Last night marked my last official service in Placencia. It took so much energy out of me. I had, had a busy day of traveling, it was particularly hot in the church as we had 18 visitors from Virginia among us, who are here for the week leading a VBS at St. John's Memorial....and with that many new people it made me a bit nervous. And to top it off, it took every ounce of energy for me not to cry. And I managed not to shed a tear. The service was lovely. It was great to see the church full, and it was such a pleasure to welcome the group of young people and their leaders from Virginia to Placencia. You could feel the enthusiasm that these young people had for mission, and you couldn't help but be so exicted and look forward to doing mission with them.
Before the service Miss Sonia had told me that one of the leaders of the group was a priest, so I asked her if she would talk to him about coming up after communion to bless those who haven't been baptized. Because I'm not priested I can't bless them, I often will invite them to come forward and will say a prayer with them. So I thought it would be a great experience for him to be able to bless them. But I think I may have embarrassed him when I let people know that he was present. I think my exact words were, "We have a real live priest among us this evening ladies and gentlemen." The congregation laughed, and I glanced over at him to see him sink a bit in his chair and turn a bit red....while laughing as well. He was a good sport about it. It was so wonderful to have him come up to the front and watch the children hurry to the front to receive their blessing. Their faces were radiating as this priest signed them with the cross and said the blessing. What a beautiful moment...and I must admit, I was so thankful that this had taken place on my last service in Placencia. I couldn't have asked for a better memory to leave the country with :)
I stayed in Placencia for the day, hung out at the church and at the school in case I was needed during the VBS. I wanted to stick around as a member of the congregation and be available to the team from America if they needed anything or anyone to run errands for them. It was a lovely day. The team had 70 children come out for the VBS today, and the kids were so excited. While the team ate their breakfast I was cleaning some things up in the church and the children were in there bouncing in their seats waiting with such excitement for their new foriegn friends to arrive. Crafts were done, games were played, snacks were had and swimming was enjoyed. As somone who has been living here for the last 3 months, I've become very aware of the need for Christian education and VBS for the children here, and I couldn't help but feel so grateful for this team as they are taking time out of their summers to come and live among us and be present in our community. It really is a blessing, a blessing that I have taken for granted when involved or ministered to by mission groups in Canada. So if you're reading St. John's Mission Team from Virginia....God bless you, and thank you for sharing in mission with us and sharing your faith with us!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
It's All In the Hips Baby!!
I enjoyed a fun filled evening at a fundraising event for the Friends and Supporters of the Diocese of Belize (FSDB) which is an organization that raises funds or the Anglican Schools in the Diocese and also recognizes outstanding individuals in the Diocese around the country who offer their time and talents to the Diocese of Belize! It was a wonderful evening of eating, drinking and dancing....yip.....I danced!!!
I was super excited to go to this event. For the first time all summer I was going to be able to dress up, do my hair and make up and enjoy the elegance of the evening. I caught the 7:30 express bus from Independence to Belize and made my way on what I realized could very well be my last bus ride across the country. Learning from the last express bus ride I took, I packed a sweater with me as to not freeze my booty off because of the A/C. Good idea...I got weird looks from the tourists, but I was warm and that's all that mattered!!!
I arrived in the city, Lorna and Dawn Sampson picked me up and I spent the day chilling out with them at their place trying to not to show too much excitement for the evening....and secretly counting down the minutes until I got to get ready!!! So 5:30 rolled around and I hopped in the shower, got dress and went to do my hair and make up. My hair has gotten quite long over the last couple of months, and I have worn it in a pony tail every day since I arrived. I didn't bring a curling iron or blow dryer because...well why? So I let my hair air dry, stuck a head band in it, and left it at that. Not too hard....I still know how to get ready for a fancy night. Piece of cake. Then I pulled out the make up. And must admit I had flash backs to the first time I ever put make up on in Middle School. I don't know if it's just me, but I remember being so excited to be allowed to wear it, but when it came time to actually put it on, I was a bit nervous. How different was it going to make me look? That's exactly what I was feeling last night. I had to laugh. I was so nervous that I was going to poke my eye out with the mascara after not using it for 3 months. I'm happy to report that the mission was accomplished and I still have both of my eyes!!!
I arrived at the Biltmore just after 6:30 and as I entered the ballroom where the event was taking place, the Emcee announced my arrival. "We would like to welcome Deacon Chelsy Stevens presently Deacon in Charge at Independence and Placencia." Wasn't expecting that, and may have turned a bit red. Found out shortly after that they introduced all of the clergy that walked in as they walked in as well as the Governor General and the Prime Minister!
As I sat at my table I was overcome with joy to see a bunch of Steel Drums waiting to be played....I was so excited!! And as soon as the orchestra began to play I couldn't keep my eyes off of the them. This instrument has such a soft and welcoming sound to it, and you can't help but be over come with happiness when watching the musicians play as they move to the beat of the song they are playing. It's captivating. And I said to one of my parishioners....."I so wanna learn how to play that!" The Steel Drum Orchestra serenaded us over dinner. Dinner was followed by awareds to individuals who have offered of their time and talents to community, school and church in Belize. My good friend Sue Harris from Monkey River was one of the Honorees!!
