Life is weird. Just plain weird.
I chalk it up to humanity being creatures of comfort. The majority of us, at least, crave it and settle into routines. Even when life rattles us into something unpleasant, once we get used to it, it becomes familiar.
Even if we pray to the Father for something better, I sometimes wonder if there's this little pinprick deep down, "But don't make this hard." It's exactly like Plato's cave metaphor I learned about in college. There's a beautiful world outside, but we become familiar with our dark little hidey-hole and have no desire to emerge.
I'm seeing a potential answer coming, though I could be wrong. Although it could be beautiful, I'm sensing the pinprick. What potential changes might lie ahead? What would come with it? Last time this happened, it was wonderful, but life did change. In some ways, it was incredible.
Others... yes, it was tough and I didn't like them. It took some getting used to.
I'm thankful the Father has it all. He's seen it all forever. That alone is enough to blow my mind, and yet He still loves His creation anyway.
Unfathomable.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
He Holds You
I was stopped after church today.
I had this thought in mind of who I was going to/needed to talk to, but evidently God had other ideas.
Let me stop and unpack that. I don't entirely believe God sees our plans and laughs at them, just as Pastor Jim wisely taught earlier this year. God is our Heavenly Father, and just as a good parent wouldn't laugh at a child's earnest intentions, I don't believe He would either. However, I don't believe He won't override them for better ends.
In this case, I never did get a chance to find whom I needed to chat with, but it was okay.
In this case, my cousin Seth stopped me. I'm always glad to see him-one of those guys who never fails to bring a smile to my face.
"Seth! Hey man. What's up?"
In this case, it was simple but still profound. He and I have been praying for one another for various things we've dealt with, and for that, I've been thankful. He was reminding me of that through the twisting journey life has taken me recently, but it was something in particular, the way he put it, that really stuck with me, perhaps on purpose, perhaps unintended.
"Remember: the Lord has you. He holds you, man. He holds your very soul."
It hit me and I lost a bit of focus after that, probably because of the weight of his words.
But the more I think about it, the more I get flattened by that statement. This is the same Lord Almighty who has always been. No beginning or end. He just is.
The same Lord who created it all.
The same Lord who had already seen through all of history.
The same Lord who sent Himself to us, His creation.
The same Lord who has walked among us.
The same Lord who died for us and came back, defeating death out of His love for us.
The same Lord who lives in us and holds our souls.
And the same Lord who still holds the world now.
This same Lord holds my soul. My life.
I don't know what the future even remotely looks like for me, and in some ways, that's a scary thought. It's just plain hard. As I've thought about and written before, trust isn't a thing inherent to us as people.
But as Seth reminded me and it crystalized again today, the Lord God is someone to trust because of who He is.
He is love. He is good. He is our Father in Heaven. He is Lord God.
I had this thought in mind of who I was going to/needed to talk to, but evidently God had other ideas.
Let me stop and unpack that. I don't entirely believe God sees our plans and laughs at them, just as Pastor Jim wisely taught earlier this year. God is our Heavenly Father, and just as a good parent wouldn't laugh at a child's earnest intentions, I don't believe He would either. However, I don't believe He won't override them for better ends.
In this case, I never did get a chance to find whom I needed to chat with, but it was okay.
In this case, my cousin Seth stopped me. I'm always glad to see him-one of those guys who never fails to bring a smile to my face.
"Seth! Hey man. What's up?"
In this case, it was simple but still profound. He and I have been praying for one another for various things we've dealt with, and for that, I've been thankful. He was reminding me of that through the twisting journey life has taken me recently, but it was something in particular, the way he put it, that really stuck with me, perhaps on purpose, perhaps unintended.
"Remember: the Lord has you. He holds you, man. He holds your very soul."
It hit me and I lost a bit of focus after that, probably because of the weight of his words.
But the more I think about it, the more I get flattened by that statement. This is the same Lord Almighty who has always been. No beginning or end. He just is.
The same Lord who created it all.
The same Lord who had already seen through all of history.
The same Lord who sent Himself to us, His creation.
The same Lord who has walked among us.
The same Lord who died for us and came back, defeating death out of His love for us.
The same Lord who lives in us and holds our souls.
And the same Lord who still holds the world now.
This same Lord holds my soul. My life.
I don't know what the future even remotely looks like for me, and in some ways, that's a scary thought. It's just plain hard. As I've thought about and written before, trust isn't a thing inherent to us as people.
But as Seth reminded me and it crystalized again today, the Lord God is someone to trust because of who He is.
He is love. He is good. He is our Father in Heaven. He is Lord God.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
"I'm BATMAN!"
Trusting in God is tough.
There's this inherent desire in us to want to know everything. I sometimes compare it to being like Batman, which sounds a bit goofy, almost cartoonish, but I think deep down, we're all like him.
Batman, or Bruce Wayne, if you'd like, doesn't have special powers in the same way guys like Superman or Spiderman do. He's a strong enough, tough guy, but he doesn't have anything that gave him an enhanced edge like Spidey. What sets Bats apart was his mind, his cunning, and his ability to apply all that with incredible results.
He put together a hideout.
He built "toys." A lot of really cool ones. (I dare you to tell me you wouldn't love any of the vehicles from Christopher Nolan's pictures. I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut you're not telling the truth.)
He had a really nifty suit that could stop bullets and sharp objects. It didn't quite let him fly, but it helped him get around in the night through the air.
He had a nice "radar" network between Alfred, Lucius Fox and all the gear.
And he always had a plan with lots of backups.
The point is this: Batman never was taken by surprise. If something didn't work, Batman had already seen that possibility, thought it through, and knew what he'd do in that instance. His m.o. is to be not simply one step ahead of everyone but closer to seven steps ahead. Catching the guy flat-footed was near impossible.
And really... that's us. We want to see the outcomes. We want to plan for them, have alternatives, and plan for them. In some ways, that's not a bad thing.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.~Matthew 10:16
Jesus recognized the value of wisdom and learning. He encouraged us to learn and to use discernment and judgment (and to balance it with gentleness and love in the midst of a tough world). These are not bad things in and of themselves.
But when we can't always see the outcomes in front of us... when the Batman method fails us... what then?
That's tough (and to be honest, frightening), but really, those moments of pitch darkness are when I've seen my faith hardened into something stronger. They remind me that there is no reliance in those "plans."
Our reliance is only in our Heavenly Father, and in Him is our trust because He loves us. The fear in not knowing what will happen is not dispelled simply because we wish it away or ignore it (that's pretty stupid and also... it doesn't work). However, when we stop and consider just how huge God's love is for us and how His design is above and beyond our idea of past, present, and future... trusting Him becomes less of an issue.
I trusted my parents as a kiddo because I believed, in my heart, they wouldn't let me down. They love me. It's no different with God. When we trust in Him because He loves us, there is strength. I saw that at work in the ability to go and minister in Belize (a trip I really had no business taking by the world's standards).
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.~Joshua 1:9
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
~Song of Solomon 8:6
Trusting *IS* hard when we can't see the way forward. It's no surprise we (I include myself) fight it. But when we begin to see we trust in a Heavenly Father who loves us far larger than loving parents do... the fight begins to melt away.
There's this inherent desire in us to want to know everything. I sometimes compare it to being like Batman, which sounds a bit goofy, almost cartoonish, but I think deep down, we're all like him.
Batman, or Bruce Wayne, if you'd like, doesn't have special powers in the same way guys like Superman or Spiderman do. He's a strong enough, tough guy, but he doesn't have anything that gave him an enhanced edge like Spidey. What sets Bats apart was his mind, his cunning, and his ability to apply all that with incredible results.
He put together a hideout.
He built "toys." A lot of really cool ones. (I dare you to tell me you wouldn't love any of the vehicles from Christopher Nolan's pictures. I'll bet you a dollar to a doughnut you're not telling the truth.)
He had a really nifty suit that could stop bullets and sharp objects. It didn't quite let him fly, but it helped him get around in the night through the air.
