Things have certainly not slowed down at all since we returned to Canada. In fact, the pace seems to have increased and Direct Abundance is motivated more now than ever to help the children of Belize and assist the community of San Pedro. Since our return last week, we have started a few new projects.

While in San Pedro we dropped off a small amount of donations and visited the San Pedro Roman Catholic School. The principal took us on a tour and gave us a wish list of things that the school needs. Specifically, the library shelves are empty. We have been contacting Canadian authors, made contact with the local libraries, and are seeking donations of books to be shipped sometime during the late summer. We would like to see the book shelves of both Holy Cross and RC full and overflowing for young readers. The response has been very positive.

We have been in contact with Dr. Martell,of Nova Scotia, who has generously agreed to share his 40 foot container, and to locate a defibulators, to give to the Poly Clinic. We were shocked to learn that the island does not have one of these life saving devices, and since we returned home it seems to be our personal mission to acquire one or two. Green Solutions is ready to fill a container for us with “school in a box” and “doctor in a box”. These include items such as furnishings, materials and school supplies. This company donates the items to charitable organizations, and the charity is responsible for the shipping costs.

Which leads to our next project we are working on. Currently we are in contact with the Lion’s Club and Rotary Club to assist us in raising shipping money. Shipping from Canada is not cheap, but we are confident that the doors will open, and at exactly the right time, we will get what we need to get these much needed items down to the dock in San Pedro. We have contacted the airlines and the airline ambassadors program, to inquire about reduced baggage costs. We have found that shipping can be a real challenge as not many carriers go to Belize from Canada.

Cathy, our Child Care expert, is working on getting donations of safe, quality toys to help open the pre-school at Holy Cross in the fall. She has started a new facebook page, and you can find a list of the items she thinks would be most beneficial to a pre-school and to advance early child development.

Heather of course is busy as ever,networking, writing letter, designing the new power point slide show, which we will use in our presentations to the schools for the high school community service project. In Canada, a student is required to complete 40 hours of Community Services to graduate from highschool. Currently we are in the process of recruiting students here, to assist our organization and to raise funds to sponsor a student through high school in Belize.

The work never ends, but it feels like a hobby. There are times when the road seems long, but we are so determined that I have no doubt that everything will come together.

If you work at something you love, you will never work a day in your life.

What a trip! Thanks to all of your generous donations! We packed up our 9 hockey bags, totalling 450 pounds, of vitamins, teachers resources, toys for Christmas, back packs, pens, crayons, craft supplies, stuffed animals, paper, books, and pretty much anything you might find in a school that helps 516 children daily meet their educational and health needs. Holy Cross Anglican School. Tacogirl, my long time friend, had arranged our itinerary so we would meet everyone while we were there. The first person we met was Mrs. Carol Babb, Chief Executive Officer for the Minister of Education, Belize. We spoke about a partnership with Direct Abundance that will assist other schools, on both the island and the mainland. While we were in San Pedro we were lucky enough to take part in all of the festivities around blogfiesta and lobsterfest. We all met at Pedros and that was where Directabundance was interviewed by both of the local papers, the San Pedro Sun and Ambergris Today. We had fun that night, and met a great connection for the Lion’s Club. We were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and donations given to us by people in Belize. We returned to Holy Cross the following day, to sort through the donations, and while we were there Direct Abundance had the pleasure of sponsoring a worthy graduating student into highschool. She plans on being a music producer, and we plan on making that dream come true!

Tacogirl had arranged for us to take part in some fundraising activities for Lobsterfest. Alexis, a student at Holy Cross, and personal friend of mine, assisted in selling Mardi Gras Bead for his school. He managed to sell 250.00 worth for donations. In addition to all of that, there was a Benefit breakfast Held by Changes In Latitude, which donated 50% of the proceeds to Holy Cross and raised an additional 115.00. We were treated to a fabulous relaxing day before returning home. First, we went snorkelling courtesy of Chel belle. We met with michelle, who brought a huge donation of vitamins. Our tour guide, Kenton, took us to two locations where we were able to unwind from our busy weekend and take in some of the natual beauty of San Pedro. After that we were treated to an exciting experience of parasailing by Extreme Adventures. Our instructor, Kevin, was lots of fun, and made a frightening experience exhilarating! We will be including these events in the future on Our Trips With Meaning. We would like to thank all of the wonderful people we met that have offered to assist us in helping not only Holy Cross but the areas in which the children live.

