Christmas Eve pictures of the team that came out to deliver Christmas goodie bags to Tent City in Nashville, Tenn.  We also delivered batteries, firewood, water and gift cards to WalMart and the Metro Bus system.  Looking back and reflecting:  it was a true picture of the unconditional love that flowed out of the servants of all ages.  The residents were thankful.  Shown above, some took the time to sit and talk, and build relationship.  Chris Sanders was asked to sign some football flags and he delivered some footballs to a couple of the residents.  As I took a picture of Pops above (the oldest resident of Tent City) in his cabin, I couldn't help but wonder whose grandpa he belonged to........whose dad.......whose friend.  

Praying for all the homeless tonight.....that they are warm, that they will lay all their burdens down at the cross.

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like."  Saint Augustine

Today was a great day for Heal Ministries.  A large group came out to help us bring needed items for Tent City in Nashville, Tn.   This is a designated area under the interstate downtown where homeless families can reside in tents and campers.  We delivered blankets, tents, hand warmers, foot warmers, gloves, scarves, food, jackets, hats and a trailer full of fire wood.  I was humbled by the outpouring love from the community and watching the people interact with each other.  We met several of the residents and found out their biggest needs.  They are:  small propane camping tanks, tarps, tents, A, C and AA batteries, metro bus cards, WalMart gift cards and more hand warmers and foot warmers.  We are taking a second team on December 24th to deliver the needed items to them.

As always, we learned a little more from the residents of Tent City than they learned or received from us.  One resident said when asked if he needed a blanket:  "No, thank you.  I have just about everything I need but some of the other folks need blankets."  They were so humble, kind, and not greedy at all.  They truly took what they needed and left the other supplies for someone else that needed it more.

Tent City is a place where folks live temporarily until they get back on their feet.  Some of them work; some are looking for employment; some have been there a few months; some have been there a year or longer.  It doesn't matter how long they have been there or why but one thing remains constant:  They need Jesus just like every man and woman on earth.  If we can serve and be Jesus in the skin and impact one heart then we have made a difference.  If we can offer hope and a smile and a blanket during difficult times, then we have, perhaps, made Jesus smile.  And, if we can continue to serve the people in need and continue to be humbled and reminded how much we are blessed (rich or poor) we will continue on the right path that Jesus called us to be on.  What an honor to serve and show love for the ONE that gives us the ultimate, eternal love.  To focus on changing one heart at a time.....that is our mission.

 ³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 ³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 ⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25

Last night on the Oct/Nov Belize mission trip.  I looked through some pictures before calling it a night and posted a few that tell a story for the past two weeks.  The students all laughing and playing at both Unity Presbyterian School in Belize City in the burial grounds........the students all laughing and playing at Concepcion School just outside of Corozal Town, the sweet baby in Calcutta village that represents all the babies that I visited.....some with parents......some not.....the Betsons picture full of laughter, Arturo's sweet smile at church and Esther's love with her children at school........ The entire trip is full of laughter......the joy and laughter that comes from knowing Christ.  The only faces that I recall that did not have this was in the orphanage.....on this rainy, sad last day.  It is such a symbolic story of hopelessness with no smiles........and the Lord shining through His people.  We are called to help the helpless.  For the depth of love that God gives us......how can we ignore His pleas?  

I look forward to bringing teams back to this land that I love to serve God.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"  Matthew 25: 35-36

Today was a hard day.  We visited the orphanage in Belize City and met the director.  She was very kind and gave us a tour of the building.   The tour was very limited and we were only allowed to see the kitchen, dining room, playroom and outside grounds.  It is the first time I have visited an orphanage that would not allow us to view the sleeping quarters.  There are approximately 70 children that live there at one time and the number changes daily as children are picked up and brought in or taken back out of the orphanage and given back to their families.  It was disturbing because the children did not appear happy.......the older children were at school when we visited and most of the younger ones were either crying or lifeless.  Have you ever felt that you could not get out of a place fast enough?  That is how I felt........and then ashamed that I wanted to leave.  I did not want to face the trial and sadness and yet......we have to face that when God calls us to care for the orphans and to defend the defenseless.  It is not an easy road.....in the words of Mother Teresa, "I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffereing is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody (to no one).

