Greetings! Ok, so, here's the deal. On Sunday I received a glorious new camera sent from my mom. Thanks mom! Sadly, I have not managed to upload the pictures yet. My bad. Next week will be glorious.

But. We went on retreat this weekend to Blue Creek. It was a most excellent experience, and while there I wrote up an entry, similar to the Guatemala post. After this, I'm putting up pictures from Fairfield's trip to Belize. I stole them off of Facebook, via Katyln Griffin's album. I lay no claim to taking these pictures.

Ok. Enjoy.

Rainy Saturdays

Such a drag. Ruining plans. Stupid weather! On my day off! Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.
I am certain I, and perhaps you, have said these things when the dark clouds roll in and the wet stuff starts coming down.
Heading out to Blue Creek, a village that served as the location of our retreat this weekend, I was, if not cursing the weather, certainly lamenting it. We, the Punta Gorda JV community, have been planning this retreat for a month. The location was perfect. It was out in the jungle, right by a cave from which flows an emerald river. Trails snake through the thick forest. It would be great.
Instead, on Friday, the skies were dark and rain imminent. My thoughts were wasted worrying over activities and considering how we could find any fun with this weather.
Perhaps it was the relaxed spirit of retreat, or maybe it was just what was unconsciously desired, but the rain was not a detriment to our plans, but served to enhance them. Lucy found the wardrobe and a world unknown, not on a day of sun, but of rain. Sitting on the dry porch of a cabin, clutching a hot, steaming cup of tea, listening to reflecting jokes, stories, hopes casually shared by friends may be as freeing as exploring the depths of a majestic tropical paradise. This was a forced excursion into a realm of conversation, with a symphony of tree winds, rooftop drumming, and winged whistling in the background. Naps are encouraged, sometimes mandated today, allowing us to drift off for a while, immitating the mist that arrives without a sound.
Put on those socks, pull on a sweatshirt, grab a hot drink, find a book or an interesting person, and enjoy your rainy Saturday

Kekoa and I checking out our flowers

The church being built in Delores. Before Fairfield got there, this was pretty much just a foundation and some short, chest level walls.

Bending steel!!!

I shouldn't really be in this picture, as I didn't even do that much work, but ah well, I'll take it.