Back from Belize.....

I seriously took over 150 pictures and so picking which ones to share was very hard. I am going to post some of the better ones and the ones that give you a little glimpse of our 9 days there. Previously I posted that Morgan was going with me on this missions trip but alas, the morning of the trip (4am to be exact) we were told the Belizean government wanted a notarized and signed letter from Dan saying I had permission to take her to that country. While I understand that they are trying to cut back on the child trafficking that is taking place down there, it was still heart wrenching to leave her behind. I actually cried the entire first leg of our trip to Houston Texas. Here is our team of 8 in Belize City waiting for our third and final flight to Punta Gorda.

This is the airport in Belize City. They just pull the planes right up to the double glass doors and out you walk to catch your flight.

The airport in Belize City.....

I wish I could have bottled the heat and humidity and allowed it to come through the computer so you could feel it ha! Think sauna....and sweat....and cleansing the body of ALL toxins....

This was our third and final flight of the day and I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty stressed on this flight. You know your airplane is small when you have to hunch over to climb inside, someone has to sit with the pilot so everyone can fit, and your regular breathing tickles the neck of the person in front of you.....

I felt sorry for Lil because I prayed out loud the entire way....

The view was all that kept me sane......however, I do think I discovered I might have a slight, OK extreme fear of heights after this flight. It could have also been that I got the one seat that had the broken air vent.

This is where I slept for 9 days. My bug net was my best friend. You can't tell from the picture but there were no windows or doors just screens so every night when the storms came you got soaked. My bedding was still wet when I got home.

This is called Doc's house and it is where we spent our time. We slept here, worked on projects like remodeling the bathrooms, painting etc. and played cards here at night to unwind. This was home.

Some of our team at church the first Sunday. The little sweetie in my arms is our missionary's son Benaiah...I love him!

The Caribbean Sea...our view from church... 

Church service....

It was too hot to sleep so we would unwind with card games and sitting in front of the fans...the fellowship and relationships that were built blessed me....I learned a lot from those 7 other people. Mostly that God is good and faithful and ever present.

Seriously, I miss this little guy...

Going to market.....

Best chocolate in the ENTIRE WORLD!

You know it's a good storm when it puts a boat in your front yard...

This is Asia....she lives in Belize and was one of the young students attending the discipleship camp while we were there. She feels God calling her to be a missionary in Iraq.

These are cassava fries. It's a root they grow, fry and then cover in hot sauce and guacamole and yum! I tried lots of new things and pretty much loved all the spices and foods...

We were so far south we could see Honduras......

This was the airport in Punta Gorda....

leave it to me to find the one Belizean selling vegan ice cream.... 

children's church......

Rex was my buddy for 9 days...he was quiet and calm and funny so we hit it off because I'm so mellow...OK not really but he did look out for me all week.

We hiked out to blue creek one day and swam, ate lunch and just visited....

This is Brittney, she is Benaiah's mom. She is also married to Jeremiah and they are missionary's down in Punta Gorda. She has an amazing heart and I miss her terribly....

Friday was cultural emersion day...

we spent the day with Sils and his family and learned to cook all the food we bought at market....

She taught us how to make home made corn tortillas from scratch...best thing I have ever eaten in my life....

Brittney and Benaiah....

The food we bought at market....

The Rio Grande river.....

This is the Cacoa tree....

the bean in which they make chocolate.....

we had to purchase and try something new and so we tried star fruit...something of a cross between an apple and a pear....

Nick painted the great commission on one of the walls in our house....

My snack one afternoon...

This is Miss Rona. She was the cook at the camp during the week. She is cutting up a root they cut out of the jungle and then she cooked it with curry and rice and beans. It was similar to jicama.....

We had to buy and clean a fish....I let Barb have the honors ha!

Girls against guys on our scavenger hunt in town...

The things I took away is to many to count really. One thing for sure is that if you don't leave a piece of your heart there and bring a piece of Punta Gorda back with you, you missed the point. Also, I hated being away from my husband and kids for 9 days....most difficult thing ever. Harder than all the bug bites I am still healing from, not having a hot shower for 9 days, sleeping in a wet bed etc. The country of Belize is beautiful and diverse. God reminded me to evaluate on a regular basis the things that fight for a front seat in my life and filter them out. What is essential and what is just trying to take over and fill space? I learned to go when God tells me to go and trust that if he told me something His promise will not go void. It might be an adventure along the way (and it was) but it's OK, it builds character. I also learned that I am braver than I thought. I don't feel as afraid or worried about the things in my life here after going on this trip without my husband and kids. God promised me He had a plan and I feel like I went and tried to present in what He asked me to do.