Hurricane Richard

Hurricane Richard hit last Sunday (October 24, 2010) night here in Belize.  I lost electricity at around 6:30 PM and didn't get electricity until Thursday morning around 6:00 AM.  We (the Landeros and I) relocated from our houses to the school library because our houses were shaking, and also water was getting into our houses.  We brought some things to the library and set up some couches so we could stay there for the night.  Edson and Ethan fell asleep right away (Kelly and Alondra's two little boys). The library was leaking water too so eventually the whole floor was wet.  The eye of the storm happened to come around 9:00 PM.  We ran around a bit, fixing some things and covering with more plastic.  One bolt on the corner of our roof of the school came off.  That's all a storm needs to pull off a roof.  Just one spot to get wind underneath.  I quickly climbed a bunch and was handed a drill and put in two bolts for safe measures.  Then we ran to the Landero's house and covered some more things with plastic there.  Coming back to the library I noticed that the little garage/awning for the tractor had blown right into the fourth from classroom and knocked out a window.  We get back inside the library and waited the storm out.  I was awake on and off the rest of the night waiting to morning.  The storm was done by 2:00 AM.  I just stepped out and looked at what was in eye sight, I didn't explore at that time.  We all got up around 5:00 and started the investigation and the fixation of the school.  We went outside and we could see zink (that's the roofing here) and fallen trees everywhere.  The school's green house was also destroyed along with a small plant nursery.  A tool shed was flipped over, a building was actually moved like an inch and made it difficult to open a door.  A basket ball hoop was broken and fallen to the ground.  As I said before, the garage was in the 4th form classroom and that ruined part of the roof.  Our bathrooms were destroyed as well.  Some of the roofing from the Landero's house was blown off too.  After finding out what damage was done, we began to work.  We repaired the roofing and put the window back it.  The window is bent a bit, but it's better than nothing. After that I had to clean out my house.  It was dirty and wet and had a bunch of leaves blown in there, but my stuff was fine and dry.  I covered it with plastic beforehand. After that I went to Mr. Cabana's house and helped him thatch his roof.  Which is intertwine a type of tree branch here to patch his roof.  That was new and exciting.  Then I cut some coconuts off the tree and had fresh coconut water.  DELICIOUS!!!!!  Now I'll post some pictures.  

Update on Storm

I believe its now Hurricane Richard is going to hit today.  It will hit directly South from where I am.  We will experience winds of a Tropical Storm, therefore 30-40 mph winds.  Also, it is expected to be 7 inches of rain.  It will hit sometime this afternoon.  This is the latest that I know.  I might not have internet for a little bit, I don't know.  I'll be sure to let everyone know what happened when it's done.  I need to figure out if I need to do anything, but I think I'm pretty much prepared.  Other than that, I'll be sure to take pictures and video and maybe even run a round a little =P  I'll be safe though don't you worry.  This is an update and go ahead and ask questions share concerns.  I might get on around noon my time but we'll see.  Thanks for caring!

Tropical Storm Richard

Another tropical storm is coming.  It's predicted to become a hurricane tomorrow.  This one is more on track of hitting Belize than any of the other two, but hopefully it's just another fake cry for wolf.  If a hurricane hits it'll really hurt Belize.  Tourists, ruined crops, famine, etc.  It's expected to hit tomorrow  night, so we'll see what happens.

Another busy week with school.  Tomorrow I have a lot of grading to do.  Grades are suppose to be in the office Monday, but if we don't have school because of the hurricane, who knows, I might be able to spread my work out at least. =)  Something beneficial at least.  Please pray for the church here too.  It's rough.  I went visiting with a couple of the Elders and a church member isn't coming to church any more and it's tough to see.  It just hard for me to see because he is so confused and not where he thinks he is.  It's hard to see people get so lost and confused about the Bible and how they change.  He kept on changing excuses and saying he's made up his mine.  It is so human oriented instead of God oriented and it's hard to see.  Especially because he is/was an elder.  I really don't know.  But please pray for the church and him. 

Oh I preached last Wednesday night.  Well, more led an amazing facts guide, but I led it.  It went pretty well even though it was last minute.  It was totally what I needed too!  I've been doing a lot of studying and focusing on God, but it has been difficult lately.  There's three things for a Christian to survive.  It's reading the Bible, praying, and witnessing.  I haven't had too much witnessing and I have done so much it seems since Wednesday now.  It feels really great and it is what I needed.  I led out in a youth Sabbath School today. Kelly and I were talking about the church last night and I said I'd lead a youth Sabbath School because they don't have one, thinking like in a week or so, so I could look over the lesson.  Nope, this morning in church while the kids were going to there class Kelly announced I'll be leading a youth Sabbath School.  I was a little surprised, but it went well.  I'm sure it will get even better as time goes on.  I'm excited!  Well, I should probably be going to bed.  Thank you for all your prayers and cares.  God bless and thank you for reading.

2 Months!

I have officially been here for two months.  It's crazy to think about.  Two months is a long time!!  And at the same time not that long.  But I am one fifth of the way done here.  That sounds like a lot though.  I'm kind of happy.  They say the second and third month are the hardest and I'm missing home right now.  It's raining there.  That sounds so wonderful!  We need rain here, we need some water, but that's besides the point.  It sounds so wonderful because having a cool or chilly temperature sounds so great, and to be in a well furnished house and to be with my family and friends. It's good here too, don't get me wrong.

