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May June 149 (571x593)The ‘here & now’  is often robbed by the ‘then & there’ or ‘the when & the where’. This is the thought that came to mind when I finally sat down to write this Update, something I wanted to do several weeks ago but something always came up. Determined today to make the time to be in the ‘here & now’, I escaped to a nearby resort where I can sit and gazed into the beautiful Caribbean Sea and chuckled at the fact that so many people come to this place for a week’s vacation to enjoy it and I live here and seldom make time to enjoy the ‘here & now’. I can almost hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Martha, Martha (Clive, Clive), you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen that good part…” Luke 10:41, 42.

 

Caribbean Sea at the start of Hurricane Season 2015.

Caribbean Sea at the start of Hurricane Season 2015.

Here & Now: We are officially in the Hurricane Season which started on June 1 and true to form, it began raining on the very day and continued on and off for several days. This portion of the season is typically called, the Rainy Season which only means that it will rain followed by intense heat and humidity then more rain to cool things down a bit. The peak of the Hurricane season in from August to November. I recently interviewed our local meteorologist who informed our radio listeners that this season promises to be a very inactive season but still warns us that it only takes one so we need to be prepared. We have done as much as we can in preparation and preparing our listeners. We are working on repairing our generator, the ongoing challenge, and acquiring a new shipment of the solar powered, fixed-tuned, Galcom radios. Please pray for us during this season and for provisions for the generator and the Galcom radios as these will play a key role in the event of a treat!

 

Clive interviewing Drew as his Season of Service comes to an end.

Clive interviewing Drew as his Season of Service comes to an end.

Drew Schwartz has ended his season of service at Lighthouse and what a great blessing it was to have him here. He helped in many practical areas such as daily upkeep of the facilities, being onsite to answer doorbell and greet visitors/guests, painting of the doors, clearing the ant-infested planters, and even did some voiceovers for public service announcement and local sponsor advertisement.  He participated in the Friday Night Bible Study and got to see first-hand the various facets of the ministry.  In the short time here I can tell that the Lord did a sweet  worked in his life as he spent lots of time in the Word, journaling and reading. This was the first time that he has had the responsibility of living on his own with food preparation and living in an apartment by himself. I really believe that God does so much in the lives of those who have intentionally set time aside to serve Him and the lessons learned will benefit him for a lifetime. He met several local guys and developed quality and lasting friendships and fellowship. It was truly a honor having Drew here and his labor of love and service is gratefully appreciated.  Please pray for God to lead him in the next season of his life!

 

The He Intends Victory Ministry on the AIDS Awareness Wall.

The He Intends Victory Ministry on the AIDS Awareness Wall.

Then & There: The San Pedro AIDS Commission took on a project to beautify a wall that is usually covered with graffiti which is along a popular pathway traveled on by both locals and tourist as it is the wall that fences in the Primary School. I approached Felix, the president of the SPAC and asked if  He Intends Victory San Pedro could participate in this endeavor. He gladly responded as well as the Board of He Intends Victory who provided a donation to make it possible. We were given a large portion of the Wall of Awareness and it is our earnest desire and prayer that someone who is HIV/AIDS will see that in their time of hopelessness and receive the needed encouragement and strength to call us so we can offer them the living HOPE which is found in knowing the God of all hope through Jesus Christ!

 

Clive Welsh & Michelle Nunez (Miss San Pedro 2015) Belize Board Members of OEW Ministry.

Clive Welsh & Michelle Nunez (Miss San Pedro 2015) Belize Board Members of OEW Ministry.

On Eagles Wings Ministries, based in North Carolina since 2008 who provides hope, empowerment, and a brighter future to females what have been sexually exploited and to those at risk of exploitation; held another Fundraiser this past May 16. It was well attended by many who have a desire to see the S.H.I.N.E Center built, property was purchased recently and now raising funds to begin building. The night featured a Mayan theme with food and entertainment as everyone wore white attire and participated in an Auction. A presentation of the building by the designer and Emily Fitchpatrick, president of OEW shared the story of how this entire ministry was birth in San Pedro. And Miss San Pedro Michelle Nunez shared about the completion of the very first S.H.I.N.E program. Many from the San Pedro Town Council, Government Representatives, Business owners and prominent residents attended and many donations were made making the night a great success. I was honored to share how the Lord orchestrated my involvement and being a part of the Belize Board of Director.

 

Michelle Nunez and the S.H.I.N.E. girls participating in Fashion Show.

Michelle Nunez and the S.H.I.N.E. girls participating in Fashion Show.

S.H.I.N.E. (Shaping Healthy Identities through Nurturing & Empowerment) is a ministry of On Eagles Wings for girls 13 to 16 years old who were recommended to this program by the High School counselor. This group was birth through the friendship of Michelle Nunez, the current Miss San Pedro, and Emily Fitchpatrick on a previous visit as they shared their heart for young ladies in need. Michelle took the 13 girls through a 12 weeks curriculum developed by On Eagles Wings which included: self esteem, drugs/alcohol, life choices and goals, to name a few. The girls have built a strong bond and friendship among themselves as Michelle Nunez, Miss San Pedro 2014-2015, the Beauty Ambassador shared that beauty is first displayed in the inner person, the real person. The girls ended their time together as a group by participating in a fashion show put on by a local  Clothing Store. This was a very powerful time that brought tears to my eyes as they each walked down the cat walk modeling beautiful and moderate clothes. The thought that kept going through my mind was that these girls could have easily fallen through the cracks and never would have know how valuable, precious and loved they are. Please pray for these girls as they now live out what they were taught and for wisdom in choosing the next group hoping to start in September!

