Fun facts of Belize:
- Drivers honk to let you know when they are making a turn
- There is a magnetic hill- when going downhill, if you put the car in neutral, you will actually move backwards UP the hill
- English is main language
- Most kids know up to 4 languages
- Mayan is not a dead language! They still speak it.
- Drivers flash their brights to let others know that they’re passing
- $1 usd = $2 bze
- You know if a car is a taxi by it’s license plate which is green
- There is no ac, like anywhere
- Chickens and dogs roam the streets
- They don’t have the concept of standing and waiting in line, and just because you’re the next person in line doesn’t mean you’re the next to be helped
The rest of the month of Belize’s ministry was a big hodge podge of things, but all so good. We continued with manual labor that we began with the pastor at the beginning of the month. This looked like building doors, making a box (and making cement that unfortunately got ruined by the rain) to put a washer/dryer in, cleaning out/ preparing a safe house for a 16 year old girl who’s pregnant and in a very dangerous/abusive situation. We also helped in preparing the way to finish the youth center, so that he could have a place to lead youth group with the kids.
Another ministry we got to do was painting the walls of the school that was down the street from us. We started writing the fruits of the spirit, painted a tree, toucan, etc. We got to hangout with the kids too when they got out of class for lunch/ recess. There was one little girl, Heidi (pronounce Haiti), who on the very first time she met me ran up with a note in her hand that said “I love you” in a heart. This brought me to tears and was one of my dearest moments this month. It was like a little wink from God saying “I see you. I love you. Your work here matters.” This little girl blessed me more than she’ll ever know, and I pray our paintings did even half of that for her and her friends. 
We also had another meal for the men in Freedom House. They came over for pancakes and eggs that we were able to serve them. They read us scripture, left us with encouraging words, and even started singing songs like “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!” This was honestly one of the most encouraging/ uplifting and fun mornings we had all month!
We had a week of VBS! This was so fun to put together as a group to bless the kids in the neighborhood. We acted out stories from the Bible, taught them a Bible verse, led them in worship by teaching them dances, played games and crafts and simply just built relationships with the ids to show then that they’re loved and valuable.
We also continued to go to Marla’s house a few nights to continue to love on the girls. On our last night there, they all wrote us letters and gave us gifts of their favorite things (favorite rubber bands, bracelets, tennis balls, etc.) because they wanted us to have a way to remember them. How precious is that!? Those girls were my hardest goodbyes.
On my team, we have a professional photographer and another professional videographer, and an amateur in training (that would be me). Amazingly, out of everyone on our squad, we ended up together. This is how God works. He puts our team (which we has already divinely put together) with Pastor Craig, who is a missionary. He, his wife, and his daughter all have their own ministries in Belize and we got to work with all of them. He is a pastor, and leads youth group (which most of our manual labor was to build a youth center for his group of students). His wife opened a ministry called “Hope for Life” it helps women who are pregnant/ have babies who are in financial binds, abusive relationships, or just can’t do life alone. She leads Bible studies and supplies them with their babie’s basic needs such as diapers and clothes. Their daughter runs a once studio where she teaches kids for free, and helps them express themselves in a healthy way while also leading Bible studies with them. So, come to find out, Jadine (the wife) and Bethany (the daughter) both had separately been praying specifically for videographers and photographers. Jadine is having a fundraiser coming up in November to help fund her ministry and raise awareness of the need in the area for these women, and needed a video to share to show what they do as a ministry and to give testimonials of how God has helped these women. Bethany likes to take yearly pictures of her dancers, because they never get that. She was also making a video of her testimony and how God used dance to save her, to also fundraise for her studio and children that she helps. Our God is so detailed, wow. So we got to take portrait pictures of the girls (some whom have never had their picture taken in their life), and make videos for Jadine and Bethany. Wow. God is so kind, and how lucky we felt that we were used as a physical and practical answer to their prayers. What divine timing.
Overall, Belize was amazing. We saw God move in the details. We heard his voice, and grew closer to him and each other. I can’t wait to see how month 2 goes! We leave tomorrow!
*Video recaps coming soon*
Keep up with pictures on my facebook and instagram! (Ashley Butterfield // @ashbuttt1230)
