What an awesome experience we have had on our Belize pilgrimage!  Our first stop in Dangriga gave the team the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Garifuna culture, thanks to a dear local woman named Aggie who joined us for dinner and explained the rich traditions of her people.  Afterwards we went to her simple home and joined her family in celebrating the Mass.  Afterwards, one of our team members said that it was the most beautiful Mass she had ever experiences.  The next day, Aggie took us to see the complex process of making Garifuna bread called casava.  We also visited a famous Garifuna artist, Ben Nicholson, and made a stop at the studio of Pen Caytano, a popular musician who leads the Turtle Shell band. 

Then we were on the remote Monkey River for a night in a little jungle village to learn about God’s amazing creation in Belize.  We took a 4-hour boat ride up the River and got off the small boat to walk through the dense rainforest there, seeing howler monkeys and crocodiles up close and personal along with miniature bats, giant bull frogs, and an endless number of birds.  Fr. Tom’s devotion that night was titled “Where the Wild Things Are”!

But it has been during the home visits in the local villages where are hearts have been so mightily touched.  We experienced the joy and abounding hope of little children in a small community of one-room thatched roofed homes.  The kids were so exciting to have us visit that they just couldn’t stop singing to us and singing to us and reciting poems to us…and singing to us!  Thanks to Dan’s music and the team’s enthusiasm, it was one of the most delightful afternoons we could ever imagine!  We anointed and prayed for each family, then each team member went to one of the huts to hang a cross there.  A number of our group noticed that that cross was the only decoration in the home.   During our evening devotions one of our group asked the question:  Who has more to give…us to them or them to us?

Another day, we made a home visit to a family—the Ramclams—with three small and precious severely handicapped children.  We sang their favorite songs, read them a story from the Children’s Bible, listened to them share the challenges they face daily, and marveled at their spirit of joy and their absolute trust in God.  A couple of the men on our team explained during devotions that night how they had fought back tears.  Father anointed the children and we blessed and prayed over the entire family.  Who has more to give?

And the Elder Retreat!  There is just too much to tell in and email.  But what a mountain-top experience to see those 100 precious elders laughing and singing and DANCING!  A teenager in Punta Gorda who had peeked in the parish hall window to witness it, said to her mother at dinner that night:  “Wow!  If you want to go dancing, go to the Elder Retreat!!!”  It was such a BIG event in Punta Gorda that the TV and radio stations showed up to cover it.  Each elderly person felt valued and loved and inspired…especially be the chain of a thousand links that decorated the parish hall.  (People in the States had signed each one with a commitment to pray!)

The Sisters who hosted us loved us for coming and told us that the event simply couldn’t happen without the team’s support.

One of our team members, Dan Svrchek, was notified on the second day of the Elder Retreat that his bother-in-law had passed away.  He was prepared to head back to the States…but his brother-in-law’s wife, Dan’s sister, told him that she was certain God had ordained his mission work in Belize and she really, really wanted him to stay and complete it.  What a gift she gave him, our team, and those we served!  Our team had a beautiful and touching memorial service and all the locals who had met Dan offered their genuine love and support to him.  Some of the Garifuna ladies at the Elder Retreat performed one of their native dances for him and his family and his deceased brother-in-law.  It was called the Garifuna dance for the deceased.  We all just watched with our hearts as full as they could possibly be!

We are at the Belize City airport now contemplating how this experience has touched us and changed us.  We will never be the same.  Our theme for this trip was God is Love.  And we were reminded of that every step of our pilgrimage!

Blessing and love!  This trip could not have happened without your love, prayers, and support!

A joyful, joyful day in Belize! The second day of the Elder Retreat began with music and devotions led by Fr. Tom. Next was a special presentation by Paul Mahung, local celebrity and storyteller. Spiced with his own style of telling stories, Mr. Mahung inspired the group to "Use your gifts!" I'm reminded of St. Paul, "We are earthen vessels filled to the brim with spiritual gifts!"

After Mr. Mahung's presentation, everyone got into the act – literally! The Elders gave their own talent show. I had the privilege to talk on the phone, briefly, with Jackie. I could hear the music in the background. Sr. Josephina (from the convent) called out, "everyone is dancing!" What a joy-filled experience for the elders AND the Pilgrim team!

