Belize (cont.)

Day 6 of Belize: It was our last day doing VBS in Belize. I spent all day playing with Serena. In the morning, we played Captain, Captain (kinda like sharks and minnows) and Toilet Tag. It was sunny the whole day, and it was ridiculously hot. We were sweating like pigs, and this was the day that we happened to run out of water really early in the morning. So all of the tired kids who needed water had none. -____-
     Half of our team, by the way, was at the field/park instead to play more serious organized sports with the older kids. They were gone for the whole time we were doing VBS. So, very few of the Johnston team was at the church that day. We were stuck with the Oregon team for our last VBS.
     At 11, we started our goodbye service thing. Basically, Pastor Ashley and other members of the church came up and talked to say thank you. Then Erica and Josephine came up and gave their own little scripted talk. It was really lame. At the end we all said our goodbyes to the kids and collected their addresses or gave them our own. I gave Serena my address. She said she'd go home and paint me something to send me that night. I can't wait to get it. =) I wish that I can go back at some point to see Serena. If she sends me something, I'm going to send her some pictures of my college.
     After that, we went back to the Compound to eat lunch. Then we went on an hour-long drive to the Mayan ruins at Altun Ha. They really weren't as cool as I thought they were going to be, but that's not saying they weren't awesome. I took some pictures, especially of the Sun Temple. We got to climb a couple of the temples, but the steps were ridiculously steep. You didn't even realize how much work it would be to get to the top until you tried to climb all the way up. Your thighs were burning by the time you got up. But it was cool at the top of the Sun Temple cuz you could see the platform where they sacrificed people. And apparently the movie Apocalypto was filmed there. At the souvenir shops I bought a wallet for me and two coin purses for gifts. I ended with $17.77 of Belizean money.
     The meeting took FOREVER. Erica was so dumb. She kept us there for about 45 minutes, part of which she spent giving a rehash of the entire week. Then we had to have a miniature LoveFest. We didn't get to shower until 11, and then we still have to pack. We were so tired. Instead of packing a few things, I donated some. Like my toothpaste and a shirt and my Bible. I think we finally went to bed sometime after midnight.

Day 7 of Belize: (Saturday, travelling home) Katy and I stayed up for way too long on Friday night. We talked for forever. Then we got up at 6:20 because breakfast had been moved up to 7, for some random reason. It was kind of annoying. After breakfast we had spend forever waiting around until we finally left for the airport.
     Two hours of flight, and then we were in Houston. It took TWO HOURS to get us all through customs. Took so long. At first YS1 and I were almost sure we were going to get our bags checked cuz we took home some food as a gift for YB and the rest of the family. Luckily, since all we bought were packaged snacks, there was no problem and we got through without a search of our stuff. That would have merely added more time to our length in customs.
     First thing we did in the Houston airport was go to the bathroom and flush the toilet paper down the toilet and then dry our hands before we came out. Then we all went to Chile's and ordered fried American food and Mountain Dews (and vegetables for some people). I felt really full. It was a good feeling. I was very glad to be back in the states. We had another 40 minutes left in the Houston airport, so we hung out at the gate. Then it was two hours home. Des Moines is gorgeous at night from the air. I was really hoping to see it. =)