Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mission House early morning after Dean
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thanks for your help!
Praise The Lord
Thanks you for all the prayers! We give special appreciation for those who jumped right in to help our brothers in Progresso in there time of need. Special thanks go to Springfield Methodist Protestant Church, Union Methodist Protestant Church, Casle Chapel Methodist Protestant WMS, and Tammy Clark from Lettsworth La. Brother Don has already carried a load of tin, boards and more food to them, There are several families from the church that are also still in desperate need. We are going back today and carry more supplies. Brother Donovan was in Progresso yesterday trying to help his brothers. Continue to pray for our people as they try to get their life back under control. We pray that God will open the windows of heaven and pour out the blessing of God to those who reached out to his children in there time of need. Praise God for your generosity!!
We just received an e-mail from Brother Billy saying that more churches had donated funds for Progresso. We don’t know who they are yet but thank you for your love and generosity.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Progresso update
Progresso Report
Brother Don went to Progresso to check on them he found it a total mess a lot worst than San Lazaro. All the trees were blown down and a lot of roofs off. Brother Mauricio’s house was down everything was wet there was no food, and 3 of the children were sick. Theresa half of her roof was gone and she had no food and everything was also wet she is sick with rheumatic fever. Don went and got $200 worth of food for them and carried the children to the Dr. and got medicine for them. They expect nothing from the government so far even in San Lazaro the party’s are giving out a little food a pound of flour and a few beans to people that aren’t even effected that is all the ones that need it are getting nothing! We have tried to give a little flour, beans, rice, baking power a long with a little bread. It is really a shame the way the government is run in this country they take it all and leave nothing for there people. There are a least four family’s in San Lazaro that have lost all there roofs, everything is wet including there food, they have dirt floors and are wading in mud, and now there is no work and they have a house full of children. They have lost everything. We are helping where we can. Pray that the people’s needs will be met and they will see that the Lord has taken care of them in there time of need. Continue to pray for us also as we try to help.
There is also a blessing when Don went to Guinea Grass he is pleased to report that there is no damage there, even to Brother Santos house, and also there is no damage to Fireburn or the churches. Praise the Lord!!
Brother Don went to Progresso to check on them he found it a total mess a lot worst than San Lazaro. All the trees were blown down and a lot of roofs off. Brother Mauricio’s house was down everything was wet there was no food, and 3 of the children were sick. Theresa half of her roof was gone and she had no food and everything was also wet she is sick with rheumatic fever. Don went and got $200 worth of food for them and carried the children to the Dr. and got medicine for them. They expect nothing from the government so far even in San Lazaro the party’s are giving out a little food a pound of flour and a few beans to people that aren’t even effected that is all the ones that need it are getting nothing! We have tried to give a little flour, beans, rice, baking power a long with a little bread. It is really a shame the way the government is run in this country they take it all and leave nothing for there people. There are a least four family’s in San Lazaro that have lost all there roofs, everything is wet including there food, they have dirt floors and are wading in mud, and now there is no work and they have a house full of children. They have lost everything. We are helping where we can. Pray that the people’s needs will be met and they will see that the Lord has taken care of them in there time of need. Continue to pray for us also as we try to help.
