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.

Mobile clinics, caves and falls

This week I have been with the medical students on all of the mobile clinics and the clinics held here at hillside because the volunteer physician for this week canceled last minute. This week we held clinics in Pueblo Veijo, Big Falls and Baranco along with our regular Hillside clinics. It's a nice break doing something a little different, however all of this was in addition to what we do every week so this week was particularly busy. While I was gone all week, Hannah held down the fort along with doing some home visits and all the other stuff she does on a daily basis.

Friday afternoon we went with our medical students to Blue Creek Cave and Rio Blanco Falls for a swim. It was really nice. I uploaded some new pics of this. This weekend we are recovering from the busy week and having some family time. We miss you all very much and hope you all are very well.

Catching up... and thoughts on love

We are back on the internet if only for a short time. We are doing well. We have had a very busy and accomplished week. Yesterday afternoon we were able to get away from "work" for a bit and go kayaking down the Joe Taylor Creek (odd name if you ask me) with another volunteer family. This creek runs from inland all the way into the sea. We went inland as the sea was too choppy. It was very nice. Lily found it a bit "creepy" as we were deep in the jungle at times. A couple of times it reminded me of canoeing down the Okatoma!

As today is Valentines Day, I am reminded once again of all the love that surrounds us on a daily basis. Jesus said in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one but this, that he lay down his life for his friends." He goes on to say in Romans 5:6-8 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". I believe that out of this perfect love, all other love flows. The love for you spouse, your children, your family, friends... As Jesus laid down His life for us, we should also lay down our lives, which I remember Bro. Freddie saying is most often our "lifestyle" to show love to one another.


We all made special Valentines cards for each other and exchanged them this morning. It was very sweet. Hannah and the kids made cupcakes and we went around and gave them to some of our patient friends. May the love of Jesus and of those around you saturate your life today.