There are four main Indigenous tribes associated with Filadelfia — the Enlhet, Nivaclé, Guaraní Occidental and Ayoreo — each with their own language, history, traditions and relationship with the Chaco. The Enlhet — the original locals The Enlhet are the traditional people of the central Chaco around what is now Filadelfia. They were here long…
Yesterday Marilyn took Jy and me on a tour of the four Indigenous communities around Filadelfia. I thought we were going to learn about cultures, traditions and ways of life. Instead, I apparently signed up for a little spiritual enlightenment as well. Jy is about 35, from South Korea, and is a Yogi. Like most…
Before I came to Paraguay, I told several friends that I was going to stay with the Mennonites. Their response? “Well, don’t be surprised if you come home as the 63rd wife of a Mennonite!” Apparently they had a very interesting idea of Mennonite culture. I have now done my research and, sadly, I have…
There is another, much darker side to the history of the strict traditional Mennonite colonies of Paraguay. This is not a story about all Mennonites or every Mennonite family. Many are loving, hardworking and deeply committed to their families. But in a society built around obedience, religious authority, conformity and family reputation, women and children…
After everything I have been learning about Mennonite history and the much stricter traditions of some conservative communities, staying here with Marilyn and her family has given me a rather different perspective. Marilyn comes from a Mennonite family whose parents were among the founders of a more progressive Mennonite community. They kept many of the…
The traditional Mennonite way of life was built around a simple but extraordinarily powerful principle: the community came before the individual. Faith wasn’t confined to Sunday worship. It governed how you dressed, who you married, how you raised your children, what you learned, what technology you used, how you behaved and even who you could…
It’s your day off. The plan is simple, noble even: sit quietly and finish that urgent sewing job due next Wednesday. No drama, no deadlines other than the one already breathing down your neck. Just you, fabric, and the sweet silence of productivity. Enter Marilyn … “Do you like to cook?” she asks, in that…
Victor and Maria, from Hidalgo State in Mexico, were on the Laguna Capitan tour today, and I really enjoyed meeting them. What an inspiring couple they are! Paraguay is their 120th country, and their last one in Latin America.