To experience this type of sadness is hard to describe...........

We left the orphanage....planning to have a team to assists them with their needs in the future......furniture covering, baby supplies, school supplies, etc......for now.....we can pray for them.

As we left and visited the villages on the way to Belmopan, the expressions of the children changed drastically.  We were not allowed to take photos of the children at the orphanage, and the pictures would have looked drastically different than the girls smiling on this page.  The school children at the blue school were playing, laughing, waiting for a photo to be taken of them with a huge smile.....and walking home to a family that loved them at lunchtime.....whatever that family looked like.

That is the difference in the mental picture of the children at the orphanage and photos of the village children smiling......family.....to be loved and know that you are loved.......to have hope.  If we can spread the hope of Christ and the love of our heavenly Father to the orphans around the world.........they will have hope and perhaps a smile for a photo.

just re-posting two pictures that have blessed me this week.......the expressions and the beauty are sweet reminders of God's diversity and immeasurable love!

We left Corozal Town today and drove through the villages on the way back to Belize City.  First stop was Cristo Rey.  The Cristo Rey school, church, kids, and outdoor laundry thatch room pictures are posted.

We met with the principal and Helene Lacey, founder of the school and clinic in Patchakan village.  She is from Canada and has served as a missionary for 40 years!  To see the joy in her eyes as she spoke about Belize was an honor to witness.  The children here seem so happy.

It was sad to leave my friends in Corozal Town and Concepcion, yet very heartwarming to see God's love spread throughout the country.  It seems that every corner I turn, I see a glimpse of God's fingerprints all over this place.  He has placed many people here to serve and yet, there is so much more work to be done.  We made it to Belize City in time to visit Unity School and the orphanage.  Unfortunately,  the orphanage director was not there and we were not allowed to tour the facilities.  We did get to see some children and see how crowded it was.  The thick, heavy sadness that I felt leaving there was devastating.  Hundreds of orphans in two small buildings....all ages..........all situations..........all reminders of how we are all called to RUN to the aid of the orphans and widows.  I'm praying tonight that God will give me strength tomorrow to remain strong and ready to go to battle for the kingdom.

It is with mixed feelings that I post today because it is my last day in Corozal.....until I return.  I have bonded with my friends here in Christ and I have grown to love them deeply.  

Pictured here is the cook for the Concepcion  School.  The school has moms to help out by cooking:  it helps that family that cooks get a little money and reduces the cost of their meals for the school children.  Each child pays $1 for a plate of food which is equal to fifty cents in the U.S.  The villages here in Belize really try to help each other in the community.  

The boys in front of the chalk board holding up letters were learning both the English and the Spanish alpahbet.   concepcion is an English speaking school but the village speaks predominantly Spanish.

It was a blessing to be able to assists the Mendez family (the pastor's family of the Presbyterian Church that we partner with) with money to assists them in their bus crisis.  One of the biggest blessings that  I receive in the field is actually giving to those that we encourage to continue God's work.

Today, I shared my testimony and gave a devotion to the staff.  Even as I was talking, I was reminded of how God loves us all so deeply and how we should view every second that we are given the opportunity to serve Him as a golden opportunity.  I also met a lady that is a single mom here and struggling with her children.  Her discouragement reminded me of my past and how each of us have only one difference:  birth place AND one huge similarity....we all need Jesus.  

I do believe that the culture here has an advantage over the U.S.  In the U.S. we have the daily distractions that keep us away from our focus on Christ.  Here, the focus is family and God and reaching out to others.  I think I have learned more from my friends here than I could ever teach them.

As I leave Corozal and head back to Belize City, it is with mixed emotions.......sad to leave my friends here....excited to see my friends and the orphanage there.......anxious to return with teams.......and realizing home is truly where our heart is.  

Deuteronomy 10:18 (New International Version)

¹⁸ "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing."