Foursquare in Belize Eighth year Anniversary

One thing that is neat about being on the mission field is getting visitors.

This weekend, Paul Otremba, our representative (or boss:), stayed with us. It has been a joy to get to spend time with him.  He is German, but has spent much of his life serving in Columbia. There was lots of celebrating in San Ignacio at Arms of Love church, the first Foursquare here in Belize.  It is always neat to go back there because that is where we would take our short term missions trips over the years.  One little girl (now 10) came up to me last night and asked if I remembered her.  Of course, I did.  It is neat to see the kids growing up.

Lee and Paul were in San Ignacio all day on Saturday and got home about 11 that night, exhausted.  The kids and I stayed here and cleaned.  Wini had something at night and Josh went to Agric, so I took the little girls out on a date.  It was nice, just to sit and enjoy them.

Sunday was a whirlwind.  Waking up and getting breakfast and cleaning up.  Getting all the stuff to church and set up.  We had lots of visitors and lots of our regular people.  Worship was amazing.  It just seems to get better every week now.  Drums are definitely a nice addition.

After church, we tried a brand new restaurant, because it had AC.  Yep, that is the truth.  It is hot and we wanted to be cool:)  The food was great, the service was slow.  Hopefully they will get better at service, because it was very reasonable.

Then we headed to our very HOT house, and began preparing to be gone all night.  We all had to shower again and get dressed nice (Pastor Caleb's church is more dressy), and PACK into the van.  We actually were one seat short so we passed around a toddler:)  Erika slept all the way there, which was a blessing because she was so happy when we got there.

Two other full cars from LifeNet met us there.  I am proud to say we had about 23 people from our congregation there.  About 1/4 of our total congregation.  It is a blessing because gas is high here and it is about an hour from Belmopan.

Anyway, we enjoyed a full Celebration Evening.  The children enjoyed waving the flags.  There was Latino worship, our worship team led and Carolyn and Tirzah and Ames did a special dance.  It was a night of rejoicing.  Of course, much of it was in Spanish, but we enjoyed just all being together.

Afterward, we were all starving, so ate again, there in Cayo.  It was fun.  They have a playground there so the teens tooks the littler kids out to play.  We ate quickly and headed home.  A van full of sleepy babies and adults.  Erika fell asleep on the way home too.  I think we pulled into our house about 11:30 last night.

So, today, we are taking it easy.  I spent the morning trying to catch up on laundry, sweeping, etc.  It is very humid today, so at 10 am, I already had to take my second shower.  We are taking Paul back to the airport this afternoon.  It has been a lot of driving for Lee this weekend.  But I love being in the van, heading somewhere.  It was so nice last night as we were all squished in the van, windows open, babies snoozing, teens all listening to their music.  Of course, I was praying too as those roads are crazy and I know Lee was tired.  

It has been nice for Lee to get to spend a lot of time talking with Paul. And for Paul to spend time with the people of LifeNet and see what God is doing.  In fact, he just mentioned us in a recent video...

You can watch it here.

No "Breaking News" in Belize

This weekend, there were a lot of murders here in Belize.  So far, two leaders, of opposing gangs, have been killed.  Then a drunken fight resulted in a murder here in a Belmopan village.  Oh, and while the prime minister and police were holding a press conference over what happened this weekend, You guessed it?  Someone else was murdered.

So, I think, but am not sure, that were about 6 murders, over the weekend in this little nation.

Little, meaning, about as many people as the community of Katy.  I don't think there are typically six murders a weekend in Katy.

It is so crazy when I think about the "per capita" thing.  There is so much crime in this little nation.  Sometimes it is just statistics.  Sometimes it hits closer because it involves someone we love or who was close to them.

The other thing is actually trying to find out what really happened.  There was no "official" news all weekend.  Just rumors on Facebook, much of which were not accurate.

We have a friend in the news industry and he usually is the best to know what really is happening.  But then, he has to go research it for himself, too.

The lack of news can sometimes be scarier than the truth.  Hearing that there is a "bloodbath" in the city and that there was "shooting all night long" in the city this weekend.  It is still bad, but not as bad as it sounded.

I know that a lot of people in the city are very fearful, though.  So, please pray for them.

This weekend, one of the largest gatherings in Belize takes place here in Belmopan.  The Agric.  There will be around 50,000 people coming from everywhere.  Mostly the city.  I will be staying home and praying.  Really, I will.  Praying for God's protection against any more gang retaliation.  Praying for this nation.  That we are just a small church.  But God can use us.

We have a drug house a few doors down from us.

But you know what?  I washed the feet of some of those children on Sunday.

And hopefully, we are giving those women and children hope that they can live for Jesus.

And I am so thankful, as Erika and took some extra plantain to my neighbor yesterday, several children in our church walked past.  And they were happy to see us.

That is the difference here.  We really live with the people we are ministering to.

The sweet girl who works at the bakery.  She rode by our house yesterday.  This morning, I told her to stop by and say hello next time.  And I think she might.  Now that I invited her.  She has only come to church once.  And she said every time they pass the George Price Center, her little boy says he wants to go there.  I see her more than most people...  God is planting a lot of little seeds...and we are just going to be ready.