There is also a blessing when Don went to Guinea Grass he is pleased to report that there is no damage there, even to Brother Santos house, and also there is no damage to Fireburn or the churches. Praise the Lord!!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hurricane Dean Report
Hurricane Dean,
I just wanted to thank all the people that prayed for Belize because of your prayers I believe the people were spared. There has been no report of loss of life in this country!! The eye of Hurricane Dean hit about 30 miles from us. At San Lazaro Mission we only lost about 4 coconut trees, the mayflower at the front door may pull through but most of the limbs are gone and a large tree in the back also a few flowers. Other than that we had no damage. The thatch building the men had built for the teams leans a bit but that can be fixed but other than that it survived. We got no water in the house at all. When the front porch was fixed that helped with the water. It was a long hot night with all the windows boarded up and not knowing what was going on. While it was still storming Don was out in it trying to save the thatch building and checking on all the things to see the damage. We were relieved there was no roof damage! The village people some lost roofs and a lot of trees are down, the crops are ruined but the young cane may come back. Mr. Hillie lost all his corn and fruit trees the corn was on the ground he was here this morning he said maybe he could pick it up when it dried and still salvage some of it. Armando the man that is a day helper lost most of his roof. A lot of people are suffering in the north end of the country. There are several houses in the village that have no roof at all. It is so sad. People here before the storm hit you could hear them way into the night trying to nail the wooden shutters closed and board up the best they could. Some tried to get tin from us but there was none to be had anywhere even at ten and eleven o’clock they were still out looking for something to cover there windows. No one stayed here they were trying to protect what they had in most cases that is very little. The fruit crops in this end are destroyed and that will mean there is no work for a lot of people. We are only 5 miles from Mexico. We got power back yesterday afternoon and water it is from a generator from Orange Walk at first they said it would be only a hour a day to fill to water tank but so far it has held out I hope it does until the power can be restored from Mexico. There were trees all on the roads and we couldn’t get into Progresso. The radio said the government would help but so far we have only seen one helicopter fly over and some men in trucks. The army made some of the people leave their homes in low areas and go to shelters in the schools and churches. The next day though they told them to go home! I am sure they will declare this end a disaster area and they may get some money from other countries but I don’t know when or if the people will see it! There needs are now what I heard on the radio was asking there family’s to help them. They were asking for food and tin for the roofs. Before the storm hit you couldn’t buy it and what you could was priced ten times what it should have been! There were people from the south however offering tin and food and wanted to come to help so I guess they did. There are needs everywhere. They were wanting to know who was in charge.
Brother Don got a call last night from Progresso and Brother Mauricio Sadausie (the pastor) house blew down and he, his wife and nine children are in the small parsonage that Tony and Kenny’s team rebuilt this summer. They have no toilet or kitchen. Theresa the church leaders’ kitchen blew away but the house stood. The church part of the front tin blew away. Don has gone to Progresso to check on the damage and see what we can do for them. We haven’t heard from Guinea Grass as yet but when Don leaves Progresso he will go there. Brother Santos never was able to finish his house so he lives in a little stick house with cardboard covering the holes. I am sure they went to the church for shelter. They have a large family. We also haven’t heard from Fireburn. The churches in Sand Hill and Hattieville were not hurt by the storm as it went north thank goodness. Don was down there yesterday checking there was no damage. We are trying to do all we can to help, as soon as the rain-stopped people were trying to beat out old tin and put it back up and clean as much as they could. They are doing all they can to get things going again and helping one another. I will post more later when Don returns on the amount of damage to our people and churches. Continue to pray for us and thanks again for the prayers.
I just wanted to thank all the people that prayed for Belize because of your prayers I believe the people were spared. There has been no report of loss of life in this country!! The eye of Hurricane Dean hit about 30 miles from us. At San Lazaro Mission we only lost about 4 coconut trees, the mayflower at the front door may pull through but most of the limbs are gone and a large tree in the back also a few flowers. Other than that we had no damage. The thatch building the men had built for the teams leans a bit but that can be fixed but other than that it survived. We got no water in the house at all. When the front porch was fixed that helped with the water. It was a long hot night with all the windows boarded up and not knowing what was going on. While it was still storming Don was out in it trying to save the thatch building and checking on all the things to see the damage. We were relieved there was no roof damage! The village people some lost roofs and a lot of trees are down, the crops are ruined but the young cane may come back. Mr. Hillie lost all his corn and fruit trees the corn was on the ground he was here this morning he said maybe he could pick it up when it dried and still salvage some of it. Armando the man that is a day helper lost most of his roof. A lot of people are suffering in the north end of the country. There are several houses in the village that have no roof at all. It is so sad. People here before the storm hit you could hear them way into the night trying to nail the wooden shutters closed and board up the best they could. Some tried to get tin from us but there was none to be had anywhere even at ten and eleven o’clock they were still out looking for something to cover there windows. No one stayed here they were trying to protect what they had in most cases that is very little. The fruit crops in this end are destroyed and that will mean there is no work for a lot of people. We are only 5 miles from Mexico. We got power back yesterday afternoon and water it is from a generator from Orange Walk at first they said it would be only a hour a day to fill to water tank but so far it has held out I hope it does until the power can be restored from Mexico. There were trees all on the roads and we couldn’t get into Progresso. The radio said the government would help but so far we have only seen one helicopter fly over and some men in trucks. The army made some of the people leave their homes in low areas and go to shelters in the schools and churches. The next day though they told them to go home! I am sure they will declare this end a disaster area and they may get some money from other countries but I don’t know when or if the people will see it! There needs are now what I heard on the radio was asking there family’s to help them. They were asking for food and tin for the roofs. Before the storm hit you couldn’t buy it and what you could was priced ten times what it should have been! There were people from the south however offering tin and food and wanted to come to help so I guess they did. There are needs everywhere. They were wanting to know who was in charge.
