Heat, Rocks, Lizards, Chocolate Trees, and Shots

It has been one month since I've posted anything.  Sorry, I feel like I'm slacking off.  I will put random photos through out for you to enjoy.

It is Sunday afternoon and about 100 degrees here in Belize.  We are however, very blessed to have a cool breeze that comes through in the afternoons and today it is blowing quite well.  Dennis is under the house right now filling in gaps in the floors.  When it heats up here the wood in the floors start to shrink and often leaves gaps that you can see through.  So, in our never ending struggle to keep as much separation between us and things that bite, Dennis is filling in the gaps.  We laugh at all we have done with the house.  There are some who believe it could float if needed.  What I believe is that I have a great husband who loves me enough to crawl under this house to make his wife a happier and more relaxed person.

The little bungalow.

Perfect spot to watch the sun go down.

We put up some Christmas lights!

Easter just came and went last weekend.  There is not much "Christian" celebration here.  There seems to be a big focus on Good Friday and repentance of sin.  Some Belizeans built small shrines along the road sides.  I'm not sure of the purpose of these shrines, they are very Catholic-like.  I just felt that it was sad to focus on the death so much and not the resurection of Jesus.  Many of the families in the area take the two weeks off to travel and visit relatives.  You can see large groups sitting on their suitcases at the bus stops.  They will sit for hours sometimes on overcrowded, hot, speeding buses because most do not have their own transportation.

Screened in porch makes the house look much bigger.

Dennis and I were invited to the Tucker's house again for Easter dinner.  They are the couple who had us over for Christmas and Thanksgiving as well.  John and Beate and Tim and Carol were there also.  We had an especially nice time down at the creek.  We had to take this back road behind the hill they live on and go into the bush to get to a small stream tucked down into the hills.  It was very "jungly".  The water was clear and cool.  We spent a couple hours there chatting, swimming and looking for rocks!  If I can't be around my children for Easter then looking for rocks in a jungle creek would have been a good second choice.  I brought home a "few".  I will bring a couple home for those who appreciate a good                                                                                rock.  The rest of you who are laughing at me won't get one.

Us at a football (soccer) marathon.
This was taken a couple of months ago.

Three kinds of bananas here.  The little ones on top are my favorite
Applebananas.  The fat ones are Blugars and the rest are what you
find in the states.  I have gotten very good at making banana bread
and smoothies.

A few weeks ago Dennis and I went into Belmopan to get a Hepatitis B shot at the government hospital.  We had checked all around here and we were told that only the hospitals will have it.  We arrived at the hospital with no expectations at all.  We figured that we would be hanging around for a long time.  Belize is the land of "No Signs".  So, we have three choices whenever we embark on a new adventure here.  We can stand still for a very long time and observe what is going on around us.  This doesn't work because we are observing many others who are doing the same thing we are, just standing around staring at each other.  We can go get in a line.  Just pick a line and see what happens.  This is usually what we do.  The third option would be to ask someone for advice but it's hard to find someone else who speaks English.  And it's hard for most of the Belizeans standing around because most don't read English and everything that is posted on the walls is in English.  Most of the time that doesn't help anyways because they are useless bits of information like, "We will be closed Monday", or "Lunch is from 12 to 1 and the office will be closed at that time."  Absolutely nothing is labeled to tell you where you should go.

I said all that to lead up to where we ended up.  A very professional looking woman walked by and I asked her where we might get the shots.  She told us to wait one minute and she disappeared behind an unmarked door.  We stood around staring at each other and about 12 other Belizean people for about five minutes and the woman reappeared and told us to follow her.  She promptly lead us through a maze of hallways until we turned a corner and there in front of us were about twenty-five ladies, each holding a baby.  It was odd because the hallway was so quiet.  I guess it was a "Well-baby" day at the Belmopan hospital.

As we walked forward I almost laughed out loud.  Poor Dennis, poor, poor Dennis.  Every since arriving here in Belize he has had to figure out what to do with nursing mothers.  Out at the village it is usually a "nurse-on-demand" kind of situation.  So, if baby wants to be fed, baby gets fed.  A few times we will be in mid-conversation and the mom just lifts her blouse and starts to nurse.  Dennis has learned how to make really good eye contact with the mom when this happens.  I thought I was going to have to take him by the hand and guide him through the small hallway because at least half the moms were nursing. Later, when we were heading home I asked him if he saw the cute babies.  He said "no"...

