after 4 long months... i shall return to Belize. I'm returning with a team from Dordt. this year it's not an all girls team. Plus... my favorite prof is the leader!! Yay for Dr. Christians!!
We leave from Dordt at 1am Dec 31, fly out of omaha at 7am... and will be in belize by 4pm!!!
80 degree weather wounds wonderful right about now!!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
What You've All Been Waiting For... Pictures!!!!
This is the picture of JR from my last post... he is so cute, how could I leave this???
This is the Belize Faith Missions sign
My House!! The house is actually the upstairs portion of the building. The bottom floor is storage rooms, the computer room, and the office. 
Some of my girls cooling off in the river that I wrote about when I first arrived in Belize. Swimming with all our clothes on and people of all ages do it!! It feels great :)
Ms Kristy and I... Please keep her in your prayers as I left her all alone :(Saturday, July 26, 2008
My time in Belize has come to a TEMPORARY end
So I am back in Iowa now... and I miss all my children, and rice & beans, and Belize in general. It is cold here, just gonna throw that one out there.
But I need to tell you things that I planned on posting a long time ago.
First is my experience at Miss Mary's wake. I expected it to be much like a visitation... alas, it was not. It was held at her mother's house, she was in her coffin which was held by a chair at each end. This was in the front yard. The entire front yard was covered by a tent advertising Belikin Beer... The beer of Belize. The family was mostly inside the house, then the backyard was also full of people, all of which were intoxicated. Not all of Miss Mary's family are Christians, so it was interesting to see how they all were coping differently. I stayed in the front yard.
JR who is 3, and Jazmine who is 5 were both at there as well. Kristy and I caught JR poking Mary's face and trying to open her eyes cause he wanted her to wake up. Then he got very upset by the fact that she wouldn't wake up. He also told us that even though her body was there, she wasn't there. When we asked her where she was, he answered the States. So we took him away from the coffin, to be told that someone needed to get Jazmine away as well. She was also trying to get Mary to wake up, and had gotten the mouth to open a bit on one side. After some convincing that she needed to be left alone, we got her to come sit with us as well.
The next interesting experience was the funeral. There were over 300 people in the church, it was packed!! There were several people who fainted during the service. Then at the internment, Pastor led the service, and when they went to push coffin into the tomb, it wouldn't go. Men from the church made the tomb, and it was lovely, but they had been given the incorrect measurements of the coffin, and the coffin was too big!! So they had to chisel away the inside so that it would fit.
Saying goodbye to my friends and kids was hard. Some of the kids became very clingy my last days in Belize and wouldn't leave my side, others tried to stay as far from me as they could and some refused to say bye. Then there were others that hid until I was getting into the car and they ran out and gave me a hug. JR was possibly the cutest though. I was trying to get a picture of him, and he refused to smile for me because he was mad at me for even thinking of leaving and I was not allowed to go. So I left him alone for a while, but I went and picked him up as I was getting ready to leave for the airport, and he put his hands around my throat so that I would "Wake up dead" and then I couldn't leave.
I attempted to add pictures to this post, but it's not allowing it, so stay tuned and they will be added in the next couple of days. Then you can meet my kids and see the beautiful Country of Belize :)
But I need to tell you things that I planned on posting a long time ago.
First is my experience at Miss Mary's wake. I expected it to be much like a visitation... alas, it was not. It was held at her mother's house, she was in her coffin which was held by a chair at each end. This was in the front yard. The entire front yard was covered by a tent advertising Belikin Beer... The beer of Belize. The family was mostly inside the house, then the backyard was also full of people, all of which were intoxicated. Not all of Miss Mary's family are Christians, so it was interesting to see how they all were coping differently. I stayed in the front yard.
JR who is 3, and Jazmine who is 5 were both at there as well. Kristy and I caught JR poking Mary's face and trying to open her eyes cause he wanted her to wake up. Then he got very upset by the fact that she wouldn't wake up. He also told us that even though her body was there, she wasn't there. When we asked her where she was, he answered the States. So we took him away from the coffin, to be told that someone needed to get Jazmine away as well. She was also trying to get Mary to wake up, and had gotten the mouth to open a bit on one side. After some convincing that she needed to be left alone, we got her to come sit with us as well.
