Early Travels
Our trip began early on Thursday morning, as we took to the road around 12:15 AM. During our trip, the 14 of us sliced through sheets of snow as we tranversed the 5-mile course from Blacksburg, VA to Atlanta, GA. Most of us slept, while the valiant captains and trusty co-pilots in the two mini-vans navigated the mountains of NC in the wee-hours of this wintery morning.
Overall, we were in high spirits, shouting and singing off the grogginess of the trip as we went through he process of long-term parking and security leading to our 9:00 AM flight from Atlanta to Cancun, Mexico. Our team found the afternoon full of resting or weary frivolity, as many of our 14 decided to forego rest at the opportunity to explore the Cancun beaches. We enjoyed the evening as an opportune time to bond and take in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Mexican culture, dining on an outdoor concourse where they feed us healthy portions of tacos (pork meat cooked with a flame torch!), dishes of chicken and beef, and an authentic dessert preared before our very eyes: glazed, caramelized bananas! “You guys remember that snow storm? Yeah, me neither!” was a thought shared often as we switched radically into this oasis of Caribbean beauty.
Our second day of travel was a marathon, taking us from Cancun at 9 AM and landing us in Toledo Christian Academy in Punta Gorda, Belize at around 11 PM, during which we traveled via bus and van. Our time was a cultural adventure that took us through the customs and immigration check-points between Belize and Mexico, providing us the opportunity to learn local music and culture along the way. After arriving, we met the staff of the Laugh Out Loud orphanage and prepared ourselves for a well-deserved rest.
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Check back for the rest of the trip this week!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Prayer Schedule for Blazing Belize 2011
If you are interested, you can follow this "prayer schedule" to know how to pray for our time/ our work in Belize!
Blazing Belize, January 2011: Itinerary and Prayer Scehdule
January 7, 2011
12:00 AM Leave Blacksburg, VA to Atlanta, GA
*Meet in the Ministry Center of The River
(Days Inn; 3503 Holiday Lane; Blacksburg VA 24060)
9:05 AM AirTran Airways flight 44 Atl to Cancun
11:05 AM AirTran Airways flight 44 arrives—Cancun, Mexico
12:00 PM check-in at Hotel del Sol
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 Meetings, instructions, and prayer
• Pray for trip leaders Jonathan Tagg and Ryan Bettwy as they instruct the team to success.
• Pray for rest for the team members throughout the travels
• Pray for our travels, our conversations, and for safe arrival in each location as we travel.
January 8, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM Leave Hotel del Sol
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Bus to Chetumal to Belize City
5:00 PM- 7:00 PM Bus from Belize City to Punta Gorda, Belize
7:00 PM Shuttle to LOL ministries
7:30 PM Dinner at Toldeo Christian Academy
• Pray for traveling, bus transitions, and for hotel/ food accommodations/ physical health
• Pray for our interactions with the people in Punta Gorda, Belize
• Pray for our time together as a team and in the word each day
January 9, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
9 AM - 6 PM Field trip to Silk/ Ranguana Caye for snorkeling and beach play
7:30-8:30 PM Meeting for assignments, directions, and prayer
• Pray for us to enrich relationships among team members, build unity, and proclaim Christ
• Pray for our trip leaders to be of sound judgment, guidance, and for physical safety
January 10, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Alex Hugel, Mark Richardson, and Sam Vaughn, for their personal experience of Christ during this trip
• Pray for the interactions between our team and students, workers, and other Belizean natives.
