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 2007 Belize Blog Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Dear Friends and Family, We are safe and sound in the wonderful country of After arriving at the airport and going through customs, we were headed off for an Amish homemade ice cream place. We were all treated to a cone and were very grateful for this. We were really feeling the humidity and heat. After our treat we went to a small village named After serving them, we had the opportunity to play with the children and get to know them. Both the children and our group were all smiles. We were running around playing tag, playing hot potato, playing soccer (or futból as the children call it), or just talking to the locals and getting to know them. Unfortunately, we could not stay there all night so we departed and drove back at the hospital. At the hospital we were greeted with food! We all sat down and enjoyed our burritos. After the meal, we quickly ran to our houses to claim our rooms and beds. We unloaded our belongings and came down for worship. As for our group, I can say that we are all glad to come here, our home, for 12 days. Can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow. I hope all is well with everyone at home, work, church, and school!
God Bless,
Rheba Correia
Hey Wanted to let everyone know that we made it safely, and with the exception of Scott’s little adventure in It’s about 7:15 in the evening now, and we’re all just enjoying the chance to hang out, get used to the wonderfully warm weather, and overall not have to worry about how many ounces of liquid we have in our little plastic baggies- oh, you know what I mean ;) . I can’t wait to see what our first (real) day in
~ Victoria Marroquin
Thursday, March 29, 2007 Morning Dear Friends and Family, This morning as we woke up at, what seemed to us, late, but in reality most of us emerged from our beds around 7’oclock Belize time (9 Maryland time). After a quick worship by Pastor J, we ate these homemade flat bread patty thingies, oatmeal, and watermelon. After our meal, a group of us went to the girls’ dorm house and emptied some luggage that carried supplies. The supplies were sorted out, leaving the hygiene kits and bibles out for us to disperse to the families around Bullet Tree. I had the opportunity to be in the Medical Aid/ Out Reach team. We drove the bus out to the Adventist Bullet Tree church and school, and separated from there. Half of our group went right, the other half left. So with about 7 other people, I walked door to door handing out the bibles and hygiene kits. Each family was so happy whenever they saw us coming up. Everyone was thrilled to be given a bible. With some of us speaking a little Spanish, we were able to tell the mothers about our VBS we would be starting Sunday. After giving away all the kits and bibles, we walked back to the school. A teacher asked Mrs. Welsh to watch his kids while he ran to the office for a second. We were excited to spend some time with these kids. Mrs. Welsh gave them a quick spelling bee and soon after the kids were free to go to lunch. Most of the children stayed and wanted to play tag with us or just simple talk to us. Most of the kids remembered us and asked if specific children were here and were anxious to see them. We unfortunately had to leave these children and return to the hospital for lunch, curry soup, bread, rice, macaroni and cheese, and plantains. Our next endeavor is to go back out and dig a hole for a sewage line for the kids in the Bullet Tree School. Hope all is well! God Bless, Rheba Correia
Thursday Evening 3-29
Hello everyone back at home!
We have now made it through the first whole day of our trip and the energy of our group is as pumped up as ever! This morning we were treated to a wonderful breakfast by the hospital staff (we are being spoiled with good food!) and afterwards split into groups for our assignments for the day. The groups included the construction/electrician crew, the outreach ministry/medical team, and the VBS planners.
The construction crew had a great time beginning the digging process where they are going to be installing new toilets for the Bullet Tree SDA school. This school is in great need of new bathroom facilities—so we realized last year. I was a part of the outreach and ministry/medical team. We loaded up on Bibles and hygiene kits and made our way through the village of Bullet Tree. The people living there are very friendly and most speak in English (very convenient!). At first our team was a bit nervous about talking to new people, but we quickly got over that and had a great time getting to know some of them and making them smile. ?
