And So It Begins!!

5:30 is what I told the kids.  "We are having our first bible study on Friday at 5:30.  Only come if you want to learn more about what the bible says about Jesus and you.  We are not having games, prizes or snacks."  I figured I would lose at least two-thirds of them when I said that.

It was still pretty light when we got to the school and there were plenty of kids running around the village.  We opened up the sweltering classroom to get some air-flow.  It never takes long for the kids to come around when they see the Bronco out there and tonight was no exception.  Ususally we enjoy their company but this time  we had stuff to do and the littlest ones were not invited.  One little guy, who is like the poster child for "wild children on the loose," wouldn't leave the classroom and a couple others joined in the game.  I had a feeling that meeting at the school was not the best idea.  We got them out after a few minutes and closed the door to wait outside for any arrivals.

We waited, then waited some more.  Dennis checked his phone to see that it was 5:33 and no one was around but us and the wild kids out in the grass.  Across the street we could see one of our older girls opening up the new Community Center, so I went over to say hi.  She was there getting chairs for the meeting on the other side of the fence.  I could see a large tent and people arranging musical instruments up front.  My friend told me that tonight was the first night of a two week revival for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the village. We chatted and she asked if I wanted to come to the revival.  I just said that we were having our meeting tonight and I couldn't make it.  Then she asked if I could come on Monday night.  I have differing opinions from the SDA church but I didn't want to offend her so I just told her that I wouldn't be able to come.  She seemed to accept that answer.  So, I helped her with the chairs for a few minutes then went back over to the school.

It was 6:00 and the sun was quickly going down.  Back at the school Dennis was starting to close up the classroom when we were extremely happy to see some of our girls coming down the road, and they each had a bible in their hands.  It was a group of three sisters and one other young lady.  They are all young teenagers except the oldest who had recently accepted the Lord.  We made a quick change in plans and headed for the picnic tables before the sun left us in the dark.  As we sat down another young lady and her little brother came over with their bibles and joined us.

 In the front of our Fire Bible is a page that says "How to Know the Lord", and I used that as a guide for our first meeting.  I really had no idea if these young people had a relationship with the Lord or not.  I had made some notes in my own words and we just jumped right in talking about the fact that God created everyone in the whole world and he had an awesome plan for each of us.

As we continued on we were amazed at how interested the kids were.  They each wanted to read it outloud so we let them do all the reading.  They listened closely as Dennis and I tried to explain it in a way they could understand.  It was getting too dark so we decided to head back to the classroom.  Right before that another young man from school joined us but he stayed at a distance.  As we got settled in the extremely warm classroom another brother and sister joined us.

Just as we were getting to the decision making part the little wild kids showed back up.  They were aweful.  They wanted to come in but we said no and closed the doors.  Then they started banging on the doors and yelling into the windows.  It was kind of creepy because we couldn't see them we could just hear them.  We tried to continue but the wild kids just kept getting louder.  At one point Dennis went out but that didn't seem to matter.  Finally, when I was about to call it off they disappeared and we had quiet.

I turned to the kids and told them that they had all the information and now it was their turn.  They had to make a decision.  Follow Jesus or not follow Jesus.  I asked each one of them individually and they all said yes except for one.  And we told him that was alright.  We all prayed together as heaven came down to Buena Vista and the angels rejoiced.  The kingdom of God had seven new members.  There were tears and some intense expressions as I told them they were now one of God's children just like Dennis and I.  I gave each of them a hug and we ended the meeting after discussing when we will meet again.  There is so much more to share with them!

Thank you God that you love us as you do.  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to take away our sin.  Thank you Holy Spirit for being the Helper that you promised you would be.  Thank you Christ Followers who have been praying for Buena Vista and Dennis and I.  Thank you supporters who faithfully put more in the offering than your tithes!  Thank you friends and family way out west who follow the blog and offer encouraging words!

We love you guys!

Just another day in Buena Vista!