Any way, we were lead through three unmarked doors and into a room that was divided up into about seven small cubicles and left there to wait for the nurse.  (I couldn't believe she left us there.  It could take days to find our way back out.)  We were quite amazed when a very smart looking nurse showed up and asked us a few questions, sat down at a computer and made an immunization card for each of us.  She turned around and grabbed a needle and asked which arm?  I pulled up my sleave and was extremely pleased when I didn't feel anything.  It was the best shot I think I've ever had.  And Dennis, who hates needles  was just as happy as I was.  Before we left I asked her what her name was and told her that she was very good at being a nurse.  She smiled and finally made eye contact.  Since Dennis was with me it only took us a few minutes to find our way out.  I am quite dysfunctional with directions.  

Our rock wall that lines the driveway is actually
a hotel for lizards.  Can you see the little man
in the foreground?

This guy comes around on occasion.  I don't think it's just to be friendly, he wants
us to know that we are the visitors at his house.

 I am tickled that I get to grow "chocolate trees"!
They are actually called cacao trees but it's where we get chocolate nibs.

It is now Tuesday and I'm sitting in the bungalow with front and back doors wide open.  I see jungle out back and Dennis out front working on  the Bronco.  God has blessed him with a very productive few hours and all seems to be going well.  Although it is very warm, 112 degrees, the wind is blasting through here at times and it feels wonderful.  I can hear thunder way off in the distance.  Dennis just asked Randy if it will rain and Randy thinks it might later tonight.

We are getting excited about going home to visit on May 9th.  It will be so nice to hug my children and squeeze those grandbabies.  We have much to share.  God didn't bring us here just to enjoy life.  We are here to be his representatives.  Thoughts and plans have started and we have so much to talk about with our church family.

Love you guys!!

The Porch, Toucans and Hummingbirds

We have a dream home here in Belize.  It is the perfect bungalow for two.  Recently our back porch was added and now we have a front screen door.  Things just get better and better.

 Randy is in the blue shirt, Roger is the guy in suspenders, and that is John in the shorts.

 A few hours later there was a really nice wood deck in place.

This picture was a few days later because everytime
we talk about working on the back porch, it rains.

Randy putting up the frame work for the metal roof.

So, as the days pass, Dennis and I are becoming accostomed to enjoying our morning coffee while sitting on the back porch.  It is always peaceful except for an occasional visitor down on the road.  Sometimes when people stay here at Bridge the Gap they like to go for walks down the road.  There is also an old red pickup that comes by just about every morning.  There are two guys inside who go down to the quarry and fill up with gravel and then slowly come back out.  It looks like the wheels are about to pop on the pickup but the guys just keep at it, one load at a time.  They always wave.

We are amazed at what we have seen from our porch already!  The other morning we counted seven toucans heading out for the day.  They are very quiet, unlike the "Squakers".  We don't know their real names but they are louder that any rooster and they always call out in pairs.  They will fly around in little flocks squaking back and forth to each other.  It is the most unpleasant sound from a bird I have ever heard.  We have also seen the most irridescent green humming birds and the bluest little blue bird.  Dennis has started to just take his camera out with us every morning.  

We don't know the official names of these toucans, but they are the largest ones we have seen.

We just wanted to share some nice pictures with you.  I am sure there will be more to come.

Dennis and I are very excited about going home to visit in May.  We are looking forward to being with our church family and especially seeing the kids and grandchildren!  We have had a good time on Wednesday nights being with everyone and listening to Pastor Jamie.  Modern technology can be a real blessing!  If we had time and lots more money we would try to make it to the West Coast to visit our other family, but that won't be possible this time.  We cannot leave Belize for more than 14 consecutive days if we are going to try to get our residency.

We love all of you in the South and the West Coast!!

This One is Sad...

I know that some of you share this blog with children.  I just wanted you to read through it first before you read it to them.  They might have questions.

