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October 2009 Trip to Belize by Pat Malone
November 4, 2009
God bless you with all of His goodness and grace in Christ Jesus. This past month, along with six other people from Living Tree Academy, I experienced firsthand the excitement and inspiration of traveling to Belize. Let me tell you all about it.
We arrived in Belize City on Monday, October 19th. After being picked up at the airport, in a ride that would have put a New York cabbie to shame, we were dashed by taxi to the bus station just in time to catch the express bus to our destination of Dangriga. That small victory spared us a long trip on the dreaded "Chicken Bus." (More on that, later) In Dangriga, we were warmly welcomed to our lodging at the Bluefield Lodge by Ms Myrtle. The Bluefield Lodge is no ordinary place to stay; it is our home away from home in Belize. And the proprietor, Ms Louise, along with her mother Ms Myrtle and her brother Keith, are family. They are three of the sweetest, most kind hearted believers I have ever met.
Over the next five days that we stayed there, after embarking on trips throughout the country during the day, we returned home to Bluefield Lodge each evening to delight in fellowshipping with one another and our family of believers in Dangriga. If you have ever wondered how the apostle Paul could have grown so close to the people he ministered to, in such a short time, come visit these folks for a few days. Their hunger for the truth and care for us staked a claim on our hearts that will last forever.
During those days, we explored the cities and villages of Dangriga, Placencia, Belmopan, and San Ignacio. We traveled miles by foot. We rode the affectionately named "Chicken Bus," a very old school bus which stopped literally every ten minutes so that a man could jump off, run to someones house, and return carrying a five gallon bucket with water to fill the radiator. We traveled over water in a small boat called the "Hokey Pokey," which is difficult to board since you have to put your right foot in, and then take your right foot out... Hours were spent in travel each day, and along the way we prayed and enjoyed the time as our hearts became knit together in love. And we spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I thought a lot about the Book of Acts during that time. So much of Paul's time was spent in travel; praying, witnessing, and enjoying his companions as well.
And also like in the Book of Acts, God placed the right people in our path all throughout our trip. It was "wonder full". Time and time again, God brought us together with just the right people we needed to see. As we walked down the street, hopped on the bus or rode on a boat, we ran into the Ministry of Education officials, teachers and administrators, who in those informal settings filled us with even more information than we obtained during our formal meetings. We did meet formally with officials from the Ministry of Education in Dangriga, and later, San Pedro. Those meetings facilitated LTA's mission, as we both nurtured the ongoing relationships established from previous trips and fostered new ones. We discussed their assessment of the educational needs in their respective regions and our plans to establish a school.
We spent time with so many wonderful men and women in the field of education. In Placencia, we met with Mr. Walter Garbutt, the principal of the school in Monkey River. This dedicated educator, who has served as a teacher and administrator for over 30 years in various schools in Belize, provided invaluable insight into the challenges and needs facing the faculty, students and families of Belize. Mr. Garbutt expressed his deep appreciation for the assistance LTA has provided to the school and children of Monkey River Village over the years through our various programs.
Friday, we scooted across the Caribbean Sea in an over sized johnny boat to the small island of Tobacco Caye. There, surrounded with the natural beauty of this tropical paradise, we spent the day meeting for preliminary discussions on proposed curriculum for Living Tree Academy. We also managed to squeeze in a quick dip in the crystal clear waters just off the world's second largest barrier reef.
On Saturday, October 24th we closed out our time with the believers of Dangriga with a beautifully tender communion service. As set forth in the Word of God, communion is a memorial of Jesus Christ's accomplishments with his broken body and shed blood.
I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
The wholeness of that service met the need of everyone there, and with a tearful goodbye and the promise of a soon return, we tore ourselves away from our family at the Bluefield Lodge.
From Dangriga we flew on a small airplane to Ambergris Caye; and talk about an Ephesians 3:20 experience, I sat in the co-pilots seat. San Pedro, the principal city of this island is the chief tourist destination in Belize. As such, it is a location LTA has not previously visited, since the purpose of our trips is to serve those with need. Then, with one of those God arranged meetings, LTA began hearing about the staggering need that existed in Ambergris Caye.
Like the world at large, an ugly reality dwells behind the facade of exotic beauty. Just a conch shell's throw from the glamorous resorts of San Pedro lies the village of San Mateo. In this overcrowded village, built on a swamp and an active landfill, we found the most deplorable living conditions imaginable. The story of this village, its people, and the school struggling to care for its children is a heart wrenching one, filled with as many broken promises as the ubiquitous trash engulfing it.
During our travels we had the opportunity to tour numerous elementary schools in the region of Ambergris Caye, as well as a pre-school in Placencia. Examining various schools allowed us to learn from the experience of the teachers and administrators of those institutions. This in turn will help us to better determine what possible assistance we may be able to offer them in the future. Moreover, our evaluation of the facilities, resources, and curriculum's utilized by the schools
empowers us to most effectively design and develop the school that we intend to build ourselves. Beyond that, our exploration of the various regions included in this trip provided us with the information essential for setting the future course of Living Tree Academy in Belize.
On Wednesday, October 28th, we packed our bags, boarded a water taxi back to Belize City, and said our goodbyes to one another. The trip was amazing, edifying, and highly profitable; one that I am extremely blessed and privileged to have experienced. Our Heavenly Father prepared the way before us, and with His help and direction we accomplished all that we set out to do!
In His love and grace,
Pat Malone
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