Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo Courtesy of iStock

Today in the Mission Yearbook: May 31, 2019

JINISHIAN MEMORIAL PROGRAM - The Jinishian Memorial Program is sponsoring a study tour to Armenia Sept. 26–Oct. 6. Hosted by local JMP team members, the tour will include discussions with all ecumenical church partners, Presbyterian, Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical. June 1 is the deadline to apply to participate in the study tour ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Mercy Trips Summer Outreach: "Raising funds for more nets ..."

Partnering with local healthcare workers and churches in medically underserved countries, Odessa, Texas-based Mercy Trips Healthcare Outreach provides free medical clinics and surgical care as an outreach of Christian love for our fellow man.

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Raising funds for more nets ...

Mercy Trips FB family and faithful supporters. As you can see we will be leaving soon for our summer mission. Thanks to our faithful friends at 1st Presbyterian Church in Midland Texas we will again be able to pass out many mosquito nets at our clinics, since they are funding 500 nets -- We have received donations for an additional 300 nets, but would like to have a total of 1,000 nets to pass out. To do that we need to raise $2000.00 more in the next week. If you can help us send us a private message and we will tell you the best way to donate. Thank you for your faithfulness.

• visit Mercy Trips' Facebook page

Mercy Trips Healthcare Outreach
P.O. Box 13795
Odessa, TX 79768

Mercy Trips Summer Outreach: "Less than a week ..."

Partnering with local healthcare workers and churches in medically underserved countries, Odessa, Texas-based Mercy Trips Healthcare Outreach provides free medical clinics and surgical care as an outreach of Christian love for our fellow man.

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Less than a week ...

In [less than] one week the Summer Team leaves for Uganda. We will be traveling to Mbale and serving at Kanginima Hospital and in the village areas of Manga and Kororut. Please be in prayer for those we will be serving and sharing with. Don't forget to follow our trip on our FB page.

• visit Mercy Trips' Facebook page

Mercy Trips Healthcare Outreach
P.O. Box 13795
Odessa, TX 79768

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: "On Our Way!"

From November 8th through the 15th, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project ... all of this building upon a foundation of relationships that was laid early this year.

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And we are on our way!

After all the preparation   ... the meetings and the discussions, the planning and the praying, we are in-transit, Beliuze-bound!

At the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, waiting for the connecting flight that will take us to the airport outside Belize City. A first time for some of us, and a return trip for others ... but we are all excited about the week ahead of us. Please keep us - Pastor Walter Thompson, Dr. Greg Bartha, Becky Holmes, Pat Hunter, Jeff McDonald, Chrissie Mee and Casey Smitho us, using the link at the  - in your thoughts and prayers.

Got questions and/or comments for our team? Send them through the link at the bottom of this page.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

• CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question  

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: How You Can Help

From November 8th through the 15th, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project ... all of this building upon a foundation of relationships that was laid early this year.

---

How You Can Help

While God has opened up a door for us on the team to develop a greater heart of compassion for all his people around the world, he has also opened that door for you to share that compassion in different ways.

First and foremost, we ask for your prayers that God will prepare us for our visit, and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Belize. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers in the weeks ahead, and add the Belize Mission Team, 1st Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas to your church’s prayer list.

We also ask for prayers that our financial needs be met. Each member of our team needs to raise almost $2,000 in support – through our own resources and through the support of friends and family. Would you prayerfully consider supporting our team through a small contribution? If you feel led to contribute financially, please make checks payable to “First Presbyterian Church” and include “Belize Mission Team” in the notation line. The checks may be sent to:

Belize Mission Trip
c/o 1st Presbyterian Church
800 W. Texas Avenue
Midland, TX 79701

Whether you feel led to contribute financially, through prayer or through both ... all of your support is appreciated!

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Our Mission Partner

From November 8th through the 15th, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project ... all of this building upon a foundation of relationships that was laid early this year.

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Our Mission Partner

Some members of the First Prez mission teams are old hands with Belize, having spent years living and working there ... others will be making their first visit to that nation. Others are somewhere in between, with a brief visit of a day or a short span of days that afforded a tantalizing glimpse of what lay just outside our vision, just around that next bend in the road, on the other side of that next hill ... not so much scratching the surface of Belize ... but just scratching the surface of 'scratching the surface.'