I really admire writers.  I am always amazed at how they can take all those thoughts out of their head and put it on paper (computer).  I have been having a hard time figuring out how to get these thoughts of mine written down properly.  I want to tell you what I have learned about this culture, people, God and myself but I really need help.  So, I am asking the Holy Spirit to guide my words in order to convey what God wants revealed not what Vicki wants revealed.

I am amazed at the abundance of love I have found here.  I have met people who have almost no material possessions yet they give of what they have.  Dora is a mother of many children, she is the wife of a very hard working man and an exceptional cook.  Every time we come into contact with her she gives us good food, bread, tomales, donuts and even a head of lettuce.  Her smile seems to reveal the condition of her heart.  I have no idea if she is a "Born Again Christian", but I know that God loves her dearly and gave up his son for her.  She is easy to love, just like the children in the village.

Although I am blessed to be in Buena Vista during the day, I have seen it at night also.  It feels different at night.  The darkness seems heavy.  Yet every time I'm there at night I see people every where.  There are young men and old men, young women and old women.  There are many children who are out and about in the dark.  They seem to look after themselves.  I can't tell if they are afraid to be out alone.  I know that I would not be there alone.  The things that happen in Buena Vista at night are the same everywhere in the world where poverty has become generational.  I cannot go into detail because I have only heard stories.  They are stories that I will not write about because that is not why I'm here.  God does not want me to tell the world about the darkness that is present, he wants me to tell the world about the Light that dispels the darkness.

 This village is an example of how the absence of the Holy Spirit allows darkness to remain and grow.  I wondered about that for a while because there are at least seven churches in the village.  I can only conclude that the Holy Spirit is not present in those churches.  The bible has been used to manipulate and control people.  Man has made it a tool to keep the light from chasing away the dark.  Actually, if I am going to be real here I will have to say that it's Satan who has used men to maintain his hold in places of poverty.  Satan finds poverty to be a comfortable place where he can go about his business with little or no resistance.

 My heart broke the other day while watching a soccer tournament in a neighboring village.  I was standing next to one of my friends who is about twelve.  She is a beautiful young lady and has a kind and gentle spirit.  One of the other girls walked by and said "Mr.----- is over there and just called you."  My friend glanced at me in a odd sort of way, clearly showing that something was wrong.  She leaned in real close and said, "He molested me when I was in second grade."  This man was leaning against the building about fifteen feet away from us and I just turned and looked at him.  He is a teacher at this village who had worked in Buena Vista previously.  He was surrounded by many of the other students from the school and it made my skin crawl.  I wanted to go right over to him and scream in his face.  I wanted to call the police.  I wanted to tell all the kids to get away from him.  I told my friend to come around to the other side of me so that I would be between them.  A few minutes later she ran off with friends and I told Dennis what she had said.  We watched the guy like a hawk, making sure that he was never near my friend.  There was nothing to be done here, no repercussion, no justice and no consequence for this man.  I had a little taste of the helplessness that poverty feeds it's vicitms.

Now here is one of the biggest revelations that God has given me.  Dora is not the only one that Jesus died for.  Jesus died for every negelected child, every abusive parent, every alcoholic and drug addict.  Jesus even died for the ones we lable as lazy, scary and dangerous. The big revelation is the fact that my Jesus, who died for me, my husband, Dora, my children, my grandchildren, my whole family, my church family and all those awesome kids in the village also died for that man who hurt my friend.  So, don't you see?  If I believe John 3:16 then all those people in the village at least deserve to hear about how much Jesus loves them.  I came to this realization when I was teaching the kids at our first bible study.  I told them that John 3:16 is for every human being alive now, in the future and in the past.  This love that God has for them also is for everyone else, even people who you hate, even people who have hurt you.  God loves every person whom he created.  It is the Holy Spirit in us that enables us to love our enemies and forgive those who have hurt us.

Dear Lord, please help me to love those whom you have put before me.  There are some here who would take advantage of Dennis and I just because we are from America.  There are some here who hate us and would rather we weren't here.  Lord, help me love them also.  Holy Spirit in me give me wisdom, clarity, and peace about all that is going on around me. It is by your presence alone that we can be an example of your divine love here on earth.

We love you guys!