He had a nice "radar" network between Alfred, Lucius Fox and all the gear.
And he always had a plan with lots of backups.
The point is this: Batman never was taken by surprise. If something didn't work, Batman had already seen that possibility, thought it through, and knew what he'd do in that instance. His m.o. is to be not simply one step ahead of everyone but closer to seven steps ahead. Catching the guy flat-footed was near impossible.
And really... that's us. We want to see the outcomes. We want to plan for them, have alternatives, and plan for them. In some ways, that's not a bad thing.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.~Matthew 10:16
Jesus recognized the value of wisdom and learning. He encouraged us to learn and to use discernment and judgment (and to balance it with gentleness and love in the midst of a tough world). These are not bad things in and of themselves.
But when we can't always see the outcomes in front of us... when the Batman method fails us... what then?
That's tough (and to be honest, frightening), but really, those moments of pitch darkness are when I've seen my faith hardened into something stronger. They remind me that there is no reliance in those "plans."
Our reliance is only in our Heavenly Father, and in Him is our trust because He loves us. The fear in not knowing what will happen is not dispelled simply because we wish it away or ignore it (that's pretty stupid and also... it doesn't work). However, when we stop and consider just how huge God's love is for us and how His design is above and beyond our idea of past, present, and future... trusting Him becomes less of an issue.
I trusted my parents as a kiddo because I believed, in my heart, they wouldn't let me down. They love me. It's no different with God. When we trust in Him because He loves us, there is strength. I saw that at work in the ability to go and minister in Belize (a trip I really had no business taking by the world's standards).
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.~Joshua 1:9
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
~Song of Solomon 8:6
Trusting *IS* hard when we can't see the way forward. It's no surprise we (I include myself) fight it. But when we begin to see we trust in a Heavenly Father who loves us far larger than loving parents do... the fight begins to melt away.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
ARMOR UP
Coming back into a routine after something so different, whether a missions trip or a vacation, can be bumpy.
It was refreshing to jump back into the ARMORED series. As I prepped the study, I wondered why we keep coming back to this topic over and over.
Why do we not learn our lesson on fear? Why does this command pop up over and over again?
Peter saw the wind (or maybe evidence of it... whatever exactly he saw) when he stepped onto the water and grew afraid, even when Jesus was right there. And then his faith, which was enough for him to walk on the water himself, was shaken. Our strength may fail, but our Father calls us onward.
C.S. Lewis wrote in The Screwtape Letters regarding distraction and to distract the Christian. I wondered about that after how much we pondered that and the more I consider it, I really think that's a large piece of it. Peter was misdirected, and it was nearly his undoing to the point of his very life in one of those sudden Galilean tempests.
In contrast, I admired last night how, even as the busy-ness and noise reaches deafening levels in spring, these guys have remained focused and keep coming (even if they can't be there for the entire thing) for the fellowship, the chance to study together, and to pray for the study and for one another. They've remained focused. As one of them later mentioned, he expected to not have gotten anything out of the evening, but: he did anyway and was reminded that there remained the opportunity to dig in to the study at home and study this stuff on his own.
Absolutely. I love these gatherings, but the alone time with Him is just as important. We need to seek God, to know and follow Him not only with our comrades, but also on our own time.
It was refreshing to jump back into the ARMORED series. As I prepped the study, I wondered why we keep coming back to this topic over and over.
Why do we not learn our lesson on fear? Why does this command pop up over and over again?
Peter saw the wind (or maybe evidence of it... whatever exactly he saw) when he stepped onto the water and grew afraid, even when Jesus was right there. And then his faith, which was enough for him to walk on the water himself, was shaken. Our strength may fail, but our Father calls us onward.
C.S. Lewis wrote in The Screwtape Letters regarding distraction and to distract the Christian. I wondered about that after how much we pondered that and the more I consider it, I really think that's a large piece of it. Peter was misdirected, and it was nearly his undoing to the point of his very life in one of those sudden Galilean tempests.
In contrast, I admired last night how, even as the busy-ness and noise reaches deafening levels in spring, these guys have remained focused and keep coming (even if they can't be there for the entire thing) for the fellowship, the chance to study together, and to pray for the study and for one another. They've remained focused. As one of them later mentioned, he expected to not have gotten anything out of the evening, but: he did anyway and was reminded that there remained the opportunity to dig in to the study at home and study this stuff on his own.
Absolutely. I love these gatherings, but the alone time with Him is just as important. We need to seek God, to know and follow Him not only with our comrades, but also on our own time.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Belize: Homecoming
Goodbye, Caye Caulker.
Goodbye, Angel.
Goodbye, Lorelly.
Goodbye, Luda.
Goodbye, Thirst.
Goodbye, Belize.
Thank you for welcoming us as friends, teaching us, and serving with us on the trip of a lifetime.
I'm praying we can come back soon. Meanwhile, may we be faithful in our love back home and thankful in what God has granted us.
Goodbye, Angel.
Goodbye, Lorelly.
Goodbye, Luda.
Goodbye, Thirst.
Goodbye, Belize.
Thank you for welcoming us as friends, teaching us, and serving with us on the trip of a lifetime.
I'm praying we can come back soon. Meanwhile, may we be faithful in our love back home and thankful in what God has granted us.
Belize: Give Us Rest
Caye Caulker!
A very early morning and we were wished the very best by Pastor Vitalino, Ida, and his family. Saying goodbye was a bit rough, but in the early hours, we could still see evidence of all that we had done even with the new benches we had sat on hours earlier and the cheerily-painted church. We came and accomplished something, and now... our job is to pray for God to increase the harvest of this place and to consider if we are called to return, whether sooner, later, or not.
In my own heart, I hope and believe we are.
In the meantime, some rest is welcome, and Caye Caulker is just the spot. A long bus ride to Belize City and we reached our port for the water taxi. While waiting, and hearing the mix of calypso, merengue, and reggae music playing made me understand what Ben meant when he said Belize is such a unique place. It felt like we were in a completely different country, a bit like Jamaica or somewhere farther east into the Caribbean.
Our porter sounded the call for our time to board and Angel signaled us over. Thankfully, we all made it onto our craft. Clearly, we were headed for a tourist destination; I spotted people from several different countries, heard a number of different languages, dominated by English, and most everyone looked ready for their vacation. I was ready to mostly rest, but also just for the chance to stop working. As much as I missed my friends in Progresso already, I was reminded again of finishing a week of camp. The chance to rest was welcome and to just take it all in sounded great. Though I was surrounded by others, I was grateful for 45 minutes just to myself, to think, to pray for a bit... to just BE.
And then we arrived. Caye Caulker! A lovely, long, little place that reminded me, in its way, of Mackinac Island, if you stretched Mackinac, gave it some motor vehicles, clever rope speed bumps, and some motor vehicles in place of the horse-drawn wagons.
A quick detour to drop off luggage, throw on some sunscreen and take just the essentials, and it was time to snorkel. Thirst evidently worked out a slick deal with Anwar Tours - Andrew, our guide, was quite familiar with groups with Thirst. I really enjoyed his passion for the reefs, the wildlife, and generally showcasing his home to everyone. Seeing the coral, a rainbow of fish and everything from the littlest of them to shy moray eels, elusive sea turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, and even barracudas in a blue and green sea was truly unforgettable. Hearing from Andrew about the lionfish hunts, the good eats, and life in general Caye Caulker was just as much fun. Part of the fun, as I've discovered just in traveling, is meeting people and hearing their stories.
Post-snorkeling, I enjoyed the time to relax. The scents from all the different places to eat made me wish I had several days just to sample it all, but our Caribbean-style lunch was a great start. A bit of wandering and finding Angel booked us at a beachside resort with hammocks and beach chairs in a place that looks like something straight out of a cruise brochure made me feel incredibly spoiled. Either way, I was grateful for the opportunity to just take it all in after an incredible, but exhausting week. The beauty in the sea in front of me was something I've never quite beheld.
