Clark-Peterek Belize

Goodbye PG

We left Punta Gorda on Monday, July 6, 2009.  Our friends, co workers, fellow Volunteers, and Belizean family wished us farewell as we boarded the plane bound for Belize City.  We would spend the next week in the capital city attending appointments, interviews, and meetings, as we prepared to exit the Peace Corps system. 

Saying goodbye to our loved ones in Punta Gorda was difficult and sad, especially since I was leaving on such short notice.  I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye, but as I reflect on our time in Belize and the many people who played such an important part in our lives, I am not sure I would have ever been ready to say good bye. 

Punta Gorda has been our home for last two years.  We have had a wonderful time in PG, and we will miss living there. We will miss our home, the ocean breeze, the rain, the sunshine, and so much more, but what we will miss most are our friends.  Those people who have taken us in, fed us, laughed with us, cried with us, nurtured us, and loved us.

Goodbye PG!  We hope to return soon! 

St. Benedict R.C. School Library

Collecting  books and organizing the St. Benedict R.C. School Library was a major project during my time in Belize.  I worked with several organizations to collect books, and in late June we received a large book donation from family and friends in Houston, TX.  Upon the arrival of the shipment we began a total reorganization of the library.  The staff and students were very excited, and the project would continue through the summer holiday break.  Unfortunately that didn't work out when I broke my leg and had to return to Texas several weeks early.  I was determined to get this library into shape, and with the help of a few friends and fellow Peace Corps Volunteers I was able to leave St. Benedict with a beautifully organized library space.  For three days we sorted, labeled, taped, and shelved.  The work was amazing and I couldn't have done it without the help of some very special people. Miss Jan has even volunteered to continue work in the library during the coming school year. 

Thanks again to the Peace Corps Belize Staff, Hoover Oil Supply Company, and the Clark Family for gathering, collecting, shipping, and transporting the books for St. Benedict R.C. School.

And a special thank you goes to Mike, Dov, Sussanah, Emily, Pat, Karey Manley, Jan, Gary, Patrick, the Jesuit Volunteers, Traveling Mission Group, Miss Olive, and John.  Once again words cannot describe how grateful I am for your willingness to help.  I couldn’t have done it without you!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!