Three CHEers for My Latest Team

September is packed with travel: I ushered in the month in Belize and leave tomorrow for Jamaica. A DR FORO (post coming soon!) made a tight turnaround even tighter, but here we go. Beginning August 27, I was privileged to host a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) team in Belize. To my knowledge, it was LAC's 2nd (the first being Peru in Feb. 2020), and I was much more knowledgeable this time around. A trained team leader expertly helped a cadre of six well-rounded medical professionals lead a series of interactive workshops for missionaries, preschool teachers, preschool parents, church members, and the communities around the Belize Lutheran Mission congregations at large. 

Time with these ladies is always a high point of Belize (Tirzah, on the far right, lives in the DR with me but was along for the ride due to the nature of this particular team). A few hours after we landed, we scoped out happy hour at a new-ish restaurant in Belmopan that I hope to incorporate into future team itineraries. 

The trip started off with a slow-paced day on which we leaned into being learners. Rev. Benjamín

 Flores invited us to be on hand for one of Inspiration Center's regular visits to Iglesia Luterana El Buen Pastor in Valley of Peace. A team of therapists arrived mid-morning to work 1-on-1 with a revolving door of families of kids with disabilities. The Belize Lutheran Mission only recently signed an MOU with Inspiration Center, so it was my first time seeing the relationship in action after months of dialogue.

Later that afternoon, Dr. Steve provided vision checks for incoming preschool students while nurse Andrea conducted hearing screenings in the next room. He made the eye test into a matching game that was so much fun to translate for! 

The idea was that families would then stay for a talk on nutrition by Steve's wife Janet, another RN, which many did.

All CHE lessons weave in a Gospel teaching at the end, but Pastor Micah helped drive home the point by concluding with a tutorial on at-home prayer & devotions.

I'm sitting like this because it's comfortable, definitely NOT because a tarantula rudely interrupted devotions that night...

It worked out that our cultural excursion to Lamanai Chocolate fit on Friday morning. This was the best bite of the whole experience: just roasted cacao beans ground almost to a paste mixed with natural honey.

We ate dessert first and then lunch with the Wildauer family at a favorite establishment among the Belize missionary families, Hala Madrid. They'd pre-ordered family-style platters of such delicacies as fryjacks, garnaches, tostadas, empanadas, and Mexican-style tacos.

Friday afternoon, it was back to Valley of Peace for 3-5 yr. old child development.

Saturday morning, missionary families joined the preschool teachers for a 2-for-1 workshop on first aid and CPR.

Turns out a wall cross makes a pretty good neck brace in a pinch. Rev. Benjamín Flores: "Is this an exorcism?"

Circumstances beyond my control threw the rest of our Saturday out of whack, but my crew unflinchingly jumped in to help clear this space of books and clutter in the heat of the day.

That night, we ventured out to Belmopan's monthly "night market," which I hadn't even known about prior to the start of the trip, for some street food and live music.

Sunday morning, we made an early morning trek south to Seine Bight, where the team addressed alcoholism.

Informal conversations continued long after the formal programming had wrapped up.

Monday and Tuesday were similar: sessions with the preschool teachers in the mornings, sessions open to the community in the afternoons, and host home dinners. For the first time in my 7+ years, a team got to enjoy a Norwegian dish (thanks to Benjamín's wife Karina). 

I remembered to bring my computer Tuesday morning so I could work while I listened to the team expertly address behavioral issues. I cranked out my September/October newsletter.

Throughout the week, the team continually commented during nightly team meetings that they had only highs - no lows. Besides unwelcome eight-legged critters, I might say the same. Their positive attitudes and genuine Christian love for everyone they interacted with brightened each day for me, and I'm excited to see how our seven-day stint might become a catalyst for future CHE activity in Belize or elsewhere in the region. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!