Happening #1

It truly was a flying visit when Drs. Kent and Burk and nurse Sue Shields descended on Punta Gorda for 24 hours. It was a great day for me, getting to do different things and meet different professionals here, and be taken out for meals as well! At one point we were greeted by a group of enthusiastic boys who remembered the doctors from last year.

In the morning we went to the Hillside Healthcare Centre, a faith based organization providing free health care to the people of southern Belize. While there we sat in on a tutorial on tuberculosis presented by Dr. David Fitzgerald to his staff. Dr. Burke is a pulmonologist so he was able to contribute some further expertise to the discussion!

In the afternoon we met with the chief of staff at the PG Hospital, with a Nurse from Care Belize and with another doctor with responsibilities for the area. This morning the three visitors joined me for Morning Prayer then walked to the airstrip, onto the plane, and headed off towards Belize City where, I hear, it’s raining so hard that a lot of the schools closed.

Out of all this a plan is emerging which should make use of the doctors’ specialties and also contribute to the general life of the church and community.

Happenings and Not

Just like anywhere else in the world, here in PG some things are happening and some not.

First the nots:
One - The Christmas parcel that Stephen sent at the beginning of January still has not arrived. Should I give up hope?
Two - The box of baseball equipment which Cobourg Baseball was gathering is just too expensive to ship. It's no one’s fault - just one of those things. And I don’t think there is a comparable supply of equipment for purchase in Belize. But we are still working on this one.

Then the happenings:
One - Two doctors and a nurse are arriving on Monday for a flying visit to prepare for a medical mission in March. A group will be coming from churches in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas to offer medical advice and help to anyone who needs it. The advance party will meet with hospital and clinic officials to make sure there is proper coordination of their efforts.
Two - Next month there will be visitors from the Diocesan Office who will be working to set in motion a plan for assisting the local Maya communities. The groundwork was done by theological student Paul Guiton during his short stint here last summer. Paul is from BC.
Three - In the next few weeks, I am told, a vehicle will arrive for the use of St. Joseph’s. It is a 1993 Econoline Van (maybe it will look like this) and will allow us to transport parishioners to and from church and should generally make ministry considerably easier. It’s being purchased with funds from the Anglican Church of Canada. The downside is that it takes $150 US to fill the gas tank!

You may hear nothing more about the nots, but I’ll let you in on the happenings as they happen.

Hands In Healing

For Robin, and anyone else who might have been interested, Bishop Wright sent me this link http://www.handsinhealing.org/
when I asked for further information on the crosses he gave as Christmas gifts. (See entry of December 29)

That’s quite a story, Robin. I’m glad you asked!

Photo by Kevin Flynn

Window Installed

Fortified by breakfasts of chocolate cake and encouraged by the relative coolness of January in Belize, Susan Watson completed her stained glass window in plenty of time for it to be dedicated at the Eucharist on January 8. As she and Travis unveiled the window there was applause from the congregation as well as a few “Oooh”s and “Aaah”s. It was very appropriate that a Holy Spirit Window should be dedicated on the celebration of The Baptism of our Lord, when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove.

The dedication was “to the Glory of God, and in thanksgiving for the international friends of St. Joseph’s Anglican Church, Punta Gorda, throughout the world and through the years.”

Susan and Travis are now off to Monkey River and then St. John’s Cathedral, Belize City. Thank you Susan for a wonderful gift!

Direct from Dollywood

Direct from Dollywood, Tennessee, Susan Watson and son Travis arrived in PG late Tuesday evening, in time to join me for supper and settle down for a very disturbed night’s sleep (mostly dogs, roosters and rain). Next morning, after Hugh had arrived with his cinnamon buns, work was begun unpacking the glass for St. Joseph’s first (and perhaps only ever) stained glass window! There had been some breakage so we traipsed off to find the glass store, and with a little imagination the necessary design changes were made. Once the pieces had been laid out on the paper cartoon, each one was edged with copper. Then, while Travis worked on the window opening, Susan began the long task of soldering, with a small audience of local children. Well into the evening the work went on with a welcome break for a little “Welcome Susan” event. On Thursday the back will be soldered, the window fitted and, hopefully, installed. The Spirit is descending!

Seeing the New Year In

No one had ever told me of the connection between Watch Night Services and President Lincoln’s Proclamation of Emancipation. Another Internet discovery, as I prepared for our New Year’s Eve service. Check out this link ( http://christtemple.tripod.com/watchpeom.html ) to a great poem which I read as part of that service. I suppose there were services on the evening of December 31 long before 1862. Were they called Watch Night Services. Anyone know? Anyone but me care?

Our service was over by 8:30pm and then I left home to go to a relatively quiet part of town for the night ( http://www.coralhouseinn.com/frameabout.htm ) and was asleep long before midnight. It cost a bit but was worth it to wake up refreshed and relaxed and not have to make the bed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!