Catch up, and soon home!!!

Huh, the dreadful job of catching up with my blogging shall be done today.  It's a must since it's the last day of this month of May and I must at least blog once in each month.  Last time I blogged was right before my two week break.  Well, let's begin there. 

I first went to Bullet Tree for the beginning of break.  I didn't do too much there except relax with the Landeros at their parents' house.  We played some futbol, basketball, swam in the river, all that fun stuff.  I also got to go see a Mayan Ruin finally!  I believe it would have been a lot more exciting if I wasn't by myself.  I'm not going to lie, it seemed just like a pile of rocks.  I mean after going to Italy where everything is so ancient and well preserved and in great condition, the ruins were quite, not up to par per say.  It was still cool and I'm glad I got to go there.  That was about the first week and a half of my break. 

Next I ventured up to Corozal close to the Mexican border.  MANGO HEAVEN!!!!  Yum!!!  I ate so many mangoes during break.  Especially in Corozal.  I ate 2-4 a day.  The big ones!  =D  That makes a happy Matthew.  While I was there was a lot more relaxing again.  I did get to make it across the border into Mexico though which was fun.  It steps up a lot in the standard of living there for sure.  It was close to the States compared to Belize by a long shot!  Things are a lot cheaper there too.  I got some authentic *cough* Ray Ban glasses for 60 pesos.  Which is like 5 USD.  I got some other things as well, it was a lot of fun.  Then I headed back to school and began the cycle all over again.

This month has gone by fast and all kind of blends together.  I'll just give some highlights.  A student stole a small MP3 player from desk and a little bit of money which was for the school.  We had a good idea who was involved and the next day we found out and I got it back.  The threw it in the bathroom bit unfortunately.  Luckily it was to the side and not in the disgusting collection, but still, quite disgusting.  I haven't used it since.  I have cleaned it, not used it yet though.  It makes you think of what you're listening to is garbage or not.  There was also talk about maybe putting cleaning chemicals in my water, which is no bueno.  Matt no le gusta.  Apparently though, they meant putting salt or sugar and to be funny.  I was never worried, but still, no me gusta.  However, all in all, the one who stole from my has now been baptized.  Praise God!  God sure does work in mysterious ways.  I was so devastated when this situation arose.  I didn't care about the item, but it hurt a lot.  I'm here volunteering, trying to help others, serve others, and they steal from me.  I'm so unappreciated and it's heart-breaking when you honestly care so much for the students and they don't seem to care at all.  I prayed for justice.  For God's will to be done and not mine.  Praise God!  His will is so much greater than even my thoughts!  It was a great experience, afterward.  To look back upon.

Now, here I am.  We are in the middle of review week and next week is exam week and school is finished!  However, I won't be here until the end of school.  Leoni Meadows Summer Camp wants Challenge Course staff, which I am this summer, to come a week early to get trained.  The week of the 14th-17th of June.  Therefore I talked to the principal here, and emailed back to the PUC World Missions Coordinator last week.  Within 24 hours, everything was worked out and my flight got changed from the 15th to the 9th.  Now it seems that they won't need me up at camp that early.  I'll get a few more days to rest and to visit then.  A-ok with me.  Only 9 days and I shall be back home in the good ole U S of A. 

There has been other happenings as well, once again they all kind of blend together and nothing is sticking out too much in my mind at the moment.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask or comment away!  Thank you for all your prayers and love.  I miss you all and will see you all very shortly. 

Another Month

I'm not the most consistent with this blogging business.  It just takes so much work to blog for me.  Anyways, lots has happened this past month.  I got to go to San Pedro with the church's Women's Ministry.  It was sweet, I met a lot of new people and I got to go Scuba Diving at the Barrier Reef!  I saw lots and lots of fish, a turtle doing his thing, munching on some grass.  I also saw an eel and got to touch a shark and a sting ray.  I got some good pictures and videos of it all, do not worry.  I stayed with the pastor while I was there and he invited me to come any time.  I don't think I will unfortunately.  I also met a man there who is the manager of the water system in San Pedro, so I got a free tour of it.  It was sweet!  They had a million gallon silo there!