Night fell and we gathered for yet another wonderful meal, this time buffet-style (my first salad in a week!), again compliments of Thirst, and then we were taken to the rest of the group's hotel for a rooftop gathering under the moon for our final meeting. Luda walked us through our week and had us reflect on what we thought. The initial meeting with him and the others. Riding the bus past the sugar cane fields and the meal at Slims. Seeing Progresso. Meeting everyone. Soccer. Painting. Maya ruins. Breakdowns. What did we think? How did we feel? What struck us and stuck with us?
We heard of great soccer players. People who had grown old, weak, and even sick but still held on because of their faith in Christ. Children had never heard the Gospel but because of coming to play soccer and listening in small groups, they knew God loved them. Seeing answers to prayer both from our new friends and in our own group in our work. New friendships. Potential defeat. Bonding together at mealtimes. Laughter. Learning Spanish, sometimes by accident. Heartbreak and triumph. It was a bit of everything. Loving, being loved, and leaving behind things that are real reminders of God's faithfulness.
Finally, we were asked to pray. Pray for Templo Hermosa back in Progresso. Pray for Thirst. Pray for our group as we head home and to carry home the spirit of service, love, and what we began in Belize.
And on this evening, if it wasn't already clear, it came into sharper focus.
I might be ready for home because there are places, friends and strangers to serve, and things to do there. That's completely true.
But part of my heart will remain behind, and I'm already hoping and praying for a way to return to serve with (and also see) my friends here with the spirit and passion of the Belizean church.
I am forever thankful for the chance, against all odds, to come, to serve, love, be loved, and see how large and expansive the Lord's love is.
Yes, Belize has stolen part of my heart.
A very early morning and we were wished the very best by Pastor Vitalino, Ida, and his family. Saying goodbye was a bit rough, but in the early hours, we could still see evidence of all that we had done even with the new benches we had sat on hours earlier and the cheerily-painted church. We came and accomplished something, and now... our job is to pray for God to increase the harvest of this place and to consider if we are called to return, whether sooner, later, or not.
In my own heart, I hope and believe we are.
In the meantime, some rest is welcome, and Caye Caulker is just the spot. A long bus ride to Belize City and we reached our port for the water taxi. While waiting, and hearing the mix of calypso, merengue, and reggae music playing made me understand what Ben meant when he said Belize is such a unique place. It felt like we were in a completely different country, a bit like Jamaica or somewhere farther east into the Caribbean.
Our porter sounded the call for our time to board and Angel signaled us over. Thankfully, we all made it onto our craft. Clearly, we were headed for a tourist destination; I spotted people from several different countries, heard a number of different languages, dominated by English, and most everyone looked ready for their vacation. I was ready to mostly rest, but also just for the chance to stop working. As much as I missed my friends in Progresso already, I was reminded again of finishing a week of camp. The chance to rest was welcome and to just take it all in sounded great. Though I was surrounded by others, I was grateful for 45 minutes just to myself, to think, to pray for a bit... to just BE.
And then we arrived. Caye Caulker! A lovely, long, little place that reminded me, in its way, of Mackinac Island, if you stretched Mackinac, gave it some motor vehicles, clever rope speed bumps, and some motor vehicles in place of the horse-drawn wagons.
A quick detour to drop off luggage, throw on some sunscreen and take just the essentials, and it was time to snorkel. Thirst evidently worked out a slick deal with Anwar Tours - Andrew, our guide, was quite familiar with groups with Thirst. I really enjoyed his passion for the reefs, the wildlife, and generally showcasing his home to everyone. Seeing the coral, a rainbow of fish and everything from the littlest of them to shy moray eels, elusive sea turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, and even barracudas in a blue and green sea was truly unforgettable. Hearing from Andrew about the lionfish hunts, the good eats, and life in general Caye Caulker was just as much fun. Part of the fun, as I've discovered just in traveling, is meeting people and hearing their stories.
Post-snorkeling, I enjoyed the time to relax. The scents from all the different places to eat made me wish I had several days just to sample it all, but our Caribbean-style lunch was a great start. A bit of wandering and finding Angel booked us at a beachside resort with hammocks and beach chairs in a place that looks like something straight out of a cruise brochure made me feel incredibly spoiled. Either way, I was grateful for the opportunity to just take it all in after an incredible, but exhausting week. The beauty in the sea in front of me was something I've never quite beheld.
Night fell and we gathered for yet another wonderful meal, this time buffet-style (my first salad in a week!), again compliments of Thirst, and then we were taken to the rest of the group's hotel for a rooftop gathering under the moon for our final meeting. Luda walked us through our week and had us reflect on what we thought. The initial meeting with him and the others. Riding the bus past the sugar cane fields and the meal at Slims. Seeing Progresso. Meeting everyone. Soccer. Painting. Maya ruins. Breakdowns. What did we think? How did we feel? What struck us and stuck with us?
We heard of great soccer players. People who had grown old, weak, and even sick but still held on because of their faith in Christ. Children had never heard the Gospel but because of coming to play soccer and listening in small groups, they knew God loved them. Seeing answers to prayer both from our new friends and in our own group in our work. New friendships. Potential defeat. Bonding together at mealtimes. Laughter. Learning Spanish, sometimes by accident. Heartbreak and triumph. It was a bit of everything. Loving, being loved, and leaving behind things that are real reminders of God's faithfulness.
Finally, we were asked to pray. Pray for Templo Hermosa back in Progresso. Pray for Thirst. Pray for our group as we head home and to carry home the spirit of service, love, and what we began in Belize.
And on this evening, if it wasn't already clear, it came into sharper focus.
I might be ready for home because there are places, friends and strangers to serve, and things to do there. That's completely true.
But part of my heart will remain behind, and I'm already hoping and praying for a way to return to serve with (and also see) my friends here with the spirit and passion of the Belizean church.
I am forever thankful for the chance, against all odds, to come, to serve, love, be loved, and see how large and expansive the Lord's love is.
Yes, Belize has stolen part of my heart.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Belize: He Who Began a Good Work Is Faithful to Complete It
It was an early morning. The thing I've noticed with sleeping in the church building is with no shades and the unfinished doorframes is when the sun comes up (and with it, the rooster crows), you tend to wake up. It's a little colonial in nature, but in its way, I like it. I call myself a night owl, but I'm starting to think that's a bunch of made up nonsense. I had no trouble getting up in the morning when the sun was shining in the windows/wind holes.
The early morning was welcome, though. It was a time to just enjoy the coolness, laugh about weird dreams with some of the guys, and reflect on how we'll take the spirit of what we've learned in Progresso back home to Michigan and not make it a simple emotional experience. One of the things I've consistently seen is,
Forward we went - the bandit bars were ready for their painting and I can say when paint sits for an incalculable amount of time and the tools we're used to in the States (think an electric drill and paint paddle) are not available, stirring the paint to a usable consistency is a very difficult and time-consuming job. Thankfully, Josh and I were able to save enough of it for the students to get some decent-looking red paint on them. Window protection will soon be on this church!
Meanwhile, we had so much to finish on the church and not much time. The exterior needed priming. It needed painting. As we discovered inside, it would need more than one coat, and unlike there, we did not have the benefit of time and the challenge of humidity (the hottest day so far). As Tess and I began pulling tape, we also encountered yet another unexpected problem: the building was taped before the primer went up, meaning we had to start painting and finish priming this little strip where we already had paint and then hurry and paint that. And we had no time to spare.
The Enemy, it seemed, was desperate to stop our efforts. And it looked as if we'd might fail. I looked at Larry and he wasn't hopeful.
We took a quick break for lunch and received some very encouraging words from Lorelly and the crew from the home visits. This was their favorite part of the trip, they said-the residents were grateful, even if their situations and stories were heartbreaking. Those whom have a relationship with Christ clearly had a hope that still shines bright.
Into the afternoon and the urgency became real. Get that paint up! Play hard and talk to the kids! Get out there with those boxes to our new friends!
The million dollar question: Would we finish?
