Belize Day 8: Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Same routine this morning. Dylan led devotions and prayer time, then we headed off in four different directions. One team went to Pastor Craig’s house to work on his internet tower, another team worked on running the electric lines in the Bible Center and installing windows, another team went to Pastor Ron’s place to work with children, and another team went to the church to mix and pour cement. I cut the grass of the entire lot of the Bible Center. All of the rock-clearing we did paid off, but it’s funny how when the grass is cut you realize how many you missed. lol! Anyways, it is a scorcher today, and we are all drenched and sizzling! Lot’s of sunblock used today. After lunch we continued our work projects, and then came back to camp to clean up for dinner. This evening we went over to Pastor Ron’s house for a time of fellowship. He had caught a scorpion under his television before we arrived and had it waiting for us in a bottle. Very cool! It was fun to just chill on the hammocks, eat snacks, play games, and for me ... catch a bunch of geckos. Good times! Back at camp we had a team meeting. Tomorrow we will do our final work projects in the morning, change, then go to see some Mayan ruins.

Another thing I wanted to mention ... There are a few things that I really care about on trips of this nature in terms of our witness. One is that we eat all of our food as it is offensive to others in many cultures when food is not eaten, and insulting when it is thrown away. So, on this, I am a self-admitted stickler. The team has been absolutely fantastic in this regard and I really have appreciated their good attitudes and their willingness to just suck it up and eat it - which has not been difficult as the food has been honestly very good. Another thing is that we be flexible and respectful of our hosts. Yesterday I received compliments from both the other team that has been staying here and from Mr. Joe - the camp director.

The leader of the other team said that usually on trips like this when teams find themselves together, for the most part they just keep to themselves. Well, most of you know me, and I push the issue of inclusiveness and friendliness. Our kids were terrific at befriending and reaching out to the other team. One night the arrived home late and needed to walk through our team meeting. Rather than just ignore them or tolerate them walking through, I told the guys to give them a crazy applause when they got off the bus. We did, and the leaders came to me later and said they were floored and so touched by our gesture in cheering for them, and that it really boosted the morale of their team. And, of course, our night of worship and prayer together the other night was great. Mr. Joe came to me yesterday and apologized that our living conditions aren’t all that great. They have a nice dorm in the back, but the other team has been staying there. He thanked me for our patience with him as he was trying to get to little things like making showers (yes, making showers) and things to improve our stay. He then said, not once has any one of our team members complained, and that all have been helpful and had exemplary attitudes. He said he hopes we will come back when he has the place up and running nice (he and his wife, Piper, have only been here a year or so), and that it has been a privilege having us here. Now that’s the kind of memory I want people to have of our teams!

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Belize Day 8: Tuesday, July 13, 2010