What else has happened.  We had our school's sports day and it went quite well.  Got some compliments on how it was better and more organized than last year.  Which is nice because I felt like it was a little hectic, but it all worked out.  Unfortunately my team took second.  It was still a good day and no fighting or arguing, and we had a lot of fun.  Then last Friday, I went to the river with some students.  I borrowed a student's bike and we biked about 5 miles round trip, but that's not a gear bike.  It's a cruiser bike going up huge hills and seats are way too low.  While we were at the river I met a man who caught two turtles and was going to sell them for meat.  It was interesting; I also got some free watermelon.  Then I came bike and was helping cleaning and preparing the church for communion.  They decided to burn some trash, and they walked away from the fire (people here are not safe with fires), then the fire got out of hand and they walked away and said there's nothing we can do anyways.  So a little later when it was heading towards a house, they someone else decided we should try and control it.  Oh my that was crazy, but nothing bad ended up happening.  People have been burning all their fields lately before the summer rains.  It's terrible!!!  So much smoke and they are destroying the land! 

This week we had a trip to Calcuta where all the Adventist highschools met to have a sports day.  It was not organized and was quite a dud, but it was still fun getting to go and travel in a bus.  I'm sure kids will look fondly on it in the future.  I also got to talk with some students and learn more about them and share more about myself.  I actually got asked a question about death and hell by one of the students.  I gave my answer, and they asked if I was going to be a pastor, because I made it really clear.  I have been doing studies about all those types of questions and more and it's amazing how when you study, when you obtain the knowledge and information, God will give you the opportunity to use it.  The next day I got to give a Bible study too!!  Alright well I got to go now!  It's spring break and I won't be around for two weeks.  Take care!!!

7 months Ahora

I have been here in Belize for over 7 months now.  Less than three months left.  I am TIRED!!!  Exhausted and I don't have much motivation or energy left.  I'm not a big writer, or a person who keeps in touch that well, and trying to write a blog has been very difficult this past week.  Plus with not having the key to get to the internet, the storm, and power outage, made it difficult as well.  I really don't know where to begin as usually.  I think this will be a short blog, maybe, I'll tell you of some things I have done though.

We have been doing school promotions for the past 4 weeks now I believe.  We go to different churches and do the church service and talk about our school and Adventist Education.  Therefore I've been able to get out more and have less time to be on the internet.  Anyways, two weeks ago we had a school promotion and then a three day weekend.  Mmm, also before the school promotion we ended the crusade and 4 more people got baptized.  Praise the Lord!  Over 50 people have been baptized while I've been here.  After that and the promotion, I went with the Landeros to visit their family in Bullet Tree.  We also crossed the border and I got to go to Guatemala again.  Unfortunately we had car trouble though so I wasn't able to go to a Mayan Ruin.  I've been here 7 months and have yet to make it to one.  But I did go swimming in the river at least.  Nothing after that weekend really sticks out in my mind for anything happening during that week.  Another normal week of teaching and being busy, etc. 

This last week though was quite a busy one.  I've been so exhausted and not really having the desire to teach (Now this doesn't mean I haven't been.  It's how I feel, but when it comes done to it, I do what needs to be done.  I teach.), and in a way, I got two days off this past week.  This past Wednesday was the Nutrition Competition.  I got to drive the van and 12 or so students to it.  While were there, we got 2nd place!!  Each participant got $200 each for 2nd place!  They made money!  As the coach, I got a picture frame, and a bag of whole wheat flour.  Ha ha, I'll have healthy tortillas now.  It's good seeing the students do well and be motivated.  Plus I got to drive the van!  Now I can finally say I have driven in Belize.  Then on Friday, Kelly and I took 15 or so students to a science fair. 

Then yesterday we went way out to do another promotion and we drive by the Blue Hole.  After church we went back there and had lunch there.  It was really pretty and I wanted to swim so badly!  We hiked around in our church clothes and it was nice to be in nature again.  Then this morning I woke up, went right to work to do my laundry, and then half way the pastor brought some missionaries so I had to show the the school.  I talked with them, let them use my computer to get on the internet, and gave them pictures and the power point presentation I made of the school.  I also hadn't eaten all day either because I was about to eat right when they came.  I would've been done before 11:00, but I didn't end up finishing until around 1:30 and the spin dry wasn't working so I had to hang up my clothes while they were soaked still.  Oh, by the way, if you don't know about how I do my laundry, let me explain.  I have to pour about 4-5, 5-Gallon buckets that I have to walk about 100 feet to feel up the washer, then I wash my clothes.  Then I have to wring out my clothes, then rinse them in water.   Wring them a 2nd time and let them soak in a tub of water and softener.  Then wring them out the third time and put them in a spin dry.  After that then I hang up my clothes.  Therefore, doing laundry on average takes about 2 hours.  Anyways, a snippet of my life.  Well I should go, it's getting late and I should sleep and start out the week right.  I'm sorry for not blogging lately.  Please continue to pray and write me!  It's a little difficult right now.  I'll make it through though, no doubt.  God's on my side.  Plus I'm over 70% done, I've passed!