January 11, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Caleb Fleming, Isaac Nagle, and Sam Walton: For authentic interactions with people and God
• Pray for the Laugh Out Loud orphanage: for clarity in purpose, direction, practical needs, and for their leadership (Melissa and Jervis)
• Pray for the construction projects that we are completing at the orphanage
January 12, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Rachel Carlson, Alex Hopkins, and Kent Dodge: for their interactions with others and for seeking Christ during their day
• Pray for the Toledo Christian Academy: For focus on their goals, funding, and solid interactions with foreigners/ Americans
• Pray for Emerson, the principal of TCA, and for the kitchen that we are building at the school
January 13, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for The Hillside Health clinic: for our interactions with the workers there, for physical healing, for wisdom of doctors, and for funding
• Pray for John Saad and Craig Sweeney: for their time at the clinics and remote sites to be fulfilling and educational, for seeking Christ, and vision for ministry
January 14, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Joshua Nicoletti and James Wood: For their interactions with Christ and the team
• Pray for energy, rest, and our times of sharing the word with one another
• Pray for our devotionals, that they would feed us spiritual and that we’d recall them throughout the day
January 15, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Bus from Punta Gorda to Belize City
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Bus from Belize City to Chetumal to Cancun
1:00 PM check-in at hotel in Cancun
6:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Final meeting and time of sharing
• Pray for The Hayes family: for their time in Punta Gorda, their hearts toward Christ, and for interactions with others to be fulfilling
• For continued ministry in Punta Gorda, Belize to happen. For peoples’ hearts to go there to be enlightened and fed with practical opportunities to go and share Christ
January 16, 2011
8:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Check-out of hotel/ accommodations
12:00 PM AirTran Airways flight 45 Cancun to Atlanta, GA
3:50 PM AirTran Airways flight 45 arrives—Hatfield airport, Atlanta, GA
4:30 PM – 10:30 PM Drive from Atlanta, GA to Blacksburg, VA
• Pray for our return trip to the United States
• Pray for sharing our adventures and the things we’ve learned on our trip
• For the logistics of our travel: rest, health, and energy in the return
Blazing Belize, January 2011: Itinerary and Prayer Scehdule
January 7, 2011
12:00 AM Leave Blacksburg, VA to Atlanta, GA
*Meet in the Ministry Center of The River
(Days Inn; 3503 Holiday Lane; Blacksburg VA 24060)
9:05 AM AirTran Airways flight 44 Atl to Cancun
11:05 AM AirTran Airways flight 44 arrives—Cancun, Mexico
12:00 PM check-in at Hotel del Sol
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 Meetings, instructions, and prayer
• Pray for trip leaders Jonathan Tagg and Ryan Bettwy as they instruct the team to success.
• Pray for rest for the team members throughout the travels
• Pray for our travels, our conversations, and for safe arrival in each location as we travel.
January 8, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM Leave Hotel del Sol
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Bus to Chetumal to Belize City
5:00 PM- 7:00 PM Bus from Belize City to Punta Gorda, Belize
7:00 PM Shuttle to LOL ministries
7:30 PM Dinner at Toldeo Christian Academy
• Pray for traveling, bus transitions, and for hotel/ food accommodations/ physical health
• Pray for our interactions with the people in Punta Gorda, Belize
• Pray for our time together as a team and in the word each day
January 9, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
9 AM - 6 PM Field trip to Silk/ Ranguana Caye for snorkeling and beach play
7:30-8:30 PM Meeting for assignments, directions, and prayer
• Pray for us to enrich relationships among team members, build unity, and proclaim Christ
• Pray for our trip leaders to be of sound judgment, guidance, and for physical safety
January 10, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Alex Hugel, Mark Richardson, and Sam Vaughn, for their personal experience of Christ during this trip
• Pray for the interactions between our team and students, workers, and other Belizean natives.
January 11, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Caleb Fleming, Isaac Nagle, and Sam Walton: For authentic interactions with people and God
• Pray for the Laugh Out Loud orphanage: for clarity in purpose, direction, practical needs, and for their leadership (Melissa and Jervis)
• Pray for the construction projects that we are completing at the orphanage
January 12, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Rachel Carlson, Alex Hopkins, and Kent Dodge: for their interactions with others and for seeking Christ during their day
• Pray for the Toledo Christian Academy: For focus on their goals, funding, and solid interactions with foreigners/ Americans
• Pray for Emerson, the principal of TCA, and for the kitchen that we are building at the school
January 13, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for The Hillside Health clinic: for our interactions with the workers there, for physical healing, for wisdom of doctors, and for funding
• Pray for John Saad and Craig Sweeney: for their time at the clinics and remote sites to be fulfilling and educational, for seeking Christ, and vision for ministry
January 14, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Morning devotional
8:45 AM Gather with work team. Report to LOL, TCA, or Hillside, as assigned
9:00 AM- 6:00 PM Work at worksite (LOL, TCA, and Hillside)
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Meet with break-out groups
• Pray for Joshua Nicoletti and James Wood: For their interactions with Christ and the team
• Pray for energy, rest, and our times of sharing the word with one another
• Pray for our devotionals, that they would feed us spiritual and that we’d recall them throughout the day
January 15, 2011
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Bus from Punta Gorda to Belize City
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Bus from Belize City to Chetumal to Cancun
1:00 PM check-in at hotel in Cancun
6:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Final meeting and time of sharing
• Pray for The Hayes family: for their time in Punta Gorda, their hearts toward Christ, and for interactions with others to be fulfilling
• For continued ministry in Punta Gorda, Belize to happen. For peoples’ hearts to go there to be enlightened and fed with practical opportunities to go and share Christ
January 16, 2011
8:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Check-out of hotel/ accommodations
12:00 PM AirTran Airways flight 45 Cancun to Atlanta, GA
3:50 PM AirTran Airways flight 45 arrives—Hatfield airport, Atlanta, GA
4:30 PM – 10:30 PM Drive from Atlanta, GA to Blacksburg, VA
• Pray for our return trip to the United States
• Pray for sharing our adventures and the things we’ve learned on our trip
• For the logistics of our travel: rest, health, and energy in the return
Blazing Belize, 2011
The motto for the Hillside Health Center International in Belize is a simple quote that embodies the international flavor of this region and its people:
A more startling question: Why does that matter to the 16 Americans about to board an airplane to visit this Belizean region?
