Bella Goes to YWAM

At Cafe Royale

Yesterday we ate our hand-caught fresh snapper at Cafe Royale, the restaurant that Obby and his wife Ruby own in "San Pedrito" located behind the Maya Airline terminal. To get there, you have to go to the back side of the airport, then turn left and then right a lot of times until you come to "Second Street" where Obby and Ruby live. You won't believe how good the food is! It's best to take a taxi.

By the way, our little airport here is the second busiest in Belize. (Only the international airport in Belize City has more traffic.) Presently the "John Grief II Airport is undergoing a multi-million dollar runway expansion. Rumor has it that it will someday be able to accommodate commercial jets, but that seems a little far-fetched. What do I know? I'm a dog.

An inflatable boat. Sure!

Upstairs neighbor Captain Ken told us the Coast Guard vessel we saw the day before at our secret fishing spot is a "rigid-hulled inflatable" (RHIB) supplied by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Captain Ken knows these things.) The three Mercury engines give it a speed of approximately 65 mph. It sure didn't look like any inflatable boat I've ever seen before!

In the evening Jason, Tom, and I hopped on a water taxi to attend the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) community outreach service. Well, we didn't exactly "hop" on the water taxi. First we had to hitchhike a golf cart ride to the Tuff E Nuff dock because we were too late to catch the main water taxi. The Tuff E Nuff boat took us to Coco Beach, a four star resort on the northern part of the island which was home-base for an episode of The Bachelor TV show recently. (Remember Ben and Courtney? They're getting married!)  Not being actual "guests" at Coco Beach, Tom and Jason engaged in a little fast talk to get us on that Tuff E Nuff water taxi. Tom, supposedly staying in unit "1-A," got tongue-tied when talking to a real guest who was staying in "1-C." Uh-oh. Nothing like having to lie to get to a church service. Once at Cocoa Beach we then walked about a half-mile to YWAM.

The good old YWAM schoolhouse!

Located at the site of the former Journey's End Resort, the YWAM discipleship training program is now known as "Destination Paradise."  About fifty young people gathered to worship, then listen to a brilliant message from Tiffany, a guest minister from Wisconsin. 

After the meeting and some fellowship, we got on a legitimate, don't-have-to-lie-to-get-a-ride water taxi and headed back to town. Tom and I sat next to a five-year-old named "River Joe." (I don't make these things up.) River Joe sat in the very front of the boat with his face in the wind looking very much like a hood ornament on an old Rolls Royce. About 10 minutes into the ride, his mother yelled over to Tom, "I think River Joe just fell asleep. Do you mind holding onto him?" Sure enough, he was fast asleep at 30 mph without a windshield! Back in town, and after eating some "street tacos," it was time to go home. Another day in Paradise, or "Destination Paradise".

Here's a shout out to new friends Jesse and Sam and John (aka Camden) and Tiffany who we met at YWAM, and Allee from the University of Mississippi and Tracy and Colleen, nurses from Canada (who we didn't meet at YWAM!), who are visiting and having way too much fun.

The amazing pool at Coco Beach

Y'all come visit. We'll ride around on golf carts and water taxis and take a tour of the island and go to Coco Beach, and eat street tacos. You're gonna love Belize!