Belize
Submitted by rkhotte2 on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 02:13.
Medical Mission, Haiti
Image: Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Belize
In 2007, the mission focus was on the 5 Anglican Schools and 3 Churches located in Belize City. These urban schools and Churches are among the largest and neediest. Many of the projects will involve essential and vitally needed upkeep – interior and exterior painting, fence building, construction of sidewalks, playground equipment, refurbishing canteens and kitchens, repairing bathrooms, landscaping and tiling floors. All of these projects are “volunteer friendly” requiring no specific expertise – just willing hands and loving hearts.
In addition to undertaking the selected project, groups that come during the school year will be invited to assist in the classrooms, help with devotions, organize craft and play activities. Groups that come during the summer will have the opportunity to do Vacation Bible School for the local children. As always there will be lots of opportunities to do the important work of missions – building bridges of friendship.
Groups have several housing options:
- The Diocesan Guest House – a lovely facility near the harbor with living room, dining room, two complete bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen (stove, frig, microwave, washing machine, pots and pans, cooking implements, dishes, etc), four bedrooms which each sleep four people and a cool, relaxing porch. Cost is $10US per person per night which includes purified water, sheets, towels, pillows, window screens and fans. The Guest House is conveniently located near the downtown shopping area, the Diocesan Office, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and several of our Anglican Schools.
- The Diocesan Annex – located on the ground floor of the Diocesan Office, the Annex is perfect for youth groups. The facility is clean and spacious with a large sleeping area, living room and kitchen, fans, six showers and five toilet areas. The Annex is definitely a “step above” rustic but not as “plush” as the Guest House.
- The Hotel Mopan – for those who really need air conditioning. (Weather in Belize is usually very pleasant although June, July and August can be stifling. The Mopan is right across the street from the Diocesan Office and has been recently renovated. Rooms with ac are $55US per night, double occupancy. Continental breakfast is available for $5US.
- The Radisson Hotel, Princess Hotel and Biltmore Plaza are for those groups who want more of a resort experience – ac, swimming pool, in house restaurant. Prices range from $89US per room, double occupancy to $150US.
About Belize City Schools…
- All Saint’s is located on the outskirts of downtown Belize City and has a staff of 26 and 652 students. It’s about a ten minute drive to the school and the Diocese will arrange transportation. All Saint’s Church is located adjacent to the school.
- St. John’s is an easy walk from the Guest House, Annex and Mopan Hotel. There is a staff of 22 and 496 children. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist serves the school and is about a five minute walk away.
- St. Mary’s is a ten minute walk from the Guest House, Annex and Mopan through the colorful downtown shopping area. The school has 17 staff members and 323 children. The Church is adjacent to the school.
- Queen’s Square is our largest school with 903 students and a staff of 39. The Cathedral serves as the school’s spiritual base. A short cab ride will get you there. We will arrange this for you at a cost of $3US per person per day.
- Anglican Cathedral College is our only high school and is located right next to the Cathedral. There are 454 students and 35 members of the faculty. The school is an easy walk from all the lodging options.
All of the schools are struggling to meet the basic educational needs of students. Money is almost never available for repairs, upkeep and maintenance.
SAMPLE OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE…
- Painting! Painting!! Painting!!! Everywhere…inside and out – schools and Churches.
- Security fencing at Queen’s Square and St. John’s School.
- Playground construction and equipment – everywhere.
- Landscaping and drainage – everywhere.
- Renovation of canteens – Queen’s Square and St. John’s.
- Tiling needs doing at every school as many of the children suffer breathing problems due to the cement dust.
Contact: Francis Wilson (franciswilsonbelize@yahoo.com)
Keith Hatfield - Belize
Submitted by rkhotte2 on Mon, 09/08/2008 - 20:59.Belize
In my work-life, I've been a tourist in the Caribbean and on the company's nickel to boot. Ship the software on time, take my reward, have a good vacation with the family and co-workers and it was great, nice entertainment, beautiful places.
Now, I'm not going overboard here, we all need our time off and somebody's got to pay, so what's my point? There are personal vacations and there are spiritual vacations, you know, a time for service, refreshment and renewal. For the last two years I've been spending April School Vacation in Belize (formerly British Honduras) serving the greater Anglican community and I guess I was a short-term missionary. I met several long-term missionaries and they impressed the hell out of me, someday I might pursue such a vocation, but my gifts are still in their extremely early stage of development, just a baby soul have I.
What qualifies you as a missionary? As a Biblical Scholar, I can barely keep ahead of my Rite-13 students, as a human being I've got issues, as a trip leader, well a good, but short track record. As a Christian computer geek, Halleluiah, I am ready to spread the word. All I need is a little electricity, a Swiss Army knife and a nearby connection to the Internet and voila, something reasonable will happen. Thanks to several donations and the hard work of several members of my last mission team, we delivered 4 new and used computers (complete and first world street legal), a wireless network, Printer/Scanner/Copier, and rehabilitated two existing PCs on site. All software and documentation was delivered in duplicate and an orientation for the teachers at St. Andrew's Primary School in San Ignacio, Belize was held. Plenty of existing computer hardware and savvy in San Ignacio town before I arrived, but the Anglican Diocese of Belize sent four mission teams to the school to complete the new computer room and deliver the computer resources. The outside resources helped make it happen, the teachers, parents and students continue to make it happen in whatever way they believe is fitting.
Keith Hatfield
St. Paul’s, Newton
