Mother's Day and Belmopan agricultural and trade fair

We have already mentioned Mother's Day, I think. It's a big deal in Belize - advertised for weeks ahead, with special events both in the town and in the Churches. The Mother's Union at St Ann's church hosted a mother's day tea party: tea, cakes and sandwiches.

It was held in the the "Bishop Desmond Smith Memorial Centre" - ie the teaching centre near our house and the church.

So as well as showing the Mother's Union, these photos give you an idea of what the inside of the centre is like. (If any Mother's Union groups in the UK want to make contact with a group in Belize, please email Ruth).

Then last weekend the annual trade fair / agricultural show in Belmopan - the biggest event of the year. About 40,000 people (three times the town population of about 14,000) attended between Friday and Sunday.

We were advised to go and have a look at the exhibits on Friday evening, while it was cooler and with free entry. Lots of trade stalls, lots of food stalls, a fairground and pens for animals for sale - brahmin bulls, friesian cows, and horses, mainly.

Then on saturday and sunday, Ruth's church decided to run a stall selling food, with a big banner advertising the church, and giving out flyers to all and sundry. They've not done this before, but decided it would be a good fundraiser.

So 50 lbs of rice and beans, hundreds of pieces of bbq chicken and endless bottles of water and soft drinks later, they successfully sold all the food. It was a success - but oh was it hot (surprise!)