A Mothers' Day Bouquet For You

Picked in the Church Yard.

Little Nothings

It’s a week since my last entry. Is it possible there is nothing to report? Of course not! But things generally are in something of a holding pattern. We had Rudolf & Marcella’s wedding 10 days ago. It went wonderfully but somehow I haven’t got to visit since. Tomorrow I’ll be going to Dump (yes!) for the Pastors’ Meeting and will see them and some others on the way there and back.

What with the two Easter baptisms and the training of a couple more acolytes the number of young people in the congregation is growing a bit. Last Sunday’s Sunday School seemed to go just as I think it ought. The teacher had arrived by the time the children were to leave; she had a lesson plan; they all came back at the right time; and the rest of us were able to concentrate on worship. Could this become a habit? Please do pray for our young people, both those who are members of the congregation and those who live in the neighbourhood. They are all really great kids.

I know of only one boy of primary school age who does not attend school. The young woman who operates a Christian drop in is working to convince him to go back for the last month and then keep going next school year. Uniform, books and supplies are being provided but Irwin is afraid of what the other kids will think of him.

Here in PG there are no “street children”. I suspect the same is true for most of Belize. Children seem to be well cared for although we know that there is abuse and neglect, but perhaps not worse than anywhere else. The problem is the lack of work opportunities which the youth will face as they get older. So many men in particular are looking for any odd job they can get to earn money for food. This is not so much a problem in the Maya villages where food is grown.

My Maya friend Alejandro, who was my odd-jobber, has moved to Belize City where he works in a bicycle store. I miss him and am leaving some things undone, hoping that God will soon send someone else like him.

Easter Holidays (2)

Cuxlin Ha was to be our home base for the next few days, even though my home was only about seven miles away. The resort is run by an American couple who have surrounded it with a small Maya community. The children love to visit the guests and perhaps get a sweet now and then. A small island specifically for scuba diving is being developed together with an underwater observation structure.

One morning we were paddled down the river through subtropical jungle, another we were taken on a tour of the “Maya Gold” cacao growing operations in San Filipe. This included a small purchase of homemade chocolate balls that were special. The operations manager here in PG is from New Brunswick! The operation is organic as the biodiversity of the environment is maintained. The trees are grown within the forest and the growers tend a mix of crops. The Green & Black chocolate bars which are the end product are made in Italy and sold in Britain, I think – certainly not in Belize.

My brother-in-law kindly agreed to preach on Sunday and gave a lively sermon on the belief in the resurrection. Afterwards we headed out to the Maya ruins at Lubaantum, one of the smaller Maya ruins, but only about a 45 minute drive from PG. It is so peaceful it’s hard to imagine the hustle and bustle of Maya ceremonial and governmental life that must once have taken place there. No picture – forgot my camera.

On Monday, my visitors climbed on the little Tropic Air plane and headed north to Belize City, Houston, and eventually home to St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Before they left they promised to send me some Shirriff Lemon Pie Filling.