Why Belize?

Some of you may ask why we do mission work for the poor people in Belize while there are many poor people here at home. Granted that there are people in need everywhere, yet there is a significant economic safety net in the United States and more affluent countries. Church missions, food banks, charitable foundations, insurance programs, governmental agencies and welfare systems provide that safety net. A similar safety net doesn't exist in Belize and most third world countries.

Some churches in Belize and mission teams like ours provide the only assistance for their poor. Even the churches have little economic capacity to assist and then only with the additional financial backing from organizations elsewhere. Without our help, there is little opportunity for economic growth in Belize.

There are few natural resources. Recent discovery of oil reserves may eventually help but Belize doesn't reap the full benefit from the oil. They don't have the capacity to process the oil into useful products. That process has been turned over the Venezuelan government, which currently derives most of the benefit.

Many tourist attractions exist and the tourism industry as increased significantly in the last decade. Revenue derived from the tourist trade is concentrated in the Cayes off the coast and in organizations supporting the cruise ship business around Belize City and central Belize. This leaves the villages in the North and South without significant benefit from these revenues. Recent increases in papaya production for export have helped with some jobs in the North but this is not enough especially after that industry suffered a serious setback at the hands of hurricane Dean in August 2007.

In the past, Belize has been exploited for its mahogany and logwood trees without any program to replace these resources. Logwood trees were the source for ink. There is no longer a need for logwood to make ink. Sapodilla trees were the source for sap that was used to make gum. Now gum is made from other ingredients and few mahogany or logwood trees remain. The people were exploited as a source of cheap labor to harvest the Sapodilla sap or cut down the mahogany and logwood trees.

The Spanish subjected the three sub-groups of the indigenous Maya Indians to genocide when they could not change the Mayas religious beliefs. Other Mayans subjected those Maya that did endorse the Spanish thinking to extermination in an attempt to eliminate the Spanish influence. Yet the surviving Maya are a friendly and outwardly happy people. A casual glance at a Belizean will be immediately returned by a smile. Team members receive more hugs during a short mission trip than is likely to occur in the States in a year or more. A poor family receiving a new house will cook their only remaining food to provide a "Thank You" lunch for the team.

The Maya were once self-sufficient farmers while Belize was a British Colony. Belize received its independence in 1981 and is now attempting to jump ahead into the 21st century, a several decade leap. Team members from prior mission trips frequently comment on the need for education; not just for the children and youth, but also for adults.

There is an old saying that is very applicable here. "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime."-Author unknown. So far, our mission has concentrated on "giving" by building new houses. Attempts at education have been limited but represent the future focus for our mission if we can get the right people as part of our team. There will continue to be a need to improve housing and their living conditions. There are still many people living in poverty.

Missions like ours are slowly shifting their focus to add educational components. We have established a program to link individual American and Belizean families to provide direct financial support. Much of that financial support has been in the form of tuition payments so that the children and youth can get a proper education, their best hope for a brighter economic future.

There is a need for educators to participate in mission trips in addition to carpenters and painters. You don't have to be a professional educator to serve this purpose. The earlier effort by Ellen Hayes is an excellent example. She has had diabetes for many years and has learned how to live with it. She went to Belize with donated glucose meters and test strips. Instead of just testing for diabetes, as has been done by prior medical teams, she sat down one-on-one with people and trained them on the use of test meters and how to make lifestyle adjustments so they can lead a productive life with diabetes.

Are you a former or retired librarian? Many schoolbooks have been shipped to Belize. A library room was added to the San Victor School by a prior mission team and a subsequent team built proper shelving. But someone needs to organize the library and train the teachers or volunteers how to maintain an organized library.

There are many similar situations. Belizeans are in need of an education in the benefits of house and automobile maintenance. They need to understand the benefits of early proper medical treatment for illnesses. It goes on and on.

Won't you consider participating in a future mission trip? If you cannot go in person, consider providing financial support for those who will represent you in Belize. Prior mission participants will assure you that you will reap more benefits than you give.

There is a lot of information under the TRIP PLANNING menu to guide you. There are more details on the SUPPORT page if you can only provide financial support.