The Thread: Special Belize Volume

THE

thread

Special Volume Belize 2015

A Ti m e of Tra ns i tio n

God’s Story in Bella Vista, Belize

IN THIS ISSUE Mission and Vision

p. 1

Belize at a Glance

p. 5-6

Day 1

p. 7-8

Day 2

p. 9-14

Interactive Viewing Tips Day 3/Danielle King Testimony Day 4/Caroline Eidson Testimony FAQs

p. 14 p. 15-19 p. 20-24 p. 24

Day 5/Tricia Small Testimony p. 25-28 Day 6-7/Youth Testimony 28-33 Final Word From Joel

p. 34-36

*You can join us in worship on Sunday, August 23rd to learn more about summer 2015 youth missions.

“Go ye into all the world…”

POPULATION 30,538

1 in 2 children who finish primary school

BASIC STATS

PER CAPITA INCOME $4,500

LITERACY RATE 59%

1 week

25 1

Iglesia Emmanuel, Bella Vista Village

people INCREDIBLE Worship Service

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america

central

Toledeo District

2

Days of school devotionals

3

Evenings of Vacation Bible School

10

bunk beds

built & delivered more than

20 bags of food given men’s ministry night

200 +

women’s ministry night

1 body of Christ

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DAY 1: MEET THE TEAM

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After a long, long morning of traveling, our group of 25 met up with our Praying Pelican leaders for the week: Mark, Leah, Kebin and fearless bus driver Carlos.

t was over four hours through the Belizean countryside on this old yellow school bus to the town of Independence in the Toledo District of Belize where our team stayed.

to start up a game of Gaga ball with some local children. Ian Kendrick found our first tarantula of the week in the men’s bathroom promptly upon arrival.

We then piled back on the bus to Bella Vista, a village about twenty got started setting up our sleeping bags on the cement minutes away where we would be serving for the We ate lunch on the bus, floor of a Baptist Church week. Dinner was waiting (girls on the floor in the and spent quite a bit of for us at Pastor Leonel De time driving our bus driver, sanctuary, and boys in classrooms across the hall). La Rosa’s home. Pastor Carlos, crazy with silly Leonel leads the Assemblies We had a little down time songs. He got us safely to of God Iglesia Emmanuel our home base in the village before dinner. It took our youth less than five minutes Church, our ministry of Independence, and we partner for the week.

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MISSIONARIES TO BELIZE

We met at Pastor’s home for most of our meals. His family and volunteers from the church were so welcoming and generous.

Pastor Leonel graciously opened his home and his church to us for the week. He is a generous and funny individual who pours his heart into his family and his church.

Joel Griffin Rene Griffin Reese Griffin Robbie Jane Griffin Ryan Griffin Cheryl Ragsdale Doug Ragsdale Ray Ragsdale Kelly Ragsdale Emma Ragsdale Reagan Ragsdale Colter Ragsdale Shawn Straker Lizzie Straker Caroline Eidson Sadie Eidson Bethany Kendrick Ian Kendrick Kevin Kendrick Ken Cooke Christine Granados Will Cooke Esten Cooke Danielle King Tricia Small

Our group made friends with some local kiddos outside the church where we stayed in Independence. fredumc.org

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Then we broke out into small groups and helped the kids rotate through stations. We taught Bible stories, did some short lessons on God’s love, played foursquare and checkers, made “Fisher of Men” bracelets and decorated the front porch of the church with chalk.

That afternoon, we split up into groups and partnered with a DAY 2: CHICHIWAWA local youth to do home visits. The We worked with the youth group on Sunday groups headed off in different directions morning to do some to spread the word Sunday school/ about worship that Vacation Bible School evening and VBS activities with local kids. that coming week.

The home visits Kebin taught us an were out of many of awesome new song in our comfort zones, Spanish. even without the language barrier.

We danced, sang While Belize’s and acted out short Bible stories to get the official language is local kids excited for English, the area we Vacation Bible School were served was the rest of the week, mostly Latinoand our new Praying immigrants from Guatemala, El Pelican friend and Belizean native, Kebin Salvador and Honduras- and many Rosa, led us in some icebreakers and upbeat of the residents of Bella Vista spoke songs in Spanish. fter breakfast at Pastor’s, our group headed to church to spend a few hours leading children’s Sunday school with the Belizean youth group.