YES! Our second home visit group hit the streets and had some heartbreaking, yet inspiring, stories of the residents' faith from their afternoon. Our crew, in their way, was still able to bless these wonderful people in a real way and judging by their stories, it meant a great deal.
Our soccer group had a successful afternoon and their chances to share did, as they'll share later, reach their kids (more in the next post).
And as for the church and our lofty goal? We saw it through. The primer went up where needed and dried. We finished a first and second coat of paint where we could paint. The remainder of the building needs the concrete smoothed down, so we literally ran out of surface suitable for painting. That said, we were able to prime and apply paint to the second building where it needed it, which was a welcome surprise to our friends at Templo Hermosa.
By dinner... I was utterly spent, but we had one last major thing on the agenda: our celebratory and farewell service!
What an experience it was. Scott gave a quick word of encouragement, a few more testimonies from Maegan, Caleb, and Ashley, a birthday celebration for Naomi (lots of music, a receiving line, and even cake! It definitely makes your birthday unforgettable). Also, we had possibly one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.
Pastor Vitalino called the entire team forward and had their music team play as their congregation came to thank us each personally. Lots of hugs, some tears, and a sense of gratitude, from our Belizean friends for answers to prayer to the work on their ministry site and reaching out to their neighbors, and from us for what they taught us. And it was a way to say good-bye and thank you to all our friends. I always struggle with this part and here in Belize, it was no different. Telling Danielson, Jessie, Daisy, Carlos, Byron, Pastor Vitalino and Ida was emotionally hard after just getting to know them... but I admire them greatly for their strong faith and what they taught us.
Before bed, I also experienced a bit of the "real life" in a Belizean small village. I took my showers at night in Progresso, and the water went out! Thankfully, Ida was able to draw out a bucket enough for me and with that and a large cup... I had an old European-style standing bath. Rinse, wash, rinse until done... repeat until finished! I used just a few gallons of water. Again, a powerful lesson on conserving our water and making do with your circumstances instead of complaining (truthfully, it felt WONDERFUL in the heat).
Gracias, Iglesia Templo Hermosa, para la oportunidad servir con Uds. y servirles. Nos enseñaron mucho en una semana y estamaos agradecidos.
Thank you, Iglesia Templo Hermosa, for the chance to serve with you and to serve you. You taught us a great deal in one week and we are grateful.
A day of rest on the Isle of Caye Caulker, including snorkeling, some more good eats, and just relaxing (and hopefully finding the perfect memento of this trip) awaits. I'm spent after this week and look forward to it all.
The early morning was welcome, though. It was a time to just enjoy the coolness, laugh about weird dreams with some of the guys, and reflect on how we'll take the spirit of what we've learned in Progresso back home to Michigan and not make it a simple emotional experience. One of the things I've consistently seen is,
- Love deeply, as we were when we were welcomed so warmly and loved quickly
- Live with a thankful heart instead of in constant dissatisfaction
Forward we went - the bandit bars were ready for their painting and I can say when paint sits for an incalculable amount of time and the tools we're used to in the States (think an electric drill and paint paddle) are not available, stirring the paint to a usable consistency is a very difficult and time-consuming job. Thankfully, Josh and I were able to save enough of it for the students to get some decent-looking red paint on them. Window protection will soon be on this church!
Meanwhile, we had so much to finish on the church and not much time. The exterior needed priming. It needed painting. As we discovered inside, it would need more than one coat, and unlike there, we did not have the benefit of time and the challenge of humidity (the hottest day so far). As Tess and I began pulling tape, we also encountered yet another unexpected problem: the building was taped before the primer went up, meaning we had to start painting and finish priming this little strip where we already had paint and then hurry and paint that. And we had no time to spare.
The Enemy, it seemed, was desperate to stop our efforts. And it looked as if we'd might fail. I looked at Larry and he wasn't hopeful.
We took a quick break for lunch and received some very encouraging words from Lorelly and the crew from the home visits. This was their favorite part of the trip, they said-the residents were grateful, even if their situations and stories were heartbreaking. Those whom have a relationship with Christ clearly had a hope that still shines bright.
Into the afternoon and the urgency became real. Get that paint up! Play hard and talk to the kids! Get out there with those boxes to our new friends!
The million dollar question: Would we finish?
YES! Our second home visit group hit the streets and had some heartbreaking, yet inspiring, stories of the residents' faith from their afternoon. Our crew, in their way, was still able to bless these wonderful people in a real way and judging by their stories, it meant a great deal.
Our soccer group had a successful afternoon and their chances to share did, as they'll share later, reach their kids (more in the next post).
And as for the church and our lofty goal? We saw it through. The primer went up where needed and dried. We finished a first and second coat of paint where we could paint. The remainder of the building needs the concrete smoothed down, so we literally ran out of surface suitable for painting. That said, we were able to prime and apply paint to the second building where it needed it, which was a welcome surprise to our friends at Templo Hermosa.
By dinner... I was utterly spent, but we had one last major thing on the agenda: our celebratory and farewell service!
What an experience it was. Scott gave a quick word of encouragement, a few more testimonies from Maegan, Caleb, and Ashley, a birthday celebration for Naomi (lots of music, a receiving line, and even cake! It definitely makes your birthday unforgettable). Also, we had possibly one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.
Pastor Vitalino called the entire team forward and had their music team play as their congregation came to thank us each personally. Lots of hugs, some tears, and a sense of gratitude, from our Belizean friends for answers to prayer to the work on their ministry site and reaching out to their neighbors, and from us for what they taught us. And it was a way to say good-bye and thank you to all our friends. I always struggle with this part and here in Belize, it was no different. Telling Danielson, Jessie, Daisy, Carlos, Byron, Pastor Vitalino and Ida was emotionally hard after just getting to know them... but I admire them greatly for their strong faith and what they taught us.
Before bed, I also experienced a bit of the "real life" in a Belizean small village. I took my showers at night in Progresso, and the water went out! Thankfully, Ida was able to draw out a bucket enough for me and with that and a large cup... I had an old European-style standing bath. Rinse, wash, rinse until done... repeat until finished! I used just a few gallons of water. Again, a powerful lesson on conserving our water and making do with your circumstances instead of complaining (truthfully, it felt WONDERFUL in the heat).
Gracias, Iglesia Templo Hermosa, para la oportunidad servir con Uds. y servirles. Nos enseñaron mucho en una semana y estamaos agradecidos.
Thank you, Iglesia Templo Hermosa, for the chance to serve with you and to serve you. You taught us a great deal in one week and we are grateful.
A day of rest on the Isle of Caye Caulker, including snorkeling, some more good eats, and just relaxing (and hopefully finding the perfect memento of this trip) awaits. I'm spent after this week and look forward to it all.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Belize: Answers
At Thirst, they see the value in recreation as well as work, so today meant a chance to get away from it all and enjoy what else Belize has to offer.
A quick breakfast (more of those amazing tortillas with some of the beans and eggs to top it off as fuel) and we're on our way to Lamanai for the morning! It was a perfect day - like pretty much every day, the sun was shining and perfect for enjoying the beauty of God's creation here in the tropics versus our woods in Michigan. It was a bit scary when one of the tires on the bus exploded open, but thankfully it was a rear one and we had dualies, so we were able to make it safely.
Our guide, Eduardo, who is part Maya himself, made the tour quite interesting and offered some deeper perspective because of that fact. One of the most fascinating parts of the visit was how this location was one of the most successful. Lamanai (Maya for "submerged crocodile) is one of the few sites where the people drove out los conquistadores and not only that, it reached its zenith much earlier than other city-states like Tikal, Palenque, or Chichén Itzá, which would climax roughly during the age of the divided Roman Empire and early Middle Ages or Three Kingdoms era/Jìn Dynasty of ancient China. He also brought up a lot of other points: the shifting of worshiping the deities of the sun and rain/heavens to the underworld. The discovery of igneous minerals when there are not nearby volcanoes. The discovery of jade. Mysterious questions such as why might they change the structure of their buildings so dramatically? Why is the ball court at Lamanai so small versus other city-states (Chichén Itzá has a very large one)? Did they have different views only in Lamanai regarding women, considering the body of the embalmed with the hummingbird (a sign of love and favor according to research on the Maya) is likely a woman? Or is the prevailing cultural view different than one anthropologists thought? The depth of knowledge of the Maya regarding astronomy, architecture, and advanced mathematics is truly great (a real concept of zero, trigonometry, geometry, and likely calculus as well). All interesting points, especially to a history geek like myself.