There is no way to predict what will happen at Buena Vista Government School.  Rarely a week goes by when we don't have visitors or events or holidays that errupt the "normal" school schedule.  If you are a person who depends on a routine or schedule than this is no place for you.

Today, right when the first bell rang, a couple of large vehicles pulled onto the school grounds and a mass of gringos spilled out into the yard and began greeting the kids.  They were of all different age groups and they were similing and chatting.  The kids just take it in stride.  Some walk up to them and start greeting them and others prefer to stand back and watch.

This was a group of 27 from a huge Episcopalian church in Texas.  This is a yearly trip for them and they came baring gifts.  They brought in book shelves for the library upstairs. The ladies painted and cleaned for hours they even put new chalk board paint on the old chalk boards. They also left a nice supply of soccer balls and jump ropes. This was a really nice group. Tomorrow they head out to LaGracia.

During first recess we had an incident.  One of the littlest guys from Infant 1, Andel, stepped in front of a metal swing going full force and ended up with blood everywhere.  Dennis was upstairs and all he heard was, "Someone is hurt and there's lots of blood!"  We gathered him up off the ground and headed for the office.  With bits and pieces of first-aid kits Dennis decided that stitches were going to be necessary.  One of the older girls ran to get his mother, Yolanda.  She cried for a moment when she saw the wound.  And here is where the sadness of poverty hits home.  Her tears were mainly because she new Andel needed stitches but she had no money for the doctor.  I think that even in the worst poverty stricken areas in America we can always know that our children will get the emergency care they need.  That is not so here in Belize.  At one point we were even asked if we could stitch him up.

This is what we did.  We covered the wound with what we had, got mom and Andel into the Bronco and headed for the clinic in Spanish Lookout.  The wonderful, all female, Mennonite staff took great care of our little friend.  Although he did put up a bit of a fight he got through it just fine.  There was, after all, shots and three stitches.  Afterwards there was a trip to FTC for medicines and a stop at Western Dairy for Bubble Gum ice cream.  Andel was back to his old smiling self before we got him back home in the village.  Yolanda was very relieved that her little one was taken care of.

God is so good.  We used our food money to pay for the doctors and medicines.  We just figured that it was the thing to do.  When we got back to the school the visitors were still there and asked about Andel.  Then one of the group was talking to Dennis and said they wanted to help and gave him enough money to cover the entire bill, (except the ice cream).

To add just a little more chaos to the day, there were three teachers out, and parents started to gather in the afternoon because report cards were going out.  So now there are visitors playing with kids, parents hanging around to get report cards, and Mr. Mefi was trying to teach his students how to play baseball.  I look at my time spent as a teacher in the public school system in Tennessee and just marvel at the differences in the two places.  This kind of day happens way to often in Buena Vista and the teachers just roll with it.  I know a few teachers in the states that a day like today would have sent them screaming from the building.

As the afternoon was coming to an end there were still parents around waiting for report cards.  My friend Lucia was chatting with me telling me that her mother was in the middle of making tamales to sell.  This turned out to be a real blessing to Dennis and I because we had forgotten to eat lunch earlier.  Before we left Buena Vista we met Lucia's parents and older brother, played in their front yard, watched how tamales were made and bought ten of them to eat for dinner.  And we were across the street from Loren's house so we went to visit her family also.  We sat in the shade and drank juice while laughing at naked chickens and their dog who wanted to eat Dennis and I.

This day was a gift.  We felt the presence of God through it all and we felt like we were a part of something that He was doing.  Dennis and I were just there.  We were doing exactly what we were meant to do!  And I would like to end this with thanking all of you who pray for us and support us.  This day was a reflection of your obedience to the Word.  You are spreading salt and light in the earth.  Thank you!

These are the real things!
Lucia's mother, Dora uses banana leaves to
wrap the masa and chicken in.

Look at this!  We could start a new show on Food Network!

My only wish is that you could be here to taste the food, enjoy the coolness of the shade, receive the daily hugs, hear the kids call you by name, and know in your heart that the sacrifices made are worth it.

We are whupped and ready for bed.

We love you guys!