Hope For Life

Last month a new ministry opened up here in Belize!

Hope Life is a Christian organization that is dedicated to offering love, emotional support, and material help to women who are faced with an unintended pregnancy.

The director/founder, Jadine Fritzler, worked with us at CDF and was one of the eight students who graduated from the two year course in Christian Counseling that Tom teaches at Belize Bible Center.

The Mayor, Simeon Lopez, and Deputy Mayor, Anna Banner Guy, were in attendance.

 Judy Vasquez, Director of Seeds of Life in Belize City

 The pastors in attendance prayed over all the board members and the center

 Mayor Lopez and Jadine cutting the ribbon

 Pastor Craig used these figures to explain pregnancy development to these little twins...

 They asked their mom if they were ever that little!!!

Josie, is one of the volunteer counselors for Hope For Life and is also one of Tom's counseling students! 

 Jadine being interviewed by Luis Wade of Plus TV, and by Brother Fem of My Refuge Christian Radio

The directors of the various pregnancy centers here in Belize. Margaret Robinson and Perla Chable of Seeds of Life in Benque, Jadine of Hope For Life in Belmopan, and Judy Vasquez of Seeds of Life in Belize City.

I took these photos at the Grand Opening & Dedication on August 14th. And the center opened it's doors to clients on Monday, August 18th. They are now open three days week; Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10-6.

Keep this ministry in your prayers. It is very much needed here in Belize! 

Scott City here we come!

I am speaking to a group of 2nd through 4th graders at a kid's camp out in Scott City, Kansas this evening.  As part of my talk on being a missionary I am going to teach them a song in Kriol.  I can teach it to you too if you like!

Do you know the song This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made?  My friend Shelly wrote out the words for me...here you go!  (Just a note on pronunciation...di sounds like dee.)

Dis da di day, dis da di day

Dat di Lord has made, dat di Lord has made.

We wah rejoice, we wah rejoice,

And be glad ina it. And be glad ina it.

Dis da di day dat di Lord has made,

We wah rejoice and be glad ina it.

Dis da di day, dis da di day, dat di Lord has made!

thought for today...

In my wildest dreams I never thought that I would ever stand in Red Square.
  I never expected to see St Basil's Cathedral.

2005 was the year we sold our house, packed up our belongings, and moved our family to Russia.  We invested five years of our lives among the Russian people.  Learning the language, studying the culture, ministering where needed along the way.  We worked hard to understand life around us.  We worked hard to fit in with how our neighbors lived their lives.  We made friends that came to feel like family.  All the while  knowing we were foreigners...each and every day of those five years. 

The reality is that our journey as foreigners began long ago.  

Tom came to Christ at 13.  I came to Him at 10.

And I am reminded of the words of an old song from my church growing up. 

"I am just a stranger down here. 

This old world is not my home.

One of these morns you're gonna look for me, 

but praise God, I'll be gone on home".

For each of us, those who follow Christ,  we live abroad.  This earth is not our home.  We don't fit in here.  We don't belong here.  And much of the stress of daily life could be attributed to culture shock or culture stress.  

I have learned a great deal from our seven years of living outside of the US.  

Here are five of the lessons I have learned that I think we as Believers can apply to our lives:

I Must Adjust My Expectations-

I should not expect the people from another culture to act, think, or conduct themselves exactly like me.

I Must Moderate My Behavior-

I must remember that my actions are seen as representative of my home country to everyone I interact with.

I Must Give Thought to My Words- 

I teach others about my home country every time I open my mouth.  

I Must Adjust My Attitude-

I must learn to live in this environment and not expect it to bow to my values or my way of seeing life.

I Must Remember My Position-

I must remember that I am not a citizen of the country I am living in...I am just a stranger down here.

How do you see yourself as a foreigner where you are?

linking up with:

United Missions for Belize

Yesterday Tom, Spencer and I went to a meeting out at Jaguar Creek Ministries for a gathering of missionaries in our area.  United Missions for Belize is a newly formed network of missionaries who are seeking to partner with one another to pray for, support and keep each other up to date on what work is being done here in the Cayo District.

A few of those in the group initially came together to share tools and resources after Hurricane Richard last year.  Out of those relationships the impetus to unite missionaries in the area was born.  Our first meeting was back in January of this year.  Yesterday was our third meeting and those of us in attendance are just a small representation of the many foreign aid workers and missionaries in Belize.

 

We took time out to tour the Jaguar Creek facility

The gardens at Jaguar Creek are a butterfly haven

The dining area was beautiful and the food was great!

The room for our meeting was large enough to accommodate 

everyone very comfortably around the tables.

We heard some great things from everyone as they shared about what they are doing and we made contacts with others who have similar interests as we do with our work at the Child Development Foundation.  

In attendance was a couple who work to make sure people in the villages have access to clean water and good latrines.  Several people described their work with children from health and hygiene to finding scholarships for them to attend school. There were church planters, carpenters, nurses, teachers, and a hospital administrator...all here to use their gifts and share His love with everyone who crosses their path. 

Please keep us all in your prayers as this network grows in numbers and in ministry efforts...thank you!