Mennonites in Belize

[koro]

I was in Belize recently and saw a lot of white people with beards, overalls, and horses, which I later found out were Mennonites.
My host had mixed feelings about them saying they were nice people but too successful at business. They even dominated in industries they didn't use themselves such as tyres!

I found this all fascinating. Do you know how I can find out more about their way of life? I wanted to ask the Mennonites I saw but felt it best not to intrude.

 

[DMRenner]

From what I have studied, many of the Mennonites that are in Belize and other Central American countries, are decendents of those Mennonites who migrated from Russia many years ago. There is a Mennonite Community in Delano, Tennessee, that contains several families who were a part of one of the groups in Belize. Like in the US and other parts of the world, there are differences between the various groups in Belize - some more liberal and some not. Those that moved to Tennessee, live very conservative lives - dark clothing, cape dresses, head coverings, horse and buggy, no electricity, mostly agrarian life style, etc. You would not be able to contact them by e-mail - they don't have electricity, let alone computers in their homes.

Those in Belize, have been very successful in their farming. It's my understanding, from talking with those who came to the US, that the Belize government looks very favorably on the Mennonite farmers because they have had a positive impact on the economy. Because of their work ethics and because they have introduced new varieties of garden vegetables that have thrived in the local climate, they have made the agricultural economy prosper - not only for themselves, but for others outside of their communities.

DM

 

[koro]

thanks DM. Yeah I was pretty sure they wouldn't be contactable by email!
Do you know of any books about this community? - not necessarily the ones in Belize if others are similar.

I remember a flood cut off a main Mennonite village and a few days later it was impossible to buy eggs and other basics. Belize really relies on them now so I can understand the support of the government.

Another memory is when I was on a bus and a Mennonite father and son got on and the father smiled at every person individually as they walked past. Then they got off in heavy forest and women were waiting for them with horse and cart.
It's great that they are able to live as they want after all the persecution against them in the past.

 

[DMRenner]

thanks DM. Yeah I was pretty sure they wouldn't be contactable by email!
Do you know of any books about this community? - not necessarily the ones in Belize if others are similar.

koro,

I guess I'd need to know kind of what you've read and what you might be looking for. Are you familiar with Peter Hoover and the Rocky Cape Christian Community in Tasmania? Peter has been to that area and is a big Mennonite/Anabaptist historian. He does quite a few articles on that subject. He too, is familiar with some of the members of the group in Delano, Tennessee.

DM

 

[koro]

I haven't read anything about them yet, unless you count wikipedia.
I am primarily interested in their values and how their communities run.

Thanks for the Peter Hoover reference.
Though the Tasmanian group seem a lot more worldly then the Belizians.

 

[DMRenner]

Have you visited a site called MennoDiscuss? You may find it interesting. It's very active.

DM

 

[koro]

awesome, checking it out now

 

[DMRenner]

Introduce yourself to the others and jump right in. Ask what you want. Warning, it can get heated sometimes, but they aren't afraid to discuss anything. Overall , they're a bunch of pretty good people, just searchers, like many of us.

DM