Monday, December 12, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Wishing Everyone a Blessed Holiday,
I don’t know where the year has gone. We have been so busy working seven days a week. It seems like we are in another world sometimes. The days pass so quickly. There are people here when we wake and when we go to bed. It is like one big family. I will give you a little update of what is going on here.
We started in January when Don got a team together to build another room on the school building. There was a team of sixteen .The foundation was poured before hand. Ernesto and Galo donated their Saturdays and worked for the Mission during the week to get it ready for the team. The team laid the blocks and got the roof ready to put the tin on it in two weeks. Mr. Hellie , Ernesto, Galo and some others helped. It was amazing how fast it went up. Tony Russell brought a team later and put the tin on and the doors and windows.
We stayed in Belize for a month then went home to start visiting the churches. We thank all of you for all your prayers and support. Without that we could not be here doing the Lords work.
We arrived here the first part of June part of the projects we wanted to do are almost complete. The pre-school room was redone and the roof fixed, new shelves, and rugs. It looks good. We need some new furniture there. If someone would donate some children’s books for the teacher to read to them it would be greatly appreciated.
Don, Ernesto and Galo roofed the old part of the school. It looks great. There is still a need to fix the computer room with tile. Dennis Murphree came in January and also in August to work on computers. He fixed 19. We appreciate all of the workers that the Lord has sent us. The yard looks great. Carolyn Jackson painted a new sign and her team painted on the school with the help of Galo and Ernesto it looks great and was ready in time for the school to start. . Charlie Joe came back and dedicated the new part of the school the last of August. There was patched roofs, fixing of the sewer lines, times of working on the Sand Hill school mowing and painting, redoing the downstairs putting a sink and cabinet, getting beds, painting getting ready for the teams to come. It has been a very busy summer and fall.
Everyone should be very proud of there schools here. Don, Mrs. Gloria and myself carried the Sand Hill teachers for their Christmas present to a nice restaurant. We will carry San Lazaro this next Thursday. We have attended all the school functions. Both schools have a very talented group to work with. We love to watch the children here. Ever Monday they stand outside and sing their National anthem and have devotions. It is a special thing to see. All in uniform looking just alike. It is wonderful at there assemblies. Everything is about God they pray and sing Christian songs and give presentations about Christ.. Something we can’t do in the states.
The Leadership classes are doing good Charlie Joe was here in August and helped get them started. Sandiago and Candace have been working and keeping them going. They have done a great job. We had Thanksgiving with them. Turkey, dressing and everything it was a great blessing. The leadership classes are a great help. We are carrying some from San Lazaro on Saturdays to the classes. The classes will be a great help in raising up leaders.
The pastors meetings have been a great help for the pastors and a time of Fellowship. They will meet at Firebun next Saturday. Firebun has painted their church green and redid the floors. The conference is helping with the new glass windows! The church looks great. We were there for Harvest and had a great time. The church is doing well and has some new people coming.
August Pine Ridge church is doing well. The new pastor Bro. Victor will do great. I feel sure of this. Don is getting some doors for the church. The conference is buying two windows. That little church is so poor. I brought some Red flowers and tried to help decorate for Christmas a little. The church needs so much. It looks so pitiful. I know God will bless this church .The Sunday school is looking good. They are having about 30 attending. Children, teens and a few ladies. I know the Lord will bless. The village has a lot of young men. A good many dressed in black. They say there are three gangs there.. They listen to the preaching on the outside. I feel one day they will come in and take part. There are about 15 or 20 outside at the windows and doors.
We are still going to Progresso. We are excited about what the Lord is doing. . We are having church on Saturday nights. for now. We are still looking for a pastor. There are about 35 going. . The church is in good shape they only need a pastor. The church needs a little paint and that is all. We are excited about what the Lord is doing.
