The Way Back

Well, we are back in Canada.  It's hard to believe that we've been here for almost a week!  The trip back was a long day of airport, airplane, and very little sleep.  We got back safe and we were welcomed by some CLBI staff, students, and parents.  It felt good to be back.

Our last week in Suriname was quite the adventure.  We had the privilege to experience the rive while on a boat tour to the surrounding plantations.  We even saw dolphins!  Not only that, but while at a plantation we were given the opportunity to hold a young crocodile.  Andrew jumped at the chance, while the rest of us were rather hesitant, but we did it.  Later on in the week we got to travel into the interior of Suriname to ADVENTURE CENTER where we zip lined our way through the rain forest and over a river.  Unbelievable! We ate a picnic lunch afterward then headed further into the interior to Brownsberg, a National Park on top of a mountain.  The drive up there was ridiculous.  Tim said he felt saver in the harness while zip lining.  I did too!  We spent a night up there and got to sleep in hammocks in a hut.  Pretty cool.  The next morning we had breakfast and hiked up to Leo Val (one of the main waterfalls in the area).  We walked past a family of red holler monkeys and discovered old gold mining caves.  The water fall was absolutely breath taking!  We slowly made our way back to camp and simply hung out until it was time to leave.  As we began our journey down the mountain it began to pour buckets of rain.  We were driving in a river of water and it was rather terrifying and exciting all at once.

Our remainder days there, were spent enjoying Paramaribo.  We visited Paramaribo Zoo (which I loved dearly) went to birthday parties, ate, went shopping for thank you gifts, ate, and enjoyed time simply talking to the friends we've made.  Oh! and ate some more.  We received a ton of "thank yous" and "we'll miss yous" and we were encouraged greatly.  Even if the work we did seemed insignificant to us, it was a big deal for them.  If we weren't there it wouldn't have gotten done, so I'm glad we were able to help.

God is good!  During our time in Suriname he showed me how he provides for his children and how he loves them.  He made me stop and stare at his incredible creation.  His craftsmanship is inspiring and he chose us to be in authority over it all.  What a privilege!  I'm still looking back into this trip and seeing what God has done for me and taught me.  I don't know how to thank him.

I hope you get this post because I wanted to tell you about Shrove Tuesday on February 21 here at CLBI.  It's a time were you can come here have a supper of pancakes with us and then hear a presentation of all these mission trip experiences.  God is moving and his church is growing and this is a chance for you to hear of it first hand.  I believe supper is between 5 pm and 7 pm and the presentations begin at 7 pm.  I hope to see you all there and thank you abundantly for praying for us.  God bless.

This is Steven Belau signing out!

Searchy, the eighth dwarf.

So we're just sitting in that in-between time that all travellers exist in at some point, when it's everyone else has gone to bed, but there's no point in us sleeping because we leave for the airport in 45 minutes. It's quarter to three here in Paramaribo while we wait to be taken from our host house and then out of the country.

We've really enjoyed our last week here in Suriname, we have spent our time experiencing - we have been doing a lot of intake. Maybe I'll work backwards, cuz that's always fun, and see how far I get before we have to jet. This evening we experienced a 15 year old's birthday party, right at our host house. Birthday are done entirely differently here in Suriname than we do them up north. There was live music (the youth worship band from church),  a sermon, prayer and a blessing for the birthday girl, and lots of people, food, and dancing.

(On the topic of birthdays, we were also very pleased to be invited (although in Suriname, 'invited' is a very loose term, you just kind of show up to birthday parties) to a 50th. The karaoke was off the wall, in both the most ridiculous, and amazing, ways ever.)

Our Fridaywas spent perusing the boutiques and the wares of downtown Paramaribo, eating (which is a popular thing to do in Suriname. It seems like people have at least eight meals a day. Or at least they try to feed us Canadians eight meals a day) and tying up last minute ends before we leave. It has rained, we've heard, more in the three weeks we have been than any other three weeks that anyone can remember, and today was an adventure. Steven got a facefull of puddle dealt by a passing car as we drove, windows open, down a flooded street. But more rain means cooler weather, which we cannot argue with. We are just  getting used to the heat here.

