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