My Experiences In Belize
My First Trip
In 2009, I went on my first adult mission trip to Belize with Asbury UMC, at the urging of a dear friend and my husband. My thought was, "It's January, the coldest month in Wisconsin... I'd be in the tropics for a week... WHY NOT?" While I was there, I avoided getting to know the people of Belize, because I figured that would be my one and only mission trip. I invested my time in getting to know my fellow missionaries. On that trip I was witness to a deliverance of demonic possession, and God opened my eyes to what prophesy was. I had no idea what to think about all of this, but God placed key people in my life to help me understand, being able to point to scripture to help me see this as truth. After being back for a bit and missing the closeness that was felt on that trip, I sought to take bible studies with my new friends. Little did I know that God was working on me in a big way.
In 2009, I went on my first adult mission trip to Belize with Asbury UMC, at the urging of a dear friend and my husband. My thought was, "It's January, the coldest month in Wisconsin... I'd be in the tropics for a week... WHY NOT?" While I was there, I avoided getting to know the people of Belize, because I figured that would be my one and only mission trip. I invested my time in getting to know my fellow missionaries. On that trip I was witness to a deliverance of demonic possession, and God opened my eyes to what prophesy was. I had no idea what to think about all of this, but God placed key people in my life to help me understand, being able to point to scripture to help me see this as truth. After being back for a bit and missing the closeness that was felt on that trip, I sought to take bible studies with my new friends. Little did I know that God was working on me in a big way.
My Second Trip
Asbury didn't go back to Belize until 2011. I did not plan to go with them, as I felt our family couldn't afford it, and I really don't like to travel. By then, I had been in a few bible studies. One pivotal study I was in, Beth Moore's "Breaking Free," changed my life dramatically. On the way home from bible study, I would have visions of frog artwork while mulling over that day's lesson at stop lights. "FROG" for me, had come to symbolize "Fully Rely On God." I didn't know what to do with the visions at first, and decided to turn them into artwork. I realized I could turn them into cards and sell them. I felt so grateful about my 2009 trip, that I wanted the proceeds to go to the Belize 2011 Mission Fund. The Lord pressed on my heart to go back to Belize. Our house was refinanced in the fall of 2010, which freed up money to purchase a used mini-van, with some money left over. My husband suggested I think about going to Belize again if it wasn't too late. I figured if it was meant to be, things would fall into place. Well... they did. Within one day I was set to go, complete with a purchased airline ticket!
Wondering why the Lord wanted me to go, I soon found out after we arrived. While discussing our plans for repainting the church's exterior, Pastor Angel mentioned how nice it would be if the church's sign was repainted to match the freshness of the repainted church. My years of calligraphy, lettering and sign painting suddenly took on significance... the only problem was I hadn't done those things in years. I also had painful issues with my back. I couldn't lift my right arm (I'm right-handed) for very long before it would go numb... driving long distances and working at my computer had become very difficult. Weakly, I volunteered to paint the sign. This was a time that I had to Fully Rely On God!
The prep work and base coats took longer than I wanted, and it came down to the last day for me to lay out the sign design, transfer it to the sign, and paint it... both sides! In my mind, I kept thinking that one side would usually take me a whole day at home. I figured I'd be painting the sign into dusk. Fortunately, God sent another artist with us, Catie Castegnet. Still thinking the sign wouldn't be done, I made provisions for someone to fill in for me at my bible stories post during bible school that late afternoon.
Let me tell you... God had it all worked out! My efficiency was beyond my normal abilities, my back pain wasn't an issue, my arm never went numb (even though it was above my head for most of the day), I didn't get sunburn, a threatening rain cloud passed by letting out very few drops, and the sign was finished in JUST ENOUGH TIME for me to quickly clean the site up before bible school got underway!
In addition to that experience, God had other plans for me. Before leaving for Belize, I was able to purchase a violin and a viola to donate to the Louisiana Government School. I was excited to hold a string clinic in Mr. Lucio Alcocer's music class. On our last morning in Orange Walk, we attended the school's assembly. At the assembly, we presented the school with many gifts, including the instruments. The school blessed us with a mini concert on instruments we provided them from an instrument drive (headed by my friend Ellen Burleigh) after our 2009 trip! The students had won a Gold Award a month before in a national music competition! What progress in just one year!
My Third Trip
Please see the "2012 Belize" tab.
Asbury didn't go back to Belize until 2011. I did not plan to go with them, as I felt our family couldn't afford it, and I really don't like to travel. By then, I had been in a few bible studies. One pivotal study I was in, Beth Moore's "Breaking Free," changed my life dramatically. On the way home from bible study, I would have visions of frog artwork while mulling over that day's lesson at stop lights. "FROG" for me, had come to symbolize "Fully Rely On God." I didn't know what to do with the visions at first, and decided to turn them into artwork. I realized I could turn them into cards and sell them. I felt so grateful about my 2009 trip, that I wanted the proceeds to go to the Belize 2011 Mission Fund. The Lord pressed on my heart to go back to Belize. Our house was refinanced in the fall of 2010, which freed up money to purchase a used mini-van, with some money left over. My husband suggested I think about going to Belize again if it wasn't too late. I figured if it was meant to be, things would fall into place. Well... they did. Within one day I was set to go, complete with a purchased airline ticket!
Wondering why the Lord wanted me to go, I soon found out after we arrived. While discussing our plans for repainting the church's exterior, Pastor Angel mentioned how nice it would be if the church's sign was repainted to match the freshness of the repainted church. My years of calligraphy, lettering and sign painting suddenly took on significance... the only problem was I hadn't done those things in years. I also had painful issues with my back. I couldn't lift my right arm (I'm right-handed) for very long before it would go numb... driving long distances and working at my computer had become very difficult. Weakly, I volunteered to paint the sign. This was a time that I had to Fully Rely On God!
The prep work and base coats took longer than I wanted, and it came down to the last day for me to lay out the sign design, transfer it to the sign, and paint it... both sides! In my mind, I kept thinking that one side would usually take me a whole day at home. I figured I'd be painting the sign into dusk. Fortunately, God sent another artist with us, Catie Castegnet. Still thinking the sign wouldn't be done, I made provisions for someone to fill in for me at my bible stories post during bible school that late afternoon.
Let me tell you... God had it all worked out! My efficiency was beyond my normal abilities, my back pain wasn't an issue, my arm never went numb (even though it was above my head for most of the day), I didn't get sunburn, a threatening rain cloud passed by letting out very few drops, and the sign was finished in JUST ENOUGH TIME for me to quickly clean the site up before bible school got underway!
In addition to that experience, God had other plans for me. Before leaving for Belize, I was able to purchase a violin and a viola to donate to the Louisiana Government School. I was excited to hold a string clinic in Mr. Lucio Alcocer's music class. On our last morning in Orange Walk, we attended the school's assembly. At the assembly, we presented the school with many gifts, including the instruments. The school blessed us with a mini concert on instruments we provided them from an instrument drive (headed by my friend Ellen Burleigh) after our 2009 trip! The students had won a Gold Award a month before in a national music competition! What progress in just one year!
My Third Trip
Please see the "2012 Belize" tab.