Thursday night Lucrecia and Martin treated us to dinner at a warung (eethuis, or 'eat house'). We had a smorgasbord of Javanese food. The people here are very proud of the food, and it is delicious. We were asked countless times how we liked this food or that, and if we hadn't tried it yet, they'd say 'Oh! We'll make some and bring it to you!'. And it always came. Lots and lots of food.

Well, our ride is here, time to fly away. See you!

Andrew um I think I should go to the hospital

Hey Tim Hesje here. I'm at an Orphanage in Suriname near the border of Guyana. I go to play soccer with the kids. The kids are just kicking the ball around everywhere in a huge field. I'm not really doing anything. Then I see the ball moving towards the gross ditch water where it fell time and time again before. I don't really want the kids to have to struggle getting it out again so I decide I can just make it there in time to stop it.  So I make a very valiant effort and do a soccer slide to get the ball.  I saved the ball and the kids keep playing.

I look down at my leg and I SEE BONE probably an inch or two i also see a huge piece of glass like the size of a brick with a huge sharp piece with blood on it and my leg has a huge skin flap open on my shin like Redford the horse for foundations people, the gash was probably one inch wide and three long or something.  Everything seemed way to surreal and I couldn't really believe what was happening.  Luckily with the shock and everything the only reason I knew i wasn't okay is because of what I saw I couldn't tell I wasn't okay and if I saw nothing I would have went and kept playing soccer but I walked over to Andrew and was like Hey Andrew I'm not OK. He laughs and says no I don't think so or something like that and I'm like Andrew um I think I should go to the hospital or something (I say while kinda laughing and not worried). Ya probably he says. Luckily Andrew and my humour stayed intact and we didn't lose our composure or good attitudes or jokes.

The kids notice and crowd around me everywhere and Andrew and one boy help me limp to somewhere to sit down.  I'm smiling and assuring all the kids its okay. I can't really walk at all now and the pain is really starting to hit me.  Finally some adults notice and get things rolling haha and I think they called the hospital.  One kid tries to touch my wound and wipe it but I don't let him and we hobble over to a sink and wash my wound and get the dirt clumps out.  I'm staring at my leg and don't feel anything and I almost pass out and Andrew and the boy are just holding me now.  I lost a whole pile of blood my leg sock and shoe were just soaked in blood even after washing it out and I thought I was going to lose consciousness it felt like when you are really dehydrated and stand up fast and see black and feel weak.  Except it lasted pretty long, this is where I felt like what if I die this pain is to much God please help me I don't think I'm done yet and then they gave me some water to chug and I felt way better (Thank you God).  I kept my cool other then that moment where I got scared but I was fine I just didn't know if I was fine or not.  Then some cloth was held in front of my face and I'm like what am I supposed to do.  Smell it.  Okay and it was alcohol, makes sense.  But I didn't know what was going on at the time.  Then I went in a van which was hard and made it to the hospital and went straight on a bed right away.  It was funny because they were like hey we got a patient and they were excited like they were bored and usually don't get one.

They spoke English, which was nice and he thought my hacky-sack in my sock might be a huge growth or something, but I just took it out and showed him it was my other leg to worry about with the huge gash and blood.  They asked what happened and if there was glass in the wound I didn't know if there was glass but I didn't think so.  They washed my wound up and a nice blond Holland chick came and stabbed my leg a bunch of times so I couldn't feel the pain but it hurt a lot very ironic huh.  She was like this is going to hurt a lot and you might feel some burning but then you wont feel anything.  So she gave me 9 stitches my leg was bandaged up and it was over.  She said I could walk on it but touching my leg on the ground hurt like mad so I was really wanting some crutches or a wheelchair or something I have always wanted an excuse to get a wheel chair and I was hoping this was my chance but sadly i hopped away but at least I got to exercise my one leg with my one leg hopping, which was nice.

