From Katie

In just a little less than a month I will be back on a plane traveling to my home

sweet Benque,Belize. There is a much different feeling this summer as to last summer's

 

nerves, joys, fears, and excitement. This summer has been much more peaceful and quiet.

I know more of what to expect when I go down there. I know that I can expect a pile of

ants in my house everyday all day. I know some nice cockroaches will greet me when I

walk in the door. Other than that, however, I do not know what this year will hold. I can

only take another leap of faith and trust in the Lord.

When I think about going back to my students, to the school, to the parish, and to

our community I am filled with nothing but joy and peace. I have been blessed to develop

some great friendships in Belize and am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

I also know how to better approach a classroom with 30 tenth grade boys. Last

year I would think to myself, “If I just love themand show themI am nice, they will respect

me and listen to me.”RIGHT. These kids,while great, do everything but listen to their

teachers, especially if they are too nice. One of the priests in Belize, Father John, once was

talking to me about teaching.He toldme that these kids,while they do need a LOTof love,

what they need sometimesmore is tough love. Evenwhen I think back to when Iwas in

school, the teachers I respectedmost and looked up to the most were the ones who

demanded the most out of me. I knewthey still cared for their students and that they only

pushed us because they knew what we were capable of. I KNOWmy students are capable

of greatness and I want to challenge that this school year. Iwant them to know that they

are loved. I want them to know that they can be anything.I want them to know that

someone believes in them. I want them to be who theyare meant to be.

Here's a little side story of a teaching experience I had last year. One day I was

asked to substitute for one ofmy tenth grade (2nd form) boys classes. I had already taught

this class earlier in the day and I had already gone in that class twice that that day. So by

now these boys have seen enough of me for one day and they decide to see how far they

can go. For the class I was subbing they had a lot ofwork that they could be doing and I

made sure they knewthat. Some of the boys did not think that what I said applied to them

and decided to walk around the classroom and do whatever theypleased.Unfortunately for

the poor souls I was not in the mood for letting them do whatever theywanted. In a firm

and loud voice Imade an announcement that the next person who got our of their desk

would get their butts glued to their chair. As soon as those words came out of my mouth I

knew Iwas done for. If I said it, I had to follow through with it. Sure enough, some did not

believe me and decided to continue to walk around. The next think I know, I am in the staff

room asking if anyone had glue I could borrow. Their homeroom teacher happened to be

sitting there and gave me glue. She gave me a look wondering what the heck I would need

the glue for. I quickly told her what Iwas doing and she gave me one of those smiles like

she wished she had thought of that idea before. I walked back into the classroom and up

to the boy and made him get out of his seat so I could put the glue in it. Mind you, all it is is

Elmer’s glue that comes out. He could not believe Iwas actually going to do this to him, but

at the same time he knewI meant business. For the rest of the class there was not a

rooster to be heard. For the rest of the school year I also found that class had a lot more

respect for me and we were still able to have a lot of fun.

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the BBQ on Saturday and supported us, it was a big success and we are grateful for your generosity.
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 Thank you again and God bless!

Our Mission

Well, I have been home for about 2 weeks now and I have gotten the question “so, how was Belize?” about 100 times (roughly speaking). Some people are genuinely interested and others are being polite, regardless of their motive, I have no idea how to answer them. It usually takes me about 30 seconds to respond with a “great,” or “awesome,” or even “well, I’m going back so I guess it was something!” There aren’t words to express the millions of emotions and experiences I piled up in the last 10 months. I can’t really seem to wrap my little brain around just exactly what I experienced.

 I left my home, my family, my culture, and my comfort to teach high school students. I removed myself from the life that I knew (and loved) and decided to try to get out of myself; to live for something other than my daily routine. Getting on the plane last August was uncomfortable for me; I am a homebody and I love my family dearly, I didn’t really want to leave them. As I hugged my mother goodbye, she sobbed and begged me to be safe; I then thought of a million different excuses why I couldn’t go to Belize. But I pushed myself out the door and stepped on the plane with a little fear in my heart.

It wasn’t until we got there and had a meeting with the Principal that it was confirmed that I was going to teach English Grammar to 11^th graders and Drama as an elective to 11^th and 12^th graders. It had been almost 4 years since I took a English class myself so I had a lot of brushing up to do. I remember the night before classes freaking out about teaching. Lucia (another volunteer) turned to me and said, “Elisabeth, just let them see that you love them.” And that became my mission. Yes, I did teach English and Drama, and through the grace of God their grammar and acting skills improved. But more importantly I grew to love and admire them, and they loved me in return. Like Katie said before, we aren’t just teachers we are their counselors, mothers, coaches, and quite frequently entertainers! Some people have asked me “so what exactly do you do in Belize?” My answer is this: I try my utmost best to love those amazing kids and become worthy of the love they give me, while teaching them proper grammar.

I guess I could say that in my one year in Belize I became a teacher, I discovered the truth about teenagers, I learnt how to take care of a liter of puppies, I became a cockroach killing machine, and I discovered just how thin my patience really is, and that is all true, but if you want to know what I found in Belize, it’s exactly what is to be found here in the States, and that is a thirst for love. I came across a quote from the author Fyodor Dostoevsky one day and I was struck by the truth and simplicity in it: "Try to love your neighbors. Love them actively and unceasingly. And as you learn to love them more and more, you will be more and more convinced of the existence of God and of the immortality of your soul."

 

 

A Day in the Life of Katie

 

What is a typical day for Katie? It is anything but typical that is for sure. One thing that is always the same is the 6am bells to wake me up every morning without fail. The roosters are calling and the sun is shining and it is time to start the day! I would get to school most days around 7 to get things together before it was time to pray the Rosary with students before the school day starts. Teachers and students are running around to hang in last minute assignments before the homeroom bell rings and the days starts. I was a Information Technology for first and second form (9th and 10th grade). I was also the schools Campus Minister. I was in charge of putting on weekly Adoration, retreats for each class, Catholic Jeopardy, guest speakers from the States and various other events that would come up throughout the school year. For me everyday was different. Some day I would be in the classroom all day and other days I would be getting ready for the next retreat. After school never meant rest time. There were always students coming in for questions and extra help or the next “futbolito” game. When the school day is over and the futbol’s games have finished the day is still going strong. A huge part of this year is the community life. We have daily Holy Hours and Mass together. After Mass we usually try to do something together whether it be everyone ore just a girls night and a guys night. One thing was always the same everyday. When I would lay my head on my pillow every night I knew I had done something that day. Each and every day was a day of continual giving and receiving.

One of the biggest blessings of this year was being in charge of a second form (10th grade) all boys homeroom. They were definitely a handful more often than not, but they were such a joy. I would walk in every morning to take attendance and get them ready for the day and without fail someone would always be running up to tell me something or ask me a question in panic. I am so thankful for these boys. They taught me that the more I demand and expect respect from the students I would get it. One of the questions I had asked myself coming down here to teach was how was I going to show my students that I love them. Us missionaries at Mount Carmel have not only the role of being teachers, but rather we are the parents, counselors, big sisters/brothers, coaches, etc. Our kids here are looking for people to look up to and to go to for advice. I found that the more I got to know my students and I learned about their lives and their family life the more I started to take on their own pain. My kids have gone through more than I can even imagine and yet they are still filled with so much joy. A day did not go by that I did not laugh until my sides hurt. You really become a family at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a huge part of that is the community. A lot happens in a year – tears, laughter, joy, and sadness. It’s beautiful when even just a little bit of trust in God can change someone so much.