Belmopan Christmas Tree Lighting 2011

Spencer and I went early to get seats and enjoy the food in the carnival like atmosphere at the tree lighting ceremony.  Last year Tom and I began our first Christmas season in Belize with this event. It was exciting to feel like a veteran while explaining to Spencer what the night would be like as we drove over.  The National Anthem followed by an opening prayer offered by a pastor from a local church.  Children of all ages performing and public officials making it clear that Christ would be in our Christmas celebration.  Churches and individuals selling food, desserts and sodas to all who came with money to spend.  Everything from Turkey dinners to Black Fruit Cake were available to enjoy.  

We purchased 6 garnaches, and some soda for $2USD, and then settled in our seats to take it all in...

a few members of the Belchoral Society

Mayor Simeon Lopez

a school choir

a baby's first Christmas

let's dance!

not as big as last year's tree

but just as beautifully decorated

finally lit!

440.  having one of our sons with us for the holidays.
441.  seeing familiar faces among the hundreds of people there.
442.  being recognized and greeted!
443.  tasty food...garnaches!
444.  tennis shoes, flip flops, wrinkled choir robes and children singing out carols with gusto.
445.  babys dressed in holiday colors.
446.  our second Christmas in Belize.
447.  five days off to go to the coast to celebrate our 30th anniversary.
448.  Spencer being here to keep an eye on the house and care for the dog while we are away.
449.  time to reflect on the gift of relationship as we sit on the beach counting waves.
450.  hearing testimonies at church in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
451.  the incredible diversity among the people in this country.
452.  eating a tasty fried chicken dinner for $2.50 USD following the service.

joining Ann Voskamp and the gratitude community:

Where's the line?

I was reading blogs last week and came across this song over at Mandy's blog.  The message and the words really hit home for me and I immediately posted the video link on Facebook then I went in search of the words.  And of course I had to learn more about the people who wrote the song and the singer Becky Kelley.  Her father got the inspiration from his 4 year grandson's question at the mall and with help from a co-writer this is what they came up with:

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Christmas time was approaching

Snow was starting to fall

Shoppers choosing their presents

People filling the mall

Children waiting for Santa

With excitement and glee

A little boy tugged my sweater

Looked up and asked me

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday

Why don't we see Him more?

As I stood in amazement

At this message profound

I looked down to thank him

He was no where around

The little boy at the mall

Might as well have had wings

As the tears filled my eyes

Thought I heard him sing

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Is He here at the store?

If Christmas time is His birthday

Why don't we see Him more?

Where's the line to see Jesus?

He was born for me

Santa Claus brought me presents

But Christ gave His life for me

In the blink of an eye

At the sound of His trump

We'll all stand in line at His throne

Every knee shall bow down

Every tongue will confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord

(Repeat Chorus)

Where's the line?

Where's the line?

Where's the line for the Lord?

And here is the video of Becky singing:

Enjoy!

the blending of souls...

Last week I wrote about my reaction to the church in Kentucky deciding to ban interracial couples from membership. That was on Thursday.  On Sunday the church held another vote to affirm that they welcome people of all races in their fellowship.

One of the things I didn't talk about last week was the cost of staying silent.  There were 40 people at the church that night. Only 15 people chose to put their opinion out there. Perhaps there were people on the opposing side who stayed silent. It takes courage to speak up. I know that...I understand that. My post was not an easy one to write.  I risked people telling me negative things about my marriage or my children. But, I spoke up because I felt compelled. Because this issue touched the core of my heart...my family. That post went on to be featured on Women of the Harvest's Writing Blog.  And for that I am humbled.

However, for those church members in Kentucky, their silence was costly.  This tiny little church in Pike County made international news.  Blogs, news stories, Facebook and Twitter posts all commenting and expressing their opinions on the actions of the church.

News of this vote to ban interracial couples from membership caused the National Association of Free Will Baptists to put out a statement regarding their position.  It caused the publishing arm of the denomination to put out a downloadable Bible study on racism. And for that I am grateful.

Here is an excerpt from the study:

How are we supposed to treat people that are different from us?

Treat them as someone created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Treat them as someone for whom Christ died (John 3:16). Treat them like you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). God also expects His people to seek justice and confront oppression (Deuteronomy 16:19; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3). Anything less is sin.

 In the conclusion of the study I found this statement:

In many ways our time on earth is a rehearsal for our time in Heaven. God has given each of us time to prepare for the eternity that lies ahead. Revelation 7:9-10 makes it very clear that Heaven will be filled with people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Do we live like we believe that? Is our rehearsal on earth reflecting what will happen on the grand stage? 

My friend, Cyndi, recently began a network called Blended Souls. It is a network of Pastors' Wives and Ministry Wives... a gathering of "sistas" from various Christian denominations and ethnic backgrounds. Blended Souls Network was created to support women in their role as the wife of a pastor or ministry leader, so that they can worship and pray together, network with one another, and embrace cultural differences for the “soul” purpose of giving honor to God.  The network's desire is to reach out to wives from every tongue, tribe and nation.

