Do You Want Jesus?

What a beautiful day in Belize. It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is already our last full day here. This week has flown by, and we’ve seen God move in such incredible, undeniable ways.

We started the morning the way we always do, gathered on the rooftop for breakfast. Today’s spread included fry jacks, eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, fruit, and refreshing watermelon juice. Some of the guys like to rise early for quiet time on the roof, and they were rewarded with the most beautiful sunrise and a monkey sighting in the trees! I wasn’t awake yet to see it for myself, so I guess I’ll have to take their word for it — no photo proof. Haha!

After breakfast, we enjoyed a nice, slow morning of quiet time before heading out for our adventures. Since we didn’t have a super strict schedule, we had the freedom to slow down and rest a little. Around 8:30AM., we hopped on the bus and began our morning of exploring! Throughout the week, our team has only gotten to experience the school and the hotel. We haven’t ventured out much. So we wanted to give everyone a chance to see and experience a few of the places around us.

Our first stop on the field trip was The Crossing, home to one of our partners, All 4 Jesus Belize. This Christian business community provides woodworking, sewing, and metalwork opportunities, along with a church they’ve planted on-site. When we brought a small team in March, we partnered with A4JB to host Gather25 here in Belize. We’re so thankful for the relationship we have with them. A few team members picked up handmade items from the gift shop, and we got to show everyone the church space before heading out on the next leg of our adventure.

Our next stop was the Marie Sharp’s hot sauce factory, a must-do every time we’re in Belize! Throughout the week, the team has had the chance to sample different jams and hot sauces at the hotel, but today was extra special. Thanks to a generous donor who gave specifically toward a team adventure, we were able to tour the factory together! It was such a cool experience to go behind the scenes and see how everything is prepared, processed, and packaged. After the tour, we gathered for a tasting of all their products – juices, hot sauces, jams, and even steak sauce! It was so much fun to try everything together. (And yes, it definitely led to a few more purchases!) The boys were so excited to try the one with the scorpion pepper. Marie Sharp is the only person in Belize to grow a scorpion pepper. As we were loading up the bus, a few team members couldn’t resist trying to knock some blue mangoes down from a nearby tree. We’re so thankful to our anonymous donors who made this team adventure possible. 

After Marie Sharp’s, we got back on the bus to head to the Pomona Shopping Mall! This is always a fun experience for our team. I think the most purchased item was ice cream and chips. It’s always so fun to stock up on a few treats to take home. As we were walking out of the mall, we noticed a yard sale just in front of the store. Of course we had to make a visit!

We loaded up the bus with all of our goodies and headed back to the hotel. We freshened up and went upstairs for lunch together on the rooftop. We had fried chicken, mac and cheese, salad, papaya, starfruit, bread, and juice. We ate fairly quickly and then had an afternoon of rest mixed with the beginning stages of packing. We can’t believe it’s already time to talk about packing. Time has flown! 

Mid-afternoon, we took a break and gathered on the rooftop for iced coffee and fellowship. It was such a sweet pause – a moment to laugh, unwind, and enjoy each other’s company before heading into a special evening for the Night of Worship.

We spent a couple of hours preparing for our incoming guests, Dunamis Ministries. We partnered with Dunamis for our first ever Night of Worship in 2023, and we got to do it again tonight. Dunamis Ministries is located Belize about 2 hours away from where we are. They so graciously said “yes” when we invited them to come host this year’s Night of Worship together. When they arrived, we had dinner prepared for them along with some snacks and juice for the road. Our dinner tonight was baked chicken, rice and beans, fried plantain, Cole slaw, and juice. It was so yummy! 

As we were finishing up dinner, we broke out into small groups and prayed over the night ahead. Around 6:15PM, we took the team to the Frank Sharp Football Field where we’d be hosting our Night of Worship. The tent was set up, the chairs were placed, and we just couldn’t wait to see how the Lord would move. All we needed to do was make ourselves available. 

Cars and vans full of people poured into the tent. Kids were running around playing tag. We got started around 8PM, and it took off from there. We welcomed our guests into the tent and encouraged them to finds a seat. Amy opened by asking a woman, child, teen boy, and teen girl to share what they learned at camp this week! They were spot on, and it was so rewarding to hear that what we taught is still with them. Amy opened us in prayer before we jumped into worship. Dunamis led us in the most joyful and authentic worship. 

We worshipped alongside one another, and we danced hand in hand. Pastor Tzib got up to preach and posed the questions “Do you want revival in your life? Do you want Jesus or do you just want what Jesus can give you?” The message he gave went hand in hand with everything we’ve been teaching through our programs this week. Many team members asked Amy if she gave Pastor Tzib our curriculum from the week, and she shook her head “no”. What a gift it is to know God and to see His hand at work before our very eyes.Moments later, the altar was full of people ready to give their lives or re-dedicate their lives to Jesus. 

Our team stepped into these sacred moments with such humility and boldness. Tiffany shared that she walked to the front to pray over others, but as she stood there, tears streamed down her face and she wasn’t even sure why. Doug spent the evening with one of the little boys he’s bonded with at camp and Warriors. The boy told him that his parents were standing far across the field in the shadows because they didn’t like crowds. Doug gently took his hand and walked him all the way to his parents, then stood with them and prayed. Samantha quietly cared for the little ones off to the side, playing with them so their parents could worship freely, undistracted. Nathan gathered a few of the younger boys from Warriors Camp and brought them to Pastor Tzib to be prayed over. As soon as the pastor began to speak over them, one of the boys broke down in tears.

The Lord was moving. He is able. His Spirit is here in Pomona. And tonight was holy. We’re still processing all that God has done in this space. In hearts, in families, in our team. But we know this for sure: He has called us here, and He’s not finished yet.

When we got back to the hotel after cleaning up all the chairs at the field, we were welcomed by the best surprise…leftover cinnamon rolls from dinner that we hadn’t had time to eat earlier! They were so delicious and felt like such a sweet reward at the end of an unforgettable night. Now, the team is winding down in the best ways. Some are scattered around the hotel playing games and laughing together, while others are grabbing showers and getting ready for bed. Our hearts are full, our bodies are tired, and our spirits are stirred. What a night. What a Savior. We can’t wait to see what God does next.