Mennonites in Belize

      I packed my bag with apprehension. Would I return home in the same condition? I pondered my decision, knowing full well there was still time to call my relative and announce my withdrawal from the expedition. Eventually I shrugged away my worry and boarded the vehicle.   Several of my in-laws had organized a fishing trip just off the coast of Belize City. My uneasiness was not the boat ride since I've been on a boat plenty of times; small speedboats bouncing on the waves and bigger catamarans where you hardly felt the waves. No, my worry was the thought of what could happen out on the sea. Armed robbers, engine failure, a medical emergency. Yet the day flowed as smoothly as cream out of a pitcher. In fact even the captain, a resident of Spanish Lookout, was amazed at the perfect day especially since a day earlier the forecast had not been so promising. It appears satellites do make mistakes after all.   We left Spanish Lookout in high spi...

     The evening was cool with a refreshing breeze after the heat of the day. The last rays of the setting sun were faintly visible on the western sky as families gathered on the yard of the 2-room concrete school building. We had been invited to a Poem Fest around a campfire; not having been to one for many years I wondered what it would be like and surprised that such an event would still be possible in the age of Iphone 14's, 5G networks, ChatGPT, drones, etc.   I was amazed at the number of people that turned out for the Poem Fest. Once everyone was assembled the electric lights were turned out and only the orange glow of the campfire remained. Those with a poem were numbered, after which the school teacher called them out. Some poems were short and silly, some were long and abstract, a few were religious. There was a song and one or two Bible verses.   A marshmallow roast followed with young and old joining in the fun.   As I observe...

The Good    There was a time during my late teens when I began hanging out with the wrong crowd. Thankfully I never became addicted to any particular vice. My aim is not to highlight my wild days; I simply want to share that the day came when I was exhausted with my failed relationships and sick of friends who constantly offered unfulfilling pleasures. I ended up several thousands of miles away from Belize, in the home of a Holdeman Mennonite couple. The kindness, love and spiritual assistance offered by this Mennonite couple greatly impacted me and to this day I hold them in high regard. ______________________________________________   Due to some poor financial choices, my spouse and I became mired in debt several years into our marriage. Interest rates were piling up, banks and companies were calling, a baby was on the way, and depression was taking a heavy toll on our physical and spiritual wellfare. It was an extremely humbling experience but there was just no w...

     Saturday, March 25, 2023 There were tall, lean boys admiring the bulls and heifers tethered to the rails; stocky middle-aged men gravely discussing cattle prices; a few women and girls sat under a cluster of trees. Wood shavings coated the ground as well as manure from the cattle on display. Inside the temporary corral, a North American judge rated each cow and bull led in with a rope. There were first and second prizes for dairy, beef, and breeding stock. Mr. Ernie Thiessen with his daughter displaying their trophy alongside the judge and the prize-winning cow.   I arrived early, expecting to see crowds and long lines of vehicles but to my surprise there was sparse attendance and a near empty building at Countryside Park in Spanish Lookout. Two or three livestock supply companies had set up camp there but by early afternoon they were folding up. I later heard from a friend that except for the judging ring to one side, there was little activity elsewhere....

     What is a health check like at the community-owned Spanish Lookout clinic? Is it expensive? Is the waiting room crowded? Is it a place where you feel better simply knowing that you're there? Are the nurses friendly, kind and above all patient ? For us, its been our favorite medical center from minor sores to childbirth, from medical advice to renting crutches.   Below is a brief story of our most recent experience:   ________________________________________________   "Hello, how can I help you?" A thoughtful-looking girl with smooth chocolate skin greeted us. Her dark skin contrasted beautifully with her blue cape dress and snow white headcovering.   "Our 2 children have been coughing and throwing up for a whole day now. We're not sure if it's their lungs infected or something else."   "Alright, come with me," and she led us across the hall to the stats room where she proceeded to weigh, measure, and check their blood pressure after which ...

      A tragic event ocurred Saturday morning, March 18, when two young brothers riding on a motorcycle allegedly collided with a vehicle driven at the time by Susanna Froese (phrase) in Blue Creek, Orange Walk, the site of the business expo mentioned in my previous article . The two boys, who have the surname Krahn, were 12 and 7 years old. The younger one passed away while the 12 year old was listed in critical condition at last report. It is not known if the driver of the SUV suffered any injuries.                                                 A. Mendoza

      Blue Creek, a scenic and modern Mennonite colony in the northwest corner of Belize, is the place to head to this weekend as they host their 2023 Business Expo this Saturday, March 18. Much like Spanish Lookout, this farming community sits on rolling hills on the Mexican border with panoramic views of the countryside and is most famously known for its name-brand product, Circle R Rice. See above a  video documentary  on rice farming in Blue Creek.                                                                                                       A. Mendoza