I love fast paced trips. It’s fun to pack things into a short period of time and then just run on adrenaline. That’s an odd thing for this introvert to admit, but it’s true. And perhaps my introverted ways are exactly why I love the whirlwind — there’s no time for small talk!
In late May I flew to Belize on a Thursday, arriving about 3:30 PM. I bought a SIM card, rented a car, drove to Belmopan, checked into a little B&B, and then went to dinner with two PathLight staffers. We enjoyed great conversation over good Italian food with a Reggae beat permeating the walls from the hangout next door. A true Belizean multi-cultural experience.
Orientation for the community service project.
The next morning it was breakfast with two more PathLight staff and we talked about all kinds of things. Then a drive into Belize City for lunch with Bishop Philip Wright, which turned into a two hour conversation about life, spirituality, and growing in Christ.
From there a quick run to the airport to meet an arriving group from the States. They were a Young Life college group from Orange County wanting to serve. After a quick orientation in the airport parking lot and a slow stop at the local grocery store for drinks, we hit the road and drove out to Jaguar Creek Mission & Conference Center.
It’s always fun to see the reactions people have to this amazing center. Especially at night when you can hear all the sounds of the jungle. Any talk of spiders, bugs or snakes takes on a magnified importance in the dark! Especially for people who have never been out of the country before. But all went well and everybody was in great spirits.
Meeting their sponsorship student.
The next morning the group served alongside PathLight sponsorship students in a community cleanup day. The village, St. Margaret’s, was pleased to have them and the principal of the school came out to help. The Young Life group stayed most of the week serving in the village.
Two of the “parents” in the group were PathLight sponsors and they were excited to meet their student. After that I took them on a tour of the region PathLight serves, including visits to all the schools and community hangouts. It was a joy to get to know this dynamic couple and hear about the great things they support around the world. I love people with a Kingdom vision!
That evening I headed back to Belize City to spend the night. Yes, three different places in three different days. The next morning I attended church at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. Now 200 years old, it has the curious look of a transplanted British resident in the tropics.
And then to the airport for my plane. Well, sort of. A delay, then the flight finally left, and a rush through the Dallas airport to (barely) catch my flight home to California.
A lightning quick trip. A fun one. And I can’t wait to do it again!
St. John’s Cathedral