Days 1 + 2 : Sun Jan 31 and Mon Feb 01
We start at 4.30 am with a 40 minute walk in the dark, mild, and moist air of Qualicm Beach. We had planned on a 6 am alarm, but since we were both awake, why not take our customary walk a little earlier than usual?
By 7.15 we are on the road, through the patchy fog, with a van packed to the gills. Suitcases with a 50lb allowance are strategically packed to 49.5 lb, including we hope, quite a number of gifts and other things to use or leave behind, and with a view to leaving space for some items to return home with.
Marvellous views of the marine fog over the Finlayson Arm as we descend the Malahat pass and capture with our mind’s eye (the camera being out of reach) the mystical and misty suspension which hints at our hidden consciousness in this auspicious moment of transition. Sometimes we are in the fog, sometimes we are above the fog, and sometimes the sun clears our way. Isn’t it so?
No doubt, some of you may be asking, “what’;s with this Greek code language in the blog? Synergos? Enkrateia? Where did that come from?
A short explanation. Synergos is a word used in Christian Scripture to describe a sp;iritual “co-worker”, or as we might say today in contemporary ecclesiology as it relates to our current trip, a “partner in mission” . Paul refers to Timothy as his synergos
(Rom 16.21).
One of the learnings of mission history is how to distinguish between a complimentary partnership based on shared vision and commonality, and a culture-laden imposition of colonialist values. The subversion of mission is to reduce it to “colonise (as in, take over), civilise (as though no culture of intrinsic value existed), and Christianize (at least, in a way that implied that God was absent prior to our arrival).
Mon Feb 01
But back to the observations. Thanks to Sandy’s sleuthing, we have the Fairfield Marriot in Dallas for $61 (reg. $200 a night). Breakfast is included, and I make myself a waffle shaped like the state of Texas and served up on a styrofoam plate, with microwaveable assorted breakfast burger and burrito materials.
Our van driver for the hotel is partly deaf from a hunting accident last month, he tells us, as he explains why we need to speak up. His gun shot completely deafened him, but at least he got his deer. 33F as we wake up in Dallas, and our driver say it went down to 6F not long ago. At least the weather does not conform to my image of Texas, I suppose.
DFW airlines throws us a further curve ball with potential visa requirements for entry into Belize, but a quick phone call to Jill Cruse in Toronto, plus a little deft work and a supportive American Airlines agent (thank you Sally!), gets us on the plane and on our way.
Belize City, and it’s that tropical feel of palm trees and more.
My observation of the journey to the city is the colourfully or at least neatly dressed schoolkids against a background of industrial buildings, ruts in the road, and hodge-podge development.
The diocesan guest house provides a multiply-locked and secure haven for our first night. We are advised not to walk on certain streets, and not to walk after dark in particular areas. Mario has painted the railing on our stairs and balcony, and we see this as part of our welcome
The chicken is truly delicious and we are introduced to the staple of beans, rice, and tortillas as Belize food for our first dinner, awaiting us on the kitchen table
Belize City, at around 70,000 population, is the largest community in a country of around 275,000 inhabitants. The headline news in the local paper is of a spate of murders over the past weekend in the city perpetrated by youth with guns.
We start at 4.30 am with a 40 minute walk in the dark, mild, and moist air of Qualicm Beach. We had planned on a 6 am alarm, but since we were both awake, why not take our customary walk a little earlier than usual?
By 7.15 we are on the road, through the patchy fog, with a van packed to the gills. Suitcases with a 50lb allowance are strategically packed to 49.5 lb, including we hope, quite a number of gifts and other things to use or leave behind, and with a view to leaving space for some items to return home with.
Marvellous views of the marine fog over the Finlayson Arm as we descend the Malahat pass and capture with our mind’s eye (the camera being out of reach) the mystical and misty suspension which hints at our hidden consciousness in this auspicious moment of transition. Sometimes we are in the fog, sometimes we are above the fog, and sometimes the sun clears our way. Isn’t it so?
No doubt, some of you may be asking, “what’;s with this Greek code language in the blog? Synergos? Enkrateia? Where did that come from?
A short explanation. Synergos is a word used in Christian Scripture to describe a sp;iritual “co-worker”, or as we might say today in contemporary ecclesiology as it relates to our current trip, a “partner in mission” . Paul refers to Timothy as his synergos
(Rom 16.21).
One of the learnings of mission history is how to distinguish between a complimentary partnership based on shared vision and commonality, and a culture-laden imposition of colonialist values. The subversion of mission is to reduce it to “colonise (as in, take over), civilise (as though no culture of intrinsic value existed), and Christianize (at least, in a way that implied that God was absent prior to our arrival).
Mon Feb 01
But back to the observations. Thanks to Sandy’s sleuthing, we have the Fairfield Marriot in Dallas for $61 (reg. $200 a night). Breakfast is included, and I make myself a waffle shaped like the state of Texas and served up on a styrofoam plate, with microwaveable assorted breakfast burger and burrito materials.
Our van driver for the hotel is partly deaf from a hunting accident last month, he tells us, as he explains why we need to speak up. His gun shot completely deafened him, but at least he got his deer. 33F as we wake up in Dallas, and our driver say it went down to 6F not long ago. At least the weather does not conform to my image of Texas, I suppose.
DFW airlines throws us a further curve ball with potential visa requirements for entry into Belize, but a quick phone call to Jill Cruse in Toronto, plus a little deft work and a supportive American Airlines agent (thank you Sally!), gets us on the plane and on our way.
Belize City, and it’s that tropical feel of palm trees and more.
My observation of the journey to the city is the colourfully or at least neatly dressed schoolkids against a background of industrial buildings, ruts in the road, and hodge-podge development.
The diocesan guest house provides a multiply-locked and secure haven for our first night. We are advised not to walk on certain streets, and not to walk after dark in particular areas. Mario has painted the railing on our stairs and balcony, and we see this as part of our welcome
The chicken is truly delicious and we are introduced to the staple of beans, rice, and tortillas as Belize food for our first dinner, awaiting us on the kitchen table
Belize City, at around 70,000 population, is the largest community in a country of around 275,000 inhabitants. The headline news in the local paper is of a spate of murders over the past weekend in the city perpetrated by youth with guns.
Thank you for the map of Texas - we could theologically reflect on the meaning of that - or not!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased our prayers helped - along with Jill's expert advice!
Blessings Dianne and Patrick