So they said tomorrow to re-bandage it and Friday get the stitches out, which is good because I am on the plane to Canada Saturday.  Andrew came in to help me and very politely stepped on my toes of the hurt leg. I was like yeouch, but it didn't really hurt that bad it was fine at least he didn't boot the wound.  Then I got some painkillers and special treatment and food and water and help moving around and I sure ate and drank a lot.  I got some prayer and I was fine and I played some guitar and talked about the experience and some nice bloody sock and shoe. The sock is gone forever who knows where I got to see the glass the owned me and they picked up a lot of glass from by the ditch and I just washed my blood shoe. The end.

It is very hard to get around with one leg and very tiring and lots of things I was doing with the kids that I can't now also might miss out on fun things but w.e. Lots of stuff I still can do and I'm gonna be fine thanks God.  Other things we have been up to I'm sure one or both of the other guys will cover.

Renovations

It seems weird to say that we are over half done our trip here in Suriname, time has past so quickly and we have a lot to show for the time we've spent.  We finally finished our first work project Monday and we began our second one yesterday.  We've been painting and redorating the office building of the Lutheran Church in Suriname.  The whole building used to be an off white color with a black border now the outside is a sky blue with a silver grey trim and black border on the bottom and the inside is a light grey with a sky blue accent wall and black border.  It might not sound good but it looks great.  That project lasted a whole week.  During the weekend we enjoyed another painting project with the youth, as Andrew said in his last blog and just yesterday we began our second project, washing, painting, and organizing an office at one of the Lutheran churches here in Suriname for the pastor.  And this weekend we will be taking a four hour trip west to Nickire where we will be doing some more painting as well as tiling (something new!) at the orphanage there.

Today was a different adventure.  We got a day off and went to a Maroon Village, it's name translated means 'sandy ground.'  It was interesting to visit a place such as this.  However, my expectations weren't quite the same.  Since the village now has electricity, everything changed.  Some of the oringinal huts were still existing, but torism has taken its toll.  Eventhough the village has its orginial beliefs, religions and customs there is a small resort that was just built beside the village.  While in the village, you have to have permission to take pictures.  It was a great day to get out of the city, however the sunburn has taken it's revenege and this time not just Andrew, but all three of us!

A prayer request is for an exchange program the church is trying to create here in Paramaribo.  The church is wanting to send one, possibly two, of the youth to CLBI this coming school year.  Pray that God will decide who goes and that the money will be there.  It's in God's hands.

God Bless!

Steven

Our Weekend

Yo! Storytime. God provides! So we hung out with the youth of Maarten Luther Kerk ( Martin Luther Church) for most of the weekend, super fun! We were very privileged to be involved in the youth's initiative project: PAINTING THE WALL. Step 1 - raise money. The church is very conveniently located right in the downtown market area, so the youth put on a clothing sale of articles donated by members of the congregation. We were ready and raring to go at 5 in the morning, (the market had been bustling with business for at least 2 hours already). Our little thrift store was open till about ten o'clock, when the sun was starting to really bake. We shut it down and counted up our profits. About 280 SRD (Suriname dollars). We were hoping to make about 300, and we didn't quite have enough to but all the paint we needed. But dontcha know, the guy at the paint store also takes clothing donations! Winning combination. So a deal was made, and we gave him the bags of clothes we hadn't sold that morning, and he gave us a gallon of paint for it. The rest of the paint cost 270 SRD, and with brushes and rollers we had just about exactly enough money. Even more than provision of materials, though, was God's presence in the youth and in our fellowship as we completed this objective together. Pastor Jacobsen told us that this is the first project the youth of Maarten Luther have done together, from inspiration to completion. It was a great experience to be a part of it, and to see the youth grow as they saw the fruits of their efforts. I've heard many people comment that the youth are the future of the church, but it is most certainly true that they are the church now!

Yesterday night we had the chance to meet with a class of theology students at the bible school/seminary here in Paramaribo. It was a very encouraging encounter! I've been learning more and more that though our cultures are so different, there are so many matters of faith that we deal with universally.



Again, we thank you so much for your prayers and your support for us and for all the other IMPACT teams. God bless!

Andrew

FUN.

