Day 1
I got up very early Saturday morning and went to Belize. After we got to Belize, we went to Armenia, which is a small town in Belize. We worked there when we were there in 2008. We went to see Michael and Mateo Chiquin. Our church has been helping Michael’s family because Michael has been in the hospital. Michael has leukemia.
Day 2
Sunday, we went to church then we went to Arenal. Arenal is another village in Belize. It is on the western border of Belize. Part of the village is in Guatemala. We walked across the border to visit the people in Guatemala part of Arenal. I saw people swimming, washing yams and clothes in the same river with the pigs and cows. On our way back from Arenal we stopped at Black Rock, a resort and went swimming in the river and had supper.
Day3
We went to Yalbac They have a very small school with only 10 students. I helped with the kids. I missed lunch that day because we did not bring it with us and there are no restaurants or electricity in the village
Day 4
We went to another village in Belize today, San Antonio. We visited a pre-school. THE KIDS WRE CUTE. They sang “Twinkle Twinkle” for us. The roads in Belize are very rough and dusty. When you ride in the back seat you get very bounced.
Day 5
I spent the day hanging out with Dr. Bertrand. We sang songs and rested.
Day 6
We went to the Belize zoo and saw lots of animals: howler monkeys, jaguars, spider monkeys, tapirs, and jabirus. We rode a water taxi to Caye Caulker.
Day 7
We went snorkeling in a small boat. I got wet in the ocean, but I did not like it. It is too salty. We saw many sting rays. In the evening we went on a small boat and we saw a small crocodile and lots of stars. Then we went back to the hotel and went to bed.
Day 8
We are on the plane flying to Charlotte and going to Knoxville today.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Dale's posts
Today, Peggy and I tagged along with Ray and Nils to San Antonio, which is south of Cristo Ray. It is large, fairly prosperous village with a medical clinic, with a Cuban Doctor, a village counsel, a water board and a women’s group. The women’s group is the force behind the establishment of a preschool which prepares the children for learning English. From what we saw that day it was a high quality program with a teacher and aide. They teach 2 sessions, morning and afternoon, in both groups they have 47 children. The only oddity is that the village is 90% Mopan Maya, however only 2 of the children in the preschool program are Maya. The water situation in San Antonio is in flux. Like much of Belize during the dry season they have a shortage of water and their usual source of water has dried up.
The government is preparing to take water from the river pump it into a tank, treat it with chlorine and supply the pipe line which is already in place.
I visited Octavia Waight nursing home with Ray and Nils, that morning. They were very enthusiastic about the possibility of a point of service, like our Appalachian systems, Living Waters System. The engineering and planning need to be done by Dan and Chuck when they visit Thursday.
Wednesday
Today Peggy Chuck, Ashley, and I saw Armenia, St Margaret’s and King’s Children’s Home. We stopped in Armenia to leave a message for Odelia and Filberta and leave the scale with a new battery. We also visited the school in Armenia and talked with the principle Mr. Uck. We had hoped to take a water sample from a tap in Armenia, but this is the dry season and there was no water in the tap. We were impressed with the school. Peggy is blogging about that encounter.
In St. Margaret’s we had an interesting encounter at the school. We talked with both the principle and vice principle. The vice principle was on the water board in Armenia in 2008! The principle feels that the water is not good at the tap at the school. St. Margaret’s suffers from the same problem we encountered everywhere, the water supply is not reliable during the dry season. The principle says that they dismiss school for several weeks during the dry season because the school does not have water. We took water samples and promised to tell him the results. He says that the government tests the water and he never gets the results. The school has 350 students, who come from St Margaret’s (about 750) and the surrounding area.
Our next stop was King’s Children’s Home. It is still in the same place. They are trying to build a volunteer house for people to stay in while they are helping to build the new home. The plans are to have enough room for 44-45 children. They have added cistern tanks which they use to run the washing machines. It has effectively reduced their utility bill. The home looked much as it had when we saw it in 2008. Their need for support remains constant.
Thursday
Today was the day to visit Octavia Waight. The consensus was that Octavia Waight is a good candidate for a water system. Others will blog about the details. I am still impressed with the care given the patients. It is truly a place you could put your parents.
Our next visit was to Cornerstone, which has many programs, AIDS/HIV education and outreach program, a feeding program for children and disabled/elderly adults and others. We rode along as they delivered meals and observed the children come for lunch. The level of poverty is grim and some of the situations are discouraging. They delivered dry food supplies (beans, rice, powdered milk, and what ever else had been donated) to a woman who has HIV. She lives with her 5 children and her partner, who gave her HIV and also beats her. We visited a single mother who is caring for her 11 year old mentally retarded daughter who has stomach cancer. The mother goes to the market every week and takes some vegetables she has grown . She then buys 2 concrete blocks to build a room for her daughter. I hesitate to describe their current living circumstances. Unfortunately, I doubt the daughter will live long enough to live in the room. What appalled me above all else, was this child had no pain relief.
The government is preparing to take water from the river pump it into a tank, treat it with chlorine and supply the pipe line which is already in place.
I visited Octavia Waight nursing home with Ray and Nils, that morning. They were very enthusiastic about the possibility of a point of service, like our Appalachian systems, Living Waters System. The engineering and planning need to be done by Dan and Chuck when they visit Thursday.
Wednesday
Today Peggy Chuck, Ashley, and I saw Armenia, St Margaret’s and King’s Children’s Home. We stopped in Armenia to leave a message for Odelia and Filberta and leave the scale with a new battery. We also visited the school in Armenia and talked with the principle Mr. Uck. We had hoped to take a water sample from a tap in Armenia, but this is the dry season and there was no water in the tap. We were impressed with the school. Peggy is blogging about that encounter.
In St. Margaret’s we had an interesting encounter at the school. We talked with both the principle and vice principle. The vice principle was on the water board in Armenia in 2008! The principle feels that the water is not good at the tap at the school. St. Margaret’s suffers from the same problem we encountered everywhere, the water supply is not reliable during the dry season. The principle says that they dismiss school for several weeks during the dry season because the school does not have water. We took water samples and promised to tell him the results. He says that the government tests the water and he never gets the results. The school has 350 students, who come from St Margaret’s (about 750) and the surrounding area.