Fortunately, we will be partnering with a ministry that has a long, deep acquaintance with the nation, its people and their needs. And not only that, they're a neighbor of sorts, headquartered 'just up the road' from Midland.


"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."

"Simply put, we're a bridge connecting resources with needs, and churches and people with opportunities to serve."

"The birth of our ministry came from the conviction that Christians need to put what they hear into practice in obedience to Jesus and His word. As we put our faith into practice (putting God's Word to work), and give ourselves away in mission, we ourselves are transformed."

Among the valuable insights that The Word at Work provides its visiting partners, is that there is more to their mission than simply bricks-and-mortar.

God has revealed to us an entire host of people and places in Belize that need the regenerative touch of His hand. So, we are obedient to Jesus' call on our lives," Tam explains. "We run short term mission trips for groups of people from churches of all denominations from the USA to Belize, Central America."

"Relationships are central to the Gospel with which we are entrusted. God is at work in Belize and He calls us to join Him in that work, empowering us in a unique way to match needs and resources. We are honored to have hundreds of friends in Belize who teach us about service each time we travel there with a team. Our work complements, adapts, supplements, and encourages Belizean ministries in their work for those in need.

For more information about The Word at Work and its ministry, please visit their website. 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Where We're Going - The Culture

From November 8th through the 15th, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project ... all of this building upon a foundation of relationships that was laid early this year.

---

WHERE WE'RE GOING - THE CULTURE

An Overview of Belize
(from The Word at Work ministry)

Belize is located in the southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coast is at-or-below sea-level with swamps, mangroves, lagoons and sandy beaches. The Maya mountain range lies to the west and south, rising to over 3,000 feet at some peaks. The capitol, Belmopan, is in the center of Belize, near the Maya Mountain foothills.

History

The center of the Mayan empire for almost 1,000 years, the Spanish arrived in the 16th century and used the area primarily for logging. During the next two hundred years, many British and Spanish pirates inhabited the area, battling for naval supremacy. Finally in 1798, the British navy defeated the Spanish and laid official claim to the area. In 1862, Britain formally named the territory “British Honduras,” a title that lasted until 1962 when a peaceful independence was granted and British Honduras became Belize. The country gained full independence by 1982. As of 2012, an estimated 324,000 people lived in Belize.

Language

Belize is the only country in Central America where English is their official language. Creole is often spoken among the locals, along with Spanish in the western region near the Guatemalan border, and in the north near the Mexican border.

Currency

Belize's dollar value is tied to the United States dollar. Two Belizean dollars equal one U.S. dollar, and either currency can be used. Belizean banks are still not connected to the international banking system, so Americans can not use the ATM's. Most hotels and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard.

Economy

Belize's economy is seeing steady growth due to an increase in international tourism. Its jungles are touted as destinations for eco-lodges. And being located next to the world's second longest barrier reef makes it a great destination for scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. The per capita income, however, is just over $3,000USD per year.

Food

Most of the food in Belize is traditional Latin American (chicken, rice and beans, and enchiladas), with some Caribbean, Creole and Chinese. Most restaurants serve a good variety of foods, from chicken to steak to shrimp and a variety of fish, and even pizza. Local fruits, such as mangoes, bananas and pineapples are widely available and taste great.

Religion

The majority of Belizeans declare some sort of faith. Many are Roman Catholic, while Christian Protestantism continues to grow. Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindu and Voodoo are also practiced.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Where We're Going - The Country

From November 8th through the 15th, 2014, a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project ... all of this building upon a foundation of relationships that was laid early this year.

---

WHERE WE'RE GOING - THE COUNTRY

An Overview of Belize
(from The Word at Work ministry)

Belize is located in the southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coast is at-or-below sea-level with swamps, mangroves, lagoons and sandy beaches. The Maya mountain range lies to the west and south, rising to over 3,000 feet at some peaks. The capitol, Belmopan, is in the center of Belize, near the Maya Mountain foothills, with Banana Bank and the El Salvadorian refugee settlement (called The Valley of Peace) right nearby.

