Remember the girl I told you about, the 14 year old I chased around all week? Well, I took a soccer ball with me to Belize, brand new Carolina blue except for the minor wear and tear that came from my soccer lesson and the few times I just kicked the ball around by myself before leaving. I thought I might leave it with a kid in Belize should any kind of meaningful relationship come about. So, I left the ball with Abby to give to Ariely, with a sharpie marker message inscribed,"Ariely, Take Care. Thanks for finally speaking English. Love, Mel" I got this message from Abby yesterday about the delivery. This story makes me think about all the times I have withheld love not thinking it would really matter..Don't do that.
Hey Melanie-
Thanks so much for reminding me about the Ariely thing. I had a thought this morning as I was getting ready for work at 6am to remember to tell you about it!
So, we drive up to her house on Sunday morning. She comes right up to us, wearing her 2 SS wristbands. We tell her that we were headed out but that we had something from you for her. We get the ball out of the backseat, & she honestly, I think, was a little shocked/didn't know what to do. Courtney & I talked about that moment later & realized that this was probably one of the first things in her life that she could call her own. It was this really amazing moment where that ball shattered all of these walls that she had built up. She read the message & laughed. She said thank you. We told her that she had to promise us to share it with the other girls though (half joking, guessing that the ball will probably sit on a shelf in her room like a trophy or something). She was so humbled by that. I said, "Ariely, we'll miss you." She replied, "Me too." It was in those two words, those two powerful words, that I knew that we, especially you, could walk away knowing that we had loved her well the past few weeks. Yes, she was tough, but that was such an act for more attention. She knew it all along, but she, too, understood the value of the love that we poured into her. Little does she know that we walk away with a huge lesson as well- seeing the difference we can make, but also the ways that a child can bring us great challenges, but mostly great joy.
Wow, well that sounds like a blog. Maybe I'll copy that over. I thought you should know. I wish you could have been there. When you get to heaven, ask God for a replay of that moment. :)
Abby
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Hasta Luego
The final days....
Meeting with Ruth
On Tuesday, Presh and I caught the 8:00 bus to Orange Walk to meet with Ruth Ku, headmaster of the Orange Walk Presbyterian School. We were warmly greeted by Ruth and spent about an hour discussing the school's ups and downs over the past few months. In the spring, Patrick Faber, The Minister of Education of Belize, visited the Orange Walk campus and was very pleased with the progress he saw. By the end of Mr. Faber's visit, Ruth found herself in his good favor. The government has agreed to take responsibility for 4 teacher salaries at this time and has promised Ruth that, by September, all 10 teacher salaries will be paid with government funding.
Ruth made it clear that our faculty workshops with Kimberly Carraway back in February were instrumental in giving her the hope and encouragement she needed to make it through the year. Ruth also emphasized how valuable a partnership with American teachers would be. Specifically, Ruth feels that discussions with American teachers stir up ideas and motivate Belizean teachers to be more creative and passionate about engaging their students in the learning process. Our conversation with Ruth got me fired up about the idea of bringing some St. Paul teachers to Belize in the spring.
Ariely
There’s always that one kid who grabs your heart, who draws you in without a complete understanding of why. For me, it tends to be the kid with a tough exterior, usually accompanied by a very fragile heart. This time her name is Ariely. She’s fourteen years- old, and on the first day of camp, she told me, half in Spanish, that she was not going back to school next year. The remaining two weeks of camp, she ran from the camera (mainly my camera), she giggled and only responded to my questions in Spanish, always making sure her friends knew how disinterested she was in talking to me. I responded with continued attention, harassment and every once in a while, I threw out the sincere question. Sometimes she responded, sometimes not.
Last night, we ate dinner with the Nah family, in Cristo Rey village. Ariely lives next door to the Nah’s, so I asked her if she wanted to take a walk after dinner. She was a different kid last night. After mild interrogation, she told me that her mom had been very sick and that she could not lift heavy objects or be on her feet all day. With three older sisters working or in school, and two younger siblings at home, the household responsibilities fell to Ariely, therefore preventing her from going to school next year. I think there is more to the story, but the fact that she shared that much about her family with me was huge. In lots of ways, it was a breakthrough night. She even let Presh take a picture of us together without covering her face.
Last days of camp
At the end of the last day of camp, we asked each girl to come forward as we celebrated what we had enjoyed about each of them during the two weeks of camp. It was a really neat time to see the girls beam as they came forward to receive their very own Sports Servants bracelet and receive our words of affirmation. We ended camp with all the girls circled up with a “1, 2, 3 Champions!” I wish we had another week. It feels like I have just started to really get to know these girls individually. It took about two weeks for the barriers of culture and novelty to wear away enough to give way to the beginnings of real relationship.
Where is my treasure?
Thursday morning, I had a full morning at Tony’s to read, write, think and pray. Full morning means about 3 hours instead of 2. It really is the amount of time I think I need every day to settle down, get still and give whatever I am reading time to penetrate my heart. I think the word is meditate. Being of slow but thorough mind, it usually takes a good 30 –45 minutes for me to just clear my mind of the lists and racing thoughts necessary to even get started. I usually give myself about a fraction of this time, so no wonder my time with the Lord often feels less potent. Thursday morning was good though. All my anxieties, ideas, and questions seemed to blur as the words of Luke 12 began to penetrate, not only my mind but my heart. The ordering of the passages that impressed me was profound.
The rich young ruler exposed my focus on the future, obsessive planning; sobered me to the gift of that TODAY is; the brevity of life. Then comes a reminder that I can’t even control something as simple as adding an hour to my life, yet I worry about controlling bigger things than that. Followed by that, a gentle reminder that the Lord is the Lord of detail and He knows what I need. Then, a reminder of his heart towards me,”it is the Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom,” yet I doubt that He finds pleasure in giving me the my smaller earthly desires...and the finale... “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourself with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not grow old. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Verses I have heard a million times suddenly reduced the complexity of my life into very simple order, causing me to define what my treasures are. Simply put, my treasures are my time, my gifts, my training, my money, my energy, my relationships. The bigger question became “WHERE is my treasure invested?” Where my treasure is invested is where my heart is found/ where my heart is engaged. I WANT my treasure to be invested in things unseen, in people treated as disposable, in people who can’t appreciate or thank me. I am free to lose everything because I am promised that my future is fulfillment of my deepest desires. I avoid need and discomfort, but nothing seemed clearer that Thursday morning than I am called to live in such a way that puts me in a position of need and discomfort in order to bring comfort to others. I wish I could make those truths somehow remain as alive, weighty, and as clear as they were Thursday morning. I write so I will remember over and over again.