The youth were actively involved in the activities of the church, and were responsible for running Sunday school each week.

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We had children of all ages join us for about two hours of Sunday school activities our first morning in Bella Vista.

Spanish. Homes in Bella Vista are varied, but most of them are patched together by each family with whatever they can find to build with: cement blocks, plywood, tin, tree fronds. Many families were in an outdoor kitchen area making tortillas, or laying on hammocks under trees to find relief from the heat. (It was really hot, friends).

The experience was simultaneously heartbreaking and joyful. We were humbled and grateful. How generous were these families to allow strangers to come into their homes and speak with them.

Afterward, we had a chance to go back to Independence and rest and get cleaned up for an evening worship service. The Assembly of God church worship was Some families were more willing to loud, joyful and rhythmic. The share with us than others. Most allowed us congregation was lively and filled with to pray with them. One family had a praise. To check out a video clip of daughter whose husband had burned the worship that night, view in Issuu. house down only the night before. Another There was no bulletin. There were no asked us to take an infant back with us to the United States to provide him access to hymnals. There really was not even any better healthcare. Several of the children sort of strictly organized service at all. and adults we met came to Vacation Bible Pastor Leonel preached for about 20 minutes. He thanked FUMC for coming all School the next day. the way from Texas to this forgotten part

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of Belize. He said we were the first missionaries to come to one of the poorest villages in the country, and he was happy to open his church to us.

The youth group performed an amazing “drama” to a popular song.

We prayed together. And then we worshipped like I The “Fisher of Men” bracelets were a huge hit at Sunday have never seen worship School. Every single kiddo done before. The youth led took one home. the band and no one cared if it was too loud, no one of us cared that we didn’t know all the worried about getting it perfect, no one words. It was pure, unhindered, worried about kids running through the unapologetic, joyful shouting of the aisles, in fact many of them waved flags greatness of our Lord. and danced at the base of the stage, none The Sunday night worship service was an unforgettable night of joining together and praising God.

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Movement was a huge part of the praise and worship experience.

The members of Iglesia Emmanuel worshipped with their entire bodies, minds and souls.

Earlier in the day we had met up with Burton Brooks, another member of our Praying Pelican team. It just so happened that Burton is an incredible and popular musician in Belize who performs original praise songs. He put on what can only be described as a concert.

of our group leaders from Praying Pelican, got on the mic after Burton (to the relief of many of us who were not physically prepared for what we were walking into), and introduced our group after a powerful and inspiring speech characterized by his Creole background.

So picture what’s going on here, Church: a group of mixed races and language barriers, many of whom walked into this place strangers, praising God together. By the end of the service, sweat poured from foreheads, hands hurt from clapping, feet ached from dancing, voices were hoarse from shouting and joy just absolutely radiated from our faces. Wow.

Joel introduced each of us and explained our mission work, and two of our members, Ray Ragsdale and Danielle King, shared a testimony with the group.

We finished with more worship and another drama by the youth. They literally lit the place on fire, y’all.

We got back onto our bus two and a half hours later wondering how the Pastor Mark Sommerville, another one service could have possibly lasted so long.

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INTERACT & ENGAGE The youth group performed two “dramas,” combining contemporary worship songs with movement to communicate powerful messages about God.

The youth also lead the praise band. One of pastor’s sons is on the drums and the other is a vocalist.

This Edition of The Thread is designed to be interactive!

For best viewing, visit issuu.com/ fredumc/docs/ Belize.

Many photos will link to a video clip or short sequence of clips. You can also check out more pictures by visiting https:// fumcbelizemission2 015.shutterfly.com/ pictures/8.

You can leave us feedback by visiting and liking our Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com /belizemission2015

This woman considers herself a “young soul” and participates with the youth group! fredumc.org

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fter another fantastic breakfast at Pastor’s house, we headed to Our Lady of Bella Vista R.C. School to give devotionals to the students. Danielle’s testimony about the trip includes a beautiful reflection on that morning:

to stop and ask him to repeat himself. Me? Go on a mission trip to Belize? So I paid my deposit and joined the fundraising efforts on our Christmas music program Sunday and brought my big batches of soup to sell.

