Jacob's Farm

from L top: Bozo the puppy; Alfonso Vallejos making suggestions for Jacob's Farm; Pete and Nikita, Bozo's sister with chickens in the background.

Jacob's Farm is a rehab farm started in 2006 where men with addictions can go "to wrestle with God" as Jacob did in the Bible.  It is a great group of men with whom Daniel is enjoying working as a Restore (YMCA) group counselor.  Most are believers and everyone, believers and non, are struggling.  It's an interesting and diverse group.  We really enjoy going out there; it's about 2 miles from our house.  Nikita, the puppy, as you can see above has a large abdominal hernia.  It may be umbilical and disappear with time but I have discussed with the guys what to watch for.  Obviously, Pete loves the puppies.

Learning Organic Gardening the Mayan Way

Ok, so maybe we do have more to learn from the Mayans than they do
from us.  I guess we knew this before. We just wanted to help them remember their value as brothers and sisters in the Body.  Don Alfonso Vallejos has the most beautiful black dirt I have ever seen. He is in constant communication with the Lord about how to care for the land and there is no doubt that he is "Farming God's Way." He treats the earth with care, explaining that one can only burn once and that ash will provide useful nutrients for the soil, but that further burning would damage it.  Never plowing because of the loss of moisture it causes, he uses very simple tools.  He plans his crops in the area of the natural fertilizer of the washim tree; it provides nitrogen and potassium.  Over the years, many environmental groups have come to him for wisdom regarding farming.  We are fortunate to live next to his many acres and he has been teaching us and allowing us to help him.  We have begun with watermelon planting.  Holes were dug and soil loosened in rows, with the holes being about 5 feet apart.  When this was accomplished, the holes where filled with water one evening then again the next morning.  That evening, 5 watermelon seeds were planted in the walls of each of the holes.  The holes were then lightly covered with adjacent natural "mulch" so the "babies" would not get too hot.  Everyday without rain, the seeds were watered.   After about 3 days, we began to see the first little leaves popping through and then removed the topping mulch.  They were watered daily until they were about 1 1/2 inches tall then the topsoil was replaced around them.  They continue to thrive. (Photos L to R: Don Alfonso, Daniel & Pete; holes for watermelon seed; washim trees-2 photos; Daniel and Pete loosening dirt for holes.)

Who knew we would find space age patio furniture for the living room at NAASA in the Corozal Free Zone

for only $23?  However we have learned that there is nothing of interesting there unless you are looking for bikinis, booze, or perfume.  Still a lot to learn. Do not need to visit the "Free Zone" again.

The Jade Head Comes to Corozal 2 March 2010

                                                                  Mural at the Corozal Town Hall

The 2 photos are only portions of 1 large painting on the interior wall at the Town Hall.  The photos show a mural depicting  historical settings in the North but some are general, like George Price.

The painting was done by Manuel Villamor Reyes who is a Belizean living in Mexico. He has painted 
over the mural at least twice. It is now nothing like the original.

The jade head was discovered at in the Belize District's Mayan site of Altun Ha in 1968 by Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada. The head, along with forty other objects, had been placed within a large tomb that was located below the stairblock on the Temple of the Masonry Altars.

The head is a representation of the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau. Along with Chac (rain god) and Yum Kax (corn god), Kinich Ahau was among the most important deities in the Maya pantheon.

A Mayan Christian friend told us today that he remembers the ceremonies to the rain god, the sun god, and the corn god.  He pointed out that our God is indeed the God of the wind, rain and sun.  He remembers during ceremonies there were altars with 3 crosses, 2 smaller on each side and one large one in the middle, scattered over the fields.                                                                   

Dropping Daniel at Prison in Hattieville Friday 25 February 2010

     Pete & I dropped Daniel at the prison telling him it was for the best   :)     We found a comfortable place to stay while he learned everything I learned in my residency in 6 hours.  He attended training for the mental health and substance abuse treatment function of the prison. He met the Minister of Mental Health, Dr. Claudina Cayetano, one of the 2 active psychiatrists in Belize as well as Dr. Molino, a Nicaraguan psychiatrist who sees patients at the prison every 2 weeks.  The prison is a model for United Nations standards and was completely redone from ground up by the Kolbe Foundation. (see www.kolbe.bz).  It is amazing in many respects.  I am particularly fascinated by the manufacturing of arts and crafts including intricate woodworking, ironworks, jewelry making and organic gardening the inmates do in order to support themselves and the prison.  It's the only prison I've ever seen with a gift shop.

