Belize
Contents:
1. A
Sketch of Belize
2. Language
3. History
of Naz. Church
4. Naz.
Churches in Belize
5. Projects
6. Tools
You'll Need
7. Housing
8. Transportation
9. Food
10. Sightseeing
11. Souvenirs
12. Important
Tips
13. Guidelines
for W&W Teams
14. Contacts
15. Things to
Bring
16. Address for
Customs/Immigration Card
17. Foreign
Embassies in Belize
1.
A BRIEF SKETCH AND HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE
Geography:
Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is a Central American country. It
lies south of Mexico, east of Guatemala, and north of Honduras. Its entire east coast faces the Caribbean Sea. The country occupies an area of
8,867 square miles (slightly larger than that of Israel, but sparsely populated). Belize has a population of only
260,000. Nearly 130,000 Belizians live outside of Belize, mostly in the United States.
Belize’s geography ranges from coastal sea
to mountains. The mountains have some of
the most beautiful scenic areas that can be found in the Caribbean.
Waterfalls, caves, and pine trees are all part of the landscape.
Early logwood and later mahogany
trade have long given way to an economy of agriculture, including fishing,
sugar, citrus and banana industries. Belize is also now a very desirable
tourist destination and boasts a brisk tourist industry.
History:
The
area was settled in the early 17th century by British logwood cutters, some of
which were former pirates, who were later joined by private enterprisers from Scotland. Some Meskito and Maya Indians
became involved with the Europeans for labor. Still later, African slaves were
brought in from the West Indies to augment the cutting, extracting, and shipping of logwood to Europe. The wood, used in making dyes for
the booming textile trade, was in great demand and was the means of a lucrative
livelihood, even of making a fortune. Mahogany trade later replaced the logwood
trade and lasted for a protracted period of time.
September
10, 1798,
dates an encounter with Spanish attackers. This is known as the Battle of St.
George's Caye. The Spaniards were beaten, and there was no further Spanish
interference. The settlement became a colony of Britain in 1862.
For more information on the history
of Belize visit http://www.oldbelize.com or visit the museum in person. It is located about 5 miles outside of Belize City
Demography:
Perhaps
about 90% of the Europeans who came to the settlement in the early stages were
male, many of whom took female slaves as common law wives or mistresses,
producing a growing Creole population who eventually far outnumbered the
whites. Manumission was a fairly common practice so that the colony grew into a
mixture of masters and slaves and freed men and women. Many of the Creoles
later became slave- owners and landowners themselves.
East Indians also were brought in as
indentured slaves to work in the sugar plantations. Displaced and dispossessed
Garifunas came and made Belize their home. To these were added,
people from the Middle East, China, Taiwan, Central American and other
countries. Belize is possibly the most multi-ethnic
country in the world for its size, yet it remains peaceful.
Religion:
The Anglican Church came in 1812;
the Methodist in 1824, Roman Catholic, Baptist, and Presbyterian came later
that same year. The Salvation Army came in 1915; Seventh-Day Adventist in the
late 1920s, and the Church of the Nazarene entered the country in 1930. From
1946 to 1991, a number of other Evangelical and Pentecostal churches were added
to the total Christian witness in Belize. Non-Christian religions presently
in the country include Mormon, Muslim, and a trickle of Buddhism.
Climate:
The climate is sub-tropical,
tempered by trade winds. Rainfall varies from an average of 51 ins. (1,295mm)
in the North to 175 ins. (4,445mm) in the South, with the main dry season
usually extending from February to May. May is the hottest month. In coastal
districts, temperatures range from about 10 °C (50 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F) inland
the range is greater. The coolest months are November to January. Belize lies in the path of the Atlantic
hurricane belt, with the last major strike being that of Hurricane Iris in
2001, which caused extensive damage in the South of Belize. The hurricane
season is from June 1 to November 30. The rainy season is June through November
(our hurricane season) and the dry season is December through May.
Ethnicity:
Belize is made up of several
multi-cultural groups. The main ethnic groups are: Mestizo, Creole, Garifunas
(Caribs, Maya and Ketchi Indians from Guatemala). The Mestizo (Spanish-Indian)
population in Belize grew from 33.4 percent of the population in 1980 to 43.6
percent in 1991, with the previously dominant Creole population (of primarily
black African descent) declining from 40 percent in 1980 to only 29.8 percent
by 1991. Other significant ethnic groupings are Maya Indians (11 percent),
Garifuna (or Garinagu) - black Caribs, descendants of Carib Indians and escaped
African slaves who retain their own Carib language and customs and the
Mennonites - German speaking Anabaptists (3.1 percent). Since the early 1990s
there has been significant immigration from Asia, mainly from mainland China and Taiwan. A large community of ethnic
Chinese can also be found in the country.