After the awards were concluded, and the drum orchestra had cleaned up. The live band set up to get ready for the dance. This was the point of the evening that I had been dreading. I thought I was a good dancer, and maybe according to Canadian standards, I am, but I was convinced I wasn't going to meet the requirements of "Good Belizean Dancer." The music started and I slowly sipped on my glass of water as I watched the dance floor quickly fill up. Within a minute and a half of the music starting.....more then half of the assembly was up and dancing. Men, women, young and old, clergy, the Governor General and the Prime Minister were up shaking it. Sue came up to me after about 5 minutes and pulled me up to dance. And I didn't stop. It was awesome no one cared what you looked like and everyone was having a grand time. It was so much fun. And to my surpirse I didn't feel like a complete idiot...I may have looked like it but know one drew attention to it!!
By 11:00 I decided to call it a night as I needed to catch an 8am flight to Mango Creek to lead Sunday Service. I phoned Joe Sampson to pick me up. While I was waiting at the front entrance of the hotel, 2 members of the Cathedral who I've met in passing a few times came up to me and said, "You look like you were having fun out there!" I told them I had a blast. The man piped up and said, "You are a really great dancer!" I just about kissed, that made my night...I told him I had been so worried about looking like an idiot cause Canadian dancing is a bit different from Belizean dancing where hips and pelvises are used a lot! He replied, "Well, it's all in the hips baby, and you were definitley know how to work your hips!!" BooYah!!! It was a great night....and the couple laughed really hard when I told them that I was going to go back to Canada and teach people how to dance like a Belizean...they thought it was awesome!!! Looks like the few dancing lessons from Miss Lorna and the children in the village paid off!!
I'm heading over to Placencia this evening to lead an evening Eucharist service. I'll stay the night and then head back to Mango Creek tomorrow morning. This week is going to be pretty low key as I need to clean the rectory, work on a report for the internship and say good bye to people. We'll see how it goes!! Continue to keep the people of Belize in your prayers, particularly the south as the shortage of clergy is very noticeable...after I leave there will be 9 parishes without clergy and one clergy that is relatively close (between 40 minutes to a few hours drive away.)
I was super excited to go to this event. For the first time all summer I was going to be able to dress up, do my hair and make up and enjoy the elegance of the evening. I caught the 7:30 express bus from Independence to Belize and made my way on what I realized could very well be my last bus ride across the country. Learning from the last express bus ride I took, I packed a sweater with me as to not freeze my booty off because of the A/C. Good idea...I got weird looks from the tourists, but I was warm and that's all that mattered!!!
I arrived in the city, Lorna and Dawn Sampson picked me up and I spent the day chilling out with them at their place trying to not to show too much excitement for the evening....and secretly counting down the minutes until I got to get ready!!! So 5:30 rolled around and I hopped in the shower, got dress and went to do my hair and make up. My hair has gotten quite long over the last couple of months, and I have worn it in a pony tail every day since I arrived. I didn't bring a curling iron or blow dryer because...well why? So I let my hair air dry, stuck a head band in it, and left it at that. Not too hard....I still know how to get ready for a fancy night. Piece of cake. Then I pulled out the make up. And must admit I had flash backs to the first time I ever put make up on in Middle School. I don't know if it's just me, but I remember being so excited to be allowed to wear it, but when it came time to actually put it on, I was a bit nervous. How different was it going to make me look? That's exactly what I was feeling last night. I had to laugh. I was so nervous that I was going to poke my eye out with the mascara after not using it for 3 months. I'm happy to report that the mission was accomplished and I still have both of my eyes!!!
I arrived at the Biltmore just after 6:30 and as I entered the ballroom where the event was taking place, the Emcee announced my arrival. "We would like to welcome Deacon Chelsy Stevens presently Deacon in Charge at Independence and Placencia." Wasn't expecting that, and may have turned a bit red. Found out shortly after that they introduced all of the clergy that walked in as they walked in as well as the Governor General and the Prime Minister!
As I sat at my table I was overcome with joy to see a bunch of Steel Drums waiting to be played....I was so excited!! And as soon as the orchestra began to play I couldn't keep my eyes off of the them. This instrument has such a soft and welcoming sound to it, and you can't help but be over come with happiness when watching the musicians play as they move to the beat of the song they are playing. It's captivating. And I said to one of my parishioners....."I so wanna learn how to play that!" The Steel Drum Orchestra serenaded us over dinner. Dinner was followed by awareds to individuals who have offered of their time and talents to community, school and church in Belize. My good friend Sue Harris from Monkey River was one of the Honorees!!
