Soccer game before supper
Jaguar creek swimming hole
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Pictures: Celebration of our work at Armenia school
Empanadas and salbutes prepared for us at the school on our last day
Armenia school teachers
Preparation of empanadas and salbutes
Empanada/salbutes press
Frying the empanadas
Pictures: Armenia school assembly to thank us
Student presentations
Student presentations
Start of the assembly
Peace Corp volunteer, Elsa, from the Armenia daycare center
Pictures: Water purification system installation at Octavia Waight nursing home
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Making Water
After successfully accomplishing our assigned tasks on Thursday, yesterday became a play day. Half the crew headed to the zoo, and half to the Mayan ruins. I was part of the ruins. So to speak.
We drove again to San Ignacio, where we wandered around checking out ATMs and the local market. Then we headed up to Octavia Waight on the hill south of town. I showed everybody the water system and a little of the home, after which they headed for Cahal Pech, a small ruin at the highest point on the hill. While they checked out the ruins, I checked out the water system, shocking it with bleach and flushing it before installing the filters while the maintenance man watched. Once everything was buttoned up, I took a couple water samples. The "before" water had chlorine in it, which is good for disinfection but bad for taste. The "after" water tested chlorine free, so there's hope it will be palatable to the clients of Octavia Waight.
As I finished up, the team returned to pick me up for the trip to Xunantunich, the "big" ruins on the Guatemala border. We had a fabulous picnic lunch courtesy of Jaguar Creek in a shady picnic area near the entrance while Bobby cut up star apples and made (some of) our lips numb. The tour took most of the afternoon, and after a little souvenir shopping (Peggy - we have another slate map of Belize) we made it home in time for Robin to get her soccer fix.
We're now ensconced again at Midas Resort, our home in San Ignacio for the last several trips. Everybody checked out of Jaguar Creek this morning. Kathy Huxco headed to Ambergris with her kids and Ashley. Anne, Hannah, Robin and Don headed back today thru Miami and the Fulchers headed back with an overnight in Dallas. The Culversons, Haddens and me headed for San Ignacio.
We, along with the Fukais and a couple Octavia Waight board members, dedicated the water treatment system with a toast of treated water. The board and staff were deeply appreciative of having this extra security for the health of the residents.
After lunch at Hodies we decided to chill for the afternoon. I'm sitting on the patio right now enjoying the breeze while Chuck and Dale head into town for some pharmaceuticals. The sun is down foar enough that I think I'm ready to try the pool -- yes, Dave, a new addition since last year. We've got dinner at Serendib, a Sri Lankan restaurant, with Sheree and Aki tonight. We'll try Pop's for an early fry bread and beans Belizean breakfast tomorrow morning and then off to Yalbac for an 8:00 AM meeting followed by a meeting with the council chair in La Gracia. We may stop in at Los Tambos on the way back to town, or come home through the Ducks (I, II, and III). Depending on how long that all takes, we may even have time to swim tomorrow afternoon, before heading for the airport on Monday morning.
We're not quite done yet, but I'm smelling the barn...
- dan
We drove again to San Ignacio, where we wandered around checking out ATMs and the local market. Then we headed up to Octavia Waight on the hill south of town. I showed everybody the water system and a little of the home, after which they headed for Cahal Pech, a small ruin at the highest point on the hill. While they checked out the ruins, I checked out the water system, shocking it with bleach and flushing it before installing the filters while the maintenance man watched. Once everything was buttoned up, I took a couple water samples. The "before" water had chlorine in it, which is good for disinfection but bad for taste. The "after" water tested chlorine free, so there's hope it will be palatable to the clients of Octavia Waight.
As I finished up, the team returned to pick me up for the trip to Xunantunich, the "big" ruins on the Guatemala border. We had a fabulous picnic lunch courtesy of Jaguar Creek in a shady picnic area near the entrance while Bobby cut up star apples and made (some of) our lips numb. The tour took most of the afternoon, and after a little souvenir shopping (Peggy - we have another slate map of Belize) we made it home in time for Robin to get her soccer fix.
We're now ensconced again at Midas Resort, our home in San Ignacio for the last several trips. Everybody checked out of Jaguar Creek this morning. Kathy Huxco headed to Ambergris with her kids and Ashley. Anne, Hannah, Robin and Don headed back today thru Miami and the Fulchers headed back with an overnight in Dallas. The Culversons, Haddens and me headed for San Ignacio.
