Our Last Project in Belize

September 2, 2011

The Eleventh Hour: Signs in Succotz

This project was really done at the last moments of the team's stay in Belize. We finished this project the day before they left town. It was a mad dash to the finish, but we made it!

This is yet another project we did in the charming village of Succotz - naming streets and ordering and hanging street signs. This is part of a larger project to help generate income for the village as they now run on $300 dollars a month. We hope the things we've implemented will help to raise that figure so they can have better healthcare, education and quality of life.

Here we are, laying out the signs by village areas so we can divide and conquer.

Interested villagers look at our work.

Of course we had to get a Spencer Street in there! :)

Our friends help us out.

We have since talked with villagers and they are thrilled to be able to say what street they live on as previously nothing in the village had a name. One lady proudly told me, "I live on Maya street!" It's a good feeling to know the project is well received.

Time to Say Goodbye

Goodbyes are never easy for me and I've cried my fair share of tears over saying goodbye to Belize. The people are wonderful, the experiences have been priceless, the opportunity has been incredible. Thank you to all who made it possible for me to be here to help the dynamic and caring people of Belize.

Me and Melissa - good luck in finishing school, my friend! You'll make it!

The Heaps, Roberto and us.

The Pulido family!

Me and little Shadow - my adopted street dog. I hated her at first because being a street dog, she of course has fleas and such. But she won my heart as she came around night after night and followed me obediently around town. Now I wish I could take her home...along with a little old crippled man, a baby horse I love and a few other Beliezian orphans. We could all live in my little apartment in Utah, couldn't we? Oh, how this place has won my heart!

Maria and me - she had always wanted to learn to play a song on the piano and was happy that I taught her one. She learned it at music classes and it took her 6 weeks of diligent work.

Diana and me. She's spunky and full of life and I didn't know she was related to my next-door neighbor (sisters!) and another close friend (siblings) until just last week. Funny!

This is our next-door neighbors, friend and Diana with us.

Adorable children in Succotz. Can you see the twins?

Our dear friends, the Chans. They live in Succotz and we've spent a lot of time with them. They are so kind and generous, and though they don't have much (not even indoor plumbing) they share with great generosity. They held 2 BBQs for the entire team, at great cost to themselves. What wonderful people!

We love you, Belize!