After the awards were concluded, and the drum orchestra had cleaned up. The live band set up to get ready for the dance. This was the point of the evening that I had been dreading. I thought I was a good dancer, and maybe according to Canadian standards, I am, but I was convinced I wasn't going to meet the requirements of "Good Belizean Dancer." The music started and I slowly sipped on my glass of water as I watched the dance floor quickly fill up. Within a minute and a half of the music starting.....more then half of the assembly was up and dancing. Men, women, young and old, clergy, the Governor General and the Prime Minister were up shaking it. Sue came up to me after about 5 minutes and pulled me up to dance. And I didn't stop. It was awesome no one cared what you looked like and everyone was having a grand time. It was so much fun. And to my surpirse I didn't feel like a complete idiot...I may have looked like it but know one drew attention to it!!
By 11:00 I decided to call it a night as I needed to catch an 8am flight to Mango Creek to lead Sunday Service. I phoned Joe Sampson to pick me up. While I was waiting at the front entrance of the hotel, 2 members of the Cathedral who I've met in passing a few times came up to me and said, "You look like you were having fun out there!" I told them I had a blast. The man piped up and said, "You are a really great dancer!" I just about kissed, that made my night...I told him I had been so worried about looking like an idiot cause Canadian dancing is a bit different from Belizean dancing where hips and pelvises are used a lot! He replied, "Well, it's all in the hips baby, and you were definitley know how to work your hips!!" BooYah!!! It was a great night....and the couple laughed really hard when I told them that I was going to go back to Canada and teach people how to dance like a Belizean...they thought it was awesome!!! Looks like the few dancing lessons from Miss Lorna and the children in the village paid off!!
I'm heading over to Placencia this evening to lead an evening Eucharist service. I'll stay the night and then head back to Mango Creek tomorrow morning. This week is going to be pretty low key as I need to clean the rectory, work on a report for the internship and say good bye to people. We'll see how it goes!! Continue to keep the people of Belize in your prayers, particularly the south as the shortage of clergy is very noticeable...after I leave there will be 9 parishes without clergy and one clergy that is relatively close (between 40 minutes to a few hours drive away.)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Matthew 20:20 - 28
So yesterday I eavesdropped on a conversation by some North Americans who couldn't stop talking about money and how much of it they had. It was something that annoyed me and I realized it was something I needed to prepare myself for in my transition back to Canada in a couple of weeks. And I was praying about how I could do that. Then this morning I opened up my Forward Day by Day devotional and this was the appointed reading and reflection for the day:
"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?? She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for thsoe for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
Matthew 20:20 - 28
In our culture, your worth is measured by what you can buy. We're encouraged to buy...and to buy and to buy! The culture says we are consumers, valued for what we own. The one who owns the most has the most prestige and the most power. Donald Trump is famous, but do we know the name of the homeless person sleeping beneath the bridge?
Jesus turns the world on its ear. He tells the name of Lazarus, the poor man who lies at the gate of the rich man (Luke 16:20ff), but doesn not name the rich man.
Money and power are things that our society teaches us matter. But to experience the kingdom of Jesus reveals, seek not money and power to serve. For in serving we come to know our Lord, we come to know our brothers and sisters and we're assured our name matters.
Forward Day by Day Reflection
I think this is a passage and a reflection that I'm going to use in the next few months during my transition back into N. American culture. Pretty decent answer to prayer if I do say so myself :)
"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?? She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for thsoe for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
Matthew 20:20 - 28
In our culture, your worth is measured by what you can buy. We're encouraged to buy...and to buy and to buy! The culture says we are consumers, valued for what we own. The one who owns the most has the most prestige and the most power. Donald Trump is famous, but do we know the name of the homeless person sleeping beneath the bridge?
Jesus turns the world on its ear. He tells the name of Lazarus, the poor man who lies at the gate of the rich man (Luke 16:20ff), but doesn not name the rich man.
Money and power are things that our society teaches us matter. But to experience the kingdom of Jesus reveals, seek not money and power to serve. For in serving we come to know our Lord, we come to know our brothers and sisters and we're assured our name matters.
Forward Day by Day Reflection
I think this is a passage and a reflection that I'm going to use in the next few months during my transition back into N. American culture. Pretty decent answer to prayer if I do say so myself :)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Don't Worry Be Happy!!!
So I officially have one week until my internship is over. The last couple of have days have been a bit rough as I have been trying to prepare myself for next week when goodbyes will be the majority of my conversations. I went up to Dangriga yesterday to a funeral - I didn't have to do this one, I was just in attendance. I didn't know the woman that died, but I did know some of her family as they live in Mango Creek, so I went up to the city with Miss Lorna and some other members of the community to support their family. As the locals from Mango Creek hopped on the bus to make our way to the grave yard for the burial, I quickly checked my cell phone, and found that there were a number of voicemails from home with no message. It's not like family to phone that persistently and not leave a message so I figured something was up. So I called home asap. It turned out that my uncle Scottie (who is my great uncle and who my family has been quite close to) died suddenly on Tuesday evening from a massive heart attack. I didn't end up making it to the burial of the deceased person due to the shock of the news about my uncle Scottie, but instead I hung out at the sea. My family is really close, so this it's going to be hard for me to be down here and not in Alberta with family during the funeral. I know that this is where I need to be, it's just hard to be so far away. I was able to talk to my family and my aunt last night and just being able to tell them that I was thinking about them and praying for them helped me not to be super upset of the news.