We, along with the Fukais and a couple Octavia Waight board members, dedicated the water treatment system with a toast of treated water. The board and staff were deeply appreciative of having this extra security for the health of the residents.
After lunch at Hodies we decided to chill for the afternoon. I'm sitting on the patio right now enjoying the breeze while Chuck and Dale head into town for some pharmaceuticals. The sun is down foar enough that I think I'm ready to try the pool -- yes, Dave, a new addition since last year. We've got dinner at Serendib, a Sri Lankan restaurant, with Sheree and Aki tonight. We'll try Pop's for an early fry bread and beans Belizean breakfast tomorrow morning and then off to Yalbac for an 8:00 AM meeting followed by a meeting with the council chair in La Gracia. We may stop in at Los Tambos on the way back to town, or come home through the Ducks (I, II, and III). Depending on how long that all takes, we may even have time to swim tomorrow afternoon, before heading for the airport on Monday morning.
We're not quite done yet, but I'm smelling the barn...
- dan
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday
Yesterday I spent some time helping (actually doing physical labor, for a change) to install a window shutter in a classroom. This was a new design, by which a single shutter covered the entire opening and was pivoted at the center of each side. So these are rotating flaps rather than swinging shutters. Class was interrupted by our work, they just ignored the noise. I was interested to hear the teacher giving an assignment: “You have seen about the tsunami on TV. You will look up the word tsunami. What will you use?.....Yes, a dictionary. You will write the meaning of the word. Then you will write a short story about a tsunami.” There was buzz and chatter, but the students set right to work. I have been impressed that the classroom content may be different from ours, but it is often at a surprising level of sophistication.
After lunch we had an assembly in which each grade (Infants 1 and 2 and Standards 1 through 5) sang a song or presented a poem. Standard 5 acted out the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal was a natural actor, He pleaded for his inheritance, he dealt with the banker to get his father’s check cashed, he swaggered away, met his friends, got falling-down drunk and had his money stolen. He cried, and finally he realized that he could go home, where his father welcomed him. The end. The brother was never part of the story. I vaguely remember seeing a different version of this story, and it also left out the brother. It must be a Belizean thing.
I asked Elsa, the Peace Corps worker, if they had a presentation like that for every group, and she said she had never seen one. She was impressed that they had done it for us. So I see it as a great honor, and another encouragement to remain committed to our relationship with Armenia.
We are all leaving Jaguar Creek tomorrow and going various directions. Work in Armenia is over, except dropping off some medicines. There is still work to do at Octavia Waight and at Yalbac and nearby villages. Keep us in your prayers for a few more days.
Peace and love to all,
Chuck
After lunch we had an assembly in which each grade (Infants 1 and 2 and Standards 1 through 5) sang a song or presented a poem. Standard 5 acted out the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal was a natural actor, He pleaded for his inheritance, he dealt with the banker to get his father’s check cashed, he swaggered away, met his friends, got falling-down drunk and had his money stolen. He cried, and finally he realized that he could go home, where his father welcomed him. The end. The brother was never part of the story. I vaguely remember seeing a different version of this story, and it also left out the brother. It must be a Belizean thing.
I asked Elsa, the Peace Corps worker, if they had a presentation like that for every group, and she said she had never seen one. She was impressed that they had done it for us. So I see it as a great honor, and another encouragement to remain committed to our relationship with Armenia.
We are all leaving Jaguar Creek tomorrow and going various directions. Work in Armenia is over, except dropping off some medicines. There is still work to do at Octavia Waight and at Yalbac and nearby villages. Keep us in your prayers for a few more days.
Peace and love to all,
Chuck
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Laundry Day
Mondays are laundry days in New Orleans. At least that's what Peggy has always told me. That's the day, too, for Red Beans & Rice. You put the beans on in the morning and let them simmer all day while you wash the clothes. Judging by the ubiquity of various combinations of beans & rice or rice & beans in Belize, every or any day could be laundry day.
Today was a different kind of Laundry Day for me. Of course, there's a story behind it.
Last night we hosted the Peace Corps volunteer from Armenia at dinner and worship. Elsa is a delightful young Christian of Indian descent. Her parents immigrated from Kerala to Michigan before she was born and are puzzled why they worked so hard to leave one poor developing country only to have their daughter volunteer to return to another one decades later. She tells them it's because they raised her right. I tend to agree. But I'm biased. I offered to take Elsa home after worship last night. "Home" for Elsa happens to be the north end of the Laundry Building we built in 2005.
