It’s Good to be Seen

Greetings from Belize! It's good to be here (for a FORO followed by a Volunteer Coordinators' Conference), and to be amongst what is now LAC's 2nd largest missionary team. And as Area Facilitator Rev. Herb Burch replied with a phrase he picked up at a pastors' conference over the summer, "it's good to be seen." 

The day before my 6 am flight, there was some question as to whether there'd even be a FORO. Hurricane Lisa passed through Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and it showed as we left the airport. 

If you saw my Facebook post from yesterday, the answer is no, no there was not power or water at Camp Concordia. We cheered on the multiple electric company crews we passed. 

Two days into the recovery effort may not be an ideal time to host a FORO, but in one sense, it's perfect. Mission life isn't always unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes, it's hurricanes (and then rainbows, as seen from the plane). 

FORO partners are committed to supporting the workers and projects in our various LAC fields, and we who are involved in hosting them like to put our best foot forward. But the partnership isn't just about rejoicing with those who rejoice, it's about weeping with those who weep (c.f. Rom. 12:15). It is good for our missionaries and mission fields to be seen, in the midst of real life, even when the backdrop of real life is downed palm trees. And who's to say a mission team can't put its best foot forward in the aftermath of a storm? Since we stepped off the plane, the rest of the guests and I have been shown nothing but love and hospitality as so many people pivoted at the drop of a hat, largely behind the scenes, to seamlessly pull off what I know was a logistical nightmare. 

Karina, Alliance missionary Benjamin's wife, picked Johanna, Ashley, and I up from the airport and took us to a local brewery for lunch while she waited to hear where she should drop us off. 

The answer was the Wildauers' house in Belmopan. Without basic utilities at Camp Concordia in Banana Bank, it was decided we'd be more comfortable in their NINE BEDROOM house (there are big dreams to use it as a house church, pregnancy resource center, and more). I had fun playing with the kids for a few hours before the entire missionary team descended for a BBQ rib dinner. 

The Wildauers also fed us breakfast and hosted day 1 of the FORO, since without internet it'd be impossible to livestream the meeting from Camp for those joining via Zoom. 

I'm looking forward to spending more time with the Belize mission team and getting to know the Belize FORO partners better over the next couple days, as well as fruitful dialogue related to OIM's short-term volunteer strategy moving forward. I also heard something about a place called "Ice Cream Corner" that's within walking distance...

Until next time, blessings!