What's new in Cohune Walk...

After months of repeatedly calling the city to remind them to do their pick up of yard clippings they finally showed up today! There was so much debris throughout our community they had to send a backhoe and a dump truck out to do the collection.

As you can see it's been so long since the last pick up

 that we actually had a tree growing out of the pile in front of our house. 

Tom went out to thank the driver and chat with him.

They had a four man crew out working. 

One driving the backhoe, one driving the dump truck,

 and two helping to load the backhoe when needed. 

There was a snake in that pile!!! 

As they finished up in front of our home we thanked them and clapped. We pray it won't be another year before they come again. All up and down the street in all three phases of the area we live in there are piles of yard waste and overgrown bush. The jungle just keeps growing back if no one clears it. And that makes a breeding ground for snakes and vermin that becomes hazardous to all the neighbors.

We're grateful that it's finally cleared. It looks better and it's much safer for us all!

HOPE under construction...

Bethel Disciples International Church

not all of the outside walls are finished but the doors are beautiful!

There is a cross in the front of the church and at the back...

Jeremy and Jose setting up a makeshift screen for powerpoint...

It takes all of us to get things set up for the service...

just had time to take a photo of one side before the service started!

Our pastor is still out of the country but members of the congregation stepped up to fill in while he was away.  We were blessed by a word from our brother, Lemuel, yesterday!

The first candle of Advent is Hope.  We felt the Hope of this season as our church gathered for Sunday worship in this unfinished building. The church is just a shell right now and there is much to do before we move in to the space permanently.  A short term mission team is here from the states to do some work on this project and it was a blessing to have them in the service with us.  

During this season of preparing room in our hearts for the coming of Christ may we each seek eagerly after Him.  I trust that this Christmas won't be all about the gifts or lack thereof under you tree because no matter how much or how little you have He is the reason we celebrate!!

Holding up traffic...

Last week there was a check point set up in the middle of the city.  It happened close to the Catholic church around the time kids were getting out of school.  It was an odd place and time to shut down the flow of traffic.  

I wonder how many violations they found that day and if it was worth it?

Since we rarely have traffic jams here in Belmopan...I had to snap a photo of the occasion!

To market, to market...

If you need furniture, flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, shoes, clothes, or household goods...the market is the place to go.  Market days here in Belmopan are Tuesday and Friday.  It's best to go in the morning if possible.  By the late afternoon many of the vendors are packing up for the day.

I walked 2.6 miles getting my shopping done.  That mileage includes the walk to and from my house.  I found the produce that I needed, got some more seeds for my garden, and picked up a few outfits as well.  Most of the clothing is used and comes from the U.S.  If you have the patience to dig through the clothes on a table or look through racks hanging up inside the tents...you can always find a bargain or two! 

Global Day of Prayer and other gifts...

Yesterday was the Global Day of Prayer and Belize held several services all across the country.  We attended the service held in Belmopan.  The service began just after 5pm and ended just before 9pm.  People from various denominations came together in the spirit of unity to pray for Belize.  The Honorable Simeon Lopez, mayor of Belmopan, welcomed the crowd gathered and then local pastors led us in prayers covering various topics.

There was a time for repentance, praise, thanksgiving and intercession.  We prayed for families, government, education, churches, and so much more.  We sang, we cried, and we bonded as a community over our mutual concerns for the city of Belmopan, the district of Cayo and the nation of Belize.  It was a joy and a privilege for us to participate.  It was Pentecost Sunday and we truly felt the spirit moving among us as we banded together in prayer.  

 As I think on all that God allowed us to experience this past week all I can do is continue counting His precious gifts with gratitude.

786. a Christian mayor who joins in with the community to pray.  

787. joining in with the hundreds gathered in the University of Belize gym.

788.  knowing that we were also united with all of those watching the service throughout Belize on PlusTV.

789.  a worship team made up of people from a variety of denominations.

790.  seeing members from our church represented and being active in this event.

Johnny led one of the prayer sessions

Terry worked hard with set up and take down.  His wife Samantha sang with the worship team.

Gifts from Tom's counseling class:
791.  we finished the third session with 14 students...the first year of training is complete!
792.  knowing that future counselors are being raised up in several different communities here in Belize.
793.  rejoicing with those who have completed 18 weeks of sacrificing their Saturday mornings...many of whom have full time jobs and families.

794.  Tom's faithfulness in preparing lessons

795.  finishing this semester's final exam

796.  Celebrating with a meal when it was all over!

Gifts from the week:
797.  time spent with Meesha and Spencer.
798.  feeling so blessed to have Meesha stay with us before moving onto the YWAM base.
799.  hearing a woman that I have been working with tell me the truth about her relapse.
800.  having another woman from the same village ask for counseling.
801.  beginning to make some progress in Spanish class.
802.  experiencing a Catholic mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe for the first time.
803.  the beauty and sacredness of rituals

804.  new life springing up in our yard

Gifts from the Word:
805.  He is close to us in our sorrow  Psalm 34:18
806.  He saves us when our spirits are crushed  Psalm 34: 18
807.  No matter how many troubles we have...He delivers us  Psalm 34:19
808.  We will not be condemned is we take refuge in Him  Psalm 34:22
809.  He is the strength of my heart  Psalm 73:26

 joining in with the gratitude community:

the gift of connections...