Hasta Luego
Not goodbye, but see ya later. I’m getting on a plane tomorrow morning to head home. Sad, yes, to leave Presh and the relationships that have begin here, but desiring to be back here soon. I told a friend before I left that I wanted to leave Belize with a desire to go back. Knowing I can’t control my desires, but wanting to be committed to something bigger than myself, I prayed that my heart would connect this time to a place, a people. I don’t know what the Lord has in store, but tomorrow I leave with sadness, but also with great desire to return to my beautiful new friends in Belize.
Meeting with Ruth
On Tuesday, Presh and I caught the 8:00 bus to Orange Walk to meet with Ruth Ku, headmaster of the Orange Walk Presbyterian School. We were warmly greeted by Ruth and spent about an hour discussing the school's ups and downs over the past few months. In the spring, Patrick Faber, The Minister of Education of Belize, visited the Orange Walk campus and was very pleased with the progress he saw. By the end of Mr. Faber's visit, Ruth found herself in his good favor. The government has agreed to take responsibility for 4 teacher salaries at this time and has promised Ruth that, by September, all 10 teacher salaries will be paid with government funding.
Ruth made it clear that our faculty workshops with Kimberly Carraway back in February were instrumental in giving her the hope and encouragement she needed to make it through the year. Ruth also emphasized how valuable a partnership with American teachers would be. Specifically, Ruth feels that discussions with American teachers stir up ideas and motivate Belizean teachers to be more creative and passionate about engaging their students in the learning process. Our conversation with Ruth got me fired up about the idea of bringing some St. Paul teachers to Belize in the spring.
Ariely
There’s always that one kid who grabs your heart, who draws you in without a complete understanding of why. For me, it tends to be the kid with a tough exterior, usually accompanied by a very fragile heart. This time her name is Ariely. She’s fourteen years- old, and on the first day of camp, she told me, half in Spanish, that she was not going back to school next year. The remaining two weeks of camp, she ran from the camera (mainly my camera), she giggled and only responded to my questions in Spanish, always making sure her friends knew how disinterested she was in talking to me. I responded with continued attention, harassment and every once in a while, I threw out the sincere question. Sometimes she responded, sometimes not.
Last night, we ate dinner with the Nah family, in Cristo Rey village. Ariely lives next door to the Nah’s, so I asked her if she wanted to take a walk after dinner. She was a different kid last night. After mild interrogation, she told me that her mom had been very sick and that she could not lift heavy objects or be on her feet all day. With three older sisters working or in school, and two younger siblings at home, the household responsibilities fell to Ariely, therefore preventing her from going to school next year. I think there is more to the story, but the fact that she shared that much about her family with me was huge. In lots of ways, it was a breakthrough night. She even let Presh take a picture of us together without covering her face.
Last days of camp
At the end of the last day of camp, we asked each girl to come forward as we celebrated what we had enjoyed about each of them during the two weeks of camp. It was a really neat time to see the girls beam as they came forward to receive their very own Sports Servants bracelet and receive our words of affirmation. We ended camp with all the girls circled up with a “1, 2, 3 Champions!” I wish we had another week. It feels like I have just started to really get to know these girls individually. It took about two weeks for the barriers of culture and novelty to wear away enough to give way to the beginnings of real relationship.
Where is my treasure?
Thursday morning, I had a full morning at Tony’s to read, write, think and pray. Full morning means about 3 hours instead of 2. It really is the amount of time I think I need every day to settle down, get still and give whatever I am reading time to penetrate my heart. I think the word is meditate. Being of slow but thorough mind, it usually takes a good 30 –45 minutes for me to just clear my mind of the lists and racing thoughts necessary to even get started. I usually give myself about a fraction of this time, so no wonder my time with the Lord often feels less potent. Thursday morning was good though. All my anxieties, ideas, and questions seemed to blur as the words of Luke 12 began to penetrate, not only my mind but my heart. The ordering of the passages that impressed me was profound.
The rich young ruler exposed my focus on the future, obsessive planning; sobered me to the gift of that TODAY is; the brevity of life. Then comes a reminder that I can’t even control something as simple as adding an hour to my life, yet I worry about controlling bigger things than that. Followed by that, a gentle reminder that the Lord is the Lord of detail and He knows what I need. Then, a reminder of his heart towards me,”it is the Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom,” yet I doubt that He finds pleasure in giving me the my smaller earthly desires...and the finale... “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourself with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not grow old. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Verses I have heard a million times suddenly reduced the complexity of my life into very simple order, causing me to define what my treasures are. Simply put, my treasures are my time, my gifts, my training, my money, my energy, my relationships. The bigger question became “WHERE is my treasure invested?” Where my treasure is invested is where my heart is found/ where my heart is engaged. I WANT my treasure to be invested in things unseen, in people treated as disposable, in people who can’t appreciate or thank me. I am free to lose everything because I am promised that my future is fulfillment of my deepest desires. I avoid need and discomfort, but nothing seemed clearer that Thursday morning than I am called to live in such a way that puts me in a position of need and discomfort in order to bring comfort to others. I wish I could make those truths somehow remain as alive, weighty, and as clear as they were Thursday morning. I write so I will remember over and over again.
Hasta Luego
Not goodbye, but see ya later. I’m getting on a plane tomorrow morning to head home. Sad, yes, to leave Presh and the relationships that have begin here, but desiring to be back here soon. I told a friend before I left that I wanted to leave Belize with a desire to go back. Knowing I can’t control my desires, but wanting to be committed to something bigger than myself, I prayed that my heart would connect this time to a place, a people. I don’t know what the Lord has in store, but tomorrow I leave with sadness, but also with great desire to return to my beautiful new friends in Belize.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Hugs and Fingerprints
Dear Friends,
I'll attempt to give you a re-cap on our last few days in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (Key). I hope these pictures can fill in some of the gaps.
The Thunderbolt
Friday morning at 7:00, Presh and I took off with our backpacks to catch the “Thunderbolt,” which began our weekend adventure in San Pedro (aka vacation:). The rest of the group chose a short flight. What is a Thunderbolt you may be wondering? Best description I can give is a BIG motorboat with airplane-like seating under the deck. Oh, not to mention, the cruise comes with some very loud Latino music and airplane like windows to see out of. I actually read a book the whole time while Presh had her eyes fixed on the water. Two hours later, as we approached Ambergris, the doo-doo brown water we had grown some affection for was trumped an electric turquoise color. We shared knowing smiles.