Painted Rocks

A few weekends ago we had some visitors from the village come over to our house to paint rocks.  We had been visiting their house to get some tamales from Dora their mother.  It's so funny how children are children everywhere.  I remember when the boys were very small and whenever we had company they always wanted to share things with our visitors.  They would bring out all kinds of toys and books and school work for people to oooh and ahhhh over.  In Buena Vista it is no different.   As we were standing in the drive way the kids started bringing out things for us to look at.  There was a plastic car with no wheels, a sea shell, I think an item that was a dog toy and then we had rocks!  My family knows that I am always picking up rocks, pinecones and sticks.   Diego is a fellow rock hound.  He brought out a huge bag of rocks and we sat down in the dark driveway and he started sharing.  I was ooohing and ahhhing all over the place.  Dora smiled and brought out a chair for Dennis to sit in.  By the time we left they had given me a bunch of cool rocks and a plastic toy harmonica.  In return I promised that they could come over and paint rocks  the next weekend.

We set up a table right out front in the shade and
got started before it got too hot.

This is a special rock for Dennis because it was his birthday!

The girl in pink is Lucia, behind her is sister, Thalia, and Diego
is standing next to me.

Our Favorites

After eating hot dogs for lunch, watching part of Lilo and Stitch and Skyping with Ben, Memory and Benaiah in Tennessee, we took the kids back home.

Diego and Thalia lined up the rocks on their porch.

We are laughing because Thalia is taking the picture!

Thalia is one of these full-on huggers.  She almost knocked Dennis
down the other day.  Note the rock in the window.

Because it was Dennis' birthday he got to pick a dessert.  He saw this cake on Facebook and wanted me to make it for him.  It has whipped cream for frosting and toasted nuts sprinkled on top.  But the big surprise is that the cake is actually watermelon!  Of course the Facebook one was all pretty with berries but ours was very yummy.  We shared some with John and Beate the next day and it was still good.

I will have another blog tomorrow showing the porch going up!

Love you guys!

And So It Begins!!

5:30 is what I told the kids.  "We are having our first bible study on Friday at 5:30.  Only come if you want to learn more about what the bible says about Jesus and you.  We are not having games, prizes or snacks."  I figured I would lose at least two-thirds of them when I said that.

It was still pretty light when we got to the school and there were plenty of kids running around the village.  We opened up the sweltering classroom to get some air-flow.  It never takes long for the kids to come around when they see the Bronco out there and tonight was no exception.  Ususally we enjoy their company but this time  we had stuff to do and the littlest ones were not invited.  One little guy, who is like the poster child for "wild children on the loose," wouldn't leave the classroom and a couple others joined in the game.  I had a feeling that meeting at the school was not the best idea.  We got them out after a few minutes and closed the door to wait outside for any arrivals.

We waited, then waited some more.  Dennis checked his phone to see that it was 5:33 and no one was around but us and the wild kids out in the grass.  Across the street we could see one of our older girls opening up the new Community Center, so I went over to say hi.  She was there getting chairs for the meeting on the other side of the fence.  I could see a large tent and people arranging musical instruments up front.  My friend told me that tonight was the first night of a two week revival for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the village. We chatted and she asked if I wanted to come to the revival.  I just said that we were having our meeting tonight and I couldn't make it.  Then she asked if I could come on Monday night.  I have differing opinions from the SDA church but I didn't want to offend her so I just told her that I wouldn't be able to come.  She seemed to accept that answer.  So, I helped her with the chairs for a few minutes then went back over to the school.

It was 6:00 and the sun was quickly going down.  Back at the school Dennis was starting to close up the classroom when we were extremely happy to see some of our girls coming down the road, and they each had a bible in their hands.  It was a group of three sisters and one other young lady.  They are all young teenagers except the oldest who had recently accepted the Lord.  We made a quick change in plans and headed for the picnic tables before the sun left us in the dark.  As we sat down another young lady and her little brother came over with their bibles and joined us.

 In the front of our Fire Bible is a page that says "How to Know the Lord", and I used that as a guide for our first meeting.  I really had no idea if these young people had a relationship with the Lord or not.  I had made some notes in my own words and we just jumped right in talking about the fact that God created everyone in the whole world and he had an awesome plan for each of us.

