Mennonites in Belize

     Springfield colony, a community of Hoover Mennonites in the northeast Cayo District, is springing up and out. According to a farmer of that village, they have recently purchased a small tract of land to the north, near Beaver Dam bridge by St. Matthews village. The colony now numbers around 40 families which led them to consider immigrating to Suriname but when that failed they decided to search for land in Mexico however due to certain reasons they decided to remain in Belize.   For the record, these Hoover Mennonites (commonly mistaken for "Amish") are different than the "Russian" Mennonites such as the Kleine Gemeinde and Old Colony in that they are much more conscious of their responsibility towards the land and do not clear out large tracts of land at one time. Firstly because having too much farm land available leads to pride, greed, and materialism second because they do not believe in using any motorized equipment which means that plowing and other fiel...

     I first tasted it 18 years ago.    Last month I tried again. Honestly. I vowed to conquer my fear of cheese or any dairy product for that matter. I believed 2025 would be the year I would become fully Plautdietsch ("Russian") Mennonite since I am married to one and resolved, so help me, that I not only could but would eat werenaki  or perogies, folded pockets of boiled flour dough with cottage cheese filling and a white schmauntfat accompanied by a tasty piece of formavarscht.   I served myself a helping of it. The cheese... ok, let's just say mission accomplished for now. I'm good for another 18 years. Somebody reccomended I try the fried werenaki . Thanks, Sis. I will.   There's other Plautdietsch dishes I look forward to. One of my favorites is salted fryjacks with watermelon...uh, I mean rebus mat rollkuchen, homemade buns spread with butter and a bowl of noodle soup. Occasionally, I eat somma borsch. Mennonite News View Blog   ...

     The cool wind created ripples on the placid waters which created a distorted yet uniquely beautiful and breathtaking reflection of the setting sun. Quality time being my love language, I simply sat with folded hands and observed both the lake and the pedestrians while wondering why it is so difficult for many individuals in my generation to sit for more than 5 minutes without pulling out their phones. (Perhaps for me it's because several years ago we completely left Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and 1 or 2 others and vowed, so help us, that we would never return to them. We have never regretted that decision or had any doubts about it.) I had mine along for a clock and communication, not for wasting valuable time on it.   Valuable time such as noticing that the sun had shifted farther north since last week. A Guatemalan cattle truck was parked across the pasture and I overheard faint snatches of the conversation. I caught a whiff of a pig barn then the s...

     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 li...

  The Shining Star clinic was destroyed by fire,                Spanish Lookout Also known as "Mennonite beer" View from FB trailers A US/Canadian style home Future site of a modern church building for one of the   Kleine Gemeinde congregations A Mennonite choir in Santa Elena Linda Vista Shopping Center in Blue Creek A motorcycle and pickup crash in Spanish Lookout Spanish Lookout funeral home Students perform at Fusion Church Harmony Mennonite Choir Mowers on display at Universal Hardware Koop Sheet Metal in the evening on Iguana Creek Road The "Green Hills" area of Spanish Lookout A motorcycle went for a dive at Baking Pot ferry crossing A motorcycle accident in Blue Creek Cast aluminum products in Shipyard Mennonite News View Blog                 A. Mendoza

  At Universal Hardware customers are greeted with smiles and a cheerful "hello"   I hired a Mennonite girl to go shopping with me several months ago. The purpose? To tour the different stores and businesses in the Mennonite community of  Spanish Lookout in order to discover the best customer service in the colony. Actually I did not exactly hire this girl. I persuaded her to join me.   We were not able to visit certain of  the churches since they are only open on Sundays and now and then in the evenings. But...but...churches are not businesses, right?  Right! However if you attended some of these churches you would think otherwise.   So we leisurely wandered in and out of stores, asking random questions and glancing at each other when the dust on the display shelves was so thick we could trace letters with our fingers. In one store items were in decidedly chaotic yet somehow organized mess. Packages were crumpled and labels yellowed and faded. Another...

       Who will be the first to arrive?  was the question on everyone's mind last week as the community of Spanish Lookout officially inaugerated its very own funeral home. Located on Rt 35 West and made of glass and concrete, it is a building that now finally became reality. In the past the bodies were stored in a refrigerated trailer from the until the day of the funeral. Actually, based on the contractor, a few weeks ago he was asked if bodies could already be stored there but he refused because the building wasn't properly finished. Mennonite News View Blog                            A. Mendoza

   Mennonites from Lower Barton Creek are a common sight on the roads of Spanish Lookout   More than 50 years ago their ancestors travelled south from Canada to Mexico then on to Belize, all because of religious freedom. Now certain families are fleeing Belize in the opposite direction: north. Their reason this time: inflation which in their eyes amounts to a form of persecution and oppression. Certainly 99% percent of us Belizeans heartily agree with them on that.   At least 8 families from the small colony of Green Hills in south central Belize have left for southern Mexico where they aim to establish a new colony and discover better economic opportunities. They are tired of the constantly rising cost of goods and the high price of fertile farmland and have become disillusioned with the government.   These Mennonites are an ultra conservative , rigidly traditional sub-sect or branch of the Old Colony "Russian" Mennonites of northern Belize. In dress code they ...