The return home gave us an interesting detour. We couldn't ride much longer with a flat tire, so Angel located a tire shop that was willing to fix us up. A bit to my surprise, it was Mennonite as well, just like our source for the lumber for our new benches. I'm willing to bet that although they're more than used to visitors, a group of 34 Americans on a repurposed bus doesn't happen all that frequently. It was neat seeing their place. They were friendly though, and we bought a ton of ice cream (it was welcome in the heat!). The other neat thing - their signs were in German. I never would have imagined seeing German signage in Belize. Luda and I enjoyed reading it and *attempting* to figure out what it was saying, without much success. I could definitely tell I was out of practice. I guess that means I'm due for a return visit to Germany and say hey to Jonathan!
It put us a bit late, but the kids didn't seem to mind a bit. They jumped right back into another day of playing fútbol, creating arte, crazy stories with Loco Larry, our painting team completed the inside of the church, and our carpentry crew put the last touches on those lovely new benches. It was a late day, but a definite highlight was from one of our kids at the church. I found out Carlos works at the local apiary tending to the bees and he brought home with him a fresh bucket of honey still in the comb and gave some to us to try. I'm normally not that big of a honey guy, but I wanted to try some and when it's made just a few miles away and it's still in the wax... it's like a little piece of Heaven. I can understand why folks years ago would chew the stuff like gum years before gum was a thing. It certainly seems more palatable than chewing on what's essentially shoe leather or a tire.
After dinner, the kids had another chance to just play with our group while the men and women gathered. It was really cool to hear from Angel about his church and their story. I'm hoping La Iglesia Templo Hermosa will see growth in a similar way from this example. Angel's model is a great one of prayer and leadership, not to mention strong friendship, which I admire greatly.
The best moment of the day actually came late into the evening, and it was an answer to prayer from the days before. I had a chance to sit down with Byron, one of the older boys from the church and just talk about anything. Pastor Vitalino joked with me that it's a perfect chance to practice my Spanish more (true story!), which I did. It reminded me like bilingual homes in the U.S. where they bounce between languages. That was what we did and it made me laugh. But more to the point, it was great to just talk with Byron and hear what was on his mind and more importantly, hear a bit of his story. The testimonies from our group had clearly meant a lot to the congregation at Templo Hermosa, so to hear a bit of his story, how God had moved in mighty ways in Byron's life (notably while on a hike) and stretched his faith meant a lot to me as well.
Reaching others for Christ is less about arguing someone to Christianity but as my friends Brandon and Stephanie put it, being the witness, saying the witness, and doing the witness. In doing so, we allow the Spirit to do His work through that and in doing so, He takes us for the ride with Him. In Byron's case, though not necessarily evangelism, his saying the witness moved my heart as well and it reminded me once again how loved we have been (and have been loved DEEPLY) in Belize in such a short time. It's a lesson we need to bring back to the U.S. in loving others. I was thankful for that chance.
I came back into the church for sleeping quite late, after the lights were already out. Caleb was still awake, so I asked him how he was doing. He was doing okay, and like the kind-hearted guy I've come to know, asked how I was. I told him how much I've come to love it in Belize, though the reality was I was starting to feel just a bit sad that, although we've connected with our friends and already made a difference here, I was feeling the impending departure. Caleb reminded me that, even though we may be there is the hope and joy in the great gathering we will with God the Father someday. Our friends in Belize clearly have their trust in Him and he was thinking on that.
I admire Caleb's wisdom. There is always an eternal hope and joy in Christ and it overcomes.
A quick breakfast (more of those amazing tortillas with some of the beans and eggs to top it off as fuel) and we're on our way to Lamanai for the morning! It was a perfect day - like pretty much every day, the sun was shining and perfect for enjoying the beauty of God's creation here in the tropics versus our woods in Michigan. It was a bit scary when one of the tires on the bus exploded open, but thankfully it was a rear one and we had dualies, so we were able to make it safely.
Our guide, Eduardo, who is part Maya himself, made the tour quite interesting and offered some deeper perspective because of that fact. One of the most fascinating parts of the visit was how this location was one of the most successful. Lamanai (Maya for "submerged crocodile) is one of the few sites where the people drove out los conquistadores and not only that, it reached its zenith much earlier than other city-states like Tikal, Palenque, or Chichén Itzá, which would climax roughly during the age of the divided Roman Empire and early Middle Ages or Three Kingdoms era/Jìn Dynasty of ancient China. He also brought up a lot of other points: the shifting of worshiping the deities of the sun and rain/heavens to the underworld. The discovery of igneous minerals when there are not nearby volcanoes. The discovery of jade. Mysterious questions such as why might they change the structure of their buildings so dramatically? Why is the ball court at Lamanai so small versus other city-states (Chichén Itzá has a very large one)? Did they have different views only in Lamanai regarding women, considering the body of the embalmed with the hummingbird (a sign of love and favor according to research on the Maya) is likely a woman? Or is the prevailing cultural view different than one anthropologists thought? The depth of knowledge of the Maya regarding astronomy, architecture, and advanced mathematics is truly great (a real concept of zero, trigonometry, geometry, and likely calculus as well). All interesting points, especially to a history geek like myself.
The return home gave us an interesting detour. We couldn't ride much longer with a flat tire, so Angel located a tire shop that was willing to fix us up. A bit to my surprise, it was Mennonite as well, just like our source for the lumber for our new benches. I'm willing to bet that although they're more than used to visitors, a group of 34 Americans on a repurposed bus doesn't happen all that frequently. It was neat seeing their place. They were friendly though, and we bought a ton of ice cream (it was welcome in the heat!). The other neat thing - their signs were in German. I never would have imagined seeing German signage in Belize. Luda and I enjoyed reading it and *attempting* to figure out what it was saying, without much success. I could definitely tell I was out of practice. I guess that means I'm due for a return visit to Germany and say hey to Jonathan!
It put us a bit late, but the kids didn't seem to mind a bit. They jumped right back into another day of playing fútbol, creating arte, crazy stories with Loco Larry, our painting team completed the inside of the church, and our carpentry crew put the last touches on those lovely new benches. It was a late day, but a definite highlight was from one of our kids at the church. I found out Carlos works at the local apiary tending to the bees and he brought home with him a fresh bucket of honey still in the comb and gave some to us to try. I'm normally not that big of a honey guy, but I wanted to try some and when it's made just a few miles away and it's still in the wax... it's like a little piece of Heaven. I can understand why folks years ago would chew the stuff like gum years before gum was a thing. It certainly seems more palatable than chewing on what's essentially shoe leather or a tire.
After dinner, the kids had another chance to just play with our group while the men and women gathered. It was really cool to hear from Angel about his church and their story. I'm hoping La Iglesia Templo Hermosa will see growth in a similar way from this example. Angel's model is a great one of prayer and leadership, not to mention strong friendship, which I admire greatly.
The best moment of the day actually came late into the evening, and it was an answer to prayer from the days before. I had a chance to sit down with Byron, one of the older boys from the church and just talk about anything. Pastor Vitalino joked with me that it's a perfect chance to practice my Spanish more (true story!), which I did. It reminded me like bilingual homes in the U.S. where they bounce between languages. That was what we did and it made me laugh. But more to the point, it was great to just talk with Byron and hear what was on his mind and more importantly, hear a bit of his story. The testimonies from our group had clearly meant a lot to the congregation at Templo Hermosa, so to hear a bit of his story, how God had moved in mighty ways in Byron's life (notably while on a hike) and stretched his faith meant a lot to me as well.