The Consul and his wife
Upon landing, we took a taxi down cobblestone streets to check into our hotel. We had a few hours until we had planned to meet Honorary Consul Dr. Ed Paul and his wife, Laura, for lunch. We connected with Dr. Paul through a family friend of Presh’s and he just so happened to be in San Pedro that weekend. Dr. Paul is an eye surgeon in Wilmington NC, who first came to Belize on his honeymoon 9 years ago. After repeated short term medical mission trips, (unknowingly with the Prime Minister’s wife), Dr. Paul was appointed Honorary Consul of Belize. A consul, we learned, is like a mini ambassador, who is responsible for caring for Belizean immigrant needs in the US, promoting US- Belizean relations and advocating for Belizean development in areas such as education, tourism, health care, etc. We informed Dr. Paul and his wife about what the Belize Project, especially Sports Servants and the Education Project, is seeking to do in Belize. He and his wife could not have been more gracious and it was just really neat to get to introduce them to all the relationships and work being done through the Belize Project. I have a feeling our paths will cross again.
Snorkeling with "Chocolate"
Friday night was winding down and our attempts to secure a snorkeling guide for the next day had not been fruitful. A family friend of mine who is a realtor in San Pedro, Robert Cunningham, recommended a guide named “Chocolate.” So, at 10 pm, I connected with Chocolate who agreed to pick us up at 8:45 the next morning. After eating the best Banana pancakes I have ever tasted for the second morning in a row, we headed out to meet our guide. This trip would include all the girls, Abby, Courtney, Presh and I and one of the guys, Kirk Brown.
My only regret is that we did not have an underwater camera. Our first stop was a famous part of the reef called Hol Chan. I could have stayed underwater all day. Chocolate had me on one side and Presh on the other pointing out and naming fish and coral. It was easily one of the top five coolest things I have ever done in the outdoor realm. We then went to Shark Ray Alley where we rode nurse sharks and floated belly to belly with stingrays. By the way, the stingrays belly feels like firm rubbery velveteen but not hairy. The back of a nurse shark feels more like sand paper. We even got to sit on the back of the nurse sharks and put our arms around them. No words can really describe what I saw but I couldn’t help but think that in the new earth there will be endless exploration of the seas and playing with sea creatures. I didn’t want it to end.
Group Dynamics
The afternoon was spent relaxing on the beach, reading, writing and just talking. It was a great time to just be together and I feel like the girls’ team really came together in a way I haven’t felt until this weekend. The other two girls are living in the village of Cristo Rey so we haven’t had very much relational down time with them until this weekend. The guys are all great, each bringing their own unique personalities and gifts to the fullness of the group. Though they are younger, they each have depth, enjoy reflecting and writing, care about worlds and people outside their own 4 walls, and all appreciate and respect each other’s differences. If I were a guy, I would definitely want to be a part of that comradery.
Robert
Robert is a realtor made friend whom my parents met several years ago while looking at land in Colorado. They have kept in touch with Robert since his move to San Pedro about 4 years ago and visited him last fall. Robert works with San Pedro’s most exclusive resort community called Sueno del Mar. It’s like a paradise within a paradise, a little bit remote (about 12-13 miles from the hustle bustle of San Pedro). We finally caught up with Robert on Sunday before our departure via the Thunderbolt. We discussed his life in San Pedro, the culture of the island, the ups and downs of island life, and all that is going on with Sports Servants. Robert, a believer himself, was very encouraged by the work being done through Sports Servants. He encouraged us by telling us how vital the work with soccer is in Belize as it their national sport and they don’t even have a soccer stadium in the whole country that is fit to play in. He also spoke about the importance of kids having opportunities to play organized sports in Belize, especially soccer. He asked for our website so he could introduce Sports Servants work to his friend whose office is right upstairs from his. Robert’s friend also happens to be Director of Immigration in Belize. Robert seems to think Sports Servants work will be a great encouragement to his friend who has been very disheartened about the state of youth culture in Belize. Oh, Robert also is friends with the Consul. He sold them their place in Sueno del Mar. Belize is starting to feel a lot like Mississippi.:)
A Little Nervous
Well, I’ll let the picture of Presh in the life vest suffice to say that the ride home was a little scary. What you don’t see in the picture is me crying because I am laughing so hard, partly because I am scared and partly because Presh just asked the passengers on board for a show of hands of those who were also nervous. Besides me, she got ONE shout out. I guess the Belizeans are used to boat rides where the left side passengers are horizontal with the water. Call us crazy for feeling a little uneasy.
Hugs for Presh/Fingerprints for Mel
We have a two blank sheets of poster size paper taped up in our apartment. We decided one would be used to record “Belizisms” and the other to log what Presh calls “Hugs from God.” Well, that phrase was about the most Presh description she could have used to describe her experiences of the Lord’s hand of care, nearness, and involvement in her life. It’s a phrase I have often heard her use back in Nashville, so it was no surprise that she wanted to entitle our second poster as such. Quite endearing actually. Funny though, it did lead us to talk about the different ways that we describe our relations with and experiences of the Lord. The same type of experiences of the Lord’s sovereignty, his detailed care and provision, his personal love for me, I’d be more inclined to describe as “fingerprints of God.” Maybe she’s more touchy- feely and fingerprints connote more of an analytical/detailed experience, but either way, our weekend was marked with His fingerprints and an abundance his hugs...as has been our entire time in Belize so far.
Presh’s biggest hug in San Pedro:
As Presh and I were headed back from a late afternoon walk on the beach, I looked up to see an expanse of sand with TWO hammocks hanging from palm trees, one blue and one green. I didn’t even have to ask Presh what was next. We bolted towards the hammocks with smiles spread across our faces. It really was TOO perfect, esp for Presh, as you might remember she has been quite OCD about hammocks. By the way, in the last hour of our beach time, guess who walks by? Yep, a Belizean man selling hammocks. Presh finally got her very own hammock, which she is tucked into taking a nap as I write.
