WE HAVE A HOME PHONE !!!!!!

I know that this may not seem like big news to most of you - but hey!

It IS a big deal, especially for Becki as she has been without a way to call ---- or be called, ever since she came to Belize!

So, for those who wish to:

(from the U.S.)

011 - 501 - 665 - 5217

We do not always get good reception --- heavy clouds, rain, etc. can hamper things but this is the best we've had so far!

we're doing a happy dance - aren't you glad you can't see that!

~ Ray & Becki & Rachel

What the BLIND MAN saw!

Last night we had  great opportunity. We went to the home of some Nazarene friends from a local church. They hosted an mixed group of people who they invited to come for a Bible study - a Bible Story, actually, as I had been asked to teach the Simply The Story model of learning the Bible.

A few other denominations were represented as well as a variety of vocations. I led the group through a discovery of the account of the Good Samaritan and the reason Jesus even told that story. We had a very lively and engaging discussion.

After admitting that I am sometimes the "priest who passes by on the other side" - one of the men, who is a banker, told about recent encounters with a blind man. This particular blind man has a bit of a reputation, prostitutes, smoking weed, etc. This was already known about him, when quite unexpectedly, he moved in across the street from the banker. Suddenly, this Christian man had a dilemma. Should he risk his own reputation and possibly even personal harm...by going over to see the man and see if he had any needs?

He and his wife prayed about it and quickly decided that he needed to be a "neighbor" to the blind man. Even though he initially did not want the other neighbors to consider that he was a friend or had any 'business' with the man, they began to help out. The banker's wife would get up early each morning and make breakfast, so her husband could take it over to the blind man before he left for the bank each day. Some days, he admitted he just wanted to drop it off and run to work but made the point to go in and greet him.

Eventually, he realized that he should do more. So he began to talk to him about Jesus. He shared Scriptures and his own beliefs and was surprised to learn that the man already knew all about Jesus, in fact, at one time, he had even been a pastor!

Although born blind, he had found resources to help him study and had done well - until his life changed drastically.

The thing that struck me the most though was what the Blind Man said to the banker's wife. You see, he had already been a customer in the bank before he moved across the street from the banker. Being blind, he relies only on what he hears - which goes beyond the mere words people use. He can clearly hear their tone of voice, the inflections, the patience or impatience, their condemnation of him, etc.

The Blind Man was speaking to the banker's wife one day and told her, "I already knew your husband was a Christian before he ever told me. I could hear it in his voice and how he treated others. I knew he was a Christian. He's a good man."

Amazing! That the Blind Man "saw" the witness of Christ in the banker without ever physically seeing anything!

May we be so blessed when others see us!

Blessed in Belize!

~ Ray & Becki

Praying Through

Perhaps you have heard this expression - "praying through" - which means praying until a matter is resolved. Well, we need some people to seriously gather around the altar and pray through!

I have learned just recently of no less than 12 churches that are in challenging situations !

This small country can ill afford to have that many of its Nazarene churches struggling like this. Please join us in praying through until we see God resolve many issues that are being pressed upon these churches right now. 

In addition, March 7 will be the District Assembly here in Belize. This is an important time as the  elections could strongly affect many of the churches and programs currently operating.

Again, would you please join us in "praying through"? God CAN do amazing things - in people - in places - and we want to see Him do amazing things in the people and the churches here in Belize!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, always keep on praying for all the saints." 

Paul, an apostle of Jesus, Ephesians 6:18

~ Ray & Becki

Home Invasion!

First off - sorry to be so late in making any sort of update....argh! Being back in the states was really different than being here in Belize. It was good to see family and friends...really, really good. The rest of the stuff, the really cold weather, the rush for perfect gifts, etc....yeah, you can keep that!

RETURNING TO BELIZE

I came back to Belize almost 10 days ago now and went straight back into class. Then worked on getting a busted window on the truck fixed ( whole 'nother story!) then made my way back to our little place in the jungle. I saw a little something on the doorframe as I went in and then was shocked to find that there had been a major invasion of our home while we were away...my heart sunk lower and lower as I discovered the severity of this invasion.

The intruders had gone through the entire house, seemingly missing NOTHING!

Now, before you think that all our stuff was stolen...it was not...nothing was missing.

In fact, everything was right where we left it - except that now nearly EVERYthing was covered with MOLD! Mostly green mold, but there is also, black mold, gray mold, white mold, even some pink mold. Unbelievable how pervasive these little invaders had been! Doors, walls, ceilings, furniture, INSIDE cabinets, on wood, on leather, on cloth, on rubber, on glass, on metal, nothing seemed to be left out.

Did I mention that I am very allergic to mold?

Yeah, so, clean, clean, clean has been the order of things for me in between class, getting ready for classes, getting stranded due to flooding, finding more mold growing.

I have grown aware that it is politically correct these days to go "green" but this is overboard!

We love our place in the jungle, but we are so fond of the jungle in our place!

I am trying to get the bulk of it cleaned up before Becki and Rachel get back on Wednesday night - pray for me....it's one against 100 million mold spores but I'm armed with bleach Lysol!

Ray

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...

There really is no place like home!!  It most times feels like Belize is 'home' now to us.  But at Christmas, for me, Becki, home is where the grandkids are.  And that is in Ohio...a VERY COLD Ohio.  We both are very happy to be here, but I have to admit that the cold is a huge challenge...especially for Ray.  He is one big popsicle, even when we are indoors!!

We have had an amazing time already seeing old friends, calling old friends

(thank-you, Chief!!!) having meetings with future Belize visitors and enjoying family. Oh, and eating out!  What a beyond huge treat this is for us!!  With more than chicken, rice, and beans on the menu, we are having fun eating anything but!! So many of you have offered  'if there is anything we can do...'   Well, we may take you up on some of those offers in the future!!  So thanks in advance for your willingness!!

