::CONFESSION:: To be honest, I have been having a hard time figuring out what to post and how to post my experience of the world race on social media – whether they are pictures, videos, statuses, stories or anything. Why? Because even though I’m taking a lot of pictures, documenting as much as I can over in Belize, and I’m serving a lot, I don’t want to mistakenly come off as bragging or self-serving. I am honored and thankful to be able to come here and do this work, but I don’t know how to articulate my experience without coming off a certain way to the public. Especially to people who still don’t really understand what I’m doing or why. I never want to take a picture of me constructing a wall and it looks like I posted it because I want likes, attention or because I want to look cool doing something ”good.” That is not my intention, but social media can easily be used for that purpose. However, I also promised many people I will document my time here so that they can be part of the journey. For example, I’m actually partnering with a new nonprofit that is constructing a building to rehab reformed prisoners who found God. I’m learning a lot about the sustainable organization and meeting a lot of the amazing men sharing their testimonies to me. Therefore, I want to share what I’ve learned to the world. My goal is to not obnoxiously take over your newsfeed with all the cool things I’m doing and make anyone feel a certain way, but I also want to appropriately share my experience with all the ones who supported me to get here. On top of this, I will admit, we do get a break once or twice a week and we thankfully get opportunities to explore the country and culture for our fun and to rest. So if I share a picture of me having fun, will people judge me for that? It’s all tough, but I wanted to share how I’m feeling. Feel free to share thoughts. Thanks!
On another note, I do want to still provide you with some details on this journey in Belize.For those reading this blog and are interested in my journey, I am going to give you a schedule on what we do each day, here is a schedule you can read:
A LOOK INTO MY DAILY SCHEDULE ON THE WORLD RACE::
Wake Up from 7-8am, we have breakfast, shower, get ready for the day and have quiet time with God in the mornings. We usually spread out throughout the campus grounds and not talk to each other. This time is intentional time to be intimate with God. Pray, Listen, Learn from Him. Some of us are listening to worship music, podcasts or something else. Many of us are in our Bibles, doing a devotional, pray and write in our journals. It’s a great way to start our day. Something I was never really consistent with back at home.
Around 9 – We leave for the mission of the day. Since we have three teams of 6, we each have a different destination in the community. This morning we went to the local school and painted the outside walls of the school, and hung out with some kids. Last week we went to a local nonprofit and helped construct walls to build a new rehabilitation building to house reformed prisoners who found Jesus. Others are assisting pastors with cleaning or painting new projects for the community. Everyday looks different. Our goal is to serve the leaders of the community who are serving and empowering the community.
Mid-day– We typically do 4-8 hours a service a day – depending on other goals and what other teams are doing. We eat lunch sometime in the mid-day, go back and do ministry again, or do team time.
Team time – team time consists of our team where we give each other constructive feedback or encouragement. We hold each other accountable and help each other improve on areas of growth. This is also the time where we may discuss, reflect and learn a new lesson Adventures in Mission desires us to do. Think of this time as a form of education or training.
6-6:30 – Many of us are still doing ministry until dinner. Dinner is around 6 or 6:30. Each team takes turns cooking dinner and cleaning after each other.
Evenings look like either more team time, or some kind of group activity or some kind of ministry. Last week we cooked dinner for the men in Freedom House (the nonprofit/church that rehabs reformed prisoners – and wow do I have some stories for you all- they are amazing men!)
Anyway, that’s a bit of a nutshell of what we do each day from Monday-Friday. But we must be very flexible, because plans change and things change often. Saturdays and Sundays look different since those are our rest days or adventure days. I can share more next time!
Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! 🙂
UPDATE:: I am still seeking partners who would like to partner with me and donate toward this cause. If you are interested in being part of the change and would like to donate, please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to donate. The button to donate is located above this post in orange. Thank you to all those who have already given and who are praying for me and the people of Belize. The people of Belize are wonderful and your impact is going far!
Prayer Requests:
Please pray that I find a way to share my story in the most respectful and honorable way to the community of each country. Please pray that we are productive as possible to leave a lasting impact on the community of Belize and on the community leaders. Please also pray for the citizens of Honduras because that is the next country we are going to and if you have been reading the news, you will see there is a lot more tension and strife occuring in that country. Thank you so much for your prayers.
