Hosanna House--Belize

My name is Michaela. I will be keeping you updated on our trip. This is my first time on a missions trip. I am thirteen years old. I have had a blast in Belize so far. Our team is Jane, George, and Cory Pittman, Rick and Carol Sanders, Don and Michaela Clapper, and Nelson Dice.

We arrived in Belize on Saturday, January 26, around 1:00 p.m. (est). Then we waited for the bus to come pick us up. Then we drove around a while making some stops. I also enjoyed the scenery. Belize is a beautiful country. But to Tell you the truth, I got anxious to meet the kids here at Hosanna House. Finally we got here. I met the kids. They are very nice and polite. That night we got rain. The rain was really loud on the tin roof. I got a little scared being in a new place. In the morning, for breakfast, we had cereal and powdered milk. Then we went to church. We went to a Baptist Church. Then we went to Diamond Restraunt for lunch. Then we visited a lady that they call "Grandma". Then we came back to Hosanna House. We played with the kids, did devotions, and then went to bed.

On Monday, the men got to work. They compacted the soil for a basketball/volleyball court. They also worked on the church a little. Carol cleaned where we are staying and Cory worked on the computers. Jane worked on the office and the classroom. She also read to the kids. I did a craft with the kids and helped around. Then the rest of the kids came home from school and I rode bike with them. The kids at Hosanna House love to ride bike. Then we ate dinner. Next we went up to the Hosanna House to do devotions with the kids and play a game. We played 7-up. Our devotions were on Psalms 23. Then we came back to where we were staying and went to bed. In the morning we had breakfast then the kids went off to school. The men worked on the basketball/volleyball court. Carol did the same thing she did yesterday and so did Cory. Jane worked on cleaning up the classroom with Darlene. I helped Darlene and Jane most of the time. When the kids came home, I taught them to play clue. Then we played backwards hide-and-seek. Some kids got in trouble and had to go in. So the older girls and me, tied up Cory. Then the girls went after my dad with a hose. Everyone got wet. Then we ate dinner and played with glow sticks. Then we did devotions and went to bed.

Hello everyone. Today is our last day at the Hosanna House. We will miss all of the new friends we have made.
Today was very hot & humid. Kenny , Larry & Holly took some of the kids to the river to swim. Everyone reports having a great time. They were caught in a downpour before they got home.
There were a crew of workers preparing a volleyball court today. The downpour turned their worksite into a pond. Red clay mud is everywhere.
We started the day with sewing projects, refurbishing the drapes from Hosanna House. Grace is our resident seamstress and whips up projects like a pro. She made several table coverings for the tables in the new lounge area of the teams quarters.
Grace has cooked for the team all week. We probably all gained several pounds. Her monster cookies and butter pecan cake are to die for!!!!
Kenny & Larry spent time with Bob getting lumber and helping out where ever they were needed. They have truly been handymen this week.
Both tonight & last night we played games with the children. They had a great time. It's fun to watch their faces as they play now you have it now you don't. Everyone always ends up with something.
Devotions tonight were special. Many of the children prayed. It was very touching to hear their prayers.
Victoria gave me a traditional hair style. She did a great job. I look like I belong here.
Holly's hair was done by Sheflora. She looks cool with all her braids and beads.
Well we leave early tomorrow and there is still packing to be done. I'll add pictures for the team when I get to the States and have my USB cable for my camera.
IT'S BEEN A BLAST!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone. Thursday was a busy day. We started the day fixing breakfast for the children of Hosanna House. After breakfast was finished we packed their lunches. Off to school the children went. Keisha, Nelson & Heidi remain at home. Keisha spent her day with Miss Joan. Nelson & Heidi spent the day helping us. Heidi watched Miss Darlene clean at Hosanna House & do laundry. Nelson spent the day playing in mud puddles and watching the guys work.
The team continued their work. The men worked on the lights around the courtyard during the day. Arlene, Holly & Martha continued their painting. Today it was the open carport of the teams quarters. Holly has been the official door painter of the team. The other day one of the dogs scratched paint off of Holly's freshly painted door. She was not happy!! She re-painted the door today. Grace, Delores & myself, Cherie continued in the kitchen. The guys moved the new shelves into the kitchen and we re-organized the pots, pans, dishes & supplies. We bought sunflower oil cloth and covered the shelves in the kitchen. It really brightens things up.
Afternoon in Belize is very hot, although the kids tell us it is cool now. We went to visit some friends of Arlene & Larry. Tanya & Shawn own a sheep & chicken farm not far from Hosanna House. We also went to see Pastor Allen and his wife Carol and children. Unfortunately Allen wasn't home, but we had a nice visit with Carol & the children. They have a beautiful home on the top of the mountain. The view is breath-taking. However, the road to their house is scary, with many bumps & holes. We aren't sure how Pastor Allen manuevrs his bike on the road.
Upon our return home we cooked ziti for the kids. All seemed to enjoy the meal. After the clean up was complete, we had devotions. The team was tired and made an early night of it.
Today was another schorcher. The guys continued with electrical work. They installed the air conditioner but now need to run electric to the unit. The ladies worked on a variety of projects. Clothes were sorted and hung to store. Blankets were made out of fleece. Grace sewed a new curtain, shower curtain & sink skirt for the teams bathroom.
Tonight is pizza night for the kids. Martha & Arlene helped make pizza for the group. We are celebrating one of the girls birthday tonight with a party. Darlene decorated a cake with yellow flowers as the birthday girl requested.
It's hard to believe we only have one full day left in Belize. We have had some unforgettable experiences and met wonderful people.
Pictures to come later!!!