Reaching others for Christ is less about arguing someone to Christianity but as my friends Brandon and Stephanie put it, being the witness, saying the witness, and doing the witness. In doing so, we allow the Spirit to do His work through that and in doing so, He takes us for the ride with Him. In Byron's case, though not necessarily evangelism, his saying the witness moved my heart as well and it reminded me once again how loved we have been (and have been loved DEEPLY) in Belize in such a short time. It's a lesson we need to bring back to the U.S. in loving others. I was thankful for that chance.
I came back into the church for sleeping quite late, after the lights were already out. Caleb was still awake, so I asked him how he was doing. He was doing okay, and like the kind-hearted guy I've come to know, asked how I was. I told him how much I've come to love it in Belize, though the reality was I was starting to feel just a bit sad that, although we've connected with our friends and already made a difference here, I was feeling the impending departure. Caleb reminded me that, even though we may be there is the hope and joy in the great gathering we will with God the Father someday. Our friends in Belize clearly have their trust in Him and he was thinking on that.
I admire Caleb's wisdom. There is always an eternal hope and joy in Christ and it overcomes.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Belize: Pressing On
Today was a day of finding ourselves.
After a breakfast which reminded me of the combined British and Maya influence here in Belize (johnnycakes, made from corn and in our case, with a bit of cheese inside), we jumped right into service projects. One of the neat things was in addition to painting the church building, our leaders had the idea to construct some additional benches to increase the seating capacity, so they left to go fetch wood and the materials to make that a reality. In the meantime, we jumped on finishing the interior from a dull primer to a bright and cheery two-tone white and rose color so typical of Latin America. Judging by the reactions from everyone seeing the transformation, our work was being met with delight. It's only Tuesday, and we've already made a difference in the eyes of our hosts.
Fast forward past lunch (chicken with rice and beans, which was elevated WONDERFULLY in the sauce the chicken roasted/braised in, a fresh shrimp ceviche, tortillas, and ever-present fresh juice, which makes me look at the American stuff with heartbreak). Three of my boys wanted me to come with them to one of the local grocers while they took a group of the local boys with them. Their mission was simple: buy refrescos! In Belize, Coca-Cola isn't hard to find and it's even more delicious, so it's just that much more special. So in this case, to go on a stroll with your new friends and be just given a tasty fizzy drink in the heat of the day was pretty cool for these kids. Plus, they had some time to just goof around, tell my guys silly things in Spanish, laugh when they figured out what it meant, and just bond. Probably the funniest part was while on the walk home, I'd watch them take a few sips, shake up the bottle, and then excitedly watch a fountain a Coca-Cola erupt out the top. I personally enjoy drinking mine but to see their delight in the fountain of fizz was pretty funny. I can only imagine their reaction in seeing a Coca-Cola fountain with Mentos mints in them.
While the rest of the crew went down to the waterfront for a quick swim (Luda and our hosts figured out it was safe for us), I decided a rest was in order after our walk. It was a nice opportunity to bond with some of my kids and a few of the boys who went with us. Between the lighthearted stories, I could already tell bonding was happening between everyone and more importantly, God had already been at work in these guys' hearts. At one point, Jared, one of my younger guys, asked me: "Tyler, when are we coming back here?"
That question hit me hard. I honestly didn't know and my heart broke a little when he asked me because I wasn't sure. Although our pastor and trip leader, Scott, said the plan is to go every four years, in my heart, I'm not sure we can wait that long if the impact is already that profound. I don't think I could.
Our swimmers arrived looking positively refreshed, a bit wet, and ready for a tough afternoon of fútbol with some competitive kids, working on the church, and making arte. They did exactly that; it was another solid day of hard playing, painting until almost dinnertime, and more hilarious stories and camp-style songs with "Loco Larry" as he called himself. I was reminded of ye olde days at Center Lake of singing the Chicago Fire song over the lake about Mrs. O'Leary, the lantern, and the shed, and it made me smile.
And our carpenters arrived! In Belize, buying wood isn't like going to Home Depot. There are Mennonite communities dotting the country where you find your log or tree trunk, bring it to the sawmill, and they'll cut it to your specifications, sort of like custom-tailored clothes. A bit of planing to smooth it out, and boards! They worked just as long as our painters and by dinner, there were three absolutely stunning new benches taking shape.
After a non-Belizean dinner of shrimp and chicken chow mein, we had kids arriving again for an evening of games and a short Bible study with Scott while the men and women gathered for Bible studies. Although we did discuss the "Armor of God" passage out of Ephesians 6, the prevailing theme of the evening was simply the sense of God answering prayers that had been prayed for years to continue the work of Templo Hermosa. When we arrived, the church looked recently-built but evidently it had stood for the better part of 4-5 years, so for us to have finished in a matter of two days so much brought joy and tears to the faces of these men. It really reminded me in a profound way that prayer requires persistence and patience and that God's answers don't always come in matters of hours, days, weeks or months. In this case, it took years. However, the evidence was undeniable and swift.
The one question still lingering in my mind: the kids have been bonding so well with the kiddos here. For that, I couldn't be more pleased. Although I've focused on the service aspect, I'm wondering if I'm connecting? Will I? Definitely something to pray for.
After a breakfast which reminded me of the combined British and Maya influence here in Belize (johnnycakes, made from corn and in our case, with a bit of cheese inside), we jumped right into service projects. One of the neat things was in addition to painting the church building, our leaders had the idea to construct some additional benches to increase the seating capacity, so they left to go fetch wood and the materials to make that a reality. In the meantime, we jumped on finishing the interior from a dull primer to a bright and cheery two-tone white and rose color so typical of Latin America. Judging by the reactions from everyone seeing the transformation, our work was being met with delight. It's only Tuesday, and we've already made a difference in the eyes of our hosts.
Fast forward past lunch (chicken with rice and beans, which was elevated WONDERFULLY in the sauce the chicken roasted/braised in, a fresh shrimp ceviche, tortillas, and ever-present fresh juice, which makes me look at the American stuff with heartbreak). Three of my boys wanted me to come with them to one of the local grocers while they took a group of the local boys with them. Their mission was simple: buy refrescos! In Belize, Coca-Cola isn't hard to find and it's even more delicious, so it's just that much more special. So in this case, to go on a stroll with your new friends and be just given a tasty fizzy drink in the heat of the day was pretty cool for these kids. Plus, they had some time to just goof around, tell my guys silly things in Spanish, laugh when they figured out what it meant, and just bond. Probably the funniest part was while on the walk home, I'd watch them take a few sips, shake up the bottle, and then excitedly watch a fountain a Coca-Cola erupt out the top. I personally enjoy drinking mine but to see their delight in the fountain of fizz was pretty funny. I can only imagine their reaction in seeing a Coca-Cola fountain with Mentos mints in them.
While the rest of the crew went down to the waterfront for a quick swim (Luda and our hosts figured out it was safe for us), I decided a rest was in order after our walk. It was a nice opportunity to bond with some of my kids and a few of the boys who went with us. Between the lighthearted stories, I could already tell bonding was happening between everyone and more importantly, God had already been at work in these guys' hearts. At one point, Jared, one of my younger guys, asked me: "Tyler, when are we coming back here?"
That question hit me hard. I honestly didn't know and my heart broke a little when he asked me because I wasn't sure. Although our pastor and trip leader, Scott, said the plan is to go every four years, in my heart, I'm not sure we can wait that long if the impact is already that profound. I don't think I could.
Our swimmers arrived looking positively refreshed, a bit wet, and ready for a tough afternoon of fútbol with some competitive kids, working on the church, and making arte. They did exactly that; it was another solid day of hard playing, painting until almost dinnertime, and more hilarious stories and camp-style songs with "Loco Larry" as he called himself. I was reminded of ye olde days at Center Lake of singing the Chicago Fire song over the lake about Mrs. O'Leary, the lantern, and the shed, and it made me smile.
