Sunday, November 20, 2016

Mission Trip to Belize

In 2004 I was privileged to be part of a mission trip to Belize. I recently came across this article that I wrote about that trip along with photos of the project

Belize Mission Trip

Seventeen members of the Mena SDA Church recently returned from a mission trip to San Pedro, Belize, Central America. During their stay they helped with the construction of a new church, helped in the New Horizon SDA School, and delivered food in Belize City.

The idea for a mission trip started a year ago. In March of 2003 five couples from the Mena church went on a vacation together. On their vacation two days were spent in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It was a great vacation, but the group came away with the realization of the great need of the people in Central America. Shortly after the group returned from their vacation, Don and Minnie Johnson moved to Cove, Arkansas and started attending the Mena Church. They had spent a year living in Belize on an island called Caye Caulker. They suggested going to Belize and helping there.

Don knew of a need for another church in San Pedro. Plans were made by the group to build a new church and the Mena Church raised over $20,000 dollars for the project. Don worked many long hours in planning and coordinating the project with the members of the San Pedro Church. Don and Minnie went to Belize 2 weeks earlier than the rest of the group to oversee the beginning of construction. Members of the San Pedro church built the church, with the help of the Mena group. Before the Mena group arrived, the slab was poured and the first two rows of cement block were up. By the time the Mena group left the walls were up. Members of the San Pedro church are finishing the church with the help of the Belize SDA Mission.

In addition to building the church, an anesthesia machine and other medical supplies were provided for the La Loma Luz Hospital in Santa Elena, Belize. Troy Morrison, a nurse anesthetist at Mena Medical Center was able to arrange for the donation of the anesthesia machine. He was excited to see the machine in the La Loma Luz hospital, and talk to his counterpart at the hospital their.

The Mena Church has been drawn closer together by this mission project. Members are not ready for the project to be over. Ongoing help is going to be given to the New Horizons SDA School, and the La Loma Luz Hospital. While Don Johnson was in Belize he received a promise from the government of Belize for land on Caye Caulker to build a church. The Mena Church is planning to go back to Belize to build another church if the Lord opens the way.

Don
DON JOHNSON



Lou
LOU SIMSEK



Jim
JIM OLMSTEAD



Troy
TROY MORRISON



Bob
BOB LAWRY



Nick
NICK SCOTT



Mike
MIKE EASTON



Deanna
DEANNA OLMSTEAD



Pat
PAT LAWRY



Laurel
LAUREL EASTON



Gina M
GINA MURRELL



Richie
RICHIE LAWRY



Tony
TONY MURRELL



Gina L
GINA LAWRY



Minnie
MINNIE JOHNSON



Nancy
NANCY SISTRUNK



Gavin
GAVIN LAWRY



In Class
NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL CLASSROOM



After School
SCHOOLS OUT AT NEW HORIZON SCHOOL



School Transportation
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION



Receiving Plaque
RICHIE RECEIVING PLAQUE



Leo
OUR FRIEND LEO



Gavin in School 2
GAVIN GOES TO SCHOOL



Miguel, Don and Elder Cima
PRINCIPAL HERNANDEZ, DON JOHNSON AND ELDER CIMA



Inspection
INSPECTING THE CONSTRUCTION SITE



Central Church
CENTRAL CHURCH



On The Beach
GINA ON THE BEACH WITH THE KIDS



Jim Makes A Friend
JIM MAKES A FRIEND



Clothes Distribution
DISTRIBUTING CLOTHES



New Horizon SDA School
NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL



New Horizon SDA School Students

New Horizon SDA School Students 2
NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL STUDENTS



Passing Out Candy
GINA PASSING OUT CANDY



Gavin in School
GAVIN WITH NEW SCHOOLMATES



Construction

Construction 2

Construction 3

Construction 4

Construction 5

Construction 6

Construction 7

Construction 8

Construction 9

Construction 10

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