#5

Staying in one spot for a time gives a chance for the locals to open up and talk to us more.  Doris, owner of our hotel, visits often.  She has had lots of health issues and tells how hard it is to find anyone to help if you don't have lots of $$$.  She goes to Mexico to get treatment.  She also said Belizians aren't taught skills & just make do so hardly anything is built well & won't last long.  A young man we met, told us the same thing.  He said in schools Belizians are only trained to work for others, not own or run a business.  That may be why the Mennonites who only recently came here, have been able to start many successful business.  They produce almost all the food, furniture & own many stores.  The Chinese here are also very hard-working and successful.  Doris says the Belizians are not desperate enough and too lazy to even plant a garden. Many locals talk about the corrupt gov't and a new group of young people have started a group to make more people aware of corruption.  Both citizens and gov't are proactive in preserving the natural beauty and ancestral Maya ruins.  I sure hope they do.  Locals say the average wage is about $450 - 600 per month with more than half going to rent--most don't own their home.  Food is about 1/3 to 1/2 of what we pay at home except for packaged food in stores which is more than home.  Our average meal out is about $10 for fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, pizza or burger which includes rice, beans & Coke Light, beer or coffee.  Ice cream cone is just $1...and delicious.

#4 First Lesson

By 9 a.m. we were headed back to the Omega Church stopping to let kids hop into the back of the pick up--until Emmanuel felt his bulging, thin tires couldn't handle any more weight.  We stopped at the bottom of a freshly cut , steep drive way.  We climbed up to a level area where a make-shift tent stood filled with kids most of whom were licking suckers.  The 20 some chairs were prized while the rest sat on a tarp or stood.  After another truck load of kids arrived, Paula introduced us and about then it started to rain so we all huddled closer.  Rog & I started our lesson.  In spite of drops coming through the leaking tarp & limited space, God smiled on the chaos & it went quite smoothly.  We started with a version of Mary Had a Little Lamb reworded on the spot to:
Jesus had a little lamb...whose fleece was white as snow
Everywhere that Jesus went...the lamb was sure to go
It followed Him to church one day...to learn the golden rule
Lessons included reading Luke 15: 4- 8, learning about shepherds & sheep (thank goodness for our sheep background), playing games & making lamb masks and ending with Psalm 23 about 90 minutes later.  Then the Pastor sent up three large pots filled with refried beans, chicken stew & fry jacks.  No silver needed as the kids scraped every last drop with their fingers and then licked them clean before heading down the hill nourished with good food & God's words of love.  We walked to the pastor's home to wait for our ride back, took a 3 hr break and then headed back for the evening service stopping to pick up people until the truck bottomed out several times.  A visiting preacher was in high gear when we arrived and they seated us in the front two seats that had been saved for us. Paula was translating the sermon because he was speaking in Spanish. When Pastor Elizabeth took over, the volume & speed doubled & almost drowned out Paula's voice as Pastor Elizabeth (with a baby cradled in one arm & the other arm in constant motion demandingly pointing at the congregation of about 40)  told us THAT BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANT WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OTHERS, SHARE YOUR FOOD, HOMES & FAITH WITH OTHERS. NO EXCUSES.  Then she asked us to talk so we introduced ourselves & told them we felt blessed to be there and hoped we would be a blessing to them. It was very humbling as each person came up to hug & welcome us.