Belize & Beyond Mission Update: July 2011

Belize & Beyond Mission Update: July 2011

“To God be the glory, great things He has done!”

The entire month of July was nonstop with three mission teams and two summer interns conducting a total of 6 VBS (Vacation Bible School), two Sports Camps, Fun Nights and Movie Nights in Central Park. It was one of my busiest months and yet one of my most favorite to see lives touched and changed forever!

 

Calvary Chapel West Grove, California

A team of 32 people from the High School ministry of Calvary Chapel West Grove arrived on the mainland of Belize at the start of July and immediately got busy conducting a three day VBS for the Calvary Chapel Los Tambos, an outreach ministry of Amazing Grace Christian Fellowship. This was Pastor Erick’s first VBS since the birth of the church in Los Tambos Village and he was delighted to see the children participated and learning more about Jesus.

This was the second time that CC West Grove brought their young people to minister in Belize. This time a week was spent on the mainland working alongside of Amazing Grace Christian Fellowship before heading over to San Pedro Town to do a week of Sports Camp. They also did a VBS for the children of Amazing Grace who invited their friends, relatives and neighbors. This was also a first for the children of AGCF to have their very own VBS and was a great opportunity to reach out to the German kids in Spanish Lookout.

 

Lives touching lives

Geovanni, a young man that I met several years ago in San Pedro Town, and shared the gospel with him numerous times joined me along with my summer interns, Nathan & Brennen, in facilitating the West Grove team on the mainland. I really felt that the Lord was going to do a life changing work in Geovanni as he observed the high school team serving the Lord and living out their Christianity. God truly worked in his life as the seed that was sown in his heart took root and he surrendered his life to Christ during a conversation with Pastor Eric Nelson, youth pastor of CC West Grove. It thrilled me so much after sharing with him off and on over a period of time to see him transformed. I love the way the Lord works; some plant, some water but it is the Lord who gives the increase.

 

Sports Camp 2011The CC West Grove team of 32 with me, Brennen, Nathan and Geo along with my 2 young Taiwanese friends invaded San Pedro Town for a week of Sports Camp. The first week’s sport was softball which was done in the mornings and the evenings were spent in Central Park where the team engaged in various activities with the kids and many sweet relationship was renewed and new ones where formed. Again, I was so blessed to see the team love on these kids and truly was the hands and feet of Jesus. For our Movie Night in the Park, we showed the movie, “To Save a Life” and many came out for it as well as many tourists who stopped and watched. Our Lighthouse Party in the Park was a blessing as we gave away many school supplies, gifts and balls to the kids that West Grove brought down in assisting us celebrate Lighthouse Christian Radio’s seventh anniversary of broadcasting!

 

Calvary of Albuquerque, New Mexico

As one team departed from the island the next two arrived! The team of 10 adults from Calvary of Albuquerque and a group of 6 from BIOLA University arrived the following day for the second week of Sports Camp. We introduced Ultimate Frisbee to the kids a year ago so we thought it would be fitting to follow up with it again which the kids enjoyed but their most favorite sports is soccer (football) so it wasn’t long before we resumed football. An unexpected happened as our sports camp was challenged by another sports camp on the island for a champion match on the last day. Our guys were excited and so we had to figure out a way to get all of the kids and team to the Ambergris Stadium which was 5 miles away.

The Lord provided the delivery truck from Castillo’s Hardware which was a sight to behold as we rode through the streets on San Pedro Town with a truck load of kids, something that can only take place in Belize. Face painting, balloons, games and the movie, “Letters to God” took place in the evenings in Central Park and kids came out in droves and enjoyed the time with team members. Lives touching lives and making an impact for Christ is what took place as so many kids responded to God’s love and amazing bond and friendships were formed. Please pray for wisdom as we seek to follow up in the upcoming months!

