Belize Day 2 7-19-19

More Than A Game Jordan Alves

Look out, not in! #CUtoBelize19 starts with fun day of cave tubbing and sport clinics

BELIZE — Look out, not in…. What is the first thing that pops into your head when you hear that statement? Jim Hardy, Director of Athletics, has been our fearless leader during all three department-wide mission trips since 2014 and every trip always has a theme. Can you guess what this year's theme is?
 
In Hardy's eyes, look out not in is something where we as a mission team need to look out past our own selves and see the needs of others. We see a need for a Belizean native and we should fulfill it. 
 
During the next six days, there will be photo galleries, videos and short recaps from each day on the Campbellsville University athletics media platforms – @CvilleTigers, Facebook, Instagram and CampbellsvilleTigers.com. 
 
Before we share with our followers back in the states about our first mission day in Belize, lets back track to 2 a.m. ET on Thursday morning. That was our role call and final passport and license check in the back parking lot of the Hawkins Athletic Center on campus. Once Hardy gave the go ahead to our Wise Coaches bus driver to hit the road, many tried to catch up on about two and a half hours of sleep until we reached Nashville. 
 
Our stay in Nashville was short, about an hour or so until we were air born for Miami. More travel companions, including myself, were trying once again for some shut eye. The layover in Miami was a little over an hour and the flight was just under two hours from Miami to Belize. 
 
Once we had boots on the ground in Belize, it was a 20-minute ride to the Ramada Princess – our residence for the next few days. The Ramada Princess isn't your usual Ramada in the states, either. There's a casino right when you walk in the door, but you better have at least $300 in Belizean money to even gain admittance. Also, for those wondering $300 in Belize is only $150 in American currency. 
 
There's also a really nice fitness center that features a large weight lifting area and six treadmills…. If only they worked!! Our photographer, Brett Pierce, was a little bummed but he took his normal 10-mile run outside across the street to the MMC Grounds where the soccer clinics are being hosted.
 
Once the team got settled into the Ramada Princess for about 15 minutes, we were off to go cave tubing. Little did we know the drive was about 90 minutes out of Belize City. So, guess what many of us did? SLEEP!! Being up for almost 48 hours isn't in our DNA. Especially for former Fighting Tiger QB Jacob Russell and his now-fiance Danika Prater who drove from Babson Park, Florida on Wednesday at Noon ET and arrived in Campbellsville a little before we departed from campus. Jake actually took Danika to the first place they met, Finley Stadium, and dropped to a knee. Congrats to one of the best QBs in Fighting Tiger history.
 
After a nice hike through the rainforest, the group was able to take a 15-minute swim through the opening of the cave. I asked our tour guide if the water was warm or cold, his answer, "it's neither. The water is refreshing."
 
Refreshing it was! Many of the staff and athletes did a little jumping off the cave rocks, including the mom of the trip, Mrs. Lori Hardy!
 
The float through the cave was refreshing for most besides the group that decided to float solo through the cave. Little did they know it was going to turn into a full upper body workout. I, Jordan Alves, was the first to bail out and many others linked up together with our guide. Cave tubing is supposed to be refreshing, right?! Props to assistant football coach Matt Atwood, he was the lone ranger in the group that went solo for the entire float. 
 
After our float, the team freshened up for our first Belizean food experience at the Calypso located behind the Ramada Princess and on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. Little known fact – the Caribbean Sea's second largest reef is right off the banks of Belize. Thanks to Andrew Hammond – our Sports Reach leader this week. 
 
The Calypso looked to be a wonderful establishment with a nice breeze rolling through the balcony until the Catch of the Day – red snapper – came out fish head, eyes, fins, scales, and everything else on my plate. It definitely wasn't the same red snapper I had first caught in the Gulf of Mexico a weeks before on vacation. 
 
Our first devotion was led by Jim Hardy and also Brett Pierce shared his testimony. The night ended with most of us climbing into bed around 10 p.m. local time – which is midnight back in the Eastern Time Zone. Also, another little nugget of information - Belize is on Central Time, but the country does not honor daylight savings time, therefore in the spring Belize is actually on Mountain Time. But sometimes it's hard to trust me when it comes to time changes and time zones when it comes to traveling with our department. I've been known to butcher it all a time a two.  
 
After breakfast was served at 7 a.m. local time this morning, the mission team rallied at 8:00 for our departure to the Marion Jones Complex. That's where we would split up into groups for track and field, football, soccer, basketball, baseball and many went to the children's home. 
 
Each clinic had over 60+ kids attend all over Belize City and I was a part of a group that had over 100+ kids learn the game of baseball and softball. 
 
Tonight's schedule is a little easier as we are loading up for dinner at 5:45. I hear it's a Chinese restaurant for tonight so lets hope there aren't any fish, or cats, staring back at me when our food arrives!!! Afterwards, many coaches will have a clinic and breakout session with the national coaches in the area and our devotion will be led by our newest assistant athletic trainer and swimming assistant coach, Rebekah Tilton.  
 
Tomorrow's schedule is very similar to today. Breakfast at 7 a.m. local time and we'll be loading up for another long hot day in the sun but it's all worth it when we can use our sport as a vehicle to share the love of Christ with the natives. Remember…. Look out, not in!!
 
JORDAN ALVES' DAILY DIARY - CU TO BELIZE
Jordan Alves, sports information director, Zach Clements, athletics video coordinator, and Brett Pierce, athletics photographer, will post daily diaries and photo galleries from behind the scenes of the #CUtoBelize19 mission trip.
 
 
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