Sunny Sunday, March 3

Sunday, what a wonderful first full day in Belize! This is coming to you live from "In His Will" Mission Center in Unionville, Belize!

After a chilly sleep (yes, it was STILL warmer than Canada, but it was quite different from the warm night we were expecting) and a wonderful breakfast from our wonderful hosts Carmen, Faye, Troy and Barb, most of the group made the early journey to the 8 o'clock service at St. Ann's Anglican Church in Belmopan. We were able to worship with the great congregation at St. Ann's with Barb McBride as celebrant and even got to take part in a "Healing Service". You would be hard pressed to find a more welcoming church and the sermon was truly moving. We were encouraged to take a good look at what fruit we were producing and who we were truly producing it for. A wonderful message for our team as we seek to glorify God this week at St. Hilda's Anglican school. And of course, we learned all about the "good manure in the bible" that's there for all of us fruit trees out there!

Unfortunately, we were rushed out of the service in order to make it to... another worship service (you'd think we're on a Christian Mission trip or something). This second worship service was at St. Hilda's and it was wonderful to meet some of the students we will be going to help tomorrow. I know there were a few of us who were a little nervous about being able to connect with the children but many of those worries vapourized like dew in the glorious Belizean sun as we got to talk to a few of them in church. Their smiles and laughter brought joy to all of our hearts. It was at this service that we were able to present the congregation with the beautiful altar linens embroidered and decorated by Lucy's Sewing Group at home in Fredericton. The congregation was thrilled at their beauty and Dean Joyce blessed them into service, they tell us they will be using them immediately starting next Sunday.

We had to make some changes to the schedule and, instead of heading to the blue lagoon for a hike and swimming (which we will be moving to Friday), we headed off to Xunantunich (Translated to "Stone Lady" and is pronounced similar to "Tuna Sandwich" as we affectionately call it when we can't pronounce it ourselves) which is a beautiful Mayan ruin, the second tallest in Belize with the highest point standing at 135 feet high! Most of our brave group made it all those 135 feet to the top with a few of us daredevils decided to sit on the edge. The view of the surrounding countryside is inexplicable so I will not attempt to explain but I'm sure pictures will be floating around once we all get back. You can see a picture of some of us below. If you'll believe it, the picture only includes the top half of the pyramid! You better Belize it! It was truly an amazing experience we'll never forget.

After leaving the ruin we stopped in at a small local market before heading out to take a dip at a hotel in San Ignacio. We had a blessed day started with beautiful, spiritual reflection and ended with full bellies and happy, revamped hearts ready for our week to come at St. Hilda's.

As we now head to bed, we ask you to keep us and the children and teachers of St. Hilda's Anglican school in your prayers. As well, please continue to keep Father Juan in your prayers as he has been officially diagnosed with Guillan-Barre Syndrome and we are all praying for his speedy recovery and return to Georgeville, Belize. We also hope you'll join us in our prayers for Ashley Jones as she searches to find a job after graduating from high school. Ashley was the first student to be sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral and is now hoping to become a customs officer, so keep her in our prayers! Please thank God for our safety in our travels here as well as our wonderful hosts as they continue to drive us hither and thither across the country and feed us wonderful food, and all with a smile! True Belizean/Canadian Hospitality!

We thank you for your prayers and we'll check in with you tomorrow