Easter in Belize

    Palm Sunday

 In preparation for Palm Sunday, Nancy drove to Angelica's house to obtain palm fronds in order to make crosses for the Palm Sunday Service.

With the magic of Youtube, we were able to transform palm fronds into crosses.

     For the last 20 years, I have seen Mark Taylor, from my home church in Baltimore, turn palm fronds into crosses.  Next year, I will be able to join in the fun.  Generally, I am good at figuring out crafts but I truly struggled with learning how to properly make a cross.  There was a sense of great accomplishment when I was finally able to successfully complete my first cross.  It was a humbling experience as Sulmi, Nancy and Chelsea each finished three crosses to my one cross. 

 

 The Palm branches were huge and made a beautiful display for the Palm Sunday Service.

The girl's were trying to wave the branches like the crowd did for Jesus as he rode the colt into Jerusalem.

     Holy Week included many activities and celebrations 

Maundy Thursday Service included a meal, and celebration with communion and foot washing. 

We had a simple Belizean meal of Chicken and rice.

Yuhayna helped Nancy serve the bread for communion.

Nancy praying over the cup, representing the blood of Jesus.

Nancy shared that Jesus humbled himself to serve his disciples.  He calls all disciples/followers of Him to humble themselves and serve as he served.  
All those present were given an opportunity to humble themselves and wash the feet of another just as Jesus called us to do.

 Good Friday Passion Processional

 

     Every year, La Inmaculada Catholic Church in Orange Walk Town, Belize holds a Passion Processional (Stations of the Cross).  We started and ended at La Inmaculada Catholic Church.  This was a fascinating experience as we walked 3-4 miles through the streets of Orange Walk Town with men, women and children of every age.

     On the Easter calendar of events in Belize, Good Friday is the most celebrated.  Every business was closed down for the day.  Many people walked to the start of the procession a few drove and others joined the procession as it passed by their home.  It is hard to know how many people participated in this procession.  Nancy thought several thousand.

     This was a humbling experience for me.  I had always heard about the Stations of the Cross but I never understood what those words meant.  I was blessed to walk over the rugged roads of Orange Walk Town with other believers.  Following the story of Jesus last day on earth from his appearance before Pontius Pilate, to his death and placement in the tomb.  

 

We walked near the front of the procession.  This is only a small sample of the participants..  It was around 90 degrees.  Many people used umbrellas to keep the sun off of them and the temperature a little cooler. 
     Some children were pushed in strollers and others walked.  Near the end, I saw a few children asleep in the arms of a family member.

Jesus appearing before Pilot.  Pilot is washing his hands in a basin of water.


There was a truck with speakers playing music throughout our procession.  The music was always turned down before we got to a Station so that we could hear what was being spoken by the women.

 The Stations were spread out at regular intervals along our procession.  At each Station, there were actors portraying the event and women  talking about what was going on in Jesus' life at that point in the story.  I wish I understood Spanish because in all but one station, what was being read was  spoken in Spanish.

The number of people walking increased as we continued the procession.  We passed many people sitting in family groups outside of their homes enjoying this special event.  Some of these people then joined the procession as we passed by.

This procession is seen as a funeral procession so many people dressed in black, white and purple.



I like this picture a lot.  I was able to get the sun setting on Jesus being nailed to the cross.


At each stage, every actor stands still as if the moment is frozen in time.

Jesus laid to rest in the tomb

 

Easter Sunday

We set the church up for a celebration!  Nancy bought flowers and we added balloons.  We celebrated by signing songs and sharing the joy of the Resurrection of our Savior and Lord!

JESUS IS ALIVE!!!