Holy Cross Anglican School

Peter speaking to the senior students about the Jesus movie.

One of the homes in San Mateo

I would like to share part of an email I recieved today from C who I met recently through our friends at Changes in Latitudes, and brought to the school for a tour.

After walking through San Mateo and spending time with the kids, C asked how she could help from stateside and I told her about a playland that needs fundraising help to get it here for the kids to have a dry place to play close to home - she was very enthusiastic about the idea and is going to start the ball rolling. More to come on that project in the near future.

I recently had the pleasure of receiving a tour (by tacogirl Laurie and Shuffles from Changes In Latitude) of the Holy Cross School. While there I deposited a bag of school supplies and some clothing I had brought from the US.

The tour of the school and its grounds overwhelmed me as a huge range of emotions swept over me. I was heart-struck by the physical conditions of San Mato area. I had not mentally prepared myself to enter the thick of the extreme poverty stricken area, nor do I know if any preparation would have eased the intense feelings. Even though friends at home comment on my living simply and modestly I was suddenly plagued with guilt and feelings of selfishness in regards to all I have and own in the states. I knew this one visit would have an impact on me forever and my desire to help multiplied many times over during the course of the tour.

I was so moved by the wonderment of the children. Regardless of the conditions surrounding the school, the overcrowded un air conditioned classrooms, despite the dust and the heat and the mere helplessness I thought they may somewhat be feeling I was just simply marveled by these “happy-smiling” children. Many of them greeted us with an exuberant hello and several gave hugs and kisses. I’ve only once experienced the constant greetings of such jovial spirits and that was while doing an internship as a nursing student in a pediatric cancer ward. What is it that sustains children in such an atmosphere that would literally crush the spirit of many grown adults? Is it the innocence or the true ability to thoroughly appreciate the mere blessings they are privy to? I guess I’ll never know and thus my amazement of the children will always be present.

Now back stateside I am continuing my efforts of helping the children of Holy Cross through attempts at starting some fund raising campaign for a playground project. I will be presenting ideas to the committees of two different churches this week.

To read more about C's remarkable story please visit tacogirlblog

Kids watching their friends play sports - by C

Enjoying photo shoot - by C

Smiling faces - by C

The crowd grows as more kids want in on the photo shoot - by C

C peeking out from a crowd of kids

Our anual Cinco De May fundraiser was great. We raised lots of money for the computer lab, and the numbers are still coming in as we have a generous donation of proceeds from 13 slot machines for the month of may at the Casino. Thanks to all our teachers and wonderful volunteers who made the day a big success.

Sign on Courtney's blackboard

Take a chance - byShannon

Face painting always a big hit - by Shannon

Painted faces - by Sheila

Snack time - by Shannon

Bouncy tent - by Shannon

Raffle area - by Sheila

Steve making baloons - by Shannon

Pinata time - by Sheila

Inside - by RLD

Musicians by RLD

Sari and musicians

Garrick - by RLD

Big Fish - by RLD

Sensimillia band

Auction time - by RLD

Sensimilia Band

Sign by Changes in Latitides - by RLD

Holy Cross kids cleaning up the beach near the cut

I went to the Holy Cross School yesterday.

It was certainly an eye opener for me. The first thing I noticed was that the children were so friendly. They welcomed their foreigner visitor and were the most polite children I had ever seen.

In the classroom, I could hear scuffling of books and papers and saying shhhhhhh, because, of course I am assuming, they have that much respect for Vernon. I also noticed that this school is modest in it's appearance, but seems to be teaching things school in North America could learn a thing or two from. I read the writing on the wall myself. Instead of your everyday graffiti, instead it said , Love your family and Help the sick.

I chatted with Vernon with length and took and walk through San Mateo. I learned of some of the difficulties these hardworking families deal with. I learned how much the community is benefiting from the school and how they would like to to expand, to increase career opportunities for these children to work towards, and judging from their behaviour, they certainly have the discipline and motivation to financially EXCEL in any part of the world.

I hope that I will be able to return year after and see the school grow. Thank you for a wonderful tour, and I am thankful for all the hard work, effort, and love you put into your school. May you be blessed with tonnes of abundance, and goodwill.

Joanne from Canada

Toy

Vernon Joanne

Dear Friends, I just received this lovely letter from a seminary student who volunteered at Holy Cross from May through August. It made my heart smile and I wanted to share it with each of you!

Blessings, Francis

Hi Francis,
I know I speak for every volunteer that spends time at Holy Cross when I say that the impact of the school is far wider than just your little corner of the world. You have changed a lot of lives for the better, including my own, and I pray every day that the school continues to flourish in spite of its financial difficulties.

I received your letter in the mail regarding the filing cabinet and it really was my pleasure to make that contribution to the school. I wish I could do more from here, but at this point my own finances are exceedingly tight. I am looking for a job, and once I find one I fully intend to send a chunk of my first pay check your way.