Brother Don got a call last night from Progresso and Brother Mauricio Sadausie (the pastor) house blew down and he, his wife and nine children are in the small parsonage that Tony and Kenny’s team rebuilt this summer. They have no toilet or kitchen. Theresa the church leaders’ kitchen blew away but the house stood. The church part of the front tin blew away. Don has gone to Progresso to check on the damage and see what we can do for them. We haven’t heard from Guinea Grass as yet but when Don leaves Progresso he will go there. Brother Santos never was able to finish his house so he lives in a little stick house with cardboard covering the holes. I am sure they went to the church for shelter. They have a large family. We also haven’t heard from Fireburn. The churches in Sand Hill and Hattieville were not hurt by the storm as it went north thank goodness. Don was down there yesterday checking there was no damage. We are trying to do all we can to help, as soon as the rain-stopped people were trying to beat out old tin and put it back up and clean as much as they could. They are doing all they can to get things going again and helping one another. I will post more later when Don returns on the amount of damage to our people and churches. Continue to pray for us and thanks again for the prayers.
Monday, August 20, 2007
HURRICANE DEAN
HURRICANE DEAN
WELL WE ARE PREPARING FOR HURRICANE DEAN. IT IS SUPPOSED TO HIT TONIGHT AT A CAT 5. THE WINDOWS ARE BOARDED UP NOW AND IT IS HOT AND DARK. WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPLY'S WE NEED. THE SCHOOLS WILL BE OPENED AS SHELTERS. THE CHAIRMEN OF THE VILLAGES ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A COMMITTEE TO FEED THEN. WE WILL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CHARGE. THE PEOPLE DON ‘T LIKE LEAVING THERE HOMES BECAUSE OF LOOTING THAT WILL HAPPEN AFTERWARD .THE FIRST THING HERE THAT WILL GO IS THE LIGHTS AND THE WATER OVER THE ROADS. THE MEN PUT THE ICE BOX AND FREEZER AND CHESTS UP ON BLOCKS SO THEY WILL BE OUT OF THE WATER DOWNSTAIRS. JUST PRAY FOR US, THE PEOPLE OF BELIZE, MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES THIS MONSTER WILL EFFECT. DON AND THE MEN ARE ON THERE WAY TO SAND HILL NOW TO PREPARE FOR THINGS THERE.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Belize Annual Conference
Annual Conference 2007 & Good Bys
It has been a very busy weekend here in Belize. The Belize Annual Conference met in San Lazaro. It would be there 4th Conference. It was the first time all the pastors were here with their delegates at the conference. August Pine Ridge was the only one that did not have a pastor. It was attended very well with several visitors from the villages. Rev. Donovan Grintage the President did a great job in conducting the meetings. Brother Nick Carrillo acted as interrupter for the meetings. We are very grateful for his help. After all of the pastors and their delegates signed on. The minutes of last year’s session was read in Spanish and then in English. After which elections were held for an assistant secretary and also an assistant treasure. Because of the distant in villages this will help when one cannot make the meetings. Rev. Claudio Leal was elected to head the election committee. The District Committee was elected and then it was discussed how to change the Youth Camp so all of the churches would take part. It was decided to have two pastors and a person from each of the six churches on the committee. It was a great camp last year but only 5 youth from the Spanish area took part. Mrs. Tanya was ask to head it up, she did such a great job last year but she declined. A great effort is being given to include the Spanish churches. I am sure since this is there first time and they will appreciate any help given. After the elections were concluded. We all went to the Mission House there were already 18 people there before Sand Hill and Guinea Grass arrived. They decided to go back to there homes and come the next day so they wouldn’t crowd anyone.
