We are Protected!!!

So, after the 7:30 PM mass it has become routine that Ali, Alison and myself pray night prayer together and then walk home along the beach. It is usually 9:30 by the time we arrive home, and here in San Pedro it gets dark by 6:30. Being the non-tourist season, it is very quiet here except for the random citizens of Belize you see along the beach at night, many trying to sell things or just flirt with women. The other night we were walking home and it was pretty dark. We had just finished praying when we noticed two dogs had been following us for quite a while, one behind and one in front. They seemed pretty friendly. All of a sudden someone went by on a bicycle and they began to bark and growl, then went back to walking in front and behind us. We soon realized that they were acting like 'guard dogs' and actually protecting us. It was crazy! We were reminded of St. Dominic who during times of danger and attack would randomly have a guard dog appear and protect him. This has become almost a nightly event. The dogs even wait up if one of us slows down and if we're not staying together, and whenever we see anyone that looks at all dangerous they bark and growl. They follow us all the way to our apartment and then they take off. It is quite a relief to have such good company here!

Finally in San Pedro

Peace of Christ be with all of you! I am finally in San Pedro, where I will make my home for at least the next year. I am extremely blessed by the hospitality of the people here and the way the Lord has provided through this mission. There are two priests I will be working with, Fr. Jim and Fr. Bob and they are responsible for 4 different parishes between the two of them. We will be seeing at least one of them every weekend which is going to be a wonderful gift. One thing you learn very quickly in the missions is how many loose ends there are and unanswered questions. Many things will not be solidified for at least a couple weeks when we finally sit down with Fr. Jim. In the meantime, I know that this week I will start teaching at the primary school, which is elementary and middle school. Apparently in Belize, kids right out of high school are allowed to teach at the primary school. Also in Belize, the public schools are Catholic, so you have teens out of high school, trying to teach kids in elementary school. Most of them aren't Catholic and have never been to Church and yet they are trying to teach these children about our faith. Needless to say, whatever time we can give to teaching the children about Christ will be much needed. Aside from that I will be helping with music ministry in the parish, which is really struggling, and we will be helping with Confirmation and 1st Communion preparations. Once a week we will be leading classes to prepare the kids for the Sacraments. Down the road we hope to start a youth group as well, which is desperately needed. There is a lot to be done, and the challenge will be to take things one day at a time and not get too overwhelmed. I am grateful for all your prayers!

Hello from Belize!!!

Well, I've been here for almost three days now in Benque, Belize. We are staying at a school that Ali and Alison used to teach at last year, just 3 miles from the Guatemala border. Let's just say that four full nalgene bottles of water is still not enough with the heat down here. Today I saw the biggest spider I've ever seen, and everyone laughed saying it was a small one in comparison. There has also been a moth living in my room that is bigger than a bat, and I'm the only one that flinches when it flies around. Apparently, you just get used to all of this after a while.

The school here is just awesome. As I have said, there is such simplicity and beauty in places of poverty. I do ask that you all pray for me again. I know the first month will be a hard adjustment and we will not even be settling in San Pedro (where we'll be living) until next week. I was praying last night, however and Jesus so lovingly reminded me to take His hand. As foreign as this place is to me right now, I am so blessed that He is walking with me step by step as I learn to live in this new culture. I am also seeing how beautiful loneliness can be, because in loneliness the Lord is able to call us closer to Himself. I have known this for a while, but I am now experiencing it in a deeper way. It is so easy to tune Him out, because the world can be so noisy. He really is speaking all the time to us, I think I just forget to listen. I am already seeing how the Lord bringing me here is going to challenge me to seek Him even more with my whole heart! To Him be all the Glory!

Off to San Pedro, Belize!

Hey everyone!

Welcome to my website! I will make it more elaborate as I figure out just how to work it! So, I am off to Belize on September 14th, in just 5 days!!! Alison Griswold and myself will be flying into Benque and staying there for a week. After a week of retreat/ preparation, we will head to the island of San Pedro with Ali Robezzoli, where we will begin our ministry. We are also so blessed to be joined by Ann Benage in October as well. Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am just blown away by the Lord's faithfulness. He truly has provided for this mission through the generous donations of family and friends. Most importantly, I am asking for prayers as I seek to live out His will in San Pedro. For those of you who do not know, we will be helping to run a mission parish down there. I am excited and eager to get there and figure out just how we will be doing this. I know that the people of San Pedro have a lot to teach me, and I am so blessed to enter into this culture. I pray that I can be a pure and holy vessel. I hope I can give, just a part of what I know will be received, from the people down there.

A scripture verse that I so often call 'my own' is 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. "He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness'. I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." May this be our prayer. May we decrease so that He can increase. How amazing, that all I have to do is surrender to the Lord my weaknesses and sin. The Lord in His goodness can take whatever we have to offer and use it for His Glory. When we realize how weak we are, and trust in His Mercy and Grace, He truly can become our strength and transform us and use us for His Glory! Thank you for your prayers and support, and know that you will be in mine!