Belize Mission

Independence Day and Youth Retreat

Things are going good here in Belize. We had company on the 16th Bro. Donavon, Lisa and Donovan Jr. came and spent the weekend. We had a great time together. We sang until late and them Saturday. Donavon helped Don and Galo worked on a school bus we had borrowed for the Youth Retreat on the 23rd of September. We had about 50 coming from the Spanish area and didn’t have a way to carry them. They worked together until late Saturday and then. Donavon and his family went home. We are looking forward to a visit again soon.
On the 20th was the Independence Day celebration. The country has been Independent for 25 years. It is a great celebration here. San Lazaro School and the Roman Catholic School have a parade together for this occasion every year. One year at San Lazaro the next at the Roman Catholic. This year all the children came to the Roman Catholic School. The queens were crowned for each school. All the children looked beautiful. The little girls in there formals and the boys in there white shirts and slacks. . It was great fun. Don drove the pick-up we brought back from the states it was full of queens. They had speakers on trucks that came a long way to be a part. We always enjoy the San Lazaro parade but have decided to stay out of the big parades in Orange Walk and Belize City they have a lot of drinking and partying going on there, It is somewhere we don’t need to be. All the children had a great time and some mothers walked the whole way.
Don and Galo have finished the computer room here. It looks great. They have worked in Sand Hill all week on things there. Trying to keep the schools in good repair.
We had a great time Saturday the 23rd. It was the Youth Retreat. We started out early at 4:30AM because the house would be full by 5:00AM August Pine Ridge has to leave at 4:30 on the bus to go. Also Progresso had to be there at that time. Everyone would gather from those two villages at 5:00 at our house. We would leave San Lazaro at 6:00AM to pick up Guinea Grass and Firebun at tower hill. We prayed all would make connections. We had been working weeks trying to make this happen. I drove the white van of ours it had 13 in it. Don had the rest in the bus. We left and were on our way. Progresso over slept and three from August Pine Ridge. But we had to come on we couldn’t wait on them. There wouldn’t be another bus until 7:30AM. We had to be in Hattieville by 9:00. We arrived at tower Hill and guess what the bus was pouring smoke the brake shoes had locked up. It hadn’t been driven for a year or more. Don had carried Galo with him in case he needed help. That turned out to be a blessing. They took off the tires and tried to find a mechanic but they were not open. Don was working on it and me and Galo hunted a mechanic. He found a man that told him what to do. So as they were working on the bus all jacked up. About 50 young adult standing near watching and waiting. We had the whole area full of people. But it was a perfect place by the bus stop We didn’t realize some of the youth had gotten on the bus and were playing. The bus shifted and fell Don was under it. It only scraped his head and shoulder we were Praising God he wasn’t hurt any more. They used two jacks then and fixed the bus. We hurried on our way to Hattieville. Praise God we were only thirty minutes late and all in one piece just a little dirty. Sand Hill had worked hard getting the program together. The theme was about frogs. It was Claudio’s birthday Friday and they had a Big Birthday Cake for him. If you want to know how old he is, take thirty and add ten, then take away four. He was also the speaker and did a great job. Georgia led some songs and then the Spanish area had 10 minutes to lead some also. There was a good number from Sand Hill present. We were very proud of the turn out of the Spanish areas. It worked out on Gods plan as we waited for the bus to get fixed the ones that had overslept caught up with us. Praise God for that. All the churches were there and all the pastors also and several of the pastor’s wives. It was a great time of fellowship and everyone had a great time. When we returned the buses had already run for Firebun and August Pine Ridge so Don carried them home. Galo went with him and they got home about 10 PM dead tired. Everyone was give out but had a great day. We really appreciate Donovan and Galo for all they did in getting the bus running and spending their Saturday working on it.
This Saturday will be pastors meeting at Guinea Grass we are looking forward to that and there should be an Ordination Service. We are excited about that. Bro. Santos has been a pastor for the Guinea Grass Church for 12 years. He has been with us longer that any of our pastors. We hope it will be a great day for him and his family

New Baby Girl

Bro. Daniel and his wife from Fire Bun have a new baby daughter. It was born Tuesday. I think this is number five, four girls and one son!