I made my way over to the Peninsula this afternoon to book a hotel room for my parents for when they show up next week and while I was there grabbed a quick bite to eat. While I was sitting at the Hokey Pokey waiting to head across to the Peninsula I was presented with a bit of a reality check as to the culture that I'm about to head back into. Belize as you know is super laid back. I swear the song "Don't worry be happy" was actually written for Belize, and if it wasn't, it should have been. I've learned with time to embrace the laid back way of life, and must admit am loving it. I haven't felt stressed (much). And the one thing that has really been refreshing is the lack of talk about money. In Canada, it seems like everyone is out to make more money then the next person.....not everyone is like this but, we can be. Anyway, I was sitting at the water taxi attempting to read a book and a couple of tourists were sitting beside me. And all they talked about was money and how it just cost them $12,000 to buy something, and how house prices in California are over a million and so on and so forth. They talked about it for 30 minutes. Part of me wanted to get up and say "you know there's more to life then money!" But I held my tongue. But it definitely opened my eyes to potential conversations that I'm going to be moving into in North America. People in Belize don't talk money, and if they do, it's not for long. I didn't come to Belize with a lot of money, and I haven't worried about it all summer because I wasn't reminded of it all summer and I really like that. I like that people down here aren't set on competing with one another (or at least there not in Mango Creek) or maybe they are and I'm just completely oblivious to it. In any case, it's not the centre of peoples conversations, and I like that....and was a bit annoyed by the conversation that I couldn't get away from as these men flaunted their worth loudly in the middle of the Hokey Pokey. This is a feeling and an annoyance that I need to be aware of over the next month, because the topic is going to be something that is going to be discussed in Canada and it's a topic that I'm going to need to be thinking about in the near future. I just kind of wish I didn't have to think about it or be reminded of it.....I like not worrying about money.....I like not worrying about anything and just being happy!!
Tomorrow I will be making my way out to Placencia again. Ruth and Malcolm Lambert, priests in Belmopan, who are hear for 3 years from England doing mission are coming to Mango Creek to visit. They haven't been to the Peninsula and have asked if I will show them around. I'm right excited. Saturday will be spent in Belize City enjoying a dinner with Miss Sonia from St. John's and then Sunday is my unofficial last service in Mango Creek and Placencia. Miss Sonia and Miss Lorna have asked if I would lead service on August 3 so as to have a celebration before I leave.
And because of the busyness of the weekend, I need to sermonize....right now!! :)
I made my way over to the Peninsula this afternoon to book a hotel room for my parents for when they show up next week and while I was there grabbed a quick bite to eat. While I was sitting at the Hokey Pokey waiting to head across to the Peninsula I was presented with a bit of a reality check as to the culture that I'm about to head back into. Belize as you know is super laid back. I swear the song "Don't worry be happy" was actually written for Belize, and if it wasn't, it should have been. I've learned with time to embrace the laid back way of life, and must admit am loving it. I haven't felt stressed (much). And the one thing that has really been refreshing is the lack of talk about money. In Canada, it seems like everyone is out to make more money then the next person.....not everyone is like this but, we can be. Anyway, I was sitting at the water taxi attempting to read a book and a couple of tourists were sitting beside me. And all they talked about was money and how it just cost them $12,000 to buy something, and how house prices in California are over a million and so on and so forth. They talked about it for 30 minutes. Part of me wanted to get up and say "you know there's more to life then money!" But I held my tongue. But it definitely opened my eyes to potential conversations that I'm going to be moving into in North America. People in Belize don't talk money, and if they do, it's not for long. I didn't come to Belize with a lot of money, and I haven't worried about it all summer because I wasn't reminded of it all summer and I really like that. I like that people down here aren't set on competing with one another (or at least there not in Mango Creek) or maybe they are and I'm just completely oblivious to it. In any case, it's not the centre of peoples conversations, and I like that....and was a bit annoyed by the conversation that I couldn't get away from as these men flaunted their worth loudly in the middle of the Hokey Pokey. This is a feeling and an annoyance that I need to be aware of over the next month, because the topic is going to be something that is going to be discussed in Canada and it's a topic that I'm going to need to be thinking about in the near future. I just kind of wish I didn't have to think about it or be reminded of it.....I like not worrying about money.....I like not worrying about anything and just being happy!!
Tomorrow I will be making my way out to Placencia again. Ruth and Malcolm Lambert, priests in Belmopan, who are hear for 3 years from England doing mission are coming to Mango Creek to visit. They haven't been to the Peninsula and have asked if I will show them around. I'm right excited. Saturday will be spent in Belize City enjoying a dinner with Miss Sonia from St. John's and then Sunday is my unofficial last service in Mango Creek and Placencia. Miss Sonia and Miss Lorna have asked if I would lead service on August 3 so as to have a celebration before I leave.
And because of the busyness of the weekend, I need to sermonize....right now!! :)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Kriol Lessons - Day Two!
