Our Sabbath Together.... Day 2

Our first full morning in Belize found several of our missionaries rising before the local roosters in Camalote village. (~ 5am)  The aroma of Starbucks coffee and the camp's blooming garden eased everyone into their personal quiet times and devotionals.  

Even thought sunrise can be a very peaceful time here, there was a buzz of excitement about spending another worshipful Sunday with our long-time friends from The Evangelical Quest Church.  As we all got ready for breakfast, missionaries were setting up chairs in the chapel - others embarked in the vans bound to pick up the locals from various villages.  Tuning instruments could be heard as Melvin, (EQC's worship leader) and some new friends from San Ignacio began to get into their rhythms.  

Anticipation soon gave way to the sounds of diesel engines coming down the road and we knew that many more hands and feet were about to inhabit our camp.  Within minutes, hugs, kisses and well wishes spread throughout the chapel like wildfire and everyone began to get reacquainted. 

Pastor German welcomed everyone to Camalote Camp and the praise music began to play.
The children of EQC could be seen in nearly every missionary's lap or holding our hands.  Seeing how quickly our two worlds reconnect is one of the most beautiful testimonies to what God can do when He is at work.

As I mentioned, Melvin and some new friends from San Ignacio did an excellent job of leading worship and soon it was time for God's message to be delivered.  I would like to thank John Kenney for his inspired sermon outline - expounding on the parable of the Sower from Mark 4: 1-20. (It made my first preaching assignment in Belize much easier and definitely more coherent than I could have imagined)

Once the service had concluded, our missionaries broke the congregation down into smaller groups of men, women and children.  Travis Cain did an excellent job of leading the men's group and Vickie Veatch facilitated the women's independent study time.  But by far, the most impressive group here was the children's group - which or course, had many many leaders!  July Gray, Ron Hartshorn, Micheal Albright, Debbie Banks and more helped to lead these wonderful kids in song, coloring crafts and story time.  This was next-generation ministry at it's best.  These little ones were more well behaved than ever before.  They listened intently as Ron and Diane Sheffield read bible stories, stayed on-task as the group colored images of Christ, and sang their hearts out as music time came.  This respectful attitude can only be attributed to the hard work of Alice and German and the leaders of christian education at our sister church.

As we all finished our group lessons, the smell of tamales lingered from the camp kitchen.
Everyone lined up around the chapel quickly and we served 100 plates of food in minutes.

Vision of the afternoon to-come were soon dampened as storm clouds rolled in and we had to quickly load everyone back on the buses to get them home.  What would have been our fun day at the river turned into a little extra R & R - but everyone spent time resting or getting to know each other a little better.

After dinner, we once again gathered in the chapel for circle time.  And let me tell you this - God is moving in this team and in this place.   Oh, yesterday was German's birthday so we all celebrated with chocolate cake!

Stay Tuned.......

Joey

 

And the Mission Continues...

Greetings to all those back at The Quest Church!  Your Belize Missionary Team had an exciting day of travel as we made our way from Augusta, Georgia to Belize, Central America.

Our flights out of Augusta and Atlanta were smooth and uneventful.  Although our first attempt at landing at Phillip Goldston Airport in Belize City resulted in what I will call a "tower buzz."  Our pilot reduced the plane's air speed and lowered the landing gear on approach to the tarmac - only to pull up at the last minute and climb straight back over the emerald blue Caribbean waters.  This raised a few eyebrows (and pulse rates) to say the least.  However, his second try was a success.  :)

We were greeted by Alice, German, Melvin and little Jennifer Pop (a member of our sister church, EQC, and a sweetheart).  Our favorite baggage porter, Ernesto, loaded our bags into the mission vans and we headed over to a seaside park in Belize City for lunch.   Alice's homemade burritos never seems to disappoint - especially a hungry crowd of missionaries.  Oh, and I must include this note - even though she only lives about 45 miles from Belize City, little Jennifer has never seen the ocean until today!

After our amazing food, we once again loaded into the vans for our trip to Camalote Camp.  I am so very sorry to report that we had absolutely "zero"  automotive snafus. :)  Apologies, but sometimes those stories are the most-remembered.  Our vans rolled into Camalote Camp and everyone made a mad dash for the hammocks.  I think Ron Hartshorn actually beat everyone there.

We took a short time to unpack and relax. Then we once again boarded the vans -  one group headed to Arizona Village and another left for Maya Mopan to reunite with old friends and encourage families to worship with us this week. This was a special time for people like  Betsi Baker  - who saw Ida Canti for the first time in 3 years.  And we visited Pedro's house -  his new house (with a real, working door) that Quest helped to rebuild after some thieves
burned it last year.

 The group enjoyed a traditional Belizean dinner of stewed chicken and rice and beans tonight. And afterward - we had a very powerful "quest circle time" in the Camalote Chapel.



Well, once again the crickets are my only company on this warm, balmy evening on the back porch.  I can't count Vickie Veatch cause she is in the hammock next to me sound asleep.  It's late... again.  So I leave you with just a few images from today.  

Blessings from Always Beautiful Belize!

Joey  

 
 p.s.  Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to my in-laws, John & Diane Sheffield - Who just happened to surprise my wife and joined our missionaries for a few days.  And Happy Birthday to German Gallardo!   Belize-it, Belize-it all.