I am excited to be one of the prayer partners for Blended Souls and I would love to invite you to join the network.  Just think as this grows it will be a slice of what heaven will look like!  If you would like to be added to our Facebook group you can leave me a note or send me an email.

If there is an issue that burns in your heart my prayer is that you will not keep silent.  May that burning propel you into action.  To bring light where there is only darkness, to bring justice where injustice is found or to bring healing where healing is needed. And above all... to bring honor and glory to God.  

thought for today

I was out running errands yesterday and saw this guy in the parking lot.  So thankful for the zoom on the camera.  I don't think I would have been able to breathe if I had actually gotten that close!

Tasty Tuesday

What I found:

Last week on our trip to Spanish Lookout I found candy corn...

which means I can finally give these a try!

Homemade Butterfinger Candy Bars

What I am still looking for:

Hopefully, closer to Christmas Eggnog will show up in one of our stores so we can enjoy this:

Eggnog Pie

What I plan to make this week:

I found this recipe on Pinterest...I am so grateful that bananas are never hard to find here!

Sweet Banana Flat Bread

*Click on the links under the photos to find the recipes.

What treats are you thinking of for this week?

I got fifty can I get sixty?

We went to our first auction here in Belize on Saturday.  It was held by the American Embassy.  There were home furnishings, tents, cars, computers and so much more up for grabs.  On several of the bedroom sets the bidding got quite intense. People wait all year for this sale and they came with cash on hand to spend.

We went the day before the auction to scout out the merchandise.  Several things caught our eyes as we wandered around the room.  Our needs were modest.  Tom was looking for an office chair to use in his art room while he paints and I was looking for a recliner to put in our bedroom for me to have my quiet times in.

We saw several lots with office chairs so Tom snapped a photo to remember which lot to bid on.

He also thought file cabinets would be good to have for the right price...

This box of photos was being sold for the frames so that went on our list

I was looking for a recliner for our bedroom

And we were curious about how much the computers would go for...

We got up early the next day and withdrew funds from the bank because it was a cash only sale.  We were surprised by the turnout.  Even with the rain Tom estimated about 400 people were there...some came and went.  Some came just to watch.

If you wanted to bid you had to sign in and pay 10 Belizean dollars for a paddle. 

When you turned the paddle in you got your money back.

The auctioneer was seated at the front of the room...

There were vehicles up for auction parked outside...

We were successful in our bid for the recliner and it is now in the corner of our bedroom! I enjoy reading there and feel even more at home with having a space that is mine.  Tom was not able to get the lot of office chairs.  However, a fellow missionary friend of ours was the top bidder on a different lot and he was willing to sell Tom one of the chairs.  Tom is so pleased.  It is in his art room and is much nicer than the ones he was bidding on!

Each moment yields precious gifts for which we may be grateful...

430. the group of missionaries that we are a part of here in the community.

431. and how those budding friendships led to Tom's new office chair.

432. a cozy space to read and meditate.

433. Butterfinger Cookie Pie

434. memories of past Christmas trees

Christmas 2009 in Russia

435.  finding old Christmas photos of the whole family

Christmas 1999 in Costa Mesa, California

Christmas 2005 Krasnodar, Russia

436.  finding the courage to speak out on an issue dear to my heart. 

437.  hearing that the decision by a Kentucky church to ban interracial couples was overturned!

438.  Tom and Spencer and their willingness to try new recipes.

439.  Christmas display on the lawn at the Mexican Embassy.

joining Ann Voskamp and the gratitude community:

behind the scenes...

On the Divaz set

 Jadine, Shasta, Andrea and Tom waiting for the show to start.

in the control room

school children on a tour of the station

Here are just a few of the photos I took a few weeks back when Tom appeared with Jadine on the talk show Divaz Next Door. CDF had been asked to come and talk about child abuse in light of several stories that had been in the news.  Tom and Jadine did the initial interview then Jadine and I did a follow up show a week later.

PlusTV is a Christian owned and operated station right here in Belmopan.  They have a variety of shows to offer to the community.  Everyone we met there is passionate about what they do and work hard on their programming. They are not afraid to tell a news story through a godly worldview.  PlusTV is not trying to be politically correct...just trying to do what they believe God wants them to do.

shocked, outraged and bitterly disappointed...

Stella Harville and her fiance', Ticha Chiuni, Nov 2010

Not long after Stella played the piano while Ticha sang 'I Surrender All'  a small church in Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from membership.

The statement said all people are welcome to attend the church, but that the congregation would not receive interracial couples as members, "nor will they be used in worship services" and other church functions, according to a copy supplied to the Herald-Leader by a church member.

 Seriously?!  This is 2011 for goodness sake.

 How is it possible for Christians to act this way?  