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few short months ago on a A couple of months later after helping Sunday morning as I walked with a bake sale here, and garage sale there through the Fellowship Hall, Joel asked me DAY 3: ROCK, SWORD, if I would want to go on a mission trip to SHIELD Belize and I smiled and said, ‘Maybe.’ In Monday morning was my head I was thinking ‘uh, no. I haven’t our first day of school been on a mission trip in over 15 years.’ visits, followed by food Then a little bit later in that same week, my husband said, ‘You should think about ministry and bunk bed going on that mission trip to Belize.’ I had building. We also hosted

our first evening of VBS! What an honor and a blessing to get to love on these kids.

Kids waved at us everywhere we went. Members of our groups remarked that we were as cool as rock stars to them.

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Reese Griffin shares a Jacob’s Ladder string trick with kids at the elementary school.

and paying the rest of my money, I began to have doubts. Should I really be going on this trip? I have been on many mission trips, and my role has always been to be a translator. But on this trip we were told that all the people in Belize speak English, so where would I be able to serve?

actually going on this trip. Then I had issues getting my passport. The week of our departure I began to think I wasn’t going after all. I even prayed and asked the Lord what he was trying to teach me by letting me plan and fundraise and get excited and then not be able to go. But the At one of our meetings we finally had a passport arrived only two days before we little bit of an idea of the opportunities we left. would have to serve the people of Belize.

Phew! Trip back on! I scrambled to get One of those opportunities was to do my bags packed with the long list of school devotionals. I volunteered for the things I needed to bring. devotionals thinking that since I am an At 3:00 in the morning of June 13th, I elementary school teacher, that would be joined the rest of our group to drive to the right up my alley. No problem! I’ve got airport. The whole drive I was still in a this! state of unbelief. Was I really going to I could hardly believe that I was

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Too late to turn back at that point!

After the extremely long day of travel, we were finally in Bella Vista. And guess what?! We discovered that many of the people speak primarily Spanish! I was so excited! I had to contain myself, but I was truly ecstatic!

Although I could go through each day and tell how God showed himself, I have two “God Moments” that really resonate with me and bring tears to my eyes every time I think of them.

First, the first morning of school devotionals made me completely and totally dependent on God when I realized we had no idea how many children we would see that day or even what the format would be. Would we be talking to almost 1000 students all together at one time?

Would we be entering individual classrooms in small groups? Would we be entering classrooms all together at the same time? And I was the one who was supposed to have a plan for this!

teachers, and it was a song I know and love. I began to sing along and realized that God is in control. He knew the situation and had already paved the way.

A calm and peace settled over me and it was a beautiful day. It was absolutely nothing like what I had thought or planned. In fact, Joel stepped up and his youth did an amazing job that morning and the next morning acting out the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Was that my plan? Nope. Did it matter?

Nope. It was God’s plan! Praise the Lord!

My second God moment completely knocked my feet out from under me. On Sunday, our first day in Bella Vista, we went out in the village to do home visits.

We split up into small groups. Although our guide was the pastor’s son who speaks Spanish, and I was uncomfortable with walking into homes of people that had just met me, I felt a strong urge to speak in Spanish in each home. I felt such a connection with each of the precious As we stood in the courtyard behind the women in each home, especially with one named Ana. entire student body in their morning assembly, I lost it. I stood there and cried.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I took deep breath after deep breath. I prayed and asked God to show me what to do. I went around to individuals in our group and tried to make a plan. I continued to panic and prayed some more. Then one of the classes began to sing a song to their 17

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Apparently she felt a connection too because she brought her two little boys to Vacation Bible School everyday along with her tiny month-old baby girl. Each day at Vacation Bible School, I sat and talked with Ana and held her baby. I watched the youth lead songs, play four-square, teach checkers and more. I watched the other

Joel and the rest of the youth perform the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with graduating students. fredumc.org

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adults read to groups of children and help them color and write their own mini-books. And I sat and held a baby. Ana and precious baby Denya were my biggest God moment. I let God empower me through His Holy Spirit as we visited homes on Sunday and Ana and her precious children found a church, a safe place in a community where they had only lived for a week.

group would probably label me the “crier” of the group. But I cannot wait to go back to Belize and open my heart even more for the people of Bella Vista, because their unabashed passion for the Lord and their contentment with what they have is a lesson for me, and I Needless to say, I cried when I had to leave Ana and Denya on that want to experience more, more, more of last day of Vacation Bible School, their amazing world!” and I still cry about it when I talk (or write) about them. In fact, the

Kids work on a minibook, a project they worked on throughout the week as we learned more about God’s love.

