This is to everyone out there that has been thru this ordeal of keith as we have and for the relief effort supplied by everyone!!!!!
OUR TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The night before we left we took 10 large boxes to the airport to send down with us, we got a call from the Customer Service MGR. of AA of DFW airport and he told us he would get the 2 big generators down for us, just bring them to the counter, When we got to the counter we had the 2 big generators adn 4 more big boxes, They sent it all and our luggage, without a questions. They sent it all and all of our luggage... And they bumped us up to 1st class for our effort, which was very nice... When we arrived in Belize City,we went through immigration, and when we were picking up our luggage, Gillbert(Patty assist.), Came into customs and met us, We ahd 18 carts full of supplies and before we went to customs a guy came from the storage area and sign us out and we rolled through customs with all supplies with no problems!!!!! Never been through that before!!!!!! We got outside where Hilly Boo and Armando meet us with a van, so we loaded the van and Gilbert's 4 runner and headed for the docks.. We loaded a 25' skiff and headed for the islands... Gilbert was and still is GREAT!!!!! WE first headed to Caye Caulker to meet up with Justice of the Piece Neil Bradley, and gave him the supplies we brought down for Caye Caulker, then we headed for SP. It was dark by the time we got to the Holiday dock. They had guys there to help us get the rest of the supplies to our room, including the 2 generators.. At this time the Annual Halloween Party was going on and everyone was watching us... After we got everything inside, we went to have some Beliken's!!!!!!
The next day Nurse Kelly camt to our room, early, and got the all the clothes we brought down for them to giveaway at the park for all the people there on the island. This was done by the lions club!!!...that same day we went to Miss Peggy's grandson's wedding (Mike Hancock) It was Great!! We also met Able, of the lions club and gave haim a check for medicines from the group in Wichita, KS. for $500US . We also met with Tammy,/ Sandshacker, who was doing a great job on distributing the clothing to the homeless, that we had sent down. Tammy and Lou are the BEST!!!, for helping with the relief effort on thier side!!!!! The next day we rented a golf cart for 3 days and went everywhere we could on the island. Couldn't go north due to the ferry being out, they were bringing it back from the reef..... Down south there are 3 major cuts now, which block off the road, we got down as gar as a mile form where the road splits to the dump.... During these days we helped with relief.. met and checked on houses and people, that people here in the state wanted us to do... Then we went to the lions club bbq and met Flora, The presidnet of the lions club adn secured building supplies (zinc and plywod) for our friends there who lost everything in the back, which was donated by the Bishop, There in Belize!!
Barefoot Skinny also donated 3 wall which fell down suing the hurricane, to our friends there, and the lions club donated a truck to transport this to their property there on the back side. Ran into Tom of the Boatyard, which was destroyed. He did'nt look good.. the next night we went to the bbq at the hideway and up with the golden girls... They are GREAT!!!!! Also met up with Jessie and the whole gang!! Met with Woody and Helen and the gang at the Barefoot watersports and their kids (all of them), The night was GREAT!!! WE got to see our new property there in Tres Cocos...It's great and high!!! Tashell and Keith are Great, too!!!!! Then we took a day for ourselves and went fishing with Hilly Boo... All the way over to Caye Caulker, got some big barracudas and spanish mackrels.... Had lunch with Neil Bradley, They had power at this time..... Have to say the after a month after the hurricane, power and other ulilities had been restored to 80% of the islands.....VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE Caught alot of snappers on the way back to SP.... When we arrived to the dock at the Holiday, my wife went in to get ready for the evening, and Hilly boo and I cleaned the fish there on the dock, when we heard a big boom!!!! We went to the end of the dock and saw dark smoke, so I went to get my video camera and we ran down to where the fire was comming from, it was the old rasta pasta building top floor....A gas tank had blown up, nobody was hurt bad, but the you should have seen the video I got on this... The guys who we had supplied with supplies were staying there, were homeless and supplyless again, within a month they lost everyting twice!!! Very Bad!!!
We bought these guys enough supplies to get them stated again after the fire at the hardware stores..what a DRAG for this happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Charlie and Estel, were great to us while we were there on this visit!! Thank-you!!!
WE made an interview with the SUN, but don't know if it was published??????
On our last day I bought meat for a BBQ at the Palapa Bar, I cooked chicken, chicked wings, ribs, pork chops, and fish, TEXAN STYLE!!!!!!! Casey was so exicited!!!!!!!
Met alot of local pats and peoples there, it was GREAT!!! Barefoot Skinny, Dale, Casey, and Kieth came out to play a great jam sessions!!!! it lasted till 9pm. WE took donations for the lions club and collected $170, which was given to Able that evening...
WE went Mon. to say goodbye to everyone on the island and finially got to meet the HON. Patty Arceo.. She was very gracious and thanked us and the people of the states for helping in a most needy need!!!She is a very strong woman for 31 years old.. she''ll do great for the islands....forgot to say talked with Ramon, he is sad, but his place will be up and running in about 2 weeks!!!!
At the airport in SP before we left, Jessie, Hilly boo and all of our friends sent us off..it was a very SAD moment, knowing we could do more, but had to get back to the states due to work.... BS.....WE LOVE OUR ISLAND!!!!!!!!!!!! And we want to Thank everyone who has helped us to achieve some relief for the islands.. We could not have done this without your support.. God Bless you all and again Thank You!!!!!!!! Love---
Rick and Cheri
During the time we were there, we saw at least 2 barges a day come into SP full of supplies.. There are alot of Great People from around the world, and I would like to Thank Them!!
Personnlly--I would like to thank Edd and his girlfriend here in ft.worth, Marrietta, in San Antionio, Marty in Oregon, Paola in California, Ping here in Ft. Worth, Ryan in houston, and especially my Wife Cheri for putting up my crap!!!! I love you and all of you who have helped in this effort!!!!!
We'll talk or see you all soon, either here or on the islands... If you would like to email us, please do at:
[email protected]Thank you all again.... Rick and Cheri