Alright, 9 or 10 hours later, now I'll finish this.  The crusade ended the other day.  Yesterday we had 9 baptisms.  You person was bawling before they went to be baptized and looked as if she really didn't want to go in, but she went.  After she was baptized she pretty much collapsed.  They got her to walk up with help and then she was unconscious I think for a while on the ground.  I didn't knowing because I was on the side taking pictures.  Once I realized I went over and told them the little first aid training I had.  Keep her still, don't give her food because it will cause the blood to go to her stomach and elevate her feet because blood isn't need there.  But then I couldn't call 9-1-1 which is the next step.  So we got her to the bus and got everyone back to the community center where we've been having our meetings.  We got her inside and had our afternoon meeting.  She was becoming a lot more with it by the end.  It was crazy and I don't know what was going on but I think it was more spiritual battles going on than physical.  The devil is attacking, but God's on our side so there's nothing to worry about.

Then last night, someone broke into the staff room at the school.  Mrs. Cabanas, the principal's wife, one of the teachers, thought maybe it was me because there was a flashlight in there.  She was calling my name and knocked on the door and the light went out.  Then she came to the Landeros where I was and asked if I was in there and I wasn't.  Then me, Kelly, and Kelly's brother who was up looked around.  We found a window open and inside a draw was open.  Nothing is missing that we know of though.  Nothing valuable is in there either, just our books and grades.  Then the police came later, apparently someone else had stuff stolen earlier that night.  We turned on more lights and nothing happened.  We are fine and nothing seems to be missing. 

That's a little bit of what is going on here.  Tomorrow is the beginning of another school week and mid-semester is at the end of this week so next week grades are due.  Meaning I'm going to have a lot of grading to do this week and next weekend.  But there isn't any crusade meetings to go to this week so that will give me more time to catch up, or to rest.  Anyways, thank you for taking time to read and your prayers.  May God bless you and continue to work in our lives. 

Hurricane Paula

Hurricane Paula just appeared today and is on the coast of Honduras.  It is expected to hit Mexico hard but not really here.  We'll get a lot of rain though and with that flooding and mudslides in certain areas.  Also, when Honduras get's a lot of rain and flooding, it comes through here as well a couple weeks later.  So no school tomorrow, YEA!!!!  Expecting a lot of rain and maybe not being able to go to Belmopan for a couple days because of flooding, but that will be fine.  I found out that their was a hurricane coming about a half hour ago and just letting you know the information I just found.  Please keep me your prayers and God bless!

Miscellanious

Here are some miscellaneous stories or happenings that I haven't sure and that has happened somewhat recently.  I can't think of a way to combine them all, so here they are.

Last week, Saturday evening, I went into my house and I hear a creature running along my floor and can see a figure moving.  Instantly before I turned on the light I said to myself, "Aawww man, not another one!"  Yep, you guessed it, it was another tarantula.  My goal is never to kill them, I just want to get them out of my house.  When I turned on the light it stopped and huddled up near a plastic bag.  I got the great idea of trying to get him in the plastic bag.  But he took off in the other direction towards my open door and I was alright with that, but then he turned around and started heading back in and towards my bed.  He was about six feet in and I had enough of it so I went into action.  I've been playing a little bit of futbol, so I put what I've learned into action.  I kicked the tarantula and I never saw it again.  It went flying out of my house.  I thought it was kind of funny, but I got him out and I didn't kill him to my knowledge.  At least his body wasn't in my house. 

With the school now, there's a lot to do.  The principal went to a lot of principal meetings and he's trying to implement what he's learned.  Which is great!  But he's trying to do them all at once instead of one at a time and that's setting it up for failure.  It's really frustrating.  But then I found out we're trying to get money from government and we have to have some of these requirements.  Some though, not all of them.  I still believe he needs to decide what is most important, get those down, and then start adding new things, one at a time.  Otherwise the ones who work the most and hardest get exhausted and those that don't just get seen in the mass as not getting everything done and get away with not working as hard.  That's a little drama and difficulty happening here, but I have a three day weekend so I'll be able to hopefully get a lot of work done.  Even though I don't want to. =P

The crusade is going alright.  There is a decent amount showing up so praise God!!  The speaker is supposed to be speaking about God's love and is starting to talk about Prophecy which is interesting.  He really isn't ready for that and in January we are having another crusade and that speaker is going to be talking about Prophecy.  All in all, I think we need to remind him what his topic is suppose to be.  Now he said to the people that he was going to talk about Prophecy, but I think he should go back about God's love, because he presents it in a confusing way, and repeats a lot, and misses some important things. 

These are just some things going on.  I'm happy this morning.  Happy Sabbath to all!  Sorry the last two paragraphs were so happy funny stories, but it's my life here, there's a lot of difficulties.  But it's a nice sunny, cool Sabbath morning and I'm happy I don't have to work today.  =D  I get to relax!  Thank you all for reading, for your support, and prayers.  May God bless and have a wonderful Sabbath, or day, depending on when you read this. =P 

Crusade starts on Fire!!! Literally.

Last night was the first night of the crusade.  It started a few minutes after seven.  A little late like ever good first night of meetings.  Started it off with pray and then some songs.  During that a puff of smoke and then fire started to appear at the front left of the building where the fan switch is located.  The system happened to be overloaded and the switch decided to get hot and catch on fire.  People started to run out; I grabbed my flash light and went to the front.  The building is made of concrete so I was worried at all.  We cut the power and then blew the fire out.  Then made sure it was off and continued on!  It just made things delayed a little and made the meeting last longer.  It was a pretty good turn out.  I believe I counted 18 people I haven't seen at our church before.  Not counting the little children.  That's a good amount really, I hope they come again tonight and bring more!  The devil is trying to attack and discourage and scare us, via fire, but that won't stop us.  That won't stop God!!  These next two weeks are going to be really busy with school, mid-semester, the crusade, and trying to avoid being sick, but it will be a great two weeks!  Only hopefully I'll get home before 9:30 each night unlike last night.  Please pray for us and the crusade.  That the devil will stay away and the Lord's will shall happen.  Thank you so much for reading and all your support.