The 2006 VBS team arrives in Belize!

Walking out to the Tropic Air plane to Punta Gorda from Belize City, an hour or less flight.

This little airplane holds 14 plus the pilot.

Everyone looks so excited!

Are we there yet?

Three of the team members had to come down on a smaller plane.

The Tropic Air office and airport in Punta Gorda, Toledo. Is that a horse tied next to the runway?

The team's first night was spent at the Golden Motel just outside of PG (Punta Gorda). This way everyone was able to rest up and get briefed.

The next morning we had to return to PG to pick up the rest of our trunks. What a blessing that they ALL made it!

Sad to say, but this was as close to a group picture that we got this year. But what a GREAT team!

Patrick and Jeff made a number of stops on the way out of PG to pick up supplies. This is the "Toledo Farm Supply" where they buy their horse feed.

Still recovering from the flight down.

Our first stop in the village was to eat lunch at the bus driver's house (Felix Choc).

Hot tamales!

Felix entertained us on his home-made harp.

Both the harp and fiddle were made primarily with a machete.

Once we had unloaded and hauled all of the gear up the hill to our house, the team quickly got to know some of the children.

Edward becomes a Belizean pirate with our two month old parrot Miango.

Settling in for the team's first night at the mission station.

Freda Byrd works her wonders in our small kitchen / tool room.

First night's meal!

Afternoon Children's Bible School before the room filled up.

The team still recovering from their travels and new surroundings.

Some take a prayer walk / hike up, up, and UP to the village water tank to pray over San Jose Village.

The group that made it to the top!

Looking over the village from the water tank.

Rick takes some time to study up for his VBS lesson.

Children line up for their name tags on the first full day of VBS.

In an attempt to keep the house from getting too muddy, Neil Byrd helps to wash the children's feet. Talk about stars in your crown!

Jeff and Michael get things rolling.

The Bible House quickly fills up with more children than we have ever had on our first day of VBS.

Dressing up for skit time.

A name tag can also double as a hat.

Our first craft was Noah's Ark. Each child received animal crackers for their snack that day and some crackers even made it into the Ark.

Our VBS theme for this year was "There's Only One Way!"

The serpent on the pole craft reminded the children of Jesus' talk with Nicodemus in John 3:14.

Snack time!

Since we had so many children this year we split them up into two groups, rotating them between the Bible House and craft station.

These cookies are sooooo good...

Mary Moore became this year's "Craft Czar". She seemed to have a new game for the children everyday.

Children run from corner to corner trying to guess the corner Mary will pick. That group is "out" (or "in" as Mary would say) when she opens her eyes.

Even the adults enjoyed this game.

A full house - part 1

A full house - part 2

The team ate lunch each afternoon in a villager's home, giving everyone a chance to try some local cuisine.

Due to the team's size we had to take chairs to each of the homes for lunch.

And sometimes even across a creek or two.

Today we had pig brain tamales, though we didn't tell that to anyone till we were on our way back to the mission house.

"What are we eating again?" I better tell you later...

A lot of foot washing took place during this year's VBS as we had quite a bit of rain (and mud). But what a great way to serve the people of San Jose!

The women of the VBS team held a women's study each day. They had record-breaking numbers again this year.

Flowers and name tags greet the women as they enter for the study.

This year the women split up into small groups each day for a lesson put together by veteran team members.

Group pic #1

Group pic #2

A drama for the women's Bible study.

After each day's women's study some of the team would go out for a visit.

This was Ashley's third year to visit San Jose, so she had many friends to catch up with.

Though it was Deb's first year, she too quickly made friends.

Stephanie entertains.

Freda with a new friend.

Sharon visits with a family she met last year.

The local creek doesn't offer fish much bigger than this.

Since we had the manpower this year, it was time to do some work on the outhouse and shower.

While the women were in their Bible study, the men were busy trying to rework the facilities and yet still have them in working order by the evening.

Our generator is not strong enough to run a circular saw, so all of the wood had to be cut the old-fashioned way.

Daniel Moore literally sweated buckets.

Jeff and Landon dig holes.

And so after four years we finally have a real roof over our bathroom.

Don't they look like they know what they're doing?

The finished shower and outhouse / storage room.

Time to return tools.

And time to rest!

The buggy doubles as a gazebo.

The kittens never lacked for attention.

Fried pig skin anyone?

Edward helps Wheeler and Adoniram pull.

Mubi in her favorite position!

Planning time.

A season to pray!

The swing never lacks sitters.

Just look at all the mud!

Watch your ear!

Sharon and Tessa are thankful for electric washing machines.

Saying goodbye.

Glasses made by piecing some of the week's crafts together.

Eight members of the team had to leave us early due to work and school obligations. But now who will keep Michael and Patrick in line?

Felix Choc, our faithful bus driver.

Breakfast in Punta Gorda.

The "Patrick Evans Special": eggs, beans, sausage and fried jacks. Well ok, the sausage is really just a hotdog.

Buying crafts in PG.

PG weekend market.

Trying to push the bus out... Patrick said that we needed a truck or tractor from the start. He was right!

Lubantuun - The largest Mayan ruin in the area.

Patrick and Jeff look at an ancient Mayan altar.

Missionaries, archaeologists, and adventurers. Michael logged over 540 miles in the buggy in just a little over two months in Belize.

Our last lunch with the team!

Children's Bible Study - let's pray that our numbers stay up after the VBS.

Who can remember their Bible verses from this past week?

Jeff is making sure that they get every word right :-)

Michael stands with a group of children who memorized all five verses!

Drink lots of fluids and seek shady areas.

The San Jose flute troupe at practice.

What a smile.

The Moore's San Jose home.

The veranda of the mission house.

Is everyone really gone?