Last Day in Belize

6:10 I awake to the sound of jungle birds and glance at my watch. Erwin and I had agreed to go jogging at 6:15, so I scramble out of bed, get dressed and head
outside. In the fog I can see Erwin tying his shoelaces.

We start on the dirt road, but then take a small beaten path into the jungle. It is by far the most beautiful environment for a run I have ever been in.

9:00 Packed and ready to go home, all 42 of us get on the bus. I sit in the back with Franz Thiessen, who cuts me off a piece of sugarcane - something we have grown used to eating. Before heading to the airport, Tjnals (our bus driver) stops at Abe Rempel's house where the Esau brothers and I get off. Abe is going to fly us to the airport on his private plane.

Since it only takes 30 minutes to fly there, and we have all this extra time, we decide to go horseback riding.

9:20 In a wide open field, I feel the thrill of a galloping horse for the first time.

12:00 We are on our way to Abe's garage and I ask if the plane has a roof. All 3 guys burst out laughing hysterically. Does that mean duh it has a roof, or duh it doesn't?

12:30 We are in the air. The plane is a 4-seater and it does have a roof. Heinrich glances back at Jakob and me and says, "Die letzten Minuten sind die teuersten," [The last moments are the most precious] to which we all laugh gleefully.

We're cracking jokes and all excited. Abe suddenly flies us full-speed toward the sun, and then pulls the throttle and lets the engine idle. I'm screaming but loving it.

13:10 We join the rest at the airport.

13:40 The Germans are gone, and only Pavel and I are left. We have a couple hours before our flights, so Abe takes us up to the aerodrome control tower. Everyone there knows him and is happy to see him.

16:40 The plane is empty and I am leaning against the window with my legs comfortably stretched across 3 seats. As I reflect on my time in Belize, I feel as though the trip was tailor-made to my liking. The Lord knows my background, my tastes, my desires; it is like He planned a personal vacation for me.