      The following is my experience. The events are written in the order they occurred and to the best of my knowledge without exaggerating. I have not written every single instance I was bullied; some of those moments I cannot quite bring myself to write about even after nearly three decades but for the most part I can write and speak about it with forgiveness in my heart.   A little over twenty-five years ago I began kindergarten classes at a private school operated by a Church of God in Christ, Mennonite congregation but was immediately switched to Grade 1 due to my mother teaching me how to read and write in Spanish and English before I was even 7 years old. The first few weeks I loved it.   Then the bullying began. Despite being a respectable school with kind and friendly teachers and students who were children of baptized church members, it became torture for me during the first two years. Unfortunately even though one or two of the older ones felt sorry ...

     There was no mistaking it for what it was. Cold, brutal, and ruthless with a sugar-coated layer of religious self-righteousness: the coup'd'etat  occurred on a weekend, when the victim was absent. Perhaps it facilitated the overthrow in easing their conscience even though the plot commenced much earlier. For the first time in my life I experienced firsthand a side of these Mennonites I had heard about but never observed up close. I had heard of brothers carrying their brothers to court, I have heard of mediators being called to settle squabbles between siblings over their father's inheritance, of women banning their own sisters from their home due simply to dress code.   It was late afternoon when the instigators rounded up a small group of us senior employees and stated that they had sad news for us. When the shocking news was delivered to us we were stunned. Speechless. Flabbergasted. Incredulous. Later certain of us were outraged and indignant. How could...

  A sunset over Countryside Park The first official gym in Spanish Lookout will soon be open People relax at Mennonite Beach A choir singing at Greendale Mennonite News View Blog                         A. Mendoza

  People gather to watch part of the canoe race at Mennonite Beach in Spanish Lookout An outdoor supper at a Conservative Mennonite church LP Gas at dusk with Reimer's Feed Mill in the background Countryside Park at night Cooling off in Pine Ridge Preparing to pour asphalt on the new roundabout in  Spanish Lookout A year's end school program at a Kleine Gemeinde Mennonite mission school A charcoal hand drawing by a Mennonite girl Sunset over Duck Run 3, western Spanish Lookout A farmer's buggy from Lower Barton Creek A 15ft kite in Spanish Lookout A worship night An Old Colony Mennonite man having fun A funeral in Indian Creek, exact date unknown. On Sundays and special events the Old Colony Mennonite pastor wears a black suit with a black felt hat Mennonite News View Blog                                                          ...

  Having a maid means our ancient pots and pans can now receive a proper scouring repeatedly instead of sporadically   Nervous? No, I’ve been through it before about 10 years ago. A bit worried? Perhaps. Thankful? I can’t say how much.   With a growing family and children out of school, I at first honestly thought it was the last thing I needed due to our tight budget but my husband thought otherwise. In fact he was adamant about hiring a maid, and it had to be a Plautdietsch one at that to avoid any language barrier. I questioned why having a grown woman in the house was necessary now that my own children would be home for summer break and could easily help with the regular housework. It would be an extra expense and would not really help much in the long run, I reasoned. He remained firm and gently explained his reason was entirely spiritual.   Having a maid would free up my mornings for a longer and more meaningful devotion. With a maid to complete the main tasks ...

     A Youtube video displaying an aerial view of the Old Colony Mennonite colony of Shipyard was released a few weeks ago. For some readers, the flat lands and dirt roads may evoke memories of Paraguay or maybe even Ukraine. For local readers, the fields and barns are a reminder of the amount of time and labor invested by this hardworking, traditional Mennonite group, time and labor which has greatly benefited the whole country of Belize and entrenched this people in the heart of the nation's industry. Watch the video above or click here:  Youtube Mennonite News View Blog                         A. Mendoza

Yes, I'm excited to wear them.      I never dreamed I would be excited to wear a Mennonite dress because I wanted to. I still remember slipping on a crop top and cotton shorts and turning up my nose at cousins and aunts who were still in the Kleine Gemeinde church with their wide collars and even wider loose dresses (although their style has changed over the years with the younger ones and even some older ones now using more form-fitting ones without collars and my attitude towards dresses in general has changed also). It's been quite a journey, hasn't it? But God is faithful. I still find it hard to believe that for weeks I eagerly anticipated this day when the church sisters from this Amish Mennonite congregation would unite to sew colorful cape dresses for me.   It certainly was a wonderful day with beautiful weather to match. Hubby stayed home to mind the toddlers while I joined the ladies accompanied by our 9-month-old who is breastfed and therefore insepar...