A group of kiddos gets ready for our first day of Vacation Bible School.

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Kids gathering small rocks to lay out as foursquare courts.

Foursquare was a huge hit all week.

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fter breakfast, our group split into two groups: one returned to the public school to share more songs and stories with the kids, while the other headed to the church to complete the remaining bunk beds .

DAY 4: JAM PACKED Tuesday was one of our busiest days. Some went back to the school to continue devotionals, while others finished the bunk beds for delivery that afternoon. We finished with a men’s and women’s ministry night and another performance from Burton.

The day before, we met with the youngest and the oldest groups of kids, from 3 years old to

graduating eighth graders. That day we saw most of the kids in between. Danielle King and Christine Granados met with Saina Gutierrez, the principal, about some of the school’s needs and her vision for the future.

Both women were touched and inspired by her strength and her story.

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Our group delivers food to Ana, a young mother with three children who recently moved to Bella Vista.

Pastor’s house, and then split again. Half the group piled back into the bus to deliver bunk beds and food to families, and the rest stayed to plan and set up for our second night of VBS.

their lives and their specific prayer needs.

We were even offered snacks by these families who had so little.

Our tired, sweaty, bug-bitten and joyful group rejoined the rest of our team at the In many of the homes, there was hardly church for our second night of VBS. We room to set up the beds, but we were had almost two hundred kids show up! It’s hugged and thanked anyway. We were difficult to share with you in words what blessed to have the opportunity to pray Vacation Bible School was like with these with each family, and learn more about kids. We did all the things you would think about happening at Vacation Bible School: sang, prayed, played games, did crafts, told stories, learned about the Bible and God’s love for humanity.

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The team sets up bunk beds in one of the ten homes that received a bed.

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But there was such a spirit of joy reflected in those kids. Such a willingness to be a part of everything and to experience all we had to offer. Their excitement made us excited. The Belizean youth helped us out, and they too radiated

this joy and appreciation to just be there and get to worship God. We went back to Pastor’s for a quick dinner, and then went back the church to host a men and women’s ministry night.

Caroline Eidson shared how that night characterized the trip for her:

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provide during our week there. It was impossible to know how we could help best without knowing the people we’d be serving. We knew they’d be poor and that we wanted to share God’s word with them, but other than that, our goals were murky.

During one pre-trip meeting, we learned that we would lead men’s and women’s

ast week, I became a missionary.

The youth minister at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church posed the idea of a youth mission trip last fall, and my daughter was eager to go along. After months of fundraising including bake sales, pancake and taco breakfasts, a huge garage sale, and the generosity of attendants many well-wishers, 25 of us set off for VBS work on a rainbow picture for their southern Belize on June 13.

In preparation for our trip, we considered the ministries we could

mini-books after learning about Noah and the ark.

By the end of the week, these boys are pros at Jacob’s Ladder.

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Bible studies one night. Someone in our group shared that perhaps we could wash the women’s feet during that time. My brain adamantly refused to consider that possibility. Was this the best way to minister to these people? Wouldn’t they have greater needs than having their feet cleaned? And would we really want to touch their feet? I knew I could do many things to minister to the people we’d meet.

Read Cheryl shares a stories to bible story at a women’s children? ministry night Yep. Build while Danielle translates. bunk beds? For sure. Do dishes?

Absolutely!

Give hugs?

Right up my alley.

But washing feet? Um, no thanks.

Once we landed, a four-hour bus ride brought us to the small village of Bella Vista in the Toledo District of Belize, and we were greeted with a delicious meal cooked by our host pastor’s wife, Dinora De La Rosa, and another woman from his church. As it turned out, every meal was delicious, and a variety of women from the church cooked each one. That first night, we also met some of the youth from his church, and several of them showed up each day after school to help us with VBS. 23

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Given that we had anywhere from 130 to 190 children at VBS each afternoon, we needed all the help we could get.