The next interesting experience was the funeral. There were over 300 people in the church, it was packed!! There were several people who fainted during the service. Then at the internment, Pastor led the service, and when they went to push coffin into the tomb, it wouldn't go. Men from the church made the tomb, and it was lovely, but they had been given the incorrect measurements of the coffin, and the coffin was too big!! So they had to chisel away the inside so that it would fit.
Saying goodbye to my friends and kids was hard. Some of the kids became very clingy my last days in Belize and wouldn't leave my side, others tried to stay as far from me as they could and some refused to say bye. Then there were others that hid until I was getting into the car and they ran out and gave me a hug. JR was possibly the cutest though. I was trying to get a picture of him, and he refused to smile for me because he was mad at me for even thinking of leaving and I was not allowed to go. So I left him alone for a while, but I went and picked him up as I was getting ready to leave for the airport, and he put his hands around my throat so that I would "Wake up dead" and then I couldn't leave.
I attempted to add pictures to this post, but it's not allowing it, so stay tuned and they will be added in the next couple of days. Then you can meet my kids and see the beautiful Country of Belize :)
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sorry Mom, you probably won't like this post so much...
I held a boa constrictor... Mr. Edwardo and 2 of his sons were working in the garden yesterday afternoon and found it. It was really a beautiful snake, and it was just a little guy... only about 6 feet long, no worries, I didn't let him squeeze the life out of me... and I didn't put him around my neck. It started getting mad, so I put him down, and no one held him after that. So unfortunately i don't have the moment of my holding it documented in photography, but we have pictures of it :)
And to top it off... there was a tarantula in the shower with me... Paul came and took care of that for me...
And to top it off... there was a tarantula in the shower with me... Paul came and took care of that for me...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
It's Been a While
Sorry that it has been so long since my last update. The computer at the children's home was infected with over 50 viruses, and Herman fixed it for a few days, and not it's not working again. And I don't have much free time at work since summer school is going on this week. With that being said, today was the last day of summer school and just finished (we let them out early today). Yesterday I corrected 74 English evaluations, let me tell you, it was EXCITING!!! not really, it took me 3 hours. But that's ok, I shouldn't have given up the math evaluation, cause that only took her an hour and a half. This is my last week of working, so really all I have left is tomorrow of work, and I'm not really even sure of what I'll be doing since all the evaluations have been corrected now and summer school is done.
The past few weeks we have been playing a LOT of volleyball at the home. The best night of playing volleyball was when it started raining and then it turned into mud volleyball. The ground was muddy before but then the downpour made it even better. While we were playing, our clothes only had a few mud splatters on them and our legs were covered. Since I am much whiter than all of my children, I appeared to be the dirtiest, when in reality I was probably the cleanest. After we finished the game, we used the hose to clean one another off. Then there was a huge pit of mud (it was way beyond a puddle) in the driveway, (and it smelled like a hog pit) that the boys decided that it would be fun to throw it at each other, then throw one another in it and then wrestle around. Then the girls got in on the fun, and I just stayed back and ran the hose to clean them off. Then my lovely children all got out of the mud and I were standing around waiting to be hosed down... or so I thought. But the next thing I know Moses and Tevin are throwing me into the pit. Then I have about 10 kids in the pit with me everyone is covered. I had mud EVERYWHERE!!! I think the worst was the mouth full of mud... cause all night I was spitting out gravel. But I must admit it was fun :) But now the volleyball games are a little more serious. Last night a bunch of guys from the village came over and we had a serious match going on. The match lasted just under 4 hours!!! It didn't rain yesterday until after we played so then the ground wasn't as nasty, and we didn't slip around so much.
If anyone thought that there was a chance that I would have nicely tanned skin when I come back, I won't. Because it's the rainy season we don't spend a lot of time in the sun, thus, the tan that I had a month ago has faded drastically.
Now, an update on Miss Mary. On Tuesday, we took her to the airport from the hospital so she could go to Tennessee for the surgery. The surgeon in TN offered to do the surgery free of charge and all hospital fees in the US would be free!!! But, she had to fly commercially because an air ambulance would have cost $36000 US, so double that for Belize dollars, and she needed to have the surgery about 2 weeks ago. She made it to TN without any problems and she made it to where she was staying the night before going on to the hospital for surgery in the morning. This is where I do not know exactly what happened or the sequence of events that occurred. She did not have surgery Wednesday morning. At some point in time she had a seizure and a stroke then went into a coma, and passed away this morning.
