Church in a Shed

Yes, you read that correctly. Yesterday, this was said to me. "In a little while, we are going to go to Maya Canter to see if we can fix up this man's shed so we can have church there because the crowd is getting large."

Church in a shed?!?!  

Understand, this is not mockery or anything demeaning. This is the result of a miracle in the making (maybe I will tell you more about that later...). The current state of things is that a new Nazarene church is being planted in this village and the house they are meeting in is too small. Last Sunday night when I was there - there were about 30 or more people inside (small room) and a good number outside as well, standing, leaning, sitting on the porch rail, whatever they could find.

The lengths that some people will go to in order to 'have church' are quite encouraging!

The man who opened his home, was raised a Catholic, not overly involved though and just recently, went through a life-or-death situation. He chose Jesus - for his eternal life - and God chose to add to his physical life. Now, he and many members of a nearby Nazarene church, are pleading with family and neighbors to also make the same life change.

"Let's spend the afternoon trying to fix up the shed so we can have church tonight!"

I suppose Jesus started in a little space not much different than this shed, so it seems fitting...

Makes me wonder what we might be willing to do if we understood the souls that hang in the 

balance...   ~ Eternity is a real long time ~

Happy to be serving in Belize,

 ~ Ray & Becki

Thanksgiving with The Indians

Our first Thanksgiving in Belize - was WONDERFUL! My brother Carl came from New Jersey and in between working like a  crazy man on lots and lots of projects -he also did most of the cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. Leah and Tabor came back from Ohio for another visit as well. So we had some family and friends here from the U.S. - as well as some of our new Indian friends from here in Belize.

It struck me as we gathered together that we had something in common with the 1st Thanksgiving held in the colonial states. The Pilgrims celebrated making it through the long hard winter along and the long summer of learning to plant and tend crops in this land far different from where they had lived. They celebrated with their new friends that had shown them how to live in that land - how to manage to survive and even thrive there in a strange new place.

I felt so honored to have some of the many Indian friends we have met come to share out Thanksgiving meal with us. It truly touched my heart as I thought about how they have helped us and blessed us during our months in Belize. We all ate heartily, read from the Scriptures about thanksgiving and shared some of the many things we have to be thankful for. It was a beautiful expression of what the intent of the day is meant for.

(And we did not even have to think about getting up early to go shopping the next day! woohoo!

 Don't miss that at all!)

Do miss many f you though and hope we can see many during a short trip back to the states over Christmas time.

Blessings from Belize

~ Ray & Becki

Thankful for the "little" things

Life here in Belize is a blessing to us. We find multiple ways to realize just how blessed we are - and how blessed you are in the states too, just in some different ways. While we have access to most of the things that make life simpler in the states, some days even getting to them proves to be more of a challenge.

This little glimpse into life here is only meant to be a reminder to those of you who have all the conveniences of the U.S.  - at your fingertips  most all of the time. 

Today was normal. Not teaching, so time to prepare for the next class and work on things at the house. Yesterday was normal also. Feeding the hose from outside thru the bathroom window so Becki could do laundry, burning the trash before she hung out the laundry so it wouldn't smell like smoke! 

Needed to get a couple of phone calls made today, so I drive down the road a bit to where I can get a better signal, as we get no signal at the house. Then, in between static try to explain to the pharmacy in the states that I really need this script - now, that I am calling from outside the U.S., that I cannot come pick it up so the ONLY way I can get it is if someone picks it up for me...

Worrying about being put on hold and if all the words are getting thru and if I will have enough credit on the phone to finish the call before I need to reload it with more minutes!

Did I mention that I was standing at the edge of  field, in a small clear spot, waving off a few biting flies? I only got bit a couple or three times (not bad). When the static increased, although I did not want to  - I took off for higher ground trying desperately to keep the call intact! This means risking chiggers, snakes, etc as the higher ground where I was was also need to waist high grass, etc.

Happily, no snakes to report and I don't think any chiggers...time always tells the truth on that one though!

I finally succeeded but only after several calls, attempted calls and persistence. Yep, I think being able to pick up the phone and call the local pharmacy, and pick up the script the same day, even walking if I wanted to , as the pharmacy is only a few blocks away, yes I think that is a blessing. Ah - back to reality - that is how it WAS in the U.S. - now it is a bit more of a challenge...but I am grateful nonetheless.

Did I mention that to get this delivered to us - is only costing a plane ticket?! Yes, that's right! Actually, a friend is bringing it down for us - and when we think of it - that's NOT a little thing!

Being blessed in Belize!

~ Ray & Becki

Reflections on Teaching in Belize

(First  - let me apologize for not blogging sooner - I get caught up in the busy-ness here and forget sometimes that we need to keep in touch. As they would say here, I need a 'lashing'...)