Aarite!! So I learned a whole wack of Kriol Consonants and Vowels today :)
Single Kansananz:
baaboon/baboon
daag/dog
feda/feather
goat/goat
harikayn/hurricane
jekit/jacket
konks/conch
lag/log
mengo/mango
nots/nuts
pikni/children
riva or riba/river
son/sun
taiga/tiger
vegitabl/vegetable
winda/window
yam/yam
zipa/zipper
Kansanant Blenz:
chayn/chain
shobl/shovel
tweni/twenty
fren/friend
snayl/snail
graashapa/grasshopper
klak/clock
flowaz/flowers
kraab/crab
chree/tree
skol/skull
blakbod/blackbird
brij/bridge
glaasiz/glasses
wing/wing
playn/plane
prikl/prickle
slipaz/slippers
smoak/smoke
spoon/spoon
staar/star
swim/swim
Kansanant blenz in Kriol, bot no eena Inglish:
bw, gw, skr, nj, skw, jr, schr
bwai/boy
gwaava/guava
skrach/scratch
areenj/orange
skweril/squirrel
jrom/drum
schrecha/stretcher
Vowilz:
a = hat/hat
e = ketl/kettle
i = pig/pig
o = okro/ummm...I forget what this is in English :)
u = fut/foot
Vowil songz weh rait wid too letaz:
aa = waata/water
ai - fait/fight
ay = chayn/chain
ee = leef/leaf
oa = boan/bone
ow = hows/house
oo = soop/soup
Ada vowil blenz:
klaim/climb
naif/knife
tayl/tail
lait/light
rayn/rain
playt/plate
Single Kansananz:
baaboon/baboon
daag/dog
feda/feather
goat/goat
harikayn/hurricane
jekit/jacket
konks/conch
lag/log
mengo/mango
nots/nuts
pikni/children
riva or riba/river
son/sun
taiga/tiger
vegitabl/vegetable
winda/window
yam/yam
zipa/zipper
Kansanant Blenz:
chayn/chain
shobl/shovel
tweni/twenty
fren/friend
snayl/snail
graashapa/grasshopper
klak/clock
flowaz/flowers
kraab/crab
chree/tree
skol/skull
blakbod/blackbird
brij/bridge
glaasiz/glasses
wing/wing
playn/plane
prikl/prickle
slipaz/slippers
smoak/smoke
spoon/spoon
staar/star
swim/swim
Kansanant blenz in Kriol, bot no eena Inglish:
bw, gw, skr, nj, skw, jr, schr
bwai/boy
gwaava/guava
skrach/scratch
areenj/orange
skweril/squirrel
jrom/drum
schrecha/stretcher
Vowilz:
a = hat/hat
e = ketl/kettle
i = pig/pig
o = okro/ummm...I forget what this is in English :)
u = fut/foot
Vowil songz weh rait wid too letaz:
aa = waata/water
ai - fait/fight
ay = chayn/chain
ee = leef/leaf
oa = boan/bone
ow = hows/house
oo = soop/soup
Ada vowil blenz:
klaim/climb
naif/knife
tayl/tail
lait/light
rayn/rain
playt/plate
Monday, July 21, 2008
Kriol Lessons
Miss Lorna, who has been taking very good care of me this summer, has been asked to teach members from the Peace Corp living in Belize the Kriol Language. She starts teaching sometime in August. Leading up to her 8 week teaching session with the members she attends training in Belmopan and has been told she needs to find someone who doesn't know Kriol that she can practice teaching. It didn't take her long....only a couple moments after she returned from her first training session, to choose me as her guinea pig!! I just had my first Kriol Lesson, and will continue to meet with her for the next couple of days before she has to go back up to the city. The people in Belize have been very patient with me as I've tried to listen intently to conversations that Belizeans are having in Kriol. I'm no where near being a Kriol pro, but I have been able over the last few weeks to be able to understand what people ask me in Kriol without having to ask over and over for them to repeat what they said. I just can't speak it. If you were to ask me a question I can understand it, if you were to write what you're asking me in Kriol I can basically translate it, but I can't verbally communicate back in Kriol.
So Miss Lorna, transformed her little sun room into a classroom for me this morning and I spent an hour learning Kriol greetings and introductions as well as a song in Kriol (that I should have mastered by the end of the summer and can teach people when I get back). She taught the lesson as if she didn't know me. Introduced herself in English and then spoke Kriol the entire session...I'm proud to say that I understood most of what she was saying :) I wanted to share with you the stuff that I learned today. So the next little bit of the post is going to be in Kriol with a very, I repeat VERY rough English translation!! I hope you enjoy!!
Greeting:
Lorna: Gud maanin./Good morning.
Chelsy: Gud maanin da how yu du?/Good morning, how are you?
Lorna: Ah di du aarite an yu?/I'm doing alright and you?
Chelsy: Noh tu gud gyal. Mi belli de hat mi./Not too good gal. My belly is hurting me.
Lorna: Ah sarri fu yer dat gyal./Sorry to hear that gal.
Chelsy: Tenk you Lorna./Thank you Lorna
Introductions:
Chelsy: Da weh yu nayhn aah?/What's your name?
Lorna: Mee nayhn Lorna. Ahn yu, da weh yu nayhn?/My name is Lorna. And you, what's your name?
