The first Mennonites of Colombia – a photo essay

In Colombia's eastern flood plains, a group from the dry northern states of Chihuahua and Tamaulipas have started a new colony called Liviney, beginning a new chapter in Mennonite history. Photojournalist Luca Zanetti spent some time with the community in the Meta region

In a remote corner of the rolling plains that stretch across eastern Colombia from the foothills of the Andes to the Venezuelan frontier, a cluster of grain silos juts up against the pristine blue sky.

Not long ago, this region was plagued by Communist insurgents and rightwing paramilitaries; now it is home to an austere community of blond-haired, blue-eyed Anabaptist Christians which traces its origins to 16th-century Friesland.

A quote from the New Testament in German at the church. The blessing of the Lord makes you rich without effort.'