Mennonites in Belize

Photo courtesy of Thomas Alboth    This is the first article I am writing that deals with the history of one of the Mennonite groups in Belize. It briefly outlines the history of the Hoover Mennonites, a branch of the larger Old Order group.    Often mistaken for Amish, this group is the most conservative of all the Mennonites in Belize. Their conservative lifestyle is applied to everything, from horse-powered machinery to wood-burning stoves and simple clapboard houses.   Click  here  for a brief video.   These Old Order Mennonites from Barton Creek and daughter communities are  intentionalists : they live an ultra conservative life because they want to remain that way, not because the deeply-rooted beliefs of the church requires it. There is also more spiritual teachings in their group than in the Old Colony ones from Little Belize and Shipyard. However as time goes their lifestyle is beginning to lean more on tradition and ru...

  In Santa Elena, Cayo District, is a small congregation of  Conservative Mennonites. The church was originally started as a missionary school by North American missionaries about 20 years ago. At its beginnings they were in close communion with the Beachy Mennonite congregation in the nearby village of Red Creek. However over the years a formal, separate church was established, complete with its own pastors and missionaries.   Although they would fall under the Conservative Mennonite category, they are more liberal than other Conservative churches, for example compared to the churches in the Stann Creek and Toledo District. Since the phrase Conservative Mennonite is a general term, there are some churches who are very liberal and others who are much more rigid and conservative. Like other Conservative churches, this one sometimes gets together with members of other traditional churches for conferences or revival meetings, for example the Kleine Gemeinde and Beachy...

    Dressers, cupboards, beds, shutters, doors, cribs, tables and much more. Furniture made by Old Colony and Old Order Mennonites is much sought after by many in Belize due to their quality-vs-price competetiveness. The modern colonies of Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek are no longer into furniture-making as a prosperous business due to the over-whelming and rather fierce competition by the Mestizos in the villages surrounding them. Many appliance stores, hotels and resorts throughout Belize keep their own full-time carpenters rather than continually purchasing furniture. Even then, wooden items built in Shipyard and Little Belize are prized because of their durability and craftmanship at lower prices than most non-Mennonite carpenters. From what someone told me, partly why they can maintain a lower cost is because they spend very little on personal items. A lot of their food is grown or made at home, clothing is made at home from a standard cut, no high-end personal ...

 Interestingly, my most viewed subjects are the headcovering and the Holdeman Mennonites. Third on the list is the subject of the Old Colony Mennonites. At the moment I'm working on articles that briefly describe the history of each Mennonite group in Belize. Old Colony, Kleine Gemeinde, Beachy, etc. Because all the articles online mention only the Plautdietsch   Mennonites, I thought it would be fair to do a brief summary on the history of each group, mainly their arrival in Belize and what distinguishes each group.

  This article refers to the Plautdietsch Mennonites of Blue Creek, Spanish Lookout, Shipyard and Little Belize    We hear and read of how the Mennonites have built strong businesses, have prospered, have strengthened the economy, etc. But what we don't read or hear is the fact that for the last 3 decades or so, Mestizos (aka "spanish people") have gained strength in the labor force of the modern communities of Spanish Lookout and Blue Creek, especially Spanish Lookout. Western Dairies, Quality Poultry Products, Farmer's Trading Center and other well-known businesses are made up of an estimated 80% Mestizo employees. And not just common jobs; many have ascended the ladder to distinguished positions. The famous prefab "Mennonite" houses built by Linda Vista and Plett's Home Builder are built by Mestizos from surrounding villages. The trees are being cut down by non-Mennonites, a mixture of Mestizos, Creoles and Maya. The men tramping in the mud and ...

    Above is the  testimony of an ex-Holdeman Mennonite. Some of my future articles will be of ex-Mennonites who left their home churches and the reason why they left them. Old Colony, Beachy Amish, Old Order, etc. throughout Belize there are many who have left their traditional churches either voluntarily or were forced to.

  Menoniten Gemeinde Rosenort is a conservative church in Spanish Lookout which is made up mostly of ex-Kleine Gemeinde and ex-Old Colony Mennonites. They formed a few years ago and since then have been steadily growing. Their dress code and worship service is not traditional but is still very conservative (e.g. the ladies wear modest shirts, long skirts and no jewelery) as compared to other modern churches in Spanish Lookout. I was invited for evening services and enjoyed it very much, especially the sermon. Here is a  video of the choir singing. Services are all in Plautdietsch but English and Spanish translations are available. This video is not mine I'm just providing a link so you get a glimpse of this church.