In 100+ degree heat we mixed and hauled concrete, sweated by the gallon, and nearly lost Tim to electrolyte imbalance when we ran out of Gatorade. That laundry never washed a load of clothes. In 2008, we decided that if rainwater was available clothes would be washed. We installed three 600 gallon tanks to collect water from the roof of the laundry building. No clothes were washed. We chalked it up to (expensive) lessons learned.
Last night, knowing my history with that building, Elsa invited me in to look around. It's now a comfortable wood walled 1 room 18x15 apartment with a bathroom (flush toilet!) and shower. She's got a great enclosed porch of the same size right outside her front door. Elsa told me that when she insisted on repairs to the Peace Corps latrine last fall, the new village council chair, went one better and turned the Laundry Building into a lovely apartment. I noticed a lone washtub in the corner of the porch and asked the obvious question: What happened to the other 5? She said the chairman had distributed them to creeks throughout the village.
I couldn't resist going outside and inspecting the water tanks, describing to Elsa how they'd been intended to work. The center line to the laundry had been hacked off, allowing the rainwater from the roof to simply drain right out of the tanks. The water spigot on the end had also been hacked of, insuring that nothing could be used. All this was disappointing, but easily reparable. I convinced Elsa to introduce me to the village chair this morning.
Dale and Elsa and I met with Oris first thing. We talked about medical clinics and fences and SIF funding ($100,000 Bz) to bring a water line from the river to the village water tank. We also talked about the water shortage. The village has been without reliable water for months, and has no place to store it. Oris also has no budget to repair the tanks. If they were functional, I asked, could you keep them full? Oh yes, was the answer with utter confidence. I committed to fixing the plumbing before we left if he would commit to keeping the tanks full and working with the school to keep their cisterns full too. He agreed. With fervor.
We really wanted to see what had become of the old laundry tubs. We prevailed on Oris to show us. He said it was a bit of a walk, so Chuck and Dale and I took Oris in the Expedition to a small spring at the end of a road where a woman was doing her laundry on a rock next to the laundry tub. When asked if we could take her picture, she said no. We then went to a second spring with two laundry tubs and a family using one for their laundry. The teenager shyly agreed to let us take her picture, but then refused to look at the camera. Satisfied, we returned to the school and dropped Oris off at his shop next door.
After a shopping trip to Belmopan for parts, a delightful presentation by all the kids at the school, and a feast of empanadas and something that starts with an "s" and FRESHLY squeezed orange juice all prepared by parents. we finally managed todo a little plumbing to fix the tanks and finish off the day.
For $130 Bz in parts and about an hour of work by me and Chuck and Kathy the water tanks are once again functional. Don't know how long that'll last, but I've got a bit more confidence this time around. The laundry building has found a viable use. The laundry tubs are providing value to the community on their terms. The people need the water. Maybe third time's a charm...
- dan
Today was a different kind of Laundry Day for me. Of course, there's a story behind it.
Last night we hosted the Peace Corps volunteer from Armenia at dinner and worship. Elsa is a delightful young Christian of Indian descent. Her parents immigrated from Kerala to Michigan before she was born and are puzzled why they worked so hard to leave one poor developing country only to have their daughter volunteer to return to another one decades later. She tells them it's because they raised her right. I tend to agree. But I'm biased. I offered to take Elsa home after worship last night. "Home" for Elsa happens to be the north end of the Laundry Building we built in 2005.
In 100+ degree heat we mixed and hauled concrete, sweated by the gallon, and nearly lost Tim to electrolyte imbalance when we ran out of Gatorade. That laundry never washed a load of clothes. In 2008, we decided that if rainwater was available clothes would be washed. We installed three 600 gallon tanks to collect water from the roof of the laundry building. No clothes were washed. We chalked it up to (expensive) lessons learned.
Last night, knowing my history with that building, Elsa invited me in to look around. It's now a comfortable wood walled 1 room 18x15 apartment with a bathroom (flush toilet!) and shower. She's got a great enclosed porch of the same size right outside her front door. Elsa told me that when she insisted on repairs to the Peace Corps latrine last fall, the new village council chair, went one better and turned the Laundry Building into a lovely apartment. I noticed a lone washtub in the corner of the porch and asked the obvious question: What happened to the other 5? She said the chairman had distributed them to creeks throughout the village.
I couldn't resist going outside and inspecting the water tanks, describing to Elsa how they'd been intended to work. The center line to the laundry had been hacked off, allowing the rainwater from the roof to simply drain right out of the tanks. The water spigot on the end had also been hacked of, insuring that nothing could be used. All this was disappointing, but easily reparable. I convinced Elsa to introduce me to the village chair this morning.
