8.26.2009
OUR TRIP TO DANGRIGA
August 26, 2009
Amanda and I recently took a trip to Dangriga, Belize, which is in the southern region of the country. The village is mainly made up of Creole and the Garifuna of African decent. The connection or interest we have with Dangriga is that our dear friends Nadia Lockwood and Rev. George Castillo and wife, who currently live in Okaloossa county Florida, grew up there. There is also much work to be done there. Around 11,000 people live in the village and very few youth are involved in the local churches. Dangriga is about two and half hours by bus or a 15 minute flight from Belize City. We chose to treat ourselves to the flight so that we would be more rested and have more time there. We flew on an adventurous small prop plane with seven seats right behind the pilot. Once we arrived, Grace Fairweather, a friend of Nadia’s and a town council member, was eagerly waiting for us at the airstrip. Grace took us into her home, got us together with her Pastor and showed us parks in the area where teens hung out. The parks would be ideal for future youth rallies.
We visited Epworth Methodist Church on Sunday morning and had the opportunity to read scripture for the morning sermon and got to share with the congregation about why we were there. Concluding the service, Pastor Cayatano’s wife invited us to their parsonage for a wonderful meal and time of fellowship. During our time there, we discussed the need for reaching young people, gave them some online youth resources and thoughts, offered our services to their potential youth leaders for future youth training, and discussed setting up youth rallies in the area. We left Dangriga with fully bellies, gifts from our friend Grace and a heart to return to make a difference.
There was such a friendly vibe in the air among their young people. On one occasion, teenage girls asked us to stop as we were walking down the road so that we could watch them try to walk on some wooden stilts. Teens everywhere are starving for attention, discipline, love, hope, vision, and something positive that interest them in which to be involved. Please pray for Epworth, the people, and the possibility of accomplishing great things there through Christ.
Love,
Heath
8.15.2009
Build Up Others, Forgive, Love
August 14. 2009
I had someone tell me recently that most of my blogs seemed overly excited or happy. I don’t agree with that at all, but I do feel that I am a positive person who wants to dwell on good things. With that being said, this blog is proof that I talk about what is on my heart. Two and half weeks ago, God laid something on my heart. Each day that has passed, it only has gotten stronger. So here it is. Please accept this as positive since that’s how God and I intended.
Why, as self-proclaimed Christians, do we tear each other down instead of building each other up? I see people every day who are in torment over mistakes they have made. I hear how choices they have made in their lives hold them captive and they don’t see a release. Many are living on the streets, doing drugs to cope with the pain of past memories and actions. They talk about what they have lost because of it and sadly admit that they will live each day this way. I watch as the people who have known them call them names or tell us about what they have done and how we shouldn’t talk to them because of their sins. Or worse, they talk to them smile to their face and continue to talk badly about them a moment later. This is not just in Belize; it’s everywhere! Most people who are prisoners to their sin do not know the Lord. They don’t have the Good News.
The things in my life I thought I was above, or I said “I’ll never do that”, have been the same things I have fallen on my face doing! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please hear my cry. Don’t kick others while they are down or hold their face in it. Pray for them, rejoice with them and thank God that He has brought them out of it, and be thankful it wasn’t you! If we had all listened to our parents about not touching a hot stove, we would all have a lot less burns. Those burns are on each one of us, so we don’t need to be reminded of the marks they have left. Past sins can haunt you and taunt you, and that is exactly what the devil wants; hurt and division in God’s family. Jesus died on the cross for all our sins, He covered every stain… HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT! So the next time anyone feels the need to belittle someone else, just remember, “Let He without sin cast the first stone” John 8:7. Matthew 7:1-5 tells us not to judge, or you too will be judged. And why do we look at a speck of sawdust in ones eyes when we have a plank in our own. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, Not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9. We cannot change our past. We can only move forward and learn from our mistakes. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Never look down on anyone, unless you are helping them up.” Matthew 6:14-15 says “but, If you don’t forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” We are all the children of God. He loves us all the same despite all our differences and flaws. Should we as His church and people not do the same? Lord, please let our actions reflect it! I am ending this with one of my favorite scriptures. Ephesians 4:32 says; ”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” God Bless you all, I love you so much!
Amanda
I had someone tell me recently that most of my blogs seemed overly excited or happy. I don’t agree with that at all, but I do feel that I am a positive person who wants to dwell on good things. With that being said, this blog is proof that I talk about what is on my heart. Two and half weeks ago, God laid something on my heart. Each day that has passed, it only has gotten stronger. So here it is. Please accept this as positive since that’s how God and I intended.
Why, as self-proclaimed Christians, do we tear each other down instead of building each other up? I see people every day who are in torment over mistakes they have made. I hear how choices they have made in their lives hold them captive and they don’t see a release. Many are living on the streets, doing drugs to cope with the pain of past memories and actions. They talk about what they have lost because of it and sadly admit that they will live each day this way. I watch as the people who have known them call them names or tell us about what they have done and how we shouldn’t talk to them because of their sins. Or worse, they talk to them smile to their face and continue to talk badly about them a moment later. This is not just in Belize; it’s everywhere! Most people who are prisoners to their sin do not know the Lord. They don’t have the Good News.
The things in my life I thought I was above, or I said “I’ll never do that”, have been the same things I have fallen on my face doing! Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please hear my cry. Don’t kick others while they are down or hold their face in it. Pray for them, rejoice with them and thank God that He has brought them out of it, and be thankful it wasn’t you! If we had all listened to our parents about not touching a hot stove, we would all have a lot less burns. Those burns are on each one of us, so we don’t need to be reminded of the marks they have left. Past sins can haunt you and taunt you, and that is exactly what the devil wants; hurt and division in God’s family. Jesus died on the cross for all our sins, He covered every stain… HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT! So the next time anyone feels the need to belittle someone else, just remember, “Let He without sin cast the first stone” John 8:7. Matthew 7:1-5 tells us not to judge, or you too will be judged. And why do we look at a speck of sawdust in ones eyes when we have a plank in our own. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, Not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9. We cannot change our past. We can only move forward and learn from our mistakes. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Never look down on anyone, unless you are helping them up.” Matthew 6:14-15 says “but, If you don’t forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” We are all the children of God. He loves us all the same despite all our differences and flaws. Should we as His church and people not do the same? Lord, please let our actions reflect it! I am ending this with one of my favorite scriptures. Ephesians 4:32 says; ”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” God Bless you all, I love you so much!
Amanda
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