John 14:12, English Standard Version

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Belize is a small country bordering Mexico and Guatemala. It is by far the most biodiverse country I have been to yet. There are many varieties of palm trees, a freshwater river running parallel to the Caribbean coastline, and many different animals. We saw iguanas, blue crabs, a spiny-tailed lizard, pelicans, fresh red snapper sold from the roadside, and we unintentionally upset a troop of howler monkeys! The Caribbean culture is a slow relaxed culture that runs on "island time.” The people of Belize are a mixture of Mayan, Belizean, and Garifuna (African descent). The buildings are a variety of brightly colored styles with tile floors and iron bars on the windows. Some homes are built on stilts for functional reasons such as flooding, air flow, and pest control. The official language is English although many do speak Spanish.   

Our team consisted of six team members in addition to our host and his family. The goal for this trip was to lay hands on the sick and receive training in this area of ministry. Our team evangelized in a shopping area, ministered to men in the country's only prison, visited the hospital on two occasions, prayed over many people in the marketplace, and had fellowship at two separate churches on Sunday. We found the people of Belize to be extremely receptive to prayer and acknowledgement of God. However, when asked about their personal relationship with Christ, many were unsure of what we meant. After the gospel was explained, we saw at least a dozen or more salvations throughout the week. Many people received healing of their backs and legs. The chief complaints in the hospital were diabetes, kidney and circulation problems, and foot pain. Our host, Craig, prayed for people with back problems everywhere we went. He would have them sit down and stretch their legs out straight and find that one leg was longer than the other. He would then command the leg to grow, and we saw with our own eyes that it would grow. Once the legs were even, he would have them stand up and walk and many declared that their back pain was gone or improved. One woman had been bedridden for three months with back pain. After we prayed over her, she was able to move more freely and began to emotionally praise God in her hospital bed. I was able to personally pray with a young man who was facing surgery after a motorcycle accident, breaking his leg in five places. At first, he claimed to know Jesus but after more discussion he was not sure of his salvation. I led him in prayer as he confessed his sins and asked Jesus into his heart. He was visibly moved by this encounter and cried with his newfound freedom.  

Our experience in the prison was met with many smiling faces as the inmates welcomed us. One man who had been there for many years had found Jesus in prison and he led the group in song before we began. We shared our testimonies of what God had done in our lives, and we celebrated each other as we saw God help us to speak boldly. I trust that the men felt encouraged by our visit. This particular unit in the prison was required to go to school during the afternoon to achieve their GED and finish their day with a church service. Ministers from different religions/denominations take turns speaking at the prison each day.  

One particular day stood out for me. A couple from Canada had come to live in Belize and bought property on a hill in the Spanish Lookout community near the border of Guatemala. Their property is called the Fire and Glory Ranch, and it serves as a Christian community center where groups can hold events. We traveled to this ranch to join other resident missionaries and hold a children's event there. One family had come from Toledo, Ohio and are now resident missionaries. Another family came from Utah several years ago and continues to serve in the Mennonite community of Belize. A team member staying with us was originally from Czechoslovakia, now living in the U.S. It was fun for me to serve alongside such a diverse group of people. We split up and went door to door inviting families to the event. Most of these people only spoke Spanish, so the language barrier made the day a little more challenging, but we had translators to help. We enlisted the help of a 12-year-old little girl who stayed with us and was willing to translate for us. After only a few days, she also made the decision to accept Christ as her savior, and we all rejoiced with her. The children's event was a success as they enjoyed face painting, balloon games, a mechanical bull ride, bracelet making, and horseback rides. 

This is the first time I have gone on a mission trip with the majority of my family. I was blessed to see boldness rise up in my husband as he prayed for people and spoke his testimony. Our daughter enjoyed making new friends and helping the children with the horseback rides as well as praying for people in the marketplace as she stepped out in foreign ministry for the first time. We reserved one day for fun and adventure by visiting a museum and climbing Mayan Temples. The day ended with time at a beach which had an inflatable obstacle course. We all laughed as several of us attempted it but soon fell into the water. This was a very memorable trip for my family, and I would not be surprised if we return to the beautiful country of Belize in the future. The perfect lyrics to sum up this trip are found in the song "Somebody Prayed" by David Crowder: "I have seen miracles come from feeble words, I have seen hospital rooms turned into cathedrals, I have seen freedom come to the prisoner, you can't tell me that prayer don't work".