Here’s to the nights that turned into mornings, the friends that turned into family, the dreams that turned into reality and the likes that turned into love! Thank you San Pedro!

Thursday is fast approaching, and we are getting set for the trip to San Pedro. Cathy, Heather and I have our bags packed and donations in tow. We really are overwhelmed with the amount of support that we received. What started as a request for school supplies has grown into so much more. We received a large donation of stuffed animals, enough for more than 60 children, in addition to donations of back packs, medication, and school supplies, from friends, families, co-workers and agencies.

We are looking forward to our tour of San Mateo and the school on Thursday, and meeting Francis and Vernon Wilson. In addition to visiting the Holy Cross Anglican School, we will be meeting with the principal of San Pedro Roman Catholic School. Our goal is to set up more partnerships, and see how DirectAbundance can best help the community and the children.

There is so much work to do, and just enough time and resources to do it all. Thank you all for your support in making this trip a reality for us.

Direct Abundance is steering in a different direction. The goal of course, is still to help others, but a new face has arrived, Heather Zwicker, and the goals are even bigger and better. With Heather's expertise in the teaching field, specifically with Special Education students, and my background in Social Work, we are aiming to take things to an International level.

Our new mission:

is dedicated in assisting struggling international communities to provide relief, development and advocacy. Our focus is to promote and enhance new and existing social infrastructure and to support families and communities to attain self sufficiency, being sensitive to the diverse cultures which we assist. Our current goal is to raise funds for the Holy Cross School in Belize. We are excited about the work that lies ahead, and grateful for all the support ! Joanne and Heather

I teamed up with my old college friend Heather Zwicker, and we are really trying to get the ball rolling to get Holy Cross Anglican School the items they need. Heather has lots of great ideas and contacts that it just seems unbelievable. We are meeting this weekend to try to put together a list of sponsors to write letters to. We put together a great facebook group that has had lots of activity and responses. It was exciting to watch the group grow overnight. Heather is currently working on "Adopt a School" program and the "Pen Pal Program." In addition we currently have lines out there for medical supplies, tools and school supplies. I am overwhelmed at so much happening so fast. I had to go to the library and get some books on fundraising and grants. Congrats to my friend Laurie for winning the best image blog for Lonely Planet! Peace, Joanne

I was asked by the founder of Dream Makers, to start a blog for them. I eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Dream Makers is a great organization that helps ill and disadvantaged children all over the world. Some of the good works that they do are helping, and sending children to Disney that would never get there, helping fund an Orphanage in Rwanda, and just assisting children that really have no other alternative. I am excited about my new opportunity to work with such a great organization!

As I said earlier back from Belize. I had a great time with my friends Erin, Laurie, Paul and Bronz. It was nice to see old faces from last year as well. We sure ate a lot of seafood and drank a lot of fresh juice. A lady named Maria makes fresh juice every morning and it tasted so good. At the beginning of the trip I stayed at Laurie and Paul's house which was beautiful, and when Bronz arrived I moved to Caribbean Villas. The villas were amazing. We had a loft, with a gorgeous view of the ocean. Zack gave me a great recipe for Pina Coladas, and I spruced it up with fresh pineapple. We really enjoyed those! Erin and I went on a boat ride to Captain Morgan's and then we all went back for a buffet dinner. The plantain was awesome!! We also took a tour of Reef Village. We joined a protest boat parade at 7 am, to stop the destruction of the Wetlands and Mangroves. Ironically, that is what I am currently learning about in University. Bronz and I laughed to see our faces on the front page of the paper. I drove the cart from one end of the island to the other, and am officially the best trained and selected cart driver around. I stargazed at the end of the dock, and enjoyed watching fish. I looked into Real Estate and Rentals for next year. It is hard to believe that I will be spending nearly 3 months there. I was sad to come home, but was happy to see my kids and to find that the weather was mild. Adios Amigos see you in December :) Joanne

Well back to work, and to the cold weather of Canada. I went to the Holy Cross School a few times when I was in Belize. The kids were great as always. I met a medical group that was volunteering, and a church group from the U.S.

