My heart is full since our group returned from Belize early Easter Sunday morning! This year seventeen grade 11 and 12 students, along with 6 chaperones served on our school’s thirteenth trip to Belize. It’s amazing how God has used Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Roaring Creek to teach us part of what it means to serve him in other parts of the world and grow us all as Jesus’ disciples. Mr. Bonk does an incredible job preparing the kids to serve and inviting students into Jesus way. This is not a missions trip , yet we also prepare students by introducing them to the ideas in Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions. Access to this short video series by emailing Pastor Layne.
The trip may be summed up best by Jesus words:
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:26-28
We had lots of fun in Belize zip lining, cave tubing, swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays. Yet the main purpose of our trip is to help students learn by supporting local missionaries. We partnered on three projects:
Started building some additional bathrooms at YWAM Roaring Creek
Facilitated a fun day for the students at Raymond Shepherd Nazarene School (Grade K - 8) in Roaring Creek
Lead a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Persevering Grace Church in Georgeville
Projects 2 and 3 were lead primarily by our amazing students!
At the close of each day, a group of students take turns leading prepared devotions on a particular type of poverty. After singing and discussion, students given time to journal about the devotion and their day. The journal reflects the value of their learning. Below is a list highlighting some of the students learning. Some entries have been adjusted to give more clarity and no names are given to maintain anonymity. Enjoy reading some of what God is doing in our students through this service trip to Belize!
The Belizian kids may be materially poor but they are rich in is making the most of what they have - I’d like to be better at that!
I think as much as we have been a blessing to Belize, they have been a blessing to us as well. Belize has helped me strengthen my relationship with God and overcome the pain in my life.
We gave the kids dental floss and they wanted to share with me - I want to be more selfless and giving when I get home!
I learned a lot more about others in our group - when I get home I want to learn more about people’s stories before I make harsh judgments about them.
Sometimes things run completely different in another country but things still work well and get done.
After the emotional poverty devotional I learned that my problems are a lot easier to go through if I talk about them with others, I’d like to open up more
When this trip began I felt like an outsider in our group but realized I’m not.
At first I was not comfortable leading devotions and being the person in charge, however, being with this group from over the past number of days has allowed me to get to know some of people better and take away some of my introvertedness.
The staff and boys at YWAM brought out the best in the team and I’m glad I got to see that more than anything!
Because my family isn’t that open and doesn’t seem to talk that much, It was a challenge to be open with those in my cabin and during devotions. I did it though and I think that will help me be more open to others when I get back to school
Belizians don’t seem to plan as much as we do back home. I learned that it’s okay not to know what’s going to happen and hope for the best. If I work through it with God I’ll end up where I’m supposed to be.
The Belizian kids were amazing to be around because I know that lots of them do not have much at home but they still live with joy and happiness and it’s really motivating to see.
The devotions on the trip as well as the singing helped me get closer to God and it’s just an amazing feeling!
I went thinking I’d focus on what we have and what the Belizians don’t. What I discovered is that in many ways we are we the same, we share the inner longing and need to be loved.
I think the purpose of this trip for me was to remember how much of a blessing we can be to others and how much others around you can bless you!
Students: Ethan Bomhof, Madison Breadner, Liam Brouwer, Meredith denEngelsen, kevin Eklund, Elias Grasmeyer, Lauren Grasmeyer, Lincoln Harder, Kate Laughland, Ben Niven, Keziah Nongo, Luke Oostenbrink, Nathaniel Pawlowski, Melissa Rainbow, Madison Souster, Mason Unrau, Chantel Vanderveen
Chaperones: Mr. Bonk, Mrs. Bonk, Mr. Barthel, Ms. Monson, Bruce Brown and Pastor Layne