Our next stop was King’s Children’s Home. It is still in the same place. They are trying to build a volunteer house for people to stay in while they are helping to build the new home. The plans are to have enough room for 44-45 children. They have added cistern tanks which they use to run the washing machines. It has effectively reduced their utility bill. The home looked much as it had when we saw it in 2008. Their need for support remains constant.
Thursday
Today was the day to visit Octavia Waight. The consensus was that Octavia Waight is a good candidate for a water system. Others will blog about the details. I am still impressed with the care given the patients. It is truly a place you could put your parents.
Our next visit was to Cornerstone, which has many programs, AIDS/HIV education and outreach program, a feeding program for children and disabled/elderly adults and others. We rode along as they delivered meals and observed the children come for lunch. The level of poverty is grim and some of the situations are discouraging. They delivered dry food supplies (beans, rice, powdered milk, and what ever else had been donated) to a woman who has HIV. She lives with her 5 children and her partner, who gave her HIV and also beats her. We visited a single mother who is caring for her 11 year old mentally retarded daughter who has stomach cancer. The mother goes to the market every week and takes some vegetables she has grown . She then buys 2 concrete blocks to build a room for her daughter. I hesitate to describe their current living circumstances. Unfortunately, I doubt the daughter will live long enough to live in the room. What appalled me above all else, was this child had no pain relief.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Back to Armenia
On our last big mission trip to Belize, the youth of our congregation spent a lot of time and sweaty effort painting the Armenia primary school, a task we accomplished side by side with a couple of Farragut Presbyterian youth and several Belizean scholarship students. It's very evident that the school has grown since then. New buildings have sprouted up here and there. The school architectural motif seems to be more wildflower patch than landscaped garden. Adding to the controlled chaos were student desks (with students in them) spilling from many of the classrooms. It was a hot day, and education was proceeding noisily on the porches and breezeways.
Carlos Uck, principal of the Armenia school, is an articulate and personable individual with an obvious passion for educating the children of his growing school. Armenia teaches some very poor Belizean kids. About 80% are Mestizo and 20% are Mayan. Many can't afford basic school supplies. Carlos has a definite vision of how he would improve his school, given the resources. He'd create a library, and has a preference for Illustrated Classics (in English) for his students. He showed us an abridged elementary-level copy of Huckleberry Finn, and said he'd love a classroom set. He'd love ten computers, because then and only then would the phone company consider bringing in a DSL line for internet. He'd love math manipulatives and other hands-on learning tools for a planned preschool. And finally, he'd love supplies for the majority of his students, who cannot afford basic tools such as rulers and protractors. He's worried that as a result, some kids won't pass their standardized tests. This American-schoolteacher-mom can relate to that!
Peggy
Carlos Uck, principal of the Armenia school, is an articulate and personable individual with an obvious passion for educating the children of his growing school. Armenia teaches some very poor Belizean kids. About 80% are Mestizo and 20% are Mayan. Many can't afford basic school supplies. Carlos has a definite vision of how he would improve his school, given the resources. He'd create a library, and has a preference for Illustrated Classics (in English) for his students. He showed us an abridged elementary-level copy of Huckleberry Finn, and said he'd love a classroom set. He'd love ten computers, because then and only then would the phone company consider bringing in a DSL line for internet. He'd love math manipulatives and other hands-on learning tools for a planned preschool. And finally, he'd love supplies for the majority of his students, who cannot afford basic tools such as rulers and protractors. He's worried that as a result, some kids won't pass their standardized tests. This American-schoolteacher-mom can relate to that!
Peggy
Duck Run I, Duck Run II, Duck Run III
No, it's not a children's game. It's another collection of intriguing village names in Belize. The three villages of Duck Run form a line heading north from the Belize River, just west of Spanish Lookout, the Mennonite settlement on the way to Yalbac.
Chuck and I and Sheree and Aki had an appointment with Orlando Jimenez, the Rural Development Director for west Cayo District this morning. We sat in the increasingly stuffy office, discussing a variety of communities in Cayo. The power had gone out about a half hour earlier while we were eating breakfast at Pop's. While we were in Orlando's office, a heavyset energetic man in his late 30's interrupted with an important query. At least I think it must have been important based on his demeanor. I couldn't tell for sure, since he spoke no English. As he was leaving, Orlando said he was the council chair of the village of Duck Run III, and began describing the water situation in all three Duck Runs. We immediately called the chair, Victor Ismael Paris, back into the room for a deeper conversation. When Orlando described who we were and what we did, Victor became eager to get us to visit his village.
Aki was headed to Spanish Lookout anyway to price 36 inch plastic culvert pipe for a drainage project at Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio, so he suggested that I tag along and we could visit the Ducks.
We drove through Spanish Lookout, headed for the Belize River ferryboat. Before the final left turn, we veered right on a driveway that turned into a road. From there it was due north first thru Duck Run I, then Duck Run II, and finally Duck Run III. Each village is about 200 to 400 people, many migrants from Guatemala, and mostly people working on the Mennonite farms. Each village has water piped to each house. They buy it from the Mennonites, who use it only for irrigation. It's pumped straight out of the Belize River.
The water tested beautifully. Soft with low dissolved solids, good pH, no iron; excellent water for a treatment system. I also have little doubt it'll test positive for e. coli. We'll know tomorrow.
A teacher at the school told us emphatically that although the school bureaucracy was difficult to work with, the community was very cooperative and usually got what they wanted. This is the opposite of what we've heard in many places, where the village is a festering source of bickering and gossip, while the school is a bastion of functionality.
Victor, the council chair, led us to the community center where we checked the water again and looked around for electrical and water connections, and an appropriate place to build a water treatment room. He explained in animated Spanish how we could enclose part of the porch as a water treatment room, and where the distribution window could be placed. When I handed him a brochure with a diagram of a LWW system, he explained the components and flows to me in Spanish, looking for confirmation. Best I could tell, he got it right.
And then there was the final question: "¿cuánto tiempo?" How long? I was chagrined as I responded: "uno años, dos años" One or two years...
