The stories pictures tell

 I am finally sitting down to do something I love: digital scrapbooking. It started as a "need". I used it as a platform to make a picture portfolio for homeschooling.  Through the years I've done it on my days off while "binging" whatever show I felt like it.  The scrapbooks, my days of rest, and blogging had been set aside as we went through the huge transition of the past year and a half.  

one of the last times we met at our old house in Orange Walk

Looking at the pictures, I realize there are many stories I would like to share. Stories that take up too many words and space for newsletters, Instagram posts or prayer emails.  I am going to make a valiant effort in the next few weeks to tell some of the stories that the pictures convey.  It may end up looking like too many blog posts at once. My greatest desire is that they would be told instead of sitting just as pictures. The cool thing is we will still be able to access the blog later. To that end, it is of little importance how many posts I work on in a small amount of time. 

Our old kitchen sink loaded on our pastor friend's truck

The first story, if I am looking in chronological order of our pictures is one of  moving.  Many if not all of you know that from June of 2021, our family had a long period of transition. Things we didn't expect compelled us to stay longer in the states and move our "home base" from Orange Walk to Spanish Lookout.  February 2023 concluded that period.  I came with Nathanael to Orange walk to empty our house of a few last things in the end of January.  

One of the last things we did before leaving our Orange walk home was have a tea party with our friends (Abi, Heidi and Zion are sitting at their house)

I snapped a picture of the sink that a pastor from Belize Evangelical Mennonite Churches took. It was the sink I used for 4 and a half years. The one where the Formica was pealing and made a dear family member say we "live in squalor". The issue was that without completely replacing the sink and cabenit, duct tape held it together.  I asked the pastor what he was doing with the sink. His reply was it will sit in the bush as a sort of shelf.  It validated me a bit, thinking that really it wasn't good for everyday use and should have been disposed of years ago.

We enjoyed the sunset at the park behind our house over Christmas break

The following weekend, our good friends the Groff boys went to Orange Walk. They helped move the last of the heavy items.  It was a bit disheartening as I watched them clean and paint our old home. Our memories and family life swept away with a new layer of paint.  

Abi hangs out with Ava

At the same time it came with a finality.  We are officially moved both into Spanish Lookout, and the church to their own land in Orange Walk.  We are able to find our feet, our schedule and structure.  On the other end I am realizing I needed so much grace in the process, and honestly I didn't give myself enough.  Perhaps that should be a reminder and a warning to me. Transition is hard both emotionally and physically.  Grace is needed for ourselves outwardly (from you) and within our family.  

Zephaniah (Pip), Zion (Marsmello), Selah (Ava), Abi (Oso)

We have established routines in both ministry and family life.  We have had opportunities to be involved in the community at large in Spanish Lookout as well as with Fountain of Life church.  It has been a huge blessing to us, bringing stability.  

Our house from the lane. We only live in the top part

While I would not say that everything has fully transitioned, I would say we are finally finding home in our new location.  We are thankful. 

Crossing Cultural Lines (again!)

I have about 5 ongoing lists currently. Things we want to see while in the US, things we need to buy, homeschooling needs, the list of lists goes on.  Today I'm sharing with you a list of what we will be required to remember.  What we need to remember you question? The behaviors and rules that are different here vs in the US. Without further ado our non-comprehensive list:

1.  Toilet paper goes in the toilet. (we may have to move the trash can outside of the bathroom to help with this one)

this is the sign inside of the bathroom of Western Dairies

2.  Personal space is a very different concept in the US vs Belize, especially when standing in  a line or waiting for something

Selah in line for popsicles at 

3 "right now" actually means that very moment! Here it means that is the next thing I will do, or just a moment.

Selah and Zion waiting for the water jugs to get filled

4. Wearing seat belts is the law. It would behoove me to tell you that not too long ago I was quite a stickler for carseat safety. That "me" would be embarrassed by this me.

