I am here. I’m finally in Belmopan, Belize writing a blog about what the Lord is doing here. It’s absolutely crazy!! I am so excited for this journey and to keep everyone updated back at home. I am going to try my best to post updates once every week and maybe a vlog once a months (which is hilarious because I barely know how to use a camera.) But I am so excited to tell you guys what God is doing in my life.
First off, it took two full days and one night to get here. As many of you know, I am one of the Logistics Coordinator for my squad, which means I am in charge of all long distance travel from one country to the next. I make sure that everyone gets a seat on the plane, I make sure all the checked baggage gets through, I make sure everyone gets through security and to the gate, and I make sure everyone is accounted for. I book bus rides from one country to the next. I have to make sure there is room for our luggage, that we have a toilet (that’s V important for 15 hour bus rides), and give everyone’s passports at border crossings. I am also in charge of travel towards our Debrief areas in the country (which I will explain in another blog.) Basically, I have to fix any problems that may occur in airports and bus stations (which can be A LOT or not a lot.) This job is very stressful but I am thankful that the Lord is using my gifts to minister towards my squad.
Saying all that, October 9-10 were very long days in the airport. We took a shuttle after Launch (we were at a hotel and got training on our leadership jobs and have a few more sessions) we took a shuttle from the hotel to the airport, where we basically camped out at the Atrium from 10am until 9pm. Then we flew from Atlanta and landed in Orlando around 11 pm. We had a overnight layover and then had a mix up on flights which resulted in some of us sprinting to a gate at 5am. We flew from Orlando then to Miami, had a 2 hour layover, and then finally flew from Miami to Belize City and arrived around 12pm.
My team was lucky in the fact that our host showed up at the airport and picked us up and took us to our base. We are at YWAM’s Belize Base that works with Legacy Youth Movement nearby. The first thing to notice about this base: all the buildings are SO SO SO colorful and they small buildings. We are living in colorful teal building. We have WiFi, a washer and dryer, a shower, toilet, and fridge. There are three bedrooms and a kitchen with a sink and stove. Right behind our building is an overlook of the jungle. That’s right… I am smack dab in the middle of a jungle. So it’s very normal to wake up hearing wild howler monkeys. There are cows, horses, and chickens (I am fearful) everywhere.
The roads are small. Some of them have asphalt but a lot are dirt roads. There are a lot of roundabouts that I have learned to enjoy a lot more than lights. The trees are absolutely beautiful and everything is green. Belize is definitely a colorful country. In order to get into town, we had to walk on a suspension bridge over a river. It creaked and shook but was so cool. The majority of the country speaks English but they a language called Kriol (or Creole) to each other a lot of the time.
Last night, our host invited us to go to church at Jubilee Church. The people were some of the nicest people I have ever met. They welcomed us in and were went right into worship. Many songs were played that I knew: What a Beautiful Name, The Stand, etc. Worship was breathtaking. I saw many white and Belize people worshipping together in unity to one God and it was beautiful. The sermon was preached by a guest speaker’s name was Dave and he was from Georgia. He spoke on shame and guilt. It was a very powerful sermon that held everyone’s attention.
After the sermon, we worshipped again and things happened that I never saw before. As many of you know from my previous blog, I am learning to keep an open mind to what the Lord is capable of doing. As we worshipped, I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence in the room. People were raising their hands, dancing unto the Lord, shouting to Him, and a few were prophesying towards many others. In worship, I usually find myself just raising my hands. Last night, I danced before the Lord. The moment was so intimate, I don’t even know how to explain it. All I know is that this is what it is to be in the presence of my King. I felt my chains be stripped from me and I felt complete joy. But wait… there’s more.
As I was dancing and smiling and singing shouts of praise before the Lord, my back began to hurt. I tried to ignore it the best I could. Before I could sit down, I woman I didn’t even know came behind me and touched my back. I couldn’t hear her prayer for me but her hands were very hot as they touched my back and I felt the pain creep away as she spoke words over me. This woman had no idea about my back injury or who I was. But she was obedient to the Lord and prayed for me.
And I heard the Lord say to me: My Child, this is just the beginning. This is just the beginning of what I can do.