Please keep everyone here in your prayers as they deal with the loss of this amazing woman. She worked at the children's home for over 30 years, but she is now it a better place.
The past few weeks we have been playing a LOT of volleyball at the home. The best night of playing volleyball was when it started raining and then it turned into mud volleyball. The ground was muddy before but then the downpour made it even better. While we were playing, our clothes only had a few mud splatters on them and our legs were covered. Since I am much whiter than all of my children, I appeared to be the dirtiest, when in reality I was probably the cleanest. After we finished the game, we used the hose to clean one another off. Then there was a huge pit of mud (it was way beyond a puddle) in the driveway, (and it smelled like a hog pit) that the boys decided that it would be fun to throw it at each other, then throw one another in it and then wrestle around. Then the girls got in on the fun, and I just stayed back and ran the hose to clean them off. Then my lovely children all got out of the mud and I were standing around waiting to be hosed down... or so I thought. But the next thing I know Moses and Tevin are throwing me into the pit. Then I have about 10 kids in the pit with me everyone is covered. I had mud EVERYWHERE!!! I think the worst was the mouth full of mud... cause all night I was spitting out gravel. But I must admit it was fun :) But now the volleyball games are a little more serious. Last night a bunch of guys from the village came over and we had a serious match going on. The match lasted just under 4 hours!!! It didn't rain yesterday until after we played so then the ground wasn't as nasty, and we didn't slip around so much.
If anyone thought that there was a chance that I would have nicely tanned skin when I come back, I won't. Because it's the rainy season we don't spend a lot of time in the sun, thus, the tan that I had a month ago has faded drastically.
Now, an update on Miss Mary. On Tuesday, we took her to the airport from the hospital so she could go to Tennessee for the surgery. The surgeon in TN offered to do the surgery free of charge and all hospital fees in the US would be free!!! But, she had to fly commercially because an air ambulance would have cost $36000 US, so double that for Belize dollars, and she needed to have the surgery about 2 weeks ago. She made it to TN without any problems and she made it to where she was staying the night before going on to the hospital for surgery in the morning. This is where I do not know exactly what happened or the sequence of events that occurred. She did not have surgery Wednesday morning. At some point in time she had a seizure and a stroke then went into a coma, and passed away this morning.
Please keep everyone here in your prayers as they deal with the loss of this amazing woman. She worked at the children's home for over 30 years, but she is now it a better place.
Monday, June 30, 2008
3rd times a charm
This would be my 3rd attempt at updating you on the belizean happenings. The first novel I wrote was cut off when the power went out for 3 hours. So I tried again a couple days later and wrote an even longer novel, and when I pushed "Publish Post" I lost everything because the internet was shutoff upstairs.
So I'm trying again now. First off... to update you on Miss Mary. She is doing much better than the last time you heard. She is sitting up, talking, carrying on coherent conversations, etc, but is still in the ICU. She needs to have surgery, but it's very expensive, and they need the money upfront to have the surgery done. Another problem is that the technology and skill is not here in Belize, so she is going to be taken to the states by Helivac to have the surgery done. The surgery can be done here in the case of an emergency, but it would be done by satellite, and personally... I would prefer surgery done by someone who knows what they are doing and not by satellite... but that's just me. I don't know how much the surgery or Helivac costs, or where she will be having the surgery done. There has also been talk of sending her to Guatemala City for the surgery, but she has family in the states.
My time here has gone by SOO fast!!!! Last night after church 5 of the kids talked me into playing monoploy with them... It was the most intense game 5 hour game of monoploy I have ever played. every piece of property that is allowed to have houses or hotels, had them. Every hotel was on the board... including on Boardwalk and Park Place. Luckily I never landed on either of them!!!
I have also realized... that since January , 2008, I have been at my house in Redfield, IA all of 11 days. I was in Belize longer in January than I have been at home. Just a random thought for the day.