The need is now. It won't go away by itself. Kids are getting sick. What are we called to do?
- dan
Chuck and I and Sheree and Aki had an appointment with Orlando Jimenez, the Rural Development Director for west Cayo District this morning. We sat in the increasingly stuffy office, discussing a variety of communities in Cayo. The power had gone out about a half hour earlier while we were eating breakfast at Pop's. While we were in Orlando's office, a heavyset energetic man in his late 30's interrupted with an important query. At least I think it must have been important based on his demeanor. I couldn't tell for sure, since he spoke no English. As he was leaving, Orlando said he was the council chair of the village of Duck Run III, and began describing the water situation in all three Duck Runs. We immediately called the chair, Victor Ismael Paris, back into the room for a deeper conversation. When Orlando described who we were and what we did, Victor became eager to get us to visit his village.
Aki was headed to Spanish Lookout anyway to price 36 inch plastic culvert pipe for a drainage project at Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio, so he suggested that I tag along and we could visit the Ducks.
We drove through Spanish Lookout, headed for the Belize River ferryboat. Before the final left turn, we veered right on a driveway that turned into a road. From there it was due north first thru Duck Run I, then Duck Run II, and finally Duck Run III. Each village is about 200 to 400 people, many migrants from Guatemala, and mostly people working on the Mennonite farms. Each village has water piped to each house. They buy it from the Mennonites, who use it only for irrigation. It's pumped straight out of the Belize River.
The water tested beautifully. Soft with low dissolved solids, good pH, no iron; excellent water for a treatment system. I also have little doubt it'll test positive for e. coli. We'll know tomorrow.
A teacher at the school told us emphatically that although the school bureaucracy was difficult to work with, the community was very cooperative and usually got what they wanted. This is the opposite of what we've heard in many places, where the village is a festering source of bickering and gossip, while the school is a bastion of functionality.
Victor, the council chair, led us to the community center where we checked the water again and looked around for electrical and water connections, and an appropriate place to build a water treatment room. He explained in animated Spanish how we could enclose part of the porch as a water treatment room, and where the distribution window could be placed. When I handed him a brochure with a diagram of a LWW system, he explained the components and flows to me in Spanish, looking for confirmation. Best I could tell, he got it right.
And then there was the final question: "¿cuánto tiempo?" How long? I was chagrined as I responded: "uno años, dos años" One or two years...
The need is now. It won't go away by itself. Kids are getting sick. What are we called to do?
- dan
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Odds & Ends
Dave has asked a few questions, so I've decided to answer in a post.
First about my (and Dale's) cryptic comments about Arenal:
First about my (and Dale's) cryptic comments about Arenal:
- When we scheduled the visit to Arenal we were deeply skeptical. Not only had we been warned about the dangers of an unguarded border, but we didn't think we'd find anything or anyone we could work with. On the contrary, we found a destitute and needy community eager to cooperate in any way they could to address a real and deep need in their village. I didn't expect that. I don't know how to address that. But I know I have a need to try and figure it out. By the way, the water from the Mopan River that the Guatemalans drink turned black within 24 hours. The water from the well that the Belizeans use is only slightly cloudy and golden after the requisite 2 days. The Belizeans have good water. The Guatemalans don't. They share a village, but can't share water.
- The raw water concerns Dale raised have to do with the fact that we were told Myrna was keeping the raw water tank empty because she didn't want to use the fuel to run the generator to run the pump to fill the tank. This prevented people in the village from having access to any water from the public pump, a situation we had anticipated and designed around, but didn't explicitly include in the covenant. When we arrived, we noticed that the raw water tank was not only full, but smelled slightly of chlorine.We tested it at 3 ppm, right where it should be for safe drinking water. Myrna and crew said they did that to make sure anyone drinking that water wouldn't get sick (but wouldn't like the taste). They may have done this specifically for our visit, but knowing the right answer is half the battle!
Yalbac Redux
Since Yalbac was the driving reason for our return to Belize this time around, it doesn't seem inappropriate to post another entry on this topic.
After talking with Myrna yesterday afternoon in the carless carport area under her house where we negotiated our covenant a little more than a year ago, we decided a return trip was in order to watch her (them) actually run the system and make clean water. Chuck and I decided we'd go, while the rest of the team could pursue other objectives.
When we arrived at Midas, I struck up a conversation with Mike Preston, 27 year old son of the owner. He asked where we'd been, and then said he'd never seen Yalbac. On a whim, I invited him to join us in the morning. Sure enough, at 8 AM he was ready to go. Before we were.
We arrived at the water building a few minutes late, and Myrna was already there sweeping and tidying up. I greeted Myrna and looked around for one of her children to translate. I felt a little bit of panic when none were visible. Until Mike started chatting amiably in Spanish. God is good!
We asked Myrna to explain the system to Mike and walk through the paces of making clean water. She got a bit flustered when water started pouring down the drain because we had left some valves mispositioned the day before. When she recovered from this, she forgot to open the valve to let the water through the filters, so the pump was pushing against a closed system. Once we got this sorted out, she regained her composure and performed flawlessly from that point forward.
At her request we showed her how to check the functioning of the UV bulbs in the ozonator, but not without some fumbling around on our part. Dave, where are you when we need you?
We had replaced a gauge with a low pressure equivalent the day before to measure the depth of the finished water tank and showed Myrna how to use it. As a final step, we decided to insert a second low pressure gauge ahead of the filters to measure raw water depth, too. We cut into the pvc pipe just after the inlet valve and checked all the pieces for a good fit. The we decided to open the pvc cleaner to prepare to glue everything together. No luck. The can was frozen tight. Mike tried. Myrna tried. Chuck tried. I tried. Still no luck. I got out my Gerber knife. We were preparing to use the can opener feature when Mike used it as a hammer and pounded on the rim and finally broke it loose. Finally. The gluing took only a minute or two and everything was set.
We took a brief side trip to Victor Tut's Emerald Paradise while waiting for the glue to cure. When we returned and tested, everything worked as expected. We said our goodbyes and shared our hugs and promised to return next year.