As we continued on we were amazed at how interested the kids were.  They each wanted to read it outloud so we let them do all the reading.  They listened closely as Dennis and I tried to explain it in a way they could understand.  It was getting too dark so we decided to head back to the classroom.  Right before that another young man from school joined us but he stayed at a distance.  As we got settled in the extremely warm classroom another brother and sister joined us.

Just as we were getting to the decision making part the little wild kids showed back up.  They were aweful.  They wanted to come in but we said no and closed the doors.  Then they started banging on the doors and yelling into the windows.  It was kind of creepy because we couldn't see them we could just hear them.  We tried to continue but the wild kids just kept getting louder.  At one point Dennis went out but that didn't seem to matter.  Finally, when I was about to call it off they disappeared and we had quiet.

I turned to the kids and told them that they had all the information and now it was their turn.  They had to make a decision.  Follow Jesus or not follow Jesus.  I asked each one of them individually and they all said yes except for one.  And we told him that was alright.  We all prayed together as heaven came down to Buena Vista and the angels rejoiced.  The kingdom of God had seven new members.  There were tears and some intense expressions as I told them they were now one of God's children just like Dennis and I.  I gave each of them a hug and we ended the meeting after discussing when we will meet again.  There is so much more to share with them!

Thank you God that you love us as you do.  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to take away our sin.  Thank you Holy Spirit for being the Helper that you promised you would be.  Thank you Christ Followers who have been praying for Buena Vista and Dennis and I.  Thank you supporters who faithfully put more in the offering than your tithes!  Thank you friends and family way out west who follow the blog and offer encouraging words!

We love you guys!

Just another day in Buena Vista!

There is no way to predict what will happen at Buena Vista Government School.  Rarely a week goes by when we don't have visitors or events or holidays that errupt the "normal" school schedule.  If you are a person who depends on a routine or schedule than this is no place for you.

Today, right when the first bell rang, a couple of large vehicles pulled onto the school grounds and a mass of gringos spilled out into the yard and began greeting the kids.  They were of all different age groups and they were similing and chatting.  The kids just take it in stride.  Some walk up to them and start greeting them and others prefer to stand back and watch.

This was a group of 27 from a huge Episcopalian church in Texas.  This is a yearly trip for them and they came baring gifts.  They brought in book shelves for the library upstairs. The ladies painted and cleaned for hours they even put new chalk board paint on the old chalk boards. They also left a nice supply of soccer balls and jump ropes. This was a really nice group. Tomorrow they head out to LaGracia.

During first recess we had an incident.  One of the littlest guys from Infant 1, Andel, stepped in front of a metal swing going full force and ended up with blood everywhere.  Dennis was upstairs and all he heard was, "Someone is hurt and there's lots of blood!"  We gathered him up off the ground and headed for the office.  With bits and pieces of first-aid kits Dennis decided that stitches were going to be necessary.  One of the older girls ran to get his mother, Yolanda.  She cried for a moment when she saw the wound.  And here is where the sadness of poverty hits home.  Her tears were mainly because she new Andel needed stitches but she had no money for the doctor.  I think that even in the worst poverty stricken areas in America we can always know that our children will get the emergency care they need.  That is not so here in Belize.  At one point we were even asked if we could stitch him up.

This is what we did.  We covered the wound with what we had, got mom and Andel into the Bronco and headed for the clinic in Spanish Lookout.  The wonderful, all female, Mennonite staff took great care of our little friend.  Although he did put up a bit of a fight he got through it just fine.  There was, after all, shots and three stitches.  Afterwards there was a trip to FTC for medicines and a stop at Western Dairy for Bubble Gum ice cream.  Andel was back to his old smiling self before we got him back home in the village.  Yolanda was very relieved that her little one was taken care of.

God is so good.  We used our food money to pay for the doctors and medicines.  We just figured that it was the thing to do.  When we got back to the school the visitors were still there and asked about Andel.  Then one of the group was talking to Dennis and said they wanted to help and gave him enough money to cover the entire bill, (except the ice cream).

