Belize Mission Trip - :: Adventures in Missions ::

Belize Mission Trip: Impact on the students

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Mission Trip: Changed Lives

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mission Trip to Belize: Comes To A Close

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Missions Trip: Evangelism Video

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mission Trip to Belize: Outreach at the Park

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Mission Trip: Day Off

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Going to the least of these in Belize

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thank you for praying, thank you for sending!

Belize Mission Trip: Ministry on the Island

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Mission Trip: Tuesday Afternoon In San Matao

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were in the San Matao area this afternoon serving at the school with the student assembly and then helped them crush out a few jobs before the stormy season hits here in July.

Mission Trip to Belize: Being Jesus to the Locals

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tuesday Morning Ministry in Belize

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

World Gospel Church Facilitates Sunday Morning Service

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Monday Morning Ministry in Belize

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Four groups headed out this morning during in four different directions during their mission trip here in Belize.

Monday Afternoon Ministry in Belize

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Mission Trip: Living Water Outreach Debrief

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The following video shows how the kids prepared for their outreach today, and they share their stories afterwards during a debrief. Every day, we get together at the end of the day and share what God has done.

Local Students Reaching Out!

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We invited 12 students form the church we are partnering with here in Ambergriz Caye to go out with us Saturday night to give out a cold water and a warm prayer. It was the first time they had ever done any thing like this, a couple of them wanted to tell their story.

How to Subscribe to this Blog

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you've been enjoying the videos and blogs we've been posting during our Belize mission trip, I encourage you to subscribe to our update alerts via email.

Any time we post a new video or blog, you will be notified via email. You can then share that email with others that may be encouraged by all that the Lord is doing through this team. Thanks for your prayers and comments!

Click here to subscribe via email alerts to this blog.

Click here to follow our updates on Twitter.

Cleaning Up Ambergris Caye: Belize Island

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It was great to partner with Wold Gospel Church team this morning. We had 45 people help with the beach clean up, 90 large bags of garbage collected for an estimated 2,000 pounds of garbage picked up!

I thanked many of them when we were finishing up, but I know I missed some. Please tell them all a huge thank you from Destination Paradise, again (organizers of the Island cleanup). We will be praying for your time here and that God will produce fruit in your teams lives and people here in the community.

Here is a link to a local newspaper blog about this morning's beach clean-up if anyone is interested: http://www.sanpedrosun.blogspot.com.

Bless you guys, and I look forward to seeing you around the upcoming days.

-Jeff

Friday afternoon Island Plunge

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

First evening debrief and response

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We Made It to Belize!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We made it safe and sound, with several answered prayers... thank you!

Only one snag, now that we've got the air mattresses all pumped up, we've discovered we're short one suitcase. Please pray that this will turn up tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

First Morning in Belize

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Note from Katie

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey Mom and Dad,

Belize is awesome. I miss you and love you.

Love,

Katie

Belize Instruction Guide for Arrival

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey everyone,

Amie and I arrived safely last night. We're excited to make all our last minute rounds to our ministry partners here. Take a look at the video I took yesterday. It will give you a few pointers of what to expect once you get off the plane here.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Blessings and safe travels,

Clint

The Harvest is Plentiful in Belize

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Belize Mission Trip: About the Church

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ambergris Caye - Living Word Church

Here are some quick facts about the church and ministry with which we'll be partnering during our Belize mission trip. We leave tomorrow morning - thanks for your prayers! Keep checking this blog for updates (click here to subscribe via email), videos, and ministry reports.

There are about 500 Christians on the Island of Amergris Caye, and the population is around 15,000 people. The predominant religion is Catholicism (95% non-practicing).

Living Word Church runs around 85 adults and 40 kids on any given Sunday morning.

This church has the following ministries:

Monday night: Discipleship
Wednesday night: Women's ministries
Thursday night: men's ministries
Sunday night: Youth service

How to Pray for Belize

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Interested in praying for our Belize mission trip? Once we get on the ground, we'll be able to share with you some more specific prayer needs, but for now, here are some general needs and direction in how to pray for Belize, thanks to Operation World:

History and Culture of Belize

Formerly British Honduras, Belize was the last Central American country to gain its independence in 1981.

With the second largest barrier reef in the world and more than than half of its land as protected forests, Belize's main source of income is eco-tourism.

Challenges for Prayer

Most Belizeans would call themselves Christians, but in each different culture there are underlying superstitions or black magic. Pray that Spanish speakers, Caribbean Garifuna and Mayans would all have the chance to hear the truth about Jesus in a way that is culturally relevant.

Many new Christians fall away because there isn't enough follow-up to help people understand how to live out their faith.

