MPW.68 / 2016 The Sisterhood by Lisette Poole
Photographer
Lisette Poole Havana, Cuba

Team Lee

Story Summary

“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." — 1 Corinthians 11:3

For Mennonite Christians family comes first. Women are taught to submit to men—their fathers, ministers or, once married, their husbands. Among the strong community there is a sisterhood of young single women who embrace their independence, and under their veiling, which they say makes them feel constantly in prayer before God, they have a freedom from the social norms of married life.

Many of these women live far from their homes, and have moved to Cuba, Missouri to help out at the local bakery and teach at the Mennonite school.

Without movies or mainstream music, they thrive sharing sweet moments of friendship, laughter and working side by side.