- dan
After talking with Myrna yesterday afternoon in the carless carport area under her house where we negotiated our covenant a little more than a year ago, we decided a return trip was in order to watch her (them) actually run the system and make clean water. Chuck and I decided we'd go, while the rest of the team could pursue other objectives.
When we arrived at Midas, I struck up a conversation with Mike Preston, 27 year old son of the owner. He asked where we'd been, and then said he'd never seen Yalbac. On a whim, I invited him to join us in the morning. Sure enough, at 8 AM he was ready to go. Before we were.
We arrived at the water building a few minutes late, and Myrna was already there sweeping and tidying up. I greeted Myrna and looked around for one of her children to translate. I felt a little bit of panic when none were visible. Until Mike started chatting amiably in Spanish. God is good!
We asked Myrna to explain the system to Mike and walk through the paces of making clean water. She got a bit flustered when water started pouring down the drain because we had left some valves mispositioned the day before. When she recovered from this, she forgot to open the valve to let the water through the filters, so the pump was pushing against a closed system. Once we got this sorted out, she regained her composure and performed flawlessly from that point forward.
At her request we showed her how to check the functioning of the UV bulbs in the ozonator, but not without some fumbling around on our part. Dave, where are you when we need you?
We had replaced a gauge with a low pressure equivalent the day before to measure the depth of the finished water tank and showed Myrna how to use it. As a final step, we decided to insert a second low pressure gauge ahead of the filters to measure raw water depth, too. We cut into the pvc pipe just after the inlet valve and checked all the pieces for a good fit. The we decided to open the pvc cleaner to prepare to glue everything together. No luck. The can was frozen tight. Mike tried. Myrna tried. Chuck tried. I tried. Still no luck. I got out my Gerber knife. We were preparing to use the can opener feature when Mike used it as a hammer and pounded on the rim and finally broke it loose. Finally. The gluing took only a minute or two and everything was set.
We took a brief side trip to Victor Tut's Emerald Paradise while waiting for the glue to cure. When we returned and tested, everything worked as expected. We said our goodbyes and shared our hugs and promised to return next year.
- dan
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
School Daze
One of the nicest things about this trip to Belize is that this time I am seeing and experiencing much more of this beautiful but impoverished country. I feel more at home than I expected to, probably because the tropical flora and thick, heavy atmosphere remind me of rural south Louisiana.
My teacher-self sees so much potential in the bright, smiling children, who go to school in simple buildings, sometimes without electricity. Teachers teach the old-fashioned way, with blackboard and chalk. Student work is proudly displayed on curling paper that hangs from clothes pins from lines strung across the rooms. In this humidity, you can’t stick things to the walls. The children, whether in RC (Roman Catholic) or government schools, wear crisp-looking uniforms. After school is out, some run to the playground; others bicycle home. My mother-self wonders how these kids manage to look so clean in a town with no electricity or running water.
The standard expectation in Belize is that students attend primary school, although some do not attend school at all. Very few children go on to secondary school, and only a very tiny percentage receives a two- or four-year college degree. Girls especially are not educated beyond the early primary years. Marriage for girls occurs at an early age. We talked to one twenty-one year old who already had three children. Her bright, articulate younger sister had just finished the equivalent of eighth grade, and would not be attending high school. Even if she wanted to, there was no high school nearby for her to attend.
How could more education benefit Belizeans? I’m trying to wrap my American brain around that. No industry, agrarian economy, budding tourist industry…what kind of education makes the most sense?
- Peggy
My teacher-self sees so much potential in the bright, smiling children, who go to school in simple buildings, sometimes without electricity. Teachers teach the old-fashioned way, with blackboard and chalk. Student work is proudly displayed on curling paper that hangs from clothes pins from lines strung across the rooms. In this humidity, you can’t stick things to the walls. The children, whether in RC (Roman Catholic) or government schools, wear crisp-looking uniforms. After school is out, some run to the playground; others bicycle home. My mother-self wonders how these kids manage to look so clean in a town with no electricity or running water.
The standard expectation in Belize is that students attend primary school, although some do not attend school at all. Very few children go on to secondary school, and only a very tiny percentage receives a two- or four-year college degree. Girls especially are not educated beyond the early primary years. Marriage for girls occurs at an early age. We talked to one twenty-one year old who already had three children. Her bright, articulate younger sister had just finished the equivalent of eighth grade, and would not be attending high school. Even if she wanted to, there was no high school nearby for her to attend.
How could more education benefit Belizeans? I’m trying to wrap my American brain around that. No industry, agrarian economy, budding tourist industry…what kind of education makes the most sense?
- Peggy
Who is a belizean?
The myriad peoples of Belize, many citizens but others legal and illegal immigrants from the US, Quatemala, El Salvador and other near by countries, lead a visitor to wonder who is a Belizean and who is not.
Sunday we visited Arenal where a soccer pitch divides twin cities. But Quatelmalan residents were much disadvanted compared to their Belizean neighbors--in schools, housing and opportunties. One woman whose brother is a "mayor" of the Quatelmalan section of town married a Belizian and her children cross the border each day to clean and challenging school where instruction is in English. At age 9 she was fluently bilingual. No other child had such skills. Her father made her a Belizean citizen; while living in Quatemala she could be from both countries. Monday we stopped in Los Tambos, a village north of Spanish Lookout. The mayor was born in El Salvador, but is now a full Belizean after living here for 20 years.
Some villages such as Santa Marta has swung from a Creole to Mestizo dominated area with many tensions over public good provision. National government resources such as the Police and Schools are fine, but the local part [now closed] and many businesses are in conflict as milpa farmers invade orange groves with their crops. People who moved from Honduras and El Salvador have children who are Belizean citizens, but whose only language is Spanish and drop out of English instruction schools. Any project in the country, therefore, must consider the context of local residents and their attitudes toward one another--same or separate schools [as are all Mennonite schools]; inclusive or exclusive rules for social life and marriage. Most Creole and Mestizo readily accept each other as fellow national compatriots, but some are excluded as being Belizean irrespective of their citizenship. Sharon, the American who founded and runs the National Zoo is considered Belizean by many different groups, while most other Europeans are not. 20 years residence and contribution toward Belize well-being without evidence of prejudice on color or racial lines is a key.
