Another Two Weeks

Alright, I'm sorry I didn't blog last weekend, unfortunately when I had time to use the internet, the internet was not working.  But I do indeed plan on talking about what happened two weeks ago.  Basically because a lot happened and was more interesting two weeks ago too.  I wrote last on a Monday.  That Monday I went to Belmopan, like the letter I got told me to, to pick up my work permit.  There they told me I had to go to Belize, the letter is wrong.  Oh when I say Belize, I mean Belize City, it's what we call it here.  The principal and I decide that Monday is the best day let's go to Belize.  We get there we show them the letter and the person at the desk gets the paper work out.  Then they tell us it will be $1000!  I'm a volunteer, that's ridiculous to have to pay $1000 for a permit.  We told them that too.  Apparently, whoever wrote the letter made a mistake and only wrote on the paper "Teacher" not "Volunteer Teacher"  so instead of paying $100, we would now have to pay $1000, or we could go back to Belmopan and get that fixed.  Let me say, Belize is about an hour to and hour and a half a way from Belmopan and Valley of Peace is 45 minutes away from Belmopan.  We decide to go back to Belmopan and figure it out, because it would be cheaper to renew my visa each month than to pay the $1000 for the permit.  We go back and see if they can fix the paper.  Apparently they can't just print another paper and it will take a long time.  It's frustrating and annoying, but life goes on.  It really doesn't matter for me to stay here, it'll just cost a little extra.

Then that next day, someone from the Education Ministry from the government came.  Asked each teacher some questions, what students we teached, and what books we used.  She used up my lunch time so I had to teach 6 classes straight and be interviewed and have no lunch.  Then on Wednesday, we had the Math Olympiad.  Kelly and I took about 20 or so students to it, five were participants.  Everything was last minute and we didn't get information about it until the week before and grades were do so we didn't prepare at all.  This was the school's first time participating in it too.  We got some points too!  It was great, we beat three other schools.  The students were really motivated and excited.  They felt good about themselves and about being from Valley of Peace and felt better about our school.  That they aren't the worst, they know this stuff and are just as good as the others if not better.  It was really nice to see the students motivated and being excited.  The ones that participated also got given nice new scientific calculators.  The whole event was great and students we'll be more prepared for next year and will do better no doubt. 

Then Friday, I went to Belmopan.  I was hoping to have a package in the post office, but to my misfortune, there wasn't any.  I was a little sad and was walking to the market, then someone asked me if I would like to buy some weed.  I told the man no thank you and continued walking, but it made me smile and laugh to myself.  He made my day, ha ha!  Later that night we had small groups.  We were singing in our small group and a drunk guy comes to the door and we invite him in.  It was something.  He was like a Pentecostal, Catholic, Adventist mix religion.  He knew some hymns from the Adventist Hymnal, he was clapping and also doing the Father, Son, Holy Spirit crossing.  It was fun.  He spoke English so I could talk with him.  His name is actually Matteo.  He was crying and telling me he doesn't want to drink anymore and some other things.  He also at the end said he would come back the next week; unfortunately he didn't show up this week.  But it was still a great experience.  It made me think of how the Pharisees asked Jesus why does he dine and in the company of the sinners and tax collectors.  The healthy don't need the doctor, the sick do!  Being in the presence of the drunk man and inviting him in to participate in our small group made me smile.  Made me think this is how we should act to everyone, especially those looked down upon. 

The Sabbath last week was "Fellowship Day" in Belmopan.  The whole country of Adventists went to meet in Belmopan.  They had the vice president of the GC there and they treated him like royalty!  It was crazy.  How they walked him in and how they had a banner that said welcome Lowell Cooper.  I believe that's his name.  It was something, it was also nice to experience something new. 

This past week not much has happened.  I have been teaching my classes and more talkative with students. Kelly and I played basketball with some students for a while after school last Thursday.  There's also some students that have been wanting to play me one on one.  I had time to play and one guy was asking me so I told him alright let's do it.  I should have probably made it closer for his self esteem, but also want to show him whose boss and what's up.  Long story short, playing by 1 point per basket, 21-5.  Also, with some points taken away because of some comments he said and I didn't want him to have any excuses.  The next day though he did ask for a rematch, so I'm excited ha ha.  I know I shouldn't take this much pleasure in beating highschoolers at basketball, but it's so fun! 

Who stands out?  My students are actually only on the first two rows.

Four of the participants at their table.

Participants, me, and Kelly getting our rewards.

Behind the school near sunset.

Sabbath evening with the Landeros. 

Last night we had a night of prayer.  It was from 6pm to 12am.  There were a lot of talks, and we prayed too.  We had it for the up coming crusade.  Oh, by the way we're going to have another crusade.  It begins the 20th.  It's going to be family talks and we'll have a Health Expo too.  Anyways, probably the part I enjoyed the most last night was when Mr. Tun, a deacon in the church, came up to me and told me to hang on.  Don't look and keep hanging on.  It was nice and encouraging.  Then he invited me to see his farm.  He said he's astonished and truly blessed.  Others have been complaining about their crops and his are flourishing.  I believe he is truly blessed.  He has been doing so much for the church this year and I believe God is blessing him.  It reminds me a little bit of Abraham and how no one could claim to have made him rich, only God could because of his blessing.  I've been going through Genesis recently too.  Well that's what has happened and is going on here in Valley of Peace Belize.  Now I am off to bed and starting another week.  I miss you all and thank you for reading and your prayers.  God bless!