WEEK ONE - YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSZ9jrRgqWY

So as promised, now that i'm home, i'll upload some pictures. Unfortunately, I seem to be having some sour luck lately, for some reason my computer wont recognize that my memory card has pictures on it. So until I can figure that out, here are some pictures (about 1 a day) taken by Alyssa Hayter. Enjoy, and expect to see alot more soon!

The kids at St. Hilda's lining up for morning snack

Remember that massive tickle fight I mentioned? Note my face..these children were RELENTLESS

One of the classrooms at St. Hilda's

Teaching some St. Hilda's children how to be puppeteers

Setting up for our show at the High School

Lionel Hayter entertaining the St Barnabas children with Andy the dog

The Cathedral Puppeteers at St Barnabas with our very own Belizian Puppeterr, Ashley

Bev with the newly established St Hilda's Puppeteers

Everyone excited for a fun filled afternoon Friday; filled with Puppet shows, jokes, and dance

Unfortunately this will be our last Belizean Blog post. On Friday we had a relaxing evening in Belize City. Then yesterday we took the 9am Ferry out to Caye Caulker. We could not have asked for better weather for the day. It looked bleak when we first arrived; rain started to fall as we slipped into our snorkeling gear. Luckily by the time we arrived on our first dive spot, the sun was shining and the weather was scorching. We had three dive spots on our 3 hour trip out onto the reef. The first was kind of an 'orientation dive'. We stuck as a group, and our guide gave tips on ways to snorkel and pointed out types of fish, as a way to teach everyone who was new to snorkeling. Our second stop was really exciting. We went to 'Ray Alley'; We swum with literally 40+ Sting rays ranging in a wingspan of 2 to 5 feet. For those of us who were brave enough, we even got a chance to swim close enough to pet them. Our third stop was more along the lines of the first stop. Its reported there that George may have spotted a Nurse shark on that stop. By the we arrived back on Caye Caulker the sun was burning us to a crisp. We had a delicious lunch in a little local restaurant on the beach, then split into groups to spend our afternoon shopping in the islands little shops. By the end of it, most of us couldn't move we were so cooked, but personally I don't mind. It was all worth it to get to spend the day on that beautiful island. By the evening we were pretty much burnt out, but before we went to bed had a lovely dinner in Old Belize.

This morning we woke up early to make it to the 7am service at the Cathedral in Belize City. For the first service we preformed the show for the Sunday school, and I even got the chance to read the second lesson. For the second service at 930 we preformed the show again for the entire church. We just returned from the 2 services, and are about to have lunch, one more devotional, and then pack. We get picked up to go the the airport at 230, and are suppose to fly out 4 ish. We should arrive in Texas by the early evening. Might even get a chance to do some sight seeing on our night over there!

So until Texas..this is truly goodbye from Belize. It has been an amazing mission for all of us, and im sure one that will be close to our hearts for the years to come. I'd like to thank the team back home, for keeping us in their prayers, and for the entire congregation, both at the Cathedral and abroad, for keeping us in your thoughts.

See y'all in Texas.

(we're practicing our accents already)

I usually don't do a morning post, but from what I've heard internet will be hard to come by in Belize City, so this may be the last post until we reach Texas.

This morning the group got up early (Lionel George and I got up at 5 to see the sunrise, the rest got up at 6), to go see the "Great Belize Canoe Race" (...or something like that). Its been an annual event for the past 10 years in which about 40 canoe teams race up the river from San Ignacio to Belize City. The race is spanned over 4 days, and always has a huge turn out for watching. from there we walked up to Pops for a very crowded breakfast. In about 15 minutes we're heading to St. Hilda's one last time, and will be doing a puppet show amongst what from what I've heard will be a 'talent' show. Along with the show, there are going to be a children's dance (which i saw videos of from they're practice, they are really good) and some of the children we've trained to use the puppets will be doing a show of their own. All the families are invited to come, so it will be the perfect way to say goodbye to the school. After that we

re travelling directly into Belize City, and...who knows.

All i know is tomorrow... CAYE CAULKER (we're just a bit excited..). The weather has been a bit dodgey so far, but hopefully we'll be blessed with another sunny day.

So until Texas, adios, sianara, and we'll see you on the other side.

PS- I have no idea how to spell adios or Sianara

Guess we got so caught up in the moment I have 2 days to update you on now. Lets start off with yesterday.

As always we strolled over to breakfast at pops, and then drove over to St. Hilda's for the morning. The group split up at that point; some taught puppeting, some helped with reading, and some of us started on our labor project for the week, making bookshelves. Then for the afternoon we headed over to the high school that Ashley, the student the Cathedral is sponsoring, attends. The group (which was about 200 students I'd say) all crowded around the puppet theater, which we set up in the basketball court. From there we took a last minute trip out to Xunantunich, a Mayan ruin 15 minutes from San Ignacio and over 135 ft tall. It was absolutely amazing to explore the ruins and it defiantly was an experience no one here will forget. From there we had a relaxing evening and headed to bed.

Today we followed a similar schedule as the day before. Woke up, went to Pops and headed over to St. Hilda's again. In the morning, some taught more puppeting skills while the rest of us finished up the bookshelves. Lunch was amazing fun today. Today was the hottest and sunniest day yet. About 36 and not a cloud in the sky. Needless to say we all got red today. While on the lunch break, we explored the houses surrounding St Hilda's (kind of a neighborhood where most of the school children's families live). We then headed over to the Saint Barnabas elementary to do some more puppet shows. It was unfortunate because I must say, I've never had a more excited group to see a show...and halfway through we lost power at the school. This didn't stir the kids one bit, so we finished the show without the music. Soon after the power returned, so we finished up our visit there will the full show, with more enthusiasm than ever. We also met a little mascot of the school today, an adorable stray dog named Spooky. We then headed back to The Venus Hotel for some much needed R&R, and in about 45 min are heading out to supper.

Hear it snowed in Fredericton today...

try not to be too jealous of us for our weather

Stanley is home ....

After a wonderful few days in Punta Gorda, Stanley arrived safely home at 3:30am this morning.

Glad you made it safe and sound Stanley.

I hate to break my promises, but you might not be seeing the pictures just yet. I've been sitting at my computer for the last 20 minutes trying to upload some pictures, but it seems to have gotten stuck on 16%. Do not fret though, I'll keep trying.

In the meantime an update for what happened today. We awoke this morning and had a delicious breakfast at Pops (for all you frederictonians, it basically sums up to a Belize version of the Cabin on the Woodstock road). We then headed out to St Hilda's for our first full day at the school. After setting up the Puppet theatre, We traveled from class to class in 2 groups, teaching the basics of puppeting to the children. We had a amazing lunch (if you have noticed...good food is a recurring trend here), which was followed by, what could only be described as the most chaotic tickle flight known to man. To sum up, 80% of the children attacked us in a huge swarm of tickling. While this sounds rather foolish, it was the greatest thing that has happened so far. the connections that were made between the children and our team was so heart warming. From that point on, the children were 100% comfortable around us, none showing any shyness at all. I thoroughly look forward to going back tomorrow.

We then spent the afternoon doing the Jonah Show for each of the classes. We were tuckered out by the time the bus rolled in to pick us up at 330, but I don't think any of us would have traded today for a chance to sleep in and relax. Since coming back from the school, a few have gone shopping, and then got ready to go eat. I'm currently sitting in our supper destination, Flavas. Once we're done here we'll be heading back to the hotel where Bev and I will be doing our bible study/devotional time on 2 Corinthians 12; 1-10.

anyway, time for supper, keep an eye out for the pictures....they'll get up eventually.

I SEE FOOD!