Jeff, Tiffany and Ann Marie Boyles

P.O. Box 128 

Dangriga, Belize  

Central America

011-501-625-3248 (c)    011-501-660-0947 (h)

Email: boylesministry@hughes.net

Website:  www.boylesministry.org

 

 

Boyles Ministry Newsletter

November 2007

 

 

Dear friends and family,

 

November is the month Belize celebrates the many cultures represented here.  I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you a little about the people of Belize.  We often tell you a lot about our lives here, but not the lives of Belizeans.  I hope you will take the time to read about the people here in Belize.   

Garifuna Settlement Day is November 19th.  This was when their ancestors settled in what is now the town of Dangriga.  There is a ceremony on Settlement Day reenacting the settlers' arrival.  People row in from the ocean in dugout canoes carrying drums, cassava roots, and young banana trees.  When they land on the shore, they are joined by hundreds of spectators.  There is a lively procession of drumming and dancing that winds through the streets of Dangriga.  Afterward, the crowd enjoys dancing and feasting on traditional foods.  The native language of the Garifuna comes from the Arawak and Carib languages of their island ancestors.  The Garifuna are also called the Black Caribs because of their African-Caribbean heritage. 

                   
Teacher Nadia in Garifuna clothes                   Garifuna man drumming

The Creole in Belize share a common ancestry, they are the offspring of African slaves imported to work the logging camps and European adventurers.  Even after the abolition of slavery, the Creoles continued to work the logging camps.  The Creoles love coconut milk and use it to prepare the staple rice and beans, fish stew, and Creole bread.  In addition to English, Creoles in Belize speak the "Kriol" language.  Presently there is an effort to make Kriol a recognized language.  The Bible is being translated into Kriol and there is a Kriol Dictionary. 

The Mestizos make up the largest part of the population of Belize.  The term "Mestizo" refers to individuals of mixed Spanish and Yucatan Mayan descent.  Their primary language is Spanish and primary religion Catholic.  Northern Belize is home to the largest Mestizo population in Belize.  The Mestizo society still places great importance on family bonds and uphold strict rules of courtship and marriage.  Most Mestizos practice subsistence farming of corn, beans, and pepper. Cultivation of sugar cane also contributes to the Mestizo farmer's annual income.  In the home, traditional foods blend Maya and Spanish flavors and reflect the annual harvest. 

   

                                                                   Mestizo couple *                          Mestizo lady in outdoor kitchen *

 

The Mayans are the only indigenous people in the country.  There are three groups of Mayans that inhabit Belize; Yucatec, Mopanero, and Kekchi.  The Yucatec Maya live mainly in the northern districts. The Kekchi Maya live in the southern districts.  The Mayan diet has not wavered over the centuries.  It consists mainly of corn tortillas cooked on a griddle with beans and chilies and supplemented with chicken and pork.   Mayans farm most of their own food.  These rural people mostly live in houses (called huts) with thatched roofs and dirt floors.  Most of the huts have electricity and water.  A lot of them have television and CD players.  Although modern housing is available and affordable, most Mayans still choose to live in this traditional dwelling.

 

   

                                                     typical Mayan hut with thatch roof                          Mayan women cooking tortillas

 

The Mennonites arrived in Belize in 1958 and now about 3,500 members live in agricultural communities in the country.  Their farming methods are so efficient that they are the most successful farmers in Belize and they supply much of the countries produce.  Mennonites are well recognized for their skill in carpentry and mechanics and for their prompt and dependable service.  The Belize Government has given the Mennonites a certain degree of autonomy since their settlement in the country.  It is easy to set them apart; they wear old-fashioned clothes and travel by horse and buggy.  They speak English, but their first language is German.

 

                      

                                                     Mennonite buggy sharing the road with cars                         Mennonite lady and child *

The Hispanic population who has migrated from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala are not recognized as their own culture in Belize.  However, many have moved here for a better way of life.  They work in the citrus, banana, and shrimp farms for low wages and are known to take jobs that others will not.  Most of them live in houses or on property owned by the farms.  They live in dorms and rental houses.  This is the community that has become close to our hearts since moving to Belize.  They have a strong work ethic and kind hearts.  A lot of them still cook on outside fire hearths and wash on stones before hanging their laundry to dry.  Many of the villages they live in including the village behind us do not have running water or electricity.  But for the most part, all of these people are happy and welcoming and bless our hearts.

   
Ana washing her clothes                                            Nikelda with a coconut

One of the things that makes Belize so unique is its diverse cultures.  We feel so blessed to be a part of God’s work in Belize.

In Christ,

Jeff, Tiffany, and Ann Marie

 

 

* These pictures were borrowed from other websites.  The other pictures we have taken with permission.