Visiting the Villages

 The mission church in Calla Creek

 Some of my most moving experiences were visiting my students in their homes in the villages. One family I'll tell you about, they are very dear to me because I teach three of their children and because their dad and oldest brother were murdered 3 years ago. For a family that is supported solely from their small farm, to lose their father and eldest brother is not just devastating because it's sad, it's scary because they don't know how they'll be able to put food on the table.

From the village we walked about 40 minutes in the sun in about 110 degrees to get to my students ranch. This is the walk my students walk every morning and afternoon from school plus an additional half an hour from the paved road to the village.

 When we arrived the family immediately greeted us with water and coke and gave us the best seats in the house, the hammock and wooden stools and chairs. At their ranch they have a sort of outdoor living room, which is like a shed, with a tin roof and 2 walls instead of four. Cement floors, a table, a few wooden chairs and 2 hammocks are all that's inside.

 30 feet away is the outdoor kitchen with a dirt floor, a wash basin, an open fire to cook on, a cooler, and animals mucking about. 

 As I sat in the hammock talking to the student his mother fixed us a large portion of rice, beans, and stewed chicken (the traditional Belizean meal and what is eaten everyday). My student filled my glass when it was empty. I graciously accepted the food, although I knew they were feeding me part of what little they had, they'd all eat less and probably be hungry that day because of what they gave me.

At first it was a bit surprising to see how they lived. I would've never known by the way they come to school. They are always very clean, uniforms ironed, school supplies in hand, and they are always joyful. They are some of the most joyful, happy kids you'd ever meet. I wondered how is it that I've never heard them complain? How is it that they can give freely to me when they don't have enough to eat themselves? How is it that they have so little and are so happy? They are grateful for what they have.

If we want to be happy in life we must be thankful. This is one of the greatest lessons I've learned this year. It's not an easy lesson, but gratitude is necessary for everyone, no matter who you and where you live.

"And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"  

Luke 17:12-19