Costa Rica, a small Central American nation, is the home of a sizable Conservative Mennonite population. In 1968, my uncle immigrated with his family to the Arenal region of central Costa Rica. His family, along with a handful of others, were amongst the first Mennonites to call the country home. 

Costa Rica is historically known for its peaceful approach to both global and local politics as the only country in Latin America to boast no military. Given the combination of untouched wilderness and a culture of peace, it only makes sense that the Mennonite tradition would take hold there. In a land of religious freedom and anti-violence, Mennonites seem to bond well with the warm and welcoming culture of Costa Rica. 

 

Conservative Mennonites can be found across eight congregations throughout the country, and if you ask the average Costa Rican “si sabe de las Menonitas?” they will most likely say yes. 

 

Their mission is centered around cultivating a community that extends its arms to anyone who may need it. Their lives and practices are not based around worldly possession and achievement but unconditional love and care for one’s neighbor. “If you go to the building where we had church Sunday, the church won’t be there. The church is the people. The church is individuals shared in a community in Christ,” said Mark Yoder, pastor of Chachagua Mennonite Church. 

Costa Rica today is a mere version of what it once was when my family first came here. Tourism and the monetization of almost every aspect of the culture has led to the rapid development of the country, but the Mennonite way of life still holds steady amidst it all. Living in connection with their neighbors and the land that they cultivate, las Menonitas are here to stay as a testament to what it means to love thy neighbor.