Constitution
and Government:
Belize is a sovereign state operated on
principles of parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster system. Queen Elizabeth II is the
titular head of state, represented by a Governor General, who must be a
Belizean.
A Prime Minister and cabinet make up
the executive branch of government. A 31 member elected House of Representative
and an 8 member appointed Senate form a bi-cameral legislature called the
National Assembly. The National Assembly is found in Belmopan, the new capital of Belize. (The previous capital of Belize was Belize City, but the government moved the
capital inland and formed the city of Belmopan.
The name Belmopan is a combination of Belize and Mopan, which is a Mayan name.)
General
elections are held at intervals of no longer than five years. The voting age is
18 and above.
2. LANGUAGE
The
official language is English but with the increase of the Mestizo population,
Spanish is also used.
Some basic words you will hear
and may need to use are the following:
|
English
Thank you
Good Morning
Good night
How are you?
Good bye
Let's go
What's the price?
Water
Please
I want...
Where are we going?
What time is it?
1 want to eat
I am hungry
I am tired
1 am sleepy
|
Spanish
Gracias
Buenos Dias
Buenas Noches
Como esta usted?
Adios/Hasta luego
Vamos
Cuanto cuesta?
Agua
Por favor
Yo quiro ....
Donde vamos?
Que hora es?
Quiro comer
Tengo hambre
Estoy cansado/a
Tengo sueño
|
Creole
(same as English unless noted)
How you do
Les go
Wata
Whe we going
I wan eat
I hungry
I tired
I sleepy
|
3.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE IN BELIZE
Church of the Nazarene:
Nazarene laymen from Guatemala entered the country (colony then)
in 1930 with the message of holiness.
Missionaries
Leona Gardener and Augie Holland were sent to work the field during the decade
of the thirties. Several missionary couples came later, and in 1946 the
district was organized with Rev. Harold Hampton as District Superintendent.
The ensuing years saw the
establishment of churches, clinics, schools, and a Bible College. In 1982, the Belize District,
having gone through the phases of a Mission Field, a Mission District, and a
National Mission District, became a Regular District with 21 churches (the
Citation is dated January 19, 1982). Rev. Alvin Young Sr. had been
appointed National District Superintendent since 1970, when the District had reached
the phase of National Mission District. Succeeding District Superintendents
have been Rev. Onesimo Pot, Rev. Oliver Ottley, Rev. Leonard Williams, and Rev.
John Tzib who is presently serving.
The Bible College that started in 1950 was closed in 1965.
The clinics were also closed. A high school was opened in 1964 in Belize City and has grown considerably. At our
last District Assembly in March 2002, it reported an enrolment of 326, a
Principal, Vice Principal, and a staff of 17 teachers.
There are
1988 pupils and some 75 teachers in seven primary schools and two pre-schools.
There is a program of Decentralized Theological Studies (DTS), which is an
extension campus of Caribbean Nazarene Theological College (CNTC), for the
training of new pastors, as well as a few licensed ministers There are
presently five current trainees in that program. Presently, there are 40
churches, 19 ordained ministers (four retired), five licensed ministers, and 14
lay pastors.
4. NAZARENE CHURCHES IN BELIZE
As of
2007, there are 40 organized churches in the country of Belize. Every district has one or more
churches, Toledo district having the most (14 churches). We also have 16
mission fields where services are held in homes or in the open air. Hopefully,
these mission fields will soon be organized and a church building will be
needed.
5.
PROJECTS
Some of the churches have
accomplished projects through the great effort of work and witness teams. Most
of the projects accomplished in Belize are: parsonages, church buildings,
schools, dormitories at the camp centers and kitchens for some schools. Work
and Witness teams have come from all over the U. S. Teams that are interested
in coming to Belize are encouraged to come early January, February or March.
Other months like April and May are hot months, especially May. Persons who
come to work can wear blue jeans or khaki pants or others, and casual shirts or
sport shirts. Short pants are also allowed, but, long pants are better in order
to avoid mosquito or other insect bits. A cap and sneakers are also encouraged
on the worksite.
We have a
number of proposed projects for the next five years and beyond. These
projects are available to view by clicking on the following link. Select Belize in the “Search by Country” field
and click “Select Query” .
Link
to Caribbean Projects
6. TOOL YOU WILL NEED
Construction:
The
buildings can either be concrete or wooden. Most buildings built today are
concrete. The roofing, however, is sometimes out of zinc, wood, or concrete if
a second floor will be added.