Stella's father had this to say about the decision of the church:

"It sure ain't Christian it ain't nothing but the old devil working"

Tom and I married on December 13, 1981.  

We faced this type of opposition back then.  Twenty nine years ago we went shopping at a mall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  A young blonde salesgirl asked Tom if she could help him with a pair of shoes.  After getting him settled she asked if she could help me as I wandered around looking for another pair for Tom to try on.  When I said "that's okay... we're together" she went into the stockroom and didn't come back out.   We were refused service at a restaurant in Missouri.  In Kansas, back in 1985, when our first child was stillborn someone asked our pastor if it was because we were being punished by God for being a biracial couple.  We moved to California in 1988 and left all of that behind.  There we found more couples like us and our children grew up feeling they were part of a normal typical family.

Spencer and Nathan

When our oldest, on the right, was asked at age 5 by a neighborhood kid why his mom was black he quickly answered "because God made her that way!"

I am shocked by this church's stance.  Outraged.  Bitterly disappointed.  Maybe these people have not read their Bibles.  Maybe they don't know that Moses was married to a Cushite (Ethiopian)?  Surely their Bibles include the book of Numbers.  Maybe they just haven't read chapter twelve?

My prayer is that Stella and Ticha can find a more loving congregation to be a part of.  I pray that they know that not all Christians think this way.  I pray that they will have a long and loving relationship and that this bigotry does not stand in the way of that.  And I pray that when they are counting down the days until their 30th anniversary this will be just a dim memory.

-------------------------

Update:  Pike church Reverses Ban

thought for today...

The unity of Spirit at this conference was sweet!

  May we experience unity in our homes and places of worship at all times.

joy, peace and blessings,

Alida

linking up with:

tasty tuesday

It is getting cooler here...not cold but a little chilly.  Our fans are turned off and we are actually sleeping under a blanket.  I could be making soup but am thinking of one of these meals instead...

Keeping it simple sounds good to me.

Black Bean and Corn Topped Potatoes

Pizza Puffs

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

Click on the link under each photo for the recipe.

What's cooking at your house?

Monday morning...and 1000 gifts

It is a dreary rainy Monday morning here in Belize.  But, even so we have much to be grateful today.  

On Wednesday:

The memory card on my camera is faulty so I had to use Tom's cell phone to take these pictures.  He is seated next to Rev Canon Flowers, the head of the Council of Churches, and to the far left is Rev Crawford, the head of the Evangelical Association.  They were speaking at another Family Focus Forum this one was held in Belize City at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.  

On Friday:

We enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner with about 80 people...not all are pictured.  Some are missionaries, some are locals, some are Americans who have retired here in Belize and a few who work at the American Embassy.  It was an evening of great food, great fellowship and great fun!

On Sunday:

We attended a Harvest celebration at Bethel Disciples Church.  It is a multi-ethnic church and I think every ethnic group found here in Belize was represented.  For those Chinese speakers in the audience there was translation provided.  I kept trying to understand the translation and had to remind myself several times that she was speaking Chinese and not Russian!

as I reflect this morning on all that last week held I am grateful for:

415.  health
416.  meeting new people
417.  visiting a new church
418.  trying new foods....there were a few dishes at both celebrations that were new to me!
419.  traditional Thanksgiving food.  Both Tom and I were grateful for dishes that reminded us of our childhood Thanksgivings.  A taste of home away from home.
420.  the opportunity to be involved in the community and the people we have worked with along the way.
421.  those who support us in prayer and with finances...we could not do anything without them!
422.  the pain and joys that the past year here in Belize have brought us.
423.  the counseling clients who trust us.
424.  the people who refer us to those in need.
425.  our dvd player that allows us to watch Christmas movies.
426.  experiencing a slice of heaven with seeing so many different people groups worshiping together.
427.  Chinese print on worship slides along with the English words
428.  children of all shapes, sizes, and colors running around playing together before and after the service.
429.  noticing that siblings treat each other the same no matter what ethnic group they belong to!

Each  moment, each breath, each daily event, be it large or small, 
 yields precious gifts for which we can give thanks.  
May we remember thanksgiving as an action...
and not just as a noun.


joy & blessings,
Alida

joining Ann Voskamp and the gratitude community:

Thanksgiving in Belize

Yesterday we took the day off from the counseling office and had a quiet day at home.  

We ate at The Wing Stop just like last year.

Spencer and Tom had the Spicy Mango wings and I feasted on Lemon Pepper flavored wings.

We also watched Source Code and Red Riding Hood to keep up our movie watching tradition on holidays.  

Today we are sharing a traditional Thanksgiving meal out at the Baptist Training Center in Camolote with other expats and missionaries in the area.  Since Thanksgiving is not a holiday here in Belize many people had to work yesterday and children had to attend school.  A Friday dinner just seemed to be the best time to get everyone together.

Enjoy your holiday weekend...I know we plan to enjoy ours!!

1 Chronicles 16:34