Prayers, Praises & Thankfulness

Back home again, it's been several days now, strange that I need time re-ajust,  get back into my Canadian routine and yet its only been 12 days, my wife says I'm always that way when I get back. Anybody else have those feelings? It was a great trip, so good to see a team gel together as one cohesive unit. I believe we were a blessing to the children of Unity Presbyterian School, the teachers, Ernest and Carolyn Betson. When I reflect on who gained more, I must admit that perhaps it is us, we will see each other during the week , and on sundays to remind ourselves, to encourage each other on what we received from the Belizean children and parents we interacted with. We rest assured that God will continue the work there and in all parts of the world until His plan is complete but let us not forget to pray, pray and pray for Pastor Betson who has a grand vision with a tremendous work load, to much for one man, one couple. He is a man who utters " you are special and I love you" to almost he meets, especially the children and I believe he does that because many of the children who come from broken/abusive homes where a kick or punch or a slap is the mentality. Much work is still needed.
   God is alive and well in Belize, we saw proof of that, His grace extends in every direction, we saw the power of prayer, the power of laying on of hands. Things we will never forget. Belizans are gratefully to the Canadian government for the support given, for the rebuilding help after severe storms, for the sewage systems and Can-Bel bridge which tied the city infrastructure together.
   There is something special when 12 - 13 people are together for an extended time, seven men in one small bedroom could have dire consequences but that did not happen. Working together, joking, teasing one another, playing games and sharing will give us a lasting responsibility to each other. From getting together early in the year planning, fundraising with many activities from leaf raking, serving at anniversary and wedding receptions, , dinner for seniors and our congregation, all of these activities served to having successful service trip. We thank all those who supported us and helped us surpass our goal.
   However it was our evening devotion time that was a highlight for many us, something we know is so important but rarely take the time to do at home. pastor Bernie and his wife, two of the team members had prepared 10 devotions,"Faith That Works" based on various versus from James 1 to 5. Each night started with our overall impressions  of the day, what I noticed, what made me think or what challenged me and then we read the pertaining passage and discussed who it pertained to our day our life/situation.
A sample of the titles:
Day 1  Grins and Groans   Day- 2  Sunburn and Son-shine  -Day 3 Blisters and High Fives
Day 4 Backaches and Beauty - Day 5 Hurries and Hum-drum - Day 6 Paints and Pains
Day 7 Bruises and Blessings - Day 8 Aches & Hallelujahs - Day 9 Sweats & Sweets
Day 10 Prayers & Praises  

Devotions ended with prayer and some songs It was good, thanks Bernie and Linda. Our nights usually ended with some card games, Five Crowns being the favourite.
Lastly we give thanks to staff of Edu.Deo Ministries, especially Tim Bootsma and Anita VanGeest who do so much to make all this work so well and smooth.
May all that we do be to the Glory and Honour of our Father in heaven

Thursday Dec 1 2011 -- San Pedro ------Ambergris Caye

EduDeo Ministries always includes a day away from the work site for all HANDS teams, a cultural appreciation day you might say. Pastor Ernest Betson, arranged for us to go the town of San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye Island for the day with some time for snorkelling, lunch and a walk thru the town. We were able to walk to our water taxi and left around 8am, the ride was approx. an hour and half with a quick stop at Caye Caulker Is. Our snorkelling guide was waiting for us and we headed immediately to the Barrier Reef. Most of us had never snorkelled but with some brief instruction we were all in the water. Hard to believe but our guide, born and raised on the island with perfect english has only ever left the island once and that was to Guatemala City for an operation. I have to say that I, (our team which ranges from 18 to 76),  was so impressed with Sandra K and Leo V swimming with nurse (nur)sharks and investigating a whole new world. The water was so clear and the colours and intricacies of the reef and variety of fish was just awesome.

History & geography

Ambergris Caye is the largest and most northern of Belize's islands. It is twenty five miles long and parallels Belize's barrier reef. Ambergris Caye, once claimed by Mexico, is separated from Mexico only by a narrow channel. Ambergris Caye is located east of the Corozal District. Its main town of San Pedro is about 36 miles from Belize City. Like Caye Caulker, Ambergris is a limestone coral island. It has cool tropical breezes and is literally a stones throw from the Barrier Reef in some places. 

