Fish Bite

Last weekend the volunteers took a trip out to San Pedro.  Thanks to Ramon's Village resort and their generous discount for missionaries we could afford to stay at a nice resort with hot water and air conditioning (yes, it's still hot here).  I've been to San Pedro several times but this trip I was able to see a few things I haven't seen before. One of my fellow volunteers took us to a local rum maker who gives free samples.  After trying coffee, coconut cream, blue hole, and chocolate rum, it's hard to resist making a purchase.  It's so delicious!  We also went to feed the tarpons off a pier on the laguna side of the island.  It seemed simple enough after we watched the local Belizean demonstrate.  You simply hold the little fish out about 2 feet over the water and the tarpons jump out of the water and snatch it from your hand.  The tarpons are about 4 feet long and their mouths are about 6" in diameter.  Each of us took a turn.  The hard part was waiting holding the bait over the water and watching about 10 tarpons swarming just below the surface, just waiting, waiting, waiting.  A few of us were successful.  A couple people dropped the bait because it was slippery.  One girl jumped and screamed when the fish jumped, dropping the bait.  When I stepped up the guy told me not to let the bait slip because it was the last fish we had.  After waiting a minute I could feel the bait fish slipping so adjusted the way I was holding it, using my thumb and two fingers.  I made a joke about how the fish was going to take my whole hand since I have such small hands.  When one of the tarpons finally jumped his mouth did go over part of my hand when he took the fish.  It's kind of startling just because the fish are pretty big and you're holding the bait in your hand.  I didn't think anything of the way he snatched the bait from me until I looked down and saw blood on my hand!  Being from the United States I assumed they would not let people participate if the fish have teeth!  Well, really the teeth are just like sandpaper (so the guy said) but it was enough to draw blood and give me a funny story.  By Tuesday I had a couple of students ask me about my shark bite and who got the shark off of my hand!  Oh boy.

A fish LITERALLY jumped out of the water and bit my hand!  :)

All Souls' Day

There are several things the United States can learn from Central America. How to celebrate religious feast days is one of them. For about a week each year the Belizeans honor and remember their dead. Beginning on November 2^nd people make frequent trips to the cemetery to visit their deceased loves ones. The normally ill-plotted and dilapidated cemetery is transformed into something profoundly beautiful and peaceful. Here they have both graves and above ground mausoleum type tombs which are decorated with flowers and candles. The candles lit on all the different sizes and shapes of graves makes for a breath-taking scene. After processing from the Church to the cemetery the priest and the people go to their family members' graves to bless it with holy water and pray for their soul.

I've never been someone who is creeped out by cemeteries and now I find I actually have a love for them. Both years I've been here on All Souls' Day I haven't wanted leave the cemetery after the prayers because it's just so peaceful. Cemeteries contain so much history and love, they show us where we've come from and where we will end up, they remind us to be grateful for all the blessings we have, and they help us keep everything in perspective. It's difficult to get upset about the 'small things' and frustrations at work and at home when you've been to the cemetery that day. You're reminded what's important, what really isn't important, and what matters this minute, this hour, this day, isn't necessarily what matters in the end.

Amazingly enough, we keep learning from our loved ones even after they've died. Our memory of them, their life, their example, and their love... never dies. And because of that we will always be connected with those we love. God has a bigger plan than we can know or understand right now, but what we do know is that we are to pray for them. If our loved ones are in purgatory waiting to join God in Heaven they need our prayers, if they are already with God our prayers will not be wasted, but offered for the poor soul in purgatory who is in most need of prayers. If, by the grace of God, our family members are already with God in Heaven, be assured they are praying for you constantly. It's beautiful to think of how, even after death, we are still united with those we love, praying for each other from here or in Heaven, all working toward the same goal, and knowing by faith that we will achieve that goal and meet again for a glorious reunion in Heaven!

If you're Catholic you can gain a plenary indulgence (under the usual conditions that you receive Communion at Mass and go to Confession with 8 days before or after) each day from November 2^nd through November 9^th if you visit a cemetery, pray for the souls of the deceased, and pray for the Pope. Traditionally 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Marys, and 3 Glory Bes are prayed for the Pope. You may offer the plenary indulgence for the soul of a deceased friend or family member. Please make the time to stop by the cemetery today and pray for your deceased loved ones, it only takes a few minutes and it's well worth it for them … and for you :) 

God bless, Betsy

June through October

Hi everybody!  I know it's been a looooooooong time since I've blogged. After many subtle hints from people (and not so subtle hints from Jenny) I've decided to make it up by blogging EVERY week.  To all you who are doubting that this will happen I say thanks a lot for the support!  I figure, if I have time to beat Matt Bower in NFL picks each week than surely I have time to write a little something on the old blog.  I'll try to post each weekend so you can get your dose of Betsy in Belize on Sunday or Monday to start your week off right!  :)
Thanks for all your love and support!  God bless you all.