The Beginning/23 February 2010

We left Nashville before dark on that Wednesday morning.  There was a light flurry and snow was still on the ground.  At 4:15 am, Max drove us and some luggage and Devin drove some more baggage to the airport.  I may not be much for keeping up with some stuff but even though I didn't get to sleep much for the previous 36 hours because of packing and many last minute obligations, when we unloaded at the airport,  I said "There were suppose to be 9 pieces; where is the black trunk?" Amazing Max ran back to the house while  we checked in the other stuff.  It was difficult saying goodbye, even "just" for four months. He returned with the black trunk in the nick of time.  When I say 9 pieces, I do not mean small pieces; one of them was the 70 pound "portable" air conditioner that I promised Pete for Belize. But we did make it without having to ship anything.  After two flights, Nashville to Memphis and Memphis to Cancun, we arrived in Mexico.  After one hour of watching bags, we were able to collect all 9 with only 2 of them damaged, pack them onto 4 carts and wind serpentine through about 5 laps of bag check.  When we told them we were going to serve in a clinic in Belize, they sent us through without opening bags.  Gerald, my friend Carla's brother, was waiting for us with his big SUV and a luggage rack on top; there was exactly the right amount of space for everything.  We began south on the old road from Cancun towards Xel Ha.  The last time we had been there was with 7 year old Max when I was 7 months pregnant with Jake.  The main thing on my mind was that I was 7 months without Jake now.  How different the road was!...physically, emotionally, spiritually.  The physical road to Xel Ha was so changed.  It was no longer a one lane in the midst of the brush along side the ocean.  It was widened.  There were strip malls.  It had a Sams Wholesale.  We didn't stop and linger at Xel Ha and watch the tropical fish as we did then.  We zipped down the Yucatan stopping just twice but it took over six hours.  We stopped at a McDonald's early on so Pete could eat and say goodbye to his civilization.  Later we came to an old Mexican village that was unmodernized.  I disappeared into the market, mildly alarming Daniel and Pete, and returned with the last avocados we will see for a while because it is not avocado season in Belize.  We finally came to the border, stiff legged, and were instructed by our wise driver that only Daniel need get out and say "cancelado" VERY firmly.  This was effective.  Then we saw our dear Miss Dorothy, principal of Presbyterian Day School returning from Chetumal.  What a great welcome to Belize!  We had to stop again at the Belize side of the border, get out all the bags, carry them in, pay entry fees and import duty, and return the bags to the car.  We drove through a quiet dark Corozal and down the long dirt road to Patchakan.  I think our dear driver, who told us previously that he was not afraid of going anywhere in Belize at night, was a little concerned.  When we finally drove up to the house, he breathed a sigh of relief and said he had begun to be concerned for us. We said our goodbyes, found the nightwatchman, Elario, for the keys, went in and fell on the beds.  So...an uneventful trip.

Several Very Important People I Miss

We have been away from fully functional internet for several weeks now.   I have not blogged as I expected.  I have not been able to video chat with two very important people.  Hopefully now that will change.  Since I have not been spending a lot of time taking notes, I will rely on photos to take me back through the time I missed blogging.  I miss you, very important people.

Once in a Lifetime, Water Flowing Underground, Time isn't Holding Us

Strange days.  Second day working at the clinic doing general practice in Patchakan.  Busy.  Sometimes there are several members of a family in each exam room with a variety of complaints. I am speaking some Spanish.  They are speaking some English.  Youngest patient was 17 days old.  Oldest patient was 82 yo.  Friendly Asian man packing heat. Possible Dengue Fever.  Lots of coughs and low back pain. Creoles, Mayans, Guarafuna, American.  Some Chinese translated by Creole. This is different.  For some reason the lyrics to David Byrnes song go through my mind all day. Remember God is good.
"You may find yourself in another part of the world
You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
You may ask yourself: well... how did I get here?

Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by/water flowing underground
Into the blue again/after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

You may ask yourself
How do I work this?
You may ask yourself
Where is that large automobile?
You may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
You may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!

Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by/water flowing underground
Into the blue again/after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...

Water dissolving... and water removing
There is water... at the bottom of the ocean
Remove the water
Carry the water
Remove the water from the bottom of the ocean

Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by/water flowing underground
Into the blue again/after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

Into the blue again/into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones/there is water underground
Letting the days go by/into the silent water
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

You may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
You may ask yourself
Where does that highway lead to?
You may ask yourself
Am I right?... Am I wrong?
You may say to yourself
My God!... what have I done?

Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by/water flowing underground
Into the blue again/after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

Into the blue again/into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones/there is water underground
Letting the days go by/into the silent water
Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground

Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...
Same as it ever was... Same as it ever was...

Time isn't holding us
Time isn't after us
Time isn't holding us
Time isn't holding us

Time isn't holding us
Time isn't after us
Time isn't holding us
[unknown line]

Letting the days go by...
Letting the days go by...
Letting the days go by...
Once in a lifetime...

Letting the days go by...
Letting the days go by...
Letting the days go by...
Once in a lifetime..."