Mel’s most distinct fingerprint of God
While the relational connections orchestrated for us have been mind blowing, I’d have to say that the things I saw and experienced under the sea left me speechless. The intricate detail of the multi-colored fish, the design of the nurse sharks mouth, the sting ray’s harmlessly soft belly, the way the water broke at command over the reef in the middle of the sea, the perfect ordering of the schools of fish, the natural defenses of the coral which keep its beauty protected ( I learned first hand)..all of it just left me with a deep ache for more...one of the aches I recognize as an echo of the fullness of things to come.
I'll attempt to give you a re-cap on our last few days in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (Key). I hope these pictures can fill in some of the gaps.
The Thunderbolt
Friday morning at 7:00, Presh and I took off with our backpacks to catch the “Thunderbolt,” which began our weekend adventure in San Pedro (aka vacation:). The rest of the group chose a short flight. What is a Thunderbolt you may be wondering? Best description I can give is a BIG motorboat with airplane-like seating under the deck. Oh, not to mention, the cruise comes with some very loud Latino music and airplane like windows to see out of. I actually read a book the whole time while Presh had her eyes fixed on the water. Two hours later, as we approached Ambergris, the doo-doo brown water we had grown some affection for was trumped an electric turquoise color. We shared knowing smiles.
The Consul and his wife
Upon landing, we took a taxi down cobblestone streets to check into our hotel. We had a few hours until we had planned to meet Honorary Consul Dr. Ed Paul and his wife, Laura, for lunch. We connected with Dr. Paul through a family friend of Presh’s and he just so happened to be in San Pedro that weekend. Dr. Paul is an eye surgeon in Wilmington NC, who first came to Belize on his honeymoon 9 years ago. After repeated short term medical mission trips, (unknowingly with the Prime Minister’s wife), Dr. Paul was appointed Honorary Consul of Belize. A consul, we learned, is like a mini ambassador, who is responsible for caring for Belizean immigrant needs in the US, promoting US- Belizean relations and advocating for Belizean development in areas such as education, tourism, health care, etc. We informed Dr. Paul and his wife about what the Belize Project, especially Sports Servants and the Education Project, is seeking to do in Belize. He and his wife could not have been more gracious and it was just really neat to get to introduce them to all the relationships and work being done through the Belize Project. I have a feeling our paths will cross again.
Snorkeling with "Chocolate"
Friday night was winding down and our attempts to secure a snorkeling guide for the next day had not been fruitful. A family friend of mine who is a realtor in San Pedro, Robert Cunningham, recommended a guide named “Chocolate.” So, at 10 pm, I connected with Chocolate who agreed to pick us up at 8:45 the next morning. After eating the best Banana pancakes I have ever tasted for the second morning in a row, we headed out to meet our guide. This trip would include all the girls, Abby, Courtney, Presh and I and one of the guys, Kirk Brown.
My only regret is that we did not have an underwater camera. Our first stop was a famous part of the reef called Hol Chan. I could have stayed underwater all day. Chocolate had me on one side and Presh on the other pointing out and naming fish and coral. It was easily one of the top five coolest things I have ever done in the outdoor realm. We then went to Shark Ray Alley where we rode nurse sharks and floated belly to belly with stingrays. By the way, the stingrays belly feels like firm rubbery velveteen but not hairy. The back of a nurse shark feels more like sand paper. We even got to sit on the back of the nurse sharks and put our arms around them. No words can really describe what I saw but I couldn’t help but think that in the new earth there will be endless exploration of the seas and playing with sea creatures. I didn’t want it to end.
Group Dynamics
The afternoon was spent relaxing on the beach, reading, writing and just talking. It was a great time to just be together and I feel like the girls’ team really came together in a way I haven’t felt until this weekend. The other two girls are living in the village of Cristo Rey so we haven’t had very much relational down time with them until this weekend. The guys are all great, each bringing their own unique personalities and gifts to the fullness of the group. Though they are younger, they each have depth, enjoy reflecting and writing, care about worlds and people outside their own 4 walls, and all appreciate and respect each other’s differences. If I were a guy, I would definitely want to be a part of that comradery.
Robert
Robert is a realtor made friend whom my parents met several years ago while looking at land in Colorado. They have kept in touch with Robert since his move to San Pedro about 4 years ago and visited him last fall. Robert works with San Pedro’s most exclusive resort community called Sueno del Mar. It’s like a paradise within a paradise, a little bit remote (about 12-13 miles from the hustle bustle of San Pedro). We finally caught up with Robert on Sunday before our departure via the Thunderbolt. We discussed his life in San Pedro, the culture of the island, the ups and downs of island life, and all that is going on with Sports Servants. Robert, a believer himself, was very encouraged by the work being done through Sports Servants. He encouraged us by telling us how vital the work with soccer is in Belize as it their national sport and they don’t even have a soccer stadium in the whole country that is fit to play in. He also spoke about the importance of kids having opportunities to play organized sports in Belize, especially soccer. He asked for our website so he could introduce Sports Servants work to his friend whose office is right upstairs from his. Robert’s friend also happens to be Director of Immigration in Belize. Robert seems to think Sports Servants work will be a great encouragement to his friend who has been very disheartened about the state of youth culture in Belize. Oh, Robert also is friends with the Consul. He sold them their place in Sueno del Mar. Belize is starting to feel a lot like Mississippi.:)
A Little Nervous
Well, I’ll let the picture of Presh in the life vest suffice to say that the ride home was a little scary. What you don’t see in the picture is me crying because I am laughing so hard, partly because I am scared and partly because Presh just asked the passengers on board for a show of hands of those who were also nervous. Besides me, she got ONE shout out. I guess the Belizeans are used to boat rides where the left side passengers are horizontal with the water. Call us crazy for feeling a little uneasy.
Hugs for Presh/Fingerprints for Mel
We have a two blank sheets of poster size paper taped up in our apartment. We decided one would be used to record “Belizisms” and the other to log what Presh calls “Hugs from God.” Well, that phrase was about the most Presh description she could have used to describe her experiences of the Lord’s hand of care, nearness, and involvement in her life. It’s a phrase I have often heard her use back in Nashville, so it was no surprise that she wanted to entitle our second poster as such. Quite endearing actually. Funny though, it did lead us to talk about the different ways that we describe our relations with and experiences of the Lord. The same type of experiences of the Lord’s sovereignty, his detailed care and provision, his personal love for me, I’d be more inclined to describe as “fingerprints of God.” Maybe she’s more touchy- feely and fingerprints connote more of an analytical/detailed experience, but either way, our weekend was marked with His fingerprints and an abundance his hugs...as has been our entire time in Belize so far.
