The Latest from Belize

This was from our porch at the Men's Dorm

Dennis and I have been here for two weeks already.  We are learning a lot, we are making friends, we are learning from our mistakes, we are laughing, we are crying, and most of all we are leaning on our Lord each day. 

John and Randy have been here!  Awesome sheet rock!
From left to right, edge if front door, bathroom door, electrical panel, kitchen window.

Our bedroom.

Standing in the front door looking out the back.  The kitchen windows are on left.

Dennis "flooding" the house.

The “Bungalow” will soon be a home.  We hope to be moving in soon.  Well, maybe a few more weeks.  Dennis and John have been hard at work every day.  The outside of the house has to be “Flooded”, which means painted with some wood preservative stuff.  Dennis is on the second coat today.  He has been fighting off the flies and bitey bugs as he goes.  At the end of the day he walks in the dorm totally wet.  Ewww!  But he earned that sweat and I am proud of him.  I must say that I am helping also.  I have put two coats of varnishy stuff on the outside doors.  Of course, the first time around I messed them up and had to sand out my mistakes.  But, I think I finished them today and they look nice.  Just don’t look to close.

We got our fridge and stove in San Ignasio.  There is an appliance store right in the middle of town called “Courts”, and a nice young lady named Mrs. Moody helped us quite a bit.  Now when I say that it was the middle of town it’s not like having a square.  The entire town’s road system converges right in front of Courts.  There are five streets that cross at this apex and that is where Dennis had to park the pickup.  Then he had to turn it around.  I wish I had a video camera.  It was complete chaos, there are maybe two stop signs and those seemed to be optional.  The taxi drivers were there taking it all in.  This must be a normal day for them.  People were honking and yelling.  Cars were half way in the middle and stopped.  Oh yeah, then you can add the pedestrians.  No cross walks.  This guy next to Dennis was mad because he had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting the pickup.  I was watching him and the guy didn’t even turn around to look before pulling out.  For all of you at home who know Dennis you would have been proud.  California Dennis did not show up.  I thought I would have to sedate him later, but he was awesome.  (Our boys, Ben, Sam, and Daniel will appreciate this story.)

Thank you to Mrs. Danielle and the GLK.  They have officially named the beautiful green lizard that lives on the steps in front of the dorms.  He is to be called The Lizard of Oz.  I see him often and we are on friendly terms so far.  He was doing this head bobbing thing the other day and I thought he was just getting my attention to say hi.   Maybe come hang out with him.  Later I learned that he was showing aggression.   Well, I just choose not to believe that.  We are buds…until he tries to jump on me or bite me.

  

The Lizard of Oz

Wednesday was my first day in the school in Buena Vista!!!  I spent some time with a class of 32 seven and eight year olds.  Wow!  Mrs. Yvette was awesome.  She made me feel very welcome.  She sang letter and number songs.  But best of all, she sang songs about Jesus.  I almost cried.  I would have reprimanded back in Tennessee if I had tried that.  Teachers get fired for much less than that now in the States.  I would have loved to sing Jesus Loves Me with my special ed. kids.

 

They have an hour for lunch so all the kids can go home and eat.  After lunch, Mrs. Betty, the principal gathered up two groups of students for me to work with.  The kids are a mix of ages and classes.  We all get together to work on our English skills.  We made an agreement, they will learn better English skills and they won’t laugh at me when I attempt Spanish. In return I will do my best to teach them what I can. I am very excited about what this year will bring!  I can’t wait to share it all with my family and friends back home.  I am in the process of filling out paper work to be a volunteer at the school.  Pray that there are no hitches along the way.

Thank you for praying for us.  God has taught me to focus on the prayers instead of the problems.  It helps to remember that God is hearing from all of you!  He will not let us down.

We love you all.