Belize Outreach '08 - Thanksgiving Nov 27

I just finished up my time in Punta Gorda and I'm up in northern Belize for Thanksgiving with a few of the team members (Josh Keen, Will Roeder, the Chew family, the Gong family, and Kim Chew's family from Texas). It was an intense week of ministry for us. The dental team saw scores of people, many of whom were in miserable situations with their dental health and there were many heartbreaking scenarios for them. They commented on how they worked longer hours, under stressful circumstances, receiving no compensation (THEY had to pay to come here!), and in more primitive conditions than any of them have back in the Bay Area. However, they all unanimously agreed, by the end of the week, that their work at the clinic was by far the most rewarding dental service they'd ever provided. The patients they saw here in Belize were so genuinely grateful for what they were receiving and the dental team's hearts were so full of appreciation to be able to serve such a thankful community.

For the rest of us, we spent the week loving on the children of Punta Gorda. Many of them were street kids whose parents, for a variety of reasons, are unable (or unwilling) to invest in raising their kids. I'm talking about ten year olds and younger who are literally raising themselves. This is why so many of the children are starving for interaction. So from the moment we got up in the morning until the time we were ready for bed, these kids were right by our sides (or on our shoulders, backs, and laps!). One family in particular touched us deeply. The Fitzgibbon children--Clayton, 'Keetie', and Shadean (11, 8, and 5 years old, respectively)--were with us all week and all of the team fell in love with them. We found out their dad had died of AIDS a few months earlier and their mom, for whatever reasons, was not meeting their basic needs. One of the local restaurant owners told us that she feeds the kids breakfast in exchange for their attendance at school. She said they rarely miss a day of school--and even if they do, she very firmly finds out why they missed class, and even if their reason isn't legitimate, she still feeds them, after a stern but loving lecture. In spite of all they lack by US standards, you will not find a happier, sweeter, more loving trio of children anywhere. It was amazing to see how the Lord was using us to literally by His hands, feet, backs, shoulders, and voice of love and truth to these children. We're still trying to figure out the details of how we can continue to support these kids and others we met, but many of us have committed to regularly write letters to them, and let them know we WON'T forget about them. We want to communicate God's love and the message of Jesus to them for as long as we can in prayerful hope that they will one day call upon His name and experience the fullness of His grace.

I write this to you on Thanksgiving Day because of how God has filled my heart with such gratitude for so much--too much, if you know what i mean. I have so much more than I need and yet, I'm often not fully satisfied. But I hope because of what I have experienced here, I will let Him purify my thoughts, desires, and goals and become more aware of the needs of others (especially in our own community!).

He also reminded me over and over again this week of how thankful I am for the High School
Ministry Leaders. I serve alongside a team of extraordinary men and women, committed to the Savior and our students and their families. What a blessing it is for me to know you and to be a co-laborer in the Lord's Kingdom with them. May you all each enjoy a meaningful celebration of Thanksgiving today. May you all be reminded of how powerfully God is using your life and gifts, and how much MORE he wants to use you in the days to come--to touch even more lives, proclaim His eternal truth, and meet the needs of those who desperately need the touch of the Father shared through His children. With much love and gratitude for you all...

Tim

Philippians 1:3