Sunday Service

Things were a little different this morning. It began with the surprise momentary visit of Allen, Suzanne & Hollis Kent who were here earlier in the year as part of the Medical Mission Team from All Saints, Fort Worth, Texas. They just stopped by for a few minutes on their way to the plane and I didn’t even get to ask them about the position their Diocese has taken vis-à-vis the election of a women to head the American Episcopal Church (they have asked for “alternate Episcopal oversight”).

By Church time (9am) there was just one family of six besides the acolyte and myself. We had forgotten to pick up Miss Lois so that had to be arranged with someone just coming home from the RC service. A few more regulars were arriving up until about 9:40 and a couple of vagrants wandered in (one really to hit me up for food money, the other just in time to receive communion then leaving). A very occasional attender came with a prominent looking woman from Texas who said she was checking out God’s work in Belize and that I probably would be hearing from her! At one point there were actually 19 of us.

Sunday School seems to be over for the summer so I had pictures of Jesus stilling the storm for colouring and tried to make the service more child-friendly than perhaps it normally is. (Having the story of David and Goliath didn’t hurt!) That may be the way we’ll go all summer.

I have been enjoying the Friday evening 8-12 year old Youth Group. There are just 5 members but they are pretty enthusiastic. We have met three time so far and will see what the summer holds. (Summer is really that part of the rainy season when school is out, which is July and August just like home). Right now Christmas seems a long, long way off, but that’s how long I expect to be here.

Monkey River

It surely is the rainy season here in PG. This means heavy rain and thunder almost every night and possibly (like today) continuing through the day. But the days are still warm and sometimes hot.

The last few days have been busy. On Tuesday I accompanied the Bishop and a delegation from Synod Office on a visit to Monkey River and Punta Negra. To get to Monkey River I took the 6am bus which arrived at the Monkey River cutoff at about 7:30. Soon the bishop arrived, having left Belize City about 5am, and we drove the 8 slow miles on unpaved road to a ferry that takes you across the river to Monkey River Town, known for its howler monkeys. Deacon Tess used to minister in Monkey River but since she returned to Canada in the beginning of the year Sunday worship has been a rarity. There is, however, a very active Anglican school and we got to be part of a ceremony honouring the retiring (again) principal. The 25 minute boat ride to Punta Negra was a wet one, both from spray and rain, but the meeting held with the Punta Negra community was very productive. By the time we made the return trip the ocean was calm and the skies dry.

On Thursday the Pastor’s Fellowship heard from two speakers. One was promoting Every Home for Christ – Belize and the other introducing YC Belize, a youth outreach conference which will be an outgrowth of a Canadian initiative, YC Alberta. The pastors here have a very high concern for the spread of the Gospel in the Toledo Region.

In between such things I am trying to work with a group to organize a summer softball league for 8-12 year olds. Fun and games, but I think enough enthusiastic people to make it go.

Graduation!

Today was the 2nd Annual Graduation from St. Joseph’s Anglican Church Preschool. Everything went off more or less without a hitch once we got started. One young fellow was so distressed about the tassel falling off his mortarboard that he refused to join in until about half way through; I had to do a restart on the Pomp and Circumstance March CD (don’t know what happened); other than that, clockwork. A special guest was Lorna Sampson from PG and currently a theological student in Barbados. She told me how confident she had been about the proposed preschool even when it seemed an impossible dream. We remembered Deacon Tess, Mal and Mary Roberts, Paul Guiton, Lon Tostego and others who had been part of the creation and first two years of the Preschool. Afterwards we all met at a local restaurant and were provided with a fine meal. Each child got a piece of cake with her/his name on it.

A parent kindly took graduation pictures with my camera and here is a small selection. The one at the top of this entry is entitled, Fr. Stanley speaks to enthralled graduates. (The teacher is Elizabeth Garbutt.)

The Belize Zoo

Here, as promised, are some pictures from our Preschool trip to the Belize Zoo. The Zoo is small but all the animals are native to Central America and are in their natural habitat. None have been taken from the wild except when injured. It was a very successful trip though we left PG at 6:30am and arrived back at about 5:30pm with just 2 hours at the Zoo. I gave up trying to place the photos so it's mix and match animals and signs as best you can. There are more pictures but Blogger won't upload them for some reason.

Helloooo?

Yep, you’re right. No update for weeks! Is nothing happening in Punta Gorda?

Well, yes – right again. At least, I certainly have not been inspired to share much with you. The season is changing, with the first signs of the rainy season and wonderful nighttime outbursts of thunder and lightening; I got my first storm warning from “Tracking the Eye” hurricane watch; every few minutes ripe mangos thud off the church’s tin roof; children and teachers are beginning to count the days until school is out.

But what about St. Joseph’s? Well, attendance at recent Sunday services has ranged between a mere 8 (a week ago) and 22, all souls included. Today it was 10. The van needs a new computer and can’t go anywhere. We seem to have hit some doldrums. However, on Friday we did have our first New Youth Group meeting, and for two Sundays in a row we have had an acolyte.

I haven’t taken many pictures lately and they are usually an inspiration to write. Next up: a trip to the Zoo!