Belize City, over 300 years old and the country's main commercial area and seaport, is the largest city with over 80,000 residents. The Burial Grounds is on the northern outskirts of the city where TWAW does a significant amount of ministry. This is also where St. Andrews Presbyterian Church is located (one of our ministry partners). Other areas of TWAW activity include Orange Walk and Corozal to the north.

Many come to vacation in Belize for its beautiful beaches, casinos, scuba diving off the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, and its smattering of quaint islands. We spend 1 of the 8 days on TWAW mission trips recuperating and reflecting on the past week on a private island right near the barrier reef.

Climate

Belize has what's called a subtropical climate the entire year. The rainy season lasts from late-August through November, followed by a dry season from December through March. Normal highs all year are 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, while temperatures never drop below the mid-60's. However, your comfort has something to do with where you'll be serving... Belize City is on the Caribbean, so the sea breeze keeps things feeling a bit cooler. If you're in the jungle regions of central Belize there is no breeze to speak of, so it does feel a bit warmer.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

• CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

At the Start of It All ... Once More

Over the last nine-or-so months, I have talked about "WHEN I return to Belize" ... as opposed to "IF I return to Belize" ... and that has proven to be the case. Once again, I will be part of a team heading south on Christian mission ... once again, I will be seeking "adventure, discovery and illumination" in Belize ... once again, I will be giving and, in return, receiving so much more.

It was more than six years ago, in January of 2008, that I launched The West Texas Missioner blog with this post, the first of many over the ensuing months that would document our preparations for a mission trip to Thailand, and then the trip itself.

When all was said and done - once we were home, with the mission trip was behind us - I thought of retiring the blog ... but after some thought and some prayer, and some encouraging feedback from fellow bloggers here in the Tall City, I decided instead to continue the blog, but with a broader focus ... daily minutes for mission, news stories, efforts by my own church and by our brothers and sisters in Christ around the region, local opportunities for mission, and reports from our friends-in-mission around the world.

And now, here I am ... at the start of it all, once more.

From November 8th through the 15th, I shall be part of a team from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff doing a much-needed construction project ... there may also be opportunities for mission through education, medicine, fellowship, prayer and testimony.

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: We've Arrived

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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Arrived

Apologies for the delay in posting this ... Saturday was a loooooong day, but a successful one. We have arrived in Belize, on time and in good shape. In a previous post I expressed my confidence in the preparations for that trip ... And that confidence was borne out by timely connections and smooth transfers through the many stops along the way ... check-in, security, customs, baggage-claim, you name it.

Smooth ... but as I said, long. The airport is near Belize City, in the eastern part of this country. There would still be a couple. Of hours on the road as we made our way to Belmopan, the national capital, closer to the center of the country. There was a also a special stop along the way ... MORE ON THAT IN A LATER POST.

 By the time we had checked-in to our lodgings, unpacked, and enjoyed dinner, then a team meeting with our partner/hosts from The Word At Work, I was ready for bed ... With plans to get back on my blogging schedule the next day ... which I am.

Bottom line ... We're in Belize, and ready to get to work!


GOT QUESTIONS?

Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question  

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: One Day Out, Baggage Prep

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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Check Your Bags

Karen Winkler is co-leader of the group (along with Pastor Walter Thompson), and has done an outstanding job in organizing the 'logistics' of our upcoming mission trip. That organization will be put to the test in about twelve hours, as we depart Midland. But I've seen Karen at work before (she and I were both part of FPC-Midland's 2008 mission team, and has been on the mission trail on several occasions since then), and I am confident those prep's will pass the test with flying colors.

Those of you who have travelled before with groups know that baggage handling can be a challenge. A short while back, Karen presented us with packets that included several items to help us to effectively wrangle our bags. This includes yellow ribbons to raise our bags' profile on the luggage carousels, and personalized luggage tags identifying our team as well as the individual members.

On the reverse side of those tags is a variation the "Halverson Benediction," which over the years has been widely disseminated and is used by many churches, including First Prez-Midland. It is a particularly "missional" message ...

