Good Bye Belize

Well I am finally taking the time to sit down and finish up this blog, now that I am no longer in Belize. It's been a month and a half since I left Belize. Wow the time seems to have flown by, but not without moments of missing the ones that have become so dear to my heart.

I feel that I was spoiled having such a good flights on the way to Belize, because the way home gave me some new obstacles and adventures to face. I was slightly delayed leaving Belize and then with long lines at immigration I missed my connecting flight in Houston. So I ended up staying the night in Houston instead of Chicago. At this point though I was tired and hungry, so it felt like the worst thing ever, but really the only downside to missing my flight was that I ended up being 5 hours later getting home. But to top it all off I started not feeling good. Deciding to take gravel for my nausea, I ended up sleeping every chance I got. So the night passed quicker then I thought it might. I still made it home safe and sound and was extra happy to see my family waiting for me when I landed. And of course being it a typical March in Manitoba, I was also greeted by the Snow!! There are some days when I wonder why we live in Manitoba, we have a beautiful spring day and the next day it is windy and snowing again, but it's starting to warm up again!!

However, I was able to escape the cold a little longer!! I’d been home a week when we drove down to Phoenix for a week, and I was able to enjoy some more sunshine!!

Now I am home with no plans of going anywhere for a while. I have found my routine and I am slowly starting to reconnect with my family and friends. I was able to spend an evening with my dad’s side of the family showing my pictures and sharing bits about my trip. For supper that night my mom and dad made rice and beans with stew chicken and coleslaw (which my grandma made), a truly Belizean meal. To fill my days, I have started working at camp, where I will be working for the spring and summer. I also have done, and will do a little more, subbing for a preschool. Now that I am back I am able to continue moving forward with my plans to go back to school in the fall. I took an entry test and for my program and I found out recently that I have been accepted into the Early Childhood Education program at Red River Community College in Winnipeg. So at the end of this Summer I will be moving to Winnipeg and starting school, which I'm sure will have many more adventures. I am looking forward to the adventures ahead and seeing where God will lead me.

Being home has given me the chance to reminisce on my time in Belize. Knowing what I know now, I think it would have been a lot harder to go. God was definitely looking out for me. Before I left I was really naive as to what I would encounter and had no idea what to expect, which I see know was a total God thing. My time in Belize is something I will never forget and I'm sure as life continues I will be able to put to use the lessons I learned. I guess this concludes this chapter in my life. I can’t believe I kept up my blog!! But I am so glad I did, because now I have something to reflect back on. But it’s time to say good bye, or maybe rather, see you later. I don’t know what the future holds, but maybe there will be some more Belizean adventures!! 

   Tuesday was my last day of preschool :( It was sad to have to say good bye to them. They sure do grow on you. It was also show and tell for them today. Everything from their favorite toys to their pets were brought. For pets we saw, a fish, turtle, a chick, and 2 dogs. It was a great last morning with them. Helping in the preschool I'm sure will help me greatly as I go on to do my schooling. And I am so thankful that I was able to have this experience.
   Wednesday was a hot one!! I think the heat has showed up to give me it's last farewell. Thankful that there is at least a breeze to help dry the sweat. Otherwise it was a pretty quiet day. I played with Zion in the morning and did some baking in the afternoon (I always seem to do baking on the hot days :)
   Thursday. What a day!! The plan for Thursday was to spend some time at the park in Belize City with Zion's siblings. So that's what we did. Just a little back story, Zion has 5 older siblings. Of those 5 the youngest 3 live together in a children's home and the oldest is in a transitional home, and the 2nd oldest is in a group home as well. About 3 weeks ago their mom passed away and so the kids were all reunited for the funeral a couple days later. It was on Margaret's heart to get together with these kids again and spend some time getting to know them. But on the ride there we began wondering if we were even supposed to go. About 20 minutes outside of town the truck started to overheat, so we pulled over and added coolant. We made it to Belmopan and things were going good and the vehicle had started to cool down. Although the AC wasn't working so we had to drive with the windows open. The shortly after Belmopan the truck started loosing power as it drove, We pulled over and turned it off and then it would keep going again. This happened about once or twice. When it happened again and we pulled over and turned it off, it didn't want to turn back on. So we were stranded in the middle of nowhere. Well after letting it rest for a bit, and some prayers, it turned back on and we were able to keep going. The engine light was even off. There was a restaurant up ahead that we thought about stopping at, and were going to pass and keep going when the engine light came back on. So we pulled in. Margaret has friends in the city that we were going to meet for lunch and so she called them up to see if they knew what might be wrong with the truck and could help in any way. We were still about 45 minutes from the city still. Well they gave us the number to their mechanic and we gave him a call. He gave us some advice on what to do, it worked and we made it safety to the city. The time in the park went great and we realized that there was a reason for us going and needing to be there. One of Zion's sisters had a question that needed an answer and Margaret was able to answer it for her. I was also so glad for a chance to meet Zion's siblings, and learn more about their family. After our time at the park we went to Margaret's friend's mechanic and he took a look at our vehicle and got in safe working condition and it brought us home safety. It was a long day, but a good day. I got one more parting sunburn, but I am glad to be able to soak up the last of the hot weather.
   Friday was another slow day. In the evening I had my last bible study. It was just me and Dayana, so that made me kind of sad, but so it goes. In the evening we all ate together and watched a movie. It was just another Friday night, although we didn't have pizza.
   Today I went and tutored Zeriah one last time. It was a sad realization, and she is another little girl that I am going to miss dearly. In the afternoon, we went to the river to swim. It was decided that I needed to yet before I leave. I even got into the water and jumped off the rope swing into the water. The water felt refreshing on a hot day. Although the bottom of the river was covered with rocks, so it kind of heart the feet. I have also never really swam where there is a current, so that made things a little more difficult. In the evening Marisol and her kids and us all went out for supper of Empanadas and garnaches. They were both good, but the empanadas where my favorite. In the evening we watched Fly Away home. And that ends today.
   Wow, I can't believe that I leave in 3 days!! Time has flown by and it seems so surreal that it's time to go home. The preparation to go back has been different then when I came down and the fact that I'm leaving hasn't hit me yet. But I'm sure it will. I've come to the conclusion that saying goodbye here may be harder then when I left home, and I think that is because there is no certainty that I will be back. Although I hope someday I will get the chance to come back.