Chelsy: A nayhn Chelsy. Pleez fu meet yu Lorna./My names Chelsy. Please to meet you Lorna.
Lorna: Same yah gyal./Same to you gal.
Kriol Song - FuFu:
Ah mi gaan da mi riba benk
Fi go pik me kalalu
Fi go mek me peppapat
Fufu di faas da mi troat
KORAS:
Mek wi noh halla? ----Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Mek wi noh baal?-----Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Mek wi noh scream?--Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Fufu di faas da mi troat.
So that's just the first part of the song, I'll post more as I learn it. And will post the translation later on as well!!
The one thing I noticed as I practiced the introduction and greeting with Miss Lorna, is that it is impossible to speak Kriol quietly. It doesn't matter how hard you try to be quiet when speaking it, you can't. While sitting in Miss Lorna's sun room practicing with the door open, all of a sudden her son who was across 2 back yards at his place shouted something to me in Kriol. I didn't catch it cause I was so focused on learning what Miss Lorna had prepared....but it made me very aware of how loud I was if David was able to hear me across 2 back yards. It's so much fun. I'm not going to be fluent in Kriol, but I just found a Kriol-Inglish Dikshinari that I plan on purchasing to bring home with me. Maybe that way when I come back to Belize to visit I can dialogue a bit more with the people here!!
I have 10 more days of my internship left which is blowing my mind. My parents arrive on July 31 for 9 days. I'm super pumped, it will be wonderful to share my experiences of Belize with them. The locals have been watching the weather network with a close eye as Tropical Storm Dolly is making her way up toward the Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal Districts in Belize, southern Mexico and into the Gulf of Mexico, however, if it shifts, it will inevitably hit all of the country of Belize. So far no rain or fast wind, so I think we're in the clear. But what do I know. I will be heading up to Belize City on Saturday morning with a member from the congregation in Placencia. We are going to a fundraiser for one of the Anglican Schools in the city. The congregation decided to buy me a ticket as a going away gift for them. I'm excited, it's a fancy dinner which means I get to dress up, and make myself look pretty. My only worry is that I think I may have forgotten how to do my hair, I've had the same do all summer - ponytail/bun, I can't stand my hair on my neck when it's this hot. We'll see what happens. My last day is officially the 31st, but St. Michael's and St. John's have asked if I would be willing to lead one final service on August 3 for them. St. John's members have asked if they can join St. Michael's on that day in Mango Creek and then celebrate with a pot luck afterwards. It's going to be great as my parents will be here and that will give them the chance to meet all of the people who have been such a wonderful part of my experience here!!
I'm realizing that the next couple of weeks are going to go by fast, and they are going to be hard. I love the community here, I love the culture, and I'm sad to have to say good-bye, but I know I have to. Please pray that you will provide me and those who I have formed wonderful relationships with, with strength as we part. And continue to pray for guidance for St. Michael's as they await to hear what is in store for them "clergy-wise" after I leave. In my opinion I think it's incredibly important that someone be placed here long term in order to develop a vision for the church and to work with them in accomplishing the vision within the wider community....but that's just my opinion!! Please continue to pray for the ministry that St. Michael's offers and the dedicated people that have worked so hard at keeping it alive!!
So Miss Lorna, transformed her little sun room into a classroom for me this morning and I spent an hour learning Kriol greetings and introductions as well as a song in Kriol (that I should have mastered by the end of the summer and can teach people when I get back). She taught the lesson as if she didn't know me. Introduced herself in English and then spoke Kriol the entire session...I'm proud to say that I understood most of what she was saying :) I wanted to share with you the stuff that I learned today. So the next little bit of the post is going to be in Kriol with a very, I repeat VERY rough English translation!! I hope you enjoy!!
Greeting:
Lorna: Gud maanin./Good morning.
Chelsy: Gud maanin da how yu du?/Good morning, how are you?
Lorna: Ah di du aarite an yu?/I'm doing alright and you?
Chelsy: Noh tu gud gyal. Mi belli de hat mi./Not too good gal. My belly is hurting me.
Lorna: Ah sarri fu yer dat gyal./Sorry to hear that gal.
Chelsy: Tenk you Lorna./Thank you Lorna
Introductions:
Chelsy: Da weh yu nayhn aah?/What's your name?
Lorna: Mee nayhn Lorna. Ahn yu, da weh yu nayhn?/My name is Lorna. And you, what's your name?
Chelsy: A nayhn Chelsy. Pleez fu meet yu Lorna./My names Chelsy. Please to meet you Lorna.
Lorna: Same yah gyal./Same to you gal.
Kriol Song - FuFu:
Ah mi gaan da mi riba benk
Fi go pik me kalalu
Fi go mek me peppapat
Fufu di faas da mi troat
KORAS:
Mek wi noh halla? ----Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Mek wi noh baal?-----Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Mek wi noh scream?--Rispans: Wy? Wy?
Fufu di faas da mi troat.
So that's just the first part of the song, I'll post more as I learn it. And will post the translation later on as well!!