"You go nowhere by accident.
Everywhere you go, God is sending you.
Everywhere you are, God Has put you.
The Living Christ who dwells in you
has a purpose for you to further
His Kingdom right where you are."

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GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Two Days Out, What to Bring

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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What to Bring

So, what do you pack for a mission trip? Mostly, the usual 'stuff' one packs for any trip ... though that stuff might vary due to the nature of our mission and the work we'll be doing. Clothing, for example, will be short on formal wear. Working wear? That's something else entirely. "Take clothes that you don't mind getting dirty," we've been advised ... work clothes, work shoes and serious work gloves.

Speaking of that work ... we won't have to be packing tools, building supplies and so on ... that will be handled by our mission partner, The Word at Work, a ministry that has a long, deep acquaintance with the nation of Belize, its people and their needs. And not only that, they're a neighbor of sorts, headquartered 'just up the road' from Midland, in Amarillo, Texas.

Not all the time will be spent on the community center's construction site. Our mission will also include outreach in the school and in church, so we'll need to pack slacks or long skirts, and a nice shirt or blouse. Other times will call for sandals, flip-flops or sneakers. Pack shorts and t-shirts, but also a sweater or windbreaker. Pack a swimsuit, but also a rain jacket ... and a hat that will keep both the sun and the rain offyour face..

Bibles will be close-to-hand, but so will copies of Richard Stearns' book, "The Hole in Our Gospel," that we've been reading in preparation for our trip, and will be part of our daily devotionals while we're in Belize.

A lot of 'the usuals' ... passport, airline tickets, prescription medicines, personal toiletries (I still carry my Boy Scout toiletry kit from the 1970s), sunscreen, insect repellant, and all of that.

Most of us will have something to capture special moments of our mission ... the people we meet, the work we do, the relationships we establish ... and share it with others, items like cell phones, cameras, notebook computers and pads, and good old-fashiOned paper and pencil/pen. And with that in mind, DON'T FORGET CORDS FOR RE-CHARGING, AND SPARE BATTERIES!

 

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Got Questions?

Is there something you'd like to ask any of our
mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Three Days Out, a Prayer for Traveling Mercies

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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Our Travel Itinerary

An initial prayer request from the Belize Mission Team is for "traveling mercies." Part of our team will be departing Midland tomorrow morning (Thursday, January 2), arriving in Belize late that afternoon. A large part of our team will be departing Midland Saturday morning January 4. We'll connect with a third part of team at Dallas-Fort Worth International, and travel together from there to Belize, arriving later that afternoon.

"Start praying for traveling mercies," we've been advised. "We have a tight connection in Dallas!"

Speaking of prayer, each of us received a stack of bookmarks, which we've been sharing with others. The bookmarks list our mission team members, with a request that you pray for our team. Those team members are ...

Greg Bartha
Chris Hammit
Pat Hunter
Morgan Lane
Karen Lang
Jeff McDonald
Connie Morrow
Casey Smith
Will Smith
Mayra Thompson
Walter Thompson
Zureyma Thompson
Karen Winkler

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How You Can Help

While God has opened up a door for us on the team to develop a greater heart of compassion for all his people around the world, he has also opened that door for you to share that compassion in different ways.

First and foremost, we ask for your prayers that God will prepare us for our visit, and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Belize. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers in the weeks ahead, and add the Belize Mission Team, 1st Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas to your church’s prayer list.

We also ask for prayers that our financial needs be met. Each member of our team needs to raise $2,000 in support – through our own resources and through the support of friends and family. Would you prayerfully consider supporting our team through a small contribution? If you feel led to contribute financially, please make checks payable to “First Presbyterian Church” and include “Belize Mission Team” in the notation line. The checks may be sent to:

Belize Mission Trip
c/o 1st Presbyterian Church
800 W. Texas Avenue
Midland, TX 79701

Whether you feel led to contribute financially, through prayer or through both ... all of your support is appreciated!

