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

      Shalom Camp is a neat camping spot in the Pacific Heights area of Mountain Pine Ridge. Surrounded by groves of pine trees, sparse grass and mountain ferns, and with weather at a perfect 70°F during this time of the year, it was the ideal place for a weekend of fun and fellowship. Some of the wealthier Mennonite families in Spanish Lookout have built lodges and private cabins at various places up in the mountains where the weather is much cooler and the setting more isolated.     We were invited to join a Mennonite church from the Cayo District who had reserved the camp for the weekend. It was a memorable occasion, with plenty of laughter, not much preaching, lots of eating, hiking, swimming, and climbing steep, almost 90 degree trails with fourwheeler bikes. I learned more facts about this particular Mennonite church as well as established new friendships. The Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites from Spanish Lookout had a 2-story house on top of this cement bu...

  Old Colony Mennonites assisted in rescuing cattle stranded by rising floodwaters as a result of Hurricanes Eta and Iota. Photo: Channel 5, November 2020   Sixty years ago on October 27, 1961, shortly after the first Russian Mennonite immigrants from Mexico arrived in Belize, the country's biggest town was battered by Hurricane Hattie, a Category 5 cyclone. Hundreds died both from the hurricane and the unsanitary conditions left behind by the floodwaters. An Amish Mennonite organization in the US sent a group of volunteers to Belize City to assist in rebuilding and to begin a mission outreach. Thus a second branch of the Mennonite faith laid its roots in Belize.     Hurricane Hattie levelled a big part of Belize City in 1961.    Last year, on November 4, Hurricane Eta landed on Nicaragua as a Category 4 cyclone. Due to Nicaragua's authoritarian government, very little was published on the state-controlled media. But what was never aired by that country's s...

      Jake Michaels, a journalist who photographed the Old Colony Mennonites of northern Belize, has released his photo book. See  video  above. Or click  here to view more up close photos of the Old Colony lifestyle.                                           A. Mendoza                                           

       Reimer's Service Center  in Spanish Lookout, locally referred to as "the Esso gas station", is holding a three-day sale this week, Nov. 25 to 27th. Not only do they deal with tires and oil change, they are also one of the best sources for electrical supplies and vehicle lights as well as a large selection of nuts and bolts. You may contact them via the phone number below or by clicking the link above. Tell: 823-0122                                      A. Mendoza

Spanish Lookout Schönthal Church , a Kleine Gemeinde congregation in Spanish Lookout     If anything, COVID-19 has helped us appreciate technology. You no longer need to walk in and go through the awkward moments of shaking hands with strangers, hoping the usher will  not  point out a seat at the front of the church, wondering how many eyes are boring into the back of your head. But perhaps you're one of those socially active persons who simply loves meeting strangers and creating new friendships and can hardly wait for church to be over so that you can begin. Thanks to COVID, no matter what your outlook is on visiting new churches, the fact is that attending some Mennonite churches can now be done with the touch of a finger. See below (and above) at the list of various Mennonite congregations in Spanish Lookout. From the conservative Kleine Gemeinde singing acapella from their benches to the modern and liberal ones who sway to the music of guitars and electronic sys...

      See above the  video of the funeral service in Spanish Lookout for Andres and Martha Penner, the couple that perished in the  accident one week ago. They leave behind three little children.   Andres Penner was a resident of Spanish Lookout, of the Kleine Gemeinde church. His wife was from southern Belize, of the indigenous Maya people.                                         A. Mendoza

    It was early in the morning yesterday when we entered Spanish Lookout at the southern end, on our way to work. We observed a long flatbed trailer full of crates containing live but spent breeder hens being towed into the yard of the Hen Depot, a center for hen sales created after an avian influenza severely affected the chicken industry in Spanish Lookout some years ago. As a result of biosecurity measures, the Mennonite farmers designated this place as the official outlet for selling spent laying hens and breeder hens. Previously customers could drive up to the farmer's yard and purchase spent hens from the owner; the biggest customers are Guatemalans who cart them over the border by truck loads. We discussed the hens on the trailer then forgot about the subject, never imagining that the Hen Depot would later be the target of an armed robbery.   It was around 3 in the afternoon when we heard the Mennonite manager at the Hen Depot was robbed of around $17,000 in cash....

    Hummingbird Distributors is a hardware, building supply and shopping center located in the town of Dangriga, known as one of the largest  Garifuna communities in the country. The company, which is Mennonite-owned and managed by a family from Spanish Lookout, is currently holding their "Customer Appreciation Day" event where various items and name brands are on discount. So if you live in the vicinity and are interested in taking advantage of these great deals, head over to George Price Drive and check them out. The event ends on Thursday, the 18th. Interestingly their sale event coincides with the 19th of November, a national holiday known as "Garifuna Settlement Day", the date when the first Garifuna landed on the shores of Belize. Click the link above for more info on the festivals and parades associated with this holiday.    You may contact Hummingbird Distributors at 501-522-3531 or check them out  here .             ...