Greetings all!  Steven here.  I'm just wanting to tell you how I'm enjoying my time here in Suriname, however Tim and Andrew seem to have said everything worth saying.  But they didn't tell you of my bathroom adventures!  As you read prior to this, Andrew had gotten a bad sunburn and Tim had been feasted on by bugs, they are okay now.  I'm a different strory.  I have the runs. which I think is worse.  It has come on and off for the last couple of days, but it's getting better.  The same day that began, I slipped at Fort New Amsterdam and cut up my hand and foot and a few days later found myself standing in a huge hill of anger ants.  I could hardly see my shoe!  I was still being bitten 30 minutes later!  FUN.
Even if it's been a rough start, I really have enjoyed my time here so far.  I find it incredible how God reveals himself to us.  He reminded me of how he loves us even when we slip and fall, when we are cut up, bleeding and hurt.  I'm so thankful.  However, my fondest memory so far was during Sabbet, which Andrew spoke of earlier.  As we opened Sabbet, Crystal preformed a dance to "How Great is Our God" and it was beautiful.  She reminded me of child like faith and the freedom we have to express our love for God.  I wish you could have seen her face as she danced...

Well, I'm gonna go play some Dutch Blitz (which isn't a Dutch game by the way - fun fact for the day) and I will talk to you all later.  I want to thank you all for praying and especially for the all the encouragement the staff has given us.  My favorite so far was the peguin holding a pair of simbals over a sleeping polar bear with the quote, "Do something courageous and then run like heck!"  So fun.  I hope all you first years arrived safely back at school and I miss you all.  Enjoy your time together.  Give each other hugs to each other from me.  Bye for now.  God bless.

Steven 

Oh! This goes out to the Rokos family.  This made me think of you.  For the last couple of days we've been given many hot dogs to eat, even for breakfast!  I finally burst out into song and sang this to Tim and Andrew, "Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs! Hot Dogs here and Hot Dogs there. Aboba Dopa Dopa Dopa..." you know the rest.  I thought you'd like that.     

Hey just Tim again

Quick update: Hey we have been playing hacki sack a lot which is fun.  You all have to try breading banana it is amazing! haha. Also our families should live on the same street like here it is awesome.  Our host brought us to where she lives and she is going from house to house down a whole block and every house she is like this is my sister's, this is my other sister's house, and this is my oldest sister's house, and this is my youngest sister's house, and this is my brother's house. She has 13 siblings and most of them live on the same road.

Got owned at soccer just like when I took a mission trip to mexico. But I was good at volleyball and hacki sack.  Everyone still comments you have so many bug bites Tim are you alright and yup the bugs like me.  They say I have sweet blood I agree. We haven't taken like any pictures or videos yet but we will try to fix that.  I am getting really good at shooing cockroaches and by that I mean SHOEing cockroaches I kill them as fast as I can haha.  Got to play dutch blitz with the dutch boys and it was really fun.  I get to talk about all my favorite movies with the boys and they all love it to. They are excited for men in black 3 and the avengers and we talked about super heroes haha ya pretty sweet.

Ok THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: there is this paste made from almonds I think and chocolate One brand called Nussa and it is amazing. I hope so much that there is some in Canada if not I might have to try to get it across the border.

We get to watch t.v. and play games and go on the internet and do stuff outside everything is great.  We even watched Never Say Never haha and I used to not like Justin Bieber that much before I saw Never Say Never the first time and now I have seen it twice and with his new Christmas Album O Ya.  I know embarrassing right well I would like to be like that and perform and sing so he inspires me.  And he is a cool kid Christian home, sweet moves, swagger, humor, and can't deny talented. haha

Today we started work haha.  Here in Suriname they Don't work from friday to sunday usually.  So they wanted us to do the same and they don't work to long, they take a lot of breaks and they usually come like two hours after they say they are going to come get us.  The traffic is crazy with like 90 k speeds sometimes in roads that barely fit two cars with cars passing us when ongoing cars are coming haha its intense.  The horn is a often used car effect not in anger but to show you are there and tell people things and try to get in lanes and etc... Pretty different. 3 cars drive on one way two lane streets a lot haha.

