Belize

Our team

I know that it has been a while since I have posted on here, and a lot has been happening in my life. I recently got back from Belize. I was there from November 8th to the 15th. I went with my Mother-in-law and her church. I was a little nervous going, because I didn't know anyone other than my Mother-in-law, and she was going to be leaving the main group a couple days after we arrived to go work with the deaf school 3 hours away from where we were staying.
We left early on Saturday the 8th and headed to the airport. Our trip started out with a little adventure. One of the people in our group had left one of his suitcases at the top of his stairs at home...the suitcase with his clothes in it...so, he called someone from the church who went and got it and brought it to the airport. It got there and he caught up with our group only to find that his wife was missing. She was waiting for him at the security gate, only he came to a different security area and missed her. We all boarded our plane, which was about to leave while we waited for Tim to find his wife and make it on the plane. Thankfully, Tim and Lynn made it onto the plan before the plane pulled away from the gate, but it was close. The plane ride was uneventful, and we reached Belize City, Belize in about 3 hours. Once we got there, we had to go through customs, which was a little intimidating. Zack's mom and I were fussed at because we had filled out 2 customs forms and we were related...After getting through customs, we met up with John and Darlene, the missionaries that we would be staying with. We rented two 15 passenger vans, and John and Darlene had brought a 15 passenger van that we filled with our luggage. It was then a 3 hour drive on a poorly paved and windy road to get to the camp that we stayed at in San Roman. The country was striking...yes, the people were poor, but the vegetation was lush and the views were amazing! The drive was actually pretty fun I thought. Zack's mom and I were in the very back seat, so the bumps were extra bumpy.

We all had to big suitcases because of all of the stuff we brought for the people

This was the main and best road in Belize

We arrived in San Roman after dark, so it was hard to see what the place that we were staying really looked like. We set up our bunk houses boys in one, girls in the other, and got our mosquito nets over our beds.

Our little home away from home. Girls Bunk house

Mama Sandy's and My Bed

The dining hall

We then met as a group and talked about rules and itinerary for the next week. They informed us of 3 creatures that we might see. 1) tarantula-apparently some of these are poisonous. 2) Geckos - these made really loud chirping noises. 3) "Jesus" Lizards - I was hoping that we would see on of these. Supposedly they can walk on water.

We saw this Tarantula in the church the 2nd to last night

The next morning, we went to church in the little village of Mayo Mapan, the village that we would be doing most of our mission work in. Church was ...different. All of the songs that we sang had the same "latino" beat...it was amazing how they could fit any song to it's beat. The people were quiet and reserves, but friendly. The Children were loving and wanted you to hold them and play with them...they were beautiful!

The Children LOVED for you to take their picture

They also loved the puppets that we brought

This it the church in Mayo Mapan

Sunday afternoon, we went prayer walking in the village. I was a little apprehensive about this...not knowing what to expect, but I was pleasently surprised. The people were willing to talk to us and most invited us into their homes. We prayed with them about anything that they would like prayer for. We even got to hold a 6 day old baby!

6 day old Baby

Casey and I with Marcella and her family

One of the Children we played with on our prayer walk.

Casey, Amiee, and I with Isreal and Levi

The cutest baby!!! Raquel

a one month old little boy

The rest of the week, we spent the morning doing construction, went back to camp for lunch and then the ladies would do either VBS or Ladies Bible Study and the guys would go back to the construction site (We were hleping out at the new camp that they were building.) I helped out at VBS. The teachers brought their classes over to the preschool building that we were using, and we would sing with them, have puppets, do skits, and then a Bible story. The kids were really into it and seemed to enjoy it. Even the teachers seemed to like it.

we dug holes...

...and put in windows...

...and scrapped the floors...

we taught them Jesus Loves Me in Sign Language

After VBS we would go back to camp for a little down time.

we went to the corn mill in San Ramon one evening.

The little girls bring the corn and then carry the ground dough back to their families.

Chickens and pigs wandered throughout the village

This little girl ran out to greet us...she was SO cute!

One evening, we drove onto an orange grove...it was BEAUTIFUL!!

Then it was dinner and back to the church for evening service. We had more and more people come everynight...especially children. The first night there were about 20-30 kids, by the end, we had over 140. the kids would go outside at night and watch the Jesus story for Children. We had quite a number of teenagers that would ride there bikes down and watch the movie too...although they would not actually come into the church.

Amiee and Gabriella

Wednesday night was our last night at the church and the women of the village came and brought there baskets and jewlery for us to buy. The women there can make some beautiful things.
Thursday, we spent the morning at the construction site and then drove 20 miles to Placencia in the afternoon to go the beach. It was BEAUTIFUL! The water was crystal clear and there were starfish EVERYWHERE!! The drive out to Placencia was terrifying. There was SO much dust kicked up on the roads that it made it much like driving in a thick thick fog...you couldn't see very far in fron of you. The locals would come racing past you in there cars...we would hold our breath and pray that there was no car coming the other direction as they wizzed past us on the 2 lane dirt road.

Family away from family. Me, Danielle, and Adam

Friday, we left for San Ignacio, which is where my Mother-in-law and 3 other members of our team had been for most of the week. They were in Cayo at the Deaf School. The deaf school is run by Meninites. They are of German desent and speak only German to eachother...although they know some English...and of course, ASL (American sign language). We breifly stopped by the deaf school, but we didn't get to see my Mother-in-law. She was teaching while we were there...and they were supposed to meet up with us later that afternoon. So, our group pack back into our vans and we headed into San Ignacio for lunch.

Love these girls. Danielle, Casey, and I

After lunch, we went to the Mayan Ruins. They were hauntingly beautiful. We were able to see a howler monkey while we were there...they are SO loud...it sounded like a dinasaur was growling in the jungle!

at the top of the tallest ruins

Breath taking views!!

We went back to the hotel and thankfully, my Mother-in-law and the rest of our group had made it there safely. We took a little time to get ready for dinner and then we had our closing dinner and meeting to discuss the week. It was really an amazing experience and I will not soon forget it! I met so many amazing people and was so blessed by the experience. I would love to go back...maybe one day I will be able to!