Living like in a bygone era... today

An insight into the life of Old Order Mennonites in Belize and Mexico.

There is no music, radio or cars in the life of Old Order Mennonites in Belize and Mexico. The only motorized vehicles are those used for farming, and then, these wheels must be made from steel – pneumatic tyres are forbidden. This is to keep men from driving to villages and cities to get forbidden alcohol and cigarettes. All of this has the intention of preserving the community and to continue living separately, according to the tenets of the bible.

These Mennonites live in small, close-knit communities where farming is the source of sustenance – with the main crops being beans, corn and soya. There are a few shops selling food, clothes and tools. And there are churches.

School closes for six months of the year, so that the children can help with the harvest. They must recite the 70 pages of the Mennonite Catechism – ‘the short and simple version of the holy scriptures’ – every day.

The first sentence of this little black book reads: “Come children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 34,12). The meaning of these texts is not explained to the children until just before their baptism, marking the end of their schooling.

Many families have more than 15 children, all of whom begin working at a very young age – either in the home or in the fields. The Bible tells them: ”Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.”

In the evening, families often sit together and chat by candle or torchlight. They speak a German dialect known as Low German. On Sundays, after the morning sermon in the church, youth over 16 can be together on the street. This allows them to meet other girls and boys, shaping their own future and families.

I was first drawn to the Mennonites whilst working on a project in Belize. I saw a young man at a bus stop – he was so plainly dressed and he was just waiting there. I wanted to know more about this traditional and simple life.