Safe Arrival!by Herman Blease | July 29, 2012 12:30 AM
The team arrived safely in Pomona, Belize.
Day 2 - Churchby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 12:40 AM
We attended church this morning and was apart of an awesome service! we had an amazing time leading in songs for service.
Sunday School Classesby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 12:44 AM
After song service we broke up into Sunday school classes. It is always a privilege to share the gospel of Christ to others, especially to children.
Home Visitsby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 12:51 AM
After lunch we launched off into the community to invite out children to VBS and folks to our Bar-b-que night. We meet some really sweet children and some loving folks! It was more than worth the walk!
Home Visitsby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 12:59 AM
Just stopping for a quick look at this strange looking plant with our tour guide, Pastor Wayne.
After home visits we had a time of planning and preparing for VBS and cooking tomorrow then it was back to church for Dinner and night service. We were blessed by some songs and great drumming by the Pomona drummers. We then sang a couple worship songs to set the stage for Pastor Kevin who deliver an amazing sermon. Today was an awesome day of ministry. We thank God for being directly in the midst.
Day 3 - Preperationby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 11:21 PM
We arrived at church about 8:30 am this morning and everyone got busy preparing for VBS. It truly was a busy morning.
Sportsby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 11:26 PM
We had the sports master trying to get his volleyball inflated.
The Head Chefby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 11:32 PM
We also had our master, head chef preparing his mangoes, which he searched all over Belize City to find, for the meal with the families in Pomona.
Table Legsby Herman Blease | July 30, 2012 11:47 PM
We even had a crew to setup tables; however , we had no idea that loosing table legs would have been so intense! Those things were compressed together tightly!!!!! We did managed to loose all of them and setup our tables....
VBSby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:03 AM
It was time to minister. Our attendance was great. It was an approximate 175 kids at VBS today. We could have seen God at work as we shared the word of God with them.
Cute Kids In VBSby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:07 AM
This was the class for the younger children. Pomona has some of the cutest kids ever! They just make you want to love on them all day long!
More Sportsby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:12 AM
So this was where the party was happening. We had a great time on the soccer field with the kids. We played some softball, duck, duck, goose and a couple other games and they loved it. Things got kinda intense at times and kids started to ride us like horses but we totally loved it! This was all apart of the plan:-)
Work Timeby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:19 AM
After VBS and lunch, it was time to work. It was time to put the cementing skill to the test. We installed a window or two in Pastor Wayne's office. We had a couple little guys around to help us. It was a job well done.
Garbage Timeby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:22 AM
For some of us who could not work with the window project, we got some garbage bags all pick up trash around the church. It It's just great to be able to minister in so many ways.
Meals are Readyby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 12:28 AM
The meals were ready and we were ready in our groups to go out into the homes. We had rice, bread, a mango sauce and awesome chicken with some juice. The families were waiting on us and we could not wait to have a meal with them. We were excited!!!!
Meals at the Homesby Herman Blease | July 31, 2012 1:12 AM
We had amazing meals with the families. We ate with families with as much as twelve family members. They really enjoy the food and our company. We had good conversations and build friendships. We left from the homes and traveled back to the hotel.
We had a blast today! From preparing in the morning to sitting and having meals with the families in the evening time, we could have seen God's love and grace.
Day - 4 VBSby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:29 AM
Another day of Vacation Bible School! We had an approximate of 200 kids today. It was an amazing day. These are just a couple of the cute faces we had today!
Play Timeby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:33 AM
It's always a good idea to take a break outside with the kids:-)
Nurse Joyceby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:46 AM
Sometimes mission trips calls for a little extra. It's always good to be prepared for everything! I could have tell that she had the skills of a nurse just by looking at her!
Hard Working Ladiesby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:50 AM
We got back to work on some windows for Pastor Wayne's office today. The ladies were on top of their game!
Working The Sawby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:52 AM
You are watching the saw master right here cutting some board for the project.
Community Hotdog BBQby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 12:57 AM
We prepared for the community BBQ hotdogs about an hour ahead of time. We were having some fun while anxiously setting up waiting for families to start arriving.
Hotdog Standsby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 1:01 AM
After about forty five minutes of preparation, Our stands we ready to serve hotdogs.
Our Bandby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 1:04 AM
Our band was ready! They go by the name Herman and the Herminites.
VIP Menby Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 1:07 AM
Most importantly, our grills were warm and ready and our grill men were ready to BBQ some sausages.
Successful Day by Herman Blease | August 1, 2012 1:20 AM
Today was a very successful day! We had a great turn out at VBS this morning and an awesome program with the kids. We did a little service project in the afternoon but the highlight of the night was the BBQ hotdog night. We had an awesome turn out. So many families came out to eat. We shared 640 hotdogs and no one was left out. Pastor Wayne was blessed by how many people came out to the BBQ.
Earlier in the week for home visits, were were telling everyone that we would have had a band but we were having trouble getting a drum set. God surely showed up an provided a drum set two hours before our BBQ and we got the band set up and played music for the people and they enjoyed it! God is truly awesome!
We are looking forward to another day of ministry! God is Good!
Day 5 - VBSby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 11:41 AM
On Wednesday We had another great morning of VBS. The children came out as per usual. We were rested and ready for another day of children ministry! There are so many sweet children at Pomona. We are blessed by every little face we see everyday.
Kids Class Going Strongby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 11:48 AM
The younger kids class is going strong. We have a bunch of great, dedicated and loving women in this class taking the message of Christ to these small ones...
Drama Crewby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 11:50 AM
Our Drama Crew kicked of strong today. We have older talents and our young talent taking the stage to shine their lights for Christ. They were awesome!
