Final day at Belize... to the OCEAN!

Today was our last day in Belize. I captained a local boat, "Got de Blues" for some snorkeling, beach combing, and swimming on a sandbar. And we saw DOLPHINS!

We do NOT need a new mascot

No, Nick! You may NOT bring that tarantula home with you!

20 Minutes and 4 stitches later...

OUCH! We had an unexpected excursion after our Mayan ruins excursion, to the Polyclinic in town. Becca needed four stitches after she fell and had a nasty gash on her knee. The doctor and nurse were friendly and efficient. Sewing us up and sending us on our way in 20 minutes. And, no cost to us. Becca now has a Belizian medical card!

....Correction: FIVE stitches. :)

Saying goodbye to the Howard Smith Nazarene School

After a week of VBS and working on the playground, it was time to say goodbye to our new friends. The team put some finishing touches on the project before heading out for some sightseeing at the Mayan ruins.

MEET THE TEAM (BELIZE EDITION): Gian!

We made lots of new friends, but it was really cool to get to know Gian (quckly nicknamed "G"). He's a rising junior in High School, a hard worker, and a good natured guy. He's also teaching me some Belizian Kriol. Way gwan nan.

That's a big yard

They brought out two push mowers for the 150,000 acres of grass on the campus. I was going to volunteer but Nick and Jonathan REALLY wanted to mow some grass. They did most of the mowing with a little help from Scott and RJ (maybe others?)

FINAL DAY OF VBS

Day four came to a close with over 45 kids for VBS. We all had a great time singing, and teaching, and learning Bible verses, and playing, and making crafts, and meeting new friends!

KIDS

Kids love their "Call of Duty." Did I hear Jonathan say, "I'm next?"

MEET THE TEAM: David!

I've really enjoyed working with David. He's flexible: leading the singing, working on the playground, and do back flips to help illustrate one of the stories. Awesome.

A wonderful finish to a great day

After work, before heading back to the campgrounds, we went to the "Low Bridge" for a swim in the river. It was beautiful and awesome and people jumped and dived off the bridge (Autumn was the first!) and just an amazing way to finish up a hot day of work and VBS.

Hmmm.

They don't mess around with illegal car washers in Belize, according to my Main Man Marconi!

END OF DAY 3. ROOFS ON!

We got the third and final roof on the playground today! WOO-HOO!

MEET THE TEAM: Nick!

Nick is my favorite pet human, since I've known him the longest and live in his room. He's done a great job this week working on the playground (and playing some guitar). He's learned how to use the circular saw, and nail boards, and tolerate 4" of mud! Awesome.

Carlos has done a great job feeding us lunch every day. Tasty and all local stuff. Nothing prepacked or McNuggety. My favorite? Fried bananas, of course!

MAD SKILZ on the circular saw

I told RJ I would cut the 4x4 beam. But he wanted to do it himself. He and the rest of the crew have all learned some new skills this week.

Workin' in the Rain (in Belize)

Neither rain, nor mud, nor lack of experience mixing cement on the ground, shall stop these teens from their job!

MEET THE TEAM: Angalyce!

"A" stands for Awesome and Angalyce! She is one of the teens who have done a great job this week working with the kids (games, singing, and leading the group) and helping out whereever needed! YAY!

MEET THE TEAM: Elana!

Elana is one of three mom's traveling with their kids on this trip. She's helping Autumn with crafts (and filling in wherever else she's needed). She had the right idea and got a short haircut before the trip. For some of the people (but not Ape's like me) it's been hot and sweaty. Through it all, though, everyone's doing great.

TURSDAY MORNING. Day 3 of VBS

We are settling into a little routine here. Get up. have a FABULOUS breakfast (scrambled eggs, flat jack bread, fresh cantaloupe, bean sauce). Then load up the vehicles for the 10 minute drive to the school. We start with VBS, where some of the teens lead the music. Today, they learned a new song "Your Love is Deep" with Nick on Guitar. Awesome sauce.

MEET THE TEAM: Anna!

Anna has a smile that lights up a room (of course, not in this picture, since she was shoveling in the rain. Trooper.). Awesome.

SAWING BOARDS

This has been a pretty easy crew to supervise, even though hardly anyone has any construction experience at all. I decided to jump in and do a little of the work myself, just to show everyone the right technique. I've been impressed with how everyone is willing to learn new skills!

MEET THE TEAM: Scott!

Scott doesn't bring many skills to the table, but that's okay. At least he can write our donor's initials on the nail heads.

MEET THE TEAM: Sam!

Sam (and Emely) at VBS. Sam is a hard worker who doesn't mind getting a little mud on the tires (tennis shoes).She works in the morning with the singing and as a group leader.