Full van at Easter. Ni is on my lap. Misael and Elmer aren't even in seats (not to mention the kids bouncing around in the back

5. The sun goes down slowly and later. Here the time that the sun goes down only fluctuates between 4:30pm-6:30pm year round. Once the sun starts going down, it's usually down within half an hour.

picking out costumes for drama Sunday

6.  It's okay to walk in the rain.  Belizeans don't like to go out in the rain. They will stop at a shop and wait till the rain stops to continue on.

How seating is usually arranged for the sermon portion ( encourages interaction)

7. Re-orienting ourselves to be more "cold culture" in our time.  Belizeans tend to be relationship oriented "I give you my time because I care about you" They will make conversation with you, with a long line behind you.  North Americans tend to be task-oriented "I won't take up your time because I care about you" Neither is wrong, they are just different.

some of the people from Jesus Deaf Church who came to Abigail's quince

8 Pants and sweatshirts!  I have a feeling we are going to be quite cold! Our temps haven't been below 90 for over 2 months.  Due to high humidity, the overnight lows aren't usually below 80.

Selah helped serve at a Koinonia event

9 Eggs. In Belize, we buy them from a shelf and keep them on the counter

10. sending the kids to the local shop. In Pennsylvania, I probably would refer to these as a "convenience store" in a one block radius we have 3 food stores and 1 hardware store. I often send the kids out for eggs, rice, beans, onion or flour. The shops are labeled by the country of origin of the owner: "the Chinese shop" , "the Mestizo shop", "The Hindi (Indian) Shop"

I will leave the list at 10. This is mostly because we are in the midst of packing and cleaning.  If you notice my kids (or even us) doing something odd, feel free to ask us about it. Zephaniah especially seems to lose the context for how to act in the US. (We all flounder at times). We look forward to seeing you all in person and lots of hugs!

P.S. If you haven't received our newsletter yet, we do have a list of our current needs. If you feel called to fill those in one way or another please let us know!  :)

For those of you who live in Eastern PA, We are having a fundraiser dinner at Hopewell. Here is a copy of the Flyer. Email us or call Hopewell for more information:

I can't seem to load the flyer correctly (sorry) Here is the information:


Casual dinner and gathering of friends and supporters of the Davis Family serving as missionaries to the Deaf community in Belize. June 23, 2019 5:30 pm Hopewell Christian Fellowship 601 Hunsicker Road Telford, PA 18969

We are still learning

If I am honest with you, I would tell you I often write blog posts in my head.  At times it's an ongoing conversation.  Often, God speaks to me and teaches me more about the things I am thinking about posting.

This past week I spent a lot of time writing in my head.  I struggle with the balance between honesty: This week was pretty hard on us, and the fact that it feels like there is a need to only report the good.

The other day I shared an article on facebook.  It was specifically about the concept of, "When Helping Hurts."  If  you are unfamiliar, let me introduce you to the concept.  The idea is that  if I am only filling "needs" and not enabling others to become independant, I am in essence "hurting" them. It may be couched in good intentions, but the effect is still the same.  It creates a dependance: someone has to continue to fill the need (financial or otherwise).  It also lends itself to an enviroment of "less than"/"greater than".

It wasn't until recently that we realized we had created a situation.  For us it felt like it went against everything we had worked not to do.  Even when you are striving to find (and do) God's will you will have times you feel like you failed.

Two years ago, we flew out of Cancun.  It is often cheaper to fly from there.  Taking that flight meant we had a little time in Mexico.  I can tell you after a few hours in Cancun, I was sick of my own skin.  I couldn't change the fact that I stood out, and the preceptions it made on the vendors.  When I was talking to my mentor about experiencing the similar thing in Belize she had some insight.  I told her I don't want to be precieved as the rich American, "but you are" she stated.

I can't be something I'm not.  No matter how much we try to not be "that" to those around us; it happens.  The conbination of the preception of being a "rich American" and hurting instead of helping became volitile.

I can tell you that it lead to me driving a neighbor's truck down the pothole filled roads of Orange walk.  (he was on the back holding our wardrobe on the truck).  He shouted directions to me.  I wished for a pillow so I could pull just a little closer to the stearing wheel.

