Friday, February 20, 2009
Feb 20,2009 Friday
It is Friday and yesterday we went to the house in progress and installed the windows while Tony (the local builder) put the doors and steps in. If anyone has not been here to build something they would find it an experience. This is my first time at building in Belize and things that you take for granted like sawhorses or a flat surface to cut on are not available. I have found the two best things you must have have for building here are patience and a sledgehammer. Patience for the beginning of the project and the sledgehammer to finish when you patience runs out. All in all the project house turned out pretty well by local standards although Ken told the local builder to not mention his name if anybody asked who built it.
Bob got the air conditioner fixed in the van yesterday and it is truly appreciated. Without a/c , riding in the van during mid afternoon is like being in the “hotbox” in the movie Cool Hand Luke, it is like an oven but on the bright side you can lose a good 7-8 pounds without any workout.
As usual , the other night we were sitting around eating junk food and after we all got full of chips and candy we all started talking about being on different diets. Or we could just not turn the a/c on and let the pounds drop off.
I just learned this morning that the mean rooster just got sentenced for the dinnerplate soon because of his disposition…….. it just doesn’t pay to be mean to others.
We did devotions last night with the kids and the really love to sing and quote scripture. They sing almost anytime during the day and are really a good group. Of course, just like any group there are going to be squabbles and little things pop up between them.
Today I plan to go cave tubing and maybe zipline so if this is my last blog I would appreciate a surchparty ………….REALLY. I mean it. Its time for breakfast so I’ll log off and start another adventure.
Roger
P.S. Bob just informed me that a little 4 year old girl was ran over and killed by a bus yesterday not far from here . Please pray for the family.
God Bless
Bob got the air conditioner fixed in the van yesterday and it is truly appreciated. Without a/c , riding in the van during mid afternoon is like being in the “hotbox” in the movie Cool Hand Luke, it is like an oven but on the bright side you can lose a good 7-8 pounds without any workout.
As usual , the other night we were sitting around eating junk food and after we all got full of chips and candy we all started talking about being on different diets. Or we could just not turn the a/c on and let the pounds drop off.
I just learned this morning that the mean rooster just got sentenced for the dinnerplate soon because of his disposition…….. it just doesn’t pay to be mean to others.
We did devotions last night with the kids and the really love to sing and quote scripture. They sing almost anytime during the day and are really a good group. Of course, just like any group there are going to be squabbles and little things pop up between them.
Today I plan to go cave tubing and maybe zipline so if this is my last blog I would appreciate a surchparty ………….REALLY. I mean it. Its time for breakfast so I’ll log off and start another adventure.
Roger
P.S. Bob just informed me that a little 4 year old girl was ran over and killed by a bus yesterday not far from here . Please pray for the family.
God Bless
Monday, February 16, 2009
Feb,15-16 2009
It is early Monday morning and the kids all went to school. We are getting breakfast and the plan is to go and work on a house until Bob gets back with tin for the roof so now I will give a recap of yesterdays activities and observations.
When I arrived yesterday it seemed a little chaotic with all the kids running around and all the hype of arriving but it didn’t take long to find out this is a very organized,well run operation.
By the way , the rooster and I seemed to reach an agreement after I tried talking to him, that didn’t work, I tried giving him a time out, that didn’t work, then I kinda fibbed and told him the next time I would see him the Lord told me he would be fried with rice and beans on a plate and I believe he received the message. We now have a tolerable although distant relationship.
Thru observation yesterday I learned interesting Belizeian facts about Hosanna House. Things are kinda different here than in the states. First off, most of the children clean up and do chores without being told countless times. When we finished lunch I noticed two children picked up brooms and a couple of others started moving chairs out of the way for the floor to be swept, then when that portion of the floor was done the move the chairs back and did the other half of the floor without being told. Imagine that !!!!! They are expected to keep their own living area clean and organized. They are being taught to be adults and are very respectful and thankful for everything.
One other thing that happened about 4 in the morning, I saw my wife jump out of bed quickly. She was terrified after being awakened by a gecko lizard that crawled up to her ear and started to emit a churping sound.
So…….. I have observed children that think they are adults, a rooster that thinks he is a guard dog and a gecko that thinks he is a rooster in the morning. As for me……..I found my role is somewhere between playing with the kids and being food for the biting ants and flies. Hopefully I will be of better use when we go to put the roof on a house later today.
I also observed that Bob Eberly otherwise known as the BIG KAHUNA,,,MISTER BOB, great orator of Belize, being in charge of all the daily activites and transportation in the area , ………..I realized he has a soft side……….he is kind of a big teddy bear, he thoughtfully returned from somewhere with a Valentines Day present for his wife. She had a great look of anticipation in her eyes…………. Then Bob sprung it on her with all his charm …… she looked in his eyes and thanked him so much for the four chicklets , piece of candy and a cupcake in a paper bowl. Bob said ,”it was wrapped real pretty” and I spent seventy-five cents…………but we all know that he will still turn that in as a charitable contribution for taxes next year. Someplace cupid is just shaking his head crying.
The kids loved the Valentines day party . They all received small gifts, candy and the best of all a piece of chocolate. It may not sound like much but they were dancing with joy.
Thank you all for making this possible. I will write more later…….believe me there are plenty of stories every day to share.
