What a Week! Gulf Breeze Youth Visit

July 30, 2009

What a week!!! I am truly in awe of God and his purpose and plans for our lives! This week has been filled with so many different activities and emotions. We had to say hello and farewell to Gulf Breeze UMC this week. The time we got to spend with them has truly been a blessing and something I will never forget.
The week started off with some anticipation as we awaited their arrival, as they had to travel through Guatemala to arrive here in Belize City. Day One was filled with a lot of work, but the troops were all game. Some of the group prepared for the week’s VBS at Cavalry Chapel while the others worked at the Salvation Army doing work projects followed by lunch, and then off to VBS! The following days were pretty much the same, but instead of spending more time doing VBS, the street ministry began! I watched as the group handed out food and I was thrilled to see them laying hands on people and praying with them as they felt led. Our friend Vinoid (God Bless Him) even had the whole team over for lunch in his home overlooking the Canal. Twenty-two of us sat and ate as he treated us like family and royalty. Please pray for Vinoid’s health and his family and for safe travel. He will be visiting his homeland (India) for the next three months.
I watched God use his people in ways they had never been used before. He gave courage to some to speak. To others He gave eyes to see what I feel we tend to overlook. People are hurting in so many ways; physically, spiritually and emotionally. The world is full of people who need to be reached. God may not be calling you to be a missionary in Belize. He may be calling you to minister to the man or woman on your block.
I was so excited to hear that my sister took my niece and nephew to work at a food shelter this week. They are young, but what a great age to make them aware of how of other people struggle. Most us live paycheck to paycheck, and it could be us, our Aunt’s or Uncle’s, brothers or sisters or even our parents who are in need. Sure there are some people who will take advantage, but who are we to judge?
I encourage each and every one of you to get involved in some form of giving. It could be donating or as simple as kind word or gesture. It’s up to you. But “faith without works is a dead” (James 2:20). I am sad to see the group from Gulf Breeze leave, but I rejoice in the growth and awareness it brought.

To God be the glory! God bless you all I love you so much!

Amanda

The Street Ministry Begins

July 18, 2009

Throughout my life I have seen God’s faithfulness. His word is true; if we abide with him, then he will abide in us. I am not sure what tomorrow will bring (especially on this new adventure). I just know I’m going with God! We need to realize that he is the same God who turned water into wine and made the blind to see. I rest in His faithfulness and rejoice in the hope it brings. What I wanted to bring to Belize was hope. If you haven’t any hope in your life, what joy can there be? Yet, every day I see the faces of people who have just seemed to have given up. Our desire is to teach them, yes give up but give it up to God. I would like to ask for your prayer for some of the individuals we met today. Fran, Russell, George and Raymond are all people we talked to today while giving out PB&Js and bananas. Raymond was so hungry he asked for an extra sandwich. I handed him another one (because it really isn’t that much) but, by the time we were done talking, he pleaded for a third. I explained to him how we had to conserve them to make sure other people had some; but then I just broke down. How do you say no to a person if you don’t know when their last meal was or when the next meal will come? People are starving everywhere. Sometimes they may not be hungry for food. It may be they are starving for someone just to listen. We never know what someone else is going through, or what their day to day lives are like. We would be wise to remember that while we may think we have it bad, God’s promises are true. If we believe in Jesus, there is always bright hope for tomorrow. God Bless you all. I love you guys so much!

By the way… we do plan to blog more often. This first month has been a little chaotic! Also, please be in prayer for a youth group from Gulf Breeze United Methodist. They will be arriving July 21 to work alongside us in ministry for eight days. Please pray for safe travel and their safety while they are here.

Amanda

We're Finally Here!!!

July 1, 2009

Homeless- A common scene in Belize
We are finally in Belize! I am so thankful for all of the prayers we received for a safe flight. We got here safely and with our luggage. Continue praying daily as we seek to do God’s will in this ministry. I am so happy that we can now inform you about how things are going. We now have internet in our apartment and are quickly learning the ropes and the dos and don’ts of the city. Our biggest obstacle (or, at least for me) is the noise of a city. It’s definitely not the quiet five acres of peace we had in Florida; but, if that’s the biggest problem I have… I figure life is good.
I have always been a simple person. I’ve never been a big fan of hairspray, or taken an hour to get ready for something (not even on my wedding day)! I have no doubt this is my calling. I still may catch myself complaining about being hot or having no box springs, or am about to eat a food item that I can’t read the ingredients. It’s that same moment I think about KC, the security guard across the street. He told me recently, how he spent his childhood eating out of other’s trash. I‘m sure, it is safe to say, he probably didn’t have a mattress then, and he probably doesn’t have one now. I’m not writing this to make you feel badly for him or me. I’m writing this to remind us all of the small and big blessings in our lives. A couple of weeks ago my big challenge was to figure out what to bring to Belize in only two suitcases. I knew our apartment had a refrigerator and air conditioning in only one room. I wanted to bring as much as I possibly could. I managed to bring three pots and some sheets when we came in April. I brought T-shirts, shoes, shorts, church clothes, hats, shampoo, CD’s, etc.(can you believe I made it under the weight limit with my bags?). I unpacked after arriving here and, I was grateful for it all, but soon realized that half of it was just unnecessary. My Bible, a few clothes and a good toothbrush were all I needed. Things are nice to have; but, If we make them more important than our Father, our relationships, our time and our talents, we are selling ourselves short. I regret all the time and money I’ve wasted on things I thought I needed. In a way, it’s actually nice to get back to the basics. It makes me realize what is important. God Bless You All! I love you so much.

