Investment Matters

Time seems to be flying by here, and it’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up day two of our programs. God is showing up in mighty ways, and we are full of expectation for how He will continue to go before us in every step. Our team has been moving forward with eyes wide open, not wanting to miss a single thing He has for us.

As always, we started our morning with breakfast on the rooftop. The birds were especially loud today, and the breeze felt so nice. We had pancakes, papaya, cantaloupe, hard boiled eggs with salsa, bacon, and fruit punch. It was so delicious and the perfect fuel for the day ahead. After breakfast, we split up for individual quiet time. These moments to pray, reflect, and dig into our devotional are so grounding. They help us center our hearts before we step into the work God has called us to.

After quiet time, we gathered in the lobby for a quick team prayer before loading up the bus for our second day of camp. As we arrived at the school, we were greeted by a beautiful surprise: a group of kids already waiting by the tree, eager for the day to begin. They had shown up nearly an hour early. Can you believe that? Their excitement was so pure and genuine. One little girl waved at our team with her best princess wave as the bus pulled in. She even had one of the plastic gems from yesterday’s craft tucked safely into the pocket of her overalls. She was ready.

Because so many of our campers arrived early, we had extra time to play before the day officially began. The girls walked the school grounds hand in hand, took turns showing off their gymnastics, and danced freely in the big room. The boys raced each other across the school yard, laughing and chasing one another with joy that was absolutely contagious. The smiles on their faces, and on the faces of our team, were unforgettable.

People often ask why we return to the same village every year. Some are curious why we choose to invest in the same group of children over several days, when a one-time event might seem easier or more efficient. But this is all by design. Relationships matter. Investment matters. It is through consistency that trust is built. And when trust takes root, hearts begin to open. That is where the real impact begins. Already, our team is growing deep relationships with these kids. 

Today’s Bible point at camp was, “God is my Shepherd. He leads me into peace.” This truth was woven throughout the entire morning, echoing through each station the kids visited. In one activity, the children had balloons representing sheep, and they had to work together to guide them into a bucket using only fly swatters and straws. Laughter and teamwork filled the space as they learned what it means to be led with care. At the Creation Station, they decorated scrolls with the verse to help them remember the truth that God brings peace. In another station, they used magnets to carefully guide a little sheep down a winding path, a gentle reminder that God leads us step by step. 

Today at camp, we had the opportunity to sit down with the principal of St. Matthew’s to talk about the partnership we have with them. We got to share how much of a gift it is to have a space to use for our programming. He shared how important it is for the students and staff at St. Matthew’s to have 28:19 as a partner. We are so grateful to do life and ministry with the staff and students at this beautiful school.

Before we knew it, day two of camp was over and we were sending all of our friends home on the bus. It’s so hard to believe that we’re already halfway through our week of camp!

After camp, we headed back to the hotel for lunch before gearing up for our afternoon programs. We had burgers and French fries with banana cake for dessert, and it hit the spot after a full and fast morning at camp. It was just the fuel we needed to push through the afternoon heat. Unlike yesterday’s cloud coverage, today brought more sunshine!

After lunch, our team split into groups to prepare for the afternoon programs. The guys headed out to set up for day two of Warriors Camp, while the girls got to work on the Sister Squad space. 

At Warriors Camp, the boys learned what it means to stand firm in their beliefs, just like Daniel did. The story of Daniel is helping the boys see that living for God sometimes means making hard choices, even when no one else is. This week, they’re learning to Stand Up, Stand Firm, Stand Together, and Stand Out.

At the end of Warriors Camp, the boys faced a challenge where they had to eat weird and unusual foods to earn points for their tribe. Of all the options, the one they were most unsure about was a simple can of tuna fish. But to their surprise, they ended up really enjoying it! At one point, a little boy tugged on a team member’s shirt and quietly said, “I really like hanging out with you guys.” Moments like that are a reminder of why we come back year after year. Investment matters.

Over at Sister Squad, the focus was all about how God sees them. The girls read another powerful testimony written by a former team member who couldn’t join us this year. Each night during team worship, we’ve been hearing from our own team members about how deeply these testimonies are impacting the girls. They’re more than just stories, they’re living examples of God’s faithfulness. At the end of Sister Squad, the girls made charm bracelets, and they absolutely loved them. They took turns showing them off to one another with so much excitement and pride. The room was full of laughter, creativity, and freedom. It’s a space where these girls can truly relax, be themselves, and know they are seen and loved.

The women’s team took time to go over their plan before walking over to the Community Center for Activate Conference. When they arrived, they were met with an unexpected situation. A group was already using the space and planned to stay until 3 p.m., even though our conference was scheduled to begin at 2. It wasn’t what we had planned, but we were reminded that none of this was a surprise to God. He saw this moment before we ever stepped foot in Belize, and He was already making a way.

Within 10 minutes of learning that we’d need to pivot, our team had the upstairs of the hotel transformed into a beautifully decorated, peaceful space for the conference—almost as if it had been the plan from the beginning. There was no frustration and no complaining. Just faith and flexibility. We trusted that God would show up no matter the location, and that’s exactly what He did. The women sat at one big family style table instead of individual table groups, and it allowed for great conversation and response time. Their theme was “I can be healed”, and they got to hear testimony of continued healing from a team member at the beginning. 

After our afternoon programs, we had some time to freshen up and unwind before dinner. We ended up on the roof a little early for dinner and decided to make a silly reel about “Mission Trip Essentials”. We got a little silly with it and had so much fun. Check out our Instagram @2819ministries to see what I’m talking about!

Dinner tonight was salad, fried rice, spaghetti and meatballs, bread, bananas, chocolate chip muffins, and horchata. Absolutely delicious and so filling! Tonight around the dinner table felt extra special. This team has become a family, and we’re loving every second of being together. We linger in every space we’re in together because we just love each other’s company. It’s been such a gift to get to know one another.

After dinner, we gathered for team worship and a devotional. We continued reflecting on the story we read that morning about the woman who poured out her expensive perfume for Jesus. Her extravagant act of love led us into a powerful time of sharing. We took a moment to talk through our God moments from the day and spent time in prayer for a friend back home.

This team is truly something special. They pray for one another, encourage one another, and carry each other’s burdens without hesitation. Even as I sit here writing tonight, many of our team members are upstairs in prayer for a friend here in Belize. God is moving in quiet and powerful ways. The investment we are making, both in this community and in each other, is making a difference. It matters.