Guinea Grass church is doing good. They have about 70 people coming on Sunday night. . We were there on Sunday morning and they had about 30 and a lot of young men. They were praying and fasting. They have 27 families going. They have started a street ministry. There are about 5000 people in the village . It is one of the worst villages in this area. The church is doing great there. We are excited about their ministry. They have a band that attracts young people.
San Lazaro is in the middle of changing pastors so pray for them there pastor resigned this Sunday.. They need a Spanish-speaking pastor. Their pastor is from Sand Hill and can come only once a month. Now he has a brand new baby that has only made it harder. They are a hard working group of people. They have started working on there church. I am sure soon the work will start again. They are looking forward to Christmas and all the activities. They have invited August Pine Ridge to be a part of the Christmas Program.
Sand Hill is doing well. They have had Fundraisers to start a brand new church. We are very excited about that. It is exciting to see all the changes that the Lord is doing. Claudio is doing a great job as conf. President. And the conference is doing great.
Hattieville is doing good Donovan is doing well on his orphanage. We are a part of his ministry. The building is almost complete.
We are still having the ladies meeting at the Mission House. I have enjoyed teaching the book a Purpose Driven Life and feel that it has been a great blessing. We do end up spending the day together. Thanks Martha for sending the books. They are such a blessing.
The Vacation Bible School was a great success. I did the workshop and the nationals did a great job in teaching. Everyone loved the craft. It was great to have so many workers and pastors. Everyone loved having the Rally. It was a great kick-off. They want it again next year and they want to change churches each time.
Don, Galo, Ernesto and Mr. Hellie have put a new roof on the Mission House. It is green like the school. It looks great. The bats have been swept away and it smells clean. They have also fixed the front porch so we wont lose any children off it. It was too dangerous. It really helps the looks of the Mission House. They have also plastered the shed. It will be painted this week.
Well it is almost time for Christmas. We do not plan on coming in this year. It is always hard to visit on the Holidays. Everyone is so busy. We will have a Belize Christmas. We have had the tree up since before Thanksgiving.. I found some decorations and several ladies were here. They wanted to put up the tree the children from the neighborhood came to help too. . Everyone had a great time putting up the tree. I bought lights and the Mission House is lit up. Many don’t have Christmas Trees in there home. We have ended up putting it out on the front porch and it is now the Mission Christmas Tree.. I must say it looks beautiful. The children come and sit and just look at its beauty. Some want me to take pictures of there children by the tree. Santa doesn’t come to Belize like it does in the US. If they get something to ware they are lucky. They desire apples and grapes. The apples are a dollar apiece and the grapes are very expensive. I put only a few candy canes on the tree everyday. I plan to make tons of candy and cookies. The idea Christmas meal is a black soup with chicken stuffed with sausage also a black fruitcake. There will be an all night singing and food at the church. on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day will be for families.
I hope everyone has enjoyed the website. I have tried to keep everyone up to date with what is going on. The website is http;//donpatsmithbz1.blogspot.com. I try to update it about once a week.
We didn’t finish the letter on Friday. People came in so I will finish it today. Saturday night we carried a van full to Progresso it was a house full of people. We also carried Bro. Victor with us and his family. It was a good service the alter was full of people. We are excited. About what the Lord will do in that church. Sunday we went to August Pine Ridge last night was a good service. Bro. Victor has changed the music and the order of service to include the youth more. When the praise group started about six of the young men came in to watch. The others crowded around the windows and doors. They were respectful. except for one .He threw a stone and hit the roof during prayer for them but that was all. After the service Bro. Victors wife had cooked rice and beans with chicken and cold slaw. Then he turned the tape player up and let them enjoy themselves. His daughters carried some plates outside. The young men stayed outside and we went out to shake their hand. It is good to put a face on these people that stand in the dark. One of the young men that has been coming helped with the presentation. That is a big step in that village.
We want to thank everyone that has been a part of our ministry. We appreciate all the support and the prayers. you have given us during the year. We pray that God will bless each of you beyond anything you could imagine.
