Kristi Colvin, chaplain for the Belhaven College chapter of the Joshua Squad, had this to say about the tour in Belize:
Tuesday, May 20th
Today has been long! We were up at 5:15 and working on getting everything packed by 6:00. I had to force my eyes open and command myself to move enough to press snooze on my alarm…I thought I was a morning person, but after today I may have changed my mind!
The first school we went to we performed at 7:00, and besides a few sound gliches, I feel like it went well. I did the make-up piece for the first time. I was really nervous! I totally forgot everything that I had written down and what order I had planned on doing things in and pretty much just made it up as I went. I think it turned out okay though, and boy was my face a sight to see! Brandon begged for a picture so now there is official black-mail material against me…I didn’t really mind; I had fun with it.
But when we started teaching workshops it got tough. We had 3 and ½ hours to teach four classes of roughly thirty kids each. The first two were hectic because the kids were little and it’s hard to keep their attention for any extended period of time. I did have some darling little girls though! They all wanted to know my name and hold my hand and climb on my back and play with my hair. We had a lot of fun with matter and manipulation. We made a generous supply of jewelry and flip flops which was apparently the funniest thing they had ever seen. Their eyes would get big as they intently watched my hands molding space, and ten little, brown hands would shoot into the air, index fingers pointing straight up urgently (this is like raising one’s hand although it took me a couple times to figure that out) whenever I asked if anyone could guess what I was creating.
The third group we had was more difficult. Guinn, Becki, and Brandon were in the back working out the sound cues for the “Creation, Fall, Redemption” piece that we were going to teach the next class, so it put the actual workers down to three. And the kids we had were totally uncooperative! They were at that awkward stage where they don’t want to risk standing out or being embarrassed, and they’re also totally segregated. I felt like the brunt of trying to handle the crowd was falling on me. When teaching techniques had received only condescending stares and crossed arms, we decided to try to play a game. We taught Rosh tag and split the group in half to play since the room wasn’t large enough to have them all running around at once. Pretty much immediately all the girls sat down and the boys played. They were hesitant at first, but soon got into it. When we said it was time to switch out the groups and let the girls play, however, it got tense. They refused, only shaking their heads and crossing their legs. After watching Deanna and Grace coax and cajole for several minutes, I felt my temper cracking. I was hot, tired, and watching my friends get disrespected really gets to me! I stood up and clapped my hands really loud…a lot louder than I meant to actually, but it inspired absolute silence and all rebellious whispers ceased. I stood exactly in front of the girl I had been watching throughout the workshop. She seemed to be the popular one that everyone looked at before doing, or in this case not doing, anything.
“Look,” I said making a point not to yell, but at the same time not to keep up the patronizing smile I had been wearing. “We are here because your school invited us. We came and performed our best for you this morning, and I really hope you enjoyed it. Now we are giving our time to try to teach you some things and to do something fun with you. I want you to have fun. If that’s not what is happening, then fine. You can just sit there and do nothing. We are not going to make you play, and we are not going to waste our time trying if you really don’t want to do it. This is your school and it is your choice. We are just your guests.”
They just stared for several minutes and then the popular girl stepped forward and took her place in the middle of the room, ready to play. The others followed. I turned to look at Deanna and she mouthed “Thank you!” from across the room. I didn’t know what to feel. I felt guilty for getting onto them and frustrated that I had needed to and unsure as to whether or not I should have. Did I do the right thing, Lord? What would you have done in that situation? How do you love us constantly when we turn away from you so often? I know you have given me a heart for children, Lord, give me strength to love them throughout this week! I think I’ll get up early for an extra prayer time. I really need it! I love you, Father.
Sunday, May 25th
Well, I’m writing on a plane again…we’ve come full circle I guess. We will be landing in Houston in an hour, and all around me are the bent heads of people filling out the customs form to re-enter the U.S. I am so excited to be heading home! But then, I’m really sad at the time…how does time race by so fast? It doesn’t seem like just a little over a week ago that I couldn’t sleep from excitement about leaving for Belize.
Guinn says that since we have to go through collecting and re-checking our bags, we probably won’t make our connecting flight to Jackson. Which means we would have to wait until 7 to leave on the next flight. I really hope we get there in time!
Afternoon
Lord, you are truly amazing! I praise you for your provision and the way you always look out for us! I really thought we weren’t going to make that flight, but after a dramatic sprint across the air port and an Indiana Jones-like squeeze onto the metro, we are sitting safely in our seats and headed to Mississippi. It looks like I won’t get all the way home until tomorrow, but that’s okay. I don’t think I’ll mind spending some extra time with Becki and Grace. We might even get to see “Braids” tonight.
I have never been so rushed in my life. Well, that’s probably not true, but I just want to say a special thank you to Krista Bower. Due to her perseverant conditioning of each of us in biomechanics and mime, I took the stairs two at a time. We love you Krista! Waiting in line at customs was the only breather we had. We ran off the plane, raced to get our bags, waited at the wrong baggage claim, waited at the right baggage claim, and then had to drag our suitcases with us through security. I must say though, we have gotten pretty efficient at going through security. Tip: while still several people back in line, you can take off your shoes, watch, and any liquids from your backpack. That way you can zip through when you get to the belt. We then had to run up a broken escalator and three flights of stairs. Arriving at the top, out of breath and making a mental note to never carry three large books plus clothes in my backpack ever again, I heard a general commotion I recognized as the voices of my teammates trying to communicate something important. Looking around, I saw Brandon holding the doors to the metro open and motioning enthusiastically for me to hurry up. I forced myself back into my clunking, unbalanced shuffling and slipped in beside Brandon and Grace. Becki was the last to reach the top stair, and I joined in the yelling and motioning for her to keep running and the calling that “she could make it!” The doors were closing as she reached us and she hopped in just as they closed, inspiring relieved laughter from the team. It was pretty amazing. I think God likes for us to have some adventure in our lives!
It’s strange to think I will be saying good-bye to them for the entire summer…
Lord, guide each of our paths and help us to continue growing in our faith! I’ll miss them. Now I cant’ wait until August! Actually….thinking about my own bed….maybe I can. : )
The words of Lex Quarterman will be etched on this site tomorrow. Stay tuned
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