Mennonite to Mainstream
Abandoning the Old Colony and Growing Up in Rural Canada
by Judy Ann

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In a family history that stretches back five hundred years, Judy introduces readers to life under Old Colony Mennonite rules as experienced by her parents and grandparents in rural Canada and Mexico. Despite this history, it took Judy’s family only one generation to transition from Mennonite culture to mainstream society. It’s a story of family loyalty, excommunication, and danger that will engage not only the Peters and Guenther families but a wide range of readers who desire to learn more about the history of Mennonites in Canada. Problems with the colony began when Judy’s grandfather was excommunicated after driving from Mexico to Canada to visit his mother. His offence? Driving a car with rubber tires. Other excommunications followed, and he eventually fled Mexico for fear of his life, with his wife and eleven children in tow. A bounty had been placed on his head, and the family now had to fight to survive. The family was still Mennonite by culture, but no longer by faith or lifestyle. Plautdietsch, their mother tongue, was lost. In order to survive, they became hunters and gatherers so that they’d have food to eat even when they didn’t have money. But a greater strength than rules and regulations sustained them during these hardships—their love for each other and the ingenuity nurtured by their many struggles. An inspiring and educational family memoir, Mennonite to Mainstream will touch hearts of all ages.

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Judy Ann holds a degree in Human Ecology from the University of Manitoba. In this, her first book, she also reveals her passion for family history. Judy lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with her husband, Ken, and their cat, Huxley.

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Judy Ann