On Saturday at eight o’clock we started again. Brother Daniel Perez opened with adorations songs and then did a devotional. It truly touched your heart. He took his text from I Corinthians 12 after he finished in prayer. The finance committee finished their report and a new committee was elected. The thanks committee then gave their report. They did a great job and concluded with a good bit of humor. It was decided that after electing new officers for the youth camp committee and they met there would be a retreat in Progresso in October, there is beautiful place on the lagoon. Afterward we recessed for lunch. We had tamales and chocolate cake. It was sure good and a blessing. We are grateful to San Lazaro church for their hospitality.
After lunch Rev. Donovan gave his President report. We were sorry that Sand Hill had to leave for another meeting and couldn’t be apart of the finish of conference. Rev. Donovan. was pleased to announce that Brother Mauricio Sedassey would be taking the Progresso church again. He had pastored the church 7 years when circumstances required him to quit. He has committed to serving the Lord and trusting Him to work out his financial circumstances. He has nine children. He will be a great help in building the church in Progresso! Everyone is excited and the church building will start later this year. We are still praying the Lord will rise up a pastor in August Pine Ridge. They are still having Sunday school on Sunday morning and they are praying God will move on someone to pastor that church. There are two more ladies that are working with the children now. They were having a great time this morning. Rev. Donovan wants to try to unite all the churches in the conference this year. He has visited all the church one a month to see how he could encourage them. The next pastors meeting in September will be at Sand Hill. The minutes will be translated in Spanish and English. He has requested the pastors wives come to the pastors meeting as they are so much help to the pastors they need to take part in the effort. It was also noted that all the pastors attended workshop for the Blitz and that was a blessing. He also mentioned about Rev Ruben Santos ordination. He thanked Brother Nick again for his help. Brother Donovan has committed to get the pastors Spanish literature for the adult classes. He also reminded them of general conference in the states and a desire to come and represent the Belize conference as their president. The Missionaries were also thanked for there help.
After Rev Donovan finished his speech there was communion held. Rev. Santos held the communion service with the help of Pastor Daniel who led in worship songs and Mariela Carrillo. It was a very beautiful service.
Thanks were given again for all the help and a chance for the Missionaries to speak. Rev. Don and myself shared with the Conference that we had been on loan to the Belize Conference from the Louisiana Conference. In the beginning it was for one year. The church at Union were gracious enough after Rev. Charlie Joe decided not to come back to give us another year here. Again this year we signed up for yet another year but our circumstances have changed. The young man that was helping with the church suddenly moved leaving them without a pastor. After much prayer we have decided to return to the states and Rev Don will pastor Union church where he is still listed as pastor. We love Belize with all of our heart but we also love the people at Union Church. We feel without a doubt that is where God has led us to return. In my heart it was confirmed at the finish of Communion Brother Mauricio Sedassey knelt at the alter and all the elders lay hands on him and prayed. When we came here the words that the Lord had given me were “ who will stand in the gap “ I knew without a doubt it was Brother Don and myself. One of the first things we did was go to Progresso hoping to get that church started and we met Brother Mauricio again and he said the Lord had come to him in a dream and Ernesto would bring a man to him that would restart the church and that man was Don. Well I saw this man kneeling in prayer “standing in the gap “ that is the prayer that was said over this man thanking God. He was now “standing in the gap” as well as the other Spanish pastors!! I knew that truly God had changed our direction. There were many tears on our part and all of the people. There were testimonies from them that tore to my soul as they shared how much we had meant to them. But it is we who have been blessed beyond all for the love that they have shown us. To see them standing there, Men of God I truly know the gap has been filled. We told them we would return. The Progresso church will be built and we hope to still be able to come with teams. Brother Don is trying to work out something with the Board so he can come every three months. But it is truly God who is in control. God bless . We will be returning the first part of September. Pray for us as we prepare to leave this field.
