Monday - June 4th

Yes – photos are really forthcoming!!!! They take so long to download that my daughter Rori must do them from home. Unfortunately, she is in a class out of town until Wednesday; so, while she can easily post the print – she, too is challenged in posting the photos we are sending. She will post the photos on Thursday – so please make a return trip to the blog and you will get the REAL picture of what we are doing!!!

Bats in the Belfry!
We have a bat in the belfry! Well, sort of, anyway! While sitting in our circle for a time of reflection last night, one of the neighborhood bats swooped in for a visit. Not knowing exactly where he went, we finished our team time and began winding down for the evening. A few minutes later, we heard quite a commotion and Landan shouting something about the bat flying around. Brianna and Alex ran upstairs to check it out. A few minutes and a lot of shouting later, our three young people came back down having victoriously captured the bat with a T-shirt and a banana box! They released our nocturnal visitor back into the night; we are waiting to see if he finds his way back again tonight! You just never know what to expect on a mission trip.

Before morning, we would have two more surprises. In the wee hours, a loud bang in the ladies’ quarters shattered the early morning stillness. None of us made a sound over it, but when we were all up, Alex said, “Did anyone hear the slat fall out of my bed last night?” Mystery solved!
The other surprise was Miles waking up our sleeping youth with a broom handle knocking on the downstairs ceiling – which is the upstairs floor! We adults were met with stern looks as they all filed downstairs, declaring they were already awake and “just laying there!” There’s nothing like a manual alarm.

Breakfast in Belize
All present and accounted for, we started our Monday out with Miss Angelica’s authentic Belizean breakfast of scrambled eggs, refried beans and fry jacks (sopapillas on steroids!). There is nothing better than her cooking – and certainly nothing better than fry jacks! Embracing and enjoying the culture embedded in a mission trip is crucial – even something as simple as breakfast can begin a long term relationship with others. Miss Angelica is now a friend and we can enjoy our conversations with her and share our stories as she shares hers with us.

Bible Story Film Festival




After breakfast, we began our classroom film festival with the children. We were very excited to be able to spend time with the 7, 8 and 9 year olds for a time of sharing bible stories through videos during the morning. Complete with popcorn and grape Gatorade, the movie time was great fun and allowed us to share another dimension of being disciples with the students at TCA.



We enjoyed lunch with the kids and shared two more videos in the afternoon with the next age group. One of the videos was Max Lucado’s “Stanley the Stinkbug Goes to Camp.” When we got through I asked the class what they learned from the movie. One little boy said, “We learned that God can use us even when we’re stinky!” Couldn’t have been said better!



Lucretia was our popcorn popper and kept us supplied throughout the day.


We will have the opportunity to repeat this devotional time with the other age groups Tuesday morning and afternoon, so ….we better get “popping!”

Fanta is Our Friend!
With the beginning of raining season, it has already rained every night; and it promises to do the same again tonight. The rolling thunder and the sound of the rain rushing across the jungle to wash over the mission house is just the best sleeping condition ever. However, it does make for a very hot and steamy day following. We are hydrating like crazy and looking for fans during our off time. But the best cure for this kind of thirst is authentic Fanta! It is the kind of Fanta we can’t get back home – like pineapple, ginger ale and root beer Fanta! It is amazing after walking into the mission house drenching wet from the heat and humidity – it may sound small, but the respite is priceless!

Oh for Grace to Trust Him More
As we spend time at the orphanage, with these wonderful children and teachers at TCA and with each other as team members, we realize the endless challenges that arise in our lives on a daily – even momentary – basis. There is political red tape and governmental authority to contend with; there is never enough money or resources; there are cultural and social limitations; there are so many questions about the future. But as we seek to be servants – servants called to prayer walk and share God’s Word and enter into relationships outside of our comfort ones, we also recognize the boundless chances to touch the lives of others in an eternal way – and to have ours touched as well. We know from James 1:2 that we are to welcome the challenges as God will use them work perseverance and patience within us – enabling us to see opportunities instead of obstacles. It is about Trust – trusting the Lord to guide us, make provision, strengthen and deliver us every step of the way. Without Trust, we are anxious and fearful; with it, we are able to abide and reside in perfect peace as described in Isaiah 26:3.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Please pray that our minds will be steadfast and that God would grant us grace to trust him more and more.

Patricia and the Team: Miles, Brianna, Landan, Lucretia and Alex