Bella Vista is a village of about 4000 people. Its only paved road is the highway that cuts across the middle of it, and most of the houses are small and what we would call ramshackle. I don’t recall seeing any glass during our stay in the village, and even the school we visited lacked real windows and doors.

As one of our youngest missionaries observed, “People in Belize have some things but not all the things we have.” In fact, in this village, they have far less than we have.

But that didn’t stop the people there from sharing as much as they could with us. We were overwhelmed with filling meals, fresh fruit, tight hugs, and joy-filled worship services. One congregation member brought us an enormous bag of ripe mangoes, more than our group could possibly finish in a few days. Other members cried as they hugged us, telling us that they loved us despite just having met us.

So when it came time for Bible study, I surprised everyone, mostly myself, by volunteering to wash the women’s feet. Of the 30 women who showed up, few spoke English, and many were extremely ticklish (a source of great laughter despite the language barrier).

But that didn’t matter because as I sat on the floor, scrubbed their feet, and looked into their eyes, I knew that we could never give them proportionally more than they’d given us.

Because here’s what they taught us: Real joy and gratitude is possible in any situation, and we all have something to give…and sometimes the simplest gifts are the best.

Ultimately, it’s difficult to distinguish who served whom during our time with the Belizeans. I know our experiences with them changed everyone on the trip. My daughter marveled at how happy the people in Bella Vista are with so little, and I’m left wondering this: Given all we have here, what if we could express joy they way these people do? How can we be missionaries at home? And what would happen if we washed each other’s feet here?

Sadie finds a friend hiding out in her bag.

SOME FAQ’S Where did you sleep?

We slept on the tile/cement floor of a nearby Baptist church.

What did you eat?

We were welcomed into the home of Pastor Leonel and his family. They cooked almost every meal for us. Yes, there were a lot of rice and beans and delicious, fresh homemade tortillas. There was also fresh fruit juice unlike anything you have ever tasted.

What language did they speak?

Belize is a very diverse country.

While the official language is English, the area we served was mostly Latino and spoke Spanish.

Where did they live?

Most homes in the area were little more than shacks. Some families were lucky enough to afford to have their homes enclosed with cement blocks, but most were self -made wooden structures.

Were there lots of bugs?

We definitely encountered some interesting bugs. We all had some sort of sand flea bites that itched for weeks. And yes, there were tarantulas. This one on the left spent the night in Sadie’s bag despite many reminders to zip everything we left unattended.

Danielle was thrilled to discover another one in her dark shower on Wednesday night after we had left Bella Vista to travel back north and stay in Pastor Mark’s hometown of Hattieville. fredumc.org

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beauty. Kids on their bikes got to reflect on the week and prepare our hearts to with younger siblings on leave Bella Vista that their handlebars, playing evening after Vacation Bible and laughing and taking care of each other kind of School. We spent the beauty. Joy radiating, hands morning in the waves, waving, big smiles kind of laughing together and letting the Belize sun burn beauty. Beaches and palm trees and clear water kind our pasty white skin. Then Like it is breathtakingly of beauty. we once more welcomed beautiful. Fruit trees in DAY 5: COASTAL That’s what every yard, stunning flower Wednesday was all TREASURES -dotted landscape, pastel painted homes and brightly about. We got to On Wednesday, we had colored hammocks kind of soak it all up. We a chance to explore a o far you’ve heard a lot about what we did in Belize, and even about who the people were, but we haven’t talked a whole lot about what Belize looks like. Belize is gorgeous, Church.

nearby peninsula. It was the perfect way to recover and gear up for our last night of VBS

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almost 200 kids into the church for a final night of VBS. I’m going to share my personal testimony related to saying goodbye:

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f you read last month’s edition of The Thread, you’ll know that I went into the Belize trip praying to not just be an outside observer.

Oh how our Lord answers prayers, Church.

I started packing two weeks early. I made lists. I made more lists. I checked them once, twice, nine, ten times. I was prepared. I had everything I could possibly need! Except my camera battery charger.

When I discovered on Monday morning that my camera was dying, and as I frantically dug in every pocket of my camera bag searching for the charger only to realize it wasn’t there (I can’t even tell you how unlike me this is. I’m a professional and this is like photographer training 101.