In our visits to Yalbac today, and in conversations with people of many complexions we find that Belize is amazingly tolerant and welcoming. People of any historical nationality can become Belizean--from very black Garifuna to white Creoles and Americans.
What has this to do with living water? Two things at least. First no project will work in a community where trust is low across "ethnic" lines, and, second, shared benefits of common pool resources can benefit peoples broadly, and by the necessity for a sustainable social structure to manage pure water resources enhance creating the bridging social capital crucial to allowing democracy and peace to continue. Belize began in 1981 with much promise of ending tyranny or racism and exploitation. While this is far from realized, so far the feelings among the disparate groups of Chinese, Lebanese, Mestizo [Hispanic], Mennonite [German], American/European, Creole and others making up the official citizenship, has allowed for free elections of competitive parties and rotation of power among them. At each locale where Living Waters might improve the health and safety of beneficiaries of an installation, much extra benefits can be achieved if the work of sustaining the operation of the installation brings together communities of different legacies. Increasingly, however, potential for conflict across these divisions grows with economic growth and uneven distribution of wealth, as in the new oil fields revenues or government resources allocated to party faithful.
A strange blog? Blame Chuck. My role as a Rotarian financing partner with your church and LWW is mostly the 104 course not yet designed--macro political impacts of a project. Our Swarthmore Presbyterian church, where I have served as an elder for three terms [far apart], has mostly worked through proving a nearby home for retired mission partners and sponsoring pastors/doctors/social workers in Malawi, Philippines, Japan, Nicaragua and most recently C0ngo [droc]. Our Nicaragua teams last week included students from Swarthmore college. So while a Yale Divinity drop out and teacher of politics, I wear in Belize a Rotarian "hat". Tomorrow with members of the Oak Ridge team we will visit the Cornerstone Foundation, the Octavia Waight Centre for elderly in need, San Antonio town pre-school now being organized. All may have needs for clean, more reliable water, at least periodically. But are core focus will be on school and elder hot lunch programs, the care of the elderly, literacy for 3-4 year olds and women's associations who can advance the income and rights of women in male dominant societies [all 7-9 groups]. The issue of literacy and pre-school is a next major concern for Rotary, as we have supplied funding for the new resources for the school feeding program already this month. Returning to the question of who is a Belizean--it can be said it must be someone who speaks English [only some adult Mayan and Chinese and more remote Hispanic/Mestizo people do not. Our trip on Tuesday to San Antonio we hope our explorations will yield evidence of whether we can help this 2500 person town. In SA , all speak Mayan or Spanish at home and those with no English sent their children to schools where English is the only legal language of instruction. Such children if they learn enough English before starting school will not only to do better in school but also integrate better with the country as a whole. While Spanish is taught as a foreign or second language, we hope to help youngsters to be prepares when they enter school at age 4 to know the language of their county. English is both required for official business and is the common lingua franca. So safe, well run, food secure, and healthy schools [some thanks to clean water] from pre-school at age 2 to A level "college" work is vital to making Belize one nation.
Hope these stream of consciousness thoughts give some other views about what is going on among this group of hard working Presbyterian [6] and Catholic [1], and our two Anglican Rotary colleagues--Sheree and Aki.
e presto, Ray Hopkins, Swarthmore Rotary and Swarthmore Presbyterian Church.
PS: Like with improved safe water, my hope is that all these initiatives will strenghten Belizean unity.
was
Sunday we visited Arenal where a soccer pitch divides twin cities. But Quatelmalan residents were much disadvanted compared to their Belizean neighbors--in schools, housing and opportunties. One woman whose brother is a "mayor" of the Quatelmalan section of town married a Belizian and her children cross the border each day to clean and challenging school where instruction is in English. At age 9 she was fluently bilingual. No other child had such skills. Her father made her a Belizean citizen; while living in Quatemala she could be from both countries. Monday we stopped in Los Tambos, a village north of Spanish Lookout. The mayor was born in El Salvador, but is now a full Belizean after living here for 20 years.
Some villages such as Santa Marta has swung from a Creole to Mestizo dominated area with many tensions over public good provision. National government resources such as the Police and Schools are fine, but the local part [now closed] and many businesses are in conflict as milpa farmers invade orange groves with their crops. People who moved from Honduras and El Salvador have children who are Belizean citizens, but whose only language is Spanish and drop out of English instruction schools. Any project in the country, therefore, must consider the context of local residents and their attitudes toward one another--same or separate schools [as are all Mennonite schools]; inclusive or exclusive rules for social life and marriage. Most Creole and Mestizo readily accept each other as fellow national compatriots, but some are excluded as being Belizean irrespective of their citizenship. Sharon, the American who founded and runs the National Zoo is considered Belizean by many different groups, while most other Europeans are not. 20 years residence and contribution toward Belize well-being without evidence of prejudice on color or racial lines is a key.
In our visits to Yalbac today, and in conversations with people of many complexions we find that Belize is amazingly tolerant and welcoming. People of any historical nationality can become Belizean--from very black Garifuna to white Creoles and Americans.
What has this to do with living water? Two things at least. First no project will work in a community where trust is low across "ethnic" lines, and, second, shared benefits of common pool resources can benefit peoples broadly, and by the necessity for a sustainable social structure to manage pure water resources enhance creating the bridging social capital crucial to allowing democracy and peace to continue. Belize began in 1981 with much promise of ending tyranny or racism and exploitation. While this is far from realized, so far the feelings among the disparate groups of Chinese, Lebanese, Mestizo [Hispanic], Mennonite [German], American/European, Creole and others making up the official citizenship, has allowed for free elections of competitive parties and rotation of power among them. At each locale where Living Waters might improve the health and safety of beneficiaries of an installation, much extra benefits can be achieved if the work of sustaining the operation of the installation brings together communities of different legacies. Increasingly, however, potential for conflict across these divisions grows with economic growth and uneven distribution of wealth, as in the new oil fields revenues or government resources allocated to party faithful.