Dale and Elsa and I met with Oris first thing. We talked about medical clinics and fences and SIF funding ($100,000 Bz) to bring a water line from the river to the village water tank. We also talked about the water shortage. The village has been without reliable water for months, and has no place to store it. Oris also has no budget to repair the tanks. If they were functional, I asked, could you keep them full? Oh yes, was the answer with utter confidence. I committed to fixing the plumbing before we left if he would commit to keeping the tanks full and working with the school to keep their cisterns full too. He agreed. With fervor.
We really wanted to see what had become of the old laundry tubs. We prevailed on Oris to show us. He said it was a bit of a walk, so Chuck and Dale and I took Oris in the Expedition to a small spring at the end of a road where a woman was doing her laundry on a rock next to the laundry tub. When asked if we could take her picture, she said no. We then went to a second spring with two laundry tubs and a family using one for their laundry. The teenager shyly agreed to let us take her picture, but then refused to look at the camera. Satisfied, we returned to the school and dropped Oris off at his shop next door.
After a shopping trip to Belmopan for parts, a delightful presentation by all the kids at the school, and a feast of empanadas and something that starts with an "s" and FRESHLY squeezed orange juice all prepared by parents. we finally managed todo a little plumbing to fix the tanks and finish off the day.
For $130 Bz in parts and about an hour of work by me and Chuck and Kathy the water tanks are once again functional. Don't know how long that'll last, but I've got a bit more confidence this time around. The laundry building has found a viable use. The laundry tubs are providing value to the community on their terms. The people need the water. Maybe third time's a charm...
- dan
Thursday morning
It’s raining. I was surprised at how much rain could come down on the cabin roof and not get me wet walking under the trees. I was awakened again at 4:15 this morning by the howler monkeys. They were some distance away, and the sound reminded me of the sounds in my youth of the baying of the hounds all night long during possum hunting season.
We put together the filtration system at the Octavia Waight nursing home yesterday, but we ran out of time before we got it functional. We are planning a dedication ceremony Saturday morning. It is exciting to be so close to fruition of this project that has been incubating for the last four years.
I finally got to my letters from home last night, and when I started reading I almost couldn’t stop. It was great to hear from home. I was touched and humbled by your expressions of support and love. I think how privileged I am to be here. You have great faith to be so supportive of work among people you have never met in a place you have never seen – I guess that’s what faith is about. I hope I am being a good representative of your love for God’s work among the people we interact with.
Peace and love to all,
Chuck
We put together the filtration system at the Octavia Waight nursing home yesterday, but we ran out of time before we got it functional. We are planning a dedication ceremony Saturday morning. It is exciting to be so close to fruition of this project that has been incubating for the last four years.
I finally got to my letters from home last night, and when I started reading I almost couldn’t stop. It was great to hear from home. I was touched and humbled by your expressions of support and love. I think how privileged I am to be here. You have great faith to be so supportive of work among people you have never met in a place you have never seen – I guess that’s what faith is about. I hope I am being a good representative of your love for God’s work among the people we interact with.
Peace and love to all,
Chuck
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday's Blessings
The day broke with light rain and our group made their way from the cabins to the main fellowship building for our morning devotions and worship. Today’s morning scripture was from John 12 verses 24 through 26. It left many in our group wondering what Jesus actually meant when John writes that Christ stated… “Those who love their life will loose it and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life,” (verse 25). Surely God wants for every one of us to live our lives each day as if it were our last, sharing Jesus’s love with every living thing we come in contact with; thus encountering Jesus living through us and no longer having a need to have a life on earth, even while we’re still breathing and answering to our names given at birth. We are truly living for Christ, thus knowing how to love this life while on earth. But for those who have chosen to open their hearts (perhaps unconsciously) towards hate and not Christ’s love, does it possibly mean they will never encounter the other-worldly love of God? I certainly hope not.
After another wonderful breakfast, this time of scrambled egg casserole with pancakes, fresh juices and papaya made by the Jaguar Creek staff, most of us made our way on to Armenia’s primary school and continued our work building new windows, doors and bookshelves for many classrooms. Dan, Chuck and Don traveled into San Ignacio (about 50 miles west of Armenia) to help install a UV water treatment system for the Octavia Waight nursing home. The weather for us in Armenia held looming dark clouds that threatened to open up and pour heavily on us all morning, but delivered only light, short periods of much appreciated droplets of water. We all worked hard and made sure we were also available during the children’s recess periods to share their fun activities. These children are so beautiful, each and every one of them. If I ever need to remind myself or any other person about why the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge should be involved in Belize, just take a look at some of the wonderful pictures from this trip.