I FREAK out about things like this. I always, always, always have a backup. Not this time), I had to make a

Bethany bonds with some graduating students during our first day of school visits.

choice: Spend the whole trip dwelling on the fact that I had completely and totally messed up. Or accept that it was a God thing and find other ways to contribute to this trip.

It’s still not in my nature to be the center of attention. But I led a camp song I knew during our

school devotionals. I really connected with one of the youth, Kimberlee, who told me about her exams and a hope of someday going to college.

I joined kids drawing with chalk, I made them bracelets, I picked up crying little ones; at one point I had a small trail of 2-3 year fredumc.org

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Sadie Eidson shares how God’s love is poured out for EVERYONE with almost 100 kiddos on Sunday morning.

olds following me around because brother or sister brought them to me so he/ she could go play without babysitting. I mean I was involved, Church.

tearfully and waved as they left the church. Some didn’t want to leave at all.

Ryan Griffin hangs out with one of our youngest VBS attendants.

Saying goodbye hurt. My heart Then we had to say ached for Bella goodbye. Well now what did Vista. For the I go and do? It hurt. We left school, for the kids, almost all the materials we for the women, for had brought with us at the the feet I’d washed church for the youth group the night before, for Pastor and his to use for themselves and family, for Kimberlee for kid’s Sunday school. and her future, for our They were too go? I was too in love. I was group leaders and their overwhelmed to speak. too inspired. I was too in communities. How can I just Little kids hugged us awe of these new friends Belize 2015

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a few days, and personal growth and life-lessons.

Kids decorate the front porch of the church with beautiful words and symbols about Jesus.

This trip was about forging a relationship and giving our hearts to a community in Belize that is now part of our church family. We answered a call.

Each of us. We may have all had different reasons for stepping on that plane, but we did it.

Do I believe that He purposely made me forget me that this my camera battery charger? was not the I don’t know. Do I believe end. This was that He used that to open not goodbye. It my eyes and my heart to was just a see experience something you soon. deeper than I might have The youth were experienced otherwise? thrilled when we When we left supplies Absolutely. allowing them to pulled away continue serving from Bella We left with lighter bags more and more kids each week. Vista in our and fuller hearts and a dusty yellow desire to do it all over again. and their faith, joy, gratitude, generosity, faith, school bus for the last time Bring on the breakfasts and last week, we were not bake sales and hard work. strength and beauty. ending our trip. We were Here we are, send us.

Watching Joel, your marveling at what we had fter leaving Bella wonderful, incredible, just started. This trip was Vista, we traveled patient youth director get so beyond just getting on a back north to emotional several times that plane and spending a few last day in Bella Vista, while days screwing some wooden Hattieville, where Pastor enough to put me over the planks together and playing Mark lives. We spent the night in the church where edge and get teary myself, with some kids. It goes was also enough to reassure beyond loving on people for he serves as a volunteer

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pastor. (Ask Danielle King about the tarantula friend she made during our short stay there. That story is worth hearing, friends).

The following morning, we packed an overnight bag and headed to Belize City, where we took a water taxi to Caye Caulker. We joined up with some other Praying Pelican missionaries and jumped in the water with some sharks and stingrays.

For the rest of the day we were free to explore the island, do some shopping and just hang out together. Before dinner, we sat in a circle together and shared our

individual “God moments� from the week.

It is clear that though each of us took away different memories and connected with different pieces of our week-long journey in Belize, God used each and every one of us to share His infinite love.

After a full-night sleep on an actual mattress, we packed up and began the long journey back to Texas. And so here we are,

DAY 6-7: WRAPPING UP Thursday and Friday found us on Caye Caulker Island, off the coast of Belize City.

We had an opportunity to snorkel and share how the trip impacted each of us and what God taught us throughout the week.

The coast Caye Caulker Island was dotted with pastel shop fronts and outdoor patios for guests to enjoy the Belizean sun.

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Sadie helps a child with her bracelet one evening during VBS. Each color bead represents a different characteristic of God.

Church. Back with you and thankful for all that you’ve done for us to make this trip possible and so ready to share as much as we can with you. Three of our youth, Sadie Eidson, Will Cooke and Esten Cooke, wanted to leave you with her reflections after returning home:

about to go on. I was excited that I would get to spread God’s word, but I was also very nervous. We didn't even know these people! What if they didn't listen?! What if a jaguar killed us?!

