It's time to start getting ready for 2010!

Our Belize Mission Trip in 2010 will be February 5-11. The cost will be $1,700 per person. This includes all transportation, lodging, meals and materials. We're hoping we can count on you to help us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Ideas and Interest?

Planning has already started for our missions trip to Belize next year (January, 2010). We would love to have you join us! Whatever your skills or strengths may be, God can use them in helping those in need. If you have interest in participating or donating, please contact John Kirby at jkirby@horizoncc.com or call the Horizons Community Church office at 513-272-5800.

Final Video of our Belize Mission Trip

Additional Pictures added to the Pictures Album

Click the picture at the right or use this link...
http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffcandrews/Belize2009#

Check back later this week for a final video.

Our Final Day

Today was our final day in Belize before returning home tomorrow. Here's a summary of the assistance we were able to provide during our five days in Corozal and Orange Walk:

53 people from (and friends of) Horizons Community Church traveled and served in some capacity.
Over 200 people were treated and screened for surgery on Friday.
Over 50 surgeries were performed.
More than 750 people were seen and/or treated in 4 local villages (Chunox, Progresso, Copper Bank and Louisville).
Over 100 homes were screened and many homes repaired.
4 homes were finished for 4 families.

We'll have final counts later this week. Check back over the next few days for a few additional stories, new pictures and a final video.

Thanks to everyone who read the blog and followed the stories taking place in Belize. We read and enjoyed your comments each evening after dinner. And your prayers were greatly appreciated. There is tremendous poverty and need in this country. Yet the people here are very humble and happy. I'm still surprised and inspired that just a few dozen people can help so many in just five days.

If you're interested in learning more about Horizons missions or would like to participate in some way next year, please contact John Kirby at jkirby@horizoncc.com.

Home Life in Remote Villages

I wanted to share a sense of what home life is like for most of the villages we've visited. Most homes are only about 15ft by 18ft and are divided into 3 rooms by drapes or thin paneling. Typically, one room is a living area and two small rooms are just big enough for a bed (which many share) and a little walking area. The floor is typically either dirt or concrete.

Most of the homes have stick walls -- small trees and branches standing vertically -- and have cracks/openings all around. Some homes have concrete walls (a luxury). Windows are usually just louvered wooden slats made of local mahogany. Roofs are made of tin/metal or thatch. Some have doors and some just door openings.

Kitchens are commonly a few feet away from the home to minimize the risk of home fires and to keep smoke out of the house. They have only 3 walls. Food is cooked in pots above burning wood on a small wooden or concrete table. The wood smolders for most of the day.

Some homes have running water spigots for drinking and filling wash buckets. Out-houses are standard. A few homes have electricity for basic needs like a radio or small refrigerator. Clothes are hand washed and hung to dry on clothes lines outside the home.

River Hills Christian Church blog link

River Hills will be working in the same northern area of Belize. They will be serving here next week. You can find their blog at...
http://www.belizemission-journal.blogspot.com/

Another Home in San Victor

Here's one of the other four houses we built in San Victor. The roof was installed yesterday. An interior wall and doors will be finished today and tomorrow.

Houses Dedicated to Families

This afternoon in the town of San Victor where the Construction Team has been laboring for the past four days, the entire mission team converged to dedicate the four new houses to families. To celebrate, we had a Coca-Cola party for the families and local community.

Everyday, each team goes in different directions and has different missions. This was the one time where we could all be together to celebrate not only what the Construction Team has accomplished, but also our experience in Belize.

The families are very gracious and appreciative of their new homes. One family had 9 people living in a stick home/bedroom about 15 by 20 feet. They'll now be able to spread out a bit and have a more sturdy, secure home.

As you can see in the picture, the houses we build have a poured, concrete foundation and block walls. Roofs are tin. And windows and doors are usually local mahogany.

Each house costs $6,000BZ (or $3,000US) to build (mostly materials and some paid labor to pour the foundation and lay the block).

Special thanks to the Jr/Sr High (aka Crew and Crash) kids at our church for raising $4500US to help build the homes. This couldn't have been done without all of your help in raising funds.

Village Medical Provides Needed Medication

The pharmacy group (Joe and Dennis from Terrace Park and Susie from Nashville) has provided numerous medications to villagers for various ailments. Here are some of the more common problems we're finding:

• Diabetes (especially in women; there seems to be a genetic disposition; diets are also very high in carbs)
• Hypertension
• Upper respiratory
• Ear infections (one young girl hasn't been able to hear for a year simply due to the amount of wax build-up)