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,

1. Love deeply, as we were when we were welcomed so warmly and loved quickly
2. Live with a thankful heart instead of in constant dissatisfaction

After another breakfast with the fried up tortilla clouds, beans, sausage with onions (which I cleared in record time - work makes you hungry!), we had a lot to get done. Luda, Angel, and several of our leaders picked up boxes of food and other useful things to bring to the home visits - enough for eight! Meanwhile, Larry and I surveyed the remaining work to finish on the church building and it looked tough. Would it get finished? We definitely couldn't tell. Either way, we had to try and we had a lot of paint left.

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.