SUNBURNT!!!

The title says it all. Today was our free day here in the wonderful country of Belize.

We had an early morning, as we had to drive two hours to catch a boat by 9:00 a.m. The island we went to was named Caye Caulker Island. The first thing we did was snorkel around the coral reef area. We saw many types of fish and coral. (The best part was watching everyone learn how to swim with flippers). The water was crystal clear so we could see everything very well. The coral came all the way up to the surface so a few of us scraped our arms and legs on it.

After that, we had an interesting (and nerve-wracking) experience when we got to swim with sting rays and nurse sharks. At first, many of us were a little freaked out and nervous, but all went well. It was so much fun getting to swim with them, but the sting rays had a habit of swimming through our legs while we were not paying attention. Many of us even had the opportunity to touch them. The best part of the whole snorkel experience occurred when Mrs. Rhonda (the woman who is terrified of everything) got in the water with the sharks and sting rays. When we left there, we went back to the Island.

On the Island, our team split into a few groups to explore the many shops that were there. One group went swimming in the ocean (all of them were wounded by the end) and the rest went to shop. After we regrouped, we got ICE CREAM!!!!!!! Then we started to make our way back to the boat. It was then that we started to realize how sunburnt everyone was. The boat ride back was less noisy than the first one, as we were all exhausted. Then we got on the bus and headed to the Art Box (a Christian owned souvenir/ art store). Then we headed to the compound for dinner.

Everyone has now showered, and everyone is in the process of putting aloe and coco butter all over themselves. To say that tomorrow is going to be a painful day is an understatement, but we will persevere. Much love to all of you back home and we will see you soon!

~Rebecca and Amy~