The one thing I noticed as I practiced the introduction and greeting with Miss Lorna, is that it is impossible to speak Kriol quietly. It doesn't matter how hard you try to be quiet when speaking it, you can't. While sitting in Miss Lorna's sun room practicing with the door open, all of a sudden her son who was across 2 back yards at his place shouted something to me in Kriol. I didn't catch it cause I was so focused on learning what Miss Lorna had prepared....but it made me very aware of how loud I was if David was able to hear me across 2 back yards. It's so much fun. I'm not going to be fluent in Kriol, but I just found a Kriol-Inglish Dikshinari that I plan on purchasing to bring home with me. Maybe that way when I come back to Belize to visit I can dialogue a bit more with the people here!!
I have 10 more days of my internship left which is blowing my mind. My parents arrive on July 31 for 9 days. I'm super pumped, it will be wonderful to share my experiences of Belize with them. The locals have been watching the weather network with a close eye as Tropical Storm Dolly is making her way up toward the Belize, Orange Walk and Corozal Districts in Belize, southern Mexico and into the Gulf of Mexico, however, if it shifts, it will inevitably hit all of the country of Belize. So far no rain or fast wind, so I think we're in the clear. But what do I know. I will be heading up to Belize City on Saturday morning with a member from the congregation in Placencia. We are going to a fundraiser for one of the Anglican Schools in the city. The congregation decided to buy me a ticket as a going away gift for them. I'm excited, it's a fancy dinner which means I get to dress up, and make myself look pretty. My only worry is that I think I may have forgotten how to do my hair, I've had the same do all summer - ponytail/bun, I can't stand my hair on my neck when it's this hot. We'll see what happens. My last day is officially the 31st, but St. Michael's and St. John's have asked if I would be willing to lead one final service on August 3 for them. St. John's members have asked if they can join St. Michael's on that day in Mango Creek and then celebrate with a pot luck afterwards. It's going to be great as my parents will be here and that will give them the chance to meet all of the people who have been such a wonderful part of my experience here!!
I'm realizing that the next couple of weeks are going to go by fast, and they are going to be hard. I love the community here, I love the culture, and I'm sad to have to say good-bye, but I know I have to. Please pray that you will provide me and those who I have formed wonderful relationships with, with strength as we part. And continue to pray for guidance for St. Michael's as they await to hear what is in store for them "clergy-wise" after I leave. In my opinion I think it's incredibly important that someone be placed here long term in order to develop a vision for the church and to work with them in accomplishing the vision within the wider community....but that's just my opinion!! Please continue to pray for the ministry that St. Michael's offers and the dedicated people that have worked so hard at keeping it alive!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Funeral at St. Stephen's, Monkey River
The last week has been a little bit of a roller coaster for me. This time last week, I received a phone call telling me that I would baptizing an 18 month old at St. John 's. Yesterday I received a phone call asking me to come and do a funeral for 3 year old who had just died from Leukemia.
Miss Lorna had told me at the beginning of my time here that I would probably experience a little bit of everything while I'm here (re: baptisms, communion, the sick, funerals etc.) But I had convinced myself that I wouldn't experience a Belizean Funeral this summer, and I certainly wasn't expecting to be asked to do one for an infant.
I must admit, I was scared. How was I going to hold myself together? A lot of my work here this summer has been with the children here. Children that have brought so much joy to my life. I can be having the worst day ever and all I need to cheer me up is to hear them calling my name and running toward me for a hug. I didn't know the child, but the thought of seeing a child, like the other children who have touched my life in a casket, scared me completely. I wanted to be strong and was scared that I wasn't going to be able to hold myself together. I honestly didn't think I could do it.
So after getting over the initial shock after I was told about the funeral, I tried to hammer out a sermon and familiarize myself with the Rite Two funeral service. And then I prayed....all I could think of was "how am I going to get through this?" So I prayed for comfort and strength over and over and over again. I didn't sleep much as I was up thinking about the family of the infant. I woke up.....prayed some more...got myself ready and headed to Monkey River with one of the locals. In Belize it's important to know that the family usually holds a reception before and after the service. So after being boated across the river by a local, he invited me to a house that had a bar on the main floor where a lot of men who knew the family had gathered. I accepted the invitation and sat with them for about 15 minutes. The bar was under the elevated house, and I sat and chatted with the boy's uncles. It wasn't until just before I left that I realized, I had been sitting beside the casket of the little boy the entire time and hadn't even noticed it. Everyone was socializing and having great conversations. It didn't seem like the place to have the casket sitting. It took 3 women who came to view the body for me to notice it. I felt awful and is if I had been disrespectful. Before I left, I walked past the casket, viewed the body and headed to the church to be there for when the men brought the little boy to the church.
I was told that the funeral was going to start at about 1:00, which translated in Belize means about 2:00. I was blessed to have been able to sit with the Administrator and Principal of the Anglican School, who had been trying to figure out what they were going to do for the service, (they hadn't been told that I was coming). We had some tea and allowed members of the family and friends to view the body in the church and sit in the church with the body. I was also told that one of the family members was bringing an order of service which I would need to quickly study just before the service started. So it was unlikely I would need to use the Rite in the book, but had it there for the prayers etc. I was grateful for Carl and Sue who chatted with me and reflected with me as I prepared for the service...it was a blessing. I'm not being very articulate, I'm still trying to debrief it....I figured if I wrote it, the reflection would come but it's not.
