Don’t Stop Belize-in’

How was Belize, you ask? Wet. 

I learned of Nadine thanks to a prayer request on the LAC Facebook page while working at a coffee shop with Karina and tracking the arrival of a four-man team from Trinity Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. Turns out "94L" had become a tropical storm* and was making a beeline directly for us. Even 3.8 inches of rain last Saturday didn't stop us from Belize-in', though - just forced us to "pivot!" (which went on to become a catchphrase in conversation the rest of the weekend) several times. 

Pivot! Trapped on the bunkhouse porch due to a freak downpour, Rev. Herb Burch shared a brief history of Camp Concordia. Later, we had a "light" (ha!) meal together with the Burches and fellow missionary Danelle's parents, visiting from OR.

Aside from experiencing Camp life, completing a 1/2 day work project, and doing some intentional planning for a larger team from Trinity that's angling to revamp the Little Lambs Preschool playground in 2025, the guys delved into the topic of prayer with Pastor Lonnie (2nd from right) during their devotional time.

Pivot! Remember that 1/2 day work project? Yeahhhhhh... 

Being relegated indoors allowed for an even more targeted conversation/brainstorm with the preschool teachers and Belize Lutheran Mission pastors. 

We concluded by ordering burritos and heading next door to Iglesia Luterana el Buen Pastor for a devotional led by Pastor Burch.

Pivot! Karina had reserved an outdoor venue for Matheo's first birthday party but wound up inviting ~20 people over to the Casa Flores for tacos, TWO cakes, and fellowship. 

The guys let me crash their Monday morning cultural activity, a Mayan cooking class, to assess its viability for future teams. I met them at team leader Thomas's vacation home, which has an OK view ;)

My presence made it that much more authentic, as most of what we did to make chicken soup, corn tortillas, tamales, and hot chocolate would have been women's work. 

Atole: a creamy, sweet, cinnamon-y drink thickened with masa (corn ground into a paste) that we had no part in making but got to enjoy. 

I've done multiple chocolate tours in multiple countries but never actually observed cacao beans being roasted. If you stood in the right place, it smelled like brownies baking. 

A still-warm freshly roasted cacao bean! It was bitter and fruity with the slightest hint of a chocolate-y aftertaste.

Yesenia, our chef instructor, plated the tamales with tostadas that we also had no part in making. 

More strategic discussion of goals, roles & responsibilities, dates, etc. over dinner on Thomas' back deck. 

Still just OK ;)

I was ready to go home by the time Tuesday rolled around, so it figures that the sun would finally come out! One planned overnight in Miami later, I pulled into my driveway around 2:15 on Wednesday (or tried to but couldn't get my automatic sliding gate to open).

My next task in supporting volunteers as they walk alongside the Belize team's efforts to Spread the Gospel, Plant Lutheran Churches, and Show Mercy will be a Zoom presentation for the FORO partner gathering in mid-November. Belize might be a recent addition to my workload, but the way things are shaping up, it's going to figure heavily into my 2025 schedule with 5-6 trips there, minimum. After waiting six years to tackle it, bring it on. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!

*Remember that time I went to Belize the day after Hurricane Lisa hit?