Those who were designated to plan VBS stayed back at the Hospital to plan skits, songs, the crafts, and the story plan for the night. The plans were soon put into action when we reached the village of Buena Vista. The kids there were SO happy to see us! As you know we had stopped by there yesterday, so the kids were anticipating seeing each of their individual friends they had made in us the day before. It was just such an uplifting experience to feel loved by these kids who were so eager to attach themselves to us! The story presented today was the story of the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus. A group of us played out the story in the form of a skit. We then broke up into small groups to discuss the story with them and give them stickers. The stickers were quite the hit because they were all over the kids, us, and everything! Unfortunately though our time with them ended all too soon and we were back on the bus to the hospital already anticipating when we would see them again.
We look forward to another day of adventure!
--Kimmie Comeau
To whom it may concern (aka everyone who is reading this ?):
Howdy howdy howdy! Well, I must say, everything is going wonderfully. It’s every bit as great as it was last year, I can’t wait for all the new memories and friends I am going to make this year. Yesterday was pretty cool, but today was far better.
This morning I awoke thinking it was about 7 or so, but in reality it was about 5:30. I’m fairly certain most of the people experienced this, but most went back to bed. We walked down for worship and Pastor Jason handed out some journals for all of us. Afterwards, we had a delectable breakfast of some very unique bread-square-toasty-sort of pastry like……things. I don’t know the name ?. They were very good, though.
Then we all got ready and split out into our groups. Some people went up to the Halfway House (the girls’ house) to organize VBS supplies and plan the schedule for most of the trip. Others went to the Bullet Tree SDA Primary School to start digging a trench for a brand new plumbing system. All the rest of us were part of the Medical/Outreach team, who went to the Bullet Tree village, gathered a bunch of Bibles and Hygiene kits (our thanks to all those who sponsored them!) and we set off on our epic journeys! We split up into about three groups and visited several houses in the village. It was fascinating to just stand there, talk and see how talented and interesting all these people are, and how happy they are despite their “poverty”. I put that in quotes because although they do not have all the things that we consider normal, they still have more than the necessities. Roofs over their heads, running water, even a few electronics here and there. Anyway, after we visited them most of us ended up back at the school where we ran the class while the teacher had to go out for a minute. What an experience that was! It was really enjoyable to meet all the kids from last year, you just can’t help but want to go back again and again and again……?
After projects, we had another great meal of Mac and cheese and some other “delicacies”. Then about half of us headed back to the school to keep working on construction, while the rest of us went to Buena Vista. We played with the kids for an hour or two, and then started the program. We did a skit for them, sat and talked with them, and then just mingled some more. Eventually, it turned back into playtime. All the kids here and really so great.
Once we had to part with them, we came back for a dinner of some homemade burgers. Following that, we came and had a worship, and then a “special treat”. Mr. Jacobson treated us all to ice cream at Cayo Twist, a fantastic little ice cream store, and it’s all soy! You never would have guessed. Anyway, its pretty late and I should be back at the house already, so I guess I need to go. Talk to you guys soon!
-Steven Blondo-
Friday AM 3-30-07
A note from Pastor Jason,
One hesitates to speak too quickly, but this years mission trip has started off as the best so far in several ways. First of all we are getting an earlier start on our construction projects. It normally takes a couple of days to get things together. Even though we chose the projects months ago it still takes time to get materials delivered and to make sure we have the right tools. This year we started our projects on our first full day.
The thing that shoots many trips in the foot is transportation. In theory there are vehicles available, but often the “well used” buses and vans that belong to the hospital and the conference barely made it through the last group and now need repair before they can be used. Fortunately we not only have great drivers, but a very good mechanic in Ralph Craig. The only “mishap” so far with transportation so far is that when Brian show, our trip organizer, went to fill one of the vans with gas at the service station. He had a bit of a surprise. I should say that the station attendant had a surprise when she went to fill the tank. She inserted the nozzle, pulled the handle, and had to jump out of the way when the gas poured directly through on the ground. Apparently “everyone” knows that the bottom of tank one is rusted out. Fortunately tank two was intact!
The third reason that this trip is starting off so well is the most important. Usually there is a point on the trip when the group “gels”. By “gelling” I mean we have a moment when we become a team in ministry, and all the things that can separate people become small and insignificant, and service in the name of Christ become paramount. It seems like from day one this year there is a spirit of unity among staff and students. As we come to the Sabbath hours I truly believe that this trip can be our best so far.