MEET THE TEAM: Becca!

My sister, Becca, has been doing a little bit of everything this week. In the VBS, she helps lead the songs and works the memory verse station. In the afternoon, she does whatever task we ask her to (including ratcheting in a bolt).

GAME STOP BELIZE STYLE

Jonathan stopped by to help Ann with the games. It's amazing how much fun you can have with a square sheet and a beach ball.

Carlos and his daughter are fixing our lunches this week. They are wonderful and friendly. And, they have awesome green eyes.

MEET THE TEAM: Jonathan!

My main main Jonathon. Working hard on the construction site or playing games with the VBS kids, Jonathan is doing it with a smile. He's always willing to help out my underlings (a/k/a "the adults") whenever they give him something to do.

MEET THE TEAM: Ang!

Ang is the VBS leader. She keeps us focused and organized. And (apparently) she's got the whole (Nazarene) world in her hands.

FROGS AND FLIES

We started the day with a rousing game of FROGS AND FLIEs. She's my new best friend. Well, one of many new ones. The kids really like playing the games, so I let them win. I'm just that kind of ape.

VBS Singing

David, Becca, Sam, and Agalyse are leading the singing, and doing a great job! The kids are kind of bashful at first, but by the second, third and fourth song everyone is on board and having a great time!

School List, Belize Edition

Ann found this school list in one of the classrooms. Here 'tis:

Crayons

• 8 exercise books
• 1 coloring books
• 1 pound of shop paper
• 1 pk of toilet paper
• 1 story book
• 1 liquid soap
• 1 BRC Math Book 1 & 2
• 1 ream of typing sheet

That's right. School list includes a roll of toilet paper. Ann thinks we should all never again complain about having to buy a box of tissues for a classroom.

A playground rises (part 1)

 So we mixed the cement to set the posts for the playground. The teens really worked hard at this point. A lot of sweat, but thankfully no blood, no tears. Just awesome sauce.

A playground rises (part 2)

 We all learned how to mix ciment on the ground with nothing but shovels, buckets and us. The holes are filling up with posts!

Our ride...

We have two vehicles for the week. A Tacoma and a 15-passenger van. Nothing like some fresh air and bump roads in the back of a pick-up to make some memories!

MEET THE TEAM: Autumn!

This is Autumn and she (like me) is awesome. Her job this week for VBS is running the crafts room. She decorated the door and welcomed the 25 kids that came through. Today's craft was a Treasure Necklace (God's word is a treasure that we hide in our hearts).

Autumn wants to be adopted by every, single, (and I do mean EVERY) dog in Belize. Of which, there plenty. She has made friends with them, and is worried that they may be too hot. So she says, "I'm going to go get my fan and cool them off." I love a girl who loves us animals.

More to come. For now. Bungo out.

Breaking Ground on our Knees (sort-of)

Breaking ground on the playground. Marconi prayed with us and for us. He is my assistant project supervisor (I let him make most of the decisions, because I'm a big-hearted kind of ape.)

It's wet, muddy, and sweaty work. But like a certain Gold-medalist said, it's a win-win situation for us: all the glory goes up to God and all the blessings "rain" down on us!

First day of VBS

We had about 25 kids for the first day of Vacation Bible School this morning! The team is doing great. Some of the kids don't speak much English, but that hasn't stopped us! Some of the guys (and Ann) got a head start on the playground by digging some holes and sawing some boards. It was overcast and humid from hurricane Ernesto, but we aren't complaining because it's just. More shade for us! More pictures soon.

A New Friend

 Made a new friend on the airplane. MooCow and her pet human Taylor kept me company for a little bit. Great smile Taylor.

Dinner at the Quesadillaria

Great little open air restaurant. The two ladies working the flat grill were awesome, friendly, and made some smashing good quesadillas!

Katie: "Completely delicious pollo tinta! I ate Anna's and mine, so..."

Elana: "Authentic!"

Ann: "I loved mine! And we learned a new grill prep. It involves a fork, a sliced onion, and oil."

Scott: "Mushroom quesadillas to die for."

Nick got the Licorice soda, but couldn't choke it down. Anna, Angalyce, Taylor and a few others were not impressed.

MEXICO? I thought we were going to BELIZE!

 

WHERE'S BUNGO? I'm in the picture! Can you spot me?