In Gods Service,
Rev. Don & Pat Smith
I don’t know where the year has gone. We have been so busy working seven days a week. It seems like we are in another world sometimes. The days pass so quickly. There are people here when we wake and when we go to bed. It is like one big family. I will give you a little update of what is going on here.
We started in January when Don got a team together to build another room on the school building. There was a team of sixteen .The foundation was poured before hand. Ernesto and Galo donated their Saturdays and worked for the Mission during the week to get it ready for the team. The team laid the blocks and got the roof ready to put the tin on it in two weeks. Mr. Hellie , Ernesto, Galo and some others helped. It was amazing how fast it went up. Tony Russell brought a team later and put the tin on and the doors and windows.
We stayed in Belize for a month then went home to start visiting the churches. We thank all of you for all your prayers and support. Without that we could not be here doing the Lords work.
We arrived here the first part of June part of the projects we wanted to do are almost complete. The pre-school room was redone and the roof fixed, new shelves, and rugs. It looks good. We need some new furniture there. If someone would donate some children’s books for the teacher to read to them it would be greatly appreciated.
Don, Ernesto and Galo roofed the old part of the school. It looks great. There is still a need to fix the computer room with tile. Dennis Murphree came in January and also in August to work on computers. He fixed 19. We appreciate all of the workers that the Lord has sent us. The yard looks great. Carolyn Jackson painted a new sign and her team painted on the school with the help of Galo and Ernesto it looks great and was ready in time for the school to start. . Charlie Joe came back and dedicated the new part of the school the last of August. There was patched roofs, fixing of the sewer lines, times of working on the Sand Hill school mowing and painting, redoing the downstairs putting a sink and cabinet, getting beds, painting getting ready for the teams to come. It has been a very busy summer and fall.
Everyone should be very proud of there schools here. Don, Mrs. Gloria and myself carried the Sand Hill teachers for their Christmas present to a nice restaurant. We will carry San Lazaro this next Thursday. We have attended all the school functions. Both schools have a very talented group to work with. We love to watch the children here. Ever Monday they stand outside and sing their National anthem and have devotions. It is a special thing to see. All in uniform looking just alike. It is wonderful at there assemblies. Everything is about God they pray and sing Christian songs and give presentations about Christ.. Something we can’t do in the states.
The Leadership classes are doing good Charlie Joe was here in August and helped get them started. Sandiago and Candace have been working and keeping them going. They have done a great job. We had Thanksgiving with them. Turkey, dressing and everything it was a great blessing. The leadership classes are a great help. We are carrying some from San Lazaro on Saturdays to the classes. The classes will be a great help in raising up leaders.
The pastors meetings have been a great help for the pastors and a time of Fellowship. They will meet at Firebun next Saturday. Firebun has painted their church green and redid the floors. The conference is helping with the new glass windows! The church looks great. We were there for Harvest and had a great time. The church is doing well and has some new people coming.
August Pine Ridge church is doing well. The new pastor Bro. Victor will do great. I feel sure of this. Don is getting some doors for the church. The conference is buying two windows. That little church is so poor. I brought some Red flowers and tried to help decorate for Christmas a little. The church needs so much. It looks so pitiful. I know God will bless this church .The Sunday school is looking good. They are having about 30 attending. Children, teens and a few ladies. I know the Lord will bless. The village has a lot of young men. A good many dressed in black. They say there are three gangs there.. They listen to the preaching on the outside. I feel one day they will come in and take part. There are about 15 or 20 outside at the windows and doors.
We are still going to Progresso. We are excited about what the Lord is doing. . We are having church on Saturday nights. for now. We are still looking for a pastor. There are about 35 going. . The church is in good shape they only need a pastor. The church needs a little paint and that is all. We are excited about what the Lord is doing.
Guinea Grass church is doing good. They have about 70 people coming on Sunday night. . We were there on Sunday morning and they had about 30 and a lot of young men. They were praying and fasting. They have 27 families going. They have started a street ministry. There are about 5000 people in the village . It is one of the worst villages in this area. The church is doing great there. We are excited about their ministry. They have a band that attracts young people.
