Blog #3, whoooooo… These will come more frequently, I promise. The plan is, over each of the weeks leading up to the Race, I will write a post about each country to which we will be traveling. With 11 countries and 12 weeks left until launch, this gives me a grace week – probably for training camp (cue internal freak out). First though, a quick fundraising update/update on my preparation. I am 68.5% funded! Thank you all so much!!! This is exciting but I still have 31.5% left to go so keep an eye out for further fundraising opportunities!! I still have a lot of things to get before training camp (Aug. 8th). Just non-important things like a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and compression sacks. I really need to get on that…but anyway, Belize!
Our first stop in October is Belize. It is a land of jungles, mountains, swamps, and beaches. It is also home to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is one of only six double barrier reefs on the planet. In the reef is a phenomenon called the Great Blue Hole. The Great Blue Hole is a sinkhole in the ocean that is over 300m across and 125m deep (407’). According to one travel blog, despite its growing in popularity as a travel destination, Belize “still feels remote” with many, tiny villages spread throughout its lush jungles.
“According to my research” (name that book series/tv show), in these lush jungles of Belize was the center of the Mayan civilization. This society lasted from around 2600 BC until their integration into the Toltec society in roughly 1200 AD. Spanish conquest took place in the early 16th century. However, in the 17th and 18th centuries, both Spain and England quarreled over the area. In 1862, Belize formally became colonized as “British Honduras. Disputes between Britain and Guatemala (which surrounds Belize on two sides) kept Belize from obtaining independence until 1981. Guatemala, however, refused to recognize the country until 1992.
The largest ethnic groups in Belize are mestizo at 52.9%, Creole at 25.9%, and Maya at 11.3%. The official language is English, however, Spanish is spoken by 56.6% of the population. The most common religion is Roman Catholicism. Sadly, Belize is becoming more of a part of the drug trade from Mexico and South America. The unemployment rate is around 10% with 41% of the population below the poverty line.
While I am not sure what specifically our ministry there will look like yet, please be praying that God would go before us working in the hearts of the people we encounter. It would also be great if you pray that He would be with our hearts as we take the first step in transitioning from life in the US to life in Central America for three months.
Thanks for reading! These will get more interesting as soon as I leave! T-approximately 82 days until we leave. Ahhhhhhhh!
References:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/travel/21Belize.html
https://www.britannica.com/place/Belize
https://www.belize.com/belize-maya/
https://www.cahalpech.com/blog/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-blue-hole-of-belize/