After counseling class on Saturday we drove up to Belize City to attend the last part of a meeting about the 12 steps.  We were able to sit in on the final session of the day and then make some contacts afterward.  We are grateful that we met some new people and are looking forward to the possibility of starting AA and Al-Anon groups here in Belmopan.

Gifts of connection:
701. Attending the meeting with others who are also interested in starting a 12 step group.
702. Connecting with some people from Belmopan.
703. Picking up some literature to help us get started.
704. Seeing the enthusiasm of the attendees.

705. Going into the historic St John's Cathedral for the meeting.

706.  The warmth and beauty of this old Anglican church.

707. The crosses at the end of the pews.

708. After the meeting Tom and I grabbed a bite to eat before the hour long drive back to Belmopan.  Here is the view from our parking space at Birds Isle Restaurant.

Gifts from the week:
708.  Jadine sending me a piece of gluten free chocolate cake!
709.  Thursday prayer times at CDF.
710.  Leading the Ladies' Bible study meeting on Wednesday.
711.  the blessing of being flexible.
712.  seeing couples who are willing to work to save their marriage.
713.  chatting with Nathan via Facebook.
714.  joining the world of Tumblr.
715.  spending time with Spencer.
716.  taking walks with Tom.

Gifts found during my time in the Word:
717.  He is a just ruler and guide Psalm 67:4
718.  He is a refuge and a stronghold Psalm 9:9
719.  He will never forsake those who seek Him Psalm 9:10
720.  He gives power and strength to His people Psalm 68:35
721.  He is with us no matter where we go Joshua 1:9

 joining in with the gratitude community:

Guess who's coming to Belize?

 HRH Prince Harry!

He is flying in today and he leaves tomorrow.  

He will be in our neighborhood, just a few streets over from where our house is located, to dedicate and rename a street in the Queen's honor as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebration.  The road that leads to the area we live in is getting a facelift for the festivities. 

We were hoping that the whole neighborhood would get paved but that didn't happen.  But they are putting up fencing, a platform for the ceremony was built, the bottoms of the trees have been painted white, the median has been trimmed in a bright yellow and all the lines on the street have been repainted.   They will be shutting down the street around noon to car traffic.  People will be lining up around 4pm to get a glimpse of the prince at the dedication ceremony which begins at 6pm. 

We are excited to be here for this celebration and are hoping to get lots of pictures to share with you next week.  And from now on if you want to come and visit us you will have to drive down HM Queen Elizabeth II Boulevard before you get to our street!

You can read more about his schedule of activities here.

one good thing...

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

I don't see myself as the one doing for others.  I usually see myself as Tom's helper.  He does the work and I help and support him.  In the past when I thought about what I wanted to do for others it usually revolved around my kids or what someone else thought needed to be done.  

Well, kids are grown and off on their own adventures in the world.  And I have time to figure out where I want to serve.  I became interested in helping out in the public school here in Belmopan.  There are four government schools here in the city and they ask volunteers from each of the various faith traditions in the community to come in and teach a religion class twice a week.  Yesterday was my first time.  I had 30 children from grade Standard Four (ages 9-10) who are all classified as coming from evangelical families.  For my first class we just sang songs and got acquainted with one another.  

Each child stood to tell me their name.  And each time they answered a question they stood up to respond.  The level of discipline and respect was amazing to me.  I had them each tell me one good thing that had happen to them this week.  But I asked them to share it using the phrase "I feel blessed because..."  To hear from each and every child that they felt blessed because they had a kind mother, or passed a test, or played soccer with a friend was such a joy. 

If I had to tell you one good thing that happened to me this week I would have to say...

I feel blessed because 30 children touched my heart and filled it to overflowing with joy!

just so you know...

If you want photos of the American Embassy in Belize you can take a photo like this one:

 The American Embassy here in Belmopan from about one block away

or you can take one like this

Sign in the front lawn of the American Embassy

But if you take a photo of your husband standing in front of the building a security guard will come out of nowhere and make you delete it in his presence... just so you know!

Tree Lighting in Belmopan

Kids dancing around before the show begins

                                                                                                              

Dancers from Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School

Mayor Simeon Lopez

Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School Choir

Area Representative, Honorable John Salvidar

Wen dey gunna lite di tri?

ready for the countdown...

The 2010 Belmopan Christmas Tree

jumping the line for free sodas...

Free drinks from Bowen & Bowen