My Saviour's Love

This hymn is such an amazing song! I am teaching our church this song in the morning. Wow, just read the verses or sing them if you know the tune. The verse that really got me was: "He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine". He really did deny everything, including his own feelings to die on the cross for me (us). Today our electricity was out for about 8 hours and today was the hottest day of the year here. Needless to say I was uncomfortable and a bit cranky at times. I am sure you can think of a time when you were physically uncomfortable, and it is no fun. We usually have a pity party and look for the fastest and easiest way to get comfortable. But Jesus had the opposite attitude when faced with incredible discomfort and pain for our sake: "He had no tears for His own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine". Praise and thanks be to Jesus, our Saviour for His Marvelous Love for us!!!

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous!
How wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!

For me it was in the garden He prayed:
”Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary
and Suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
‘twill be my joy through the ages
to sing of His love for me!

Students, corn tortillas, movie party and first date

This week was busy with nursing students, showing them how healthcare is provided here and all the while integrating how we personally show God's love to those we care for. Below is a pic of the students teaching kids in a local school basic hygiene.

Lily and Hannah took the students to a Mayan village to learn about this wonderful culture. Lily enjoyed learning how to make corn tortillas. She also bought a Mayan woven basket that she had been saving her money to get for a very long time.

Last night the medical students invited Lily and Aidan over for a movie party. They ate pizza, played games, watched Cinderella (Lily's choice) and of course ate popcorn. The students we have here every month are all so wonderful. They all come from all over the US and Europe. We try to show God's love to them by being a good example and by telling them our story.


Hannah and I took advantage of this party and went on our first date here in Belize. We all had a great time!

Things we have learned over the past 6 months

Today marks 6 months since we began our time here in Belize. Things certainly have not been what we imagined, both in good and bad ways. We know God wanted us here, so we are keeping an open attitude of learning. We are learning much about what it truly means to love the least of these, and also just as much about ourselves, both our strengths and weaknesses. Here are some others things we have learned in our time here thus far:

• We are not nearly as tough as we thought we were
• You can reuse a styrofoam plate MULTIPLE times
• Spoiled milk still tastes bad no matter how much chocolate you put in it
• We took for-granted friends and family
• Pot holes in the US are not really that bad after all
• You can actually get some meat off a chicken neck
• Pig skin (with hair) is hard to cut off a piece of pork
• Hot weather is even hotter when you can’t escape it
• Americans (including us) are so spoiled
• Cold showers are not always that bad
• Saying you depend on God is very different than actually doing it
• You can’t escape country music
• Getting 30+ bug bites over night while sleeping SUCKS
• There is a difference between beans and rice and rice and beans
• The things we thought we would miss most, are actually what we miss the least
• We miss fellowship with family and friends more than anything
• God's love for us is so unconditional that we have no excuse to not love others in the very same way

oh yeah, paying $17.95 bz (~$9 bucks) for ranch was worth every penny!

Multicultural birthday party

Yesterday the kids were invited to a birthday party for a girl who was turning three. Her family is from New Zealand. Her father is an engineer who is working on completing the paving of the final 10 miles of the southern highway that goes from Belize City to Punta Gorda. It was a really neat experience. There were Belizean kids there of course but there was also a family from South Africa (who manage a jungle resort nearby). It was definitely a multicultural event. The kids had a blast (and we enjoyed meeting new people). Check out the video of Lily dancing!

Check out Aidan catching some air trying to get the candy out of Dora! Who says white boys can't jump??

Needless to say they were successful!

God of this City

I (we) have been struggling with being so busy here with "work" stuff that I have almost forgotten why we are here. Not just why we are here in Belize but more importantly why we are here on Earth. God has used several things to reminded me AGAIN of the reason, including His word and preaching. Another thing God often uses speak to me personally is through music. One song the spirit of God has been singing my soul for the past 6 months in particular is the song "God of this City" (which by the way of you have not heard the story behind the song, google it... it is AWESOME). I believe the "city" is "where" you are. The area where you have influence. The "city" in this song can include family, work, school, church, neighborhoods... Our city right now is right here in Belize. Our "city" will one day change but the call to tell that city about God will not. I have a renewed passion and vigor to show the love and saving grace of Jesus to every person, regardless of status or condition, not just in action (deed) but also with my mouth (word). You too have a 'city' that needs be shown and told the same. "For there is no one like our God... greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city..."

to know Christ and to KNOW Christ

At our church here in Belize we are going through the book of Romans. I have been convicted that I do not "know" Christ like I need to, so I can live the life I am called to live. I think there are different levels of "knowing" Jesus. In chapter 1 of Romans it speaks of knowing God in an acknowledging sense. Knowing God and treating Him as God. But later on (In 1 Corinthians 3:10) Paul speaks of knowing Christ in much more powerful ways, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death". I know God, and I acknowledge Him as creator and God, but I do not know Him like Paul describes in I Cor 3:10. I want to though and I am determined to get there.