Changing Seasons (warning! long post)

(disclaimer: the content of the following post includes some complaining and whining. Continue reading at your own risk! :)

We have had a few different seasons here so far in Belize~ We had the first season which was a season of SHOCK that included very fussy children, heat stroke and rashes, insect phobias, culture shock and disorientation. During this season we found it difficult to perform the simplest of tasks such as grocery shopping. I could not even think of what sorts of meals we used to make in Washington and what to put on a shopping list. I know that sounds strange but for the first few weeks, cooking was a stress and a burden. Checking the mail, getting gas, cleaning the house, visiting with strangers and even driving were rough. We felt like we were babies.. just learning how to do all things new.

Then came a season of EXCITEMENT~ we are finally in Belize! We made it! And people even talk to us and want to be our friends. No one is glaring at us or posting 'GET OUT' signs in the front yard yet. People are actually friendly and want to talk to us. They have time for relationships and pretty willing to lend advice to us 'gringos'. We just might be able to make it here! A local shop offered Grady a job. He even agreed to allow Grady to work 4 days a week to enable him to spend more time with the family and to continue to settle us here. It did not pay a lot but enough to pay the bills and put gas money into the gas tank for weekend get aways with the family to village and jungle. We felt like the Lord was leading us.. During this time we also had some opportunities to share the gospel and serve.


Then came our season of DISCOURAGEMENT~ After our 30 days here we got a stamp on our passport which changed things quite a bit. "Permitted to remain on condition that the holder does not enter into employment paid or unpaid. Does not engage in any business or profession without the consent of the director of immigration." We did not realize before coming that we would need to apply for a permit in order to receive any income. Now came the decision what type of permit to apply for. We decided to try and apply for a missionary permit which would cost much, much less than a work permit and easier to get than a work permit. Or so we thought. Because we do not have a 'sending church' we are finding it difficult to obtain a letter of recommendation (of sorts) .. also the thought of us being missionaries became a question also.. ARE WE MISSIONARIES or not? Ok~ we haven't gone to Bible School and aren't the brightest tools in the shed but do we not all have the ministry of reconciliation? Are we not as Christians ALL missionaries? Here is the Websters 1828 definition of missionary :MIS'SIONARY, n. One sent to propagate religion. Christian missionaries are called missionaries of the cross. Ok so we feel alright calling ourselves missionaries regardless of our lack of a piece of paper which assures the country of Belize that fact. So now which way to go? Work permits cost $750 which we do not have. In addition, we have heard that a work permit can be difficult to obtain if it can be proved that you would be taking a Belizean's job.

Missionary permits cost $25. More up our ally. We were assured that if you hold a missionary permit you are also able to do odd jobs to support your work which would fit into Grady's plan on working here. So we are not quite sure what to do next. We can continue to pay the $200 a month to remain as tourists until our 12 months are up at which time we can apply for residency where permits no longer are an issue. BUT you cannot earn money as a tourist. This is the position we are currently in. We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and I don't know if anyone is even still reading this and if I made the dilemma clear?.? But all of this has lead to quite a bit of discouragement.

Next came 2 seasons at once~ the seasons of DISORDER and ILLNESS have come in with a rush. All in one week we had so many things here in the home go.. . One laundry day was particularly hectic and it wasn't until that evening that I realized the old wringer washer had leaked oil onto most of our clothing.. ok. The next week we realized that we were getting rust stains from the water on the clothing also. For someone who makes most of the dresses etc this was just such a discouragement. So even though I had a small electric rinser/spinner that kinda worked in place of the old wringer, I cannot use the water for laundry until we figure the rust situation. Then our cistern ran out of water.. it took a few days to figure out which cistern was full of which kind of water.. we filled our empty rain water cistern with river water from another cistern. This proved to not be too good as that river water was brown and a bit smelly. Fine for the toilet and maybe even showering but not for dishes and everyday use. So I couldn't do laundry or wash the dishes without boiling water and using brown boiled water. But the Lord provided and a brother told us about someone who sells rain water! Yay! So came a truck driver with 800 gallons of rain water which we pumped into the cistern after draining the river water out of it. Then came the realization that our Berkey water filter had failed and while we had been using the river water in the house, we had also been DRINKING the brown river water! SO, we now are purchasing clean drinking bottled water for the time being, not able to do laundry here but we at least have semi-clean water for dishes (the cistern rain water).. When the shower head broke off we had to just laugh.. who wants to shower anyhow? But then the toilet? Ok that may be too much..? We weren't surprised when the radiator on the car broke and we found out that there isn't one in stock in all of Belize. But thankfully stopleak fixed that problem, at least for now! But then the car died all together.. ironically while rushing our daughter Amanda to the hospital. Our season of ILLNESS entered into our lives and that is where we remain now. Although we have some of our household headaches resolved (and still working on some of those things thanks to the help of many kind and helpful folks..) our daughter Amanda remains in bed with a fever and a mystery illness. After spending 24 hrs in the hospital where the Lord had his hand on her, she returned home and we are waiting until her antibiotics run their course when we will will pursue a few other tests. She remains in good spirits.. The Lord is sustaining her and is her rock. She is such a good testimony to us all. Then came this morning when our little Gracie woke with a 104.5 degree fever. Apple Cider Vinegar applied to the forehead as well as tepid baths kept the fever down a bit throughout the day but she also remains very sick with an unknown illness. I don't think I have seen such a sick toddler for many years. We suspect it may be because she was found drinking the piped river water yesterday.. We will see how she feels tomorrow before seeking medical advice as we do know many childhood illnesses also can present themselves this way.. we are praying she wakes in the morning with a broken fever, back to her endearing self. Please keep her in your prayers, as well as Amanda.

Grady and the boys add an extra pipe from the downspout into the rain water cistern in order to collect more of the rain water.. to give us a greater supply. They put it up just in time.. we are currently having a huge rainstorm! ;)

Amanda's usual spot these days..


She has been blessed with notes of encouragement from new friends and old.. and lots of visitors, including these 6 small one day old chicks! Brought today by 'Grandma Anna' (these are for you J.B. We are taking good care of them! ;) )



We do not know what this next SEASON may bring but we do know this "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not destroyed: ...11 Corinthians 4:8


Thank you all for your prayers, gifts and notes of encouragement. Truly we are so blessed that we do not have more to complain about. We are blessed with a lovely home to live in, at least for the time being.. that is such a blessing in and of itself! When we are feeling discouraged, we think of our new friends who have a daughter who is gravely ill and another new friend whose husband died 18 months ago, leaving her the job of running their business and raising their 6 sweet children alone. We think about those in the world who are without a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.. without the guidance of the Holy Sprit in their lives..
truly we are so blessed beyond explaination. Let us all keep our eyes on the eternal and not the temporal. May God receive the glory he deserves from our lives!