Praise God, we all arrived safely today - luggage and all. We drove to Peppers Pizza in Belize City for a late lunch before heading to Queen Street Baptist Church for a wedding. This was a great cultural experience! After the wedding, Pastor Lloyd took time to share about his church and the beginning of La Democracia Baptist Church. The group picture is from inside his church. We then jumped back on the bus and headed West to La Democracia. This was a very beautiful drive as we were able to drive through many villages and see a variety of houses and buildings. As we arrived in La Democracia, some of us went door to door, others to Brendas house, still others to the Basketball court and soccer feild to connect with the locals. Pastor Cecil Camal greeted us and we were able to get a feel for the village. We then headed to Belmopan for supper and an orientation meeting. Many of us have been for for 18+ hours.
We are praying for open hearts in La Democracia, renewed strenght for tomorrow, and for more people to come to know the Lord as we do outreach.

The Wedding at Queen Street

This morning we had a great turn out for Sunday School. Over 50 children and a dozen or more adults. After Sunday School we were able to then travel to a local stream as Pastor Cecil Baptized a member of his congregation! We came back to the church for service this morning. The church was had so many people, many of us stood during the service. We were blessed through worship, a message, testimonies, and a skit. We had a chance to eat at Brenda's house before some of us headed back to the hotel for a break and some of us stayed in the village to attend the preschool graduation and play sports with the youth. We are looking forward to eating at Brenda's tonight. The famous rice and beans and chicken is on the menu. We will have the opportunity to have a night service tonight. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and comments!
Please see the following pictures from this morning.

Praise God for all the children!

We welcomed in a new member to God's Family Today!

La Democracia Church and God's Kingdom growing.

This morning we started our first day of School Ministry. We had a chance to bring all the students together for a time of singing and sharing.

The teachers welcomed us to take over the classroom and connect with the students. It was a joy to see so many smiles and excitement!

Today we also began many work projects. Some of us starting painting sunshine (yellow) in the inside. Some of us worked on putting in separate light switches in the church and others of us worked on preparing the bathroom showers for tiling. There is much to do and we look forward to getting as much done a s possible - maybe all the projects Lord willing. As the morning came to a close, we had the chance to eat lunch and most of us headed over to King's Children's Home to interact with the children. Some of us styed back to sort materials for our health fair tonight.
Thanks for your prayers. We had the chance to read the entries you wrote at our team meeting last night. We are blessed to hear from loved ones - thanks!

Here's a picture of a sight we see everyday. The house next door to the church has several goats.

The Lord has indeed blessed us today! We have been so warmly welcomed in La Democracia and the relationships are being strenghtened from the last four years of ministry here. We are excited to begin new friendships as more and more people come out to the ministry times. Our diligent work crew finshed painting the inside of the church as well as made incredible progress on the tiling of the two bathrooms and the lwiring of the lights. We had a great turnout for the sports ministry. We enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, and frisbee with the many children and youth. We also had our first day of VBS. What a joy to have so many excited children come and spend time with us as we hear God's Word.
We also had a great start to the health fair. We were able to see some people from the village and start to get an idea of the health conc erns and needs. Our night was capped by The New Generation Gospel Band -www.myspace.com/newgenerationgospelband
This incredible group from Belize shared testimonies, songs, and their hearts for the Lord with the people of La Democracia and our team. People of all ages gathered around to hear the local music being played. We were blessed as Pastor Cecil closed with some encouraging and challenging words. We ask for you to keep our health, safety, enegry, and opportunities to share Christ's Love in your prayers. All is well - praise be to God!

Local Basketball Court

Soccer with the local children.

We set up the musical equipment outside on the basketball court. The concert lasted about 2 hours. We were able to worship, interact with the children, youth, and adults.