It has been a very busy weekend here in Belize. The Belize Annual Conference met in San Lazaro. It would be there 4th Conference. It was the first time all the pastors were here with their delegates at the conference. August Pine Ridge was the only one that did not have a pastor. It was attended very well with several visitors from the villages. Rev. Donovan Grintage the President did a great job in conducting the meetings. Brother Nick Carrillo acted as interrupter for the meetings. We are very grateful for his help. After all of the pastors and their delegates signed on. The minutes of last year’s session was read in Spanish and then in English. After which elections were held for an assistant secretary and also an assistant treasure. Because of the distant in villages this will help when one cannot make the meetings. Rev. Claudio Leal was elected to head the election committee. The District Committee was elected and then it was discussed how to change the Youth Camp so all of the churches would take part. It was decided to have two pastors and a person from each of the six churches on the committee. It was a great camp last year but only 5 youth from the Spanish area took part. Mrs. Tanya was ask to head it up, she did such a great job last year but she declined. A great effort is being given to include the Spanish churches. I am sure since this is there first time and they will appreciate any help given. After the elections were concluded. We all went to the Mission House there were already 18 people there before Sand Hill and Guinea Grass arrived. They decided to go back to there homes and come the next day so they wouldn’t crowd anyone.
On Saturday at eight o’clock we started again. Brother Daniel Perez opened with adorations songs and then did a devotional. It truly touched your heart. He took his text from I Corinthians 12 after he finished in prayer. The finance committee finished their report and a new committee was elected. The thanks committee then gave their report. They did a great job and concluded with a good bit of humor. It was decided that after electing new officers for the youth camp committee and they met there would be a retreat in Progresso in October, there is beautiful place on the lagoon. Afterward we recessed for lunch. We had tamales and chocolate cake. It was sure good and a blessing. We are grateful to San Lazaro church for their hospitality.
After lunch Rev. Donovan gave his President report. We were sorry that Sand Hill had to leave for another meeting and couldn’t be apart of the finish of conference. Rev. Donovan. was pleased to announce that Brother Mauricio Sedassey would be taking the Progresso church again. He had pastored the church 7 years when circumstances required him to quit. He has committed to serving the Lord and trusting Him to work out his financial circumstances. He has nine children. He will be a great help in building the church in Progresso! Everyone is excited and the church building will start later this year. We are still praying the Lord will rise up a pastor in August Pine Ridge. They are still having Sunday school on Sunday morning and they are praying God will move on someone to pastor that church. There are two more ladies that are working with the children now. They were having a great time this morning. Rev. Donovan wants to try to unite all the churches in the conference this year. He has visited all the church one a month to see how he could encourage them. The next pastors meeting in September will be at Sand Hill. The minutes will be translated in Spanish and English. He has requested the pastors wives come to the pastors meeting as they are so much help to the pastors they need to take part in the effort. It was also noted that all the pastors attended workshop for the Blitz and that was a blessing. He also mentioned about Rev Ruben Santos ordination. He thanked Brother Nick again for his help. Brother Donovan has committed to get the pastors Spanish literature for the adult classes. He also reminded them of general conference in the states and a desire to come and represent the Belize conference as their president. The Missionaries were also thanked for there help.
After Rev Donovan finished his speech there was communion held. Rev. Santos held the communion service with the help of Pastor Daniel who led in worship songs and Mariela Carrillo. It was a very beautiful service.
