Thursday - Final Work Day!

Today is our final day of work – we actually have mixed emotions. We woke up for the first time in Belize to – NO RAIN! It is a little cloudy – but it looks to be a beautiful day. The mosquitoes have really been bad – but with the rain gone – they were not. Corbin led the team devotion reading from John Piper’s book – Don’t Waste Your Life. He began with 1 Corinthians 6:19-2o –“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” He read, “If you are a Christian, you are not your own. Christ bought you at the price of his own death – now you belong doubly to God – first He made you, and he bought you. Glorifying God is the meaning of your life.” He also read, “if you make a difference with your life that lasts, you will not waste your life.” He added some personal thoughts and encouraged the team about the work we had ahead today – making a difference that last! He also read that “our desire should be to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of life!” AmenJ
We pulled back out The Lion on a Pit on A Snowy Day for a few other thoughts that complimented his devotion. In chapter 3 he writes, “don’t let mental lions keep you from experiencing everything God has to offer.” “Accumulate experiences, not possessions.” He also said in our pursuit to know and enjoy God we need to consider our minds like a computer – and we need to “upgrade your mind by downloading Scripture.” “develop the mind of Christ.” These were all great thoughts as we headed out for the final day of work.
We headed to the school to complete the job. It was blistering hot! I think God gave us the weather today to make us realize what a gift the clouds and rain on the previous days had been! We only worked for 2 hours – but we all agreed we sweated more in that time than we had in the previous days total! We had a pile of rocks and a pile of sand leftover from the concrete. The Headmaster of the school wanted us to extend the driveway out to the parking lot – so we shoveled the sand and spread a layer of sand – then a layer of rocks – and topped it off with sand. The students did a prayer walk around the school today for our prayer time. We cleaned up the site and celebrated the victory!
The Headmaster then took us on a tour of the school – it has students 3 years through standard 4 – which would be our 8th grade. The younger students sang for us. The halls were painted with beautiful murals which I will include in the pictures today. They would love to have another team come and tile the upstairs of the school.
Then we went to see the addition that MTW is building at the high school. They have really done a great job – and hope to move into the classrooms soon.
Next, we went to the Presbyterian medical clinic. It was a very simple building – a very humbling experience for the students. The missionary doctor is from Tennessee – I think she was delighted to see some US people and talk to Dr. Brown. Her husband began the only rehab center in Belize for drug and alcohol. They are doing amazing work with very limited resources. She asked for prayer for a furlough doctor.
Then we went to Lupe’s home for lunch. His wife has kindly cooked for us all week – their house is the green house in the pictures. We had tacos and cantaloupe. The kids really enjoyed! There is also a picture of the grinder she uses in the back yard to make all of her spices. She also had a lime tree, a papaya tree, and an avocado tree. The kids took a siesta in the chairs around the house – they were so tired from the heat!
We came back to the hotel – by back roads. We have been travelling on paved roads – but we took a different route – wow – they were bad. We did pass a papaya orchard. In the fields you will see as you drive a cow tied up – they take their animals wherever there is grass to feed. There are goats, chickens, roosters, and cow everywhere. The houses are very small and the poverty is overwhelming.
After a short break – we headed to the final day of VBS. The church is 30 minutes from the hotel. When we arrived – the children we lined up along the fence – they are so excited. The church is behind a chain-linked fence. The children just push each other aside to get close to you – they want lots of hugs and affirmation. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. They crave love like nothing I have ever experienced. We sang our songs again – and the kids just love the energy. The boys headed out again to play soccer with the older students and the girls stayed to do a pipe cleaner fish using beads telling the message of the gospel. Kaitlin had organized the craft. We explained each bead as they put them on and then shaped the cleaner like a fish – they were thrilled! The pastor brought all the kids in for a closing ceremony – they were literally hanging out the windows! It was chaos beyond words. There was no order – over 150 kids in a building designed for about ½ of that. Not even half of the kids speak English – so that has been a hurdle all week – and then – if a child needed to go to the bathroom – they just went in the church yard – if a baby was hungry – a mom fed them right in the church – there were few parents – mostly children bringing children – and I am talking about 5 year olds walking with their 2 year old siblings – and craft time – they were hauling in infants and wanting a craft for them - it has been a real eye opening experience for these students!
By the end of VBS – I think it is fair to say we all felt completely poured out! It has been such a blessing to share in the lives of these children – they were pleading for us to come back again. We have so much in America – and they true delight in the most simplistic things – well there are really no words. Yet the joy of these children shines on their faces in an unbelievable way. They are content. What a blessing!
The ladies of the church fed us dinner and we headed home. The energy and laughter on the van rides have been great – lots of singing, talking, and truly enjoying each other’s company.
While the majority of the team took showers – JB, Zeb, Hunter, Corbin, Gary, and Stephen did a workout using the 40lb water bottles. I am always amazed that when boys want to workout – they find a way – there has been a group of them doing this every night. I will get pictures.
Lawrence led devotion tonight – he read out of Acts and talked about Peter and John – truly evangelizing – no matter the cost. He did a great job. Then Michael and the team got into deep conversations about true worship. He described how in the OT people were told down to the detail how to worship – and today – we need to go by Jesus’ example. He read Scriptures and they were soaking it up – he also discussed communion and the need for repentance before we partake and finally they discussed the Anti-Christ. I have been so impressed with the intrigue and questions from our seniors. They have asked great questions – and Dr. Brown has really given them Scriptural references to get their answers. As we finished – the guitar player came back in – and JB gave him money NOT to play again – we are ready for bed!
Laughter today included: Sara talking in her sleep, Allyson having a lizard come into the shower with her, Lawrence killing mosquitoes, giggles at VBS closing, the lizard chirping in Kaitlin, Allyson, and Marian’s room after they went to bed,(they are afraid of a night attack), and many, many more.
Tonight ended with many of the students on the balconies singing the VBS songs in Spanish. What a blessing! Thank you for all of the encouraging notes on the blog. They are such an encouragement in our morning meetings. Know we love you all – look forward to seeing you Saturday, and thank you for allowing us to the great privilege of answering the call we felt to come.