TEACHING IN BELIZE IS...

~ long hours of preparation, alone in my thoughts...

~ reams of paper being printed and copied for the students...

~ driving to each location, picking up students on the way...

~ a heavy backpack full of papers and notes and lots of water...

~ anxious moments of anticipation to see who attends this time...

~ fighting off moments of discouragement...

~ refocusing on the entire race before me, not just this day...

~ swatting botla flies and mosquitoes...

~ dealing with the heat and humidity, for all of us...

       (students struggle to listen sometimes...)

       (teacher struggles to think sometimes...)

~ cold showers or a dip in the creek to cool off after class...

~ rice and beans and tortillas - and chicken...maybe fish...

~ teaching in English, to hearers who speak 4 other languages...

~ listening to four other languages when not teaching...

~ understanding next to nothing of what is said...

~ wondering if that is how some of the students feel...

~ long hours of passing along ideas and concepts...

~ long hours of hopefully adequate communication...

~ long hours of carefully selected words and explanations...

~ long hours of concern for clarity, contextualization and Christ...

~ long hours of listening, looking, letting the class teach me...

~ long hours of thinking on my feet, analyzing and adjusting...

~ and moments of brillance~

~ moments of 'aha!'

~ moments when students are highly engaged...

~ moments when it all clicks...

~ moments when we gain new ground...

~ moments when we scale new heights...

~ moments when it is thrilling to be a teacher...

~ moments when it is obviously the Spirit in control...

~ moments of gratitude, splendor and awe...

~ moments when it is all worth it...

~ moments when I realize again, who I am...

~ moments that I would not trade...

~ moments when I walk fully in my calling...

~ moments when I am thrilled to serve God by serving people...

         ~ Glory to God !!!

~ Ray

Airline Miles

Just a quick note to say that if you have airline miles and would like to donate some to a missionary you know - we would be willing to receive them! This can really help at times when we need to bring Rachel back to the states or when Grandma gets that homesick feeling...or when Ray wants to go to a conference, etc.

We travel Continental or American most easily from Belize.

Thanks!

Ray & Becki & Rachel

WE ARE IN OUR HOUSE !!!!!!!

WOW! It seems incredible and it is - we REALLY like our little house in the jungle - it's great!

It's not quite there yet but is getting better every day - we still have some things to finish installing or issues to solve but we are in - and it feels good!

This week we actually bought beds for us and for Rachel too (doubles as a guest bed too...hint, hint!) Having real beds and firm mattresses for the first time since May feels so good to our backs - yeah!! (we still have the air mattresses should anyone want to visit! hint... hint...)

At times, we look out of our windows and look at the jungle and all its variously shaped leaves and a little laugh will slip out...the accompanying thought is: "We're in the jungle!" It's just sort of funny. On the days that we start to think, well this is not really jungle, there are denser places, etc. we get reminded by seeing a large jungle cat, or seeing the toucans and parrots flying about, or simply the gentle hum of thousands of mosquitoes to lull you to sleep at night (just kidding about that part!)

Becki has had fun making our concrete floor look fantastic. taking advantage of the abundance of inspiration from the incredible leaves that surround our abode. She simply takes some leaves, lays them on the floor, gives a quick spritz with some spray paint, then comes back and fills in outlines, vines, etc and Viola! Fabulous floor!

This is our hallway...

She has also found out that not living in a city or even a suburban area means there ain't no trashman coming to pick up the garbage. So twice a week she burns what we have, then washes the smoke smell out of her hair! She's amazing to me, as she simply keeps doing whatever needs to be done...yep, I love my wife!

Did I mention she cleaned our truck too?!! She doesn't even get to drive it much as I'm gone a lot but she made it look purty! 

        

Just sharing a bit with our friends - be blessed, we sure are!

~Ray, Becki & Rachel

NOT ASHAMED!

Hi all !

Just a short note to share a beautiful moment with you...

This week while teaching "Preaching the Story of God" the students all had a chance to share in front of the class. This was challenging for some - and intimidating for others.

One older man, who is quickly becoming my hero, finally took his turn in front of the group. As he shared, he was becoming emotional sharing about his Savior. Indians here do not typically cry and when they do, they try to stifle it...but not this man.

As he shared the tears began to slip down first one cheek, then the other and instead of attempting to stifle them, he told why they were okay.

He said, "When I share about my Savior or things that touch my heart, it moves me and I will not be ashamed. I was not ashamed to be out in the world doing the things I used to do so why should I be ashamed now if I cry when something  moves my heart?"

By the time, he had said this, the tears formed rivulets down the aged lines of his tanned face and were dripping freely onto his shirt.

I did not turn around to confirm this, but I don't think his were the only tears by that time...

Be blessed!

Ray