Noah Hoover Mennonites and Dating
Commonly yet mistakenly referred to as "Amish" due to the men's bushy beards, the women's black bonnets, and the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, this sect of traditional and conservative Mennonites in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in southern Belize may not attract converts to their church but they certainly draw inquisitive visitors to their colonies. Although more tolerant of other races than their Plautdietsch-speaking "Russian" Mennonite counterparts such as the Old Colony of Shipyard or the Kleine Gemeinde of Spanish Lookout, their communities have still remained small by Mennonite standards. Springfield is the most popular one for visitors. The others in Red Bank, Roseville and Birdwalk are smaller and therefore not as widely known.
How does this group view courtship and what is their practice in regards to seeking a life companion? Rather than write it down, I will let 2 of these ex-Hoover Mennonites explain what their dating practices are like in their community. Go to Youtube or watch the video above to hear the fascinating narrative by Ephraim and Willie Perez who left the Springfield colony several years ago.
A. Mendoza