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: "Come to the Quiet" ... and the commissioning

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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"COME TO THE QUIET" ... and the commissioning

If you want a break from the frantic, noisy hustle-and-bustle of the holiday season, won't you join us for "Come to the Quiet?" It takes place every Wednesday - from 12/04/2013 to 12/18/2013 - in the Chapel of 1st Presbyterian Church, 800 W. Texas Avenue, on the northwest corner of N. A Street and Texas Avenue, on the west side of downtown Midland?

We gather in the Chapel each Wednesday evening during the season of Advent, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., for contemplative worship ... Scripture, song, and prayer.

An addition to this weekend's gathering will be the commissioning of 1st Presbyterian's Belize Mission Team. It will be an opportunity to meet the team, wishing them good luck and Godspeed as they enter the last couple of weeks of preparation for their journey, and their service in Belize.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

For more information about "Come to the Quiet," please contact contact:
Mary Beth Anton, Administrative Pastor
(432) 684-7821
• marybeth@fpcmid.org

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Where We're Going - The Culture

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

---

WHERE WE'RE GOING - THE CULTURE

An Overview of Belize
(from The Word at Work ministry)

Belize is located in the southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coast is at-or-below sea-level with swamps, mangroves, lagoons and sandy beaches. The Maya mountain range lies to the west and south, rising to over 3,000 feet at some peaks. The capitol, Belmopan, is in the center of Belize, near the Maya Mountain foothills.

History

The center of the Mayan empire for almost 1,000 years, the Spanish arrived in the 16th century and used the area primarily for logging. During the next two hundred years, many British and Spanish pirates inhabited the area, battling for naval supremacy. Finally in 1798, the British navy defeated the Spanish and laid official claim to the area. In 1862, Britain formally named the territory “British Honduras,” a title that lasted until 1962 when a peaceful independence was granted and British Honduras became Belize. The country gained full independence by 1982. As of 2012, an estimated 324,000 people lived in Belize.

Language

Belize is the only country in Central America where English is their official language. Creole is often spoken among the locals, along with Spanish in the western region near the Guatemalan border, and in the north near the Mexican border.

Currency

Belize's dollar value is tied to the United States dollar. Two Belizean dollars equal one U.S. dollar, and either currency can be used. Belizean banks are still not connected to the international banking system, so Americans can not use the ATM's. Most hotels and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard.

Economy

Belize's economy is seeing steady growth due to an increase in international tourism. Its jungles are touted as destinations for eco-lodges. And being located next to the world's second longest barrier reef makes it a great destination for scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. The per capita income, however, is just over $3,000USD per year.

Food

Most of the food in Belize is traditional Latin American (chicken, rice and beans, and enchiladas), with some Caribbean, Creole and Chinese. Most restaurants serve a good variety of foods, from chicken to steak to shrimp and a variety of fish, and even pizza. Local fruits, such as mangoes, bananas and pineapples are widely available and taste great.

Religion

The majority of Belizeans declare some sort of faith. Many are Roman Catholic, while Christian Protestantism continues to grow. Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindu and Voodoo are also practiced.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Where We're Going - The Country

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

---

WHERE WE'RE GOING - THE COUNTRY

An Overview of Belize
(from The Word at Work ministry)

Belize is located in the southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coast is at-or-below sea-level with swamps, mangroves, lagoons and sandy beaches. The Maya mountain range lies to the west and south, rising to over 3,000 feet at some peaks. The capitol, Belmopan, is in the center of Belize, near the Maya Mountain foothills, with Banana Bank and the El Salvadorian refugee settlement (called The Valley of Peace) right nearby.

Belize City, over 300 years old and the country's main commercial area and seaport, is the largest city with over 80,000 residents. The Burial Grounds is on the northern outskirts of the city where TWAW does a significant amount of ministry. This is also where St. Andrews Presbyterian Church is located (one of our ministry partners). Other areas of TWAW activity include Orange Walk and Corozal to the north.

Many come to vacation in Belize for its beautiful beaches, casinos, scuba diving off the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, and its smattering of quaint islands. We spend 1 of the 8 days on TWAW mission trips recuperating and reflecting on the past week on a private island right near the barrier reef.