Please keep us in your prayers. Pray for safety, health, unity, and above all for a servants heart for everyone involved in this ministry in Belize. Thank-you to our church, sponsors, school and church for making this possible. Above all thanks to our gracious God for answering our prayers and yours.
Pastor Jason
Hello All
PLEASE TRY GOING TO http://belizeblog07.blogspot.com/ THIS IS A NEW BLOG SITE WE ARE TRYING. IT SHOULD HAVE SOME PICTURES, DAILY UPDATES AND ROOM FOR YOU TO SEND US COMMENTS! Joel
Friday PM, March 30, 2007
Hello again, Well today was a really fun day for me. I was assigned to a construction crew in Bullet Tree at the Spencerville Church. A truck dumped 4 truckloads of dirt and we had to spread it evenly leveling out the land. The church was on a hill and so we made it easier to get into the church. After lunch I was asked to come back to the church and help finish the spreading, so I was unable to attend the VBS tonight. So while everyone was playing with the children at Buena Vista I was working hard. I also learned how to make forms for steps. We made the outline for the concrete steps to be poured Sunday. After a day of work in the dirt, I was COVERED in dirt. I looked like I was really tan but unfortunately it was just the dirt. I ate for two people I was so hungry tonight. I know I will fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow tonight. Good night Maryland!
Rheba Correia
Hey Everyone,
Well, this is the first time I will be writing to all of you still at home. Today, I was also assigned to a construction crew in Bullet Tree, but with the group that is working at the school on their new bathrooms. Yesterday we dug trenches for the pipe that will bring the water to the bathrooms and we had finished most of it but today we got to dig the last bit. It was pretty much solid rocks, not just one rock level but many, many rocks. So our amazingly muscular boys got the pick axes and broke up the rocks that we then shoveled out of the trench. After we finished that and put the pipe in, many of us were ready to go back to the hospital; but, we were not done . . . While Ralph supervised the back hoe, as it dug the holes for the foundations of the building and the ten to fifteen feet holes for the septic tank, the children finished their chapel and came over to “talk” to us, many simply just stared – the language barrier had something to do with that - considering that I dropped out of Spanish 2 this year. After scooping out about six tubs of ice cream and watching the back hoe do more work we left for lunch. No one should worry about how we are being fed, the food is delicious, especially the homemade bread! After lunch we went back to the school and made rebar support for where the concrete will be poured.
It looks like I’ve already typed to much, so I’m pretty much quitting for tonight, sorry if this got boring.
Juli McGraw
Hello all,
So it’s pretty much my first time blogging for the Mission Trip, and I’m pretty excited about what’s already happening in Belize. Yesterday, after a morning well spent by passing out Bibles and hygiene kits in Buena Vista, I was able to work at the Bullet Tree Adventist School with the infamous ditch digging crew. Before I begin describing the event, I want to explain why it held such significance in my heart. Prior to, and during our mission trip, I’ve always heard that at times, it’s easier to see Jesus portrayed by individuals than at other times. Previously, I tended to believe that these times would be completely obvious to everyone around the occurrence, as if to say that someone would just appear to be more holy to all else. I’ll admit that I wasn’t fully aware that these times can occur during life’s “small moments,” the moment when nothing seems to be different than at any other time of the day. Yesterday, while digging our ditches, I, along with some of the other guys on the trip, were surrounded by children, all boys, and all anxious to play with the new kids in town. Now, my friends and I could have just as well ignored the children, and continued our work, but instead, we put our jobs on hold for a bit, and took the time to make the kids’ day. It was at that moment that I realized, you can see Jesus in a lot of life’s moments, and that the small moments, the moments when the decision is really up to you, are when we need to portray Jesus the most. Along with numerous other times, I truly saw Jesus in my friends who took the time to play with the village kids of Bullet Tree. I think Jesus would have done the same thing, and I’m glad that we were able to show a little of what He is like. Until next time… Jarrod Lutz
Sabbath Morning
