Springfield Mennonite Community

No cars. No TV. No electricity. Just peace and quiet. Women in bonnets and wintry frocks. Blond men with blue eyes, suspenders and cowboy hats. Shy, staring children speaking in Low German. Welcome to the Springfield Mennonite community! In case you’re wondering, Belize has a sizeable Mennonite community. The first wave of about 3500 Mennonites settled in Belize in 1958. Today, Belize has both progressive and traditional Mennonite communities. The progressive, many of whom come from Canada, speak English and use tractors and other mechanized equipment. The more traditional groups--like the Springfield Mennonites-- avoid all forms of modernization in order to preserve a simpler way of life. On Sunday morning we arrived at Springfield in time for church. Attending a Mennonite church is an experience in and of itself; not only do the women sit on one side and the men on the other, but the sermon lasts for a few hours and is delivered by a few different people (men of course). After the sermon, we had a question and answer time. It was both fascinating and challenging to learn about their way of life and, in particular, their commitment to non-violence and simplicity. The church in North America could certainly learn a thing or two from their faithful witness in this regard. After a delicious dinner, we hit the sack in order to rise at the break of dawn. Some of the guys went out to help in the fields while the girls helped in the kitchen or relaxed on the porch. All in all, it was an eye-opening experience. We won’t soon forget the hospitality of our Mennonite brothers and sisters. They asked that we not take pictures, and we didn't. This shot is from a similar community in northern Belize.