We have enjoyed coming back to the village of La Democracia for the fifth year in a row. Our Sister Church relationship grows stronger each year. Those of us who have had the opportunity to serve here over those amazing last 5 years are excited about the personal relationships that are formed in this English speaking country. It has been great to see the kids turn into teens and so on. As we look over the village we can see the many projects that have been completed over the years, painting of fences, schools, church, electrical work, building the bridge over the creek, and many others. Ms. Garnet, the school principal just mentioned yesterday how she loves the bridge that was built last year! She doesn't have to worry about the students feet getting wet or the young ones getting swept away. With all the great improvements being made, there are twice as many more that could be done, but our hearts still long for more of the village to come to know the Lord. We ask you to keep the men and young men of the village in your prayers. Few, if any desire the Lord. We are praying that God would change at least one heart for Him, that others may follow. Please continue to hold us up in our prayers as we seek to be intensional in conversation. May the Lord use us in any way He sees fit. Thanks again for all the comments on this blog. They are encouraging and a blessing!

Morning through the afternoon was rainy. We were still able to interact with the students in the schools and cntinue our work projects.

One of the many ways our talented team connected with and brought fun, laughter and joy in the village.

Our work crew putting in many hours throughout the week!

We enjoyed a team meeting last night as we got back from the village. After we spent time in prayer and worship, many of us shared ways in which God is working in the village, through us and to us. One high light would be the half dozen men that step foot in the church to watch the Jesus Film. This is HUGE! Most men in the village stay away from the activities, especially the church ones. God has started some great connections and we pray that He will continue what he has started. Many more exciting reports came from the VBS, Teen ministry, construction crew, as well as many people in are group affirming each other for their humbleness and servant hearts. The team has enjoyed getting to know one another on a much deeper way outside their home church walls. We praise God for our intensional time together.
This morning the rain was letting up as we headed back to the village for school ministry and work projects. Some of us our at the Children's Home right now spending our final afternoon there. Many connections are being made with the kids.
We ask for prayer for the women of the village. It seems as though there is much talking behind each others back and family VS family struggles. Also that the work with the men in the village would bear fruit. We just heard yesterday from Pastor Lloyd that when he first came to La Democracia in 2000, many people let him know he was unwelcomed, and that the community did want or need a church. We praise God that 8 years later, we are seeing baptisms, weddings, and people's heart turning toward the Lord. We are looking forward to tonight's ministries.

One of the construction crew working late into the night.

One of the two bathrooms Gordy and the crew have been working on this week. I need to give them my address - nice job!

The structures next to the church.

Tonight we were able to continue the afternoon ministries. We recently returned from showing the ending of the Jesus Film. Pastor Cecil ended the time with a call for non Christians to give their hearts to the Lord. Praise God, at least four people prayed with our team members to accept the Lord. Please hold up these baby Christians as they begin their walk with our Lord. We pray for great rest tonight, that we may finish our last day in La Democracia strong. Thanks for all your prayers!

Today has been greater than anything I can describe. We had a total of at least nine people give their lives to Christ! We did indeed finish our time in the village strong. Thank God for all the break throughs this week. We saw more children, teens, men, and women come out than ever before, and step foot in the church. Tonight I as was talking with Pastor Cecil, he said that he has been very encouraged and the week was a great success. Those of us who heard Pastor Cecil preach and give a salvation message were truly blessed and energized by God's words through him. The many pictures that follow will show some of the closing day's ministries.
We are looking foward to a day to process this spectacular trip out on the Caye. I can't say enough thanks for all your prayers. We have seen and been a part of the fruit. We are truly blessed and amazed by all God has done this week!

More Pics

More Pics

More Pics

More Pics

More Pics

As we think back over this amazing week, we are in awe of all that God has done. We were blessed to be part of the sowing, watering, and the harvest this week. Our prayers continue for our new brothers and sisters in the Lord.
On Friday, we had the opportunity to drive into Belize City and then a water taxi ride to Caye Caulker. Many of us went snorkeling on the world's second largest barrier reef. We took in the coral, fish, sharks, sting rays, and many other sights. We also had some free time to walk around the Caye and go swimming. We wrapped up the night with worship, prayer and reflection.
On Saturday we woke up and traveled back to the airport and headed home. This short journal can only tell a fraction of all that God has been doing in our life. Please ask us about our trip as we return!

Thanks for your prayers throughout the week!