Thankful for God's Hand

waiting for YC to begin

this morning...the kids all listening so well

It has been a great weekend, after kind of a tough week.  It has been so hot all week and that creates its own set of trials.

We had heard this week about something called the YC, and everyone who is a believer in our lives, seemed to be playing a part.  But with 6 people in our family, we were not sure if we would go...a little costly.  It ran all weekend, but as the weekend went on, we really felt we should go last night (Saturday).  It is hard to cook, eat, shower, get ready and out the door for a nighttime event, but knowing the house did not have to be cleaned for the morning freed me up a little.  So, we all got ready, not really sure what we were going to...basically a concert/ worship.

Well, it was awesome.  For all of us.  We got there and Winnie's sister and friend were there too..and so many others we knew.  So we knew it must be good.  It was at the University of Belize Gymnasium, and the music was blaring.  We went in, and got seats close to the front.  By the time it started, we were squished in like sardines...but it was a good squishing.  That so many young people had turned out.  I was a little nervous that all the exits were locked except the small door we entered, but either I have faith or not, right?  At the time of the concert, there were probably about 800 people or more and people continued coming in as the night went on.  There was a team that had come from Canada.  They had been ministering in churches and schools in Belize City all week.  Their dramas were amazing.  I think all the local churches, or several of them, helped put it on.  We saw several of the pastors we know from Belmopan ministering.

One of Winnie's friends, who helps at the dance studio the girls may go to, did a solo dance.  It was beautiful.  I tried to get pictures, but it was just too dark and she was wearing all black.  There was a group of young men who danced from Belize City.  Then worship started.  I just started crying as they opened with "Happy Day" from Kim Walker...  Everyone rushed the stage and just started worshipping, jumping, praising.  It was amazing.  I felt like I was at Life Church.  So, I picked up Erika and we got right out there with everyone.  It was insanely loud, but refreshed my spirit so much to have familiar style worship.

The rest of the evening was great and it was a blessing as the girls we are ministering to, heard the same things we have been speaking to them the past couple of weeks.  It was awesome to get to be a part of such a great evening.  It was still going strong with a Jamaican rap group, when we left at 10.  Thinking about a tired 4 year old, who was excellent the whole evening, and getting four kids up for our first day at the new place, we needed to go.  As we were leaving, some of the drama group was outside and Josh was just visiting with them.  They loved that we have just moved here.  They come every year.  And one of the young men, had bought a very fancy knife for coming to Belize...and felt God told him to give it to Josh.  It brings me to tears writing it.  Because that young man will never know how he blessed my son.  Just a simple blessing.  But a pouring into that Josh will not forget.

We came home and had an especially meaningful prayer time sharing all that God had spoken to and blessed us that night.  The whole evening was powerful and evidence of how God knows exactly what we need and ministers to us so personally, from little Erika, just enjoying the worship and watching her big friend do a ballet dance, to me, and some powerful things God reminded me of last night.  Each of us was ministered to in a very personal way.  And that is what is awesome about people who come on short term missions trips.  They have the energy and freshness, and are totally dedicated to ministry the days they are here, not having to focus on the day to day living things that we do.  So there is a need for both.  We need to be here to sustain the relationships and bring discipleship, but the short term teams work hand in hand in bringing an energetic message and drawing the people in.

This morning was our first morning at the George Price.  I'll be honest.  I was looking forward to the air conditioning.  We got there and found out my friend went in the hospital in the middle of the night...please pray for her.  She is still there.  And her husband leads worship.  But he came and worship was amazing, and we had a projector with words.  People worshipped.  God was there.  His presence filled the place.  Worship is still a little awkward, as we are small, and everyone is still getting to know each other.  But God is moving, and we are so excited.  We had 3 rededications, and 1 first time salvation, ministry afterwards.  Lee and I are excited, not about numbers, but lives, that we are seeing these young people surrender their lives to the Lord and the Lord is working.  And we just get to be a part of it.

Tori did amazing with the kids.  There are windows so I could see the room the whole time.  The children all sat and listened so nicely as she told the story of Daniel and Lions Den, and then they made Lions masks.  This sweet girl prepared the lesson for over an hour yesterday.  She pours her heart into it, trying to make everything special.  It is nice that we have 4 children right now.  We will eventually rotate in the mothers, and hire someone, but I told her, she had a direct input to people being ministered to, because they can relax because she is ministering to their children, including her sister.

Our numbers are small, but that is how we want it for now.  So we can pour into and disciple this first group.

Lee and I are encouraged and blessed to be serving in Belize.