Climate

Belize has what's called a subtropical climate the entire year. The rainy season lasts from late-August through November, followed by a dry season from December through March. Normal highs all year are 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit, while temperatures never drop below the mid-60's. However, your comfort has something to do with where you'll be serving... Belize City is on the Caribbean, so the sea breeze keeps things feeling a bit cooler. If you're in the jungle regions of central Belize there is no breeze to speak of, so it does feel a bit warmer.

GOT QUESTIONS?
Is there something you'd like to ask any of our mission team members, or our pastor?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your question 

FPC-Midland Belize Mission: How You Can Help

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

---

How You Can Help

While God has opened up a door for us on the team to develop a greater heart of compassion for all his people around the world, he has also opened that door for you to share that compassion in different ways.

First and foremost, we ask for your prayers that God will prepare us for our visit, and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Belize. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers in the weeks ahead, and add the Belize Mission Team, 1st Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas to your church’s prayer list.

We also ask for prayers that our financial needs be met. Each member of our team needs to raise $2,000 in support – through our own resources and through the support of friends and family. Would you prayerfully consider supporting our team through a small contribution? If you feel led to contribute financially, please make checks payable to “First Presbyterian Church” and include “Belize Mission Team” in the notation line. The checks may be sent to:

Belize Mission Trip
c/o 1st Presbyterian Church
800 W. Texas Avenue
Midland, TX 79701

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FPC-Midland Belize Mission: Our Mission Partner

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, a team  from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff on a much-needed construction project.

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Our Mission Partner

Some members of the First Prez mission teams are old hands with Belize, having spent years living and working there ... others will be making their first visit to that nation. Others are somewhere in between, with a brief visit of a day or a short span of days that afforded a tantalizing glimpse of what lay just outside our vision, just around that next bend in the road, on the other side of that next hill ... not so much scratching the surface of Belize ... but just scratching the surface of 'scratching the surface.'

Fortunately, we will be partnering with a ministry that has a long, deep acquaintance with the nation, its people and their needs. And not only that, they're a neighbor of sorts, headquartered 'just up the road' from Midland.


"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."

"Simply put, we're a bridge connecting resources with needs, and churches and people with opportunities to serve."

"The birth of our ministry came from the conviction that Christians need to put what they hear into practice in obedience to Jesus and His word. As we put our faith into practice (putting God's Word to work), and give ourselves away in mission, we ourselves are transformed."

Among the valuable insights that The Word at Work provides its visiting partners, is that there is more to their mission than simply bricks-and-mortar.

God has revealed to us an entire host of people and places in Belize that need the regenerative touch of His hand. So, we are obedient to Jesus' call on our lives," Tam explains. "We run short term mission trips for groups of people from churches of all denominations from the USA to Belize, Central America."

"Relationships are central to the Gospel with which we are entrusted. God is at work in Belize and He calls us to join Him in that work, empowering us in a unique way to match needs and resources. We are honored to have hundreds of friends in Belize who teach us about service each time we travel there with a team. Our work complements, adapts, supplements, and encourages Belizean ministries in their work for those in need.

For more information about The Word at Work and its ministry, please visit their website. 

At the Start of It All ... Once More

It was almost six years ago, in January of 2008, that I launched The West Texas Missioner blog with this post, the first of many over the ensuing months that would document our preparations for a mission trip to Thailand, and then the trip itself.

When all was said and done - once we were home, with the mission trip was behind us - I thought of retiring the blog ... but after some thought and some prayer, and some encouraging feedback from fellow bloggers here in the Tall City, I decided instead to continue the blog, but with a broader focus ... daily minutes for mission, news stories, efforts by my own church and by our brothers and sisters in Christ around the region, local opportunities for mission, and reports from our friends-in-mission around the world.

And now, here I am ... at the start of it all, once more.

From January 4 through January 11, 2014, I shall be one of 18 members from 1st Presbyterian Church-Midland who will be traveling to the Central American country of Belize, and working with The Word at Work ministry. This will be an opportunity to reach out and share the gospel with the people of Belize while working side-by-side with the local community and The Word at Work staff doing a much-needed construction project ... there may also be opportunities for mission through education, medicine, fellowship, prayer and testimony.