Camp "Shine" in Camalote, Belize!

Well, here are the much-anticipated first images from The Evangelical Quest Church's "Shine" camp at Blue Thumb Missions.  I have combined Day 4 and 5 highlights to give everyone at home a detailed account of what your missionaries are doing.

As I stated yesterday, campers arrived Thursday around noon and were checked in by Quest Church Missionaries.  Boys and girls were separated into different groups and were given corresponding team color wrist bands.

We began camp by playing games that would allow us to learn each others names.  Everyone also participated in team building exercises - used to draw us together as campers and counselors. 

 

The young people were amazingly respectful and attentive, listening to counselors explain the dos and dont's of the weekend.

Within a few hours, the entire camp was completely alive with games and crafts and group meetings.

The staff has been very blessed to have several local Belizean women to cook our meals.  Many past missionaries will remember Elvira Pop.  (Wife of Victor in Arizona Village)

During the course of the day, our counselors take time-out to associate the activities with scriptural lessons from the Bible. 

 Both boy and girl teams have enjoyed craft projects - like bracelet making.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this camp is the one-on-one interaction between the youth and adults.  Spending intimate time together builds both trust and a sense of belonging.  Our counselors are eating, sleeping, playing and praying with these kids around the clock.

When two cultural worlds collide, differences can often result in a difficult "getting-to-know-you" stage.  But I must say that we have been blessed with a great bunch of kids who are willing to communicate and participate with Quest and EQC leaders.

I had to take this picture on the soccer - or futball - field yesterday.  Talk about differences.  Corey oversees an organized soccer game and takes a moment to pose with little Sergio - one of our smallest 14 year old campers.  Six foot, five inches meets about forty four inches.

As I type, I can not express enough about how much fun these kids are having.  I just want to take pictures of every moment -  as their faces are just so illuminated.  For a few days, they are truly free to be carefree children of God.  No cares, no worries.  Despite the emotional baggage they may have carried into this camp we continue to lift them up and allow them to shine.

We have included a canteen for the kids so that they can have treats throughout the day.  This gives them time to relax and provides our leaders some time to just hang out with them.

Friday was fairly hot and humid so we incorporated some cool water fun into the schedule.  We filled up water balloons and had relay races and balloon tossing games.  And as with any water sport and kids, pranks were in short supply. (more to come about this later today)

And what trip would be complete without enjoying the local tropical produce.  And German has been doing a great job of supplying plenty of mangos.


As evening draws near, we shower, eat and prepare for worship in the chapel.  I promise to blog about our first two worship experiences later today.  But words are hard to come by right now.  The Holy Spirit has been so very powerful and present that descriptions are tough, at best.  But, again, I will make the attempt.

Well, gotta run.  Breakfast is over and I hear the business of little feet.  Until later today.......  Peace from your missionaries in Belize.

Joey 

Campers Arrived Ready to SHINE

Hola, from Blue Thumb and the new home of Camp SHINE.  Wow, just Wow.  Oh, and can I add another Wow!  Our Belizean campers arrived yesterday and this mission week just went into 5th gear. (to quote Austin Lopez) 

Forty six youth, ranging in ages from thirteen to seventeen, began a four day journey with our Quest and EQC mission counselors that promises to be a physically and spiritually powerful time.  Trust me when I say that last night was one of the most extraordinary worship experiences we have EVER had while on mission.  This group of people, American and Belizean, is charting new territory for continued relationships among our two cultures and have quickly become ONE body under their Christ.

Forgive the lack of pictures right now but we are collecting enough for two days of blogging to come. We were all so very "spent" yesterday that everyone, even the young people, was in bed and asleep by about 10pm.

Check back in later - and be prepared for what is to come.  Peace.

Joey
(on behalf of all Quest Missionaries) 

Puddles, Power and Last Preparations

This may very well be one of the shortest blogs while in Belize.  Yesterday was a very challenging day.  We woke up to a drizzling rain and cloudy skies during breakfast.  Not long afterward, the camp lost power for nearly half the day.  Belize is widening the Western Highway just in front of Blue Thumb and a power pole was having to be moved.  Ahhh, the flexibility begins. :)

 

Determined to not let progress slow down, our team began practicing team-building games for the youth camp that begins tomorrow. (between rains)

I have to admit, this particular activity was one of the most hilarious attempts at working together I have ever seen.  Even though this exercise only consists of string and boards, the work involved makes "walking the trolley" very complex.

Other games involve using a defined set of materials to complete a simple task, like picking up a bucket without touching it or reaching into the space it sits in.  We can't wait to see the Belizean kids work together to accomplish some of these activities.

Taking a few minutes off, a group walked to the back of the camp property that borders the Belize river.  We could hear howler monkeys crying loudly in the distance.

The afternoon brought a huge rain storm, so some people loaded in the van to ride toward San Ignacio for sightseeing. (if only through the windows) and a group traveled over to the ArtBox for a last chance to grab some souvenirs.

My last photo is not much to look at, really.  It is the camp chapel where we will receive the campers and where we will complete crafts and worship.  Right now the chairs are empty and the walls echo.  But soon, bodies will fill the chairs and laughter, cries, joys and pains will inhabit the space.  Pray that the beautiful blessings of God will transform this simple space into something divine.

Blessings to all,

Joey