Saturday morning, June 13, thirty–three of the forty-nine members said their goodbyes at the hotel as they left for the Philip Goldson International Airport, Belize City, for the one hour and forty-five minute flight back to Miami International Airport, Florida.
The mission work was over, and all that we set out to do was accomplished. It was another successful and rewarding mission, with very tired, but fulfilled missionaries. I bid the team safe
travels and prayed for them at the hotel since I had decided prior to arrival in Belize to spend an extra day for rest and relaxation. I had already made plans to go to San Pedro, in the Ambergris Caye, a 90-minute boat trip from Belize City. The Team Mission Leader, Erna Cunningham, went to the airport to see the team checked in and on their way. The other eighteen members who remained in Belize either went to visit or stay with family and friends, or engaged in other fun activities in the city.
Accompanying me to San Pedro were Wilton and Linda Schlepp-Gray, and Sehon, who had driven us to the port. The 90-minute ride to San Pedro on
the water taxi felt long but it was a lovely ride. We first stopped for passengers to disembark and others to embark at Caye Caulker, the island we previously visited on Sunday after the Eucharist at the Cathedral.
San Pedro is a beautiful town. On arrival, we were taken to a golf cart rental company so as to rent a golf cart for the few hours we were going to be there. The people of San Pedro drive golf carts although there are motor vehicles as well. I had fun driving the golf cart and we all enjoyed the novelty of riding around a town in this vehicle. The day was well spent having fun and relaxation. We had lunch at the “Pineapple’s Seaside” Restaurant, which is located on the grounds of the Ramons Village Resort. It is a gorgeous place with a unique Mayan atmosphere. We were also able to do a little shopping and to drive and walk around the town a bit.
In the evening, after returning from San Pedro, I packed and then went out for dinner at the Celebrity Restaurant in Belize City. It was a wonderful way to end the mission trip to Belize by eating grilled red snapper, about 16 inches long on my plate. Very soft, tender and tasty!