Our first three-month session came to a close with a flurry of activities including a week-long mission trip to the picturesque mountain village of San Jose in southern Belize. The MOVE students planned and led the trip as part of their final project. In San Jose most of the population speak Mayan and make their living growing organic cocoa. During the day we worked in groups according to our elective classes. Some groups taught health classes and did community service and visitation.
Leo, Josue and I, the mechanics students, spent the week fixing old chain saws, lawn mowers, weed whackers and a menagerie of other items.
While I appreciated the learning experience, I found myself wondering what kind of evangelistic impact we could possibly make by fixing old rusty junk. Otto Koning and the Pineapple stories came to mind, but Otto was at it for years before he began to see results. What could we do in one short week? Not much, but God certainly knows how to have a productive week! I mean, he made the world and everything in it in six days, not to mention the sun, moon and stars! So as I worked I prayed that God would use us somehow, although I must admit my faith was rather small.
I think it was our first day of work when we met Eventor. It turned out he is
the local Baptist minister, and he had a weed-whacker, lawn mower, chain saw and four-wheeler that needed fixed. Jeff brought the machines to the Community Center where we had our “shop” set up, and then went and fixed the four-wheeler while we diagnosed and serviced the other equipment. Pastor Eventor was so pleased, he invited us all to do special music at his Wednesday night prayer meeting, and asked Jeff to speak. The church was full and the people were very appreciative.
Later I learned that Pastor Eventor was born with a stub foot, so the four- wheeler is a big deal for him to be able to get around on the hills of his cocoa farm. Jeff is also checking into getting a better prosthetic for him.
At the end of the week we invited the community to a sacred concert on Friday night. I was surprised and pleased to see that most of the men who attended were the ones who had sat watching us fix their machines all week long.
As usual, probably the most fruitful area of labor was with the village children. They love to sing and listen to Bible stories. Lyli, Yaneth and Keila are already planning a future trip to do a vacation Bible school.
Oren and Ana, two of the mere handful of Adventists in San Jose, hardly left our sides during the entire week. They ate with us, had worship with us and joined in nearly every activity. Oren only left a couple of mornings to plant corn. We encouraged them to continue strong in the faith and active in gospel labor.
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| Concert in the San Jose Community Center |
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| Mechanics is a spectator sport in San Jose. No pressure. |
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| Leo welds a broken skillet. |
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| Morning worship behind the community center in San Jose |
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Lyli and I on our way to invite people to the concert
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| Peaceful village |
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| Afternoon visitation in San Jose |
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