The medical group was taking information on all the kids and doing hearing tests, height and weight, and checking for worms. They were setting up a new filing system in the school, to track the childrens medical records.





I had the opportunity to look at the new computer centre. It is amazing. All of these kids will be able to communicate online.

I sorted donations that had been brought in for the morning, and put together snack, for which the children were appreciative of. The current school Social Worker is trying to set up a soccer team with the mom's of San Mateo. An organization her ein Canada, Dream Makers, is going to try to see if they can get a donation of hats, shoes and soccer equipment.




I learned that the AIDS rate on the island is 2%, but they estimate it to be closer to 4%. Those are scary numbers when you consider the size and population. Also there is lack of any kind of social infastructure to help people in need. It seems that you just keep finding there are so many unmet needs. I was always happy to give a few of the kids a ride home on the golf cart, especially the ones that had so far to walk.

I will post pictures later tonight of the kids.

Joanne

I am so excited as I sit her looking out the window at the cold, bitter snow on the balcony, realizing that in 2 short days I will be back in Belize, with my sandals on.

I was able to muster up lots of donations to take down to the Holy Cross School. Dream Makers donated lots of teddy bears and t shirts, and people from work donated Vitamins and school supplies.

I will be meeting with Dr. Shackelford, from the University of Mississippi, and talking about the work I will be doing on my long term stay later this year. I will be visiting the school at least two or three times this week, so look for interesting pictures!

I am also heading over to Caye Caulker, to explore another island, and I think Erin and I will likely take a water taxi to Belize City. The only way I could convince her was to remind her that it is a long boat ride.

I can't wait to see Laurie and Paul.

This week I have been sick with blood pressure. I finally went to a Naturopath who treated me. I had acupuncture done and prescribed some Chinese Medicine. She altered my diet, and I felt very relaxed and good with her. I feel that this scare, and it was a REAL SCARE! was enough to cure me of smoking.

I must end this blog now, get back to my reading and studies.

Next blog coming from SAN PEDRO, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA! SEE YOU THERE!

Okay! So here it is, my annual reflection on the past year and my looking forward to the next.

2008 - Another great year for me. The first thing I can think of is that I landed a good job that I really like. I earn good money and have good co-workers and bosses and to top it all off, they granted me a three month leave of absence to begin December 2009.

My second accomplishment was that I completed 4 more university courses, and I got 2 A's and 2 B's.

I made several new friends, and two stick out in my mind the most. Bronze, my lovely beau, and Martina, a co-worker.

I took two vacations as well, one to Belize to visit my friends Laurie and Paul, and one to Cuba with the kids. I went horsebacking with my kids on the beach and jumped in the waves in the Caribbean.

I did not meet all my health goals - however, I am going into 2009 20 pounds lighter, 90% vegetarian, and dairy free.

I celebrated as my eldest daughter took flight to Italy in March 2008, and my youngest brought home 6 A's on her report card.

Thankfully this year has had very little chaos and many blessings. In the year 2009 I wish to aim for the following goals

*3 month leave of absense December 2009 to March 2010 and volunteer with the Holy Cross Anglican School, a week in Honduras, and a week in Mexico.

*2 week vacation in Belize (coming up January 27)

* fundraise for the trip to the Holy Cross and raise minimum of $1000.00 to pay for shipping of donations

*pay off bills and possiblu acquire a second property

*have my divorce finalized (it is nearly 75% done)

*finish my BA and get a few more A's

*do well on Kasamba

*continue to live healthy and think healthy

I have a feeling this might be ne of those work your ass ff years, but the final pay off seems so worth it. The end of 2009 has a lot of making my ultimate dream come true.

As I sit here at work 1 hour before midnight I once again reflect what a truly wonderful year it has been. Life is good. Life is so very, very good. What more could I ask for.