Belize. Believe. Blessed.

Last month, some of our PathLight International team were given the chance to attend a service with one of our church partners in Northern California. A group from their church had recently visited Belize on a Path trip. The congregation helped raise money for a service project and the materials that the team brought down, but many didn’t know much about PathLight as an organization. During the service, a couple members of the team got up to reflect on their experience, and we loved what they had to share. This is from one of their team members, Sue:

As I waited for the plane to take off from the Oakland Airport on my first of several flights that would take me to Belize last April, many thoughts swirled through my mind: how hot would it be; would I be able to do what the people from PathLight expected I might be able to do (goodness knows I was the oldest person in our group, by a lot!); how would I get along with the people in our mission group as well as the people we would be working with in Belize; would this trip change me and if so, how. To say that I was nervous and had a number of reservations would be putting it mildly.

Second thoughts circled me like bees around a hive.

Kelly, Josh, and I met in Los Angeles and traveled together the remainder of the flights to Belize. And—when all 6 of us in our group had arrived—off we went with our PathLight Guide for the week, Alex, arriving at our hotel to prepare for dinner and afterwards, discuss plans for our week. My anxiety about expectations for the week and how I would meet them was only slightly diminishing but that evening as I sat in my lovely room, I made a big decision. I decided to let God lead me as I experienced the week; I put my faith in Him that He would show me what I should do; that I didn’t need to be in charge of anything at all; I just needed to be present and listen to Him. I put aside my needs and I slowly began to find a sense of peace.

Beginning the next morning, we met many of the staff at the San Antonio RC School and also a number of students. They welcomed us with such love and warmth and their love for their community shone in all they did. We began the work of prepping the shed which was to be drywalled so that it could be used for a computer lab and library. It was hot! It was humid! It was hard work! (and I was only a go-fer—finding and handing materials to the real laborers!)

Later that afternoon we had the privilege and honor of meeting with a dozen or so students who are sponsored by PathLight as they attend local high schools. How very delightful, insightful, and bright, each one of them was and my heart was full listening and interacting with them.

And so we continued—working, sweating, eating (lots of eating!)—repeat; each day learning about and growing closer to this amazing community of folks who work so closely with each other and the Lord to make a better life for their people and country.

After completing our work at the school in San Antonio, we began work at the Center in Orange Walk. Alongside students, we painted large blue plastic barrels which were going to be placed around the town; and as they were completed we witnessed the most beautiful trash and recycling containers I have ever seen—and the pride in the community work shone so brightly. And then, even more beautiful (if possible) was the creation of a mural on a wall outside the center with the genius and support of a local artist. Students, parents, teachers, our folks from Livermore, all working together to create an amazing art piece titled, Belize, Believe, Blessed.

I could continue sharing about the WHAT of the work, because in a relatively short time, much was accomplished with many hands and hearts making the work come together like pieces in a quilt adding love, warmth and community to this amazing place.

All of the work was so very fullfilling—in many different ways. It felt good to see our many physical accomplishments—the computer lab/library, the decorated barrels, the heart-touching mural—but all of these would be staying in Belize. What was the most meaningful to me was what I brought home in my heart and soul. My conversation with the young girl who had just competed her first year of high school—who shared with me about how she was chosen to be in the PathLight program, how hard the work is, how much it
meant to her and her family who had recently lost their father—her trust in me in sharing her story; watching the teachers, who have extremely limited resources and witnessing how hard they work for their students; listening to the PathLight mentors who walk alongside of the high school students every step of the way—loving, supporting, and encouraging them; noting each person in the PathLight organization who daily shared their love and dedication to the youth of Belize. All their love, devotion, and belief filled my soul and continues to enrich my spirit. I went to Belize hoping I could do a little something for the children and youth of Belize and yet, I left receiving so much more than I gave. I was blessed to be with the folks from First Pres in the company of the loving, beautiful folks in Belize. All touched my heart with a love that has found a permanent home; I will go again—and next time it will be with less anxiety and more assurance that God is with me.

Belize. Believe. Blessed.