Anyway, the service began at about 2:15 after the Order of Service arrived. It was a very simple service and an informal service, which I must admit was absolutely perfect. As I walked up to the front of the church and stood off to the side of the casket I couldn't help but feel an absolute calm over me that lasted the entire service. God provided me with the strength and peace that I needed to lead the service and comfort the family. One observation that I made during the service was the lack of men present. Aside from the step-father of the boy, the principal of the school and missionary in the village, I didn't see any of the men that I had met at the reception.
After the service we gathered to process across the village to the graveyard. There is a tropical storm that has situated itself over Honduras and Guatemala, and the northern part of it hit Monkey River last night leaving the grass roads full of water and mud. The procession made our way through the water and mud to the graveyard that is about 200 feet away from the Carib Sea. The congregation stayed as the grave diggers covered the hole with cement, and then we made our way back to the reception for lunch.
Like I said this is still something I'm trying to debrief and let sink in. Right now the only way I can explain how I'm feeling is.......numb. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but that's the only way I can describe it. This is probably one of the most unarticulate posts I've written, and need to keep reflecting on this for the next couple of weeks in order for this to process some more!
Miss Lorna had told me at the beginning of my time here that I would probably experience a little bit of everything while I'm here (re: baptisms, communion, the sick, funerals etc.) But I had convinced myself that I wouldn't experience a Belizean Funeral this summer, and I certainly wasn't expecting to be asked to do one for an infant.
I must admit, I was scared. How was I going to hold myself together? A lot of my work here this summer has been with the children here. Children that have brought so much joy to my life. I can be having the worst day ever and all I need to cheer me up is to hear them calling my name and running toward me for a hug. I didn't know the child, but the thought of seeing a child, like the other children who have touched my life in a casket, scared me completely. I wanted to be strong and was scared that I wasn't going to be able to hold myself together. I honestly didn't think I could do it.
So after getting over the initial shock after I was told about the funeral, I tried to hammer out a sermon and familiarize myself with the Rite Two funeral service. And then I prayed....all I could think of was "how am I going to get through this?" So I prayed for comfort and strength over and over and over again. I didn't sleep much as I was up thinking about the family of the infant. I woke up.....prayed some more...got myself ready and headed to Monkey River with one of the locals. In Belize it's important to know that the family usually holds a reception before and after the service. So after being boated across the river by a local, he invited me to a house that had a bar on the main floor where a lot of men who knew the family had gathered. I accepted the invitation and sat with them for about 15 minutes. The bar was under the elevated house, and I sat and chatted with the boy's uncles. It wasn't until just before I left that I realized, I had been sitting beside the casket of the little boy the entire time and hadn't even noticed it. Everyone was socializing and having great conversations. It didn't seem like the place to have the casket sitting. It took 3 women who came to view the body for me to notice it. I felt awful and is if I had been disrespectful. Before I left, I walked past the casket, viewed the body and headed to the church to be there for when the men brought the little boy to the church.
I was told that the funeral was going to start at about 1:00, which translated in Belize means about 2:00. I was blessed to have been able to sit with the Administrator and Principal of the Anglican School, who had been trying to figure out what they were going to do for the service, (they hadn't been told that I was coming). We had some tea and allowed members of the family and friends to view the body in the church and sit in the church with the body. I was also told that one of the family members was bringing an order of service which I would need to quickly study just before the service started. So it was unlikely I would need to use the Rite in the book, but had it there for the prayers etc. I was grateful for Carl and Sue who chatted with me and reflected with me as I prepared for the service...it was a blessing. I'm not being very articulate, I'm still trying to debrief it....I figured if I wrote it, the reflection would come but it's not.
Anyway, the service began at about 2:15 after the Order of Service arrived. It was a very simple service and an informal service, which I must admit was absolutely perfect. As I walked up to the front of the church and stood off to the side of the casket I couldn't help but feel an absolute calm over me that lasted the entire service. God provided me with the strength and peace that I needed to lead the service and comfort the family. One observation that I made during the service was the lack of men present. Aside from the step-father of the boy, the principal of the school and missionary in the village, I didn't see any of the men that I had met at the reception.
After the service we gathered to process across the village to the graveyard. There is a tropical storm that has situated itself over Honduras and Guatemala, and the northern part of it hit Monkey River last night leaving the grass roads full of water and mud. The procession made our way through the water and mud to the graveyard that is about 200 feet away from the Carib Sea. The congregation stayed as the grave diggers covered the hole with cement, and then we made our way back to the reception for lunch.
Like I said this is still something I'm trying to debrief and let sink in. Right now the only way I can explain how I'm feeling is.......numb. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but that's the only way I can describe it. This is probably one of the most unarticulate posts I've written, and need to keep reflecting on this for the next couple of weeks in order for this to process some more!
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