Rosenort Colony, Bolivia, is located about 80 km (50 miles) east of Santa Cruz, east of the Rio Grande river. It was started in 1975 by a portion of the Canadian settlers of the Reinland colony near Santa Cruz. Land shortage had become more and more a problem and they wanted to be farther away from the city. Growing tensions between the two groups in the Reinland colony also contributed to the decision. The church in Rosenort is considered part of the Reinländer Mennonites. Its bishop was Corny Nickel, who moved to Rosenort from the Reinland colony only in 1986. Three ministers and one deacon (1985) also served the church.

Besides a small cheese factory there were no businesses in Rosenort in 1988, not even a store. Each farmer did all his business in Santa Cruz. Farmers in Rosenort used rubber tires on their tractors, but motorized vehicles (cars, pickups, trucks, and motorcycles) were not permitted, neither were radios, tape recorders, or phonographs. In 1986 Rosenort had approximately 350 inhabitants, of whom ca. 140 were church members.           

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 777. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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