Four places.
My wife and I have been to literally thousands of places. Big places like zoos, museums and other all-day attractions that attracts thousands of people. And little places like roadside statues, parks and waterfalls. I have taken at least one picture at every stop, sometimes dozens or even hundreds!
If the place is spectacular, I take none.
If a place is so stunning, I get lost in where I am. I am so drawn to the attraction that the thought of taking a picture becomes lost.
Four times this has happened.
Because I took no pictures, I fail to remember what those places were, except Mennonite Story in St. Jacobs.
We live a little over an hour from St. Jacobs, and we go there for the stores, especially for Christmas and anniversaries gifts. St. Jacobs has a street full of unique shops and a flea market just outside of town that attracts tens of thousands each year. St Jacobs is in the heart of the Mennonite country, and Mennonite Story sits quietly at a busy intersection. I finally had the opportunity to go into it and see what it was all about.
Mennonites and Amish are a visible group in the area where I have lived. They stand out with their unique dress style and insistence on using a horse and buggy to get around. I have seen various Mennonites and Amish, have always wondered about their lifestyle, and have a million questions about who they are.
Mennonite Story is a guided tour through their museum. It gives a history of Mennonite and Amish and tells the difference between them. The Mennonites and Amish, because of their beliefs, were persecuted often to the point of death. I had no idea of the violent history that they went through, even in modern times. I knew little of their outreach programs in various countries, especially in Africa. I learned why they ride in a buggy but then use modern farming equipment on their lands. I learned that their influence reached even into various aspects of contemporary life, politics and religion.
The tour guide was phenomenal. He spoke with pride and was full of knowledge. He was a Mennonite himself and could give a personal touch to the tour. The tour ended in a miniature replica of a church, and he spoke of his grandfather sitting in the elder section for the first time. There was a small video at the end, and for the first time ever, I left a tour having every single question answered.
There are no pictures because it was that good. It is so rare that I find a place where I would forget to do the simplest of things like “Click.” If you even have one question about Mennonites, go to Mennonite Story and learn about their fascinating history.
- Website: https://www.mennonitestory.com/
The location of this attraction can be found on my free Featured Google Map. You can find this and all the other places that I have reviewed.