When we were walking across the uneven runway in Belize, my first thought know that this probably isn’t going was, “Why in the world did I wear to be as good as what my mom has jeans?!?!” My second thought was how written, but I’ll try. Recently I went on a small the airport was. It was about the mission trip with our church youth group same size of our little Fredericksburg to Belize. Getting prepared for the trip was airport! I mentioned this to one of the a little rushed. My mom and I were about grownups, and they replied by saying that halfway through packing when I looked at it was the only airport for the whole the packing list for the 327th time, and country. That was the first eye opening asked, “What does it mean by ‘no experience. In fact, the whole trip was eye sleeveless shirts’?” After some hysterical opening! From the time when we were crying-laughter, we put our heads between landing at that tiny airport to the time that our knees and started repacking our we were saying goodbye to Pastor Mark clothes. The whole time I was packing, I and Burt, (dubbed ‘Bruce’) my eyes were was thinking about the trip that I was open 24/7.

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“I

When I was asked to write this, my mom suggested that I should write about my favorite part. The problem was, I don't have a favorite part. And, if I had to choose a favorite part, I don't know what I would choose! From the five-hour drive through the rainforest on a leaking school bus, to acting out Bible stories at the school, to making bracelets at VBS, to playing tag with some of the village boys during a mini-concert, to amazing food at the pastor’s house, to delivering bunk beds and food to families in need, to finding tarantulas in bags and showers, I loved every part of that mission trip.

After the last day of VBS, a little girl who I had become friends with asked me through the church’s wrought iron window when I would be coming back. I got kind of choked up as I replied, “Soon. I hope.” If someone were to offer me a chance to go on that same trip again, I would say yes in a heartbeat.

A Life Changing Trip. That's what it was. I think if I got anything out of this trip, it would be that you should always try to be happy and appreciative of what you have. The kids that I met in Belize were so joyful, and most of them had next to nothing. They were also very appreciative.

For example, everyday the kids go to school, and they walk or bike back home for their one-and-a-half-hour rest/lunch.

One of our grownups on the trip asked the principal, “Don’t you worry about them not coming back to school?” The principal 31

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replied, “No. They’re very appreciative and love coming to school! Plus, most of them would have nothing else to do, and it keeps them out of trouble.”

I think that if we, as a church, could grow to be more joyful and appreciative of what we have, we could help change the way people act at home, in our schools, and in our community. What amazes me is that we have so much, yet we don't realize it, and we aren’t grateful. Flat screen TV’s, Legos, iPad’s and iPhone’s, Netflix, cars, movie rentals, even things that seem simple to us like electricity, plumbing, and air conditioning, are all things we take for granted.

You see us walking around without smiles on our faces, even though we have a 4 car garage and an iPhone 6 plus, and then you see these kids in Belize, who smile at everything they see (including a bright red sunburned face of an American) and have probably never seen a phone other than a flip phone in their whole entire lives!

The kids get together in the street and play made up games with rocks and their imaginations. They enjoy going to school!

Most teenagers here sit inside playing games on their tablets and complain about going to school. I hope that what I have written has inspired you to give thanks to God for what you have and to tell others that sometimes you should just be thankful for what you have. Some have none, some have all.”

Will connects with some local children at VBS in the small yard outside the church.

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rom Will Cooke:

“I’m not really sure what Belize meant to me, but I do know how it made me feel: spoiled, happy and mad. Of course I feel spoiled. We have all this stuff and they have such a small amount (also because I really am spoiled). I felt happy during football. Watching them play was fun. I was also happy because I was better than them at it.

Mad, I think that’s pretty obvious.

There were so many mosquitoes; there was not an inch on my leg that didn’t have a bite. It just made me feel good to help people who had so little.”

We were blessed by many smiling faces and the joy of literally hundreds of children throughout the week.

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estimony from Esten Cooke:

“My experience in Belize was unlike any other I’ve had in my life. I was doing something of more importance than anything I could possibly do here. The team helped keep me focused on our mission there, and inspired me to keep going.