A strange blog? Blame Chuck. My role as a Rotarian financing partner with your church and LWW is mostly the 104 course not yet designed--macro political impacts of a project. Our Swarthmore Presbyterian church, where I have served as an elder for three terms [far apart], has mostly worked through proving a nearby home for retired mission partners and sponsoring pastors/doctors/social workers in Malawi, Philippines, Japan, Nicaragua and most recently C0ngo [droc]. Our Nicaragua teams last week included students from Swarthmore college. So while a Yale Divinity drop out and teacher of politics, I wear in Belize a Rotarian "hat". Tomorrow with members of the Oak Ridge team we will visit the Cornerstone Foundation, the Octavia Waight Centre for elderly in need, San Antonio town pre-school now being organized. All may have needs for clean, more reliable water, at least periodically. But are core focus will be on school and elder hot lunch programs, the care of the elderly, literacy for 3-4 year olds and women's associations who can advance the income and rights of women in male dominant societies [all 7-9 groups]. The issue of literacy and pre-school is a next major concern for Rotary, as we have supplied funding for the new resources for the school feeding program already this month. Returning to the question of who is a Belizean--it can be said it must be someone who speaks English [only some adult Mayan and Chinese and more remote Hispanic/Mestizo people do not. Our trip on Tuesday to San Antonio we hope our explorations will yield evidence of whether we can help this 2500 person town. In SA , all speak Mayan or Spanish at home and those with no English sent their children to schools where English is the only legal language of instruction. Such children if they learn enough English before starting school will not only to do better in school but also integrate better with the country as a whole. While Spanish is taught as a foreign or second language, we hope to help youngsters to be prepares when they enter school at age 4 to know the language of their county. English is both required for official business and is the common lingua franca. So safe, well run, food secure, and healthy schools [some thanks to clean water] from pre-school at age 2 to A level "college" work is vital to making Belize one nation.
Hope these stream of consciousness thoughts give some other views about what is going on among this group of hard working Presbyterian [6] and Catholic [1], and our two Anglican Rotary colleagues--Sheree and Aki.
e presto, Ray Hopkins, Swarthmore Rotary and Swarthmore Presbyterian Church.
PS: Like with improved safe water, my hope is that all these initiatives will strenghten Belizean unity.
was
Monday, March 15, 2010
Success in Yalbac
Today was a very different day from yesterday. We arrived at Yalbac to see that the students at the school, were ready and eager to see us. There were only 9, but more than half of them had been there last year, when Chuck and Ann Hansen of Swarthmore Rotary had done the clean water education portion. Chuck, Dan, and Aki Fukai inspected the board and found that good records were kept and that all seemed to be in order with the board. Some concerns that we had about the availability of raw water were not justified.
We chose to start our session with the children with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. We even got one question about the theology of the story! We then used the curriculum to have the children make construction paper representations of the jug being lowered into the well. We had put “glow in the UV” lotion on our hands and shook hands with each child as we passed the peace with the children. We then showed them with a UV light that they had gotten “germs” from our hands even though they could not see them. We talked about how you can wash the germs off with good hand washing technique. The children had been taught hand-washing hygeine in school and knew that you did not need drinking water to wash your hands in. They could also name all the circumstances in which they should use clean drinking water! Others will have other things to say about Yalbac and the 2 other sites visited today. BUT, I only want to say Alleluia, Alleluia. Thank you Lord, you have allowed us to help the people of Yalbac have clean drinking water.
Dale
We chose to start our session with the children with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. We even got one question about the theology of the story! We then used the curriculum to have the children make construction paper representations of the jug being lowered into the well. We had put “glow in the UV” lotion on our hands and shook hands with each child as we passed the peace with the children. We then showed them with a UV light that they had gotten “germs” from our hands even though they could not see them. We talked about how you can wash the germs off with good hand washing technique. The children had been taught hand-washing hygeine in school and knew that you did not need drinking water to wash your hands in. They could also name all the circumstances in which they should use clean drinking water! Others will have other things to say about Yalbac and the 2 other sites visited today. BUT, I only want to say Alleluia, Alleluia. Thank you Lord, you have allowed us to help the people of Yalbac have clean drinking water.
Dale
Army Ants
Today was unexpectedly productive and challenging. I'll leave it to others to describe our encounters in Arenal, Guatemala.
On the way home to San Ignacio from the Guatemala border we stopped, on Ray's insistence, at a place called Black Rock Lodge. It's gorgeous. Look it up on the web. It was only about a half dozen miles off Western Highway, the main road that runs from Belize City thru Belmopan and San Ignacio to the Guatemala border in Benque. That half dozen miles was actually about 30 minutes of washboard rock. Once we arrived, the beauty of the sheer cliffs on either side of the Macal River was spectacular. Ray led most of us down to a sandy spot on the bank of the river where he and I swam while the others got their feet wet and watched.
On the path back to the palapa where dinner was being prepared we noticed a stream of black ants about 2 inches wide moving its way up the hillside. As the sun set we sat too, at a string of picnic table made from mahogany. We had a delicious dinner of glazed chicken, carrots and okra, and fried plantain coquettes. Pineapple juice by the pitcher served as our liquid refreshment.
As we were finishing our chocolate cake dessert, Giovanni, the manager, came up to us with some urgency and asked to talk to Ray. The upshot was that the ants had made their way all the way to the palapa and we had to go. Now. We gathered our stuff and discovered that the ants had invaded our towels and swimsuits. We paid the bills and hopped over multiple streams off and on the path as we made our way back to our cars.
Belize never ceases to amaze...
- dan
On the way home to San Ignacio from the Guatemala border we stopped, on Ray's insistence, at a place called Black Rock Lodge. It's gorgeous. Look it up on the web. It was only about a half dozen miles off Western Highway, the main road that runs from Belize City thru Belmopan and San Ignacio to the Guatemala border in Benque. That half dozen miles was actually about 30 minutes of washboard rock. Once we arrived, the beauty of the sheer cliffs on either side of the Macal River was spectacular. Ray led most of us down to a sandy spot on the bank of the river where he and I swam while the others got their feet wet and watched.
On the path back to the palapa where dinner was being prepared we noticed a stream of black ants about 2 inches wide moving its way up the hillside. As the sun set we sat too, at a string of picnic table made from mahogany. We had a delicious dinner of glazed chicken, carrots and okra, and fried plantain coquettes. Pineapple juice by the pitcher served as our liquid refreshment.
