Starting out small

Things here are getting started. Our kids are adjusting really well to school here and, with them out of the house, it frees up our time to start getting more involved.

Eddie still meets weekly with the mayor's office and is excited to learn so much about the inner workings of the capitol. We don't know what opportunities will come out of those connections, but we feel this is a season to watch and learn so we can better strategize later how we can be of value.

As for me, I've been asked to start an English class at a local Spanish church. I've been friends with the pastors for many years. We originally knew each other in the village, but they moved to the capitol just over 2 years ago to pastor a church. A major need for their congregation is to learn English, which is the official language of Belize. So, starting tonight I will teach a weekly ELL class there. I'm happy to be able to help a friend in this way and I always love to spend time with Latino brothers and sisters. For now the commitment is until the summer break, then I'll reevaluate if I will continue.

Another opportunity came up for Eddie and I both. Our local church (EBC) asked if we would spend March through June discipling some of the youth. The church puts on a yearly Vacation Bible School during the summer and the youth are the camp counselors. If you know Eddie at all, you're probably aware that he has trained camp counselors for over 15 years. The church wasn't fully aware of that when they approached us. Imagine their excitement! After meeting with the pastors and VBS team, we readily accepted the role.

Related to that new project, we will also be starting to work with the young adults of our local church. Eddie and I vividly remember the adults who poured into our lives during our college years and consider it a privilege to give back in that way. We are still figuring out what that will look like, but we are excited to get started.

With several irons now in the fire, I'm reflecting on what we felt called down here to do. Seat at the Table was founded on two core tenets: relationship and discipleship. While we didn't anticipate our initial work to look like this, it does fit with what we believe are our strengths and passions. I believe this is just the beginning and it's okay that it's small as we begin.

Ezekiel 17:8 says, "It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine."

The young people at our church are good soil and we believe good fruit will come out of our investment in them. Whatever other projects or opportunities come our way, we'll be sure to line them up against what we feel called to do, so as not to get carried off-track.