We traveled back to Jaguar Creek from Armenia (about 5 miles away) for lunch because the principal is concerned about water use and was not convinced there would be enough available for both his students and us. This provided us a chance to think about and plan for our afternoon’s work and possibly reevaluate what our group might be able to do on Friday, since it looks as though our Armenia projects will be wrapping up sooner than expected.
Instead of heading back to Armenia after lunch, Dale and myself were very blessed to have the opportunity to get a ride with Steve (a Jaguar Creek staff member) into St. Margaret and meet with the principal of their Roman Catholic school, Mr. Estevan Peck. If Steve had not offered to drive us, we would have taken the local bus as our transportation that is fairly predictable but definitely on Belize time, picking up passengers roughly every hour, give or take thirty minutes ☺. St. Margaret is about 30 miles southeast of Jaguar Creek and Armenia. Once we arrived, Mr. Peck was very open to talking and sharing his concerns about not being able to provide clean water for his students and teachers. Dale shared with him how the Living Waters treatment system worked and how we would be open to talking with him more in the coming months about potentially installing one for the school, particularly since we all plan on coming back to Belize in the future to work more with the village of Armenia. When we mentioned we were working in Armenia, Mr. Peck’s face lit up with a big smile and he stated that he not only was very interested in learning more about Living Waters, but that he was from Armenia and very happy that we were here. “When can you bring your team here to St. Margaret?” he asked us. Dale gently responded by assuring him that we would be in touch and in the meantime, he would need to gather a significant amount of information including how the school could access enough water, even in the dry season, to make an installation worthwhile. This could mean that they would potentially need another barrel to collect rainwater to save the current access to water from a drilled groundwater supply. Could this mean another mission trip to Belize for the FPCOR in 2012? Only God knows, but I sure hope so.
Continue to keep each of us and the people of Belize in your prayers.
Much Love through Christ,
Sherith Colverson
After another wonderful breakfast, this time of scrambled egg casserole with pancakes, fresh juices and papaya made by the Jaguar Creek staff, most of us made our way on to Armenia’s primary school and continued our work building new windows, doors and bookshelves for many classrooms. Dan, Chuck and Don traveled into San Ignacio (about 50 miles west of Armenia) to help install a UV water treatment system for the Octavia Waight nursing home. The weather for us in Armenia held looming dark clouds that threatened to open up and pour heavily on us all morning, but delivered only light, short periods of much appreciated droplets of water. We all worked hard and made sure we were also available during the children’s recess periods to share their fun activities. These children are so beautiful, each and every one of them. If I ever need to remind myself or any other person about why the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge should be involved in Belize, just take a look at some of the wonderful pictures from this trip.
We traveled back to Jaguar Creek from Armenia (about 5 miles away) for lunch because the principal is concerned about water use and was not convinced there would be enough available for both his students and us. This provided us a chance to think about and plan for our afternoon’s work and possibly reevaluate what our group might be able to do on Friday, since it looks as though our Armenia projects will be wrapping up sooner than expected.
Instead of heading back to Armenia after lunch, Dale and myself were very blessed to have the opportunity to get a ride with Steve (a Jaguar Creek staff member) into St. Margaret and meet with the principal of their Roman Catholic school, Mr. Estevan Peck. If Steve had not offered to drive us, we would have taken the local bus as our transportation that is fairly predictable but definitely on Belize time, picking up passengers roughly every hour, give or take thirty minutes ☺. St. Margaret is about 30 miles southeast of Jaguar Creek and Armenia. Once we arrived, Mr. Peck was very open to talking and sharing his concerns about not being able to provide clean water for his students and teachers. Dale shared with him how the Living Waters treatment system worked and how we would be open to talking with him more in the coming months about potentially installing one for the school, particularly since we all plan on coming back to Belize in the future to work more with the village of Armenia. When we mentioned we were working in Armenia, Mr. Peck’s face lit up with a big smile and he stated that he not only was very interested in learning more about Living Waters, but that he was from Armenia and very happy that we were here. “When can you bring your team here to St. Margaret?” he asked us. Dale gently responded by assuring him that we would be in touch and in the meantime, he would need to gather a significant amount of information including how the school could access enough water, even in the dry season, to make an installation worthwhile. This could mean that they would potentially need another barrel to collect rainwater to save the current access to water from a drilled groundwater supply. Could this mean another mission trip to Belize for the FPCOR in 2012? Only God knows, but I sure hope so.
