More Belize

Here are pictures from June 1-7th, before the mission team came to Belize.  Earlier pictures and an explanation of our time are in the previous post.  All the dates on the actual pictures are incorrect.

After spending our first night in a beach resort, going to the Bullfrog Inn in Belmopan was not fun.  We’ve stayed there many times, but this particular trip was a bit rough. After the second day there, I was trying to pull a stubborn Phoebe out of her carseat and she said, “I not going!”  I said, “Where aren’t you going?”  She replied, “I not going to the beach!  I have to go THERE!”  And she pointed with disgust at our hotel. 

Here is our tiny little room.  No flowers and no origami towel swans!  The nasty brown carpet was actually pink, but I didn’t know that until the last day when I moved the bedside table to retrieve my phone charger!  There was one day when Phoebe spilled a bottle of water.  I absorbed it with a towel that was white going down and dark brown coming up!



The only reason this picture is bright is due to the camera flash.  Each morning I had the feeling of drowning whenever I walked into this dark, small, BLUE bathroom.   We also spent the first three days with no hot water, so I also had BLUE babies!



Every day we asked housekeeping for three towels and washcloths.  Every day we would get a variation, but never what we asked for.  On Thursday we finally got three towels, three washcloths, and a two hand towel bonus!  I was so excited I took a picture. 




We adjusted to our creepy, cozy little room by spending as much time away from it as possible!  After Nathan went to work each day, the toddlers and I took our time enjoying a leisurely breakfast.  Hudson always ate scrambled eggs and fry jacks.



Phoebe enjoyed pancakes every morning.  Especially on the days when we got the bottle of syrup without the ants floating in it!




Nathan would pick us up for lunch and we would go to our friend Yesenya’s restaurant.  She has some great food, and it is ridiculously low priced.





Every morning I would put the kids in the double stroller, which was quite an attraction down there, and we would go for a walk.  Even in the rain! 


 
One day I decided to take a shortcut to the store.  I took the path to the right.   Hudson lost a shoe, and all the jostling made Phoebe throw up her pancakes!




Fat, white babies are a sensation everywhere they go.  Folks don’t even think twice about taking them from their stroller and walking around with them.  Fortunately, the kids are used to it and they don’t ever put up a fuss.  These were all taken at the Chinese store we went to about every day.   My favorite Belizeans are Chinese.  They have such great senses of humor and are extremely friendly and helpful!





Although, after a while, the babies do get a little tired of all the handling.



We went to our favorite restaurant, Chon Saan Palace with our local friends who were helping plan the mission trip. 



NT and Joy Dellinger have been missionaries in Belize since the early 60s.  I feel blessed beyond measure to count them as friends!




Other dear friends that we have made are the Erazos.  When we are in their home, I feel as though I am with family.  Emilia cooks the most amazing foods for us, and was our cook for the entire week of the mission trip.   I joke about them being our “jungle” friends because I can’t get over the fact that panthers roam through their front yard and their neighbor once killed a tiger in his yard.  They seemed surprised to find out that NO ONE ever kills a tiger in the U.S.  Here is a picture of Hudson on their porch.




Belize has become our home away from home, and that is due to the beautiful friendships we have made there!  I thank God for every one of them!