Culture of Ambergris Caye, Belize

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here are some quick facts on the culture of Ambergris Caye, Belize from a tourism site:

The settlers who came from Mexico brought with them their Spanish Language, Catholic and Mexican traditions and a rich culture. The official language of Belize is English and most islanders speak and understand English but the main language is still Spanish. The Maya that some of the present settlers' ancestors once spoke is no longer spoken.

Islanders also speak Creole, a language or dialect derived from the English language. Due to the influence of Maya, Creole and English languages, most of the islanders speak today what is known as "kitchen Spanish" - informal Spanish that incorporates English, Maya and Creole words. An example is "pullar". The word comes from the English root "pull" and adds a Spanish suffix "ar". The English definition is "pull".

The Mexican settlers also brought with them a distinctly rich culture with traditions comprised of Spanish, Mayan and Catholic elements. Many of these traditions are still followed today. Some such of these is the observance of religious feast days and celebrations such as the Lenten Season, an important aspect of Catholicism; regular attendance at Church especially at Easter and Christmas and the celebration of Sacraments. Easter Procession and Novenas (prayers) are spectacular annual events and have the participation of almost the entire local population of San Pedro Town.

Another common tradition that continues today is that of naming children and places after Catholic patrons and Saints. Most of the new settlements and developments are named after Saints: e.g. San Pedro - Saint Peter.

About Belize and Ambergris Caye

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some facts about Belize from Ambergriscaye.com:

Belize, only 8,867 square miles in size, is situated on the northeast coast of Central America. The Caribbean Sea lies to the east and from the air its turquoise waters are clear, allowing the multicolored coral formation of the Great Barrier Reef to be easily observed. Coral islands called cayes, covered with stands of mangrove trees, dot the coast. Lying in aquamarine and jade-colored bays, these cayes protect the jungled coastline from the ravages of the sea.

Belize currently has 220,000 people, 4000 on Ambergris Caye. At the high point of the Maya population, the whole of Belize including Ambergris Caye had 2,000,000 people. Ambergris Caye's population has a larger Mestizo percentage because of its proximity to the Yucatan.

Some facts about Amergris Caye (where we will be ministering during the mission trip):

While politically part of Belize, Ambergris Caye has more in common, geographically and culturally with Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. If the Maya hadn't enlarged and dredged a canal at the north end of the caye, Ambergris Caye might be part of Mexico today.

Because of geography and history Ambergris Caye has a culture that is all it's own. Yes it's Belize, in the same way that Seattle, WA and Dallas, TX are the USA. Describing Seattle won't help you understand Dallas. Same thing with all the separate parts of Belize. It may only be the size of New Hampshire, but it is incredibly diverse, exciting, and worthy of your exploration. But understanding Belize won't get you prepared for this tropical paradise.

The island is a 25 mile long, flat, coral sand island, protected on the east by a living reef that extends 185 miles down the coast of Belize. Ambergris is the southern most extension of the Yucatan Penisula, a unique Penisula of porous limestone.
Ambergris Caye is a narrow island with the lagoon on the west and the reef on the east. San Pedro Town is the only town on the island, located at a narrow point of the island, and from the air traveler's perspective, right at the end of the runway. Click here for fairly complete descriptions of the major areas of Belize. Southern Barrier Reef Islands, Atolls, Northern Atolls, and Mainland areas.

A Letter To Belize Trip Prayer Warriors!

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dear parents, friends, family members and Prayer Warriors:

Thank you for supporting this upcoming trip to Belize. Adventures In Missions has been taking young people on life-changing mission trips since 1989, and we expect this trip to be another great one.

AIM trips have a way of altering people's lives, calling participants to question where they've placed their priorities and how to live more "missional" lives back home. These types of short-term group trips are called The Edge, because we believe that on these trips, God is afforded the opportunity to take people to "the edge" of their faith, radically transforming them in the process.

In the past, we've documented this life change through our mission trip reports, but this trip is unique in that we'll be offering special video footage live from the field. Nearly every day (or as often as we are able), our group will be posting updates from Belize in the form of Twitter posts, text and photo blogs, and video clips. All of these can be found at this site: http://missiontrip-belize.myadventures.org/.

You can check this site before, during, and after the trip for information about the mission location, travel information, and trip updates. Please feel free to share this address with anyone at your church who is praying for the mission trip to Belize or is interested in following the group's journey. It is an honor to join you in seeing what God has in store for us in Belize. To get email updates every time a new post is made to this site, click here.

Sincerely,

Clint Bokelman
Director of The Edge Short Term Missions
Adventures In Missions
http://www.adventures.org