Since school has ended for both the high school and primary school, some of the kids are going home for the summer. This past weekend, 3 of my favorite boys left to go back to their mom in Guatemala. It's great that they get to spend time with her since they live here for the rest of the year, but they are such sweet kids it makes me sad that they had to leave!!! :(
Then it reminds me that my time here is coming to an end... for now... but I will be back!!! Sorry mom, I just like it too much here... i'm kind of attached.
But I need to be getting off the computer, so I will hopefully get on sooner. I definitely wrote longer novels the last 2 times I tried this.
Some Prayer requests to keep in mind:
Miss Mary- that the proper funds are raised so she can get the care she needs
Belize Faith Missions- (combination of the Church, high school, primary school, and children's home) is going through seriously financial problems right now and the children's home is in danger of being shut down, leaving several children without a place to live.
So I'm trying again now. First off... to update you on Miss Mary. She is doing much better than the last time you heard. She is sitting up, talking, carrying on coherent conversations, etc, but is still in the ICU. She needs to have surgery, but it's very expensive, and they need the money upfront to have the surgery done. Another problem is that the technology and skill is not here in Belize, so she is going to be taken to the states by Helivac to have the surgery done. The surgery can be done here in the case of an emergency, but it would be done by satellite, and personally... I would prefer surgery done by someone who knows what they are doing and not by satellite... but that's just me. I don't know how much the surgery or Helivac costs, or where she will be having the surgery done. There has also been talk of sending her to Guatemala City for the surgery, but she has family in the states.
My time here has gone by SOO fast!!!! Last night after church 5 of the kids talked me into playing monoploy with them... It was the most intense game 5 hour game of monoploy I have ever played. every piece of property that is allowed to have houses or hotels, had them. Every hotel was on the board... including on Boardwalk and Park Place. Luckily I never landed on either of them!!!
I have also realized... that since January , 2008, I have been at my house in Redfield, IA all of 11 days. I was in Belize longer in January than I have been at home. Just a random thought for the day.
Since school has ended for both the high school and primary school, some of the kids are going home for the summer. This past weekend, 3 of my favorite boys left to go back to their mom in Guatemala. It's great that they get to spend time with her since they live here for the rest of the year, but they are such sweet kids it makes me sad that they had to leave!!! :(
Then it reminds me that my time here is coming to an end... for now... but I will be back!!! Sorry mom, I just like it too much here... i'm kind of attached.
But I need to be getting off the computer, so I will hopefully get on sooner. I definitely wrote longer novels the last 2 times I tried this.
Some Prayer requests to keep in mind:
Miss Mary- that the proper funds are raised so she can get the care she needs
Belize Faith Missions- (combination of the Church, high school, primary school, and children's home) is going through seriously financial problems right now and the children's home is in danger of being shut down, leaving several children without a place to live.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Past Week
Greetings!!! This past week has flown by, actually, the past 5 weeks have flown by!!! This was the last week of school at Western Christian Academy. A team from Tennessee came and lead everything, so we teachers didn't have much to do. :)
The children's home supervisor, Miss Kristy, left for vacation last Saturday and is coming back on Sunday, thus leaving me and Miss Mary, the cook, in charge of the children. I've been sleeping in the girl's dorm playing mom. It's been a lot of fun actually :)
I also have a prayer request. Yesterday, Miss Mary, some of the children, and several other ladies from the community were all going to a funeral. They were waiting by the car waiting for Miss Mary to come down so they could leave and she was taking a very long time. So Shanice went up to see if she was ready and found Miss Mary sitting in the Chair in the living room, unconscious with foam coming out of her mouth. (The EMS system here is not what we are used to in the states and takes at least 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, and that's on a good day. Generally it takes closer to 1 1/2-2 hours for them to get there.) So Miss Mary was brought to the hospital in Belmopan, which is about a 1/2 hour away. Once they got to the hospital she did regain consciousness, but, wasn't very responsive to her surroundings. She was then taken by ambulance to Belize City (an hour away) so that she could get a ct scan. Miss Mary had a TIA (mini-stroke) and was bleeding in her brain. She has been transferred to another hospital that is a little more affordable, but this whole ordeal is going to be very expensive. She is now doing much better, she is awake and talking to people. She will be in the ICU for the next 48 hours, then reassess what will be down after that.