Amanda

Our Journey Begins

June 16, 2009

Thank you so much for all your support and prayers over the past month as Amanda and I have been house hopping to spend time with family and visiting churches, groups, and organizations to share about this much needed ministry in Belize. It has felt quite different with many of our belongings being sold, given away, or in storage, adjusting to living without our pets, and no real place to call home. We thought this time would be relaxing, but it has actually been taxing as we make presentations, network, and yet look for more opportunity. It has been good to see old friends and spend time with family, as we haven’t had much opportunity to do so the past three and half years! This time has been somewhat of an emotional roller coaster, however we remain focused on our call to Belize and our mission there. Now the wait is over. We fly out Saturday morning the 20th for Belize City, Belize. We will be setting up house and getting acclimated for the first two weeks with the help of our dear Belizean friends. We just signed a lease on an apartment on the third floor above an oriental store in downtown Belize City with steel bars on the windows and Chinese steel doors with garage door latches. We will be in the perfect place for street ministry, but will have to be careful or inside at night as crime in the city has been on the rise. We are excited to see our friends in Belize, meet our new contacts, and set up house. I guess you could say we are excited, moved, inspired, heart broken, anxious, nervous, and blessed. Our journey has begun and we invite you to be with us through this blog, facebook, and e-mails. You are in our hearts and prayers!

Heath & Amanda

About Us

Hello, and welcome to the Habit Missions Blog site! We are glad you decided to drop by and check on us! We will try to update it at least every week or so depending upon our circumstances and access to the internet. You are in our prayers and very important to us and our aim is to keep you up on our ministry and happenings. Here you will hear the praises, the goodness of God, the victories, the challenges, the lives that are touched, the joys, the heartaches, the pains, and rewards of serving among the poor and working with youth.

Heath & Amanda Burchett were born in and grew up in North Carolina. For the past 4 years, they lived in Crestview, FL where they ministered to youth and served at First United Methodist Church. Amanda attended Forsyth Technical Community College and has worked at Target, Chautauqua Airlines, Comfort Keepers, and the Wild Olive Restaurant. Amanda has also served with the Fort Walton Beach Rescue Mission and with youth at various churches. Heath received his Master of Ministry degree from Vintage Bible College and Seminary, worked with Black Box Network Services, and served as youth pastor and associate/youth pastor at Old Richmond Evangelical Methodist Church prior to becoming associate/youth pastor in Crestview.
Some of the best times Amanda and Heath have spent together have been when they were serving as a team in missions. They have served in and started their own inner city street ministry in Winston-Salem, NC, done missions projects in the foothills of NC, and served and ministered to the homeless in Panama City Beach, FL. They have made mission trips to Lima, Peru to help with street kids, and to Belize where they worked with Victory Church in Ladyville. Missions has always given them a sense of fulfillment and great joy as they knew they were doing the will of God and following His great calling.

OUR STORY: Our hearts were bent for Belize six years ago when we first visited the country. As we traveled the dusty roads, through our bus window we saw school children running to the fence to smile and wave as we passed. The school and yard were dirty and barren and sad. The picture remains in our minds. We knew then, we must go back and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of the children of Belize. In 2008, we were privileged to take a group of youth from FUMC to minister in Ladyville, which "just happened" to be the same town we saw from the bus. As we served in Ladyville, we were greatly disturbed by the lack of youth involvement in the local church and yet hundreds of teens were only blocks away hanging out, playing sports, and using drugs. We began to research youth involvement in the life of the local churches in various towns and villages and what we found was a great need! Many of the churches struggle with the necessary time, resources, programs, volunteers, and vision to show that God is very alive and relevant to their lives. Around half of the population of Belize is 18 years and younger. The average age is about 20 years old. We knew something must be done!




WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY!

(The following blog posts are in order of newest posts first)