by Brenna Gallagher, 6-month Caribbean IMMERSION team member
It's a cool, rainy day in 7 Miles, Belize. I am writing this post from my bedroom. The screen-less windows are wide open letting in a cool breeze every so often. A lizard keeps poking it's head out of the crack between my wall and the tin roof; occasionally making a strange clicking noise. Mosquitos ands flies are frequent visitors, interrupting my writing only for me to Swat them away.
It's a quiet day at the Alivardo home. Normally, there is too much going for me to even hear all the sounds listed above. But today the family went to town leaving alone to finally organize my thoughts. I wanted to write a bit about this wonderful family; they have taken me in and accepted me as one of their own.
Papa is a farmer. He grows corn, zucchini, and cilantro. He also has six cows. He is a hard worker, other than meals we rarely see him between the hours of 6am and 4pm. I think he knows more English than he lets on, but I still try my best to communicate with him in Spanish. He's a teddy bear when it comes to his grandsons and his dogs.
Mama has raised 10 children. 7 boys and 3 girls. Ranging from 27-8 yrs old. She hugged me the minute she met me and has treated me as one of her own since then. She introduced us to the church congregation as her daughters.
She makes cheese. It's very complicated process that I am still trying to learn more about. But what I understand so far is that she gathers the cream in the morning from the cows, she lets it sit all day. She filters out all the dirt and bugs it may have accumulated throughout the day (I got to help with this part once). She then adds some sort of tablet and lets it dissolve. She puts her palm on the very top of the cream, taking off only a light layer, and scraps it off into a cup. From that she works it into a solid and wraps it in banana leaves, selling the cheese to friends and family.
There are 5 children left at home, they help their parents with all the chores around the home and also serve as my translator. They are all so unique and entertain me in one way or another.
We have been busier than ever here in Belize. My roommate Halsey and I have all ready had the opportunity to help in the kitchen, cooking tortillas and washing dishes. We painted out host families house. This past week we helped with vacation bible school. Daily activities include eating rice and beans, attending evening mass, sitting in hammocks.
As much as I love all these activities we have been a part of, I never forget that it's the small things that can often be the most significant. Learning to communicate with my host mom in Spanish, a smile, a tickle fight with my youngest brother. These are the things that sometimes matter most.
Immersion is all about taking time to truly know the people of the community. Learning their hearts and what makes them laugh. Seeking every day for new ways to serve.
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