Our Last Day at Bullet Tree - 6/21

Today is our last day at Immaculate Conception School.  We finished up our projects and the girls taught their final lessons in the morning and then we all enjoyed a delicious barbecue lunch.  This afternoon there was a farewell ceremony followed by a U.S. vs. Belize soccer game!  The faculty greeted us this morning in Ursuline t-shirts we gave them yesterday, and all of the students received drawstring Ursuline backpacks that were donated by one of the school supply companies Ursuline works with.  So there is a lot of red and white running around Bullet Tree today!

A special note to any teachers following along: After teaching all week, the girls all agree that they appreciate their own teachers in a whole new way!  One of them even said last night, "Miss Miller, I don't know how you do this every day!"

I think we can all agree that it has been an absolutely amazing week.  We have met so many incredible people and have all had a lot of fun!

This may be the last time we are able to post before returning home.  The girls will be enjoying a few excursions this weekend before returning on Monday.  If there is an opportunity to post the final reflections over the weekend, I will be sure to do that.  Otherwise, I will make the final post back home in Dallas.  To all of our family and friends in Dallas, we cannot wait to see you all on Monday night and share our Belize adventures with you in person!

Roberta, Rebecca, and one of the Carolines share their reflections on yesterday.

Roberta on teaching:
Today we taught about the sacraments and how all of them strengthen us and bring us closer to God.  Every day the kids impress me more and more!  They are so eager and ready to learn...so many of them are very smart and I can see so much potential in them.  I received a lot of notes from some of the students I teach and it really made me happy that by just being there and speaking about the sacraments or any other lesson, I was making a difference and actually getting through to them.  I have gotten so close to a lot of them and it is going to be very sad to say goodbye to them.  Teaching and seeing how the kids understand what I am saying really makes my day!
                                                                                    
Hola Mama y Papa a los extrano!  Ya los quiero ver!
Love, Roby                                                                         

Rebecca on the presentation by the “Chalk Guy" last night:

Jason, the Chalk Guy, is amazing.  I can't find the words to explain how powerful his lesson last night was, but I can say that I gained a deeper understanding of Christ's death.  We cannot go to the Father except through Him, and he told us this in John 14:6.  Jason’s beautiful drawing was Christ's view of the city from His tomb.  The masterpiece symbolized not just Jesus' rising, but is victory over death.  With His death, we were free to go to the Father.  This is a lesson I will remember forever.

Hi Mom!  I miss you all and wish y'all were here.  Thank you for the letters Mami and Papi.  You have prepared be well, and don't worry, I'm asking Dona Lourdes and Dona Veronica how to make the good food down here.  Sarah and Sophia, I hope you are being good and you should clean my room, pretty please!  Abuelito, ojala que le gueste las fotos que estamos subiendo!  Es muy bonito aqui!  Le llamare cuando este en Dallas!  I love you all so much, and thank you for supporting me.  I'm always thinking about you all.  God Bless!
- La Nana

P.S. I'd be super happy if my request for enchilades and sopa de semilla de melon was granted. :)

Caroline Bask. on our dinner party at Miss Erva's:

After a long day at Bullet Tree, we headed to Erva's Place to have our dinner party.  Every meal here in Belize has been one full of hospitality and great food, and this was no different.  Graciously, Erva welcomed us into her kitchen in the restaurant and taught each of us how to make homemade tortillas.  We learned that this is no easy task and takes a lot of work and skill.  After everyone made a tortilla, we all helped make our burritos, beef, chicken, or veggie.  The food was delicious!  Additionally, our waiter, Nolan, showed us all these tricks, including one with two forks balancing on toothpicks on a bottle.  As we left our dinner party, we left with full stomachs and another experience of traditional Belizean hospitality and tasty food!

Mom, Dad, and Lauren, I miss you so much!  Thank you for allowing me to have this opportunity of a lifetime!  I can't wait to see you soon!
Love, Caroline

Kate, Megan, and Caroline Brau. will be sharing their reflections on this afternoon and our weekend adventures, but they wanted to say hi to their families now just in case this is our last opportunity for internet!

Hi Mom and Dad, it's Kate!  Belize is amazing.  I have brought my forgetfulness to Belize and have already lost my water bottle three times!  But no worries, it has reappeared each time!  I love and miss you!
Love, Kate

Hi Mom, Dad, Hannah, and Lindsay!  I am having a ton of fun.  I miss you all.  Thanks for letting me come to Belize!
Love, Caroline

Hi Mom, Dad, and Braeden, I miss you guys so much!  I'm having an amazing time in Belize and can't wait to see you on Monday!
Love, Megan

Roberta, Annie, Rebecca, Larissa, and Caroline finish up painting one of the classroom buildings

Mr. Koehler, Shannon, Blair, and Jessica show off their new windows

Still painting!

Caroline and Faith take a picture with their class

Two 8th graders show off their new backpacks

Ursuline Academy in Bullet Tree!

Shannon and Rebecca enjoy their lunch

Fr. Leslie, the Vicor General of Belize, came out to visit us in Bullet Tree today

Faith, Mr. Smith, Marguerite, Fluffy, Caroline, and Megan pose with their new bike racks