Luz y Esperanza Colony (Paraguay)
The Luz y Esperanza Colony, Paraguay, was founded in East Paraguay by Beachy Amish Mennonites from the United States in 1967. Some of these had earlier settled in the Chaco region. A total of 2,147 hectares (5,300 acres) of land were purchased. The colony's name means "Light and Hope." The settlement maintained fellowship with the Augua Azul and Rio Corrientes colonies. The churches in the three colonies make up the Mennonite Christian Brotherhood.
Separation from the world was stressed and was visible in the 1980s in the wearing of plain dress, headcoverings, and beards. The major emphasis, however, was not on form but on practical Christian living, love for neighbors, friendliness, and missionary zeal. The latter was truly significant. Worship services were conducted both in English and Spanish.
The economic struggle was severe. A number of members have emigrated and some have died. A small clinic served emergency needs. There were 15 families in the settlement in 1986, of whom 31 were members of the congregation, with 24 speaking English and 7 Spanish.
Bibliography
Kraybill, Paul N., ed. Mennonite World Handbook. Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1978: 252.
Mennonite World Handbook Supplement. Strasbourg, France, and Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 100.
| Author(s) | Gerhard Ratzlaff |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1987 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Ratzlaff, Gerhard. "Luz y Esperanza Colony (Paraguay)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1987. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Luz_y_Esperanza_Colony_(Paraguay)&oldid=58051.
APA style
Ratzlaff, Gerhard. (1987). Luz y Esperanza Colony (Paraguay). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Luz_y_Esperanza_Colony_(Paraguay)&oldid=58051.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 532. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.