Pictures of Team One and Team Next

Photos from Team One's trip home

Now that both teams are home safely, here are a couple of interesting photos from Team One's trip home a week ago. The first (or possibly the second -- the blog seems to have its own ideas about where to position photos) shows our own Father Joe Hensley with the Rt. Reverend Philip Wright, Bishop of Belize. Team One attended a very impressive two-and-a-half hour service at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist in Belize City prior to catching the plane to Miami. One of the many elements of this service was Joe's birthday blessing for Bishop Wright and for several members of the congregation, including one lady who was celebrating her 98th birthday. There were also several baptisms and a special blessing for everyone planning to travel (which obviously included us on Team One).

The second photo comes from the Miami airport. After we had cleared customs and gone to wait for the flight home, this incredibly frenetic insect suddenly showed up at our gate. For well over an hour, he entertained children and adults waiting for their flights, the airline people at the gate, and anyone else who happened to be walking by. The only thing that stopped him was an announcement that our flight would be departing from a different gate in another concourse.

Our Work is Done

We finished our work at Holy Cross today and bid farewell to our new friends - the children and teachers. It was hard to leave and we had many, many hugs - and some tears - before we started the walk back to our hotel. We were able to move along with several things Team 1 began as well as a few of our own projects. We think we managed to throw a number of starfish back into the sea and make a bit of a difference.
The Valentine's Fair at the school was great fun and raised a lot of money. There were games and prizes, food and a giant inflated slide. The entire Jacobi family did face-painting on MANY little faces.
We had a lovely dinner tonight and are bringing our time here in San Pedro to a close. Tomorrow we return to Belize City and then home on Sunday. Be ready -- we have taken loads of pictures and will be eager to share our stories.
Thank you from Team Next for the prayers and support from everyone at home. We have missed you but have known you were with us in spirit. We'll see you soon!

Happy Valentine's Day

Today was a very festive day at Holy Cross. Standard VI was in charge of cupcakes for the school. They baked, frosted, decorated and delivered over 400 cupcakes to children, teachers and volunteers. Earlier in the week, Maggie, Anne, and Jan helped each class decorate Valentine's bags which Joanne helped fill with treats. Everyone left this afternoon with a treat. And congratulations to Holy Cross's first football team who won their game this afternoon -- dressed in new uniforms.

The work is going well. Scott and Jim have just about finished the new bathroom -- all that's left is to install the toilet and sink. John W. , Peter, Nina and John C. have got the flooring just about done on a huge section of the new library/computer room. One of the Standard I teachers has been sick all week and Joyce has been their substitute. Clara has worked with an Infant I class: Sandra is in Standard II; and Jan has been all around. Pam and Jean have the dental clinic painted and ready for patients while Joanne unpacked, sorted and put away all the school supplies both teams brought. Anne, Peggy and Maggie have painted an amazing mural in Resurrection Hall around Miss Laura's office. And, in their spare time, Maggie and Peggy have had music with each class. Jan assisted with the older children's chapel this morning along with Deacon Tess, visiting from Canada. It has been very hot and we are pretty worn out at the end of each day. But, we get up the next morning, ready to go again.

Tonight we will celebrate Valentine's at Wild Mango's restaurant. A real treat!! Tomorrow there is a Valentine's fair at the school. We don't really know what to expect but will do what we can. There will be no classes but the construction will continue. Our week is rapidly drawing to an end. We have made many new friends at Holy Cross and will be sad to leave.

Something is not working in the transfer of pictures--- Team 1 wins the prize for best blog. We will try again tomorrow but will have terrific ones to bring home and share.

Tuesday

First day of work!

Today was the first day we got to work at the school. When two seperate groups went around to the classes a lot of the younger kids seemed to be very interested in my braces. One younger girl came up to me and said "You have rubbers bands on your teeth?" And the older kids (I say older when they were probaly aroung seven or eight) liked my red hair. Today Jan, my mom and I worked with six classes at different times on Valentine treat bags for Thursday. There is going to be a Valentines day party on Thursday and a fair on Friday. Mrs. Grace also told all the students that if they didn't do their homework that they didn't get to go to the fair. That would stink! It was very confusing for me when we passed out candy for each of the kids in the classes because each kid got three pink candycorns. Well some kids thought they could be sneaky and tell me "I no got any!" I would just look at them right in the eye and even if I didn't remember if I had given them some candy or not, I would find out becaus if they had taken some already they would smile really big. But if they hadn't gotten any they would look really sad and innocent. But at one point all the kids in one class swarmed around me and were yelling that they hadn't gotten any and were pulling at the bag of candy. Fourtunatly my mom came over and broke up the mob of angry and hungry children. It was also very sad when the children would try to sneak out of the classroom with a small sheet of stickers. And you have to know that these kids don't have a lot and every chance they got they would try to steal from eachother or from the school. (only stickers and markers though) Also, Pam painted the dental suite. It is a toothpaste blue (very appropriate) with a wavy texture. The guys started on the floor frame for the library and computer lab. My mom, Anne, John, Joanne, and I put up a parachute on the ceiling for color. Anne was dragged into a classroom and was left to teach the standard one class this afternoon. Clara also helped in the classroom. Nina helped with the floor framing and dishwashing. Sandra worked in the classroom and on dishwashing. With 400 students it is a lot of dishes to clean. Once the cooking ladies are done cooking and washing dishes, they are already started on another meal. They never get a moments rest! I don't know how they do it! All in all it was an excellent first day. Everyone is very tired and so am I!! OH! And we saw somthing you don't get tp see!!! Rain! There were actually PUDDLES! Seeing rain these days is like seeing and elephant walking down the street. So I think that was onw of the most exciting things. Well my fingers are hurting now so I think I will go. BlessingS to all and I will talk again soon. Bye!

Team Next Has Arrived

Team Next (we are not #2) arrived safely in San Pedro yesterday afternoon. John met us at the water taxi and helped us lug our suitcases to Ruby's. We had just about settled in when the rest of Team 1 returned from their final day of work at Holy Cross. All 33 of us had a great dinner with lively conversation. We shared Compline before ending a very long day -- Team Next had been on the move since about 3:00 AM.
Today has been leisurely -- some went to Lamanai; others snorkeled; many shopped; everyone relaxed. Team Next is adjusting to the heat, sand and ocean breeze while Team One packs and gets ready to head home. It has been great to "overlap" so we could share information and fun.
Team Next is eager to see what our tasks at the school will be. We anticipate continuing the work begun last week but there are some equipment issues that must be resolved first. We are also looking forward to being in the classrooms with the children.
Stay tuned -- we will keep you up to date as week 2 of the St. Luke's mission adventure continues -- pictures too!