Read the list below for expert advice on finding and courting the right Mennonite girl for you. 1. Do not strain yourself to learn Plautdietsch before  dating. Not knowing it will make the relationship much more exciting as you will discover. The dialect will grow on you or she will grow on you... either way you'll learn. 2. Most Mennonites gro...

      Join Mr. Enrique Friesen as he goes camping, hiking, and other fun and educational adventures in the region. See above a  video  where he explains how to preserve corn the native Maya way. Mr. Friesen is a certified chiropractor in Spanish Lookout. You may reach him at : 501-666-8355 from 8:30AM to 5PM on weekdays.                                      A. Mendoza

       Here is an interesting  article  from the New York Times, 1977 archives. The writer focuses on Belize about to become independent from Great Britain and the Mennonites' reaction to the unknown future before them. It's worth reading since it gives us a look into Spanish Lookout during the time that British soldiers, army tanks, and Harrier jets were deployed to Belize since there was a real threat of a Guatemalan invasion at that time.                                         A. Mendoza

       See above a  slideshow of Eduard Klassen's trip to the Mennonite communities in Belize. The video, "Pictures of Belize", is all in Plautdietsch and begins with his arrival in Belize, a drive through Shipyard on the way to Blue Creek, then Spanish Lookout, and ends with a quick look inside a Mennonite-owned grain processing facility. The Klassen's main ministry is to reach out to the Plautdietsch speaking Mennonites throughout the Americas. Subscribe to his channel and travel the world with him while learning Plautdietsch.                                       A. Mendoza

      Join master chef Sean Kuylen as he takes us on a brief  tour of a dairy farm in Spanish Lookout as well as a quick look inside the country's biggest dairy processing plant, Western Dairies, also in Spanish Lookout. You can also watch the  video below as Mr. Kuylen takes an educational tour of a shop in northern Belize where Old Colony Mennonites are creating a variety of everyday kitchen products from cast aluminum. Items such as pots, frying pans, tortilla press, coconut grater, etc.                                       A. Mendoza