Hello to all of our friends back at home in the United States. Our work team consists of the following members: Grace Crouse, Delores Shindle, Holly Strait, Martha & Ken Myers, Arlene & Larry Hissong and myself, Cherie Kiner. Darlene & Bob Eberly accompanied the team as well.
We arrived in Belize on Saturday afternoon and were met by our bus & driver at the airport. Our first stop was Cheers. Cheers is a local restaurant in Belmopan area along the Western Highway. They had great food and everyone tried something different. The atmosphere was wonderful. We ate outside on an open air patio with ceiling fans whirring above our heads.
Upon our arrival to Hosanna House around 4:30pm we were greeted by the children. After we got our luggage unpacked and got things settled in the house off we went to Dangriga for groceries. Our first glimpse of the Caribbean sea was amazing.
Learned about something called a sleeping policeman, the road is built up so that you are forced to slow to almost a stop or you would be air borne while driving.
Back to the Hosanna House for a late dinner of ham salad sandwiches. To bed after a long day of travel and excitement of seeing new places and people.
Sunday morning began at 5:30pm when we awoke to begin the day. After breakfast we traveled to Springfield Mennonite Church where we attended services. The men sit on one side of the church and the women on the other. The services were very different from UBC.
After church we traveled to Belmopan for lunch. We ate at Diamond Restaurant. Again everyone tried something different and all the food was yummy.
After lunch we met a local woman everyone called Grandma. She invited us into her home and showed us some of the crafts she makes. Several of the team bought baskets, bags or jewelry.
Then we headed back to Hosanna House for dinner. After dinner the team returned to church at Hummingbird Mennonite. Everyone loved the services. The music was unreal. I remained behind with Darlene and we spent time with the children at the house. They love to watch movies.
We made it an early night as a full day of work was planned for Monday. After breakfast in the morning the team set to work. Some of the ladies painted the common room in the teams quarters. The remainder of the women worked on cleaning and organizing the kitchen. The men worked on wiring & electrical work. At the end of the day the common room was completed with new paint, lights, furniture and pictures on the walls. The change is amazing!!! Now future teams will have a nice area to rest after a hard days work. The only thing left to complete the room is installing an air conditioner and drop ceiling. Myself and some of the other ladies spent several hours squeezing fresh orange juice for the team.
After all that work the team cleaned up and headed to Hosanna House for devotions with the kids. It is amazing how bright and engaged they are when learning. They love to sing and have great voices.
Tuesday morning we began another early work day. The ladies painted the outside of the teams quarters and all the exterior doors. Other ladies worked on preparing food and continuing to clean and organized the kitchen. The guys continued with wiring projects and they built a set of shelves to place in the kitchen for extra storage spaces. By afternoon all the painting was completed outside, so the team headed for Dangriga for more needed supplies and groceries for Hosanna House.
We had the opportunity to meet some new people. Ken & Larry love to talk and met a pastor and his family who were fishing for their dinner on the beach. These guys have never met a stranger. It is great to spend time with them.
Today, Wednesday the 16th was the teams excursion day. We had a wonderful time. After breakfast we got on the road early. Our first stop was the saw mill at Springfield Mennonite Community. We had the opportunity to see their horse driven saw mill in operation. Their set up is amazing.
The next stop was Mayan ruins, Xunantunich Archaeological Site. This ruin is located in the Cayo/Mountain Pine Ridge Area. Several of the group climbed to the top.
Spanish lookout the Mennonite Community was our next stop. The terrain and homes look so much like home it's unbelieveable. It was enough to make you homesick. We met one of Bob's friends Corney and spent a bit of time with him and his wife. Kenny & Larry our dairy farmers were having ice cream withdrawal so we got ice cream before leaving Spanish lookout. A John Deere distributor called out to the guys, so we drove through the parking lot so they could take a closer look. Kenny tried to think of a way he could get a new tractor home, but decided he better wait.
We attended services at the Hummingbird Mennonite Church tonight. The music was spectacular and after the message the youth sang for us just for fun. Tonight was the first time I ever heard the 25th Psalm sung. It was absolutely breathtaking. They sang it as a responsive harmony with the men beginning and the women responding. It was unbelieveable. Maybe we should do more singing at home.
Well it is now 10:30pm and the kids will be up early and the team is standing in for the Hosanna House staff tomorrow. They need a day off once in awhile and tomorrow is one of them. More later.
Sorry to say, none of the cables here are compatiable with my camera, so I'll have to add photos later.