During the Mayan period, Ambergris Caye was a trading post. Ruins have been excavated throughout the island, including the Marco Gonzales site, the Basil Jones site, and in San Pedro town. 

Ambergris is the most commercially developed of the islands. It has quite a few luxurious hotels and an avid night life. There is also considerable real estate interest on Ambergris as most of the northern end of the island is not yet developed. Although there is a small fishing industry, the main source of income of this once buccaneering and whaling caye is tourism. 

Most of the 2000+ residents of Ambergris are of Mestizo-Spanish descent. Spanish is mostly spoken although everyone does speak English. Like their sister island of Caye Caulker they are from fishing families. The island does employ a number of people from the other districts, mainly Belize City. 

San Pedro Town

The main town on Ambergris caye is San Pedro Town. It is a mile or so long and encompasses only a few street blocks. Most of the houses are wooden with zinc roofed houses. San Pedro town is the heart of Ambergris Caye and offers a wide range of restuarants, bars, souvenir shops, and banks. Since the airstrip is also located in town, most resorts and hotels are only a hop, skip & a jump away.

The main means of transportation are golf carts however bicycles, scooters, and some cars and vans are also available. The streets are sandy and unpaved so be sure to leave your fancy clothes and high heel shoes at home. There are no traffic lights, no freeways or highways, and no highrise buildings.

The atmosphere on San Pedro is very casual. The dress of the day is usually shorts and sandals (if you can't handle being barefoot). 

Unity Presbyterian School

                     

Nov. 30 - Last working day

It's approx. 5am there are small signs of a new day dawning, I sleep beside the door and I hear the creaking of a bed, someone starting to rise and sneaking quietly out of the room. It seems each day just before the sun begins to rise more of us are getting up to get a glimpse of the picturesque view from our host's home. Walking out onto a large victorian style porch,and looking out to the east, you can see the sparkling lights of the cruise ships anchored in the bay, sometimes as many as five with passengers ready to disembark for a day of exploring Belize City and surrounding area. It's 5:30 and the sparkling shadows of the sun are beginning to show on the water and with each passing minute one can see the wondrous creative hand of God as when he first created the heavens and the earth.
   The coffee is on, the kitchen is bustling with activity, whats on the menu----hard boiled eggs, creole bread, some left over bacon, peanut butter and jam. We're anticipating a heavy day, Harry has outlined the days objective and soon we head for the bus and we're off, with of course, a stop for water, ice and a stop at the local fruit market for our watermelon.

    By now each of us have found our grove, some starting with preparing more column forms, others removing forms from the last of the lintels poured the previous day, the gals continue with tying rebar, with each column needing 6 lengths of 5/8in. rebar tied in a 8 by 10 formation. Emmanuel, Omar and Luciano continue placing the forms for the columns, a dangerous undertaking as one person stands outside a small scaffold with one 12in board and the rest of us start mixing concrete which will be a continuous chore for the day.

   Our day, was wonderfully interrupted with a surprise invitation for all of us to come to the church, were we were greeted by all the children and teachers of the school. This was a complete surprise as we had no inkling that they were preparing a thank you and good-by ceremony. Principal, Carolyn Betson, thanked us for coming, a special card was given to the team from the pre-school kids and each class came up and gave hand made cards to all of us, all with much hugging, laughing and just enjoying each other. It concluded with a small choral singing, " Lean on Me when you'r not strong". Its been said many times, the eyes and infectious smiles of the kids, make it all worthwhile. God is good and faithful and we trust that He will continue to bless the work of the staff and the Betson's

At the end of the day 4 columns are poured, we clean up the site and as we drive back we reflect on what we accomplished and experienced and although much was done our feelings and inner thoughts were bitter sweet as we only have one day left, here in Belize---- but it will be a great day!

November 29 - Aches & Hallelujahs

Tuesday November 29 has brought us back the typical Belizean weather we have come to enjoy and appreciate.  The sun is back.....and by the time we are done loading the daily water supply and ourselves on the school bus we are bemoaning the fact that it is hot.  Again...as usual.....by the time we start our work.....God has provided a cool soothing breeze to sustain us.  Providence!