Presh’s biggest hug in San Pedro:
As Presh and I were headed back from a late afternoon walk on the beach, I looked up to see an expanse of sand with TWO hammocks hanging from palm trees, one blue and one green. I didn’t even have to ask Presh what was next. We bolted towards the hammocks with smiles spread across our faces. It really was TOO perfect, esp for Presh, as you might remember she has been quite OCD about hammocks. By the way, in the last hour of our beach time, guess who walks by? Yep, a Belizean man selling hammocks. Presh finally got her very own hammock, which she is tucked into taking a nap as I write.
Mel’s most distinct fingerprint of God
While the relational connections orchestrated for us have been mind blowing, I’d have to say that the things I saw and experienced under the sea left me speechless. The intricate detail of the multi-colored fish, the design of the nurse sharks mouth, the sting ray’s harmlessly soft belly, the way the water broke at command over the reef in the middle of the sea, the perfect ordering of the schools of fish, the natural defenses of the coral which keep its beauty protected ( I learned first hand)..all of it just left me with a deep ache for more...one of the aches I recognize as an echo of the fullness of things to come.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Driving a Stick
Some highlights from the last few days:
Driving a stick:
The first car I ever drove was little orange Nissan pick -up stick shift. I feared this would be my first car and began to figure out ways to make it presentable to drive. I never thought I would say this, but I am very thankful for that Nissan truck. This weekend, all the guys were out of town and Presh and I were left with a little taste of freedom in the form of a silver pick-up truck..and you guessed it..a stick shift. We decided to take a little road trip south. We couldn’t decide between a baboon sanctuary and cave tubing so somehow we ended up on a beach (of sorts) in Old Belize City followed by a very exciting grocery store trip. We did get to see a good bit of the country driving 2.5 hours one way and may have loosened up our internal organs a bit with all the speed bumps and potholes. Good day though.
Moving on up:
Well, all our hassle with not getting our apartment may have paid off. Saturday we got the good news that we would be moving to the “house” attached to Hotel Maya. It overlooks the Bay which is now turning into more of a well, copper color. We are very hopeful that it is a shade in the emerald green family and it is only a matter of time until we can send post cards. Anyway, the apartment is very spacious- no AC but we didn’t expect that anyway..lots of fans and windows with a nice breeze coming off the bay. So, Presh and I each have our own room and bathroom. We have yet to feel warm or hot water but by the time we shower, we don’t care. Cold and lukewarm water are very welcome friends after being soaked with sweat from the day. We cooked our first meal in our casa tonight..pasta and some tomato sauce, along with some random cantaloupes we bought today..and Oreos and milk for dessert. Not too bad but we are planning to go to the market tomorrow for some fresh vegetables and fruit now that we have a refrigerator. I am feeling much more settled now that we are here and can spread out a bit.
OCD:
Presh is picking up on some of my old OCD tendencies..Since we have been here she has told me at least 6 times a day that she wants a hammock, she needs a hammock, where is she going to get a hammock, where can she hang her hammock, what color hammock should she get..you get the point...So, lo and behold, if while moving our couch in our new pad, if we didn’t look up..and I am not kidding you, there were two hammock hooks ready and waiting for Presh’s new hammock. Who ever said God is not a God of detail.
Sunday- A Day of Rest:
Not if you are trying to keep up with Helen Lacey. Three church services in one day. Helen, 77, and I video-recorded interviews with 2 pastors and their congregations in order to document the early church history of the congratulations that Helen’s husband planted in his lifetime. The parts I understood were interesting but they were mostly in Spanish..No matter what travel guides tell you, they speak SPANISH as their first language here, though most can speak at least some English. Helen has more energy than Jon Lucas and Presh Killebrew combined- good grief. We got to see the medical clinic and I imagined a few of you working there- especially you Spanish speakers.
Waiting on the Bus:
After a morning of writing and reflection a Tony’s (picture coming soon), we were off to catch our first bus to Cristo Rey village for our first day of girls camp. Suffice to say that our efforts to track down a bus schedule were not fruitful.Oh we found a schedule, problem is, no one uses it..no one meaning the bus companies. So, the 12:30 bus didn’t come and so we finally caught one around 1:30 to the “turn off” to Cristo Rey village. Well, the turn off is the end of paved roads and the beginning of the biggest pot holes I have ever seen in my life. I will have to take a picture so you will believe me. So, Abby picked us up at the turn off to get us to Cristo Rey village.
Choco Bananas and Day One of Camp:
About 20 girls showed up, from age 5-14. Ellie and I were in charge of the older ones while Presh and Courtney had the younger ones. We did soccer drills and then took a break and did some intro volleyball drills. It has been quite a while since my high school volleyball days but it was coming back to me and the coaching part was fun..just helping them master a skill. Very fun. The picture below shows me playing around with a little girl named Michelle. She sort of attached to my hip for whatever reason and has some pretty tricky little feet when it comes to soccer. She and a few other girls lingered after camp and showed us where to get Choco-bananas- just what it sounds like- bananas dipped in chocolate and frozen- very tasty little treat.
I’m looking forward to Day 2 of Camp. These kids don’t really get a lot of affection and so, even more than wanting to play soccer, they just want to be loved on. Don’t we all.
Here are some pictures to help fill in some of the gaps.
Keep writing when you can. It so fun to hear what’s going on back home.
Mel
Driving a stick:
The first car I ever drove was little orange Nissan pick -up stick shift. I feared this would be my first car and began to figure out ways to make it presentable to drive. I never thought I would say this, but I am very thankful for that Nissan truck. This weekend, all the guys were out of town and Presh and I were left with a little taste of freedom in the form of a silver pick-up truck..and you guessed it..a stick shift. We decided to take a little road trip south. We couldn’t decide between a baboon sanctuary and cave tubing so somehow we ended up on a beach (of sorts) in Old Belize City followed by a very exciting grocery store trip. We did get to see a good bit of the country driving 2.5 hours one way and may have loosened up our internal organs a bit with all the speed bumps and potholes. Good day though.