We scraped the whole church office inside and out and are ready to paint it tomorrow though worked like 7 hours. We did pretty good work especially in the heat. It hasn't been very sunny so not getting to tan but it is still really sweaty all the time haha.  We keep getting fed like every 30 minutes haha and its hard to say no so much. Can't possibly eat it all. Nice relaxation the rest of the day after work though.  Even though it hasn't been that long it feels like we have been here for a long time.

The Sunburn Isn't That Bad

Hey everybody, quick wassup from Andrew. We're back at our host 'home' tonight after two nights in Leonsberg, where Lucrecia lives (she's our 'guide' while we're here, and her whole family lives down a street named after their mother). We went to church Sunday morning - it was all in Dutch, we could catch a little bit of it - and they already had us singing a worship songs (In English and Dutch). We hung out a lot with Lucrecia's nephews, they're all super sweet. They're about high school aged. We taught them all about Dutch Blitz and we played lots of volleyball and 'big wet flop sack' aka hackey sack in the mud. Today we started our official hard work. We're going to be rearranging, redecorating, and painting the church office here in Paramaribo. Today we did a lot of wiping, moving, opening, closing, throwing out, picking up, stacking, packing, and a little bit of singing. The weather was gorgeous today, not too hot at all.

P.S. The sunburn isn't that bad.

Thanks everyone! Stay squishy!

Bible Students of the Caribbean

Hello everyone! Welcome to our blog. We are so grateful for all your support as we have prepared and anticipated our adventure to Suriname, we'll try to keep you as updated as possible.

I'm sitting here in the living room of our host family's house, listening to cars and trucks and motorbikes buzz by on the street, and Cinderella playing in Dutch across the room. We are so blessed to be staying with such a great family as the Kross's, they welcomed us so warmly and their hospitality is beautiful. There are daughters in their household: Joanna, Anastasja, Miriam, and Crystal. Their mother is a teacher and their father is a Pastor at Bethlehemkerk, one of the five congregations in Paramaribo. He's in Israel right now - this family has a passion for the Israel and the Jewish people - he gets back on the 16th. We've heard that he is a real talker and a really awesome person. The Kross's have given us a room under their house, we all have a mattress to sleep on, and a toilet and a shower. They have invited us to open Shabbat with them tonight, a tradition they have been doing for about six months.

We've been here for two full days now, and we've spent them touring around with Lucrecia and Rev. Glen Blomm. We've seen a few of the churches, and today we went across The Bridge (it's an important bridge)  to the other side of the river and briefly explored the fort New Amsterdam. It was a scene right out of Pirates of the Caribbean - plantation houses, cannons, watchtowers - so awesome. We'll start working on Monday, renovating and rearranging an office/meeting room at the church office in Paramaribo.

It's been challenging getting used to the heat here, I don't think it ever goes below 25 degrees here. We are very thankful that this is the cloudy, rainy, cool season in Suriname, it's about as hot as we can take it. I'm sure we will be used to it soon enough though, at least that what the locals say.

We are enjoying seeing the sights, exploring the history, learning about the church, and meeting and talking with Surinamers. Thank you very much for your prayers as we serve here and show God's agape love to everyone we meet.

Shalom

Andrew

Yo From Tim Hesje

I haven't said anything on this yet so I thought it was about time. I see that Steven pretty much did everything already so I will just give my perspective on things.  I wasn't really wanting to come to Suriname. After foundations I was pretty tired and kinda just wanted a break where I could do nothing. Coming back to school everything was so fast and people were so excited to go home for Christmas (I was to),but I really just wanted time to stop moving so I could hang out with my friends and relax.

But it was great getting to know the students better reconnecting with old friends and connecting with new ones. Shout out to Brock for the "popping" and John who slammed me against the wall in the girls hallway. People who are unicycling. Phil whos my fellow Elbow. Soggie who is Norse all the way. E-rock daily for being awesome (Erik Rust). Logan who caught candy in his mouth at the same time that Andrew and I did. Everyone who sat in on storytime with Tim. my d-group is awesome. Kaitlyn for the hilarious gift exchange coincidence. Im probably missing obvious things but I have a bad memory. Anyways school was really great and awesome for two weeks after foundations. I got to unicycle over a stick and fail haha and dance and go for choir concerts and band for second sem and choir second sem exciting.

