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On each of my journeys to the Copper Canyon I stayed over evening at Loewen’s Mennonite RV Park in Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. It actually was a journey again in time. These are descendants of Mennonites whose heritage began within the Netherlands, then moved to Prussia. In 1786 Katherine the Nice invited them to come back to Russia the place they might maintain their faith and tradition intact. 1872 the Russian authorities revoked these privileges. They than moved to Manitoba, Canada. All was properly till the First World Struggle when the federal government ordered them to grow to be 100% Canadians and attend public colleges. In 1922, on the invitation of President Alvaro Obregón, 20,000 Mennonites got here to Mexico from Canada to decide on 247,000 acres of land in Chihuahua’s San Antonio Valley. Thus the Mennonites arrived in Mexico.
Peter Loewen’s household cooked us a Mennonite dinner. Who would have thought that as an alternative of Mexican meals we might take pleasure in smoked pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, greens, soup and handmade bread and butter. Whereas we loved our pie and low Peter enlighten us concerning the Mennonites non secular beliefs and their tradition.
Their lives are structured round their non secular beliefs, the liberty to prepare their very own training system, not taking part in authorities and never serving within the armed forces. The Mennonites consider in following Jesus of their every day lives. Mennonite Church buildings are literally plain, rectangular picket buildings referred to as assembly homes. Throughout companies the ladies set on one aspect of the corridor and the lads on the opposite.
They tried to satisfy a Christan life with out going to excessive colleges and universities. They constructed their very own colleges. Lecturers had no formal coaching, farmers taught half time, studying solely the Bible, talking in German. Illustrative supplies weren’t allowed, and one teacher schooled all ages, with as many as 75 college students per class. Education ended at age 13 for boys and 12 for women. Occasions have modified and now their colleges are totally accredited by Mexico, and academics are school educated both in North America or Mexico.
They nonetheless farm very like they did when the Mennonites first immigrated to Mexico. The household backyard plot consists of greens and herbs for his or her use and to promote to promote exterior of the group. The Mennonites farming abilities are very obvious once you observe how they turned what was barren land into magnificent apple orchards rising the well-known Chihuahua apples. I stocked up for the 4 day Piggy Again Practice experience with the superb cheeses they produce, the home made garlic beef sausage, and their oven recent bread and pastries.
Change has been sluggish for some inhabitants of Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico, however it’s coming evidenced by just a few cars, electrical energy and sure even tv sprinkled across the metropolis.
When within the space take your RV to Loewen’s RV Park and luxuriate in a beautiful Mennonite household fashion dinner.