Today.....like every other day....Pastor Bernie has beaten all of us (and the sun) out of bed.  It sure is great to be able to head straight to the coffee pot when we get up....to enjoy some of his special Belizean brew.  After a wonderful handcrafted breakfast we are on the way to the worksite.  There is a short pit stop today.....a local farmers market for some fresh fruit (and 1 extremely hot pepper) for lunch.  As we arrive at the site.....like a well oiled machine..... we begin unloading and setting up for the day ahead.  Although we are all different ages and capabilities.....this crew from CCRC is turning into a seasoned constructor.  The work today consists of forming and pouring window lintels, shuttling materials by hand from the ground up to the second storey, cutting, bending, and tying re-bar, cleaning and tidying all areas of the site, mixing concrete, and the carpentry crew is busily preparing forms for the main support columns.  The forming and pouring of the main support columns of the back school wall is the last of the big tasks that we are hoping to finish.  Sandra K. has joined us at the work site again today......and appears to be feeling back to normal.  (We can tell by the fact that she is outworking all of us today.)  During our lunch break today some of the crew goes next door to see Oscar.....a local artisan and woodworker (who doubles as the church and school janitor) to view his products and briefly watch him ply his trade.  Some (or maybe all) of us will be bringing a piece of his handiwork back home with us.  At the end of the day we have achieved the goals for the day and also have 1 formed column ready for concrete tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be our last work day at the site, albeit a large and heavy workday.....as our hosts have decided to take us on an expedition on Thursday.  Friday (the Lord willing) will be a long travel day on which we return home.

The Belizean lady who does all the cooking for us has decided to send us a minor variance for supper today.  As usual we all anticipated a rice dish......but she shook us up when she made us Chicken Chow Mein. (Just when you think you are getting to know someone  :0) ....but the Chow Mein was a much appreciated change of pace.)  After another time of reflection and devotions.....the crew decided to do a little shaking up of our own.  We played Mexican Train Dominoes tonight.....instead of the usual 5 Crowns card game.  A day of change!

The mood on the crew seems to be a little more up beat today in comparison to Monday (manic Monday).  This could be attributed to the fact that the sun is shining again, that Sandra is back at the site, or that we know that the reality of completing our mission and returning to our families is one day closer.  (Could also possibly be because Pete H won at 5 Crowns last night and we all wanted to celebrate for him.)

We continue to feel your support and prayers for our mission here.  We pray daily as a group.....but also continue to covet your prayers for safety on the remainder of our mission, travelling mercies on our way home on Friday, and that the work we are doing here will be a blessing to the Belizean people for many generations and all the beautiful children that we have met and come to know.

Beunos Dias!

Monday, Nov. 28

Monday dawned with clouds and cool temperature - for Belizeans 17 degrees Celsius is cold! But for us hardy Northerners it was excellent working weather. The work ahead of us is well planned. The construction progress is quite noticeable. The perimeter walls are close to being finished. But progress is slower because cribbing for the lintels over the classroom windows and doors needs to be handbuilt. Pete H. and Manuel are the carpenters, while others rotate around the need to make concrete and pouring it into the crib forms. Over the weekend the first concrete lintels have dried out and cured somewhat and now the rest of the lintels are being made. Rebar (the steel rods that are buried in the concrete) has to be cut and shaped to fit the cribs. This involves 5 persons and the rest of us are busy with laying block and pointing them - "pointing" is the filling in of the joints between blocks....usually done by some of the women of our crew.
        Pastor Earnest Betson is "under the weather" today, so we are conscious of missing our "spark plug" for Belizean encouragement. We pray that he'll soon be up and energized. He and his wife ("Honeybunch") are the real leaders in this community of Unity Presbyterian church and school. Carolyn Betson is the principal of the school and is very busy between teaching and problem solving in school administration.
      Tomorrow, we hope to begin the construction of the pillars which will hold up the roof of these classrooms we are building now. A great deal of gravel is hand-pulleyed from ground level to the second floor in 5 gallons pails just half full. The wooden planks needed for the cribbing (or forms) needs to be cleaned a little from previous use, and all nails taken out....tedious work, but necessary.
    What we do enjoy at the end of our day, after supper, is our time of sharing impressions of our day and a Scripture study based on the book of James. Faith that Works is the theme, and it is work that needs to be done in humility, aware of local leadership, local know-how,and at local pace. We grow in grace this way, knowing that we are to be mutually encouraged. We are more aware of each other's abilities and we depend on each other for getting the whole job done.  We are aware that we are bering prayed for. Thank you everyone for these prayers of encouragement.