To add just a little more chaos to the day, there were three teachers out, and parents started to gather in the afternoon because report cards were going out.  So now there are visitors playing with kids, parents hanging around to get report cards, and Mr. Mefi was trying to teach his students how to play baseball.  I look at my time spent as a teacher in the public school system in Tennessee and just marvel at the differences in the two places.  This kind of day happens way to often in Buena Vista and the teachers just roll with it.  I know a few teachers in the states that a day like today would have sent them screaming from the building.

As the afternoon was coming to an end there were still parents around waiting for report cards.  My friend Lucia was chatting with me telling me that her mother was in the middle of making tamales to sell.  This turned out to be a real blessing to Dennis and I because we had forgotten to eat lunch earlier.  Before we left Buena Vista we met Lucia's parents and older brother, played in their front yard, watched how tamales were made and bought ten of them to eat for dinner.  And we were across the street from Loren's house so we went to visit her family also.  We sat in the shade and drank juice while laughing at naked chickens and their dog who wanted to eat Dennis and I.

This day was a gift.  We felt the presence of God through it all and we felt like we were a part of something that He was doing.  Dennis and I were just there.  We were doing exactly what we were meant to do!  And I would like to end this with thanking all of you who pray for us and support us.  This day was a reflection of your obedience to the Word.  You are spreading salt and light in the earth.  Thank you!

These are the real things!
Lucia's mother, Dora uses banana leaves to
wrap the masa and chicken in.

Look at this!  We could start a new show on Food Network!

My only wish is that you could be here to taste the food, enjoy the coolness of the shade, receive the daily hugs, hear the kids call you by name, and know in your heart that the sacrifices made are worth it.

We are whupped and ready for bed.

We love you guys!

Dedication of Buena Vista Community Resource Center

Across the street from the school is the new BV Community Resource Center.  It was about half way done when Dennis and I arrived here five months ago and now it is complete!  The building is divided into two parts, one is an open meeting room and the other a computer/library area.  It is a very nice building with a fence around it and bars on the windows for security.  It has also been designated as a hurricane shelter.

Official people.
A representative from the Ministry of Education.
His Excellency Hirimoto, Japanese Ambassador.
Rene Monterro, area Representative (like a senator)
Mrs. Roberta August school principal
Eddie De la Rosa, Buena Vista's mayor.

I think Mrs. Betty gave the best speech.

Hanging around taking pictures

In the computer lab area.
I always like the unposed candid shots better.
That is Mr. Mefi in the background.

I guessed at the names of the official people.  There were three heavy accents present during the ceremony, Spanish, English and Japanese. The Ambassador impressed us all with a little Spanish.  It is funny to hear Buenos Dios in a strong Japanese accent.  The teachers worked hard to prepare for the day and the students tried to behave while the teachers were busy.  Mr. Monterro proclaimed that the entire school could take the rest of the day off!  Mrs. Betty said that would probably happen.

Now for the good pictures!

Yeslin and I are laughing because she has a piece of tape stuck on her shirt.

Jamila, Davids stepdaughter

Marcelia, she is one of my "shadows"

Trouble
Jorge and Eliel

Trying to help the older girls with the juice, all done by hand.

Bunches of great students.  If you look right in the middle you will see
Delmi, Loren's sister.  She and Dennis are always joking together.

Cesar is on the left and Herlin is holding the flower.  The littlest guy, Noe, recited a poem
for the ceremony.  It was a tragic, twenty-five word poem about the
death of a butterfly.  He had the dramatic arm movement and everything.

Susana and Delmi joking with Dennis.

Another baby who really would rather I didn't hold him.

Delmi Campos

Albert, Mrs. Betty's son.

Delmi again, this time mom is watching.

The students will bring their baby siblings to us to show them off.
We don't mind at all!

The Ambassador guy from Japan.

We didn't get a picture of the Secty. of State from Japan, but we had a great conversation with him about our children and what they have in common.  We also talked about fruit grown in Japan.  Chit-Chat...

On a more cynical note, we noticed the roads were smoothed out and banners hung for Monterro before he arrived.  If that is what it takes to get the pot holes filled in I say invite the man over about once a month.

It was a pleasant morning in Buena Vista.

Love you guys!

Vicki