Clark-Peterek Belize

DeSmet High School Service Learning Trip

A few weeks ago DeSmet Jesuit High School, an all boys Catholic School in St. Louis, MO, visited Belize for their annual Service Learning Trip.  Our relationship with DeSmet began last year, when they were assigned to work at St. Benedict R.C. School for a week.  This year, we began communication early and came up with a plan to help meet the needs of the school and provide a meaningful service oriented experience for the boys. 

We started the week off celebrating Mass together Sunday Morning at St. Peter Claver Church.  Monday was a holiday, so the team enjoyed a nice day at Hokeb Ha in Blue Creek.  On Tuesday it was time to get to work.  We split the boys up into two groups, half working, assisting teachers, and getting to know the students, and the other half working in and around the school.  After two days we had the groups switch. 

We put the team to work painting, building book shelves, organizing books, constructing volleyball poles, digging trenches, pouring concrete, laying bricks, and putting on an after school soccer/futbol camp.  The team worked hard in the hot sun and did a fantastic job. 

We can not begin to express our gratitude for the students and staff of DeSmet.  We are so thankful for all of your hard work.  The book shelves are great, the school looks fantastic, we can't wait for volleyball, and the students had a wonderful time at futbol camp.  We hope you had a wonderful week, and we look forward to a lasting relationship with DeSmet.  Thanks for everything guys!

Forest Home Methodist School Cricket Team

The end of May marked the beginning of Cricket Season in the Toledo District.  John is an assistant coach of the Forest Home Methodist School Cricket Team.  The team competed in their first game defeating Mafredi Methodist School.  Their next game was against Peter Claver School in Punta Gorda.  The boys did a great job communicating and working together and went away with the win.  This has been a great experience for John, and he has really enjoyed learning more about the game of Cricket.  Check back for more updates on the Forest Home Methodist School Cricket Team. 

Pop/Cho Wedding

Last weekend John and I went to the wedding of Miguel Cho and Ruth Pop, parents from St. Benedict R.C. School.  Their three children are a delight, and I enjoy working with Teresita and Noraldo at school. 

We received our invitation several weeks ago, and Miss Ruth wanted to make sure that I brought my camera along.  Miguel and Ruth got married at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church at 2:00 in the afternoon.  Miguel and Ruth walked down the aisle hand in hand with their children leading the way.  The witnesses and the parents of the groom followed behind.  The couple looked great, Ruth in a beautiful wedding gown and Miguel in a nice new suite.  The wedding ceremony was a traditional Catholic Mass and the guests threw confetti as the newly married couple recessed down the aisle. 

After the wedding, we rode our bikes to Miguel and Ruth’s home for the reception.  Friends, family, and neighbors joined in the celebration.  The food was delicious and guests enjoyed chicken caldo, BBQ pork, stew chicken, rice and beans, and shrimp.  The bride and groom cut the cake, and Ruth made sure that I got pictures of everything. 

We had a wonderful time celebrating with Miguel and Ruth, and we were honored to be a part of this joyous time in the lives of the Pop and Cho Family.

 

Moro Dance

One of the highlights of the Toledo Cacao Festival was the Moro Dance performed by villagers from Santa Cruz at the Maya site of Lubaantun.   The dance was brought to Belize by Mayas from Guatemala for cultural preservation and includes twelve dancers dressed in brightly colored clothing, wearing masks, and carrying swords.  The dance tells the story of two cultures, the Christians and Moros, battling it out to rule the land. 

The temples of Lubaantun provided the perfect backdrop for the dance, and the costumes were beautiful.  Despite the heat, the dancers seemed to enjoy battling with each other during the performance.

We enjoyed the morning very much and we are so glad that we were able to take part in this very special cultural event. 

 

Toledo Cacao Festival

The 3rd Annual Toledo Cacao Fest took place over the Commonwealth Holiday Weekend on May 22, 23, and 24.  We were excited to take part in this year’s activities, since last year we were visiting our family and friends in Texas. 

The Toledo Cacao Fest is a three-day celebration of cacao, culture, and the rich flavors of the Toledo District.  The event is sponsored by the Toledo Cacao Grower’s Association and the Belize Tourism Industry Association Toledo Chapter. 

The weekend was full of great activities.  The Wine and Chocolate Dinner was a favorite of many, and tour companies offered kayaking and snorkeling trips, as well as tours of nearby organic cacao farms.  Early Saturday morning we checked out the Taste of Toledo Fair, which featured local chocolate made in Toledo, Belizean artisans, local musicians, and Cacao for Kids, a kid’s tent with face painting, mural painting, and coloring.  I took our neighbors to the Miss Cacao Fest 2009.  The festival wrapped up on Sunday with the presentation of the Moro Dance at Lubaantun and a concert at PG Central Park.

It was a wonderful weekend celebration, and we had a great time joining in the fun. 

Black Orchids vs. Bullet Tree

The goal of the Gibnuts, the Peace Corps Belize men's futbol team, is to promote a cultural exchange and emphasize the importance of good sportsmanship and living a healthy and active lifestyle. 

After almost two years, the Peace Corps Belize Women’s Futbol Team was finally organized.  The first game for the Black Orchids followed the Gibnuts match in San Ignacio.  Our competition was a women’s team from Bullet Tree, a Spanish-speaking mestizo farming village along the banks of the Mopan River about 5 kilometers northwest of San Ignacio.  

The majority of the Black Orchids team has little to no experience with futbol.   I haven’t played in over tens years.  Our competition was younger, in better shape, and much more experienced than we were, but we were excited and ready to play our first game. 

The girls from Bullet Tree were fierce and meant business, scoring in the first minutes of the game, but we didn't give up hope! The fans were great. The Gibnuts and other PCV’s cheered us on with each save and possession of the ball, giving us pointers and encouragement.  

We lost the game 8-0, but we didn’t let the score stop us from having a great time on the field, emphasizing it doesn’t matter how many goals you score, it’s how you play the game. 

We can’t wait until the next Black Orchids game scheduled for late June.