Hello Sarasota! I hope all is well back at home. Things are going very well here in Belize. Day 3 was a long day, but it was a huge blessing for us as well as the Belizians we have be working with.

Today began with Sunday morning service. We met at the church for worship. The congregation was small, however, what they lacked in numbers they more than made up for in hospitality and spirit. Alice, the pastor's wife led the music while Pastor Ric and another member, joe, accompanied her with a guitar and small keyboard. We sang in English and in Spanish, and then she threw us for a loop when she said she was going to sing some songs in Chinese. Thank goodness she was only joking.

Everyone had an opportunity to request a favorite from the hymn to be sung and then she opened the stage to our musicians if they wanted to share some "rock n' roll" with them. Erik and some other members from the Seattle team did a great job as the led us in a few of our favorite worship songs. We then greeted each other with hugs while we sang "God loves you and I love you. That's the way is should be!" Just before we were seated we turned to each other and said "I love you and there is nothing you can do about it." Pastor Ric then preached from Phillipians 3 about the strongholds of sin and the importance of having God create a new life in you. He then shared his testimony and praised God for changing his life.

The people here are very gracious and strive to be a blessing to us. Their love and hospitality shines through every word they speak, every action, and every meal the prepare. Following service the Pastor and his family were so excited to share one of their favorite Mayn meals with us, tamales. They were very delicious. Although, it was kid of funny seeing some of the kids trying to eat through the banana leaf because they didn't know to unwrap their tamale. 

After lunch we returned to the hotel and we were able to rest for a little bit before we returned for evening service.

Evening service was a lot like morning service and the congregation was even more excited to hear from us. We sang some more of their favorite hymns and but they mainly wanted to hear the teens sing their songs. Megan shared her testimony and expressed her desire to become a missionary. One of our team leaders, Kassy, sang an amazing song and I preached from Philippians 2 about the importance of being united in love and in Christ, despite our different backgrounds and nationalities.

Once we returned to our hotel we met as a whole group of Pelicans (an adopted term for our whole team since we are traveling with Praying Pelican Missions) and re-capped the whole day, sang, prayed, and discussed some details for the next day.

All in all, Day 3 was a great day. We were welcomed by a congregation with hospitality and love. We grew closer as a team. we were able to honor God by sharing in our gifts and abilities. And we began to make some life-long friendships.

Tomorrow is the first day of construction and VBS. It is going to be a long and hot one tomorrow, but we are excited with anticipation to work with the children from Orange Walk Town. Please keep praying for our mission and for God to stretch us and use us to further His Kingdom. And don't forget to keep posting messages; the teens look forward to me reading your posts to them and are curious how things are back in the US. Karen is especially anxious to hear how the Sunday morning service went at SCC.

We love you all. We miss you all. And we are all so grateful for your support and sacrifices to make this adventure possible for us. Even though you might not be here physically, your prayers and support are what have allowed us to be able to do what we are doing. You all have played a major role.

Until tomorrow, God Bless and enjoy the pictures.

Hello everyone! Today was a great day in Belize. We started out the morning by gathering together in the hotel lobby for prayer and breakfast, fried egg sandwiches and of course coffee.

Following breakfast we met the rest of the Pelican Staff, Kassy and Eustus. Eustus, is a Belizian partner and an knows the country like the back of his hand, which is great because he is also our bus driver. By the way, driving a school bus in Belize City is like threading a needle. It makes Sarasota's snowbird traffic look like a leisurely Sunday drive.

Eustus is quite the driver and took us for a scenic drive around Belize City. Belize City is the former capital of Belize and is by far the largest city in the nation. It never ceases to amaze me of the poverty that is often just across the street from tourist facade in vacation destinations like Belize.

After driving through town this morning we had an opportunity to visit Sister Cecelia's Nursing Home to visit with some of the elderly. Belize has a very family oriented culture, so the people we visited this morning were mostly without family or unable to be cared for by their family. Our presence was very welcome and the residents of Sister Cecelia's were delighted just to have some interaction with someone. All of us visited with one or two residents and got to swap stories.

Erik had the opportunity to play the guitar while the rest of us sang a few worship songs. I also was able to pray for everyone. After worship we attempted to say our good-byes but we had a hard time separating from our conversations. One gentleman in particular, Walter, started sharing with me about the passage of the prodigal son and how he loved that story. Before I knew it we were all huddled around a table playing dominoes. Actually, the others were playing and I was losing badly. We kept score with beans...needles to say I was bean-less.

After we left the nursing home we went to the shore and took some group photos and the went back to the hotel for lunch to rest before picking up the other groups from the airport.

Around 3 (Belize time) we met up with the other teams and drove about an hour to get to Orange Walk, where we will be spending the majority of the week. Once we got to our hotel, D'Victoria's, we all ate pizza from the guy who started Pizza Hut (really...true story) and went to the church for youth night.

Youth night was a blast. We got to meet the pastor and a few of the people from the church. We worshiped, got to know each other and played a few crazy games. While we were mingling we met a lady and her two sons who just moved back to Belize from Sarasota. What a small world!

God is already doing some great things and we have just started to form some great relationships. Tomorrow we will go to church and Sunday school. I can't wait to tell you more about it.

