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