Oops! This blog was meant for the last batch of photos.

Things as usual have sped by the last week. Another trip to Mexico but this time with James and TJ. Andy generously offered to take the rickety three hour bus ride to Belize City so we could have the vehicle to drive to the boat dock. We overspent in Mexico and actually had to put back a few grocery items as we went over the remaining 1300 pesos we had. Nevertheless we had a good laugh and a great day!

We were delighted to welcome Bishop Cyrus Pitman from the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador to join us for lunch on Monday of last week. He traveled with Canon Eric Richards, a long-serving priest in active retirement in our neighbouring parish of Orange Walk, and Stephen, who works in the Diocesan Office and helps with youth ministry. After a quick trip to the market, Andy harvested the bananas from the backyard so I could make a banana cake to serve with our meal.

Bishop Cy(rus) was visiting Belize for a week to enter into an agreement of companionship between the two dioceses that will encourage visits between clergy and lay people between these two very different parts of the world, and projects in ministry that they can share together. Andy met with the companion diocese committee in Belize City on Wednesday to observe how the partnership was being planned, and he came away impressed by the range of input and the goals they have in mind for helping out with parishes, schools, youth programs, and building projects, among other things. The January trip to Labrador should be quite an experience for some of the Belizeans who have not been to Canada before! He also noted for the committee that it is actually further to travel from BC to Nfld than it is to travel from Victoria to Belize.

James celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday. After Andy picked such a large cluster of bananas, I thought everyone would get sick of the same chocolate banana cake I make. I tweaked the recipe minus the cocoa and fried some fresh pineapple in Belizean honey for an upside down cake with figs, local bananas and dates......topped off with a hibiscus from our front yard. James travels to Belize City Thursdays on the bus to help at the Anglican Cathedral School and returns Friday night. We had picked up Mexican Rib Eye steak and Belizean veggies with a bottle of Mexican Merlot. James arrived home at 8 PM just on cue for his birthday dinner!