First Week

To the airport at 3 in the morning. Flying for four hours over the continental United States and landing in Texas. Rushing to catch the connecting flight and then flying two hours to Belize. I look out my window as we are approaching. Pillars of fluffy white clouds spread as far as the eye can see. We descend, and as we emerge from them, all one can see is green. Lush jungle coats the land. There is untouched wild everywhere. We land and step off the plane into a new world of heat and humidity. 

We take a truck from Belize City to the capital of Belmopan, driving fast along a simple road that winds through the jungle. We arrive at night to a new home that is being built where bugs are calling their night songs and where the rain pours harder than I ever knew could.

It is a strange new place we have come to. One that I hadn’t imagined. A place where rain pours as water would flow from fire hydrants. Where poisonous snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and other critters roam and where fireflies light up the green grass at night. Where howlers monkeys scream in the night, and where jaguars prowl in the deep jungle. Where there is not city and then some jungle, but jungle and then some town. This is the place I now call home.

It has been an interesting and exciting experience so far. We have traveled on the public buses by ourselves, shopped in the local markets, and walked around our new town of Belmopan. We have seen many exotic birds, a spider monkey, and even a caged jaguar. We have begun to integrate ourselves into our new lives of helping at the King’s Children’s Home. I have held and comforted babies, fed them, and sang them to sleep. I have raced around with the younger children, and teased the older ones, just trying to get to know everyone. We have been loved on since the moment we arrived. Each precious child wanting to get his or her turn of attention and affection. We have seen the tattered home where about 70 children live. We have seen the humble beds they sleep in and the few possessions we own. We have seen the joy and the struggle on the faces of those children who have so much less than one could imagine. 

This time here in Belize has definitely been eye opening, and we haven’t even been here two full weeks. It has been incredible to see the life of people who are far poorer in our eyes, yet who are far richer in the time they have and can spend with those they love. It has been a tough adjustment going from the fast passed life in the states, to the slow and steady life style here in Belize. It is definitely worth it though. Prayers are continually appreciated as we start a preschool and a tutoring program after school. Thank you for your time and support. I love and miss you all.

Blessings.