Moving on up:
Well, all our hassle with not getting our apartment may have paid off. Saturday we got the good news that we would be moving to the “house” attached to Hotel Maya. It overlooks the Bay which is now turning into more of a well, copper color. We are very hopeful that it is a shade in the emerald green family and it is only a matter of time until we can send post cards. Anyway, the apartment is very spacious- no AC but we didn’t expect that anyway..lots of fans and windows with a nice breeze coming off the bay. So, Presh and I each have our own room and bathroom. We have yet to feel warm or hot water but by the time we shower, we don’t care. Cold and lukewarm water are very welcome friends after being soaked with sweat from the day. We cooked our first meal in our casa tonight..pasta and some tomato sauce, along with some random cantaloupes we bought today..and Oreos and milk for dessert. Not too bad but we are planning to go to the market tomorrow for some fresh vegetables and fruit now that we have a refrigerator. I am feeling much more settled now that we are here and can spread out a bit.
OCD:
Presh is picking up on some of my old OCD tendencies..Since we have been here she has told me at least 6 times a day that she wants a hammock, she needs a hammock, where is she going to get a hammock, where can she hang her hammock, what color hammock should she get..you get the point...So, lo and behold, if while moving our couch in our new pad, if we didn’t look up..and I am not kidding you, there were two hammock hooks ready and waiting for Presh’s new hammock. Who ever said God is not a God of detail.
Sunday- A Day of Rest:
Not if you are trying to keep up with Helen Lacey. Three church services in one day. Helen, 77, and I video-recorded interviews with 2 pastors and their congregations in order to document the early church history of the congratulations that Helen’s husband planted in his lifetime. The parts I understood were interesting but they were mostly in Spanish..No matter what travel guides tell you, they speak SPANISH as their first language here, though most can speak at least some English. Helen has more energy than Jon Lucas and Presh Killebrew combined- good grief. We got to see the medical clinic and I imagined a few of you working there- especially you Spanish speakers.
Waiting on the Bus:
After a morning of writing and reflection a Tony’s (picture coming soon), we were off to catch our first bus to Cristo Rey village for our first day of girls camp. Suffice to say that our efforts to track down a bus schedule were not fruitful.Oh we found a schedule, problem is, no one uses it..no one meaning the bus companies. So, the 12:30 bus didn’t come and so we finally caught one around 1:30 to the “turn off” to Cristo Rey village. Well, the turn off is the end of paved roads and the beginning of the biggest pot holes I have ever seen in my life. I will have to take a picture so you will believe me. So, Abby picked us up at the turn off to get us to Cristo Rey village.
Choco Bananas and Day One of Camp:
About 20 girls showed up, from age 5-14. Ellie and I were in charge of the older ones while Presh and Courtney had the younger ones. We did soccer drills and then took a break and did some intro volleyball drills. It has been quite a while since my high school volleyball days but it was coming back to me and the coaching part was fun..just helping them master a skill. Very fun. The picture below shows me playing around with a little girl named Michelle. She sort of attached to my hip for whatever reason and has some pretty tricky little feet when it comes to soccer. She and a few other girls lingered after camp and showed us where to get Choco-bananas- just what it sounds like- bananas dipped in chocolate and frozen- very tasty little treat.
I’m looking forward to Day 2 of Camp. These kids don’t really get a lot of affection and so, even more than wanting to play soccer, they just want to be loved on. Don’t we all.
Here are some pictures to help fill in some of the gaps.
Keep writing when you can. It so fun to hear what’s going on back home.
Mel
Being Flexible
We're here!
A suitable beginning is always the hard part. Feels like we have lived here a week already..lots to take in a process.
People. Alright, first things first. Who is here? At the airport, we met up with Abby Butler and Elliott. Abby just graduated from Vanderbilt and is director of girls soccer camps. Elliott played college soccer in Louisiana and will be a junior at University of Oklahoma. Courtney is flying in tomorrow. Tell you more about her when I know more. Then, the guys..Carver is a sophomore at Vandy (MBA grad); Andrew is an English teacher at MBA; Brad is a senior at Vandy; Reid just graduated from Belmont; and Zac Hood is Director of Sports Servants and does Alumni Development at MBA. They are great!
Being flexible. Well, we showed up and the beautiful emerald water of Corozal bay was a doo- doo brown. Little bit disappointing...The cause is flooding of river and tropical storms. Forecast: optimistic that the waters will be back to normal if no more storms.
As if the brown water wasn't enough of a buzz kill, someone was living in our apartment when we got here with no plans to leave until July 22. LONG story short, they double booked but we should be able to get in the apartment we rented or a "house" attached to Hotel Maya by Sunday. Shew! Until then, Presh and I are living in tight quarters in a hotel room at Hotel Maya. Lots of luggage but the perk is we get clean towels and made up beds every day.
Camps. Thursday, I went with Reid, Abby, and Elliott to the soccer camp in Calcutta. Below are some pics of Reid and some of the boys at the camp. I just jumped in there like I knew what I was doing, doing the drills, sprints, and games along with the kids. I actually knew two of the drills thanks to my soccer lessons given by Lauren Grace Himes and Sam Hopp (St Paul grads). It gave me a taste of what the girls camps might be like next week in Cristo Rey village. Girls camps start next Monday.
Getting away. Thankfully, my roommate and compadre, Presh, needs a lot of process time too. Thanks to Kimberly Carraway, who introduced me to Tony’s Resort, we have our own private retreat place..complete with beach chairs, a beach grill/ restaurant, and a view of doo-doo brown Corozal Bay (don’t get too jealous). We have already escaped there twice to read and journal and I anticipate to make some good friends with the wait staff there. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Hotel Maya.
Mrs. Lacey. We met with this precious lady for lunch today. We had a two hour lunch where we were privileged to hear about the beginning days of the gospel being brought to Belize. I didn’t really realize that before Helen’s husband, there were no real gospel missions in Belize. There was some religious structure through the Catholic church mixed with some superstitious spirituality but nothing even close to the truth.That kind of blew me away. So, part of my time here, will be interviewing and videotaping about 5 men/ 1 woman who came to know the Lord through Tom Lacey’s ministry here in Belize which began in the early 70’s. Some of these men are now ministers at various churches that Tom started and some are in seminary in Belize. We will begin those interviews on Sunday after church. Mrs. Lacey was a true blessing. I couldn’t even get in all my questions. I wore myself out trying to take it all in, her life, their ministry, but I hope to have lots more time with her while I am here.
Exercise/Food. While soccer camps and all the sweating I did was quite a work out, Presh and I are going to try our first run today...when it cools off a bit. It is hot and we have eaten heavier food than usual because we don’t have a kitchen yet. Very ready to make our own food but there is a Chinese restaurant on every corner if we so desire. I brought my own coffee, creamers, and sugar, which was my best packing move yet. Those of you who know my particulars of my coffee preparation can appreciate this. Our landlord gave me my very own coffeepot.:)
Okay. Well, I could write for days, but I will keep you updated. I would love to her from y’all. So far, we are getting a fairly strong signal on the balcony.
