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| The remnants of Hurricane Richard |
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| Our sweet angel "Jasmine". |
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| Where Poppy use to live. |
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First, I must start with how awesome ministry has been! We had an amazing youth rally in Dangriga that we officially had our "HABIT Volunteers" run completely for the first time while we watched from the sidelines. I must say I was very impressed! Also, we have changed our weekly street ministry day to Monday instead of Wednesday to allow more of our volunteers the opportunity to join us.
Remember Poppy? He was the guy who lived in the trash heap behind us at our first apartment here. I am so delighted to tell you that we had the joy of helping him enter into a rehab program and he is now entering his fourth week there! Just this week we had the pleasure of taking another man named Mark into the program as well! I am so thankful for the street ministry and the fruit it brings! The next two days will be very busy. Tomorrow we have our fourth "Belize Youth Net" meeting ( a time for all youth leaders or aspiring youth leaders to connect, receive free youth resources and training, along with praise and worship).The following day we will drive to Cayo (about 2 hours away). Heath will be preaching at a church there and we will host a youth training event afterwards.
So about those lions, tigers, and bears... We can say we survived "Hurricane Richard"! After going back and forth whether we should stay or go we opted to stay. The night before Richard came our dog "Jasmine" seemed a little off. (For those of you who don't know she was a stray near death that we took in.) She had been treated four times for tick fever and was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. We had her on med's and she seemed fine and happy (I would have never kept her alive otherwise). There was no way of having a vet come because of the storm and we knew it was time. We cried and prayed as she passed on the floor in our living room during the worst part of the storm.The hurricane itself was a beast! The howling of the wind and hearing who knows what being thrown around in the black of night was not something you could even try to sleep through. Our apartment consist of concrete and sheet rock, and started to leak in three different places. (That of course is not including every window and door that the water made its way through!) The next morning we went outside and buried our dog (we had to keep her inside until that morning). I went inside to start cleaning up the towels and trashcans filled with water. Heath started walking down the only road on our street that did not flood to call his father. Moments later he called and told me to take him to the hospital; that he had been charged by two pit bulls and that one had bitten him before he sought refuge in a truck bed. I must say my first instinct was to go and kill the dog immediately, and then get it tested for rabies! Nevertheless, trying to seek medical treatment after a hurricane has hit was no picnic! The power was out everywhere! I can definitely say I drove "Dukes of Hazard" style to the hospital. Heath received stitches, antibiotics, and his is currently still being treated for rabies just as a precautionary.
As I tell you all this you are probably feeling sorry for us. Well, I could be too, but I want to tell you something that happened during the storm. I am telling you this personal moment not to brag or boast or to make me to be some perfect spiritual saint, but it is far to amazing NOT to share! After the passing of the dog, and during the ceiling leaks in the worst part of the hurricane I threw my arms up to the Lord and proclaimed that I would "Praise Him in the storm". It is a moment and a time I will never forget! The peace that came with that proclamation was just so tremendous! Some of you reading this by now may think I am crazy, but I do not really care I'm sorry. I want you to know of how big and great God is! Never to be underestimated! I also realized how guilty I am of during the hard times and struggles I mostly just spend my time praying and asking God for healing, favor, and peace. That is great, don't get me wrong, but besides worshipping on Sunday in church we should worship Him throughout the week when things are at their worst. Remember… it is a relationship. He wants time with us, not just us asking Him to intervene for us or our friends and family. I encourage you next time life has you down on your knees and broken, don't just pray...lift your hands and your heart in worship ~ sing! He is worthy of our praise and adoration! I love what God is doing in me and how He strengthens and encourages me daily! I wish His perfect peace on all those who may be reading this.
The Hurricane did a estimated $50 million dollars worth of damage here in Belize. That is a lot of money for a town of complete poverty. Most people lost everything they had, and for most it was not very much to begin with. It is also a great reminder in life that when you think things may be bad, there is always someone who has it worse. Here is a recent example of just that: Recently here in Belize City, shots were fired in the early morning at a woman's home. The target was the woman's brother who had, months before, slept in her yard . The woman awoke startled by the shots and went to check on her children. All seemed well until she entered her four- year old daughter's room. In the dark of night she picked her up. She thought her daughter had wet herself and turned on the light to change her. It was then she saw it was blood seeping from her daughters underarm. She had been shot and soon passed. A few weeks later someone intentionally caught her house on fire. I have been so brokenhearted for this woman. I caught a glimpse of her on the news after it happen. She was saying how, "They couldn't take her soul." Talk about putting thing's into perspective! With that being said I leave you with these scriptures:
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Thank you all for your prayers, love and support! You are an amazing group of people and I pray that you are blessed beyond measure! God bless you all ~ I love you so much! ~Amanda:)
*Please continue your prayers for us and our mission here in Belize. Pray for Belize! Also, please continue your prayers for my sister who is fighting with cancer.