We returned from the jobsite and the roof is on !!!! It is hot here compared to Pennsylvania but it beats the snow. Bob brought us a great lunch today, it was fried chicken and rice. Very tasty and I did check to see if the rooster was still here when we got home. He was. I just smiled at him. Bob had picked up the siding for the house and we are going to do that tomorrow. There is not much else to report except that it is only eight oclock and I seem ready to go to bed. I guess I’m not used to working in the sun anymore.
More later,
Roger
When I arrived yesterday it seemed a little chaotic with all the kids running around and all the hype of arriving but it didn’t take long to find out this is a very organized,well run operation.
By the way , the rooster and I seemed to reach an agreement after I tried talking to him, that didn’t work, I tried giving him a time out, that didn’t work, then I kinda fibbed and told him the next time I would see him the Lord told me he would be fried with rice and beans on a plate and I believe he received the message. We now have a tolerable although distant relationship.
Thru observation yesterday I learned interesting Belizeian facts about Hosanna House. Things are kinda different here than in the states. First off, most of the children clean up and do chores without being told countless times. When we finished lunch I noticed two children picked up brooms and a couple of others started moving chairs out of the way for the floor to be swept, then when that portion of the floor was done the move the chairs back and did the other half of the floor without being told. Imagine that !!!!! They are expected to keep their own living area clean and organized. They are being taught to be adults and are very respectful and thankful for everything.
One other thing that happened about 4 in the morning, I saw my wife jump out of bed quickly. She was terrified after being awakened by a gecko lizard that crawled up to her ear and started to emit a churping sound.
So…….. I have observed children that think they are adults, a rooster that thinks he is a guard dog and a gecko that thinks he is a rooster in the morning. As for me……..I found my role is somewhere between playing with the kids and being food for the biting ants and flies. Hopefully I will be of better use when we go to put the roof on a house later today.
I also observed that Bob Eberly otherwise known as the BIG KAHUNA,,,MISTER BOB, great orator of Belize, being in charge of all the daily activites and transportation in the area , ………..I realized he has a soft side……….he is kind of a big teddy bear, he thoughtfully returned from somewhere with a Valentines Day present for his wife. She had a great look of anticipation in her eyes…………. Then Bob sprung it on her with all his charm …… she looked in his eyes and thanked him so much for the four chicklets , piece of candy and a cupcake in a paper bowl. Bob said ,”it was wrapped real pretty” and I spent seventy-five cents…………but we all know that he will still turn that in as a charitable contribution for taxes next year. Someplace cupid is just shaking his head crying.
The kids loved the Valentines day party . They all received small gifts, candy and the best of all a piece of chocolate. It may not sound like much but they were dancing with joy.
Thank you all for making this possible. I will write more later…….believe me there are plenty of stories every day to share.
We returned from the jobsite and the roof is on !!!! It is hot here compared to Pennsylvania but it beats the snow. Bob brought us a great lunch today, it was fried chicken and rice. Very tasty and I did check to see if the rooster was still here when we got home. He was. I just smiled at him. Bob had picked up the siding for the house and we are going to do that tomorrow. There is not much else to report except that it is only eight oclock and I seem ready to go to bed. I guess I’m not used to working in the sun anymore.
More later,
Roger
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Feb.15 2009
Bob & Darlene Eberly, Ken & Maggie Goshorn and Regina & Roger Neidrick arrived last night .
I am Roger Neidrick and my wife Regina arrived to the orphanage for the first time last night. I didn't quite know what to expect ( I have never been to an orphanage or mission before) and it was a real treat from the start. When we arrived last night all the kids ran up to the van and were so happy to see us they started pounding on the windows and yelling Bobs name. It immedately had an impact on me and I knew within 10 seconds being here will be a life changing experience for me.
This morning Bob has taken many of the kids to a ball game and while they were gone we got Valentine bags ready for all the kids. We are going to have a Valentines party this evening. All the kids are so appreciative of everything and love attension and playing .
We wish to thank everyone that is involved with this ministry. I can tell you now after just 10 hours here YOU All are making a difference in these young people's lives.
Now if any of you can just tell me how to get a rooster to stop chasing me anytime I go outside I would appricate it. It seems the orphanage has a guard rooster here and I seem to be an unwelcome visitor at this time. More blogs and more news to come later.
I think we will be putting a roof on a church down the road tomorrow.
God Bless you all,
Roger
I am Roger Neidrick and my wife Regina arrived to the orphanage for the first time last night. I didn't quite know what to expect ( I have never been to an orphanage or mission before) and it was a real treat from the start. When we arrived last night all the kids ran up to the van and were so happy to see us they started pounding on the windows and yelling Bobs name. It immedately had an impact on me and I knew within 10 seconds being here will be a life changing experience for me.
This morning Bob has taken many of the kids to a ball game and while they were gone we got Valentine bags ready for all the kids. We are going to have a Valentines party this evening. All the kids are so appreciative of everything and love attension and playing .
We wish to thank everyone that is involved with this ministry. I can tell you now after just 10 hours here YOU All are making a difference in these young people's lives.
Now if any of you can just tell me how to get a rooster to stop chasing me anytime I go outside I would appricate it. It seems the orphanage has a guard rooster here and I seem to be an unwelcome visitor at this time. More blogs and more news to come later.
I think we will be putting a roof on a church down the road tomorrow.
God Bless you all,
Roger