Write again soon.
Melanie
A suitable beginning is always the hard part. Feels like we have lived here a week already..lots to take in a process.
People. Alright, first things first. Who is here? At the airport, we met up with Abby Butler and Elliott. Abby just graduated from Vanderbilt and is director of girls soccer camps. Elliott played college soccer in Louisiana and will be a junior at University of Oklahoma. Courtney is flying in tomorrow. Tell you more about her when I know more. Then, the guys..Carver is a sophomore at Vandy (MBA grad); Andrew is an English teacher at MBA; Brad is a senior at Vandy; Reid just graduated from Belmont; and Zac Hood is Director of Sports Servants and does Alumni Development at MBA. They are great!
Being flexible. Well, we showed up and the beautiful emerald water of Corozal bay was a doo- doo brown. Little bit disappointing...The cause is flooding of river and tropical storms. Forecast: optimistic that the waters will be back to normal if no more storms.
As if the brown water wasn't enough of a buzz kill, someone was living in our apartment when we got here with no plans to leave until July 22. LONG story short, they double booked but we should be able to get in the apartment we rented or a "house" attached to Hotel Maya by Sunday. Shew! Until then, Presh and I are living in tight quarters in a hotel room at Hotel Maya. Lots of luggage but the perk is we get clean towels and made up beds every day.
Camps. Thursday, I went with Reid, Abby, and Elliott to the soccer camp in Calcutta. Below are some pics of Reid and some of the boys at the camp. I just jumped in there like I knew what I was doing, doing the drills, sprints, and games along with the kids. I actually knew two of the drills thanks to my soccer lessons given by Lauren Grace Himes and Sam Hopp (St Paul grads). It gave me a taste of what the girls camps might be like next week in Cristo Rey village. Girls camps start next Monday.
Getting away. Thankfully, my roommate and compadre, Presh, needs a lot of process time too. Thanks to Kimberly Carraway, who introduced me to Tony’s Resort, we have our own private retreat place..complete with beach chairs, a beach grill/ restaurant, and a view of doo-doo brown Corozal Bay (don’t get too jealous). We have already escaped there twice to read and journal and I anticipate to make some good friends with the wait staff there. It’s about a 5 minute walk from Hotel Maya.
Mrs. Lacey. We met with this precious lady for lunch today. We had a two hour lunch where we were privileged to hear about the beginning days of the gospel being brought to Belize. I didn’t really realize that before Helen’s husband, there were no real gospel missions in Belize. There was some religious structure through the Catholic church mixed with some superstitious spirituality but nothing even close to the truth.That kind of blew me away. So, part of my time here, will be interviewing and videotaping about 5 men/ 1 woman who came to know the Lord through Tom Lacey’s ministry here in Belize which began in the early 70’s. Some of these men are now ministers at various churches that Tom started and some are in seminary in Belize. We will begin those interviews on Sunday after church. Mrs. Lacey was a true blessing. I couldn’t even get in all my questions. I wore myself out trying to take it all in, her life, their ministry, but I hope to have lots more time with her while I am here.
Exercise/Food. While soccer camps and all the sweating I did was quite a work out, Presh and I are going to try our first run today...when it cools off a bit. It is hot and we have eaten heavier food than usual because we don’t have a kitchen yet. Very ready to make our own food but there is a Chinese restaurant on every corner if we so desire. I brought my own coffee, creamers, and sugar, which was my best packing move yet. Those of you who know my particulars of my coffee preparation can appreciate this. Our landlord gave me my very own coffeepot.:)
Okay. Well, I could write for days, but I will keep you updated. I would love to her from y’all. So far, we are getting a fairly strong signal on the balcony.
Write again soon.
Melanie
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Heat Prep
I'm at the beach with my mom and one of her friends, getting to spend some time with her before summer is over. My other agenda is heat prep....seeing if I can survive excessive physical activity in this heat...taking one for the team:) Dad is in Alaska, some combination of construction and salmon fishing. Reid (10) is, well, being in college..going out of town to concerts, getting ready to start her sophomore year at Kings College in NYC. Tara (33) is in Northern India with her crew of 4 and one due in December...I sometimes wonder how 3 sisters can be so different..all drawn to very different parts of the world and even different parts of the US. NYC is one of the last places I would want to go to school, and India is definitely not calling my name. Not surprisingly, I go where the sun shines, and I do believe Belize qualifies. However, Belize may supply more sun than this sun lover can handle.
In preparation for my two and a half weeks in Belize, I have one soccer lesson under my belt thanks to former St Paul soccer phenoms, Lauren Grace Himes and Samantha Hopp. They both have bright coaching careers ahead of them and they both seemed to enjoy the opportunity to be in charge of me. Meanwhile, I have been practicing some of the drills they taught me by myself, sometimes on college soccer fields just hoping no one I know drives by.:)...yes, local college fields. I am hoping to know just enough to stay two steps ahead of some Belizean ten year-olds but I might not be able to fool 'em. I have come to really appreciate the skill it really takes to play the sport.
Otherwise, talking to Presh about all kinds of details..about the need for some comforts from home while in Belize. I think she is bringing plastic gerber daisies for our room, just to keep things cheerful and bright. No doubt she will bring her sunshine wherever we go. I have been corresponding with Helen Lacey (wife of late Belizean Presbyterian church planter, Tom Lacey.) She has her hands in so many aspects of the community of Cristo Rey. I feel like time with her will give me such a broader view of opportunities for people to serve in Belize, plus just a better understanding of the day to day life of the Belizean people.
I'm getting excited. Probably moreso than the anticipation of my last two summers in Peru and Ireland. Biggest reason being, I get to share it with one of my best friends this time. Belize may be the best of both worlds, allowing me to enjoy again an authentically Latin culture while simultaneously actually being able to communicate with people (most Belizeans speak English). Hallelujah, real conversations!
Workouts in extreme heat are putting me in bed early..so I better go. Write again soon.
Melanie
In preparation for my two and a half weeks in Belize, I have one soccer lesson under my belt thanks to former St Paul soccer phenoms, Lauren Grace Himes and Samantha Hopp. They both have bright coaching careers ahead of them and they both seemed to enjoy the opportunity to be in charge of me. Meanwhile, I have been practicing some of the drills they taught me by myself, sometimes on college soccer fields just hoping no one I know drives by.:)...yes, local college fields. I am hoping to know just enough to stay two steps ahead of some Belizean ten year-olds but I might not be able to fool 'em. I have come to really appreciate the skill it really takes to play the sport.