Continue to keep each of us and the people of Belize in your prayers.
Much Love through Christ,
Sherith Colverson
Wednesday morning
Today begins overcast and a bit gloomy, but with hints of clear sky. This should be a big day for the water project: we expect to install the treatment system at the Octavia Waight nursing home in San Ignacio.
I have enjoyed the wildlife, as usual. Sunday night we were treated to a pretty intimidating vocal battle between two troops of howler monkeys. As I listened, I thought that even though I knew they were some safe distance away, if they wanted that territory, I wouldn’t go there. Monday night was quiet, but I was awakened at 5:30 Tuesday morning by their song. Last night we had rain, which was pleasant on our metal roof, but it kept the animals quiet.
Dan and Dale and Sherith and I went to San Ignacio yesterday. It is always a blessing to be with Sherree and Aki Fukai, who have been our water contacts and friends since 2007. It’s wonderful to feel like we’re coming home to a familiar place and familiar people.
I have really enjoyed being in a closer setting with our teenagers. I hadn’t know Russell well and have had a lot of fun with him and the others.
We are gathering for worship, so I’ll close. Blessings to you all and thanks for your prayers.
Chuck
I have enjoyed the wildlife, as usual. Sunday night we were treated to a pretty intimidating vocal battle between two troops of howler monkeys. As I listened, I thought that even though I knew they were some safe distance away, if they wanted that territory, I wouldn’t go there. Monday night was quiet, but I was awakened at 5:30 Tuesday morning by their song. Last night we had rain, which was pleasant on our metal roof, but it kept the animals quiet.
Dan and Dale and Sherith and I went to San Ignacio yesterday. It is always a blessing to be with Sherree and Aki Fukai, who have been our water contacts and friends since 2007. It’s wonderful to feel like we’re coming home to a familiar place and familiar people.
I have really enjoyed being in a closer setting with our teenagers. I hadn’t know Russell well and have had a lot of fun with him and the others.
We are gathering for worship, so I’ll close. Blessings to you all and thanks for your prayers.
Chuck
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Children, Beautiful Children
Hi FPC-OR Family!!!
Here we are: day 4 in Belize (3 for some), 2 days hard work under our belt. The rain today has been sporadic and refreshing. It has not hindered our work in the slightest; in fact, it may have even made the day more fun. This morning we started the day with a delicious breakfast (and diet coke for me—we all know I need my DC to survive the morning) from our very amazing cooks before we packed up our backpacks and headed out. Once we arrived at the school, we were quickly put to work finishing tasks that we had not finished yesterday and then began new ones. Today, we finished the windows and doors from yesterday, built some new ones, and started building bookshelves; all the while, stopping for rain and stopping to play with students on their breaks (recess) at school. I was amazed at how children are the same every where: boys and girls are still afraid to interact with each other, “chase” (or tag) is the most popular recess game, and soccer is the unspoken language of masses. If you’re good at the game the children eagerly let you join them, if not they say no thanks and you have to prove yourself (ask our youth boys about this). Or if you’re a girl (like me), you might just be told you can’t play because you’re a girl and then decide to play anyway. Very quickly, they let me join in thankfully! Now our own youth are playing soccer with the Jaguar Creek staff and laughter and joy permeates the air. It has been a great day here in Belize!