We will step into our proverbial shoes.  The "lot" we have, bumpy ride, can't reach the steering wheel and all.  Sometimes it's okay not to get it right. The process of learning and growing is lifelong.  I am thankful to be along for the ride

Spring

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Prayer

Week 3 highlights

In some ways our family feels like they are getting into a " groove". We are following our old traditions:
                   walk to the park Saturday night to play and hang out with others

                   eat out Sunday after church, hopefully in a place that has air conditioning as a reprieve

We officially started school this past week. I can tell you that we've been unschooling of sorts through the summer. I was planning on not counting school days this  year, but it was too difficult for Selah to not know. ( Please don't tell her I haven't started counting yet)

There were some firsts this week:

Nathanael preached his third consecutive sermon. From now on it'll be a first every time for length of times he's preached in a row. Nathanael likes to keep track of these types of things



Zion caught her first gecko this term. She was delighted. She kept him in a pencil sharpener overnight and fed him ants.

We have animals!! We have been holding off for years, till we had a place of more permanence. Before you wonder why.. we have chickens (for the eggs), 2 dogs (to protect from robbers) and 2 rabbits (to "mow" the grass) it has been a learning curve but overall we are delighted to share our lives with some pets.

We continue to unpack and make the house ours. It has been difficult planning around getting everything out of the living room on Fridays (and on Sunday) to have people here for Bible Study.

Rainy season has started, a welcome break from the intense heat. I actually turned on the warm water in the shower.

Plan for this week: Update our prayer corner :)

Thanks so much for joining us on this journey.

one month or two weeks, depends on how you are counting

Wednesday will mark the two week time for us in Belize. It also happens to be exactly a month from when we left the Hopewell Parking lot. (August 27th).  We have had many adventures in the process. All learning experiences!

How does being in Orange Walk 2 weeks feel to us?

This transition has been much different.

Two years it was a drastic change. We were walking basically into the unknown, with 11 suitcases to our name.  

This time we had a home with some things set up. We also were aware ahead of time the things that would make our house a home. 

Two years ago the heat was a shock to our Pennsylvania born bodies. 

This time we expected it. That doesn't mean we are less hot

Two years ago all of the food tasted strange to us. 

This time the first food the kids wanted to eat was rice and beans.

Two years ago we spent a lot of time trying to figure things out

This time we feel like we're on our way

Two years ago we had a one year commitment

This time it's indefinate.  Things are feeling like we are working towards finding home. We are building a place that we can celebrate as a family.  

Two years ago we were under different leadership

This year Nathanael is leading the church.  In some ways this is more difficult as we are stepping into someone else's shoes.  For right now we are following the order of worship and way of doing things that Nancy had set up.  

Thanks for joining me in the small comparisons of our transition.  Feel free to text us (we have internet numbers through google so it's free to do) email us, and even call us. Skype with our kids. We finally have good internet.  :)  My goal is to get into a regular blog updating schedule again.

We are in transition.

This is the state of our basement "living room" area currently. It is a mish mash of thrift store items, things to be packed, and things to be put in storage. I would venture to say this is the state of our entire house.. (sorry mom!!)

We are in the process of going room to room deciding what will stay (not much), what will go, and what we will get rid of. ( or bless other people with)

Recently a I was texting with a friend. She asked how I am doing. My answer: We are in transition. She asked if that meant we are packing and cleaning. Yes we are doing that. I was actually referring to a state of my heart.

Both Nathanael and I have read Looming Transitions by Amy Young which specifically talks about the challenges missionaries/expats face while going on to and leaving the field. We recognize that we are (and have been ) facing these transitions. We are thinking about saying goodbye, packing, anticipating change, and attempting to plan for it.

This past week we ran in a color fun run. I actually ended up with my niece who didn't want to run, most of my run was spent walking. On the way, we listened to this song:

I had chosen it, but I told Nathanael I hated it, and started to cry. Who wants to think about "when can I see you again?" as that is such an uncertain thing? I also have this "mom guilt" thing hanging over me, reminding me that "I" am doing this to our children. 

All of this post to say: Yes we are excited. We should be headed to Belize in the end of August! Please give us some grace as we navigate this time.  We love you and are thankful for you. YOur prayers and support are what has brought us to this point.

And for fun: Pictures from our run: