Youth Blog

Belize 2009 - Tuesday, July 21

7/21/2009 1:10:59 PM

Today has been a very good day so far!

This is the last blog I’ll be doing before we leave tomorrow to come back, even though it’s only about noon, because I won’t have easy access to the Internet later.

Everyone but one person was able to make it up to the school today for our last day of VBS. All who were sick are feeling better than they had been, and, God willing, we’ll all be in good shape for our flights back tomorrow!

Our youth have gotten very attached to some of the kids here, and it will be hard for them to leave. Even more than last year, because of the VBS, we all got to know a lot of the kids. A core group of about 10 kids also visit us in the afternoon and evening to sell us jewelry and play sports with us. Their favorite is baseball, but some of us have also been throwing the football around with them. After VBS today, some of our team members have been playing soccer with the kids: some of them are very good!

It’s been amazing to see how each of our youth has taken at least one kid under his or her wing. The first few days I heard several of our youth mention that it was amazing how the kids here have so little and yet are happy, while the kids and youth in Fort Worth have so much and are not very happy.

Tonight, when we debrief, I’ll ask everyone to share the biggest life lesson God has taught him while we’re here. Each previous night, we had Evening Prayer and then asked ourselves 3 questions about the day: “What was the best thing that happened today?” “What was the most challenging part of the day?” and “Where did you see God today?” To me, this is the most important thing we do each day because it’s one thing to experience life, but only when we reflect on that experience and evaluate it do we truly learn.

God has been so good to us! I didn’t think it was possible to have a trip that was as great as last year’s trip, but, by the grace of God, this has been an incredible experience and time to see God at work for all of us.

Prayer Requests:
1. Good health for all to travel tomorrow
2. Safe travel tomorrow
3. Everyone would stay connected to God when we get back

Comments 4

Shelagh Larson 21 Jul, 01:48 PM
Hope everyone comes home full of the Spirit. Pray for a safe return.
Elaine Lambert 21 Jul, 10:09 PM
Glad the group is feeling better and connecting with the kids. I'll look forward to an update when y'all get home. Safe travels!
Frank Bailey 22 Jul, 02:45 PM
Just a reminder to pray for you missionary for a week or two after they return home. Reentry can involve lots of different emotions with it. The debriefing period is important. We are proud of each and every one of you.
Michaela (mica) Brown-Brezina 23 Jul, 07:43 PM
hey ya'll thankz 4 prayin 4 us all..hope those who still weren't fellin well b4 we came bak r better now(Riley) umm....if my family/friends in florida,plano,buffalo r still readin this, thanks 4 the comments.....i think i can say we all had a really great time on the trip. the children there were sweet n made me promise 2 come bak next year, we all made lots a new friends, i personally didn't mind the painting,etc. (except 4 the stains on cloths) it waz fun helping out n spending time with the people there. Ambergris Caye is beautiful. Martha, Libby, n I went walkin 1 morning 2 the northern part of the Caye n its all private 'resort/getaways' being built, i thought that they were even prettier than where our hotel waz, but in a diff way.the part of the Caye where our hotel waz waz just as beautiful in its own natural way, esp. cuz of all the friendly locals who were around it made it just more enjoyable, the private rent homes/resort things were beautiful in the way that i liked them cuz they looked like the new homes(that im used 2 seeing) that u'd c bak in america where its all expencive n new...then i realized that i didn't want 2 many of them there cuz then the Caye wouldn't b so 'natural' looking..its beautiful just the way it is. i really cant wait 2 go bak..i miss the kids already..im bored already...hope all the people got a good nite sleep in which they weren't woken up by renee tripping over my bags, in an effort 2 turn the lights out n pretend 2 sleep b4 some 1 came 2 c wat all the noise waz...haha hope 2 play sme more card games w/ u soon renee.....thank ya'll all again 4 prayin 4 us n supportin us...god bless u all