Wilhelm Thiessen, a Mennonite farmer, reflected on the challenges they faced: 'There's a place here where I wanted to live so we came and opened part of it up. That's what everyone did to have a place to live.' This determination highlights both the resilience of the Mennonite families and their drive to establish a new community in the Amazon despite initial adversities.
Today, Wanderland has transformed into a thriving colony, home to roughly 150 families, a church that doubles as a school, and a cheese-processing facility. This development speaks to the successful adaptation of these families to their new environment and their ability to build a community in challenging conditions.
However, the expansion of these Mennonite settlements in the Amazon raises concerns among environmentalists, who worry about the deforestation of a jungle already threatened by industries like cattle ranching and illegal gold mining. This underscores the complex balance between human settlement and environmental preservation.
In Peru, authorities are investigating several Mennonite communities for allegedly clearing forest without permits. Despite these accusations, the colonies maintain their stance of denying any wrongdoing, illustrating the tensions between government regulations and community practices.
Collection
[
|
...
]