We have to admit that we have not missed the consumer frenzy that you all have been forced to endure.  We have enjoyed little to no frenzied shoppers, no blaring 'holiday' music, no UGH!! messy traffic & frigid weather.  Rather, a joyous, heart warming report of several churches gathering together for a rally for Christmas eve and Christmas day in Toledo District, Belize.  Difficult travel, no prior sleeping arrangements, no thoughts of 'I hope I get'.  Just a gathering of Jesus lovers getting together like family to celebrate His Birthday.  The true meaning of this season....

Ray and I would like to wish you a Blessed Christmas and join in with you all to wish

a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Life and Death

I have in my mind's eye     a       very         gripping        picture - 

that I wish I could share with you. In the moment that it presented itself to me, I found that I just could not invade the somberness of that moment to ask if I could take a picture. so, allow me to attempt to describe it to you. It is a picture worth a thousand words, although I will try to help you see the moment in far fewer words.

I had been delivering sandals donated by our church to villages in the southern part of Belize. I stopped at one more house to leave a box of sandals as well as some materials for the children's ministry at this mission church. It was a very enjoyable time, not only delivering these gifts but sharing the occasion with a couple of other Belizean men.

We pulled into the yard where we would make the delivery, smiling and enthusiastic. To our surprise, several people were in the yard, almost as if they were waiting for us. 

They were waiting...       as it turned out,          but not for us. 

The joy we had in our hearts vanished like a puff of smoke as the reality of the scene in front of us made it's way into our conscious minds.

The several people were loosely gathered around    

                                                                                           a     simple      wooden       casket. 

A man came to see what we wanted, recognized the pastor who was with me and explained that his father-in-law had died during the night. They were preparing for the funeral and burial to be held in just a few hours. (This is a rather quick process here in Belize.)

We explained our purpose, departed from the vehicle, made our delivery and went to stand near the casket with the family members that had gathered there. Two young adults were just beginning to apply varnish to the plain light wood to dress it up a little. They worked in near silence as the others looked on. It was a bit of a surreal moment for me, seeing, not a professional mortician at work in a room separated from sight behind walls or thick curtains in a safe and comfortable funeral home - but two family members painting varnish onto the casket of a loved one, while other loved ones watch and wait. 

The picture that strikes me the most is this:

I am standing near the head of the casket. The two family members are painting on the varnish, beginning at the top and reverently working their way down and around. Other family members are nearby. Occasional hushed conversations may be heard. Right in the middle of the scene is one other person. She is elderly. She is sitting by herself on a chair next to the casket. She is not speaking to anyone nor is anyone speaking to her. She wears the wrinkles of many, many years across her sunken face. She wears a red blouse and blue skirt. She is sitting somewhat slouched with both her arms and her legs crossed. She merely watches what is happening around her but is not a mere observer. Her husband is in that casket. 

Just last night, they had watched the grandchildren play around the house - and remembered when they were young enough to play like that. Just last night, they had talked of good memories and future days with the parents of those children. Just last night, she had gone to sleep with him next to her, as they had for thousands of nights before. 

Yet this was to be their last night together. Death slipped in during the night and stole from her. The thief, as all thieves do, did not ask permission, did not give warning nor even spare her feelings. Just like that, it was all over, just last night.

She sits there, sad, alone in the midst of other family. 

     Alone in her thoughts,       alone in her pain,       alone in many ways....

                                                                                                    and they are etched into her face. 

I cannot read them all but I see them. I see them in the dark emptiness that is in her eyes. 

I see them and so much wanted you to see this also. 

I could not break into the sacredness of this moment though.

The protective barriers of much of North American society are not in place here. Life...and it's shadowy companion, death...are in many ways, much closer to people here. I saw it up close and personal today and wish you could see what I saw.

Death makes life more precious. Enjoy it.

~ Ray

Happy Feet!!

I had a rare privilege this week. Our church in Grove City Ohio, Grove City Church of the Nazarene made it possible. Actually the children made it possible. They wanted to do something to help the children in Belize, so they raised money...selling paper flip-flops. 

That's right - paper flip-flops were traded for paper money, which was sent to Belize to purchase real flip-flops or sandals to be given to children here. Many of the children here run barefoot on rocks that pierce the sensibilities of every North American parent who has ever watched them playing here on the rocky ground. The children don't really mind. They rarely even think about it. They are children. They run, they play, they have fun, all the stuff that children do.

Sometimes their feet get hurt. Sometimes they stub a toe or a sharp rock cuts into the hardened sole of their foot - and North American parents who may be to witness the incident experience their own pain. In fact, their hurt may be equal to or beyond that which the little child experiences.

Those North American parents have children of their own back in the states. So, when the children's department decided to raise money to help children in Belize not cut their feet, it cut to the consciences of many North American parents and they bought paper flip-flops...by the hundreds!

Now, hundreds of real flip-flop sandals have been purchased and given to pastors in various villages to give to the children who live and play there, amid the rocks and grass and sharp sticks. Hundreds of smiles are being flashed across faces as they try on their new sandals and go  for a test run! 

Bright colors, fun designs and even some squeeky soles are being handed out to adorn the feet of these beautiful children. In each case, I told the pastors that children in the U.S. raised the money to provide these gifts to the children of Belize.

The verse just came to mind, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the Good News."

There are a lot of beautiful little feet, with big, big hearts  ----  in Ohio...

Thank you for making this Christmas time a little more special for many little feet here in Belize!

Blessings from Belize!

~ Ray & Becki & Rachel