Belize Report

      What an amazing week. Thank you all so much for your prayers last week in Belize. God did some awesome things and it was amazing to see the relationships that were started last year and how much they have developed over this past year. I almost did not get to go as I woke up Friday morning with an inner ear infection and the docs said that I should not fly the next day. During the week leading up to the trip, there was a lot of spiritual warfare on our team that week, one guy threw his back out picking up an empty trash bag, a couple others had major stuff come up at their jobs and almost did not get to go. On Saturday though, the pain was gone and I got on the plane (with some pain medicine of course). There were 10 men on our team (8 from CBF, 2 from Alabama).
     On Sunday, our team met with a group of about 25 men who were from a couple different churches in Belize. I was able to present the gospel with the group and then give them a challenge to love God with all that they are and pass that onto to their family. It was an awesome time where we were able to encourage other believers from another country.

     On Monday, our team started construction work. We were in 2 different sites and I was sent to the Cayo Deaf Institute (http://cdi-belize.net/) that is located in a Mennonite community. On one of their buildings, we tore a roof off and replaced it and demolished a porch and put up a new one. The wood in Belize is much stronger than here in USA and we broke about 20 drill bits and bent a lot of nails. Our team was finally able to finish the job.
     The joy of the week though was playing with the kids after school and having lunch with them. Our team was doing construction for the institute, but we understood that the children were more important. On Thursday, our final day there, we handed a tract to the camp director and asked if we could give it to the kids. He skeptically looked through it and then jumped all over it and let us hand it to the kids. One of the kids had a lot of questions, so we eventually found an interpreter and Stewart Hardy and I had the amazing opportunity of seeing the child trust Christ. There is no better experience than this.
     Thank you for praying last week. There are so many more stories to tell and feel free to ask me about the trip.

Pray for Mr. Jeff

Parents, I am asking for all of you to pray for me. This past Sunday I found out just before service that I am going to Belize THIS Saturday. There is a team from CBF meeting up with a couple of men from Alabama to do construction and outreach. Below is a list of prayer requests and Bible verses for while I am gone. These will also be handed out this Sunday in the Sunday morning classes. It may also help to pull out a map and show your child where Belize is. Please especially lift up our team on Sunday evening as our team partners with four churches in Belize to do a Men’s Barbeque outreach. That evening I will be sharing the gospel, and our team will challenge the men to lead their families. Thank you all so much for your prayers. I cannot wait to come back and tell stories about  how God used us!

Saturday, January 16
Request: Pray for a safe trip for Mr. Jeff and the rest of the team as they travel to Belize.
Bible Verse: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Sunday, January 17
Request: Pray for a large turnout for the Men’s Barbeque outreach. Pray for Mr. Jeff as he shares the gospel with all the men who come.
Bible Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Monday, January 18
Request: Pray for God to give the whole Belize team strength, energy and endurance as they begin the construction work for the week.
Bible Verse: “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

Tuesday, January 19
Request: Pray for God to protect Mr. Jeff’s wife, Nikki, and keep her safe while Mr. Jeff is gone.
Bible Verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

Wednesday, January 20
Request: Pray that the Mr. Jeff and the whole Belie team stay healthy and do not get sick or hurt.
Bible Verse: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

Thursday, January 21
Request: Pray for extra energy and strength for the entire Belize team as we wrap up work at our construction sites.
Bible Verse: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Friday, January 22
Request: Pray for the entire team as we spend our last day helping out a church in Belize with manual labor and whatever else we can do.
Bible Verse: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” 1st Corinthians 12:12

Saturday, January 23
Request: Pray for Mr. Jeff as he recovers and spends some time thinking about what all God has taught him this week.
Bible Verse: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken” Psalm 62:1-2