The Happenings

Well, I really don't remember what happened two weeks ago.  Last week I did plan to update but then, life got very busy with the crusade.  Still really busy, but I'm going to go ahead and blog.  Where to begin.  Oh, I remember some things that were two weeks ago.  Wow, that's only been two weeks, not even.  Well, I've been getting more and more involved with the students.  It's really nice and I feel more appreciated and important to them too.  I don't remember all details unfortunately, but I will talk about a Thursday.  Not last Thursday but the Thursday before that.  Oh, I'm remembering more.  I'll even go earlier than that.  I've been tutoring after school on Mondays and Wednesdays for those who want help in Math.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays are sports so it's too late to tutor after that.  I've been tutoring and it's nice to be more personable with the students and meet their needs.  Like two students in my First Form Math class.  They just sit in class and don't do anything.  Sometimes they talk.  That's pretty much it though, it's really frustrating because they don't even try.  They were still around after school so I told them to come in and I started helping them.  They were getting excited because it was making sense to them and they found out it isn't too hard.  One even said, "This is easy.  We just never pay attention."  Why!?!?!  It felt really good that day letting them know they can do it and it's not too difficult for them.  Unfortunately they still don't seem to try.  I've helped other students though and they have been improving.  Also helping one of those two boys helped him on his test score.  The tutoring has been adding to my busy-ness.

Then Thursday, after sports, a student named Judith stayed afterward and was playing with another teacher, Denny Cabanas, and I asked Kelly if he wanted to go play with them and he was down.  We got changed and went over and played for a while.  It was fun and got some exercise which is always nice.  When we were done playing though I went to the staff room because I still had to write a test for the next day and Judith just sat in there and talked with me.  I listened too, I wasn't just writing a test.  She was sharing a lot and I really think crying out for attention.  She plays the tough, cool kid, but she really listens to us teachers and respects us.  She told me she started drinking when she was 5 years old.  Her dad has always been into drugs and alcohol.  Judith has had a tough life.  We talked for a long time, well, more she talked and I listened but I did chime in every once and a while.  It was really nice.  That Sabbath she came to church too.  We talked a little after church and I was able to give her a Steps to Christ.  I'm not sure if she has finished reading it, but I know she likes to read.  She use to read Nancy Drew books in class.  She said she was going to go to church this week too, but I was out at another church promoting the school, but I'm sure she'll come again soon.

Last Sunday, before we began our crusade, we had a Health Expo.  I helped set that up and then they needed someone to do the exercise portion, and so I was the man for the job.  I had to take people's pulse, have them exercise, take their pulse again, have them rest, and take there pulse one more time.  Now have about 50 or so people go through and keep track of all of them.  It was crazy busy for me and I can't multitask well, I'm a man and all, makes it difficult.  After my fun with touching people's wrists, I helped take down the place and move bricks, tables, whatever have you back to there places.  I got home, had to bathe and eat, then go right back for the meetings.  Ever since then, the crusade has been every night.

This last week was a busy busy week that has been very exhausting.  I'll share some positive and encouraging parts though, then I need to get to bed.  Earlier this last week, about 5 students came up to me and asked if they could start practicing and have me coach them for basketball for sports day.  Now let me explain a little.  Here in Belize there is 5 or 6 Adventist Highschools.  They all get together in April, and have a sports day and compete against each other.  I was a little surprised because it seems really early to me and I have a lot on my plate already, but I told them soon.  Maybe next week we can start, after the crusade.  They also invited me to play basketball in Belmopan on Sunday because they play there every week.  Another encouraging thing is a student in my Homeroom, 3rd Form Class, Daniel, has gone to a couple of the meetings.  He has always seemed to follow along in devotions and likes to sing the songs.  It's nice knowing that God could be using me to get to him.  It's sweet, he came again tonight too.