Otherwise, talking to Presh about all kinds of details..about the need for some comforts from home while in Belize. I think she is bringing plastic gerber daisies for our room, just to keep things cheerful and bright. No doubt she will bring her sunshine wherever we go. I have been corresponding with Helen Lacey (wife of late Belizean Presbyterian church planter, Tom Lacey.) She has her hands in so many aspects of the community of Cristo Rey. I feel like time with her will give me such a broader view of opportunities for people to serve in Belize, plus just a better understanding of the day to day life of the Belizean people.
I'm getting excited. Probably moreso than the anticipation of my last two summers in Peru and Ireland. Biggest reason being, I get to share it with one of my best friends this time. Belize may be the best of both worlds, allowing me to enjoy again an authentically Latin culture while simultaneously actually being able to communicate with people (most Belizeans speak English). Hallelujah, real conversations!
Workouts in extreme heat are putting me in bed early..so I better go. Write again soon.
Melanie
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Getting Ready
As many of you know, this February, I spent a week with the Belize Project in Orange Walk Town, Belize, investigating a potential partnership between St. Paul Christian Academy and a Belizean elementary school. I left Belize hopeful about a partnership, thoroughly convinced it would be a messier and more beautiful adventure than I could have ever imagined. I knew within my first day in Belize that it was a place I wanted to spend more time, regardless of the decisions St. Paul would make about this partnership.
As plans to develop this partnership continued to unfold throughout the spring, I was connected with another ministry of the Belize Project. Sports Servants is a ministry committed to empowering children and youth, developing young leaders, strengthening communities, and positively impacting the future of the nation of Belize through developing sports programs for kids. Much like American children, Belizean kids love to play sports, especially soccer. However, soccer in these small villages looks vastly different from the American version of this game. It is rare that Belizean children ever have the opportunity to play on an organized team, much less have a coach or basic equipment, as most kids play with their bare feet. Even in the best of circumstances, these opportunities are generally offered exclusively to the boys in these villages.
Last summer, Vanderbillt University graduate, Abby Butler, initiated the first “girls only” soccer camp in the small village of Cristo Rey, Belize. The response from the girls in this village was so positive that not only will the Cristo Rey girls camp continue, but a second girls camp will start up this summer in the neighboring village of San Antonio, which is about 15 minutes from the Orange Walk School.
On July 9, I will help lead 2 weeks of girls soccer camps in Cristo Rey village. I will be joining two other Nashvillians, Presh Killebrew and Abby Butler (Director of Girls Camps), for these two and a half weeks of girls camp. To read stories from Sports Servants staff members, see pictures and video, or to learn about ways you can get involved with Sports Servants, please go to the Sports Servants website at www.sportsservants.org.
While my mornings will be full with soccer camps and building relationships with the girls in Cristo Rey village, my afternoons will give me opportunity to experience an equally exciting, though very different slice of Belizean life. While in Belize in February, I met a precious lady named Helen Lacy. Helen and her husband, Tom, lived in Kosciusko, MS, before moving to Belize in 1970, where together, they would plant 12 Presbyterian churches. When widowed in 1994, Helen decided to spend the remainder of her life at “home” in Belize, where she continues to serve her Belizean family and the churches there. Helen has asked me to help her with a project she began last summer. We will be using photography, digital recording and writing to document the lives of the early believers and the history of the Presbyterian churches planted by Mr. Lacy during his lifetime. I imagine that Mrs. Lacy has quite a story of her own to tell. Maybe it is actually her story that needs to be documented.:)
I have so enjoyed having you be a part of my last two summers through your e-mails, prayers and financial support. It is more encouraging than you could ever know to receive your e-mails, and to know that you are praying for and, consequently, investing in the future of these children in the small country of Belize.
I look forward to sharing this country and its beautiful people with you.
As plans to develop this partnership continued to unfold throughout the spring, I was connected with another ministry of the Belize Project. Sports Servants is a ministry committed to empowering children and youth, developing young leaders, strengthening communities, and positively impacting the future of the nation of Belize through developing sports programs for kids. Much like American children, Belizean kids love to play sports, especially soccer. However, soccer in these small villages looks vastly different from the American version of this game. It is rare that Belizean children ever have the opportunity to play on an organized team, much less have a coach or basic equipment, as most kids play with their bare feet. Even in the best of circumstances, these opportunities are generally offered exclusively to the boys in these villages.
Last summer, Vanderbillt University graduate, Abby Butler, initiated the first “girls only” soccer camp in the small village of Cristo Rey, Belize. The response from the girls in this village was so positive that not only will the Cristo Rey girls camp continue, but a second girls camp will start up this summer in the neighboring village of San Antonio, which is about 15 minutes from the Orange Walk School.
On July 9, I will help lead 2 weeks of girls soccer camps in Cristo Rey village. I will be joining two other Nashvillians, Presh Killebrew and Abby Butler (Director of Girls Camps), for these two and a half weeks of girls camp. To read stories from Sports Servants staff members, see pictures and video, or to learn about ways you can get involved with Sports Servants, please go to the Sports Servants website at www.sportsservants.org.
While my mornings will be full with soccer camps and building relationships with the girls in Cristo Rey village, my afternoons will give me opportunity to experience an equally exciting, though very different slice of Belizean life. While in Belize in February, I met a precious lady named Helen Lacy. Helen and her husband, Tom, lived in Kosciusko, MS, before moving to Belize in 1970, where together, they would plant 12 Presbyterian churches. When widowed in 1994, Helen decided to spend the remainder of her life at “home” in Belize, where she continues to serve her Belizean family and the churches there. Helen has asked me to help her with a project she began last summer. We will be using photography, digital recording and writing to document the lives of the early believers and the history of the Presbyterian churches planted by Mr. Lacy during his lifetime. I imagine that Mrs. Lacy has quite a story of her own to tell. Maybe it is actually her story that needs to be documented.:)
I have so enjoyed having you be a part of my last two summers through your e-mails, prayers and financial support. It is more encouraging than you could ever know to receive your e-mails, and to know that you are praying for and, consequently, investing in the future of these children in the small country of Belize.
I look forward to sharing this country and its beautiful people with you.
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