I haven't been able to stop talking about my summer. I think my roommates are getting sick and tired of hearing me "You Betta Belize It!!" every opportunity I get.

Thanks again for all of your work.

Prayerfully,Chris

I asked Chris Lloyd if he would like to share his experience in volunteering for the school by writing a short piece that I could post in the Holy Cross Blog. Included in the email he sent is his personal blog with more about his 3 months volunteering at Holy Cross.

Hey folks!! Many of you requested an email about my experiences upon my return from Belize, so here goes! I apologize this has taken me so long to send!!

First off, let me begin by saying that Hurricane Dean passed over Belize with very little damage and no loss of life. San Pedro, Holy Cross, and San Mateo all fared better than one would expect given the fact that they were directly in the path of what became a category 5 hurricane. A lot of prayers were answered, and I am very very thankful for the outcome.

On Wednesday, August 15th I took an early morning flight back to the US from what had become my home-away-from-home for the previous three months in Belize, Central America. It was an absolutely incredible experience, and one that I will not soon forget. I spent most of my time at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro, which is on an Island just off the coast of Belize City.

The warm and welcoming environment of San Pedro was unbelievable. Belize is a nation of such rich diversity that anyone who spends any amount of time there is bound to feel welcome in a familiar, yet distinct cultural environment. San Pedro itself consists of "Gringo", Garifuna, Spanish, and Creole cultures all living in relative harmony. Yet Belize, and San Pedro in particular, also consists of another kind of diversity that we in the US don't often see. Walking down the beach in San Pedro Town, you are surrounded by quaint hotels, locals selling their wares to passing tourists, gift shops, ice cream stores, restuarants serving both local and international cuisine, and honeymooners swooning over eachother along the sandy shores.

Yet a short fifteen minute walk past all of this brings you to a vastly different world. San Mateo, the little village where the school is located, has no sewage systems, very little running water (most days none at all), and no sanitation system of any kind. I spent a lot of time walking through this area and each time was more humbling than the next. Seeing the conditions that many of Holy Cross's children come from makes me want to do something more than simply being there. Holy Cross Anglican School is providing such a needed service (part of the school is a medical clinic, there is a nurse on staff full time, and each child recieves two nutritious meals a day, for just a few dollars a year) that I was proud and honored to be a part of its efforts.

To those of you who are recieving this email that work at or with the school, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. You gave me an opportunity to see firsthand how people with vision and determination can change their little parts of the world for the better. I miss you all already.

To everyone else, thank you for your kind support, financially, spiritually or otherwise, as I undertook this venture the last three months.

I will be posting photos on my blog as soon as they are developed. The link to it is as follows: http://chrisinbelize.livejournal.com/

I apologize for the long email, but there was much to say. I hope that this email finds you all well. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I continue my work towards a Masters in Educational Ministries at Gordon-Conwell.

Love and Blessings,
Chris Lloyd

I would like to share with you a few thoughts from Nurse Heather who has made an invaluable contribution to the school during her stay.

Heather with Destiny
Destiny's house

"The links between poverty, health and educational performance are well known. Since most of the children attending Holy Cross Anglican School come from disadvantaged homes, I was delighted to observed (and be part of) the measures being implemented to improve their overall health.

The children who attend Holy Cross are given a healthy breakfast, a fruit snack mid-morning and a balanced lunch, free of charge. This ensures that there is no barrier to good nutrition and learning during the school day. I see happy, bright eyed children enjoying their classes.

A volunteer dental team recently examined all the children who attend the school. Dental work commenced on the large number of children in need of care and will continue as the dental team visits again in November. The children were taught preventative dental care and given a toothbrush and toothpaste. The stickers and toys were a big hit too.

During the dental visit at the local Poly Clinic, I was able to weigh and measure the Infant I students and found that the majority of these children were at or below the 25th percentile compared to other children in their age and ethnic group.

All students will be given daily multivitamins and receive de-worming medications, and we expect that when they are reexamined at the end of the year, that they will have gained weight and grown taller.

As is commonly the case in all schools, Holy Cross has a number of children with behavior problems. They will be assessed by a volunteer psychologist and she will work with the family and child to improve the child's learning ability.

One of the benefits of having a volunteer nurse around is that I have time to observe the children from a health point of view while the teachers are busy with instruction. A very unhappy tiny little girl came to my attention, when she was having such a crying fit that we all noticed her. As I comforted her, her poor state of health became clear to me. She coughed continuously, had low energy, ate poorly and clung to me continuously.

Francis and I were able to get her assessed and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She is now under treatment and is starting to look like an energetic six year old should.

What comes first, good education or good health, I say they go hand in hand at Holy Cross. God bless all of you who have supported this fine school."

Love, Heather