And not a creature was stirring.

It is almost 10:00pm, and Jeff Vermette and I are blogging from the far corner of the YWAM Camp in a field where one can find a faint wifi signal.  Every child and every other chaperone has been asleep for over an hour.  We had a positive meeting and devotional time at 8:00pm and everyone scurried to bed immediately after.   It was a long journey to Belize, but the kids were in good spirits throughout the day.

We landed in Belize at about noon Belize time (MST).  Aside from one baggage mishap, we cleared customs smoother than ever before.  Santi (director of YWAM Banana Bank) picked us up and we had a fun bus ride drinking Coke and Fanta out of glass bottles and getting acclimatized.  After about an hour we reached our lunch destination, Cheers.  Here, the kids ordered burgers, tamales, stew, french fries, quesadillas, and nachos and we enjoyed 1.5 hours in the shade with a gentle breeze.  The food was great and there was certainly a feeling of excitement about being in Belize.

From Cheers, we drove for another 30 minutes to the YWAM Camp in Roaring Creek (across the road from Belmopan).   Students disembarked and braved the suspension bridge into camp.  I drove the bus around to camp with the luggage.

At camp, the students went swimming in the river.  Unfortunately, the river was ravaged by hurricane Earl last Summer and is still in need of some gentrification to get it back to the river we loved in 2015. The kids still had a great time swimming, jumping, and getting bit by little fish that feast on dead skin.

After the river, our students got to know the local soccer players.  The YWAM camp opens it's doors everyday to any youth that want to play soccer from around Roaring Creek.  In this region, only about 20-30% of children know who their father is.  The YWAM Camp provides amazing ministry to children of all ages, allowing them to play sport and have something to be excited about after school. The chaperones with children all reflected on our own children living in this culture.  These little soccer players are fantastic.  In fact, several of the players are now making teams at the national level.  It has been a providentially amazing thing to see this program grow each time we come.  It is equally amazing seeing children from ages 5-20 running down the road with their cleats after school so eager to be in community.   Several of our students played in a game with the 1st division players from Belmopan.  By my account, we lost 1-0, but it might have been 6-0.

The howler monkeys were out early tonight and put on an above average vocal performance for all of us.  These little creation treats certainly pack a punch with their voices.

We had chicken and rice for dinner and then I lead our devotions on Psalm 33:12 and Job 12:7-10.  The students were able to reflect in abundance on observations they have already made in their short stay here.  I am looking forward to seeing where these reflections lead us during out transformational time in Belize.

This is my 6th trip to Belize and 4th with Unity.  It has been a blessing for me to be able to experience this trip with so many of our graduates.  I thought today that there are several siblings on this trip of students who have attended before.  These siblings were able to recall experiences from their brothers and sisters through seeing things themselves today.  Field trips, service trips, arts trips, and sports trips are such an integral part of Unity Christian School.   It is so much fun being a part of so many of these experiences with your children over the years.  It reminds me that Unity is a special place.

Thank you for your prayers, they are felt by all of us:)

Blessings

Mike