Mennonites in Belize

     Publisher’s Opinion   Perhaps you are like me, relieved that the hustle and bustle of Christmas is behind us and eagerly anticipating a brand new year. Not that I hold anything against the holiday itself, but for some reason the more modern we become the more frivolousness is attached to the season, with the slogan of “the reason for the season” used by vendors as a shallow coating of morality in order to attract religious customers to their wares. Liquor companies offer huge discounts, department stores snare many debt-ridden families with their wily clutches of “0 interest” on any product purchased during this time, plastic reindeer and Santa decorations adorn living rooms and stores, the eve of Christmas is filled with people posting their Christmas adventures and gifts on social media platforms, etc. Like I said, I hold nothing against the holiday itself, what I do observe and wonder about is the extent to which Christians have become entrenched in thes...

     Christmas cookies Imagine for a moment that you are the ghost of Christmas past, and find yourself gazing in at the window of a Mennonite home, somewhere in the rainforest of Belize. Palm leaves are swaying gently in the moonlight, bats are just beginning to emerge from the dense jungle a few feet away, fireflies flicker over the muddy rutted yard. A cold wind accompanied by a fine dreary drizzle is causing chickens and other pets to huddle against each other for warmth. Yet inside the main room of the plain weather-beaten clapboard house, the weather is the last thing on the minds of the individuals who, wrapped warmly in sweaters, jackets and wool blankets, have fully given themselves over to the joy of the moment. Old but gold Christmas carols are enthusiastically sung by all without the accompaniment of any instrument. No matter that tomorrow Sunday they would spend a few hours battling knee-deep muck and mud on their way to church. No matter that the river is ...

      What a blessing! To wake up in the morning to a clear blue and cloudless sky with the sunshine pouring in through every crack and window, with the temperature at a chilly 58°F. To sip a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows with my little ones, to enjoy a breakfast of hot fresh pancakes with applesauce and butter and fresh fruits. All of this without the steady patter of rain on the roof, without wondering about the mountain of laundry, without sloshing through ankle-deep mud on our front yard. Simply gazing at the bright sunshine filled us with new courage for the remaining days of the year.   We proceeded on a short nature hike to celebrate the arrival of “Christmas” weather, chatting about a myriad of subjects. We chased a gray squirrel up a tree and observed a bird sailing gracefully above us. A furry caterpillar attracted the attention of our youngest son who was immediately warned about touching it. Some hairy caterpillars in Belize are known ...