I love the guys in the dorm this year and our devos and the girls you are beautiful and gifts from God. It is crazy how we can have such strong christian people at the school a very strong group this year.  2nd year class is really good I am so glad I am back this year with my friends.  and lots of great stuff happened in those two weeks of school harumbee, toonie tuesday, sports, etc...Ben dahl also haha ya. Then Christmas was awesome instead of 5 people at Christmas which we had years ago now but originally. Now sister married to Jay, Dan dating Katie, and Jay and Michelle's kids Zion and Story. There were 9 of us, which especially with two young kids felt full.  I got my wisdom teeth out during Christmas break it was pretty hilarious and didn't hinder me very much. Christmas was full of things I love the food, the family, the games, the quiet, the relaxing with media.

and then the new year passed having great times at Hundeby's with hilarious trying to blow stuff up not working at all. So now its 2012 and headed to Camrose with Steven to get ready to leave on the third. Got to say goodbye to a few people for their missions trip and had some more fun times. Then we took off on the plane tuesday with Andrew we were happy he came haha.  So first time flight very condensed contained lots of figuring out what we are supposed to be doing and where we should be going. It was all pretty straight forward but I could see people having trouble or messing things up.  Lots of starving and eating at crazy times also sleeping at crazy times.

t.v. on the plane with no headphones was funny and then the next flight we got free headphones but there was no t.v. it was really funny. We got to start our getting burnt in trinidad on the beach and we also ate shark which was sweet. and we stayed in an awesome place. I want to be more descriptive about everything but bad memory and short attention span and to much to say, and time constraints make me really all over the place. but we eventually arrived in Suriname safe and sound and we have had a lot of fun every since with the baked banana and all the peppers and good food. We got to see a church being built sit in on a church meeting. See old fort new amsterdam and all the cannons. See crazy lush forest everywhere. Red Andrew, bug bitten Tim, and Steven even fell and got cut up haha. I also cut myself getting owned in soccer by some boys.

Lots of stuff already is happening the cross family's house is where we are staying and they are really nice and we hang out and use their computer for this haha. O ya and by the way a hilarious thing no one ever really said to me like this but I will say to you now.  It is so hot that you just sweat all the time. I like to be active so im always dripping sweat whenever I do anything (and this is their cold season!) Andrew and I joke about don't take a step or you might break a sweat again. Be careful and Don't eat to hard you might sweat. Digesting that food is going to make me sweat its to much work. So we like to lay a lot. But today I sweat at New Amsterdam and I showered then I sweat while drying off and then I sweat playing hacki sack and then I showered again and then I sweat while drying off and I sweat while doing push ups and I sweat while sitting still and I sweat while laying down and im sweating now just typing this. At least im hydrated I suppose that is a good thing. and currently Andrew is barking with a dog idk why but its pretty funny.  Well that is lots of crazy stuff.  Talk to you again more concisely about less things next time.

Shark, Sunburns and Suriname!

Hallo Everyone!

Well I'm sure you are all wondering how we are doing, well we are great!  Maybe a little overheating and a few bug bites but that's all a part of the adventure ... right?  The expedition here was long, but full of a ton of firsts.  How many of you have eaten shark for breakfast?  I think very few, if any.  Tim and I (Steven) have never really been a plane before and it took three planes just to get here! From Edmonton to Toronto, Toronto to Port of Spain in Trinidad and then a small hop over to Paramaribo, Suriname.  We had a 6 hour layover in Toronto and then a 16 hour layover in Trinidad.  We went to Maracos Bay (sorry, I don't know how to spell it) and I swam in the Caribbean Sea!  It was breath taking!  We spent around 4 hours at the bay (that is were we had shark) and slept and toured around for the rest.  We finally got to Suriname late last night or early this morning.  It's been an incredible first day!  The people here are great.  Our billets have been extremely hospitable and God has been good.  Well I will pass you onto the other guys.  I hope you are all well and thank you for praying.  This is Steven signing out.

P.S. Please pray for Andrew he has a bad sunburn.  It's bad. (Tim: We call him blood shadow now. I know it sounds pretty awesome you can ask him why sometime.)