The crime and sin can be overwhelming at times here.  Sometimes I have to purpose in my heart to pray protection and pray against fear.

But I also see that God has put us in a place of really being able to make an impact on Belmopan, then maybe further.

When I prayed over these children on Sunday, I was praying for their future.  That God would guide and protect them.  That they would know God's destiny for their lives.  Two of those children (erika and another), were missionaries called to this nation.  They are already fulfilling destiny as they, even though they are children too, are still leaders.

So, we don't always know what is going on in the news immediately.  But I do know that God is bigger and I have to trust Him.  And I just have to continue in the purpose He has put us here for....

Almost Done

How do I describe the feeling?  We are ALMOST done...

Three more weeks of this school year...then I will have one less thing in my day...for a few months.

It has been a busy year.  Planting a church, getting more involved in our community, and teaching three kids.

Josh has had an extremely full load.

Tori is already finished for the year with two of her subjects.

Now, is the easy part.  Wrapping it all up.

And yes, I reenrolled the kids for next school year, yesterday.  

And when August rolls around, I am sure I will be excited as I open up the boxes full of new curriculum.

But for now, I am thankful that this school year is coming to a close.

And so are my kids.

Looking forward to friends and teams coming to visit over the summer and a trip home to the states.

I'm sure the summer will fly.

But I plan to soak up every single, school-free moment of it.

And then I will get crazy excited to start the next year...it always happens that way:)

Special Times in Children's Church

God put something on my heart this week...and I was not sure "how it would go".  And He showed me that He was in it all along this morning.

Last week, we had 20 children in children's church and it was apparently quite chaotic.  Many discussions happened this week about how we needed to change some things...but how, what?

I plan the lessons for Children's Church about a 6-8 week period of time.

This week, the teaching was on Mary and the alabaster jar.

All week, I felt the Lord telling me all sorts of different things.  One of the most important being that He wanted me to wash each of the children's feet...and pray over them.  (Oh, and I was not scheduled to be in children's church.  But Friday, I found out that one of the people could not be here.  Another confirmation of what God was telling me.)

Knowing it was a little crazy last week, I was not sure how I would pull this off and have it be quiet and respectful as each person had a turn.

Well, it ended up being one of the most special times.  A couple of times, I had to remind the children to stay calm, but as we got to the last few, a little girl sat on one side of me to dry the children's feet, while another (Erika) joined in laying on hands and praying over the children.

You could tell they were a little unsure, yet, children are so trusting.  And each child...you could tell...felt so special...as I prayed for them.  I did shed a few tears, but was so honored to get a chance to speak life over each child individually.  I had an itty bitty one, like 3, and all the way up to some cool 10 year old boys.  It was simply a moment I pray they never forget, because I will not.

Normally, I do have many pictures of the actual ministry we do, because it just doesn't happen.  But Alina, while working with the other children, grabbed my camera out of my purse, and just began taking pictures.  And I am thankful she did.  For me...and for them.

Oh, and this had been on my heart all week...leading up to a weekend when the largest gang in Belize' head guy was killed.  And now, in 48 hours, there have been 5 murders so far.  This nation  desperately needs a touch of God, starting when they are young, so they will grow up in the Lord, instead of gangs.  Belize is now the 5th highest per capita murder capital of the world.

But these 14 children, I am praying, will grow up to be nation changers...

Life Between Showers

The HOT season is here in Belize.  It is so hot...I am sitting here at 7:45 pm, just sweating.  About to take a cold shower...

My life is lived between the showers. But the showers are what make me able to make it.

This morning, I got up early, showered, did three loads of wash, hung them, and headed to a friends house to help decorate for her daughter's bday.

I came home, pretty sweaty, made lunch, cleaned up, brought in and folded those three loads of laundry and thought, PHEW...I need another shower.

So, quickly, I showered for a second time to head to the party at 2.  Oh, and also threw Erika in the shower to cool off and get presentable.  Dressed by the fan to try to keep somewhat cool, we quickly headed over.  Well, we were sweating within no time over there, but at least we arrived clean:)

Erika had a blast.  It was a party fit for a princess and Erika had a big smile from ear to ear.  She did not mind getting sweaty playing musical chairs, or hitting the pinata.  She was just having fun.

I got home, had some company...oh, had company before lunch too.  Seriously.  Sweaty me, just visited.  Cause they are all sweaty, too.

Made a yummy dinner for my family, cleaned up.

Prepared lesson for Childrens church tomorrow because I am teaching.

Showered Erika....she is ready to be prayed with soon and put to bed.  I know she will sleep well.

And then, Soon, I will take my third shower...but not until I am done doing all the running around I need to do...so I can just lie down...by my fan...and hopefully not need any more showers....TODAY:)

We made new friends with a family that has a five year that is just a perfect friend for Erika...and a 13 yr that is a perfect friend for Tori...and they live in our neighborhood...so thankful...

Happy to be headed to Amerie's bday party...

waiting on the rest of the guests...