For the afternoon, the Pilgrims visited a school in the small village of Santa Elena. Together with Santa Cruz, these Mopan Maya villages have a population of about 500. The thatch roof houses in each village are spread out along the roadside. Livestock is plentiful - horses keep the surrounding vegetation low and chickens and pigs roam the village. A central water system was built on the outskirts of Santa Cruz. Both villages have a community phone and contain a large football field, a school, a church, a community center, and a store.

Santa Elena was initially called Rio Blanco, the name taken from the crystal clear river flowing nearby. When new members of the community arrived with a statue of Santa Elena, the villagers changed the name of their village to honor their new patron saint.

The day ended with a traditional Garifuna dinner at the home of one of their friends. The Garifuna people are of mixed Carib and African ancestry living along the Caribbean coast of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Nicaragua.

There is a wide variety of Garifuna dishes, including the more commonly known ereba (cassava bread) made from grated cassava, garlic, yuca, and salt. This is done in an ancient and time-consuming process involving a long, snake-like woven basket (ruguma) which strains the cassava of its juice. It is then dried overnight and later sieved through flat rounded baskets (hibise) to form flour that is baked into pancakes on a large iron griddle. (the Belize team watched a demonstration of how to make the cassava on Friday, the day after they arrived in Belize.)

Ereba is fondly eaten with fish, hudut (pounded plantains) or alone with gravy (lasusu). Others foods include: bundiga (a plantain lasusu), mazapan, and bimecacule (sticky sweet rice).

Before bed, the team spent a little time in preparation for the next day's retreat program and closed with end-of-the day devotions.

Pray for their strength and stamina as their stay draws close to the end.

Hello once again. Today, as we celebrated Valentine's Day, the Belize Pilgrims began their 3-day Elder Retreat. Fr. Tom gave an early morning mass at the convent with music from Dan, then the elder guests began arriving. Socializing and sweet treats started the day. The elders also had a chance to sign a book by local celebrity, Paul Mahung. Mr. Mahung is a well-known storyteller and DJ on LOVE-FM in PG town.

Door prizes were awarded and the "love links", made my many adults and kids in our parish, were presented to the elders.
Holly and Tom led a craft session - everyone making rhythm instruments, which was followed by a "concert" with everyone playing their new instruments.

Lunch and a closing prayer ended the morning session.

In the afternoon, the team made a home visit and also visited a "snake doctor."
To close the special day, the team treated the Sisters to a Valentine's dinner.
A little time was spent in preparation for the next day of the Retreat, then end-of-the-day devotions. Keep them all in your prayers. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be very hard-working days for the group.

Greeting and blessings to all family and friends of the Belize Pilgrim! Today, Sunday, Fr. Tom celebrated mass at the convent. I understand that Dan brought along his guitar and was providing music. After lunching with the Sisters, the group went to the Hillside Clinic in Eldridgeville.

The clinic is a concrete structure with three examination rooms, an office, and pharmacy space. It operates at the Eldrigeville location three mornings and one evening a week. Clinic hours are scheduled to coincide with the operation of the regional market in Punta Gorda, enabling villagers to reach the clinic site on the village buses that pass near the clinic on their way to market. Additionally, villagers who have traveled into town on early buses, as well as residents of Punta Gorda, can also use a shuttle service provided by Hillside, which runs from Punta Gorda's central square to the clinic location in Eldridgeville.

In the afternoon, the group gave a birthday party for all the village kids!

After dinner they spent time in preparation for the Elder Retreat that starts Monday.

Keep them in your prayers - the next 3 days will be very busy!

Blessings to you all.

Our Belize Pilgrims spent Friday enjoying the musical culture of Dandriga, a swim in the Caribbean, and exploring the rainforest habitat. A late afternoon boat ride on the Monkey River took our hardy travelers under the dense, jungle canopy of the rainforest.

Wildlife along the river includes iguanas, turtles and and many varieties of birds. Not long into the trip the jungle erupts with the bizarre sounds of the Black Howler Monkey as the troupes communicate with each other to declare their territory. Nothing you read could prepare you for the adventure of hearing these monkeys for the first time...you just have to experience it!

The return trip on the river was made in the dark, with spotlights pointing out many new varieties of wildlife.

On Saturday, the group traveled south along the seacoast curve of Belize to Big Falls, where they had lunch at Coleman's. The longtime local favorite serves simple but tasty Belizean dishes such as stew, chicken with beans and rice. The diners sit in the open air enjoying the breezes and Belizean hospitality.