San Lazaro is in the middle of changing pastors so pray for them there pastor resigned this Sunday.. They need a Spanish-speaking pastor. Their pastor is from Sand Hill and can come only once a month. Now he has a brand new baby that has only made it harder. They are a hard working group of people. They have started working on there church. I am sure soon the work will start again. They are looking forward to Christmas and all the activities. They have invited August Pine Ridge to be a part of the Christmas Program.
Sand Hill is doing well. They have had Fundraisers to start a brand new church. We are very excited about that. It is exciting to see all the changes that the Lord is doing. Claudio is doing a great job as conf. President. And the conference is doing great.
Hattieville is doing good Donovan is doing well on his orphanage. We are a part of his ministry. The building is almost complete.
We are still having the ladies meeting at the Mission House. I have enjoyed teaching the book a Purpose Driven Life and feel that it has been a great blessing. We do end up spending the day together. Thanks Martha for sending the books. They are such a blessing.
The Vacation Bible School was a great success. I did the workshop and the nationals did a great job in teaching. Everyone loved the craft. It was great to have so many workers and pastors. Everyone loved having the Rally. It was a great kick-off. They want it again next year and they want to change churches each time.
Don, Galo, Ernesto and Mr. Hellie have put a new roof on the Mission House. It is green like the school. It looks great. The bats have been swept away and it smells clean. They have also fixed the front porch so we wont lose any children off it. It was too dangerous. It really helps the looks of the Mission House. They have also plastered the shed. It will be painted this week.
Well it is almost time for Christmas. We do not plan on coming in this year. It is always hard to visit on the Holidays. Everyone is so busy. We will have a Belize Christmas. We have had the tree up since before Thanksgiving.. I found some decorations and several ladies were here. They wanted to put up the tree the children from the neighborhood came to help too. . Everyone had a great time putting up the tree. I bought lights and the Mission House is lit up. Many don’t have Christmas Trees in there home. We have ended up putting it out on the front porch and it is now the Mission Christmas Tree.. I must say it looks beautiful. The children come and sit and just look at its beauty. Some want me to take pictures of there children by the tree. Santa doesn’t come to Belize like it does in the US. If they get something to ware they are lucky. They desire apples and grapes. The apples are a dollar apiece and the grapes are very expensive. I put only a few candy canes on the tree everyday. I plan to make tons of candy and cookies. The idea Christmas meal is a black soup with chicken stuffed with sausage also a black fruitcake. There will be an all night singing and food at the church. on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day will be for families.
I hope everyone has enjoyed the website. I have tried to keep everyone up to date with what is going on. The website is http;//donpatsmithbz1.blogspot.com. I try to update it about once a week.
We didn’t finish the letter on Friday. People came in so I will finish it today. Saturday night we carried a van full to Progresso it was a house full of people. We also carried Bro. Victor with us and his family. It was a good service the alter was full of people. We are excited. About what the Lord will do in that church. Sunday we went to August Pine Ridge last night was a good service. Bro. Victor has changed the music and the order of service to include the youth more. When the praise group started about six of the young men came in to watch. The others crowded around the windows and doors. They were respectful. except for one .He threw a stone and hit the roof during prayer for them but that was all. After the service Bro. Victors wife had cooked rice and beans with chicken and cold slaw. Then he turned the tape player up and let them enjoy themselves. His daughters carried some plates outside. The young men stayed outside and we went out to shake their hand. It is good to put a face on these people that stand in the dark. One of the young men that has been coming helped with the presentation. That is a big step in that village.
We want to thank everyone that has been a part of our ministry. We appreciate all the support and the prayers. you have given us during the year. We pray that God will bless each of you beyond anything you could imagine.
In Gods Service,
Rev. Don & Pat Smith
# posted by Don & Pat @ 7:25 AM 