As we were finishing our chocolate cake dessert, Giovanni, the manager, came up to us with some urgency and asked to talk to Ray. The upshot was that the ants had made their way all the way to the palapa and we had to go. Now. We gathered our stuff and discovered that the ants had invaded our towels and swimsuits. We paid the bills and hopped over multiple streams off and on the path as we made our way back to our cars.
Belize never ceases to amaze...
- dan
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The puzzle of Arenal
Arenal is a village which sits on the western border of Belize, straddling Guatemala and Belize. The border runs down the center of the village soccer field. Chuck and I had visited Arenal in 2007 ( the Belize side). We tested the water and it was contaminated. But we did not feel that we had any clear operating partner and little community involvement. This year, we received a request from a young social worker, Ingrid, who was very concerned about the situation with water on the Guatemala side. Other contacts in Belize warned us about the safety of the Arenal area, saying that it was an area of drug activity, that people had died there, and it was unsafe. They strongly warned against involvement in Arenal. Dan found among his notes that Arenal had been listed in his conversations with the rural development minister for Belize. With these things in mind we arranged to meet Ingrid and in her company to visit Arenal.
Arenal is six miles of rocks and potholes outside of Benque, the westernmost town on the Belize’s Western Highway. Ingrid arranged with the Belize police for us to cross the unpatrolled border from Belize into the Guatemala side of Arenal. We found the Guatemala village of Arenal to be gracious and warm people with a village council, including the mayor of the village and a women’s council, ready and eager to meet us. They expressed serious concerns about the health of the village. They take their water from the river, which we and they know is contaminated. They want help, they are eager to participate, and they understand the need for sustaining a water system. But from the Living Waters point of view they really do not have a source of water because there is no source in the village that could be tapped to put a water purification system on. There is water on the Belize side of the village, but political cooperation is difficult to come by. The water board of Arenal Belize charges a very stiff price to share their water with the Guatemala side. In addition, Arenal is across the Mopan River from Guatemala proper and is connected only by a swinging footbridge. Border issues probably prevent construction on Guatemala by bringing materials through Belize, and transportation through Guatemala would also be prohibitive.
Prayer support is definitely needed to give us clarity about our role in this village.
Dale
Arenal is six miles of rocks and potholes outside of Benque, the westernmost town on the Belize’s Western Highway. Ingrid arranged with the Belize police for us to cross the unpatrolled border from Belize into the Guatemala side of Arenal. We found the Guatemala village of Arenal to be gracious and warm people with a village council, including the mayor of the village and a women’s council, ready and eager to meet us. They expressed serious concerns about the health of the village. They take their water from the river, which we and they know is contaminated. They want help, they are eager to participate, and they understand the need for sustaining a water system. But from the Living Waters point of view they really do not have a source of water because there is no source in the village that could be tapped to put a water purification system on. There is water on the Belize side of the village, but political cooperation is difficult to come by. The water board of Arenal Belize charges a very stiff price to share their water with the Guatemala side. In addition, Arenal is across the Mopan River from Guatemala proper and is connected only by a swinging footbridge. Border issues probably prevent construction on Guatemala by bringing materials through Belize, and transportation through Guatemala would also be prohibitive.
Prayer support is definitely needed to give us clarity about our role in this village.
Dale
Saturday, March 13, 2010
First Class Missions
I was about to comment last night about how we almost always have trouble with our flights to or from Belize. Decided not to jinx this flight. Then we got the call at 4:30. Luckily we were already up, because we were carpooling to the airport with Chuck and Dale and Ashley. The Delta voice bot politely informed us that our flight at 7:25 had been canceled and we had been automatically rescheduled for Sunday morning. We panicked. A quick call to Chuck eliminated the carpool rendezvous, and we headed off to the airport to see what could be done.
Showing up at the gate, I threw myself on the mercy of the of the gate agent. I said I wouldn't make such a fuss except I was going on a mission trip and was meeting half my team for a shared car ride in Belize. She said that since we were so early, she could probably get me on the 6:25 flight if they could get a couple volunteers to give up their seats. I felt only a little guilty for only a little while. When I thanked her she grinned and said "I think this will be the beginning of a very good day."
I puzzled over what she meant. All the way to Atlanta. When we checked in and realized we didn't have boarding passes. We went to the ticketing counter and explained our situation. The ticket agent punched in our information, glanced at the screen and looked up at us. He grinned too. He asked if this trip was a special occasion. I said it was a mission trip. He said I guess that's special enough -- you're booked First Class!
Our gate agent was right. It's been a very good day after a somewhat rocky start. We hooked up with everybody we needed to at the airport and were able to meet the Chiquins and Filberta and Odelia in Armenia. Dinner at Hode's in San Ignacio with a visit from Sheree and Aki capped a long but fruitful day.
Tomorrow it starts all over again.
For now, goodnight!
- dan terpstra
Showing up at the gate, I threw myself on the mercy of the of the gate agent. I said I wouldn't make such a fuss except I was going on a mission trip and was meeting half my team for a shared car ride in Belize. She said that since we were so early, she could probably get me on the 6:25 flight if they could get a couple volunteers to give up their seats. I felt only a little guilty for only a little while. When I thanked her she grinned and said "I think this will be the beginning of a very good day."
I puzzled over what she meant. All the way to Atlanta. When we checked in and realized we didn't have boarding passes. We went to the ticketing counter and explained our situation. The ticket agent punched in our information, glanced at the screen and looked up at us. He grinned too. He asked if this trip was a special occasion. I said it was a mission trip. He said I guess that's special enough -- you're booked First Class!
Our gate agent was right. It's been a very good day after a somewhat rocky start. We hooked up with everybody we needed to at the airport and were able to meet the Chiquins and Filberta and Odelia in Armenia. Dinner at Hode's in San Ignacio with a visit from Sheree and Aki capped a long but fruitful day.
Tomorrow it starts all over again.
For now, goodnight!