Hello again, Maryland! Just wanted to drop another note to let you all know what an incredible time each of us is having. It’s such a wonderful feeling to get off that bus and see those beautiful, smiling faces that have been in the pictures on my wall for a year now. Yesterday, I had a great chance to hang out with the kids and really get to know some of them a lot better. While I was in the village of Buena Vista, one of the teachers noticed that I was helping the kids carry some books, and asked if I would help in putting together a new library for them. After a morning of transferring all the books, shelves and furniture, we had the biggest pile of books you’ve ever seen, just sitting there in the middle of the room. The thought of having to gather, shelve, and organize that many books seemed almost impossible. Before having to leave for lunch, though, I taught a group of the older girls how to organize the books numerically, alphabetically, and by appropriate age. I left with the intention and plan to come back in a few days to tackle the pile and, at least, try to get them on the shelves and off of the floor. Oh my goodness, you should’ve seen my face when I returned to the village after lunch, only to see my mountain of books virtually gone, the text books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and practically all of the other literature beautifully shelved on the sides of the room. It was absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never seen a group of kids work so hard, and be so dedicated on a project before. What had seemed like the impossible only a few hours before was now a wonderful new library and study space for the kids, and a spacious new office for the teachers. So I may not have spent the day in the sun, shoveling dirt, or worked on building a new bathroom for the school, but yesterday, I was really blessed in such a special way. Sometimes at home, all the responsibilities and deadlines can just feel so overwhelming. At times, it even gets to the point where I may start to ask myself, “Why bother? Is it really gonna make a difference?”. These kids, having nothing yet willing to share everything, gave me a definite answer for that yesterday. Yes, it does matter. Yes, it will make a difference. In them I saw true dedication, and perseverance towards a common goal. By their example, I have the motivation to take back that spirit of dedication and put it into use at home. And on that note, it’s about time for church. Hope everyone has an incredible weekend- and Happy Spring Break SAA! Until later- ~Victoria So far the experience in Belize has been so awesome for me. I’m not too sure what to talk about, so I guess I’ll just type whatever comes to mind. On Wednesday, when we landed in Belize, we had to take an extremely long bus ride to get to where we needed to be. On the way, we stopped to get ice cream, which by the way, was pretty much the best ice cream I’ve had in a long while. We also decided to bring extra ice cream to hand out to the kids in Buena Vista. That was a great opportunity for me. It was the first time I got to see those kids, and to be scooping out ice cream for them to eat, and seeing there faces, was awesome for me. Some kids even had like, 5 or more bowls of it. On Thursday, I helped with getting the VBS stuff together. Some people headed out to do construction and something else, I forget what. But I had like maybe 10-15 other kids or so with me helping sort the VBS stuff into certain suitcases and talking about what we would be doing that night. In the afternoon we went over to Buena Vista and hung out with the kids, which was so much fun. All of them had so much energy and constantly wanted us to chase them. They didn’t speak too much English though, so it was difficult to have a conversation with them. I met a few of the kids there, but all in all, I was talking and hanging out with a whole bunch of different kids, even if I didn’t know their name. Later in the night we started the VBS program there. It went fairly well for the first day of it. Friday morning I got to do a bit of landscaping at the Spencerville church in Bullet Tree. It was mainly all girls working on it, plus Steven Blondo and Chris Wetmore and some of the adults. We worked on shoveling and smoothing out dirt for about 4 hours, and got extremely dirty. Mr. Jacobson even took a picture of us and our dirty legs. It was actually a lot of fun working there, a lot better than what I thought it’d be, and considering that it was basically all girls, I think we did a great job and made a lot of progress. In the afternoon, we had another VBS meeting, and then went to Buena Vista again and hung out there and did VBS. Sabbath was great, and plus, we got to sleep in a little, which was real nice. I went to the Buena Vista church, and there were two other groups going to two other different churches. It was a great experience going to that church to see what they do on Sabbath. In the afternoon we went to Buena Vista again to be with the kids and do another VBS program, which would be our last. Today is Sunday, and I’m not too sure what I’ll be doing today, but I think we’ll be starting VBS at Bullet Tree. I can’t wait to see those kids, and see what we can do to help them.
Lisa P
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Joel |