Tools used at construction sights are:
screwdriver, skill saw, trowels, levels, measuring tape, hammers, and
scaffolding like you have never seen before. Most of the villages have
electricity and the electrical tools can be used. However, some villages do not
have electricity, but have generators as the source of providing electricity to
churches or work sights.
7. HOUSING FACILITES
There are two Nazarene Camp centers that are available for Work and
Witness teams. One is found in San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District in the West.
The other is San Pedro Columbia in the Toledo District in the South. Both
centers have dorms, kitchen, toilet and water facilities, chapel and dining
hall. Both camps charge $2.50 U.S. per person / per night. This small fee is simply to cover the cost of utilities. Rivers are close by where people can go swimming if they wish. Both camps
are close to the towns and ancient Maya temples. A fee of $2.50US is charged to
visit the Maya temples. Where there is no center, teams can stay in churches,
homes or community centers.
Hotels:
There are many hotels, guesthouses and cottages in Belize, i.e. Chateau Caribbean, Fort
George, Belize Biltmore Plaza, and San Ignacio Hotel. Most hotels
are found in the center of the town or city and some are by the sea side or
river side. Most of these hotels have AC, swimming pools and restaurant
facilities. The prices vary from $50US per night and above.
8. Transportation
After you arrive at the airport (Philip Goldson International Airport) there will be cabs or taxi to take
you to your destination. The fare from the airport to Belize City is $15.00US. The price may vary.
There are auto rentals close to the airport. Example: vans, troopers,
four-wheel-drive vehicles at reasonable prices.
Air flights are also available from the airport to Placencia, a tourist
village and to Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District. Maya Island
Air and Tropic Air are the ones you can contact. Phone no. for Maya Island Air
is 501-223-1403 or 501-223-1140 or 501-223-1362. Tropic Air is 501-224-5671.
The air flight is $89.00US to Punta Gorda Town. Bus lines are available as a mode
of transportation from one district to another or from one town to another.
However, arrangements can be made ahead of time for charters from the airport
to your destination. Cost of these charters will vary according to routes and
distances.
Communication:
A good two-lane highway links Belize City with the capital, Belmopan and the Guatemalan border in the
west. The Northern Highway links Belize City with the international airport,
Orange Walk, Corozal and the Mexican border.
Routes to the South have improved immensely. The Hummingbird Highway that runs from Belmopan to Dangriga is now paved. The
shorter coastal road to Dangriga is unpaved but kept graded during the dry
season. The Southern Highway from Dangriga to Punta Gorda has a portion that
has been paved. This road is particularly difficult in the rainy season.
The international airport provides daily air links with
several U.S. cities and with neighboring Central
American countries. Efficient and relatively cheap internal air services link
most main towns and some Southern villages and the larger cayes, e.g. San Pedro
and Caye Caulker. The Maya Island air and Tropic Air are the two main
air services to all districts or towns. Maya Island Air - telephone no. 501-223-1403 or
501-223-1140 or 501223-1362 and Tropic Air - telephone no. 50 I -224-5671.
Regular bus services, operated
competitively by a number of commercial companies run on all main routes. From Belize City to the West you can board a
Novelo's Bus line. The fare from Belize City to Belmopan on a regular bus is $2.00US and to
San Ignacio is $3.50US. In an express bus it is $4.50US and in the executive it
is $5.50US. The prices are for one way. From Belize City to Corozal is $5.50US
The
privatized Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) runs efficient countrywide
automatic telephone service with international links, direct dialing, and email
and internet facilities. Cellular phones
can be rented at the airport and the BTL office.
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL)
provides electricity through a national grid to all the main towns and
villages. Electricity is provided from production of hydro-electric power at
Mollejon, diesel generation and purchase of electricity from Mexico. Smaller and more remote villages
use diesel or gasoline generators.
Media:
Broadcasting coverage is wide, with almost 90% of homes
having at least one radio and about 80% at least one television. Weekly
newspapers are produced in Belize City. These include the Amandala, The
Belize Times, Guardian, and Reporter.
These newspapers can be purchased at some grocery stores country wide.
9. FOOD
Any kind of food can be brought to Belize with the exception of vegetables,
fruits, or any prepared foodstuff (i.e. sandwiches or hamburgers in large
quantities, unless you have documents stating you have reason for bringing
them).
In Belize, you can find a variety of food,
e.g. seafood, Chinese food, fruits and vegetables at varied prices. The
favorite food in Belize is Rice & Beans
with stew meat, vegetables or potato salad and fried plantain. Don’t confuse confuse Beans and Rice with Rice
& Beans, as they are two different things.
Rice & Beans are cooked together and Beans and Rice are cooked
seperately.