- dan terpstra
Saturday night in Belize
We made it! Things were dicy for a bit for Dan and Peggy, and Ray was slow to appear at the plane out of Charlotte, but we made it to Belize City. Ray, from Swarthmore Rotary and Nils from a nearby Rotary went to the zoo and then on to San Ignacio (AKA Cayo). We took a side trip to Armenia on the way. Dale chatted for a while with Odelia and Filberta, the health care workers, while Dan and Peggy and Ashley and I visited Mateo and his family. Michael was initially pretty cheerful, but he tired soon. Tbhe older of his sisters and his cousins swarmed over us with hugs and smiles. Ashley had a wonderful time sitting on the couch surrounded by kids, taking pictures which she then had to show to the kids, amid gales of giggles.
From there, on to Cayo to the resort where we are staying. You might check Midas on the web, but don't believe the spaciousness and luxury it portrays. Sheree and Aki chaught up with us at dinner as they were going home from a barbecue, and after a joyful reunion, we talked for a few minutes about plans.
Tomorrow we will worhip at the Anglican church. Some of us had wanted to visit the Presbyterian church, but once again it won't fit into our schedule. Tomorrow we plan to visit Arenal, where we had gone in 2007. We need to discern whether there is a need for Living Waters there and if so, whether we might overcome the difficult political problems that arise from part of the town being in Belize and part in Guatemala. It looks unlikely, but we need to check it out.
It is nice to be back in Belize, back to familiar places that we associate with such good memories of the installation, teaching, and party. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Yalbac to renew those acquaintances.
From there, on to Cayo to the resort where we are staying. You might check Midas on the web, but don't believe the spaciousness and luxury it portrays. Sheree and Aki chaught up with us at dinner as they were going home from a barbecue, and after a joyful reunion, we talked for a few minutes about plans.
Tomorrow we will worhip at the Anglican church. Some of us had wanted to visit the Presbyterian church, but once again it won't fit into our schedule. Tomorrow we plan to visit Arenal, where we had gone in 2007. We need to discern whether there is a need for Living Waters there and if so, whether we might overcome the difficult political problems that arise from part of the town being in Belize and part in Guatemala. It looks unlikely, but we need to check it out.
It is nice to be back in Belize, back to familiar places that we associate with such good memories of the installation, teaching, and party. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Yalbac to renew those acquaintances.
Friday, March 12, 2010
My Bags are Packed...
...I'm ready to go.
Remember the song by the Mamas & Papas back in the 70's? Maybe even late sixties...
Well, I'm leavin' on a jet plane tomorrow morning. For Belize.
My traveling companions include Peggy and the Haddens. Oh, and a couple Rotarians, from Pennsylvania, including the inimitable and irrepressible Ray Hopkins.
Every trip has a little different feel to it. This one looks like it's shaping up to be good and productive. I hope it'll be valuable not just on a personal level, but ultimately for the whole church.
We've got a lot to do.
Tomorrow we plan to spend some time with Mateo and Michael Chiquin, our little leukemia survivor and partner.
Sunday we're off to Guatemala. The town of Arenal straddles the border between Guatemala and Belize. Both sides have water problems of a very different character. It'll be a major challenge to find solutions for both. And after Arenal, Ray insists we visit an old student of his at Black Rock Lodge. Should be fun. Google it: "black rock lodge belize"
Monday is Yalbac and a checkup on the water system we helped install last year.
Tuesday includes visits to Los Tambos and La Gracia, two other villages near Yalbac without electricity and with potential water problems. Fountain City Pres. has a long-standing relationship with Los Tambos, and we might be able to partner with them in the future.
Wednesday is Belmopan and the Rural Development Minister and St Margaret, another potential water site. We also hope to visit King's Children's Home where many from our teams in 2005 and 2008 worked.
Thursday is a chance to spend time closer to San Ignacio. We hope to visit Nadine and Atiliano Jones, who cooked for us a couple years ago. Word has it she is *very* pregnant; we hope to give her a baby present. And Cristo Rey is also a potential partner for water and more.
Friday we split up. The Terpstras and Pennsylvanians head to the airport while Chuck and Dale clean up details in San Ignacio. We spend Saturday celebrating Peggy's mom's 80th birthday while Chuck and Dale and Ashley play on the beach.
God willing, we'll all be back in Oak Ridge by Sunday night with stories to tell
Pray for us!
- dan
Remember the song by the Mamas & Papas back in the 70's? Maybe even late sixties...
Well, I'm leavin' on a jet plane tomorrow morning. For Belize.
My traveling companions include Peggy and the Haddens. Oh, and a couple Rotarians, from Pennsylvania, including the inimitable and irrepressible Ray Hopkins.
Every trip has a little different feel to it. This one looks like it's shaping up to be good and productive. I hope it'll be valuable not just on a personal level, but ultimately for the whole church.
We've got a lot to do.
Tomorrow we plan to spend some time with Mateo and Michael Chiquin, our little leukemia survivor and partner.
Sunday we're off to Guatemala. The town of Arenal straddles the border between Guatemala and Belize. Both sides have water problems of a very different character. It'll be a major challenge to find solutions for both. And after Arenal, Ray insists we visit an old student of his at Black Rock Lodge. Should be fun. Google it: "black rock lodge belize"
Monday is Yalbac and a checkup on the water system we helped install last year.
Tuesday includes visits to Los Tambos and La Gracia, two other villages near Yalbac without electricity and with potential water problems. Fountain City Pres. has a long-standing relationship with Los Tambos, and we might be able to partner with them in the future.
Wednesday is Belmopan and the Rural Development Minister and St Margaret, another potential water site. We also hope to visit King's Children's Home where many from our teams in 2005 and 2008 worked.
Thursday is a chance to spend time closer to San Ignacio. We hope to visit Nadine and Atiliano Jones, who cooked for us a couple years ago. Word has it she is *very* pregnant; we hope to give her a baby present. And Cristo Rey is also a potential partner for water and more.
Friday we split up. The Terpstras and Pennsylvanians head to the airport while Chuck and Dale clean up details in San Ignacio. We spend Saturday celebrating Peggy's mom's 80th birthday while Chuck and Dale and Ashley play on the beach.
God willing, we'll all be back in Oak Ridge by Sunday night with stories to tell
Pray for us!
- dan
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