Since she and I were in charge, I am all alone with 23 children. But they have been no trouble at all :)
I hope all of my Iowa readers have not been washed away... I keep updated on the flooding from the news here!!! Stay dry!!
The children's home supervisor, Miss Kristy, left for vacation last Saturday and is coming back on Sunday, thus leaving me and Miss Mary, the cook, in charge of the children. I've been sleeping in the girl's dorm playing mom. It's been a lot of fun actually :)
I also have a prayer request. Yesterday, Miss Mary, some of the children, and several other ladies from the community were all going to a funeral. They were waiting by the car waiting for Miss Mary to come down so they could leave and she was taking a very long time. So Shanice went up to see if she was ready and found Miss Mary sitting in the Chair in the living room, unconscious with foam coming out of her mouth. (The EMS system here is not what we are used to in the states and takes at least 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, and that's on a good day. Generally it takes closer to 1 1/2-2 hours for them to get there.) So Miss Mary was brought to the hospital in Belmopan, which is about a 1/2 hour away. Once they got to the hospital she did regain consciousness, but, wasn't very responsive to her surroundings. She was then taken by ambulance to Belize City (an hour away) so that she could get a ct scan. Miss Mary had a TIA (mini-stroke) and was bleeding in her brain. She has been transferred to another hospital that is a little more affordable, but this whole ordeal is going to be very expensive. She is now doing much better, she is awake and talking to people. She will be in the ICU for the next 48 hours, then reassess what will be down after that.
Since she and I were in charge, I am all alone with 23 children. But they have been no trouble at all :)
I hope all of my Iowa readers have not been washed away... I keep updated on the flooding from the news here!!! Stay dry!!
Friday, June 13, 2008
The South
A medical team from Mississippi came this past Tuesday, so I have been working with them the past few days. We for the past 3 days we went to southern Belize where there were fatalities from the flooding as a result of Arthur. On Wednesday, we mostly drove around and looked at flood damage and then we went to a pre-school for a clinic. It was originally supposed to only for the 27 students there, but then members of the community started coming in and we saw 70 patients. Thursday we took over the clinic in Pomona and saw 207 patients. We even had to turn 10 people away because 1, it was already almost 2 hours after we said we were closing, and we were running out of medication. One of the most memorable patients was a 3 year old who had been seperated from his family during the flood, and he somehow managed to hold onto a tree for at least 5 hours before he was found. Today we went to a primary school for a clinic and we saw 205 patients. This school had 3 students killed in the flood.
It has been a great experience working with this medical team. I have primarily been taking blood pressures, but I also have been one of the primary translators in the clinics as well which has been fun :)
I think that is all for now!!!
It has been a great experience working with this medical team. I have primarily been taking blood pressures, but I also have been one of the primary translators in the clinics as well which has been fun :)
I think that is all for now!!!
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Mexican Adventure & Tropical Storm Arthur
Catelina and I decided Saturday night that we weren't going to go to bed before we left for our little trip... so we stayed up :) I woke up at about 6:30 Saturday morning, and figured I would sleep some on the bus on the way. Alas, I did not. I did not sleep until got home at about 9:30 last night. Between Catz, Blanca, Brian and I... everything was funny.
Besides the continuation of rain, it was a fun trip. As we got to the border, Brian and Herman decided it would be fun if I got a new pair of shiny silver bracelets and kept telling me that I wasn't going to make it through, especially since I had to go through so many check points. But then they also said they would come bail me out. I got many strange looks as I traveled with 50 Belizeans :)
Because it was still raining, we didn't go to the beach in Bachalor, just to the market for about an hour, then the mall for the next several hours. Everything in Mexico is much cheaper than here in Belize, so everyone was stalking up on just about everything that they could get across the border. I spent most of the day with Ms. Barbra, Pastor Tate's wife, and Brian. I thought it was kinda funny that I was the translator for them in the market, the restaurant, the taxi, and shopping.
