Mennonites in Belize

  This blog about the Mennonites would not be complete if I didn't write about the old-fashioned hand-cranked  ferry at Baking Pot, commonly referred to as the Spanish Lookout ferry because it used to be the only entrance although it is no longer part of SL. It connects 2 narrow dirt roads over the Belize River and at certain times of the day there is even a rush hour with non-Mennonite employees and customers on their way to or from San Ignacio.   Originally it had been built farther downstream at Mennonite Beach, the spot where the Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites arrived in 1958. It was washed away more than once, recovered and rebuilt and later in the 1960's relocated to the Baking Pot area, about a mile upstream.   Now that there is better and faster access to Spanish Lookout via the Iguana Creek Road, the ferry road on the government side is usually left uncared for long periods. On the SL side a grader levels the gravel every now and then. During heavy rains...

  About 3 weeks ago, a motocross competition was held in Spanish Lookout. A race track was built years ago just before the BNE headquarters. Over the years this event has slowly gained in popularity. It is usually held on a Sunday afternoon, is open to anyone (a small entrance fee is charged) and includes participants from other parts of the country unless I am wrong. I heard of one accident this time but did not investigate how serious his injuries were.   Although it draws a sizeable and mixed crowd, (including curious Old Colony Mennonites) not all Spanish Lookout residents approve of it, more specifically the ones on the conservative and traditional end. But those are only some. Racing is a sport that most humans everywhere enjoy, isn't it?   I enjoy watching motocross sports, so for me I saw nothing wrong with an afternoon of mud-splattering and bike jumping and cheering. It just shows in another way how far Spanish Lookout has progressed and modernized. To watch p...

                  Screenshot from a Youtube documentary   Little Belize is an Old Colony Mennonite community in Corozal, the northernmost district of Belize. It is smaller than  Shipyard and in some ways they tend to be more traditional in certain areas of dressing and household items. Other than that their lifestyle is the same as those in Shipyard. I have provided a link to a video documentary  here  since I feel that explains their community better than I can with words. I have personally lived in Little Belize for a very short while and although they might seem to be rigid, old-fashioned and aloof, I have made a number of friends among them and enjoyed the meals with the families. Enjoy and share the video!                                         A. Mendoza

  This year, Universal Hardware's (Center Road, Spanish Lookout) annual sale day will be held the 21st and 22nd of February. Usually it's a one day affair but this year it has been extended; their display room has also been upgraded. Their store used to be mostly of hardware and appliances but over the years they have added other lines to their business such as automobile dealership and paint. They also have a branch or two outside of Spanish Lookout. Although they sell a wide variety of items, perhaps what they are best known for is their Meilun and Lyfan motorcycle line and their outdoor power tools. Food, raffles, discounts, promotional items, you can't miss this deal!

  The National Expo has been officially announced to take place this year on the 6th and 7th of March, at  Countryside Park, Spanish Lookout . See map for directions. In 2018 I believe they estimated about 15,000 people had attended. We'll see if this year breaks that record. As the name says, it is a national affair. Businesses from all over the country have their goods and services on display and many of them hand out discount coupons and raffle tickets; there is also food and drinks everywhere. Come out and enjoy! Below is a link to an expo held at the same place a few years ago:   Click  here  to watch.

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...