Sommerfeld Colony, Paraguay.

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In 1948 a contingent of about 1,700 Mennonites from Manitoba and Saskatchewan
immigrated to Paraguay. Those who had come from the West Reserve in Manitoba settled
in the Sommerfeld Colony.
http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/ ... ps/203.htm

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Sommerfeld Colony was one of two colonies (the other was Bergthal) established in 1948
some 50 miles (95 km) east of Villarrica in East Paraguay by Sommerfelder Mennonites from
Manitoba (West Reserve). In 1953 it had a population of 644 (119 families) in nine villages,
occupying ca. 93,000 acres. It is located some 15 miles (25 km) from Bergthal. In the first
two years 75 families with 383 persons returned to Canada.

The center of the colony was the village of Sommerfeld, where the elder, Isbrandt Friesen,
lived and where the co-operative was located. -- HSB

Quelle / Source: http://www.gameo.org/encyyclopedia/contents/S66.html

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[...]

The second major group include the Mennonites in the colonies of Sommerfeld, Bergthal,
Reinfeld, Rio Verde, Santa Clara, Durango and Manitoba. This group has a population of about
12,000 persons, who migrated from Canada and Mexico to Paraguay. These Mennonites
are much more orthodox and try to maintain the traditions of their ancestors. The uniformity
in their life style is their trademark. The traditions and heritage of their ancestors are
considered to be sacred. They avoid the modern development and worldly ways.
Their schools are rudimentary and have seven grades for their boys and six for their girls.
Their textbooks are limited to a Fibel (a reader), a book of catechism, the Bible, and a hymnal.
In addition, they do teach the elementary principles of mathematics. They are farmers,
who raise primarily crops and also produce some milk and cheese. In recent years there
is a growing openness to the other colonies. They cooperate together with the other groups
in various health programs and projects throughout Paraguay.

[...]

In Paraguay, the Mennonites are considered as an ethnic group. These are several reasons for
this classification. First of all, they live in their own colonies, have their own schools, their own
languages (German and as well as another dialect), their own traditions and their own cultural
traits. Furthermore, their religious beliefs are not limited to the Mennonite colonies in Paraguay.
Their religion is international and is not limited to a race or an ethnic group.

To be a Mennonite, means to be a Christian and a member of a church, which is based on the
teachings of the Bible. It is a form of life, not a race or nation. Since its origins of 400 years
ago, they have always proclaimed Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour (Mathew 28; 19).
As a result, they are very active as missionaries and proclaim the glory of God in every corner
of the earth.

[...]

Quelle / Source: http://www.paraguay-hotel.com/jan/seite_20_e.htm

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