Before I end this blog post, I wanted to spend a few moments bragging on your youth. They are amazing! They has stepped up to the challenge of hard work, two days in a row with absolutely no complaints. They stand in the sun for hour, hammering, building windows, whatever we happen to be doing, and they do it with such joy. While doing this, I have noticed they are taking the time to get to know each other and build relationships that I know will last them a lifetime. I have seen Ashley Hadden have countless Belizian little girls run up to her and throw them arms around her shouting “Ashley, Ashley.” And you can tell she makes each one feel special and none of them left out—a difficult task. I have seen Jon Markley building a window and then 10 minutes last running down a soccer field, after being told he wasn’t good enough by boys half his age, making them all laugh, as well as, become willing to let him join in. Robin Parker is one of the most determined hard workers I have ever met. She and I spent a long while trying to get nails out of a hinge in order to reuse the hinge, and never once did she give up. Coupled with that though, is a passion for the children at the school. She spent a very long time this afternoon pushing a young boy on the swing who didn’t (or couldn’t speak) and wanted nothing else but to be pushed. Sure, Robin had other things to do, but she knew her time was best spent just as she was. Then there is Russell Fulcher. Russell has a wicked sense of humor—he can kick out a good zinger—and just like all off the previously mentioned youth, a wicked work ethic too. Nicole Markley, though not as confident (or outwardly confident at least) in her window building skills, is always willing to give it a try and do her best at it. Similar to the rest of the youth too, Nicole is fabulous with the children at the school in Armenia. She is patient and loving. She plays their games, hold their hands and answers their questions. These are your youth FPC-OR. They are changing the world and making it a better place one window at a time, one child at a time, one beautiful faith-filled action at a time. I praise you FPC-OR for raising such wonderful, loving, kind, hard-working youth. They are who they are because of you. You should definitely be proud of the people they are and the people they are becoming. Thank you for giving me the privilege of getting to know another side of them in this beautiful country.
Many Blessings,
Hannah
Here we are: day 4 in Belize (3 for some), 2 days hard work under our belt. The rain today has been sporadic and refreshing. It has not hindered our work in the slightest; in fact, it may have even made the day more fun. This morning we started the day with a delicious breakfast (and diet coke for me—we all know I need my DC to survive the morning) from our very amazing cooks before we packed up our backpacks and headed out. Once we arrived at the school, we were quickly put to work finishing tasks that we had not finished yesterday and then began new ones. Today, we finished the windows and doors from yesterday, built some new ones, and started building bookshelves; all the while, stopping for rain and stopping to play with students on their breaks (recess) at school. I was amazed at how children are the same every where: boys and girls are still afraid to interact with each other, “chase” (or tag) is the most popular recess game, and soccer is the unspoken language of masses. If you’re good at the game the children eagerly let you join them, if not they say no thanks and you have to prove yourself (ask our youth boys about this). Or if you’re a girl (like me), you might just be told you can’t play because you’re a girl and then decide to play anyway. Very quickly, they let me join in thankfully! Now our own youth are playing soccer with the Jaguar Creek staff and laughter and joy permeates the air. It has been a great day here in Belize!
Before I end this blog post, I wanted to spend a few moments bragging on your youth. They are amazing! They has stepped up to the challenge of hard work, two days in a row with absolutely no complaints. They stand in the sun for hour, hammering, building windows, whatever we happen to be doing, and they do it with such joy. While doing this, I have noticed they are taking the time to get to know each other and build relationships that I know will last them a lifetime. I have seen Ashley Hadden have countless Belizian little girls run up to her and throw them arms around her shouting “Ashley, Ashley.” And you can tell she makes each one feel special and none of them left out—a difficult task. I have seen Jon Markley building a window and then 10 minutes last running down a soccer field, after being told he wasn’t good enough by boys half his age, making them all laugh, as well as, become willing to let him join in. Robin Parker is one of the most determined hard workers I have ever met. She and I spent a long while trying to get nails out of a hinge in order to reuse the hinge, and never once did she give up. Coupled with that though, is a passion for the children at the school. She spent a very long time this afternoon pushing a young boy on the swing who didn’t (or couldn’t speak) and wanted nothing else but to be pushed. Sure, Robin had other things to do, but she knew her time was best spent just as she was. Then there is Russell Fulcher. Russell has a wicked sense of humor—he can kick out a good zinger—and just like all off the previously mentioned youth, a wicked work ethic too. Nicole Markley, though not as confident (or outwardly confident at least) in her window building skills, is always willing to give it a try and do her best at it. Similar to the rest of the youth too, Nicole is fabulous with the children at the school in Armenia. She is patient and loving. She plays their games, hold their hands and answers their questions. These are your youth FPC-OR. They are changing the world and making it a better place one window at a time, one child at a time, one beautiful faith-filled action at a time. I praise you FPC-OR for raising such wonderful, loving, kind, hard-working youth. They are who they are because of you. You should definitely be proud of the people they are and the people they are becoming. Thank you for giving me the privilege of getting to know another side of them in this beautiful country.