saturday and sunday

Saturday, Nov. 26.
The team is well oriented to what needs to be done by now. We get up on Saturday morning and our site leader,Harry Oudman orients us during breakfast. We've developed diversity of duties and can rotate around different tasks. So, Saturday morning the call is to make the cribbing above the doors and windows of the interior long wall and pour them full of concrete so that they can cure over the weekend. Pete H., Harry O., Leo V and Jon. O., are busy loading pails of gravel and sand and mixing the concrete on the floor, pouring the mix into pails that are hand-carried to Dick O, on the scaffolding and poured into the crib. Joyce D. and Samara D., and Janet B. are busy with making the rebar cages that are placed in the cribs to be buried in the concrete. These rebar cages strengthen the lintels over the doors and windows in the event of earthquake. So, we rotate around the tasks and we finish the task by noon! The local builders we work with are equally happy with our progress. The back wall will hopefully be finished by Wednesday next week.
      We've had one team member come "under the weather", but by the evening, all is well. Having a team member stay back at our hostel allows for laundry to be done. We've developed an easy exchange of tasks and we check with each other about tiredness and over heating....it is very warm and today it is muggy. A brief rain shower allows us a break.
    After lunch back at the hostel, we had a chance to wander around downtown and some of the tourist area where the water taxis bring in passengers from the cruise ships. The is a delightful mix of sights, colours and activities every where you look. Sounds of traffic, street vendors, taxi drivers offering rides, folks asking for handouts, and the smells of outdoor cooking, fish market, and garbage.
What is really ironic to see is the Christmas lights and decorations....and the carols broadcast over the PA systems of the large department stores. Santa looks like he's sweating in his suit of red, and the music greets the shopper..."let is snow, let it snow, let it snow."
      One of the highlights of the day is our evening devotions time, a reflective study based on the book of James. We have engaging and thoughtful sharing lasting over an hour. We grow in grace this way and discover that God wants authentic faith - words and actions. Such a theme really connects with what we hope to accomplish here. We're in prayer for each other that we'll be safe and healthy, that our families back home are in good spirits and confident of our safety here.
We're usually in bed by 10:30 pm. Bunk beds for all except for one room for one married couple.

Sunday morning, Nov. 27...a day of worship and seeing the town on our own. Close by is a historic church (1776) of Anglican origin. The church has two morning services and the theme for the week is Safety for women against domestic violence. Worshippers are dressed in their best, school kids come in  uniform and the singing is tremendous. All around the sanctuary are plaques of hsitorical moments in the church's life. We leave early because we are guests of Pastor Earnest and we will attend one of the churches that he pastoring - St. Andews Presbyterian in downtown Belize City. There are many youngsters in the congregation who come by bus from an orphanage and we connect well with them. Pastor Bernie is invited to bring the message. Belize City has many churches and it is good to see them well attended, althought the city workers don't seem to have a day off because there was street repair going on right in front of the church as we left. Some of out team members join the bus ride bringing the kids back to their orphanage and get a tour of the town along the way. Belize City sure is a city of contrasts of richness and poverty, of well-appointed lawns and homes and the squatters shacks near the school where we work.
   Our afternoon is spent playing cards, reading, relaxing and walking about town. What we see creates many topics for serious conversation on the responsibilities of believers & the church in the face of poverty and the great needs that are so evident. We're thankful that we can contribute to the dreaming of church leaders here. They dream of great things for their people... the church as a place of refuge and hope....the Unity Presbyterian School (a public school) as a place where youngsters can prepare for greater challenges and education to become life-changersfor their families and others.

   The evning is closed out with a worship service at Unity Presbyterian church, the other congregation Pastor Betson is responsible for. We join with others in experiencing the vision of Rev. 7, where people form every tongue, tribe and nation giving praise to God.