We are back!by Joshua Edmonds | January 24, 2015 9:19 PM
We have arrived and are checked into our hotel for the night. We got in with no troubles and over a great BBQ chicken lunch had our orientation meeting. We learned to respond to the Holy Spirit like Mary when faced with being the mother of Jesus. We are not afraid. We are the Lord's Servant. We can't wait to see how he will reveal more of Himself to us. Now we rest. Now we expect. God will show up. Check back often to see how!
Sunday Schoolby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:28 AM
Yesterday morning was an awesome time of praising the Lord. There was signing, dancing, coloring, teaching and even a conga line and duck duck goose. It's not church unless a conga line and duck duck goose breaks out right?!? Praise God for the freedom these children have in worship!
Giving heartsby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:30 AM
This boy decided he wanted to go buy his favorite chips and share it with one of our team members. Event though he may not have a lot, he is willing to share it with others.
Encouragementby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:31 AM
It's a blessing to see the long-term relationship these two have shared through 7 years of coming to Belize. Fortunately, I was able to catch this moment of encouragement and sharing.
Over 1000 poundsby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:35 AM
This afternoon we were able to pick up our food in bulk for the food distribution we are going to do at El Buen Pastor and Caledonia. This food (over 1000 pounds) will be divided up for 40 families and delivered to some of the most needy in the communities we are serving. Many of those families only have a tortilla for their one meal a day!
Life Storiesby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:40 AM
We took some time after our VBS planning meeting and lunch to share with one another our life stories. It was INCREDIBLE to hear the stories of pain, struggle and triumph that each on of our team members have been through. We were honest, vulnerable and most of all God was faithful in showing up and bringing us closer together! We truly are a family now!
The Good Shepherdby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 6:44 AM
Last night's church service was powerful. As always the worship at El Buen Pastor in Spanish and English gave us a picture into what Heaven will be like when every tongue, nation and tribe worships our Lord together. Pastor Harold brought the message on Psalm 23, challenging us if the Lord in fact is our shepherd. Praise God for last night. The Lord is my shepherd and that's all I want. He is enough!
Spa Dayby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 9:41 PM
Words can't express the spa in Caledonia. Lives were touched. Chains broken. Life restored. Both for our team and the locals. The Lord, He is good and faithful! Praise God for today!
Foot washingby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 9:44 PM
We serve because Jesus first served us.
Food Packagingby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 9:53 PM
Matthew 25:40 "And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me" We meditate and celebrate upon this as we separated out the food today. We can't say anything more than we are overwhelmed by how much God has shown up! Holy Spirit you are welcome here!
Kids will be kidsby Joshua Edmonds | January 26, 2015 9:57 PM
What's a day in Belize without sharing it with some of the most joyful kids in this world. We had a great day of VBS with over 50 kids jumping, sharing and as you can see flying with us in The Lord. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Tuesdayby Joshua Edmonds | January 28, 2015 6:13 AM
Tuesday was filled with an amazing morning at Laminai, a Mayan temple site. Eddy our tour guide made sure that we all knew everything there was to know about Belize. We traveled back to El Buen Pastor in time for Vacation Bible School, where over 50 kids learned about our God on their level. The evening ended with men's and women's bible study. It was an evening of amazing community and great love between us and our new friends.
Genuine Partnershipby Joshua Edmonds | January 29, 2015 6:38 AM
One of our pillars of ministry is genuine partnership. Yesterday in Caledonia we had 8 men from the community help us finish the bunk bed construction. They weren't there because they were receiving a bed. They were there helping us, partnering with us because that's what the body of Christ does...works together. As we delivered the last bed for the day and held hands all of the workers, American and Belizean alike, we looked around and said truly truly this is genuine partnership.
Bunk Bed Deliveryby Joshua Edmonds | January 29, 2015 6:40 AM
Yesterday we were able to deliver bunk beds to some children in the village of Caledonia. We delivered them to kids who were sleeping on floors or kids who shared a bed with 4 - 5 other siblings and parents. You can't imagine the relief and joy on the parents' faces as we delivered those beds.