 

Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA)

Mikaela Fung was a part of last year’s sports camp and upon returning back to Biola University she had a desire to get her University involved in the work that Lighthouse Christian Radio was doing with the summer sports camps. It wasn’t long before she contacted me to let me know that the Student Mission Union was planning a trip to Belize to assist us with Sport Camps and ministry. A team of 3 young men and 3 young ladies arrived in Belize for a 3 weeks trip. After their first week of sports camp in San Pedro Town, the 6 students along with Brennen and Nathan traveled to the mainland to conduct a VBS for Calvary Chapel Cayo, Santa Elena Town where they assisted Pastor Patrick in reaching the kids in the new community where they will be relocating their church. This was a first for them to have a VBS and the response was very good. This week, they are doing another VBS for Selena Village, a village where Pastor Erick from Los Tombas have been reaching out to. These students are receiving more than they are giving out as they have had the opportunity see many of Belize’s cultures from the island life to now staying in the Mennonite Community and reaching out to Spanish villages.

I’m so grateful to the Lord for the work that each team has done here in Belize. It is a lot of work facilitating mission teams but the joy I get from it is the fact that each person on each team is contributing to touching lives and making a greater impact for Christ than I could ever do as one person. May God bless and reward each one for the investment they have made and are making for the Kingdom of God here in Belize. Thank you very much!

 

Various News, info and prayer request:

Geovanni is attending the Bible Boot Camp being held at Machaca Outreach Center in Punta Gorda for 10 days. Please pray for him as he will be returning home to San Pedro Town where he lives and will be faced with many challenges. We have offered him the opportunity to stay with us at the Lighthouse in the staff apartment with Edler for a time of discipleship before attending the University of Belize in January. He has become like a son to me and would really appreciate your prayers as I seek to see him established in the faith and prepared for a successful spiritual future and in turn reach many young people for Christ. It is very difficult of a young person living on the island to succeed spiritually and again the need for a healthy, relevant and Bible Teaching church to be established in San Pedro Town. With God all things are possible!

Brennen and Nathan, summer of service interns, did a great job in assisting me with the teams this year as well as the various impacts that they made in the lives of many kids; various team members, Edler and especially Geovanni. Please pray that the lessons learned and experienced had would enable them to continue a life of serve to the Lord as they return to the US and back to University.  

Edler Blas continues to serve in various capacities in the operation of the radio station. Please pray for him as he oversees the ministry in my absence. Also pray for his Tuesday evening Spanish Bible Study at Lighthouse.

Tabi Evans, a young lady from Bath, England will be coming to Belize in September to assist in various ministries, chiefly Marla’s House of Hope, a home for abused children. Please pray for a smooth transition culturally and effectiveness in assisting the Home especially with the girls.

Please pray for me as I’ll be taking some time off to rest, retreat, revive and receive fresh vision. Also for my monthly support which seems to drop drastically this time of the year.

We are entering into the peak Hurricane season, August – November, please pray for God’s mercy upon us as it is projected to be a very active season. Also for the right timing and for replacing the tower’s guide-wires!

Contact Information:

PO Box 653                               

Belmopan, Belize

Central America

Phone: 011-501-605-6123

clivish@aol.com

Lighthouse Christian Radio FM 101.3              

PO Box 166

San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye

Belize, Central America

Phone: 011-501-226-4673

Facebook: Lighthouse Caribbean Christian Ministry

Email: Lighthousefm101.3@gmail.com

Website: http://www.lighthouseradio.org/ 

Tax deductable donation, please mail:

Saving Grace World Mission         

17451 Bastanchury Rd. #203               

Yorba Linda, CA 92886

714) 993-4801

In Memo: Welsh or Belize General or specific needs you’d like to support!

Or, online donation: http://www.sgwm.com/welsh

Truly God continues to do exceedingly above and beyond my expectation and I credit that to His grace and faithfulness and the continual and faithful prayers and support from friends and family like you. So, thank you for allow me the privilege of co-laborer with you over the years in Belize and beyond!

In His amazing grace and undying love,
Clive Welsh