Top 10 HS Teams in Belize

Team #1 of back-to-back teams in Belize over the past 2 weeks (9 Spanish students + 2 chaperones from my alma mater, Lutheran High School South in Affton, MO) told me I should try and use as much Gen Z slang as possible with team #2. I don't tend to be very devious, but I told them I'd low key try. In keeping with the many experiences, meals, comments, and more that figured into top 10 lists as the week wore on, it's an undeniable fact that they're among my top 10 high school teams in Belize. I couldn't limit myself to my top 10 photos, though!

Bunk sweet bunk for the next 2 weeks.

My ride for the usual round of pre-trip errands. I'd pick up a 15-passenger van when I picked up the team.

Host family meals are a chance for individual missionaries to tell their stories. Here, the team learns from the Rev. Jason Groth after enjoying shredded chicken tacos on their first night.

Fresh tortillas are a necessity for breakfast tacos. They're sold here every day from "7 am" (read: 7:45 am) to 7 pm.

Though perhaps a bit atypical, I eased this group in with a day of mostly sightseeing right off the bat.

Crossing another site (#2) off my list of Mayan ruins to see in Belize: Cahal Pech. 

Ajaw chocolate factory. 

Sunday Bible lesson prep during an afternoon A/C break.

Friday's marathon of activities ended with a casual evening of soccer in Valley of Peace with the Rev. Benjamín Flores's team.

(Some of us were more comfortable on the sidelines in the shade!)

Call us gluttons for punishment, but we came back for round 2 on Saturday morning: more soccer, then teaching the Belizeans how to play ultimate Frisbee (with an American football).

Burritos for all!

That evening, we joined the congregation in Chetumal, Mexico, for an evening prayer service via WhatsApp video chat. 

Sunday morning, we got up early and were on the road to Orange Walk, about 2 hours north, by 7 am. The Rev. Roldan Ríos was waiting for us at Iglesia Luterana Castillo Fuerte when we arrived. He'd done his part to advertise a kids' activity with a "Grupo de estudiantes de USA."

The little boy in the foreground spoke no Spanish - go figure! The team quickly pivoted and led their Noah's Ark skit/craft in English and Spanish.

Worship service #1 (3 pm): San Roman. In a couple months, there'll be oodles of the best avocados you've ever had on the tree out front.

Worship service #2 (6:30 pm, bottom photo): back at Castillo Fuerte.

We couldn't leave "Sugar City" without a truly authentic experience. Pastor Roldan spontaneously took time out of his Monday morning to give us a lesson in - and taste of - the local cash crop. He made it look WAY easier than it was!

Tuesday morning, we took the preschoolers from Little Lambs Lutheran Preschool in Valley of Peace on a field trip to Green Hills Butterfly Ranch, where I made a friend.

Did someone say spontaneous? We stopped for Mennonite ice cream on the way back to the Valley. I tried nutmeg - delicious!

Wednesday morning, we had the privilege of helping with cemetery clean-up in Valley of Peace. It was hot, sweaty work that we could have kept at for days. The place could really use a weed whacker, but the dozen or so garbage bags we filled with plastic flower remnants and beer bottles made a sizable difference.

Did you notice any familiar faces in the group photos above? What joy to reunite with former DR MK Abby Warren, now 16 and a rising senior. She amazed me every day with her courage and poise. We finally snapped a selfie during an afternoon outing to a cave, a swimming hole, and a waterfall.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the students bond as they experienced the Belize Lutheran Mission...and as they watched movies, played blackjack and spoons, and held rap battles (better not to ask). There were no cliques; everyone was included. At a campfire on their last night in-country (pictured), they turned to "Mafia," which continued back in the bunkhouse and even on the way to the airport the next morning.

Lutheran South team + Belize mission team. 

¡Hasta pronto! Can't wait to come visit next time I'm in St. Louis, even though I'm not going to recognize the building after completing Phase 1 of a capital construction project!

Are the students going to cite cliff jumping and seeing who could tolerate the spiciest chip flavors first when asked about their trip? Quite possibly. Does that make them normal teenagers? 100%. I trust though, that in time, they'll also reflect on the smiles, the sacrifices, and the steadfastness of the missionaries, members, and local leaders they met. It's my fervent prayer that the opportunity to experience a new culture while also taking a peek at what Spreading the Gospel, Planting Lutheran Churches, and Showing Mercy looks like within it was impactful in some way. I was basically in their shoes 20+ years ago (yikes!)...and now I'm in an airport lounge in Miami on my way back to the Dominican Republic from Belize for the 3rd time this year ;)

Until next time, blessings in Christ!