The month of February ended off with Dayana's birthday. She turned 14 on the 28 and we celebrated by having Rosemary and her kids over, all 6 of them!
   March 1! I can't believe it's March already. Where has time gone??? To kick off the month I went to immigration to get my passport stamped one last time. I was in and out of there in an hour, which was great!
   Wednesday morning I went to preschool. I only one more time left. It was read aloud day at preschool so I got to read a story to the kids. Some more kids that I have fallen in love with and have to say good bye too.

   On Thursday some a family came over for lunch and spent the day. They are from Manitoba and are down here doing prison ministry. They did a concert here in San Ignacio the week before. They are also related to Margaret.
   Friday morning had an early start. Margaret and I went to see the start of the La Ruta Maya Belize Canoe Race. It's a 3 day canoe race that starts here in San Ignacio and finishes in Belize City. So we watched them start at 7 in the morning. After we stopped for pupusas at the market. For the Friday night bible study it was just me and Dayana. Then for supper we were invited to another families place.

   Saturday morning I went and tutored Zeriah, and then in the evening I looked after Zion while Margaret was out. Sunday we went to church in the morning. In the afternoon because it was the first Sunday of the month we went and visited another church to give encouragement. The service was done in Spanish. so I didn't get too much out of it. On the way back we stopped at Cayo Twist for some ice cream. In the evening Marisol and the kids came up we all hung out. And of course played a game of Qwirkle.
   Monday was a holiday here, so the kids had no school. I had decided I wanted to go to the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins for one last excrusion, and Dayana was able to join me. It was great being able to enjoy the experience with someone else. It's about 15 minutes away to the ferry that you have to take across to the sight. Once you cross the ferry it's a mile uphill to the sight. On the way there we took a ferry and then on the way back we caught the bus from the main road. So I have now ridden the bus!!

Dayana and I

Almost to the top of the highest one! 

Off in the distance is Guatemala 

Xunantunich 

An Iguana in their natural habitat. We saw about 8 or 9 of them. 

The tallest one!

Saw some military keeping things safe. 

Adventures with the Grandparents!!!

     I had a wonderful time with my grandparents and I have made memories that I am sure I will never forget. I am also incredibly thankful for this time that I was able to spend traveling Belize with them. I realized it's this time is something not all my cousins will get to do or many others for that matter. There were many times you just had to go with the flow and many other times I just had to laugh at how things turned out. I am so blessed to have the grandparents I do on both sides of my family.
     So I met up with my grandparents on Friday and we spent some time catching up and planning our first couple of days. Saturday morning I went downtown and met my grandparents for breakfast. Then we spent some time wandering around the busy Saturday market, where my grandpa got his shoes shined and my grandma bought a skirt from one of the local vendors. Then there was trying the coconut water, and pupusas for lunch. It also humored me the conversations my grandpa would strike up with any random person he saw and the questions he asked. But this is how he found out where his brother in law lived. Just by striking up a conversation with one of the Barton Creek Mennonites, and asking if he knew a Henry Thiessen.  Sure enough he did and they lived in the same community.  So part o that afternoon was spent figuring out how we would get to Barton Creek and when we would go. Well we decided Sunday afternoon would be the time to go. So now it was just the how. Well that turned out to be by taxi. He looked and asked around looking for a taxi that would take us and how much it would cost. The road isn't the greatest that was something else that they had to factor in. Later in the afternoon we went to Margaret's and I showed them where I lived. We spent some time visiting with Margaret, and then later we all went out for supper. My grandpa used this time to tell his stories and shed some of his wisdom.

