A lot of Quick Takes

Alright, my apologies for not keeping up with the blogging since, well, before Easter.

1. How can I describe Holy Week and Easter in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize?  GO BIG OR GO HOME!  Starting on Palm Sunday there are processions around town and Holy Friday is a full day if you go to the Passion Play (walking through the town), Veneration of the Cross, and the Stations of the Cross procession at night.  I love Holy Week and Easter here!  Everyone knows what Easter is about, I have yet to see an Easter Bunny anywhere, and people make a big deal of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ, it's a huge celebration... AS IT SHOULD BE!

 

The Palm Sunday procession

2. We have a freakin' dog.  It's not as bad as I thought it would be.  We got this dog out of necessity since someone keeps trying to break into our house.  So, we have a dog for security, although I have yet to hear the dog bark.  Our principal gave us this dog, whom we named "Belle", after the dog was found attacking the chickens on his ranch.

3. Along with the dog we have a new barbwire addition to our fence.  I'd like to thank the always-helpful-and-handy male volunteers who so willingly spent last Monday afternoon adding barbwire to our currently-falling-down fence.  But I would like to say, as the only volunteer that has a toolkit, I do not appreciate you breaking my hammer!  And saying it was cheap doesn't help the matter, of course it was cheap, it's a hammer in a toolkit owned by Betsy Hess!
In addition to the fence, the men took nightly shifts sleeping on our couch.  The girls slept better having a man in the living room in case the culprit came back :)  I'm so happy with my brothers here <3

4. I HATE black mold.  It's so damp here there's black mold growing on my pillow, in our shower, in the walls, and EVERYWHERE! 

 

black mold 1, renuzit air freshener 0

better luck next time, renuzit.

5. Took a spontaneous trip out to Tranquility Bay , an amazing resort on the very north of Ambergris Caye.  A former student's father invited Fr. Mark and the volunteer teachers out and treated us the royalty the whole time!  It was a wonderful 24 hours of beach, relaxation, and great food!  And this was the first time I got to fly out to the island instead of taking the water taxi; what a treat! 

The view from the plane on the 14 minute flight to San Pedro

6. Yesterday afternoon I started this blog post and told you we got a dog... last night, exactly 1 week after the dog became ours, she started having puppies!  We thought she was pregnant, but we didn't know the puppies were coming so soon!  I'll post pictures later for all the animal lovers :) 

7.  I miss my family and friends at home and I'm very thankful for Facebook.  Yes, I know it's not the best way to socialize, and it can take suck you in and waste your time... but, as someone living far far away from my loved ones, I thank God daily for the gift of technology.  Because of technology I get to share in the joy of my friends' and family's engagements, weddings, graduations, babies, etc.  I've gotten to see pictures of every wedding I haven't been able to attend.  I've even seen my Goddaughter taking her first steps!  I love seeing these important events of your lives and feeling like I'm still a part of it all even though I'm so far away.  So thank God for technology!

8. John Paul II Jr. College is gearing up to open this August!  We're recruiting at the local high schools, getting things scheduled and organized,  raising funds, and looking for professors.  If you know anyone who might be interested in teaching Philosophy, Theology, Trivium, or Humanities, please give them our website: jpjc.bz or my email address.  And please, everyone, keep us in your prayers, it's a big job but it's such a worthy endeavor!  John Paul II, pray for us. 

9. Lucia, another volunteer teacher who has been here 3 years with me, is raising funds to bring our boys basketball team to the States this summer to participate in a basketball camp.  Check out her blog to read the profiles of the boys: Mt Carmel Basketball If you feel inclined to give a donation they'd really appreciate it.  This will be an awesome experience for the boys!  Even small donations make a difference! 

10.  Fr. Mark Wendling announced a week ago that he has been reassigned.  As he announced it at the end of Mass there was an audible gasp from the congregation.  He has served here for almost 10 years and has only 2 weeks left.  It's been an incredible witness for me to see how greatly a priest can affect the lives of those he serves.  He has been a friend, brother, father, and son... a counselor, comedian, and consoler.  He has been a shepherd.  He has shown Christ to those around him.  He reminds me of how we're all called to lay down our lives for others.  I thank God for priests like him and I thank God for the 10 years he's served the people of Belize!   

 

Our great priests, Fr. Mark and Fr. John, and Deacon Cal after celebrating a wedding.  

(Fr. Mark on the far left)

11.  A dear friend sent me this quote and I'd like to share it with you. 

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  Marianne Williamson

Don't be afraid to be yourself, to be your full self, who God created you to be.  When you are yourself it frees others to be themselves.  If you are Christian and you want to lead others to Christ... be yourself, your full, wonderful, awesome self, because that's who God made you to be, that's who He WANTS you to be.  You're made in His image, SO SHOW IT! This week I challenge you to see the fabulous virtuous amazing loving courageous fun person you are and to live it!