Tomorrow, I will depart along with a team of 15 other eager members of The River church to explore the terrain of Mexico and finally land at our destination of Punta Gorda Belize. While we will certainly revel in the opportunity to enjoy traveling and swimming in crystal-blue waters in Southern Belize, our goal stretches far beyond these endeavors, upholding a goal going on this trip that is very simple: to carry the banner of Christ unto all the nations of the world with a heart of service in tow.
For six days, we will be visiting Punta Gorda, Belize, where we will serve three ministries stationed in the area:
* LAUGH OUT LOUD orphanage, an under-served Christian ministry in Punta Gorda that is developing a home that will serve upwards of 75 children once it becomes fully-functional. Our goal is to serve in construction projects for the orphanage, which is severely lacking in man-power and funds, a role that we are honored to serve.
* TOLDEO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, a Christian school dedicated to teaching youths from pre-school to middle school ages. Their purpose is to prepare children educationally and to cast a vision for their 100 students to live a God-centered life. Our goal is to serve them by funding and building a full-service kitchen which, once operating, will serve the children and the community by providing hot meals to students daily.
* HILLSIDE MEDICAL CLINIC, a health clinic dedicated to serving the underprivileged communities in and around the Toledo District of Southern Belize.
It's amazing for me personally to step into a position of serving people who, at this point, I have never known. I am excited to be even a small part of this team and will enjoy sharing the experiences that we encounter after returning from our 9-day journey. Our vision is that Christ will be known, praised, and exalted-- and now we simply step into it with faith!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT and for considering us as we journey through Mexico and Belize!
"Prayer begets faith, faith begets love, and love begets service on behalf of the poor” -- Mother Teresa
How can a clinic in Belize, a country smaller than the state of Massachusetts tucked just South of Mexico, uphold the values stated by an Indian nun of Albanian ethnicity?A more startling question: Why does that matter to the 16 Americans about to board an airplane to visit this Belizean region?
Tomorrow, I will depart along with a team of 15 other eager members of The River church to explore the terrain of Mexico and finally land at our destination of Punta Gorda Belize. While we will certainly revel in the opportunity to enjoy traveling and swimming in crystal-blue waters in Southern Belize, our goal stretches far beyond these endeavors, upholding a goal going on this trip that is very simple: to carry the banner of Christ unto all the nations of the world with a heart of service in tow.
For six days, we will be visiting Punta Gorda, Belize, where we will serve three ministries stationed in the area:
* LAUGH OUT LOUD orphanage, an under-served Christian ministry in Punta Gorda that is developing a home that will serve upwards of 75 children once it becomes fully-functional. Our goal is to serve in construction projects for the orphanage, which is severely lacking in man-power and funds, a role that we are honored to serve.
* TOLDEO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, a Christian school dedicated to teaching youths from pre-school to middle school ages. Their purpose is to prepare children educationally and to cast a vision for their 100 students to live a God-centered life. Our goal is to serve them by funding and building a full-service kitchen which, once operating, will serve the children and the community by providing hot meals to students daily.
* HILLSIDE MEDICAL CLINIC, a health clinic dedicated to serving the underprivileged communities in and around the Toledo District of Southern Belize.
It's amazing for me personally to step into a position of serving people who, at this point, I have never known. I am excited to be even a small part of this team and will enjoy sharing the experiences that we encounter after returning from our 9-day journey. Our vision is that Christ will be known, praised, and exalted-- and now we simply step into it with faith!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONSTANT SUPPORT and for considering us as we journey through Mexico and Belize!
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