And our carpenters arrived! In Belize, buying wood isn't like going to Home Depot. There are Mennonite communities dotting the country where you find your log or tree trunk, bring it to the sawmill, and they'll cut it to your specifications, sort of like custom-tailored clothes. A bit of planing to smooth it out, and boards! They worked just as long as our painters and by dinner, there were three absolutely stunning new benches taking shape.
After a non-Belizean dinner of shrimp and chicken chow mein, we had kids arriving again for an evening of games and a short Bible study with Scott while the men and women gathered for Bible studies. Although we did discuss the "Armor of God" passage out of Ephesians 6, the prevailing theme of the evening was simply the sense of God answering prayers that had been prayed for years to continue the work of Templo Hermosa. When we arrived, the church looked recently-built but evidently it had stood for the better part of 4-5 years, so for us to have finished in a matter of two days so much brought joy and tears to the faces of these men. It really reminded me in a profound way that prayer requires persistence and patience and that God's answers don't always come in matters of hours, days, weeks or months. In this case, it took years. However, the evidence was undeniable and swift.
The one question still lingering in my mind: the kids have been bonding so well with the kiddos here. For that, I couldn't be more pleased. Although I've focused on the service aspect, I'm wondering if I'm connecting? Will I? Definitely something to pray for.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Belize: The Beginnings
Last night I didn't sleep much.
The shower was cool. There's no temperature control on the showers. You turn the handle, the water cascades out of the showerhead, and whatever temperature it is... that's what you get. Interestingly enough, in the tropical climate, it was wonderful! In practical application, I used very little water and still cleaned up just fine. It's an illuminating lesson in how much water we use (and really shouldn't) in the United States.
Upon going to bed, I wondered how sleep would be, as in any new place. The new sounds of local wildlife, roosters crowing, and the bus driver honking his horn on the his daily route at roughly 6:00 made for a tougher night. Adjusting to new places can be difficult, just as I remember to the sounds of freight trains in college.
Thankfully, breakfast was a tasty affair. More beans, which I could see would be a staple this week, but the thing I quickly discovered was that they're completely unlike the pasty, sludgy affair in the U.S. which taste rather like nothing. The beans in Belize, in contrast, are clearly made from pintos and still resemble them. I liked it! Some of my friends disagreed, but I enjoyed them just fine, even if they might not be the first thing I reached for in the morning. Put them on freshly-prepared tortillas (which were fried up until they're like crispy little clouds!) with some sausage and bacon and it's positively tasty, especially when you're hungry. Throw in some more of that fresh cheese and freshly-squeezed orange juice from real oranges and you've got breakfast. I'll never look at Tropicana the same way again, that's for sure. Or with the same happiness. Belize, you have ruined me for the best from the culinary perspective, and it's been three meals... and all of one day.
Today's mission was to go find families for both our daily outreach and our evening service today. Scott and Angel split us into three groups so we'd have some of the kids from the church along with Angel, Lorelly, and Luda with each of them so we'd have tradución in case we needed assistance with Spanish. Lorelly came with us along with a couple of the girls, Jessie and Daisy and we had a wonderful morning wandering the neighborhoods near the waterfront. Lots of the families were familiar with the church and the field nearby and were also glad for both our invitation and the gift of dulces for their children. It was a good experience meeting people, getting to see how local life is, and even learning Spanish for some of students.
After lunch and a time of rest (siesta time is definitely real in Belize), the kids came! Our invites were definitely noticed and we had plenty of them show up, which was a huge encouragement. Since school wasn't in session the week were in, the opportunity to have something to do was definitely appreciated. Fútbol was a huge draw, as were historias with Larry and aviones de papel.
Evening after a delicious tostada dinner (those little delights were AMAZING) meant another church service. Pastor Vitalino said after the previous service he wanted to have another and for our group to share more testimonies, so we once again heard from Ingrid, Naomi, and Christian within our group as well as some music led by Scott and a short message. Afterward, Hermosa's children also shared music they sing for their own services, which was a ton of fun. Their own motions to "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" are even the same as ours in the States. Familiarity intersected newness in wonderful ways!
Once again, I saw how the testimonies transcended language and borders; Mike and I had a chance to talk to one of the men in the church, Felipe, and his wife, Carla. Felipe told us about how his own story was very close to Christian's and how hearing Christian share his was a huge encouragement to not lose his own trust and hope in our Father above and to continue to serve. The sense of gratitude I saw from Felipe and Carla were palpable. They, along with the other families, are glad we are here.
So am I. I am grateful for the chance to come and serve.
The shower was cool. There's no temperature control on the showers. You turn the handle, the water cascades out of the showerhead, and whatever temperature it is... that's what you get. Interestingly enough, in the tropical climate, it was wonderful! In practical application, I used very little water and still cleaned up just fine. It's an illuminating lesson in how much water we use (and really shouldn't) in the United States.
Upon going to bed, I wondered how sleep would be, as in any new place. The new sounds of local wildlife, roosters crowing, and the bus driver honking his horn on the his daily route at roughly 6:00 made for a tougher night. Adjusting to new places can be difficult, just as I remember to the sounds of freight trains in college.
Thankfully, breakfast was a tasty affair. More beans, which I could see would be a staple this week, but the thing I quickly discovered was that they're completely unlike the pasty, sludgy affair in the U.S. which taste rather like nothing. The beans in Belize, in contrast, are clearly made from pintos and still resemble them. I liked it! Some of my friends disagreed, but I enjoyed them just fine, even if they might not be the first thing I reached for in the morning. Put them on freshly-prepared tortillas (which were fried up until they're like crispy little clouds!) with some sausage and bacon and it's positively tasty, especially when you're hungry. Throw in some more of that fresh cheese and freshly-squeezed orange juice from real oranges and you've got breakfast. I'll never look at Tropicana the same way again, that's for sure. Or with the same happiness. Belize, you have ruined me for the best from the culinary perspective, and it's been three meals... and all of one day.
Today's mission was to go find families for both our daily outreach and our evening service today. Scott and Angel split us into three groups so we'd have some of the kids from the church along with Angel, Lorelly, and Luda with each of them so we'd have tradución in case we needed assistance with Spanish. Lorelly came with us along with a couple of the girls, Jessie and Daisy and we had a wonderful morning wandering the neighborhoods near the waterfront. Lots of the families were familiar with the church and the field nearby and were also glad for both our invitation and the gift of dulces for their children. It was a good experience meeting people, getting to see how local life is, and even learning Spanish for some of students.
After lunch and a time of rest (siesta time is definitely real in Belize), the kids came! Our invites were definitely noticed and we had plenty of them show up, which was a huge encouragement. Since school wasn't in session the week were in, the opportunity to have something to do was definitely appreciated. Fútbol was a huge draw, as were historias with Larry and aviones de papel.
Evening after a delicious tostada dinner (those little delights were AMAZING) meant another church service. Pastor Vitalino said after the previous service he wanted to have another and for our group to share more testimonies, so we once again heard from Ingrid, Naomi, and Christian within our group as well as some music led by Scott and a short message. Afterward, Hermosa's children also shared music they sing for their own services, which was a ton of fun. Their own motions to "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" are even the same as ours in the States. Familiarity intersected newness in wonderful ways!
Once again, I saw how the testimonies transcended language and borders; Mike and I had a chance to talk to one of the men in the church, Felipe, and his wife, Carla. Felipe told us about how his own story was very close to Christian's and how hearing Christian share his was a huge encouragement to not lose his own trust and hope in our Father above and to continue to serve. The sense of gratitude I saw from Felipe and Carla were palpable. They, along with the other families, are glad we are here.
So am I. I am grateful for the chance to come and serve.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Belize: The Arrival
It became real today.
We left behind a frigid Michigan far below the freezing mark and arrived at the airport (it reminded me of a big airfield-descending the staircase made me feel like a senator!) in Belize City to warm, humid temperatures, border agents efficiently checking us through, and a baggage carousel. Would our luggage also make it?