Reflecting back on it now, I would say that the people of Belize did more for me than I did for them. They welcomed us, helped us, and befriended us. The people of Bella Vista were incredible, and it was an honor to be there with them. Even remembering now, the hardest thing I did in Belize didn’t involve working in the heat of the sun, or any physical task. It was telling my new friends goodbye.”

Esten’s checkers station was another big draw during VBS. Many of the kids had never played, and were eager to learn a new game.

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Kids jumped right into worshipping with our mission group at Sunday School.

Kelly Ragsdale gets to know some kids who passed by the church before VBS and decided to check out the action.

A FINAL WORD FROM JOEL W ith Just A Touch How do you describe an experience that has had such a big impact on your life? There are no words for the emotions, thoughts and God moments that I experienced during our mission trip to Belize. As our group sat in a circle on our last night in Belize and shared stories about the week, I was overwhelmed with how God had used us, the people of Bella Vista and everything leading up to the trip for His glory! God had great plans for this trip!

remembered the faces of the children at VBS, the hugs from those families that received bunk beds and food, the prayers of the people who invited us into their homes, the laughter at the school, the praise songs lifted to God during worship and much more! But when it was my turn to share, all I could think about was how God had used every moment.

As a group leader, you get caught up in the details and logistics of a trip.

You worry about having all the right paperwork, will everyone be where they are I have a supposed to be on couple of time and will you experiences I be able to find the want to share people who are with you now meeting you at and many more the airport in I will share with Belize. For you in the weeks months there to come. First, I were questions want to share after questions one of my experiences as the leader of the group. As about all the details of this trip. I couldn’t wait for the trip to be over so I could relax.

I mentioned before, the group had an But by our first morning in Belize, God opportunity to debrief our week on our last night in Belize. We were asked to give began to show me that those details were one or two stories about how we saw God not the most important thing. I began to relax and see God working through our working during the week or things we group. I had moments where I got to step would take away from the week. As I back from whatever we were doing and see listened to all the stories, all sorts of God shining through each member of our memories flooded my mind and heart. I fredumc.org

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team. For me that was a huge highlight of major outcasts. As a matter of fact, they were thrown out of society to live by my week! themselves in the wilderness. They were But there was one experience, though it required to announce themselves to people was small, that made me reflect on my who might come across their path by actions more than any other. It involved shouting, “Unclean,” and people would the youngest member of our team, my walk away to avoid any contact. So daughter, Ryan Griffin. Now I know that I imagine never talking to someone else or am her dad and maybe I just like to brag being touched by someone else. And here about my kids, but that might also have is Jesus reaching out and touching this something to do with why I remember this man not only healing him physically, but story. It was the second day of VBS. Our emotionally too. team and the church was ready with music playing and stations set. As the children I am not saying that my daughter Ryan from the village began to come running is Jesus, but I do believe she acted like him and biking down the road and filling the that day. Here we were, the adults, just church, there were three or four of us talking about God (as we do a lot) and adults out front welcoming them. trying to convince others to see Jesus.

Then there was Ryan who wasn’t afraid to We had noticed that even though many act like Jesus and to do something. More of the kids were eager to join us inside times than not, I just talk about God and there were a few kids who stayed outside. how we should reach out to those around The other adults and I who were outside us to share His love. Her action was a were standing at a distance trying to powerful reminder that actions speak convince the kids to join all the fun. Yet we louder than words. could not get them to come inside. All of a sudden Ryan passed through our ranks I am blessed by the example of my and took two of the girls by the hands and youngest daughter, as I am blessed by all said, “Come with me,” and proceeded to the members of the group and our lead them inside the church. As they went, experiences in Belize. We know that none so did the rest of the group. of this could have happened without the support of so many in our church family Now I didn’t think much of it at the time, nor in the days that followed, but in and our community. Thank you for your the week that followed as I sat down one prayers, your encouragement, your financial support and so much more. To morning for my time with God, He revealed to me the greatness of what Ryan God be the glory and praise! had done. I was reading the story in Luke chapter 5 where Jesus heals a man with leprosy. In the story, Jesus heals the man by “reaching out and touching him.” This phrase hit me like a ton of bricks. Now, it is very important to understand that when Jesus was alive, people with leprosy were 35

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Joel

Griffin

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Fredericksburg United Methodist Church 1800 North Llano Fredericksburg TX 78624-2917 **************************************

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