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The Mennonites


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             Over the course of the next ten years, much progress was made in developing Quellenkolonie into a successful agricultural community. Tractors were used from the start but hand tools and animal power initially did some of the work. Most of the farmers however, soon started using pickup trucks and cars. As this spirit began to infiltrate the thoughts of many of the Quellenkolonists, orthodox thinkers called to mind the teachings of their forefathers and the guidance they were given by the scriptures. They believed the adoption of modern technology would lead men away from a simple, Christ-like way of life. Those that were up for progress claimed the teachings were based upon a different era and that it was time to rethink their interpretations of Scripture in the context of a modern world. An estrangement had developed and this could only mean the eventual splitting of the colony. .
             Another troubling development was the Mexican government's aggressive drive to consolidate the Mennonites with the local citizenry. The plan compelled all Mennonite residents into taking part in a social security program. The Mennonites are strongly opposed to worldly systems of personal number identification (Friesen 1994; Wenger 1994). The plan eventually failed but the threat of it had prompted migration fever for many of the colonists (Schneider 1990. 84). Two other reasons given for the move included land shortage and several years of unfavorable climate and crop failures (Sawatzky 1971, 331-332; Schneider 1990, 84).
             Because the motives for migrating to Belize were varied, the Quellenkolonists who left Chihuahua were not of one mind. Many of the elderly residents were leaving in order to maintain a conservative lifestyle while others were in pursuit of a longer growing season.
             SPANISH LOOKOUT.
             The move to west central Belize by some of the Quellenkolonists was carried out over a period of several months during 1958.


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