Blue Creek Mennonites celebrate 50 years in belize

The Mennonites of Belize are often lumped together in the public mind as a monolithic group of pink skinned men and women who wear bib overalls and long dresses and drive around in horse drawn buggies. And while a number of traditional communities in Shipyard, Little Belize and Barton Creek fit that description, the majority of the nation’s Mennonite residents live in the modern and prosperous villages of Spanish Lookout in the Cayo District and Blue Creek in Orange Walk. This month both places are holding celebrations marking a half century since their founding. The first to celebrate was Blue Creek … and News Five’s Stewart Krohn was on hand for the occasion.

Stewart Krohn, Reporting
When the original settlers of Blue Creek came to Belize fifty years ago they hardly imagined that their grandchildren would have the luxury of running water, let alone their own waterslide.

Today, this prosperous Mennonite community in the northwest corner of Belize produces a large portion of the nation’s rice, corn, beef and poultry and its hard working residents build roads and operate heavy equipment all over the country. But in 1958 things did not look so bright for the rag tag bunch of farmers from Chihuahua, Mexico who had just signed an agreement allowing them the freedom to settle in Belize.

Jacob Wiebe, Original Blue Creek Settler
“There was a dark future, all was jungle, no store around except a little store across the river in La Union, Mexico, humid.”

According to Jacob Wiebe, one of those original settlers who crossed the Rio Hondo, the heat and humidity were not the only problems.

Jacob Wiebe
“No roads, only a few tractors, hardly any horses so we did a lot of walking. Walking five miles was not an unusual thing in those days.”

Gerhard Dyck was fourteen years old when his family made the move.

Gerhard Dyck, Original Blue Creek Settler
“It came up and started working, logging and I just started farming and we couldn’t sell corn, we couldn’t beans actually it’s … we just tried to survive.”

Stewart Krohn
“But Jacob, were there times in those days that you really looked into your heart and thought why on earth did we ever make this move?”

Jacob Wiebe
“Yes, there was; not only one time, many times. I must—how do they say; my English is not that good—but congratulate our parents that they stood solid and didn’t move back even though many, many people that came here—moved here—moved back but out parents made it through.”

Having done more than just made it through, this weekend the residents of Blue Creek—both old and young—took a few days off to celebrate their many achievements. The event was a combination county fair and family reunion with a healthy dose of thanks to the almighty. As with most Mennonite gatherings food was ever present.

Visitors hailed from as far away as Paraguay and Bolivia with large delegations from Canada and Mexico—all stops on the Mennonite journey which goes back to sixteenth century Europe.

But while much of the program was devoted to appreciation of history there was also strong evidence of a new reality—that of the increasing integration of the Mennonites into the fabric of Belizean society.

Stewart Krohn
“Having been born here yet being a Mennonite, do you feel more Belizean or more Mennonite? What is your identity?”

Abe Froese, Mayor, Blue Creek
“Belizean. I’m a Mennonite but I don’ think we should pull back from being a Belizean. Our commitment should be to Belize from early. It’s our responsibility to help build the nation of Belize. Yes, I am a Belizean. Our parents, they have always worked hard. I think that’s the starting point but from there we’ve had good—we’ve had a lot of help from the government. They helped us really when we needed help. Our ministers have supported us.”

And by and large that sentiment has been reciprocated by government officials past and present … who believe the Mennonites can set an example for other Belizeans.

Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
“The Community of Blue Creek has been very, very supportive and innovative in different sectors in our society, especially like in agriculture. We know now that are playing a major part in the road construction. It should be encouraging to Belizeans the way these people operate, I mean to say they are so productive.”

Henry Canton, Former Minister of Works
“How to work together Stewart? When you take the community, the Mennonite communities, even though they have their differences, when it comes to communal or a agricultural or a civil project, they will all get together and contribute. As Belizean we don’t really know how to that yet and I think we have to learn to do that if not we’re not gonna survive.”

Stewart Krohn
“When they crosses the Rio Hondo in 1958, those first Belizean Mennonites had machetes, axes and a few old trucks. Fifty years later, Blue Creek is a land of machines … big machines.”

And that transformation from simple hand tools to huge harvesters has signaled more than just technological change.

Jacob Wiebe
“I remember that after a few days that we were here I got my machete, had to sharpen it and then we went to the bush and worked.”

Stewart Krohn
“And now I’m sure you have children, perhaps grandchildren of your own. I see them with four wheel ATVs, with earrings in their ear. I see the gals driving motorcycles. Any concern about the next generation?”

Abe Froese
“No, no, we not concerned. I think they will make it.”

Making it is one thing; having it made is another. While some of the smaller Mennonite communities cling very tightly to age old traditions, in Blue Creek the generation gap is plain to see—at least on the surface.

Susan Hiebert, Blue Creek Resident
“Basically, our belief is the same as their belief, just we’ve changed our clothing a little bit. My dad was into horse because at that time we didn’t have motorbikes but he did stunts with his horse. So basically we’re the same just with motorbikes, not with horses.”

Stewart Krohn
“Do you get the feeling that your generation was a little bit spoiled, that you didn’t have to do those things growing up?”

Victor Dyck, Blue Creek Resident
“Oh yeah, I mean well if you look at it now how we have it compared to what they had it back fifty years ago when they came here, I would say in a way we’re spoiled and in a way we’re very blessed as well.”

Stewart Krohn
“The first fifty years in this country have been good to the Mennonites of Blue Creek and from the looks of things the next fifty should be just as successful.”

Stewart Krohn for News Five.

This weekend the much larger community of Spanish Lookout will be holding its own observance of the fiftieth anniversary.