Study, Study, Study!

Hello all!
Last week was our first week of lectures. Our speaker was Jon Peterson from Snowqualmie, WA. He taught us how to effectively use our Bibles to obtain greater understanding and to build our relationship with God. He taught us the importance of context and how to ask three questions every time we open the Word.
First was WHAT (to find the historical context and to read through the passage to comprehend the general purpose of it's placement in the Bible. We were taught to first seek to recognize and understand who the original audience was and what the original author intended for the original audience to get from the passage)
Second was SO WHAT (to apply the knowledge gained to our own lives and seek its meaning in how we ought to live our lives)
Lastly was NOW WHAT (to put into action our new knowledge and understandings)

Each day we were asked to read the book of John in a different way, followed by a 10 question quiz the next morning. We were told that whoever was first to get a perfect score would receive the "Pen or Power" (a 4-color changeable pen to use for Bible marking) and that if the entire class got a perfect score the same day that he would treat us all to DandE's ice-cream (the best ice cream in San Pedro... and the world). We had to read it all the way through 5 times! Forwards, backwards, in a different translation, prayerfully, and out loud in groups, which a few of my friends and I decided to sing improv style passing around a guitar and our lyrics book (John) and singing in several different genres (country, folk, rap, and tribal drumming). It was quite a challenge to read it through the very last time, but my entire class got 10/10 the last day and we were rewarded our promised prize! What a great accomplishment! Jon also taught us the difference between existence and life. What a revelation. It would take me about 5 days to explain it all though :)

When I had a gap of time between studying, forcing myself through John for the millionth time, chores and cooking, I enjoyed exploring the island more. The people of Belize are beautiful and kind. They speak English and accept US currency (with a $1 BZ to $2 US ratio). I went biking on the road to town (about 5 miles away) and rode on the beach the way home. I only fell down in the sand 6 or 7 times :) So embarrassing. Almost every day I make time to explore the reef too by kayaking as close as I can get and snorkeling around. I have some great underwater pictures, but our internet is iffy here so I will have to wait until I get into town to post some.

Other than that, things are going incredibly well! God is moving here and we are all going through some major heart-surgery. I can't wait to tell you about all the amazing things that happen in weeks to come! Thank you again for your support. I am always in need of more donations and prayer. Anything helps. Miss you all!

Under The Sea...

Today was our first official day under the sea! For those of you who don't know, I was certified with PADI during 11th grade (in chilly Puget Sound) and I am the only girl in my program that has a head start. OH MY GOODNESS... what a difference 80' water makes!!! We spent about 30 minutes in the pool being instructed over the basics (it was FREEZING!) and then we went straight out to "Mexico Rocks," a five minute boat ride away under about 10-15 feet of water. It felt like bathtub water after being used to the cooler pool water. I was so amazed that everyone else got to actually do it on the FIRST day! I had to do so much bookwork before I was unleashed 3 years ago! According to our base director and dive instructor, Chris Toney, the other girls should all be certified in about a week! So cool! Chris' son (and my good friend) Cameron and I are working on becoming rescue divers in these 3 months. How cool would that be?

The Adventure Begins!

 After 4 different flights, and one water taxi ride... I finally made it to Belize! I couldn't have made it here without all of your help and I am greatly appreciative!! It feels like a sauna here and the water is so warm! I love the other students here too. This is a smaller school with only 15 students total (diving and sailing) and 7 in my program which are all girls!! How fun, right? We each got settled into our own little rooms with two beds and our own bathrooms and my roomate's name is Lucilla and she has lived her whole life in San Pedro just 5 miles down the coast! I am constantly asking her so many questions and showing her my bugbites and asking her if I have Malaria... she's great :) This first week is orientation week so we are learning about the acedemic requirements and regulations of the DTS and I am so excited for it all to really begin! More to come later, but I am limited on my internet time when at the base, but I will probably use one of the computers at an internet cafe in town sometime later this weekend. Hope you all are doing well. Miss you already!

7 Days of Impatience.

      I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that the first few days of the New Year have been treating you well! My mother gave me one of those wonderful super-absorbant/speedy-drying towels for Christmas and I am so excited to use it. Also, I did a trial pack and everything fits pretty well in my backpack!
       As much as I love Winter in the Northwest, I am also very excited for the 90' weather in Belize! I fly out Monday Night from Seatac to Houston and then to Belize City where I will take a smaller Airplane to Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) and arrive at the Base somewhere around 1:00pm the next day. Prayers for safe travels for me and the other students that day would be appreciated. I am blessed to announce that I have enough funds to pay the second fee for my lecture phase due on the 11th. I do however still need to pay for my Outreach by the middle of February. I know it will be somewhere between $1,275 and $3,275 (depending on which country we decide to travel to). If you feel led to support me financially, I am accepting checks VIA mail (made out to my name and sent to 2205 Henry St. Bellingham, WA 98225) or through PayPal (see "donate" button on right side of page). Absolutely anything helps and I will still be accepting donations even after I leave the states. This trip would not be possible without all of your support and I thank everyone for all of the donations and encouragement I have been recieveing. God is good!