     Here is a  video of a teaching service at Gnadenfeld Church, a Kleine Gemeinde congregation in Spanish Lookout. The main speaker is from another branch of Mennonites officially known as Conservative . Like I mentioned in an earlier  article , Kleine Gemeinde, Beachy, and Conservative Mennonites sometimes get together for conferences and teaching sessions although separated on the finer details of doctrinal application and racial acceptance.   The topic presented by English speaker Craig Steiner is on the issue of using technology in a wise and godly way. While Kleine Gemeinde services are normally conducted in Plautdietsch, this one was done in English. Click here for the  video .                                            A. Mendoza

      See above a very short educational  video on how the Mennonites have impacted Belize's economy.                                     A. Mendoza

      One of the Spanish Lookout companies that has tucked itself into every corner of Belize and even southern Mexico is the tire shop and automotive dealer, Caribbean Tires. Certainly much more than just a tire supply store, they also carry motorcycles, autos, and power tools. The company is currently holding their annual sale days, each weekend at a different town. This weekend the event was in the north in Orange Walk, next weekend it will be in Spanish Lookout (Nov. 19 to 20), and so on. Special discounts on specific tire brands, motorcycle raffles, and free food for customers are part of the events.   Aerial view of Caribbean Tire in Spanish Lookout                             A. Mendoza

  Edit: A married couple, residents of Spanish Lookout, have died as a result of a car accident that happened last week Wednesday late in the afternoon. They were inside an SUV, heading home from having picked up relatives at the international airport, when they collided with a white pickup truck. Both of them were on life support for a day or two but sadly did not survive. Your prayers would be tremendously appreciated since they leave behind three little children. The other Mennonite passengers in the SUV sustained varying degrees of injuries; some of them had broken arms and legs and as far as I know it appears they will recover. The rest of the victims in the SUV have been released from the hospital according to the update I received. I do not know much about the driver of the white pickup except that the person was an older male.   As more Belizeans are giving in and receiving the vaccine...yes, even some Mennonites...the government is beginning to slowly lift restriction...

      Just two more branches in the endless maze of Mennonite churches and yet, after having studied their doctrines and attended their services, I realize that the Church of God in Christ (aka Holdeman church) and the Conservative Mennonites have much more in common than they care to admit.   I have been attending a Conservative Mennonite church nearby and becoming acquainted with various members from different congregations across the country in an effort to learn more about the Conservative and Beachy Amish beliefs. Having grown up in the Holdeman church, I was taught to view them with caution. Whenever the Holdeman ministers and I would get into doctrinal discussions (which happened often and ended up with me on the losing end) and I would bring up the Conservative Mennonite church, they warned me that I should be extremely cautious; I was already a member of "the one true church", therefore there was no reason for me to be interested in other Mennonite chur...

 Here's some good news for church goers. The government of Belize has rolled back the mandate concerning church buildings. Earlier this month the regulation stated that only fully vaccinated people could attend church services with the pastors expected to ensure that the members are following the mandate. But the prayers arising from thousands of Belizean Christians at home and abroad has softened the heart of the Prime Minister to the point where he decided that the vaccination mandate would not be forced on churches. Or perhaps there's simply another trick up his sleeve which will slip out sooner or later. Whatever the case, the new regulation that permits churches to allow unvaccinated people to attend will be officially released in writing next week. Update: there will be no official written statement from the government. The word will simply be passed from the authorities down to the police; a rather sloppy way but it is what it is. Nov. 8.    An official written reg...

   At the top of the list is... 1. Be brutally honest in your speech. Even if it's your own blood brother or sister in the Lord or your pastor, when you gotta speak, say it bluntly, say it without tact, say it like it is. No softener needed. Yes it's gonna hurt, but after all, it's the only way and it ended up turning jungle into pasture, swamp into cornfield, hills into processing plants, and mud into paved roads. 2. Be frugal. Do you really need that Coke? Is that mobile device necessary? True, there are Mennonites who carry this frugality to an extreme point where they would rather lose a finger than a dollar and their children go with threadbare clothes when better could easily be afforded. This would appear more of a vice than a virtue in my opinion. But in general, being frugal coupled with Biblical principles is something practiced by many Mennonites. 3. Be committed to whatever you start, be practical about it. Sometime ago I observed a five year old Mennonite boy e...

   If. That's the key word. IF the number of cases and deaths go down by the end of October, then the government is promising to begin lifting certain restrictions. As of right now some changes in the regulations which will be implemented soon are that contact sports will be allowed but... only fully vaccinated people may participate. Land borders may be opened... also for vaccinated people only.   And on a more disturbing note: churches will be allowed to open for services but only at 50% capacity and only fully vaccinated people can attend. So will there be a policeman at each church building every Saturday or Sunday checking vaccination cards? What about Pentecostals who have worship services every night of the week and then Sunday morning? And who will be the one to check that exactly FIFTY percent of the building's capacity is being used? Will a contractor also be hired to calculate the square feet available for each person? No, according to the government, the one ...

    Here is a neat  channel with lots of interesting content. Learn about rice farming, stretching your dollars and ingredients with baking, and cooking tasty Belizean dishes. The videos will help you see how some Belizeans have intertwined the Mennonite faith with their own ethnic customs which is something I personally experienced. So check out her channel, subscribe and enjoy learning about Belize and Mennonites at the same time.                                    A. Mendoza