Amish in the Jungle?

A link to some incredible photos of Anabaptist-related peoples in South America, by Jordi Busque.

Jordi says that the family in An Amish family in the jungle moved to Bolivia from Tennessee in the mid-90's.  Apparently they identify themselves as Amish, and Jordi adds that there is another family like them, about an hour's walk away.

Is this family in fellowship with any established Amish settlement?  Some aspects of clothing and appearance compare to Amish styles in the US, though some of the women's coverings are more reminiscent of other Anabaptist-related groups, and is the father wearing a moustache?  Hard to tell. 

A very interesting case.  Anyone with further info is invited to comment.

In Settlements that Failed, David Luthy describes the first Amish attempt at settling south of the border, a short-lived settlement near Nuevo Leon in Mexico in the 1920's. 

The next serious attempts came in the 60's, with small communities in Honduras and Paraguay. 

Over time, these groups disintegrated. 

Most of the Hondurans returned to the US in the late 70's.  The ones that stayed behind eventually joined the car-driving Beachy Amish.

Amishman Joseph Stoll detailed the travails of the Honduras group in his firsthand account, Sunshine and Shadow.
   

The remnants of the Paraguayan group, most of whom left for the US in the 70's as well, 'use no motor vehicles, worship in Spanish and English, and have built a meetinghouse.  They have no formal connection to the Amish' according to Steven Nolt in A History of the Amish.

            

Jordi also suggests checking out his photo-stories of Old Colony Mennonites in Bolivia.  Old Colony Mennonites form one of the largest 'plain' Anabaptist groups after the Amish. 

With roots reaching back to Mennonite groups in Russia, today they are mostly found in Mexico with related settlements in Canada and South America.  In matters of faith and lifestyle they are in many ways similar to the Amish, though as the photos show, their dress is decidedly different. 

Thanks Jordi, for sharing the great work.

Comments

[Jordi]

Hi, I'm the photographer of those stories. In 2006 I met an ex-amish girl in northern Bolivia. I told her I was doing a photographic story about Mennonites. She told me she never saw Mennonites in this part of the country. However, she informed me about some friends of her (still Amish) who were living in the jungle. She explained me how to reach them. In fact she live in a much more isolated place, some ten days boat trip upriver.

Initially the Amish family didn't want to be photographed. I explained them what I was doing there and asked to take pictures of them doing their daily activities, not posing. They accepted my idea. The children and the young boy (17) had no problem to be photographed. The father was uncomfortable and after the first few pictures asked me to don't photograph his face.

Erik, about your question about the moustache. The father was wearing beard without moustache, but he didn't shave it every day so you can see an incipient one.

Jordi.

[Amish America]

Jordi, that sounds right for what some Amish feel is an acceptable approach to photography--some feel that as long as they are not posing, it is not considered taboo. But of course that depends, and maybe the father had second thoughts or something.

In any case, thanks for the background on these photos.
Absolutely beautiful shots. Thanks for showing us a different world.

[Genevieve]

Absolutely fascinating. I enjoyed the photos and links.

[Atnip]

Hi!
I know this family, J. and S. Beiler. They would be of amish background, but would not officially be Amish. They would have come from the Lobelville, TN congregation, which is basically a two-congregation group, that would be considered "Anabaptist", but not Amish. Mike Atnip

[Amish America]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for commenting. I assume you knew them from Tennessee? I wonder what compelled them to go so far away from home? Brave move.

Erik

[Atnip]

Hi-
Actually, I met them first in Rexford, MT some 15 years ago. Then, we ourselves lived in Bolivia for about 5 years. They originally bought a large tract of land in the department of Tarija, but have sold that and live near Ixiamos, La Paz department. I am not real sure of their motives for moving to Bolivia, but I think it may have had some to do with suspecting a political or economical bust here in the US.
Two of their daughters have married Bolivian men, so I suppose that contributes to them still being there. Some other families that went down about the same time have returned to the US.
The "other Amish" that live way back in the jungle ten days are probably the Kropf girls, living with a Matthew Nichols family. Matthew is a "convert" to anabaptism. They live along the Madidi River. Like the Beilers, they are not officially "Amish", but would fall under the conservative anabaptist heading. Mike

[reuben]

hi i worked with the boy you sauid was 17.he came up from bolivia to lobelville tn this summer and helped us on construcion jobs run dy his uncle .i also know their whole familt well as almost all of them live in tn. the boys name is mervin byler.his dad is joe.his mom is sarah,,and so on

[Sherry Gore]

The Beiler family are exceptional people. Mother Sarah and 2 of her children have been here in Pinecraft Florida for several months. They are some of the hardest working people I know. My life has been richly blessed since meeting them. Sarah makes the best pot-pie stew I've ever had, Judith is the kind of girl every mother hopes their son marries, and Nelson, well he's a peach in his own right.
read more at
notaflightrisk.blogspot.com and
www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacinda

[trent H]

I also know the Beilers and Sara mother Mary Ellen Miller.Joes would keep Sat. and have some advintist ideas.I can t remember the man who lived with them and travils to Loblevill onnce in awhile.

[MA]

Here is a link to some interesting Flickr photos of the Lobelville community. Dress is very similar to the style worn by members of the 1990's Christian Communities (founded by Elmo Stoll). They also apparently practice immersion baptism. Fascinating people. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14839769@N06/tags/tnplainchristiancommunity/