Freedom!

As I stood before my family, my church and my workplace I shared that this trip is (as my pastor guided me to think of it as) a scouting mission.  That being said, we had a few objectives that we must find out as we are scouting this potential next chapter of our lives and how to accomplish it all in just 33 days in country.  I didn't understand (in a real world sense) until recently that a journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step.  Yeah, the "one step" thing sounds cool and is easy to understand like "eat fresh" or "always deliver a quality product on time", but it's another thing to actually do it and understand what it takes to do it (whatever "it" is that you're doing).

One thing we all know we need in order to do anything is water.  Not just any water, but clean water.  Water that won't make us sick or dehydrated.  Pure clean water that we need in order to sustain life.  Along with water comes food, clothing, shelter and so on.  This list can go on for pages and pages and eventually will transition from being genuine "needs" to good ole plain and simple "wants".

This being our 7th time physically in the country of Belize, it's our first time that we actually have to figure out how to "do" life.  Where to find clean water, how to buy food, where to go if we get sick, how to find a bag of nails or dog food (might be the same Chinese store).  All of that stuff is a part of the adventure and praise God we have been able to figure out all of that stuff!

We came here with 3 objectives.

1. Find a local church
2. Apply for a missionary visa
3. Amy works remotely while I work on the property.

Objective 1 - COMPLETE
Objective 3 - COMPLETE

Just down the road 1.1 miles from our property is a church that showed promise.  To back up a little bit, I had been asking folks that live down here or know the area for a while about a church that they would recommend.  Keep in mind that the "official" language of Belize is English, but the language in the home is definitely Spanish.  Everyone in my support system came up with nothing they could recommend in an English speaking church.  I came into this trip with the working knowledge that it is my job to find a church that we could plug into here.  Keep in mind, going a couple days without water is possible, but for extended periods of time certain death is soon to come.

Nobody in our support system here had heard of this church

So we went to church the first Sunday we are here.  Arriving in typical 10 minute late fashion, we join the church just as they are starting their welcoming song to all who have come "to the house of The Lord".  The church body is small but incredibly welcoming to new people.  As we sat down, Pastor Dave asked us to introduce ourselves and then we got to see the first debut of Mr. Jefferson's wonderful song leading talent.

KJV Bible in the pew

So, as we are singing the old hymn's, I look at the provided Bible in the pew...an English King James Version Bible!  I'm not going to get torn with folks about versions of The Bible.  For me, it's simple, the KJV speaks to me where other versions don't, it's what I need.  Like pure clean water, it's what I need to maintain spiritual life.

Message today on Proverbs 4:23
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

So, I hope I haven't lost you...
I'm just happy as all get out that I've found a church that preaches in English!  Over the previous 6 trips, I've probably been to 25 church services and all of them have been in Spanish.  I could kind-of make out what it was talking about, and most of the time I would have one of the youths in the pew do a bit of translating for us but still, other than the fellowship, we couldn't get much out of the message. 

Pastor Dave gettin' after it

That being said, if we never found a church in Belize that spoke English, we would be getting the refreshment of fellowship (water), but no food.  Without clean water and food, certain death is to follow.  Some of you may not understand why this objective is so important to us and how it is an answer to prayer, I know this for certain because I used to be one.  Trying to do things on my own thinking "thanks God, I got it from here" type attitude or the even harder one "God you don't exist, I'll figure it out" and pound my head against the wall daily (then numbing it with alcohol or drugs to make it all make sense and temporarily help with the pain). 

It's plain and simple, finding a church that we can be spiritually be fed and also help feed others is absolutely imperative for us to live in Belize.  What a wonderful feeling it is to check this off the list...lets go to the beach!

After the church service, we were going to a local restaurant on the water "Blues of Corozo" to meet with some friends.  As it turns out, Pastor and a couple from church was going there too.  We all met and had a wonderful time of fellowship.

Proverbs 31:16 says "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."  Proverbs 31 is known for the 'virtuous woman', heck there's even a line of bags that are sold under the "Thirty one" premise that has it's roots back to this chapter.  Being virtuous does not only apply to just one gender.  In this passage, it doesn't say "Rent the field" or "Borrow the field" it say to Buy it!  It also says that the field isn't going to do anything unless you work at it (planting a vineyard), in other words, them grapes ain't going to grow themselves!  The verse doesn't say how to make things grow.  We can't do that, that's not our problem, it's God's problem to make things grow.  It's our job to consider what God has put before us and commit to it "all in" as I like to think.  Sometimes I think we get caught up in trying to make things grow when we should just be committing to it's success and letting God do His job.