Work day 4

Hi all. Just an update on the bathroom story from the previous day. Lori didn't actully lock the student in the bathroom for disciplinary reasons, the child inadvertantly did this to themselves. So Lori and a couple of students enacted a rescue plan to save the student. The climbing over the wall part was the actual plan that unfolded.

Today was the last day on site at the school. The day started out in the usual fashion, with another great breakfast. The fruit here is so fresh and sweet.

Throughout the week we've been getting to know our drivers and fellow construction workers a little better. Riddel is a young man who has a deep passion for his country and wants to bring gameful employment to a number of Belizians. He is working on setting up an Ecological park to attract more tourism and bring more jobs to the Corozal area. Omar who is also one of our drivers, who is already working two jobs, one as a mechanic and one as a sugar cane harvester, adds extra time to his day to drive us back and forth from the hotel to the school and then back again. Today he actually dropped us off, went to pick up another team of 21 from Abbotsford BC, brought them to Corozal, then came to pick us up and bring us back to the hotel then to go home and probably do some more work. We are thankful for our drivers, they are always on time and very friendly and willing to have conversation with us. Please also pray for Nacho who is the head of the construction team that we are working with. He employees around 3 employees throughout the year and we hope that he will be able present the gospel to them while they are with him.

The team from Abbotsford BC will be finishing off the fence that the Almonte team from 3 years ago worked on. They will have their work cut out for them digging footings for the last part of the fence. This fence is very important as it keeps out animals (I was told crocodiles) and humans that could cause problems for the kids. So their work will be very worthwhile, even though digging may not seem that exciting.

As soon as we arrived at school, Daymer, the boy who some of the girls on the previous trip made a connection with, presented Tammy with a stuffed turtle to give to Lexi. I'm sure this will bring Lexi some good memories and possibly a tear or two. If you don't think we leave a lasting impression on these kids, well think again.

On the way to the school, a person wishing to remain anonymous, made a donation to us to purchase some tools for the construction workers. This came at a good time as we had abused a few of their tools.

Getting back to the work, the remaining smoothing of the concrete was completed and the parging began to fill in the space where the former roof tied into the wall. If you look close enough, you can see this along the top of the wall in the second class room in the photo with the steel trusses in the background.

Stephen, Kent and Matt spent the day on the roof, cutting and measuring and testing angles for the "Hip" roof on the side. See pic below which shows the small roof on the end which ties into the larger roof. These cuts were quite difficult with lots of angles and lips which all needed to work together to maintain strength and yet be easy enough to cut. We hoped to get both sides done today, but we only finished the one. I guess we will have to let someone else share in the fun.

Lori was back at it again in the classroom along with a number of the kids. Kate and Nathaniel were starting to build some really great relationships with the kids. Seeing that today was the last day at the school, a few tears were shed as a result.

The team was invited by the principal to a gathering of the students around noon, just before they left for the week. We did a little song, led by Joel. A doner from the Perth area gave some money to to team to purchse some soccer balls, a basketball and skipping ropes, and these were presented to the school and the kids at this time as well. Earlier at lunch we were presented with a plaque from the school showing their appreciation for our help. Each of us received a souvenier to help us remember Belize and our time here.

As usual, we got back to the hotel, slipped and wedged ourselves into our suits and headed for the ocean for a dip. This time we thought we would switch it up a bit and take a swim near the pier. We all jumped in, the kids didn't notice anything, but some of the more experienced ones wondered what the smell was and why the bottom had about 3 inches of squishy material on the bottom. As soon as we got out of the water, some of the locals, with a combined embarrased and horrific look in their eyes, approached us and told us not to swin on that side of the pier and rather to swin on the other side. It turns out that the right side of the pier, as you look out to the ocean, is where the septic waste gathers. Nice. That ended our swin quite quickly and we were extra thankful for the showers back at the hotel. No one was showing any effects from the "Septic Swim" at night, so I hope we are good.

After hitting the showers, we once again had fine diner put on the by ladies. We are so thankful for the people that go far out of their way to bring it to us each night. True servanthood on display. We feel so welcomed here.

The devos that followed were focused on the kindness of God. Kate couldn't hold back the tears as we reflected on the day where she had to say goodbye to her new found friend. The Devo leader quickly switched topics as he didn't know how to deal with the tears. Well, the people here are letting God's kindness flow unabated to us. We are humbled by it and we are seeing God more clearly through it.

We took a little walking trip back to Central Park looking for a special Art market, however, when we arrived, there were only two tables selling some food. So to make up for our lack of artistic influence, we went back to the usual store to load up on some Fantas. We are creatures of habit.

Peope were quite tired, so it wasn't long before people headed off to bed.

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