Back in the US, I never think to much about driving in a steady rain at night. But here, those are the worst driving conditions you can imagine. The roads are not in the greatest conditions, and when they get wet they are super slippery. Add to that 3 1/2 days worth of rain. You get a LOT of water. Every few miles there would be water running across the road. By this morning, much of Belize had major flood damage. Luckily, where I live has not had the flooding like most of the rest of Belize. Here's a link to a news channel here to see some pictures: http://www.lovetv.com.bz/news.htm
Because of all the flooding, there has been a nationwide school cancellation until further notice. School was dismissed at 9am today, and all of the teachers stayed and wrote our final exams, so I didn't get home too early, but earlier than normal.
I believe that is all for now!!
Besides the continuation of rain, it was a fun trip. As we got to the border, Brian and Herman decided it would be fun if I got a new pair of shiny silver bracelets and kept telling me that I wasn't going to make it through, especially since I had to go through so many check points. But then they also said they would come bail me out. I got many strange looks as I traveled with 50 Belizeans :)
Because it was still raining, we didn't go to the beach in Bachalor, just to the market for about an hour, then the mall for the next several hours. Everything in Mexico is much cheaper than here in Belize, so everyone was stalking up on just about everything that they could get across the border. I spent most of the day with Ms. Barbra, Pastor Tate's wife, and Brian. I thought it was kinda funny that I was the translator for them in the market, the restaurant, the taxi, and shopping.
Back in the US, I never think to much about driving in a steady rain at night. But here, those are the worst driving conditions you can imagine. The roads are not in the greatest conditions, and when they get wet they are super slippery. Add to that 3 1/2 days worth of rain. You get a LOT of water. Every few miles there would be water running across the road. By this morning, much of Belize had major flood damage. Luckily, where I live has not had the flooding like most of the rest of Belize. Here's a link to a news channel here to see some pictures: http://www.lovetv.com.bz/news.htm
Because of all the flooding, there has been a nationwide school cancellation until further notice. School was dismissed at 9am today, and all of the teachers stayed and wrote our final exams, so I didn't get home too early, but earlier than normal.
I believe that is all for now!!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
What I Do
So I realized that I have not written on here for quite some time... I apologize.
Since the last update on here, I have found out what I am doing here, and have also been doing it. I am working at Western Christian Academy, which is a high school here in Ontario Village. I am a teacher and the school counselor. I teach health science, food & nutrition, biology, and physics. I am a substitute teacher for whoever is gone, so I have also taught Bible. I never imagined myself as a teacher, and honestly can't see myself doing it for the rest of my life, but for right now it is not too bad. This coming week is the last week of classes, followed by a week of final exams, and then Spiritual Emphasis Week, then school is done.
The dry season has ended now and the rainy season has come. It started raining yesterday afternoon and has continued steadily ever since, but it feels nice to have rain and it still be 80 degrees.
The church is going on an outing tomorrow... we are leaving at 3am and going to Chetumal Mexico. It's about a 2 hour drive from here, then we'll spend the day and come back tomorrow evening. We're taking a school bus full of people, so it'll be a great time for me to get to know more people... but maybe not so much on the drive there... I think I might sleep.
I have never considered myself a morning person, and I have always loved sleeping in, but I have yet to sleep past 6:30am, and that is without using an alarm.
Since the last update on here, I have found out what I am doing here, and have also been doing it. I am working at Western Christian Academy, which is a high school here in Ontario Village. I am a teacher and the school counselor. I teach health science, food & nutrition, biology, and physics. I am a substitute teacher for whoever is gone, so I have also taught Bible. I never imagined myself as a teacher, and honestly can't see myself doing it for the rest of my life, but for right now it is not too bad. This coming week is the last week of classes, followed by a week of final exams, and then Spiritual Emphasis Week, then school is done.
The dry season has ended now and the rainy season has come. It started raining yesterday afternoon and has continued steadily ever since, but it feels nice to have rain and it still be 80 degrees.
The church is going on an outing tomorrow... we are leaving at 3am and going to Chetumal Mexico. It's about a 2 hour drive from here, then we'll spend the day and come back tomorrow evening. We're taking a school bus full of people, so it'll be a great time for me to get to know more people... but maybe not so much on the drive there... I think I might sleep.
I have never considered myself a morning person, and I have always loved sleeping in, but I have yet to sleep past 6:30am, and that is without using an alarm.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Warmth
As you might have noticed... I put a Belize weather strip on just to the left of this post, directly above my picture. I'd like you all to know, that is the weather in Belize City, it is an hour away from where I live, and on the coast, meaning that it is generally 10-15 degrees F hotter here than there.