Thanks were given again for all the help and a chance for the Missionaries to speak. Rev. Don and myself shared with the Conference that we had been on loan to the Belize Conference from the Louisiana Conference. In the beginning it was for one year. The church at Union were gracious enough after Rev. Charlie Joe decided not to come back to give us another year here. Again this year we signed up for yet another year but our circumstances have changed. The young man that was helping with the church suddenly moved leaving them without a pastor. After much prayer we have decided to return to the states and Rev Don will pastor Union church where he is still listed as pastor. We love Belize with all of our heart but we also love the people at Union Church. We feel without a doubt that is where God has led us to return. In my heart it was confirmed at the finish of Communion Brother Mauricio Sedassey knelt at the alter and all the elders lay hands on him and prayed. When we came here the words that the Lord had given me were “ who will stand in the gap “ I knew without a doubt it was Brother Don and myself. One of the first things we did was go to Progresso hoping to get that church started and we met Brother Mauricio again and he said the Lord had come to him in a dream and Ernesto would bring a man to him that would restart the church and that man was Don. Well I saw this man kneeling in prayer “standing in the gap “ that is the prayer that was said over this man thanking God. He was now “standing in the gap” as well as the other Spanish pastors!! I knew that truly God had changed our direction. There were many tears on our part and all of the people. There were testimonies from them that tore to my soul as they shared how much we had meant to them. But it is we who have been blessed beyond all for the love that they have shown us. To see them standing there, Men of God I truly know the gap has been filled. We told them we would return. The Progresso church will be built and we hope to still be able to come with teams. Brother Don is trying to work out something with the Board so he can come every three months. But it is truly God who is in control. God bless . We will be returning the first part of September. Pray for us as we prepare to leave this field.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Blitz 2007
Blitz 2007 San Lazaro & August Pine Ridge
It has been a great week VBS started off at August Pine Ridge in the morning there were around a hundred or a little better children attended everyday all week. The youth were very impressive working with the children. It was all smiles. We had one lady that helped teach there. I was very proud of her, as it was her first time. The youth from San Lazaro helped also. Everyone had a great time. In the afternoon San Lazaro had their VBS the group worked tirelessly from day light until dark. I had the pleasure of going with them and playing a little music to get them started we all had a great time. It was the first time that I hadn’t worked with the Arkansas team. There were a little over a hundred that attended there also and the church ladies helped teach. It is such a pleasure to see them take up the torch and carry on after all of these years. Mr. Jimmy did a great job of teaching and preaching on Sunday night and Wednesday night. Galo and his family invited us all over to his home for supper one night and we had a great meal. The ladies of the church also prepared a meal for lunch. Everyone was very kind. There were a lot of the village people that came and visited. The whole group was a joy to be with. We were truly blessed. We also got a chance to be with Brother Mark at the hotel and had a great time. Brother Don and the men worked on the fence at the San Lazaro School while the VBS was going on.
It has been a great week VBS started off at August Pine Ridge in the morning there were around a hundred or a little better children attended everyday all week. The youth were very impressive working with the children. It was all smiles. We had one lady that helped teach there. I was very proud of her, as it was her first time. The youth from San Lazaro helped also. Everyone had a great time. In the afternoon San Lazaro had their VBS the group worked tirelessly from day light until dark. I had the pleasure of going with them and playing a little music to get them started we all had a great time. It was the first time that I hadn’t worked with the Arkansas team. There were a little over a hundred that attended there also and the church ladies helped teach. It is such a pleasure to see them take up the torch and carry on after all of these years. Mr. Jimmy did a great job of teaching and preaching on Sunday night and Wednesday night. Galo and his family invited us all over to his home for supper one night and we had a great meal. The ladies of the church also prepared a meal for lunch. Everyone was very kind. There were a lot of the village people that came and visited. The whole group was a joy to be with. We were truly blessed. We also got a chance to be with Brother Mark at the hotel and had a great time. Brother Don and the men worked on the fence at the San Lazaro School while the VBS was going on.