Another Bed deliveredby Joshua Edmonds | January 29, 2015 6:41 AM
This is us after delivering a bunk bed to Pastor Rosaura's niece and nephew.
Spa Day at El Buen Pastorby Joshua Edmonds | January 29, 2015 6:45 AM
While the team was in Caledonia delivering food and beds, we had another group painting the outside of the fence at El Buen Pastor and hosting around 40 women for a spa day. These are women that don't get pampered, women that may not even feel valued. To have women from our team serve them, wash their feet, and look them in the eye and speak life into them was life-changing for our team. Women who had no value were told they were loved, cherished, and daughters of Our Most High King. Women who had no value were given life. Pictured below are some of the women praying for a team member who needed healing in her life.
A day without kids....by Joshua Edmonds | January 29, 2015 6:47 AM
A day without kids....is no day at all. Today we were so blessed to go to the school to invite the students to vacation bible school. We had approximately 50 kids come to be loved on and were allowed to be kids, for at least a couple of hours. We are truly blessed to let the little children come to us and hopefully through coming to us they can encounter Jesus, the Risen One. Praise God for that opportunity.
Yearly Assemblyby Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 11:34 AM
There's something about 1000 kids gathered around that just gives us energy. We had the great opportunity to enjoy another assembly with all of our friends at Louisiana Government School. Pastor Harold gave a great welcome and Damon really brought it home with the Bible Story of David and Goliath. We invited all the kids to VBS later that afternoon and our attendance at VBS went from 50 to 160 kids on the last day!
Well Done...by Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 11:42 AM
In Caledonia we experienced God saying well done good and faithful servant. On Thursday, we were able to deliver the rest of the food boxes and the final three bunk beds. The entire team went to the last house for the final bed. We were able to catch the kids before they left to go back to school and held them out of school so they could see their new bed. The bed was completed, the kids hopped up on it and our hearts melted. With the mom moved to tears, we looked and saw an angelic smile. Literally, white light around her. It was not as if, but it literally was Jesus smiling down on us through that little girl saying Well done, good and faithful servant.
Humility and servanthoodby Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 12:41 PM
Words can't describe how humble and servant-minded the people of Caledonia are. If it was the local sugar cane they cut and peeled to serve us or the fresh coconuts they shared when we stepped off the bus or the zingers they shot us during construction, they have shown us more life lessons in a few days than a lifetime. Thursday was no exception. After feeding us at the banquet table, they led us to the river where they had a church member waiting to take us on a boat tour of the river. It was truly a surprise to the team! Humility and servanthood are part of them will be part of who we are.
Prayerby Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 12:46 PM
The church is the church when we are vulnerable with one another. When we go to Our Lord together in unity and for each other, there is nothing that can stop this church, this team. There is nothing no nothing that can stop a church in prayer with one another. We took Thursday night's team meeting to sit and share and pray with one another. The Spirit was moving and we are to. It was and is another monumental step forward in our pursuit of the Lord.
Recreationby Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 12:49 PM
Friday was a day to rest and reflect on all the Lord did during the week. We spent the day on Caye Caulker and enjoyed snorkeling the world's second longest barrier reef. To see God's glory through his creation and know all that He did this week was truly breathtaking. God is a great God and today in the midst of rest He revealed more of himself to us.
The Fellowship of Believersby Joshua Edmonds | February 2, 2015 12:53 PM
The heading of my bible at Acts 2:42 says "The Fellowship of Believers." If nothing else describes what happened in Caledonia that's it. We have never seen a church living out Christ's design for His bride more than the church in Caledonia. As we sat on the riverbank praying with and weeping with our brothers and sisters in Caledonia. God's glory shined from above, literally illuminating us. Do not be afraid the Lord said of how we feel. For I bring you good news. The Lord gave us the example and showed us how to do it in Caledonia. We are back to Madison and Asbury to live that out. We are forever changed.
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe[e] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2: 42 - 47
