February 3, 2014 - Monday
Happy Anniversary! 22 years! This is our second year celebrating in Belize. You would think I would give him the day off?? No way.
Out to Los Tambos to start the next sewing class. We are back to basics. Learning how to thread the machine, change a bobbin, change the needle and change stitch patterns. It kept them busy. We had 6 teams of 3 people and the project was to make one bag. It certainly was interesting to watch. We ran out of power at 2:00 pm so our sewing day is over and time to move on to something else.

We were invited to dinner at In His Will to celebrate our anniversary and Leroy's birthday. Very nice
evening.

February 4, 2014 - Tuesday
We picked up Ms Tomasita at 8:30 and on to Selena for our first day of classes. Rev. Olivia was ready and waiting for us. The building was unlocked and ready for us. The sewing machines were out and it looked like we were ready to rock!
I worked on the machines to see if I could find one that would work with out too much effort. The
treadle machines were received 2 years ago with little or no attention since that time. Unfortunately
like so many of the metal things in Belize the machines are rusted and tension disks are pitted. Where is the repair guy when you need one?? I can do general repair but all of this is above my pay grade.
When the first person arrived we abandoned machine repair and went into the teaching mode.
It was a little disappointing that we only had two ladies show up but we had a great time and we
were able to have a one on one class. Neither of the ladies had used a machine so we to started
with the basics of hand work. Class ended at 12:00.
After talking to the Rev. Olivia we found out that there seems to be a great deal of conflict between some of the people in the village. She felt we wouldn't be able to get more than a few there at one time. That is sad!

Shopping for supplies in Spanish Lookout for class in LosTambos tomorrow. Back to the mission house for supper.

February 5, 2014 - Wednesday
8:15 picking up Ms Tomasita. The Howler monkeys were making a lot of noise this morning. We left Ms Tomasita at the school to set up for class.
I would like to stop here and say that for those of you who don't know Ms Tomasita she is my interpreter, right hand person and a very dear friend. She is a wonderful lady who faces some unbelievable challenges every day. She has only one leg. She did have a prosthetic leg but it had some problems so now she uses a walker. Can you imagine trying to hike some of the roughest trails in the Smokey mountains with a walker? That is what she endures every day and is also raising 5 children. They do not have electric or running water. AND SHE NEVER COMPLAINS!!  To see all that she does is such an inspirational lesson for me.
Back to class............things went very well everyone seems to have a good handle on operating the machines.  We made 8 bags today using 4 machines. We had a few remakes but the ladies are in the learning stages. Finished at 3:00.

Just a couple updates from Joe - no particular order or date sequence  -
 - First attempted trip to the water pumping station ended - - -  abandoned!  Turned the corner on the road and found the road was washed out after only a hundred yards.   Maybe later! Next day with boots as a backup - I drove to the first washout section and parked the car.  With my new boots (Andy  - I got the black ones) I was able to get through the 2 washouts and walk about a mile and a half to the pumping station.  I heard a noise when I arrived and found the pipe was broken at the station and water spewing all over the place and the pump running continuously. Ran next door - quickly introduced my self to Mr. Cu and he shut the power off.  I got in touch with Francisco Miranda (Harvey's brother) and he came out later in the day and we repaired the pipe.

- First day of sewing classes we found no power in the palapa hut. Wires had been pulled loose in the top of the hut.  Ran to Spanish Lookout for repairs. And now the ultimate lie - - - -  "I did not stop by western Dairy".  Repairs done and the ladies are off and sewing.

- After driving in mud for the first few days I figured it was time to give the car a wash.  Started working on it and had a couple little volunteers from the neighborhood.  Ended up costing me 2 sodas, 2 candy bars and 50 cents BZE for a fairly good job along with playing in the water with them.

- We heard that Me. Juanita's son, Mark, has passed through Std 6 and is attending a 4-H trade school in Belmopan.  Looked him up one afternoon and really was good to see him.  Plans are for us to pick him up from school and he will spend this weekend with us. He is growing into a very nice young - 14 year old - gentleman.

- Returning from the water pumping station I met Reynaldo on his horse.  We talked for a while and he went on his way.  Later in the day I saw a car parked in the road in front of the school and once again it was Reynaldo - muffler dropped off his car.  Spent some time helping him "repair" it and he was on his way.

- It rained pretty hard for the first few days we were here - keeping the roads a mess.  After a couple days of no rain and hot weather, they have begun to grade the roads in Los Tambos.  Glad to say the road conditions have now been upgraded to "TERRIBLE".  The 3 mile drive from the school to Gonzales takes close to 20 minutes.

- Spent a couple days working with Daryl on the new addition to the Learning Center. Daryl asked if I knew Charlie (Espiritu) Told him of course I knew Charlie and he said - "That guy worked me like a dog!"  He also informed me the gloves Charlie had given him had worn out.  We got him a new pair on the next trip to Spanish Lookout..... Now get back to work! He told me to quit acting like Charlie.