Many Blessings,
Hannah
March 14
We began our day in the paradise of Jaguar Creek. It is quite beautiful and very relaxing to be here. Our work day at the school in Armenia was very rewarding and informative. I have posted several pictures of our day in a picasa web photo library, you can view them at https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/srediruname=116875434378867764011&target=ALBUM&id=5584091628935776353&authkey=Gv1sRgCLjEm5ek6ouSXA&feat=email
The students gathered in front of the school for an assembly with some missionaries from Texas, there are about 400 of them and the school is growing. We met with the new principal, Roquelino Mendez, behind the school building and had his relaxed and undivided attention during the assembly. He has a plan for the school and gave us a list of his concerns and plans. Water is clearly his main concern, they have been in drought since December and the school has had occasion to be without water either for drinking or flushing toilets.
Tono planned out a workday of activity based on the principals prioritized list of needs and we set to work building doors and windows for the school building. Everyone had a very rewarding and fulfilling day at the school, they children were especially delighted and joined us to play and learn what we were doing during there recess.
We ended they day celebrating Don's birthday, we had a lovely cake. You will be able to see photos of it once I finish uploading them, the internet connection is very slow for uploading the photo gallery.
We all feel blessed to be here and are thankful for your thoughts and prayers. On a personal note, my health continues to improve, I am taking it easy and only participated for half the day yesterday and spent the balance resting at Jaguar Creek, thank you for your prayers!
Love in Christ,
Kathy Huczko
The students gathered in front of the school for an assembly with some missionaries from Texas, there are about 400 of them and the school is growing. We met with the new principal, Roquelino Mendez, behind the school building and had his relaxed and undivided attention during the assembly. He has a plan for the school and gave us a list of his concerns and plans. Water is clearly his main concern, they have been in drought since December and the school has had occasion to be without water either for drinking or flushing toilets.
Tono planned out a workday of activity based on the principals prioritized list of needs and we set to work building doors and windows for the school building. Everyone had a very rewarding and fulfilling day at the school, they children were especially delighted and joined us to play and learn what we were doing during there recess.
We ended they day celebrating Don's birthday, we had a lovely cake. You will be able to see photos of it once I finish uploading them, the internet connection is very slow for uploading the photo gallery.
We all feel blessed to be here and are thankful for your thoughts and prayers. On a personal note, my health continues to improve, I am taking it easy and only participated for half the day yesterday and spent the balance resting at Jaguar Creek, thank you for your prayers!
Love in Christ,
Kathy Huczko
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Feels Like Home Again...
We're here. Again. At least again for me. Everything feels so familiar -- like home. I asked the "newbies" what they thought so far, and saw the same wonder in their eyes that I had on my first visit 6 years ago. It's hard to project back to the novelty of that first experience. What remains is the peaceful comfort of a familiar place. It's different this time; I'm not in charge. That feels both good and slightly unbalancing. Anne's doing a great job for which I am immensely grateful, I just hope she continues to put up with my occasional intrusions.
It's also different because of the changes at Jaguar Creek. The hurricane last fall had a significant impact. Lots of trees are down and the jungle feels like it's at arms length instead of wrapping you in her arms. Buildings that melted into the trees in 2005 and 2008 are quite obvious now.
Mateo is still here at Jaguar Creek, as in 2005 and 2008. In fact his whole family is here now, living on site in a caretaker's house. Michael appears to be doing great. He's a brash and loving 4 year old who has already established a special friendship with Anne and an affinity for the games on my iPad.
The food, as always, is still prepared deliciously by Judy and enjoying time together as a group after dinner hasn't changed. Time will tell what God has in store for us this week. I wait with open anticipation...
- dan
It's also different because of the changes at Jaguar Creek. The hurricane last fall had a significant impact. Lots of trees are down and the jungle feels like it's at arms length instead of wrapping you in her arms. Buildings that melted into the trees in 2005 and 2008 are quite obvious now.
Mateo is still here at Jaguar Creek, as in 2005 and 2008. In fact his whole family is here now, living on site in a caretaker's house. Michael appears to be doing great. He's a brash and loving 4 year old who has already established a special friendship with Anne and an affinity for the games on my iPad.
The food, as always, is still prepared deliciously by Judy and enjoying time together as a group after dinner hasn't changed. Time will tell what God has in store for us this week. I wait with open anticipation...
- dan
Sunday evening at Jaguar creek
We're all here now (15). Had a nice supper. Those of us that arrived on Saturday went to the Nazarene church in Belmopan this morning. It was a good experience, lots of singing. After lunch we then went cave-tubing, which was quite an adventure. Belize has some very large long caves. Tonight we had a worship service and are now playing games. Weather remains good. Internet access is sporadic,but will try to keep adding to the blog. Tomorrow morning the work begins. - Don S.
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