 

Clive teaching thru the Gospel of John on Friday Nights at Lighthouse.

Clive teaching thru the Gospel of John on Friday Nights at Lighthouse.

Friday Night Bible Study: What started out as just a time to disciple Kian Ancona after he gave his life to Christ slowly developed into ‘Journey Thru John’ Friday Night Bible Study. We are currently in John’s gospel chapter 12 and we’d have from three people up to fourteen people attending. A young couple started coming, both new believers who were eager to serve the Lord yet were never given the basics of Christian growth or discipleship. We’ve also had several attending who are not yet believers but hungry and curious about Jesus Christ. One of those was a guy named Job, a friend of Kian from High School and also the brother of a friend of mine that I had known for many years. I met Job when he came to pick up a backpack that I offered him when he posted on Facebook that his was unusable. He expressed gratitude before leaving and asked if he could join us for Bible Study which he heard Kian talking about. I told him he was very welcome and he started attending and paying very close attention at each bible study. A few weeks ago he asked if he could speak to me in private and opened up sharing that he once walked with the Lord but had drifted away and wanted to come back. It was an honor to hear him pour his heart out to the Lord in prayer and thanked me for being there for him. Please pray for Job as he grows in his intimacy with the Lord and for salvations for those who attend and have yet to make a decision to follow Jesus!

 

Jason & Jonathan doing homework at the Lighthouse. Jonathan was just awarded Student of the Year!

Jason & Jonathan doing homework at the Lighthouse. Jonathan was just awarded Student of the Year!

When & Where: Over the years I have known many young men, ranging from 15 to 30 years of age, who are fatherless. Some have never met or known their father  and others know them but are not in relationship with them for one reason or another. In each case, they all have a lot in common; a lack of trust, betrayal, easily angered, unforgiving and an inability to receive and express love, to name a few. The Lord continues to direct these individuals to me in various ways and has given me a lot of His grace and love in dealing with the ups and downs that comes with seeking to minister His love to these hurting guys. I can write a book on my experiences in these relationships and involvement with these guys and the ways God has revealed His redemptive love to heal, help and make whole. I’ve become a S.I.D. (Stand-In Dad) to many over the years and in various capacities. I’ve been blessed to see some of these guys get married and started families, while others continue the cycle refusing to allow God to intervene to make the necessary changes. I have personally known the struggles and gained understanding of my Heavenly Father’s love when I never had it modeled for me early in life since my father died when I was 5 years old. But have been greatly blessed as God made His heart known to me in that very personal way and have allowed me the privilege to model that for many fatherless guys.

 

May God do a work in this generation of children in San Pedro!

May God do a work in this generation of children in San Pedro!

Building Tomorrow’s Men Today: These word began to form in my mind after hearing a Pastor made this quote, “It takes more to repair a man than to build a boy.” I often wonder how someone can successfully become a father without having one to model after especially when talking with the guys that I’ve become a SID to. A couple phrase that I hear a lot are, “I’ve never had that” or “I’m not use to that.”  These things have been stirring in my heart for years and lately the stirrings has turned into aches as I’ve gotten to spend quality times with several of these guys who have become like my flesh and blood sons. I was sharing this with a fellow missionary who is also a Board Member, who shares the same heart for the young men in his fellowship and we’re looking into putting a 3 day camp for these guys which would equip them today for developing into tomorrow’s healthy men; husbands, fathers, leaders, examples and role models/mentors. We are looking at doing character studies of men in the Bible and covering all aspects of Biblical manhood and contrast it with what they have thus far experience in the Belizean culture which is riddled with uninvolved fathers and irresponsible men in general. Please pray for this undertaking that God would lead every step of the way and hand pick those He would have participate in this venture!

 

Almost two weeks have passed since I started writing this Update; many interruptions and the daily living of the life of Clive but I trust that you will be blessed, encouraged, and have a good understanding of some of the many ways that your life is making a difference in a small community of San Pedro Town and in a small country of Belize. Thank you for your continual support; prayers, finances, emails, texts and calls. I cannot do anything without the power of God, the prayers of the saints and the support from each and every one of you. A heartfelt love and appreciation to all!

 

Upcoming Events & Prayer/Praise:

-Please pray for direction for our Friday Night Bible Study and for the formation of a Men’s Bible Study to help repair, mend and minister to men in San Pedro Town!

-Please pray that the Wall of Awareness message would be effective in giving hope to those infected or affected with HIV/AIDS!

-Pray for the many fatherless this upcoming Father’s Day!

-Please pray for an uneventful Hurricane Season and protection on our equipment at the radio station!

-Please pray for provision for shipment of Galcom Fixed-tuned, solar powered radios as we’ve ran out!

-Thanking God for Job’s rededication to the Lord, pray for strength and growth!

-Thankful for Andrew and his 3 weeks of service at Lighthouse Radio Ministry.

 

Contact Information:

He Intends Victory

P.O. Box 399

Irvine, CA 92650

1-800-HIV-HOPE

Please indicate: Welsh/Belize on your checks or online at:

https://heintendsvictory.org/lighthouseradio/

 

Lighthouse Christian Radio Ministry

P.O. Box 166

San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye

Belize, Central America

Office: 011-501-226-4673

Cell : 011-501-605-6123

Email: clivewelsh@gmail.com

Stream: www.galcom.org/streamer/

 

For up to date updates, join me on my Facebook at Clive Welsh!