Grandpa getting his shoes shined

Grandma and Tino

Grandpa and Zion

     Sunday morning I met my grandparents downtown and then we caught a taxi and headed to church. So they were able to see where I go to church and preschool. After church we went out for lunch and then we went and met our taxi driver that we had hired to take us to Barton Creek. Barton Creek is where a group of conservative Mennonites live. Some even compare them to the Amish. Anyways this is where we went for the afternoon. Henry Thiessen's wife has passed away and he has since remarried. His wife was my grandpa's sister. So that is the connection, although my grandpa hasn't seen him over 40 years. It was pretty interesting, although they only spoke German so I didn't understand too much. But I did pick up on a bit. After about an hour there we headed out. On our way back we took a drive through Spanish Lookout so my grandparents could see that. Once back in San Ignacio we made plans to take Marisol and her kids out for supper and then we went to Cayo Twist for ice cream. I think Darren has become like a grandson to my grandpa. It turned into a busy day, but a good day.

One way we took the ferry across

The ferry is run by man power

I think my grandpa adopted another grandson, Darren

Dayana, Darren, Marisol, and Me

   Monday morning we went to Pops for breakfast and then we took a shuttle to Belize City, where we spent the night. I enjoyed just hanging around the hotel and soaking up the sun by the pool. We also enjoyed seeing the ocean.

Enjoyed some downtime by the pool

Tried to capture the cool looking moon and sky. 

   My grandparents wanted to see Blue Creek while they were in Belize, and so that's where we went on Tuesday and where we spent the remaining of our time together. But first we had to decide on how we were going to get there. We decided that we would rent a vehicle in Orange Walk, because things are so spread out in Blue Creek and then my grandpa could drive around and explore on his own a bit. Then we just had to decide how we were going to get to Orange Walk. We looked into taking a shuttle or a taxi, but they were too expensive, so we figured we'd take the bus. Then while were looking into the different options for getting my grandparents back to Cancun we had to go out and look into airline tickets, it was that or take the overnight bus again. So the taxi driver that took us out offered to take us to Orange Walk for less then the other prices we had gotten. So that's what we ended up doing. So I have yet to take a bus, but that's ok with me. My grandparents also decided that they would take the overnight bus from Orange Walk to Cancun when they returned, which that ended up changing too. Once we got to Orange Walk we rented a car and then made our way to Blue Creek. Once we arrived my grandpa had no problem finding people to talk to and ask where different people that he knew of lived. He sure does have a way of getting around. After they got settled into hotel room we went to the Dave and Daphne Dyck's house for supper. This is where I stayed last time I was in Blue Creek and where I stayed again this time.

On the way to Orange Walk we saw all these trucks filled with Sugar Cain

   Wednesday morning I went to a spelling bee. It was neat to watch as I had never been to one before. It was also a great reminder of the importance of pronouncing words right and how often we are lazy in how we say things. In the afternoon I went with my grandparents to see Shipyard which is another Mennonite community. But this one is more conservative, but not as conservative as Barton Creek. Later in the afternoon we went and saw the Dyck's coconut field, and learned about how coconuts are grown and how long it takes for them to produce, which is 4 years. In the evening I went to bible study for the youth.

A tractor with steel wheels

I think this was an old colony church

The school in Shipyard

girls heading home after school

A sprayer

A field of coconut trees

   Thursday I just hung out. I went out with my grandparents for a bit and otherwise it was just a quiet day.
   Friday morning I went out for breakfast one last time with my grandparents. After that it was time to say good bye. They were meeting the guy we rented the car from mid morning and then he was going to take them across the boarder and make sure they got on the bus that was heading to Cancun. Then later in the afternoon it was time for me to head back too. I was able to catch a ride home with a family that was coming to the area for the weekend.
   It was a great week with lots of great memories made. I am so thankful the way things turned out, and the time was proof that God works everything out according to his will. As I write this it is another great reminder of that truth again. When things don't go the way you think they should or you wonder how things will end up, or why things happened the way they did, God is working everything out the way he has planned. And that concludes my week with my grandparents in Belize!

Had some fun playing with my camera and got this picture!