Thankfully, it did! And then, customs. Thankfully, the guard allowed us to get through as a group and then... we hoped Thirst Missions would be waiting for us.
Three strangers with Thirst shirts were waiting for us. A man named Angel, a woman named Lorelly, and another fellow named Luda were excitedly waiting for us and hurried us away from the doors. We didn't know them from anyone and little would we know what kind of friendship we would cultivate with them over this week.
Our first introduction to life in Belize came in our journey to Progresso, Corozal. Luda and Lorelly gave us water in bags, which you tear open with your teeth and squeeze out. It was refreshing in the heat. While riding, it became apparent that traffic laws in Belize are more like guidelines (I frequently made jokes about "the pirates' code" from Pirates of the Caribbean, which seemed appropriate). Also, the miles of forests with the occasional controlled burn to make way for more sugar cane fields (it's sugar cane, sugar cane, sugar cane everywhere!), per Mike's explanation, was eye-opening. The meal at Slims, the roadside stand, not only hit the spot (grilled chicken, rice and beans, potato salad with a uniquely-flavored and tasty dressing, and Coke!), but it was a wonderful prelude to our culinary experience in Belize.
And then we arrived at La Iglesia Templo Hermosa. Home and our ministry location for the week. It was a simple, two building affair with a cement church building (more like a chapel by American size standards) and second previous congregational building including kitchens. Pastor Vitalino, his wife, Ida, and their families were there to greet us quickly and what a warm welcome it was. Within an hour, the kids were already wanting to play, show us things, see what we had, and the older ones were yanking down coconuts and hack them open for us (yes, we had coconut trees growing on site-such a neat experience!) and talk as much as they could with us. They wanted to meet the Americans they'd heard about for so long and clearly they had been anxious.
Dinner was a simple affair, but still reflected the love we'd see in our hosts throughout the week - freshly-made flour tortillas, beans, eggs, and cheese. "Do you want more? I can bring you more" would become the generous refrain throughout the week at mealtime.
Our combined opening service welcomed us well and showed us how La Iglesia meant to love us this week. We saw how they worshiped and in turn, the testimonies shared by Nick, Bailee, and Lawrence impacted in their own congregants in a way we never saw coming. It taught me once again that regardless of location or even language and translation, our shared relationship with Christ and how He has used and grown us still speaks to all of us and these things transcend all.
And thus, the groundwork was set for our work this week in Progresso.
We left behind a frigid Michigan far below the freezing mark and arrived at the airport (it reminded me of a big airfield-descending the staircase made me feel like a senator!) in Belize City to warm, humid temperatures, border agents efficiently checking us through, and a baggage carousel. Would our luggage also make it?
Thankfully, it did! And then, customs. Thankfully, the guard allowed us to get through as a group and then... we hoped Thirst Missions would be waiting for us.
Three strangers with Thirst shirts were waiting for us. A man named Angel, a woman named Lorelly, and another fellow named Luda were excitedly waiting for us and hurried us away from the doors. We didn't know them from anyone and little would we know what kind of friendship we would cultivate with them over this week.
Our first introduction to life in Belize came in our journey to Progresso, Corozal. Luda and Lorelly gave us water in bags, which you tear open with your teeth and squeeze out. It was refreshing in the heat. While riding, it became apparent that traffic laws in Belize are more like guidelines (I frequently made jokes about "the pirates' code" from Pirates of the Caribbean, which seemed appropriate). Also, the miles of forests with the occasional controlled burn to make way for more sugar cane fields (it's sugar cane, sugar cane, sugar cane everywhere!), per Mike's explanation, was eye-opening. The meal at Slims, the roadside stand, not only hit the spot (grilled chicken, rice and beans, potato salad with a uniquely-flavored and tasty dressing, and Coke!), but it was a wonderful prelude to our culinary experience in Belize.
And then we arrived at La Iglesia Templo Hermosa. Home and our ministry location for the week. It was a simple, two building affair with a cement church building (more like a chapel by American size standards) and second previous congregational building including kitchens. Pastor Vitalino, his wife, Ida, and their families were there to greet us quickly and what a warm welcome it was. Within an hour, the kids were already wanting to play, show us things, see what we had, and the older ones were yanking down coconuts and hack them open for us (yes, we had coconut trees growing on site-such a neat experience!) and talk as much as they could with us. They wanted to meet the Americans they'd heard about for so long and clearly they had been anxious.
Dinner was a simple affair, but still reflected the love we'd see in our hosts throughout the week - freshly-made flour tortillas, beans, eggs, and cheese. "Do you want more? I can bring you more" would become the generous refrain throughout the week at mealtime.
Our combined opening service welcomed us well and showed us how La Iglesia meant to love us this week. We saw how they worshiped and in turn, the testimonies shared by Nick, Bailee, and Lawrence impacted in their own congregants in a way we never saw coming. It taught me once again that regardless of location or even language and translation, our shared relationship with Christ and how He has used and grown us still speaks to all of us and these things transcend all.
And thus, the groundwork was set for our work this week in Progresso.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Belize: The Initial Thoughts
I left part of my heart in Belize.
As I sit at my computer, now back in the quietness of western Michigan, thousands of miles away from Progresso in the Corozal district of Belize (3952 miles round trip by our flight route and driving), thoughts beyond count are spinning through my head. I'm grateful for what God has given me here at home and the mission field we still have here and how we can minister to our family, friends, and neighbors and strangers, but I already miss everyone so far away. It is because of our shared faith in Christ and serving together that after this week... our guides from Thirst Missions, Angel, Lorelly, and Luda are my friends. The people at La Iglesia Templo Hermosa are my friends as well.
I didn't know who they were a week ago. Today... I miss them already.
I can't help but think of how much has changed in such a short time and in some ways, I'm not surprised and in other ways, I am.
How far we came in our week.
Where we were emotionally, spiritually, etc. before we arrived.
What we learned.
What we hoped for or hoped might not happen.
What we agonized over during the week.
What we prayed for before the trip and during and saw answered in incredible ways.
In some ways, I wondered if I'd get attached and want to leave a part of myself in Belize. I'd never been to Central America or tropical climates, didn't know life there, didn't know a soul there, etc.
Our hosts and church in Progresso, La Iglesia Templo Hermosa... they welcomed us as their own and not just as fellow church members but as part of a family. They loved us without holding back.
There is much need we were able to meet, but we also learned much, loved deeply and were also loved deeply in return and taught how to love even better. For even that, I am grateful beyond words.
I already wonder when I can return and do something else.
And now... the trip itself.
As I sit at my computer, now back in the quietness of western Michigan, thousands of miles away from Progresso in the Corozal district of Belize (3952 miles round trip by our flight route and driving), thoughts beyond count are spinning through my head. I'm grateful for what God has given me here at home and the mission field we still have here and how we can minister to our family, friends, and neighbors and strangers, but I already miss everyone so far away. It is because of our shared faith in Christ and serving together that after this week... our guides from Thirst Missions, Angel, Lorelly, and Luda are my friends. The people at La Iglesia Templo Hermosa are my friends as well.
I didn't know who they were a week ago. Today... I miss them already.
I can't help but think of how much has changed in such a short time and in some ways, I'm not surprised and in other ways, I am.
How far we came in our week.
Where we were emotionally, spiritually, etc. before we arrived.
What we learned.
What we hoped for or hoped might not happen.
What we agonized over during the week.
What we prayed for before the trip and during and saw answered in incredible ways.
In some ways, I wondered if I'd get attached and want to leave a part of myself in Belize. I'd never been to Central America or tropical climates, didn't know life there, didn't know a soul there, etc.
Our hosts and church in Progresso, La Iglesia Templo Hermosa... they welcomed us as their own and not just as fellow church members but as part of a family. They loved us without holding back.
There is much need we were able to meet, but we also learned much, loved deeply and were also loved deeply in return and taught how to love even better. For even that, I am grateful beyond words.
I already wonder when I can return and do something else.
And now... the trip itself.
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