Sportsby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 11:54 AM
Sports remained a strong point of the day as children really love playing soccer and softball. It's a hard process to try and get 50 or more kids organized for a game but our men pulled it off like smoothly!!!
Marie Sharp Visitby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:01 PM
We got a treat and were able to visit where they produce the best hot sauce in the world. We visited the Marie Sharp pepper plant. Although they were not producing pepper that day, we were still able to take a little small tour and purchase some hot sauce at the plant. We purchase couple items but no one purchased more hot sauce than David. He had about 7 - 8 bottles. We were not allowed to take pictures in the plant be we were able to snag a picture with our head covers on before going in. It was a nice experience.
Waterfall!!!by Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:08 PM
After Marie Sharp it was time for our visit to the waterfall! We had to hike in for about 15 minutes through the jungle. The hike was challenging at some points but it was worth the walk!
Refreshing by Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:15 PM
The water was kinda cold but was so refreshing. We jumped in! There were rocks all the way around. Directly in the middle was really deep but right under the waterfall was a ledge that we used to stand and climb up. We had fun!
So Satisfied by Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:27 PM
We had fun swimming! We were satisfied and were ready for our hike back! Our recreation time was over and we were more than ready to focus back in on ministry!
Workaholicsby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:34 PM
while we were swimming and having fun, we had some men that stayed back to work on a project for a family. They refused to take a rec. because they had promised and were focused on getting this project finished before they leave. We can back to check up on their progress.
Ready to Installby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:40 PM
Checking up of the guys, we found out that the main part of the project was complete and the only thing left was to get it installed at the family's house. They had a little foreman with them there to guide them through:-). She is very very young but knows her job well:-) It was a successful day for the two men that stayed behind.
Another Amazing Dayby Herman Blease | August 2, 2012 12:48 PM
It was back to church that night to give thanks to the Lord for a safe, amazing day! We were all looking forward for more amazing times of ministry. God is definitely watching over this trip. He is working through this team in Pomona!
Day 6 - VBSby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:20 AM
Well it was the last day of VBS. We were all excited to be there one last time with the kids. It was t-shirts day. We gave out t-shirts and gave the children sharpies to decorate them with their style. The children loved it! They were excited, not only to get a new shirt, but to actually be able to write on and design it. It was a t-shirt party!
God Is Our Rockby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:22 AM
God has truly been our rock this week. He has been showing up in every area of our missions.
Face In Flourby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:27 AM
We played a game of flour today. We had candy mixed in a bowl of flour and the kids were given the task of finding them. Was very funny to see the children diving in there and coming out buried in flour. They had a blast!
Trail Mixby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:31 AM
The snack ladies were ready with the best snack in the world! Trail Mix! It was a new sensation for most of the children. They enjoyed their snack time!
Hosanna Houseby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:34 AM
We visited the Hosanna Girl's Home today. It was a blessing to be with them and to love on them. We were trying to get this visit set up since Monday and we were finally able to go today. It was by God's perfect design!
God Is Goodby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:37 AM
Seeing a face as precious as this from the girls home, all we can say is that God is good!
The Tin Man's Dogby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:54 AM
While some of us were at the Girls Home, couple men were working hard! We showed you a couple pics from this project on the last entry, now let me give you a brief history about this project.
Greg was apart of the team that went to Ms. Lisa's how on the night of the family meals. While there Ms. Lisa was sharing her experience with the group about how terrible the smoke is that comes off the burning wood that she uses to cook inside the little extension of house. She said that she washes her pots cleanly and hangs them up but when she lights her fire to cook, after the meal is finished, even the clean pots hanged up are smoked black! She also said that the smoke gets inside the house and and that it is terrible for the children and that is true. It was after this night of testimony by Ms. Lisa that Greg got so determined to eliminate this smoke problem for the family.
This birthed the idea of the Tin Man's Dog. They built it and installed it right above Ms. Lisa's cooking area. It actually eliminated about 75% of the smoke out of the house. This was a job well done!
Double-Sided Montana Sawby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 2:03 AM
Right after taking this picture we decided that this was the double-sided Montana Saw! This small piece of log was very difficult to cut! Never met one like it before.
Screwing on the Hatby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 2:11 AM
After getting the barrel through the roof, someone had to get up on top and screw on the hat. This was putting the final touches on the Tin Man's Dog.
Red Siliconby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 2:15 AM
We had to ensure that there was no water leakages in the roof so we sealed it up with red silicon. It was sealed tight!
Working Like A Charmby 7185042.40171 | August 3, 2012 12:57 PM
After about two hours and a half, the Tin Man's Dog was working nicely. It was removing a great percentage of the smoke out of the house. Thank God for innovative ideas.
Farewell Serviceby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:11 PM
After visiting the Girls Home and working on the project at Ms. Lisa's house, it was time for us to get cleaned up for dinner and farewell service. We were blessed by some songs and dances by the church youths. They have amazing and talented young people at that church in Pomona. We had some testimonies about the week, prayed together and then it was time to say goodbye. Farewell services are always sad! Saying goodbye is hard. We will truly miss the love they showed us in Pomona but we do know that we are always united with the people of Pomona in spirit and truth through Jesus Christ.
Hard to Say Goodbyeby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:15 PM
A family we will truly miss!
Hard to Say Goodbyeby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:17 PM
Another precious face we will miss!
Hard to Say Goodbyeby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:21 PM
We are truly going to miss Mel. She is a talented young lady on fire for Christ. She is truly an amazing person!
Goodbye Pomonaby Herman Blease | August 3, 2012 1:28 PM
Well after the service was finished, we chatted around with our friends and then we said goodbye. This was the last we would have seen of Pomona for this year. We drove back to the hotel and had our regular nightly meeting and then went to bed. We were going to have a very early next morning as it was off to the Caye Caulker.......