They are staying the next few days in Punta Gorda – known locally as PG town, it's the southernmost town in Belize and the capital of the Toledo District. The population is a mixture of Mopan and Kekchi Maya, Garifuna, Creoles, Lebanese, East Indian and Chinese peoples.

With it's cool sea breezes and friendly people, Punta Gorda is a pleasant and interesting town. The pace of life is slow and easy-going. Traffic is minimal on the streets. People hang out on street corners chatting, while school children play chase in the school yards. The town springs to life on holidays and market days-Saturday and Wednesday mornings- when the villagers and Guatemalans from across the border pour in to buy and sell hand-crafted produce and simple household goods around the clock tower.

The group will be staying at a convent in PG town (I believe it's called Pallotine convent). At the end of their busy Saturday, the pilgrims will have dinner with the nuns.

You many not know that during their preparation for the mission trip, each of the pilgrims planned a short devotion for the end-of-the day. Before settling into their rooms, the tired group gathers together in prayer and thanksgiving – each evening's devotions led by a different member of the group.

Keep them in your prayers tonight!

Sandra

Well "no news is good news" is the old saying! I didn't hear from the Belize team last night so I'm taking it that all the flights went well, and they enjoyed their first experiences. From Belize City, they were to take a "puddle jumper" to Dandriga. They were staying at the Pelican Hotel. Here's a little about Dandriga.
Dangriga Town, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, is a town in southern Belize, located on the Caribbean coast at the mouth of Stann Creek. It is the capital of Belize's Stann Creek District and also forms its own constituency.
Dangriga was settled in or slightly before 1832 by Garifuna (Black Caribs, as they were known to the British) from Honduras. It was for a long time the second largest population centre in the country behind Belize City, but in recent years has been surpassed by Orange Walk Town. The population is mostly a mixture of Garinagu, Kriols and Mestizos.
In Belize it has gained the nickname "The Culture Capital" for its mix of diverse peoples and cultures, being the home of some of Belize's most innovative musical forms and sporting activities.

The musical culture of Dandriga is of note. Today, Friday, the Pilgrims will be visiting a drum maker, and also a Garafuna musician and leader of the Turtleshell Band! I'm sure this willl be an inspiration for later in the week when they show elders how to make rhythm instruments!
The afternoon will present many wonders and surprises, as they travel by boat on the Monkey River. More on that in tomorrow's update!

Keep praying!

Sandra

February 10, 2011 10:20 AM:    Belize Pilgrims Take Off!

Thursday, February 10, 2011 10:20 AM

Hi to all good friends. Well the hardy Belize Pilgrims were on the road to the airport at about 3:00am today (Thursday)! Following is a note from Jackie about their plans for the busy day!

Hello Everyone! We are boarding our flight today, hopefully with no delays. It is always so much fun to leave for the sub-tropics when the weather at home is freezing! We have been gathering our supplies, charting our agenda, and preparing our hearts for this trip for over five months! Though we don't exactly know what the future holds for us in Belize...we DO know WHO holds it! We are very excited about being able to serve our Lord and his people...and about having Him change our hearts to His liking in the days ahead!

Our plan today is to fly on our commercial flight to Belize City and then to board a little puddle-jumper from Belize City to Dangriga, a good-sized, but rather poor, city in Belize that has a strong Garifuna culture. This stop (just for one night) will give our team a wonderful educational opportunity to learn about the Garifuna people and their ways. We will be hosted by a dear Christian friend of mine, Aggie, who lives there. Aggie has endured a hard and challenging life, but her faith and determination is an inspiration. And the entire city knows and loves her!

One of our goals on this trip is to have our team return home in a week with a solid understanding of the country's various cultures, because that lays the groundwork for an attitude of understanding a respect for the next team. This little country, for example, has at least five major cultures--Garifuna, Mayan, Creole, East Indian, and Hispanic! Our team members desire to see the sacredness of each encounter with each person every step of the way. "Lord, keep reminding us that we are on holy ground!"

We would not be boarding this flight this morning if it were not for those of you who have so graciously supported us with funding, supplies, encouragement, and prayers. Please continue to pray for us and those we meet along the way. And know that you are each loved and appreciated!

Our theme for this mission trip is God is Love. How perfect to reflect on Love this Valentine week!

Jackie, on behalf of the entire team of eight!