I was tired, so tired. I had come to Belize to rest after volunteering at a convent in Guatemala. But I had a health condition that needed more than rest.

Belize was lovely; the people, the ocean, the small town. But how in the world would I find food? This town had few restaurants and the small local grocery store seemed a long walk away from where I was sitting. It was just too easy to keep sitting on the sand, watching the waves come in and out. My tired body felt heavy and drowsy in the warm sun. It occurred to me then that sitting alone in the sun without food or water and not having energy to get up was not a good position to be in. I looked across the serene light blue sky and remembered God. If I asked, would God really send me food?

In my exhaustion, I prayed, “God, could you send me some food? Please?” I looked to my left and saw some local kids walking in a group carrying a plastic box. That’s cute, I thought, they must be planning to play in the sand. Several of the kids walked in another direction. But the thin wisp of a girl came closer. In a shy voice she asked if I wanted to buy something. I wasn’t sure what she said. She showed me her fish patties. I wasn’t sure what they were but I knew that they were food. YES! After my purchase I sat down to enjoy. They were good! It wasn’t just that I was hungry, but they were really good! Warm, fresh, pirogi-shaped and with a flaky crust. That day I became a regular customer, and the kids always seemed to know where to find me.

One day I ventured out and took a walk down the one main road, following the ocean. It was a nice day with a cool breeze. Suddenly I saw those kids sitting on a picnic bench in front of a house. “Hi!” I said to my fish pattie-selling friends. “Nice to see you here!” I exclaimed. “This is our house,” they chimed. Our mom is making fish patties right now. But we can’t sell those to you because they are for the hotel. They order them. “Oh no!” I said. “I’m really craving a fish pattie right now.” And somehow they managed to sell me some too. I felt so happy, so comfortable, sitting there with them on the picnic table and talking, with a warm fish pattie in my hand. Fish patties from heaven!