Hey Everyone! Welcome back!

Today was the day that we have been looking forward to...The Mayan Ruins! This was a well timed reprieve from our hard work. We woke up early and went to Lamanai, which is Mayan for Submerged Crocodiles. You will have to see the pictures to get an idea of how amazing this place was. The ruins were from 300 BC. It was so cool to climb to the tops of the temples and look around. For the most part the landscape was completely flat, as we were right on the Belize River's bank, with the exception of the temples which only a few were excavated. Many of them still remain captive to the thick jungle. It felt as if we were in the middle of an Indiana Jones movie, with the exception of the gigantic ants. Despite not having gigantic ants we did get to see some pretty cool wild life. There were a few families of howler monkeys. The monkeys were hard to take pictures of because they were so high up and kept "monkeying" around; the make the coolest sound that can be heard from a mile away. I even wandered off a little into the jungle and saw a jaguar. Actually the jaguar saw me first! I was too busy watching the monkeys in the trees and trying to get a closer look because they were making so much noise when I saw him jump into the bushes from the corner of my eye. Needless to say it scared me just a little bit. It makes sense that one of the first temples we saw was called the Jaguar Temple and had what used to be jaguar faces on the front.

We saw three temples in all: the Jaguar Temple, the High Temple, and the Mask Temple. Of the three, the High Temple was the tallest was quite a work out to get to the top. We even got to see one of the ancient ball courts. Interestingly enough we learned that when competitions were held, it was highly ceremonial and considered to be a high honor to compete. In fact, competitors were bred; they were removed from their families at a young age and received the best training, education, and discipline. They were the best of the best. We also learned, contrary to popular belief, that after the competition the captain of the losing team would sacrifice the winners to god. This was their way of giving their best to their god. There is an interesting sermon illustration in there somewhere.

After touring the ruins we had a picnic lunch near the river then returned to the town for VBS. VBS went very well. It is so neat to see the excitement of the children. Their favorite song to sing is “I’m Trading My Sorrows,” they especially like the chorus and the motions. Our teens have so many great things to share about the projects that we did and about the children. There are so many cool little stories and testimonies that you will just have to sit and talk to them about when we get home.

After VBS we went back to the hotel to freshen up and rest a little bit before we returned to the church for a prayer night. Personally, the prayer night was the highlight of the week. Pastor Ric and the congregation are very prayerful. We spent the majority of the night singing hymns and then we divided up into small groups to pray for one another. Pastor Ric also shared his vision and passion for the church and for Orange Walk. They dream of one day having an elementary school where they can teach more children about Jesus Christ. He truly is a kind and gentle-hearted man, with a huge burden for the lost. I wish you could meet him.

Following our prayer service we returned to the hotel where we met as a group, worshiped, reflected on the day and planned for our last day in Orange Walk. Today was a fun and fruitful day. We saw and experienced things at the ruins that we may never see again.  We ministered to children and impacted the community. We finished the day praising God and edifying others with prayer. It was interesting to begin the day exploring the religious beliefs and temples of an ancient civilization from before Jesus was born to concluding our day with teaching and celebrating our relationship with our Holy God and Savior. After comparison, there was one thing in common between the ancient Mayan civilization and our mission trip here in Belize; we both offered our best as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Thanks for your prayers. We all love you and hope all is well. Until next time…good night and God bless.

As teenagers, we are one of the most stereotyped groups out there. Adults expect nothing but trouble from teenagers. This really aggravated me last week in Spanish class. I had just finished a test, and my good friend Death Ray texted me, saying that he was too sick to lead worship that night. The teacher saw the phone, confiscated it, and said I would get a zero on the test, because the official school policy is that if you have a phone out, you’re cheating. I understand that texting in class is against the rules, but it is aggravating that their first assumption is that I am cheating. Unfortunately, this is only one of many examples of teenager stereotyping, from my experience alone. I could spend all day telling stories about the many times our youth group has been kicked out of the mall for an innocent scavenger hunt, or the “no groups of 3 or more” rule (which only applies to teenagers), and many, many others. And whenever teenagers do prove adults wrong and do something special, the reward we get is, “that’s such a great thing they did…….for kids their age.” Why can’t it just be a great thing, period, end of story. Why does “for kids their age” or something to that affect always have to be attached.

            So that leaves us with the question, what do we do about it? Complain? Sulk? Write an angry blog? I believe that the main problem of stereotyping is that today’s teenagers are victims of low expectations. After all, a hundred years ago, you went from kid to adult, with a family, job, and everything, and society still functioned. Today nothing is expected from teenagers, and many of us have sank to meet those low expectations. So what we have to do is surpass adults’ expectations. Jesus said in Matthew 5:41 “If someone makes you go one mile, go with him two miles.” This may sound like self-torture at first, but with a little background knowledge it makes more sense.

            There was a law in ancient Rome that if a Roman soldier was traveling, he was allowed to force a citizen of an occupied territory (in this case, a Jew) to carry his things, and the maximum distance was one mile. The purpose of this law was not just to make things easier on the soldiers, but to dehumanize the Jews. The maximum distance of one mile was to not make them too mad and start a rebellion. If a Jew in this circumstance was to surpass the one mile limit and choose to go a second mile, then they reassert their humanity and force the Romans to respect them.

