"Don't talk about my Momma!"

The Reynolda team in Belize City





The team that installed the shower with Norma



The proof that hard work pays off...THE SHOWER!



Our new street ministry team! Praise the Lord!



"Awesome...just awesome!" That is really all I can say about the missions trip team from Reynolda that came in February. It truly blessed us to have them here and be so willing to slam pack their days filled with ministry. While they were here they participated in street ministry(s), a youth rally, held a movie night, lead in two church services, and installed a shower for a widowed women (who otherwise had to go down the stairs and outside to shower.)I am eternally grateful for what they did. It is always great to have people come and see just what your ministry is doing. I can only say thank you to them, and that I truly love everyone in their team!



We are also so excited to have a new group of ten volunteers that have been taking over and assisting with our street ministry. Even how we met was a blessing! "Vino," our Hindu friend who runs a store here in Belize City, introduced us. He said to the group in passing, “You are Christians?" and they gave a yes. "Well, they are too,” Vino replied, and said we should get together. The funny thing is...he didn't even know them! One of the amazing gaps that this group resolves is several of them are Spanish speaking – an area in which we were lacking - and our Español is needless to say "muy malo" (very bad). Thank you, Lord, for this new group! They also meet to pray every day for Belize!



Do you remember when you were young and someone said something bad about your mother or called her a name? You may have even called her the SAME EXACT NAME, but she was YOUR Momma. (By the way, I love you Mom!) Well, that is how I feel about America. I LOVE THE USA! I know America has its problems. We smile when the people here tell us we are now Belizeans. It seems that both Americans and Belizeans want to enjoy what the other country has to offer. I assure you, Belize City and its’ rising crime rate are not what is most admired here! But Americans desire those beautiful Belize islands! Two years ago when we first moved to Belize City most people didn’t want to bring up the violence happening here. I think it’s the whole “momma thing” too. No one wants to discuss their nation’s own faults. I must admit that when we fly from Belize to America, it seems like two different worlds.



One of the struggles we encounter while in the USA is that some people just don't understand why we are in Belize and not doing our mission work in the states. Please understand that most are extremely supportive, but there are always a few that aren’t. It doesn't discourage us from what we are doing here (I know we are doing what God has called us to do.) I just think, “How selfish!” Believe me, it would be so much easier for us to do that! We could see our old friends and family, blend into the environment, and I would be eating portabella mushrooms right now (lol, sorry I just had to say it). America is struggling lately, but we are rich compared to most. Just imagine it for a second...you could have been born in Haiti. Then years later your already impoverished town is annihilated by an earthquake and everything was lost! Would you not want someone to help you? I am not calling Belize Haiti. I am just stating an example. If we call ourselves Christians we should all think of what Jesus would want from us. I have not found a scripture as of yet that says “preach the gospel, feed, or only love on those in your nation." Not everyone is called to go and live abroad. He may be calling you to stay right where you are or move somewhere else in the US to do His work. Nevertheless, we should all respect God's will and plan for each other's lives!

God wants to us to love, feed, and encourage not just ourselves but everyone! Great things happen and will continue to happen when love and empowerment prevail!



I wanted to share some scriptures with you from 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 "Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will" If you follow on to verses 6-9 it says" So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make you rich."



I also feel the need to point out that giving and generosity is not limited to money.

I hope this message will leave you encouraged. God wants us to be focused on every nation! John 3:16 After all, He did create the whole world and not just the parts we live in and see.

I firmly believe that He wants us to take pride in our countries and enjoy their differences, beauty, and people. Please remember to love all countries big and small and those who dwell in them...maybe we can treat them all like our moms ~ with respect and love!

Blessings to you all! I truly love you so much,



                                                               Amanda:)

PS It's a little early but... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!!! I wish I was there to hug your neck! XOXOXO

IT IS A BIG WORLD  ...











"Not just another bird story"

 

Tim and Mom in Belize at Victory Assembly :)



The bird my mother gave me to always remind me of God's miracles



Ok, so this is random but cool. It's the Apostle's Creed in Kriol!





 
Okay, okay, okay...so I know I said I am not much of a bird watcher, but some stories just must be told. If for no other reason then to just not let us forget them...again.

Things have been really busy! We were VERY happy to have my Mom and my step-father, Tim, come down to Belize! It was wonderful to have our family meet our friends, join us in part of our ministry, and just see where exactly it is we live. Mom lead the children's Sunday school and even sang a few songs while they were there at Victory Assembly! We were happy to get the chance to fly back with them to see our family for Christmas. I am also thankful we were able to see some of your faces and hug your necks while we were back home. We are looking forward to Reynolda Presbyterian and their team coming to do a missions trip with us in Belize!

Alright already… what’s this about another bird story? Well, I had pretty much forgotten this story myself until someone reminded me of it. I thought now might be a good time to share it. So here goes...
While Heath and I lived in our first home in North Carolina I purchased some hanging flower baskets to "jazz up" the porch. I soon noticed that a bird had decided it was the perfect place to lay her eggs. One evening Heath and I were carrying in some awkward size items (which caused us to leave the screen door wide open). I told Heath to be careful around the basket so the momma bird would not fly out. No sooner than I had gotten the words out of my mouth my big head hit the basket. It of course started swinging and I watched helplessly as the bird flew threw the open door and into our house! It immediately flew into the bathroom,and I watched in horror as it flew to the mirror (I was so afraid it was going to break its neck). I instinctively closed all the doors in the hallway so the bird was limited to where it could go, (and could go and poop!) It landed in the hallway on the top of the bedroom door frame. With a broom in hand (straw-side up) I said, " Birdie, I don't want to hurt you and I don't mean you any harm. I just want to take you back outside. So please jump on this broom in Jesus’ name." With that being said, the bird hopped onto the broom and allowed me to carry it all the way down the hall and out the front door. Heath stood there with his mouth open in disbelief and said he wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it. He thought it looked like something from a movie. So that is it for the bird part, but not the end of the story. I had forgotten that I told this story to Heath's Aunt Mid and his Mammaw until his Aunt reminded me. They were having trouble with his Aunt's van . It did not want to start. Heath's Mammaw looked at his Aunt and reminded her of this story. They declared out loud for the van to start in Jesus name, and can you guess what happened? IT DID!

The reason I am telling you all this is because sometimes we forget. We can easily get so caught up in the chaos of life and its problems that we forget God's miracles. It is sad, but true. I am embarrassed to say how often I take for granted the things He has taken me out of and helped me through and just how quickly I can forget them. Maybe this story doesn't seem like much of a miracle to you about the bird or the car, but I do want us all to be reminded that God is still in the miracle business! God cares about the little and the big things… there isn't anything He can't do! My family and friends are still rejoicing that while my sister was having surgery to remove her cancer that it HAD NOT spread to her lymph nodes!! That is a miracle! God wants us to call on and cling to Him. Like the scripture says," But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

And Psalms 77:14 says, "You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples."

I hope this message encourages you and reminds you of the things He has brought you through also. As always I thank you so much for your love and support! You are a blessing to our lives and your prayers make the "impossible" possible. Please keep them coming!!! :)


                                                           God bless you all. I love you so much,

                                                                                            Amanda:)