This weekend quite a bit happened too.  We went out and promoted our school.  We put on Sabbath School and Church Service for a place not too far away.  It went well.  Then since the boys invited me to play basketball on Sunday, I asked Denny if I could stay with him in Belmopan and he said sure.  We were chilling in the afternoon and had nothing to do, so I asked if he minds going to a little park that I've always seen and haven't been able to go to and he was into it.  We went there and I saw a lot of leaf cutting ants.  Also got to see a lot of different trees and it was nice to walk out in nature like that.  I've missed that for sure.  Then in the morning I woke up early to play some ball, then none of the students showed up.  I played anyways, I also got to meet the Belmopan pastor.  They all said I can play good and invited me to come again.  It was fun, I will most definitely play again if I can get a ride there and back.  Actually, after I played basketball I hitched hiked back to Valley of Peace.  It sounds dangerous, but it's honestly quite safe.  I was at the gas station right next to the turn off to go to Valley of Peace and there's nothing else out there so if someone is going down that road, they're more than likely going to go all the way to Valley, so I hopped in the back of a truck with a old man in his 50s-60s, an old lady in here 40s-50s, and a young lady in her early 20s with a little child either 2 or 3 years old.  All of us were strangers and it was really neat.  I was enjoying it and taking it all in.  The wind blowing through my hair, the sun was shining, all the beautiful bush and fields on the way to Valley.  I was free and traveling and hitch hiking in Belize!  I got back in time to talk to a bunch of my good friends too.  It was amazing and really great.  Anyways, I should probably get going and sorry everything is in too much detail.  I hope you still enjoy it anyways.  As I usually say, I'll try and blog more often, we'll see though.  Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.  I miss you all and love you.

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! 

The New Year.....kinda =P

Alright, it's been waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too long.  I know, I'm sorry and I apologize.  Lately blogging has been looked at as such a hassle.  The date is a big motivation to me right now.  I at least have to blog once every month.  Let's see.  Where to begin?  Well, I went to Italy for break.  Danielle and I decided that we should see each other and meet up in Italy.  It's somewhat the middle for both of us and Danielle had some family friends there, so we could stay somewhere too.  I don't feel like that's quite the missionary experience, but it was wonderful and really needed.  Five months is a long time not seeing someone you truly love, but it's better than waiting 10 months!  Now, if you want to know more about Italy, you'll have to ask me or Danielle, and I'm sure you can find photos on Facebook, but this blog I want to be more about being in Belize and my mission experience.  Therefore, that's more what it is going to be about. 

When I got back school was already in session.  Because of the hurricanes and days off, they came a half week earlier than originally planned to make up for missed days.  I came back and was not in the right mindset at all.  It was rough coming back.  It was a review week though and it was alright to not be completely back into the swing of things.  It was review week because the next week was exam week.  I was suppose to write 8, 2 hour long exams that first week.  I didn't, I wrote like 1 and a half that week.  So during Exam week I was busy writing exams and grading exams.  That week there's not much to talk about besides I was a busy beaver pumping out exams and grading them just as fast.  I graded all 150 or so exams that week!  Then this past week was finishing up getting grades in order and starting the new semester. 

I've made some new changes this new semester.  I've been wanting to make changes and this is the perfect time too.  First of all to help classroom management a little bit, the first class for all my classes was time to talk with the students of how to help our class.  New rules, things that can help their learning that I can do, and that they can do, working together to make learning easier, and more fun.  Now they're small changes and not too much, but makes them more aware and I have a better idea already what to do and it's working well.  Improvements are already noticeable.  It's been really enjoyable lately.  I've also been focusing a lot more on here and putting a lot of effort into it.  I've also been talking with the students a lot more and building relationships with them.  Slowly but surely.  I really think it helped being away from it all and coming back.  To really see what needs to happen, what needs to change and what this year is for.  I also think I've been trying to do too much too.  Being so involved with the church takes me away from being here.  Spending time with the students.  Reaching out to them.  To help them learn, and to be there for them.  Hardly any of the students are Adventists.  Now that's not my goal to make them Adventist, but to show them love and let them know that someone does care about them.  Show them Jesus.  That's more my goal for this semester.  To live more, day by day.  To stay up with grading and lesson plans and with the students too.  Be more relational.  I was also a little afraid at first to be there friend, because I need to hold the authority as teacher.  Things are good though and getting better.  I'm getting this thing down.  Live and learn.  That's what is going on right now in the life of Matthew in Belize.  I miss you all and love you.  I'll blog more often now.  I have finally done the deed now for the new year and I'll continue to.  Maybe I'll blog about my adventure today for trying to pick up my work permit.  But that can wait until next time.  I'm tired and should get to bed.  Happy New Year to everyone!!!! Ha ha, a month late.  But the same month none the less. 

Out of Here!!

Wow, so much has happened.  School is out and I'm on break.  I've had my birthday since last time.  And tomorrow I'm leaving!  I can't wait I'm so excited!!!!  I need to go pack but I thought I'd write something real quick before I leave and not be using the internet that much.  Happy Holidays to all!!  Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and God bless.  Miss you and love you all!  Adios