            This same concept applies to us today. If we do more than we are asked of adults, we can leave a lasting impact, and change their opinion of our generation.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”

May I have your attention, please. Stop what you are doing and join the crowd of 100 MILLION people worldwide who have been inspired, moved, and/or encouraged by this video:

Susan Boyle - Singer – Britain's Got Talent 2009

Of course most of you have probably already seen this viral phenomenon that chronicles a moment on Britain's Got Talent that has captured worldwide attention.

But if you are really honest with yourself, I would guess that you had the same initial reaction to Susan Boyle that the audience, judges, and probably everyone else in the known universe had - which would be:

"Are you serious? A 47 year old classic example of a 'cat lady' who has never been kissed and thinks she has a shot at competing on this show???"

Then, at the 1:56 mark, Susan belts out the first notes of "I Dreamed a Dream" and dropped a talent BOMB on the judges that blew away any previous doubt.

And did you see that Simon Cowell actually smiled??? Now you know that miracles are possible!

And so now Susan skyrockets from unemployed church volunteer to a worldwide hope for achieving her dream and becoming a singing sensation.

When I think about this whole Susan Boyle juggernaut, one word keeps coming to mind-

Judgment

There are judges on Britain's Got Talent. There were judging looks from the audience, and there were judging thoughts inside of you and me.

And they were obviously wrong. People judged Susan from the outside in, but that judgment turned from rolling eyes and ridicule to smiles and praise in less than 2 minutes when her angelic voice crashed through the stereotypes and created a very cool moment for the world to enjoy.

So, teenagers...what can we learn from all this Boyle-Mania? Well for me, I saw an ugly side of my heart that goes directly against God's simple guide for how we should look at and treat each other:

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults- unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor (Matthew 7:1-5 The Message).

It really didn't take any time at all after I first clicked the play button to judge Susan by outward appearances and guessing how big of a train wreck her audition would probably turn out to be.

Why is it that we have this awful tendency to judge people by appearances, stereotypes, and uninformed opinions? Because we all have an element to us that we'd rather not admit to owning. Out of insecurity and lack of self confidence, we use others less 'attractive' and 'talented' to artificially boost our weak egos. That's why Jesus gives us a plain and simple warning:

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:2).

In other words, what goes around, comes around. And when we let the judgmental voices sing superior songs in our heads, you can bet there will be judgment coming back our way.

What kind of world would it be if we took this simple principle from Jesus and made it a daily habit not to judge others by appearance or in a hypocritical way? Well, it would be a world without hatred, fear, racism, and prejudices.

It would be a world that feels like the Susan Boyle video - when everyone realized they were wrong to judge and found joy in the fact that they were sharing in a moment of beauty that has nothing to do with outward appearances.

So the next time you hear the name Susan Boyle, remember that there is pure value and magnificence inside each and every person, because we are made in God's image, and truly we are all the same on the inside.

And that's a dream worth dreaming!

Do you ever wish you could go back in time? Where would you go? What would you do?

Some would go back and attempt to change history. You know, make sure Adolph Hitler never gets to purchase that 'how to be an evil dictator kit.' Or the folks that doubted that Mt. Vesuvius was going to blow would make it out of Pompeii in time to avoid the lava bath.

Others would go back in time to make easy money. Simple plan, just head back to the 1970's and put some serious bank in the little known company called Microsoft, and you're pretty much set for life. Or you could really impress your friends by knowing every Super Bowl and World Series champion year after year after year.

But then there are the people like me who would go back for a very different reason...which would be this:

Change

We look back in time and see all the forks in the road of life where we took the wrong turn, and permanent damage was done. All the unkind things we said, all the bad choices that we now regret, all the amazing opportunities that were given, but wasted.

That's kinda the premise of the film 17 Again starring 'I'm not just the High School Musical star' Zac Efron (Vanessa Hudgens not included). Zac plays a character that regrets missed opportunities from High School and is transformed into a 17 year old and given a second chance to be a basketball rock star.

Of course, this is just a movie, right? But in real life, we can't go back and change our mistakes. Maybe that's what makes this film intriguing to so many...because it's captivating to think that there is a way we could unload guilt and regret from the past.

I have some great news for you. There actually is a way to change your past. It doesn't involve a time machine or an age transformation; it is actually much more radical change. What I'm talking about is a deeply personal experience that is a complete renovation of your soul and perspective on your past.

Are you in? If so, read through the promises listed below that come from God Himself:

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9).

For his unfailing love toward those who fear Him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:11-12).

Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean! (Micah 7:19).

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

These passages from the Bible are more than just words. They are pledges from the God of the universe who does not lie and who does not change. When you trust Jesus as your only hope of salvation, your past is dissolved like a drop of ink in a sea of pure water.

And now, here's the best part. Not only is your past forgiven, but even the things that haunt you in quiet moments can be used by God for your ultimate good:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28).

Isn't this amazing? The stupid things we've done, the hurts we've caused, even the opportunities we missed are dark colors that God takes and transforms into a beautiful and bright picture when we leave it in His hands.

Bottom line: we can't go back and physically change the things that have happened, and we can't be transformed into a kid...but...we can gather all the sadness and remorse from our past and give it to the God who truly makes all things new.

So are you ready to be forgiven...again?