Belize 2008
3/11 - 35 holes... (Published: Wednesday, March 12 2008)
Greetings! ** NOTE: The internet is very sketchy here; we are still unable to upload photos - we're working on it, but very sorry we can't give you visuals... **
Our first day in Mayomopan was absolutely amazing! As we sat last night to worship and reflect together, we were tired, hot, and sunburned, but quite satisfied and in awe of God, for what He enabled us to accomplish yesterday. Here's a glance:
Playground Team - In just under 9 hours, our team measured, marked, and dug 35 holes, each 30" deep and 12" wide, by hand (Literally. We scooped out handfuls of dirt from the ground all afternoon, accompanied by shovels, rock bars, posthole diggers, and our great Belizian friends Mark and Fidel). For those of you who question our methods, augers do not exist down here, and we have limited access to electric power. Even so, by about 5:30 yesterday, every hole we need for the "park" (as the Belizians call it) is now in the ground! It was hot, and everyone was completely worn out by the end of the day. But it was a great picture of teamwork and provision, as we accomplished far more than we thought we would on our first day of work. Today's plan is to assemble the "park" and level it, with the hope of beginning to pour concrete this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
Kids' Team - Our kids' ministry team was also able to accomplish more than we ever have before. In the morning, our team went and met with the school's principal, Ms. Westby, who informed them that because we're here, their four teachers had not planned any post-lunch curriculum - instead, our team is going to be headed to the school each afternoon, and will be "teaching" the 120-ish students while they're in class, teaching songs and motions, and teaching how to "LIVE OUT LOUD!" (picture 30 Belizian kindergarteners yelling that!), the first of four lessons that will spell out the acrostic "L-O-V-E" by the end of the week. Being in the school provided order for the first time in our ministry here, kept the kids in manageable-sized groups, and since the teachers were still in the room, the kids were respectful, attentive, interactive, and had a GREAT time. After school, the team got a little extra workout, spending a couple hours distracting the kids from our playground worksite, so they were equally worn out by the end of the day!
"Life" Team - One of our favorite days last year was giving away hundreds of pairs of shoes to kids, to enable them to go to school (shoes are required for school here). After finding out that some of the shoes we sent down by bus a few weeks ago were confiscated by the Mexican police (apparently to sell on the black market), our team spent yesterday morning sorting the rest of the shoes, along with clothing, hygiene items, and books, as we are planning a "give-away" again later this week. They helped paint and fix up a few things at our host home, My Refuge, and then came to lend their smiles and muscles to join in the playground-digging fun in the afternoon.
Random Moments - Matt Hudson got a traffic citation for driving an unmarked motorbike without a helmet. He later broke a sledgehammer (unrelated events). Three Belizian men dug eight holes in the time it took our team to dig three - two of them did not return after lunch - sad. Sarah Northup and Hannah Daugherty spent hours on their bellies pulling dirt from holes. We enjoyed a 4pm break from our work (thanks to Becky Rambo and Theresa Williams), enjoying ice-cold water, popsicles, and "Mr. Potato Chips," which are like Pringles but taste far worse. We will not be eating "Mr. Potato Chips" any more this week. Shea Saunders got into one of the holes we dug to demonstrate its depth, and our host Richard Smith, shovelful of dirt in hand, walked over and remarked "from dust to dust...", nearly dumping the dirt onto her as a picture was taken. A backhoe arrived to pull up a couple of "2-foot rocks" which were buried in our playground site, only to discover they were each at least 6 feet deep, and equally wide... we were happy he had come, instead of us trying to dig up these "little guys" ourselves, as originally planned. Eric Hill looks like a red pepper when he gets sunburned. Showers are the most amazing thing ever invented. Many of our group enjoyed a dip in the river at My Refuge, a refreshing cool-down. We had a great time together last night, singing and discussin verses/quotes about being selfless and the concept of "doing missions" as we sat together under the stars. It was a good day.