10. SIGHTSEEING
Belize has many tourist attractions, e.g. Maya ruins, the
cays or islands, ancient building, caves, bird watching, 1,000 ft. water-fall,
beaches, museum, and resorts. Chartered vans or buses are available for rent.
The rate of rent per vehicle is about $75.00US and up.
Tourism:
Tourist are attracted by the
world's second largest barrier reef, together with rainforest and wildlife
reserves, Maya temples like Xunantunich, Cahal Pech and Caracol in the Cayo
District, Lamanai in Orange Walk, Santa Rita in Corozal, and Lubantun and Nim
Li Punit in the Toledo. The Mountain Pine Ridge, 1,000 foot falls, caves and
cayes are additional centers of attraction.
Hotels
are available in every district. Some have swimming pools. Vehicles are
available and can be rented for a day or more.
If you wish to visit the cayes or islands you can travel by
motorboat on the Caribbean Sea. There are adventure tours in all the six districts in Belize. Horseback riding and canoe or
dorey riding are also available in all districts.
11.
SOUVENIRS
Belize is well known for its woodwork,
pottery, ornaments, paintings, canvas work, embroidery, baskets, and
woodcarving. In Belize City there is a place called Tourist Village where you can purchase a variety of
souvenirs. You will want to bargain before you purchase any article. When you
travel to the south which is the Toledo District, you will find a lot of embroidery,
baskets made of jippi-jappa (straw-like thread of off white color) and pottery.
These products are sold at reasonable prices.
12.
IMPORTANT TIPS
When you arrive at the
international airport you need to check in with immigration and customs.
Persons who assist with carts are available just after you leave customs. If
you need aid you can contact them. A small tip should be given to them,
depending on the amount of luggage you have. Small tips are also given in
restaurants, hotels and guesthouses. This, however, is not mandatory.
Tax:
A departure fee is paid at the airport at the time of
departure. No tax is paid on personal belongings. However, if you bring big
items and will leave them in Belize you need to pay 8% Sales Tax. No
tax is paid on tools that you may bring in our country, which will be used at
work place, and tools with which you intend to return home.
Money:
The Belize currency (dollar - Bze) is stable
with a fixed exchange rate against the United States dollar of Bze$2.00 - US$1.00. The
exchange rate at the bank is Bze$1.98 - US$1.00. However, you can get better
exchange at the newly established "Casa de Cambios".
13.
GUIDELINES FOR WORK & WITNESS TEAMS
Team:
The
team leader should make sure
1.) that the project
undertaken has been approved by the office of the work and witness coordinator at the
Caribbean Regional Office in Miami. (list
of approved projects)
2.) that all members of the
team are insured with the W&W
Insurance from Kansas City.
3.) that any finances for projects in Belize are sent
to Kansas City at least three months before the arrival of the team in Belize.
This will facilitate the local coordinator to build the foundation of any
building before the team arrives. This, of course, is the trend in Belize.
4.) if the team wants to bring nurses, doctors, or
dentists such personnel are also welcomed. If doctors, nurses or dentists would
like to come and give medical assistance to needy people in Belize, they need to send their resume to
the Belize District Church of
the Nazarene and in return, the District Superintendent will make sure all
arrangements for them. They need to fill out an application form supplied by
the Ministry of Health in Belize. If these doctors bring medical
supplies, they must make sure that the medicines have not expired. The list of
medicines intended to be brought to Belize should be sent to the District
Superintendent and the District Superintendent will submit list of medicines to
the Chief Pharmacist for approval.
The list should
be formated like this:
10 boxes
children’s vitamins - $15 US
3 boxes Asprin for adults - donated
14. CONTACTS
Addresses:
If you want to know more about Belize or projects in Belize you can direct your letter to The
Belize District, Church of the Nazarene, 31 Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize.
Rev. Enfield Gordon –W&W Coordinator-Belize
Email enfield1122@yahoo.com
Rev.
John Tzib (DS for Belize) bzednaz@btl.net
Or you can call at 011-501-223-3572 Office
011-501-203-0440 Belize City Parsonage
011-501-614-5109 Cell
011-501-824-3927 home
Or you can fax at 011-501-223-3492
15. THINGS YOU CAN BRING ALONG
- Bible
& notebook
- Mosquito
repellant
- Sunscreen
- Beddings
- Light
clothing
- Jeans
for working
- Comfortable
shoes, sandals or sneakers
- Medication
(difficult to get in the country)
- Flashlight
with extra batteries
- Umbrella
- Camera
with extra film (optional)
16. Address to Put on Your Immigration Card
31
Princess Margaret Drive
Belize City, Belize
17. Click Here for a list of Foriegn Embassies in Belize.