Onward to Belize

Monday, December 18, 2007

I am absolutely exhaustedddddd.

We started out today by leaving the hotel at 4:15am or so, and I was up at 4:00 to do my last minute packing. We took off in the taxi that was sent to take us to the airport, and we arrived some time later. Our flight was delayed for some reason, or perhaps the time they told us was wrong, but either way we managed to be on time in El Salvador, although barely, as well as Belize. The flights were nice because they were so short, and Eli was surprised to find that his ticket was for first class, so from El Salvador to Belize he rode there – the first flight he gave up his first class place and stayed with me in Economy. We both ended up falling asleep for a short time, which caused me to realize the glory in what they call “power naps” and how you feel much better if you just sleep for about 5 minutes versus a long time. Our luggage was sent on to Belize so we didn't have to worry about that either which was nice. I was awfully hungry during this time, but we didn't have time to get anything to eat. We arrove in Belize, and no one was there to get us, so we went on a mission to phone and find out what was happening. This proved to be rather difficult because of the various issues with the cell phone and card, etc. But finally we got through to discover that Leonie (the mother of this orphanage) had been told we were coming in at 2:00pm rather than 10:00am when we actually got there. So since they were in no position to come get us at that time, Eli told me to tell her that we would just get a taxi to the bus station, where we would then catch the bus to Belmopan and San Ignacio, respectively. We did just that, and had the pleasure of seeing some Rastafarians, in their awesome hats and Rasta colours, etc. Anyway. We got to the bus station and I went to call Leonie to let her know we were at the station, and so she sent someone to come pick me up. The guy came shortly after, and so I bid Eli a farewell and off we went to the orphanage.

From the beginning it was mildly awkward. I tried to talk to the guy who was driving, but he would only respond with the shortest answers possible, so I gave up, but luckily the drive was very short. We arrived, and I went in, and was told that Sheila had called and said that I should stay at the orphanage tonight, so I went out to get my stuff from the car and brought it in. I was shown to my room so I could put it there – a room that I am sharing with apparantly 2 people, but I only see one, and there's 5 beds...Anyway, then I went out to ask Leonie if there was something I could do to help since I didn't have anything else to do – she asked me if I had any experience with entering data into a computer. I responded affirmatively, so she told me to pull up a chair then and to help. We worked on it for about 2 or so hours, which I was very happy about because it gave me something to work as an escape from the nothing else that there was to do. Then she said she needed to stop because she was starting to feel not good from not having eaten lunch. (It was about 3:00pm at this time). I agreed because I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours and was quite famished, so I was shown to the kitchen where I receieved a plate of beans and rice, which was quite excellent. Following the meal, there wasn't anything for me to do, so I asked to use the internet and so I had a nice long chance to check my various messages. I did that for as long as possible so that I wouldn't just wander around by myself feeling awkward, but eventually other people seemed to be waiting for the computer, so I removed myself from it, and made a friend with Laquisha, a girl who I remembered from last time. She is 7 I think, and is adorable, and a nice child.

Basically I wasted as much time as possible on everything that happened. I talked to Crystal, the girl whose name I had to get something for last time, and although she didn't remember me at first, she began to as I refreshed her memory with what we had done. I got out my computer to try to show her some pictures of the people who she would recognize, and ended up having a little crowd of kids standing around me looking at the pictures I had, pointing at all of them and asking me to open them. Then they wanted to play games on my computer, so I let two of the girls play (under supervision) and then when it started to get too out of hand I told them that it was time to put it away. Then it was time for worship.

Worship is amazing in this place. First they sing about 10 songs, with guitars and they sing so exuberantly, it sounds amazing, even if it is a little loud or off key sometimes! They actually do sing very well though, there is only a couple who aren't right on key. Then they have a couple people giving some thoughts, and then someone has the main talk/reading, and then they go around the room and all the kids tell what they understand from what was read. Some of them you can tell didn't listen at all, but have an answer that sounds close enough like they did. And then they recite various chapters or verses from the Bible. Tonight it was Psalm 4, or 41 I forget which one, and then Psalm 91, and Romans 3:1-12. It's amazing how well they have them memorized; it inspired me to try to memorize more too. Then they pray and sing another song or two, and that brings it to a close. It is a really nice worship they have though, and I was impressed, again.

Now there are a bunch of them out there with the guitars and they are singing random songs – it sounds really good. But unfortunately it's been drowned out by this one song that this girl in this room is playing, whilst she is asleep, and it is on repeat, and it is driving me absolutely crazy, even though it is a nice song...you can only listen to it so many times, seriously...