I think I understand the phrase "You can't get there from here!" a bit better. After the van ride to Atlanta, and the overnight at Grace Pointe Church (thank you guys!), we got up this morning and headed to the Atlanta airport, where we did some more waiting (at Gate C1). We boarded on time and got into Cancun (Mexico). This was the first airplane ride for four of the team: Angelyse, Anna, Autumn, and Jonathon. It was great. Clear skies and (pretty) smooth flight. Now we're playing the waiting game again in Cancun. Waiting on a 10:00pm departure time for the bus to Belize City (10-hour trip. I hope they let me drive some!). We're able to crash at a nice hotel and swim a bit. Had some killer quesadillas at a local joint around the corner. Having a hard time getting the picture to upload, but hopefully will have some more for you soon.

RJ Surprises everyone before heading out

 

 We got into Atlanta last night in plenty of time to catch the last half of an Atlanta Braves game. RJ surprised everyone else (not me of course I figured it out). We got there and the Braves were losing. But after our awesome arrival, they tied it up in the bottom of the 6th. I told the Braves to put me in as the relief pitcher but they chose someone else, and the Braves lost. Sad. But an awesome time! We spent the night at GracePoint Nazarene, and are getting ready this morning to head to the airport!

BELIZE BOUND! 

That's right. We're heading out again on another Work and Witness trip. This time to Belize! This time without Linda! :( Stay tuned!

.......
NOTE: All the posts below this one are from the previous trip to Haiti!

THE GIRLS MOVED INT

Curt emailed me some pictures, but they went into my junk email folder! So, I'm a little late on posting this. Here's Curt:

"Just an update of the project you guys worked on in May. The girls are loving it and it looks great. Plus, the Canadian Nazarene church gave all new beds for the campus so everyone got a new bed.

You guys made a big difference on campus.

Curt"

*blush* We made a difference? It's those students that are going to make a difference!

Wrap Up

The team in the "Blue Room" for one last picture

Well it's 6:30 in the morning, and it's already hot. Today, we head out for our final tour of the campus and some more pictures. I thought I would just have everybody say a little something about the trip, something they would remember:

• Becca (Cleaning, Bathroom fixer) "The people came to church cause they really wanted to."
  
• Cecil (Painting Master) "The folks in church weren't paying attention to what they didn't have."
• Darrel (Plumbing, Block Laying, shower stall) "How similar Haiti was to Africa. It reminded me of my commitment to be an advocate for Child Development."
• David (Dutch Boy Painter) "I was touched by the abounding love the folks had, and how they came out to visit and greet the Stargels."
  
• Jon (Plumbing, Block Laying, Shower stalls) "It was beautiful to see how people were content with what they had."
  
• Linda S (Visitation and cleaning) "The beauty of Haiti is in the strength of the people."
  
• Linda W (Cleaning and Painting) "I couldn't imagine kids getting excited about a tarantula hunt, but they did!"
• Matt (Electrical, Painting, crawler-into-small places) "All for Jesus."
  
• Nick (Yard Rubble Clearing, Taking care of Bungo) "The little kids working hard on Friday, while we were taking the day off."
• Peggy (Painting, Cleaning, Supervising) "Children were so quiet and well behaved."
  
• Scott (Electrical) "I can just picture the female students enjoying this dorm."
• Theresa (Cook) "I'll never forget the lady bathing her baby in the ditch."
  
• Tim (Painting) "Playing with Dixon, the little boy, was a blessing."

We gathered in a circle to dedicate Mustang Alley

Mustang Alley, Almost Done

The sitting area known as Mustang Alley is paved. Before school opens in the fall, there will be a new bench and some potted plants to liven it up. Scott is going to commission a sign to be installed, too. The team joined hands and dedicated the space to God and the future ministers who will use it.

What's wrong with the light, Matt?

"Well it worked yesterday."

Riding in style

After walking up the hill all week, we were glad to take Curt up on the offer to drive us up for pictures. Even if it did mean nine of them had to ride in the back of the pickup. I rode up front, of course.

Bungo and the bouwet

In Haiti, everything is done by physical labor. On our way to the beach today, we saw these LARGE, wooden hauling wagons, called Bouwets. They were carrying all kinds of heavy things.

This evening during devotions, Curt told us that sometimes these guys are carrying such a heavy load, that they have a hard time making a turn or going up a hill. Spontaneously, people will just step off the curb and come behind them with a push. Just a little help to get them over the hump.

He said that's what we did while we were here: we gave an extra little push to the Bible College. Then he gave each one of us a little statue of the Bouwet Puller, to remember our trip.

Cool.

A Boat Ride

Today was our rest day, so we headed to the beach. We rented the Wipipit for the day today. It's a handcrafted, brightly painted boat. The cap'n had snorkel gear and took the team out to some reefs. One group got to tour a NICE seaside mansion as a bonus. Notice the crystal clear caribbean water. LOOOOOOVE it.