Everyone is doing great and getting along wonderfully. Yes, even Cami. In fact Cami has quickly found a friend from Chicago named Hannah. Everyone says hi and is excited to read your replies.

I apologize for not uploading any videos yet. I have encountered some crazy technical difficulties. I am bound and determined to figure it out though. Tomorrow, I will post some photos for sure since the video thing has been a bust so far.

Thanks again for everything. Keep praying. And we love you all!

Leah, I love you and miss you. Logan and Seth, be good for mommy.

Until tomorrow, Good Night.

Well we are here safely and are enjoying the trip thus far. Both of our flights went very smooth and we arrived in Belize City around noon (FL time).

I know we have all been excited about the summer weather in Sarasota, but it seems we have jumped ahead a couple months as soon as the plane doors opened. The temps were in the mid to high 80's and very muggy...we are all very excited about working outdoors.

Once we got to the hotel we all crashed for a couple hours. We ate dinner at our hotel and it was awesome. The hotel manager's wife runs the kitchen and cooked some excellent chinese food. Not only was it delicious but the portions were huge.

After dinner we walked around for a little bit. We met up with our team leader from Praying Pelican, Jennie. She seems really cool. The other teams wont join us until tomorrow afternoon; tomorrow morning we are going into Belize City to visit with some elderly people in a nursing home. Erik was immidiately recruited to play the guitar and lead a few songs. It's a good thing Jennie had a guitar. I was asked to preach on Sunday Night. They said I can go as long as I want, at least 30 mins. I figured Lee would be jealous ;-).

Everyone says "HI!", except Gabby, she says it with hand motions.

We have a lot of video to upload but the connection isn't the greatest...I will try to upload the videos over night or tomorrow morning.

Thanks again to everyone who helped get us here and who has been praying for us. We love you all.

I should probably go. Jim just burped his bag near me and I need to walk away for a little while. Feel free to leave lots of replies. I will update you more as we go.

I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad
Where the West was all but won
All alone, smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where've you been?" He said, "Ask anything."

Where were you, when everything was falling apart?
All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang
And all I needed was a call that never came
To the corner of 1st and Amistad

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me.

These words from The Fray's 'You Found Me' seem to be echoing in the hearts of literally millions of people. Does the song express your heart as well? Haven't you had things 'fall apart' on one level or another?

It's the tension we feel when we're caught in between the way things are and the way things should be. It's an emotional strain and drain that causes us to simultaneously remember that God is good - but also ask why our lives are not.

Like the home life that is supposed to be peaceful and renewing, yet is filled with the soundtrack of angry words and painful exchanges. Or perhaps even worse...is deafened by silence and disappointed glances.

Like the relationship that started so amazingly well, yet ended with a callous and cowardly text or message on Facebook and left you feeling as valuable as the garbage you took out the week before.

Like the loss of a friend. Like the disappointment in circumstances. Like the million other things that make us cry out to God and ask -

'Where were You?'

I think I know how you feel. And I definitely know of a man who lived thousands of years ago who lost more and experienced more pain than perhaps anyone else who walked this earth. His name was Job, and just when his life was going as well as any life could go, here's what happened:

Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them - burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened" (Job 1:13-19).

Can you possibly imagine this scene? In the space of a few dozen heartbeats, Job lost everything that was near and dear to his heart. All possessions and family cruelly ripped from his life in a matter of minutes.

Think Job might have been asking God where He was at this point? Think Job might have been able to pen some lyrics of doubt and expressions of pain?

And yet, here is the song that came from the pieces of his shattered heart:

"I came naked from my mother's womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The LORD gave me what I had,
and the LORD has taken it away.
Praise the name of the LORD!"

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God (Job 1:21-22).

Was Job some super saint that didn't feel pain or could just blow it off? Not at all. He was human just as much as you or me, but the difference is he didn't have a human perspective. Rather than focusing on the sting of things falling apart, he trusted in the power of the God who holds everything together. He worshipped God with tears and resisted the temptation to blame the evils of this world on the Creator of the universe.

Things do fall apart, and it is OK to find God on a corner and ask where He was. But the key to remember is that there is a difference between asking and blaming.

Asking is trying to find an answer. Blaming is assuming you already know. And what you should know is that God has it all under control. You may feel like He wasn't there in a difficult time but the reality is He was probably closer than you ever imagined. He doesn't need to find you because He never let you go in the first place. That's why we have these promises that are like the mast of a ship that we cling to during the storms of life:

Listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:1-2).

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer (Psalm 9:12).

I will never fail you. I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5).

May these truths find you in the midst of your trials.

Just thought this was funny and it brings up a good point.

The New York Times recently reported on this Dawkins endorsed advertising system. Atheists are actually evangelizing.

There are other “beliefs” out there trying to sway people away from Christ. Satan would love for nothing more than to convince as many people as he can to deny the existance of God.

• What do you think about this ad? 
• Do you think it is ok to advertise this on the side of a bus?
• Are Chirstians doing enough to spread the message of Jesus Christ?
• Is this atheist message impacting the beliefs of more people than you?

Reply to this post, I am intersted in what you think? 

Later, Jonny Quest