One thing I have learned before i traveled to any 3rd world country was to never drink the water and don't swim in fresh water (lakes, rivers etc..)... oops???
What do Belizeans do when it's hot out??? well... there is a river behind my back yard of trees full of coconuts and limes... then entire village goes for a swim when it's this warm :) it feels great:) everybody jumps in with all their clothes on... then instead of changing when they get out... you just wear the wet clothes, cause it keeps you much cooler!!!
This past weekend I had a "free weekend" so I hung out with the kids here at the home, where the kids have taught me lots of creole. Then today was supposed to be my first day of work (which I still don't know what I will exactly be doing), but it was a "teacher's day" which means there was no school... so I had the day off. I went with Miss Kristy (manager & house mother at the children's home) to pay a bill in Belmopan. Then she took me out for coffee and lunch, then later on in the afternoon we went to Spanish Lookout which is a Mennonite community.
But, tomorrow morning I will find out what I will be doing here officially, and actually do something besides hang out with a bunch of kids.
One thing I have learned before i traveled to any 3rd world country was to never drink the water and don't swim in fresh water (lakes, rivers etc..)... oops???
What do Belizeans do when it's hot out??? well... there is a river behind my back yard of trees full of coconuts and limes... then entire village goes for a swim when it's this warm :) it feels great:) everybody jumps in with all their clothes on... then instead of changing when they get out... you just wear the wet clothes, cause it keeps you much cooler!!!
This past weekend I had a "free weekend" so I hung out with the kids here at the home, where the kids have taught me lots of creole. Then today was supposed to be my first day of work (which I still don't know what I will exactly be doing), but it was a "teacher's day" which means there was no school... so I had the day off. I went with Miss Kristy (manager & house mother at the children's home) to pay a bill in Belmopan. Then she took me out for coffee and lunch, then later on in the afternoon we went to Spanish Lookout which is a Mennonite community.
But, tomorrow morning I will find out what I will be doing here officially, and actually do something besides hang out with a bunch of kids.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Estoy Aqui (I am here)
I have safely arrived at my destination!! :) I landed in Belize City a little after 3pm (Mountain Time) and was greeted by Pastor Tate, his wife Barbra, and 7 boys from the children's home I am living in.
When we got to the children's home I was greeted by another, larger welcoming committee, all with smiling faces. I felt famous... the van pulls up and all sorts of people run up to it and as the boys that were in the van already were getting out I hear "Amber's Here!" shouted by many different voices, then I didn't have to carry anything to my room because there were lots of little boys that just took it from me :)
This evening I went to a youth group meeting with Callin (a guy from the home) and got to hang out around a campfire with them for a while.
I'll post more when I have a little more time. Hope all is well!!
ps... please pray that I don't get TOO sick (if at all) from the water and getting acquainted with the Belizean lifestyle :)
When we got to the children's home I was greeted by another, larger welcoming committee, all with smiling faces. I felt famous... the van pulls up and all sorts of people run up to it and as the boys that were in the van already were getting out I hear "Amber's Here!" shouted by many different voices, then I didn't have to carry anything to my room because there were lots of little boys that just took it from me :)
This evening I went to a youth group meeting with Callin (a guy from the home) and got to hang out around a campfire with them for a while.
I'll post more when I have a little more time. Hope all is well!!
ps... please pray that I don't get TOO sick (if at all) from the water and getting acquainted with the Belizean lifestyle :)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thanks!
I would first like to thank everyone who has already supported me with their prayers as well as supporting me financially. I REALLY appreciate it!!
I am leaving this Friday, May 16, at 10:00 am and will be arriving in Belize City just before 3:00pm. While I am in Belize, I do not know how often I will have internet access, but I will try to keep you updated on here with what is happening as much as possible and add some pictures as well:)
Feel free to e-mail me whenever and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
I am leaving this Friday, May 16, at 10:00 am and will be arriving in Belize City just before 3:00pm. While I am in Belize, I do not know how often I will have internet access, but I will try to keep you updated on here with what is happening as much as possible and add some pictures as well:)
Feel free to e-mail me whenever and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
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