What a day! After spending nearly an entire day traveling, the team safely made it to the hotel. Praise God for His provision and grace!

The team arrived in Belize City about 3:30 pm, and we hopped in the bus and headed for Seine Bight near Placencia. After about an hour of driving we stopped, grabbed some pizzas, and got right back on the bus; but not before we made a quick rush to the restroom. As we ate on the way we all had a fun time trying to eat the pizza and drink our drinks on the bumpy roads.

We stopped a little later in the evening at a gas station, where some of the team members enjoyed ice cream to cool off. After a day of driving to the airport, flying, and riding on a bus, the team safely made it to the Nautical Inn. The team, tired from the travels but excited to begin; unpacked, relaxed, and went to sleep.

We planned on having a 9:00 am breakfast so that the team could get some rest, but much to our surprise, the team members were up at seven o'clock swimming and having a great time. Their excitement and eagerness to serve is a huge encouragement to be around. How could you not want to enjoy such a beautiful place!

We are so excited about the beginning of Belize Blast! We are confidently praying that God will do amazing things!

Making a pit stop at the gas station...

After breakfast we had the opportunity to take a portion of the morning and visit in the village that we are currently staying in. We split off into groups and were sharing with everyone about us wanting them to come to this crazy, amazing afternoon that we had planned for them! Their reactions were priceless as they were so excited for the following day to come. The anticipation was incredible, were we were telling them just enough for them excited to come but also not telling them too much, where the curiosity is tickling them awaiting tomorrow afternoon.

As we went out to our first Belize Blast in Banana Planation, we drove on our favorite bumpy and dusty road to reach many trees surrounding us with the little blue bags on them. And eventually we reached a large opening where over a hundred of children were waiting and running up to the bus.

Getting name tags on kids, setting up the sound system, putting up the banner, organizing all the activities...prep has started!

It was so exciting to look around and see God's love in every interaction! We had crazy games...kids apprehensive at first wondering what they were about to volunteer for. And we will just say after the very first game...every child seemed to be throwing their entire bodies in the air in order to be picked.

Mr. David and Ms. Karen, today were getting the kids riled up with the orange and yellow teams. Pastor was MC'ing and rocked it! The entire team was great, having "A" and "B's" ready, ushers, set up and take down crews, activity coordinators...it really was all taken care of in order to have the most amazing and intentional experience with everyone that came. Not only the children enjoying the experience but also so many adults coming out to be a part and even many of them encouraging their children.

It was such a blessing to be in this community, as Mr. Jim and Ms. Anna was sharing with us, Cornerstone was the second team to ever come to this community...ever....the first being their home church. What a blessing it was to be able to come love on these children, and as Chris Tomlin wrote, God has plans, and "greater things are yet to be done in the city."

As we got on the bus to come back, we closed off our night by having a little swim, jumping in the ocean, an amazing supper again at the Nautical Inn and ending with some worship.

Praise God for this day!

Today was another day that was truly blessed by God! The teams energy and excitement was obvious from the time we woke up. Time was spent in the morning walking around the village of Seine Bight, praying for the community and talking to the people as the word was spread about Belize Blast.

In the afternoon, the time came for Belize Blast. Warren did an amazing job speaking to the children and telling them of God's love. The kids enjoyed playing with soccer balls, throwing frisbees, and playing in the bubbles. What a great opportunity to see the young kids, usually burdened with caring for younger siblings, get the opportunity to just be kids for a few hours. Through all of the fun and games, it was such a blessing to have team members get to talk to certain children and personally explain the plan of salvation.

It was bitter sweet when we left as connections had been made between the team and the people in the community. The evening was spent debriefing the events from the day and praying for God's provision for the village and the people of Seine Bight. God is showing up in great ways and the team is excited about church tomorrow in Silk Grass, where there will be new faces and new opportunities for God's love to be shown.

Havin fun in bright colors!

Looks like fun doesn't it?

Loving on kids and showing them the Joy of the Lord in Belize!

One more pic of the Belize Blast!

If you can imagine with us what it might be like to wake up in the middle of the jungle, with a monkey in front of you, a jaguar to your right and a couple birds calling sweet nothings to you by your window.....you might think this would be a pretty neat place to be...well that is what our hotel is like. We are staying in a jungle hotel!!!!!!!

After breakfast, the team set out for Xunantunich, were we were going to break from the bus and took a pulling ferry to the other side where we gazed over the amazing creation of intricate blocks which where specially placed together thousands of years ago by the Mayans. The team took on the challenge of hiking up the BIG one! They climbed and climbed to the top to then see a breath taking view as they looked out over Belize and even were able to see the skirts of Guatemala.

Following the recreation, the team set out Ontario, where Belize Blast where we got ready, put the banner up, and pulled out the supplies. Today was Warren's day to mc and man these kids were ready to receive. Some hilarious games today were the doughnut game where the little boy for the orange team missed the first rule that states that the doughnut must stay on the hook.....the doughnut fell straight to the frisbee and he demolished that bad boy!!!! So even though he broke that little rule, he did a great job and ate that whole thing in about 15 seconds.

Another amazing game was the hula hoop game where...many of the kids had no idea how to hula hoop. So as we finally got some kids on stage, our little girl for the yellow team found a new way of hula hooping. She was blowing that balloon, but hula hoop was not swinging by itself but rather, was carried by her hands around. It was precious to say the least.

Our last stop for the day was heading over to Cheers for a little burrito time and now we are enjoying a great relaxing time by the pool.

Tonight we are going to need that sleep. Tomorrow brings us not one but two Belize Blasts!

Thank you so much for the prayers!!! Keep them coming!!!!

Donut Eating Contestants!

Relational Ministry!

Game time was SO much fun!

The last day of Belize Blast may have been the best day yet! First starting out in Mountain View, we arrived and started getting set up and the team broke off to go different ways, inviting children. This was a very different community then we had been in before, very open (meaning very hot) and a very spread out neighborhood. When we first arrived there were not many children around, and as we were putting the equipment up, we realized that we just may have happened to leave a part of our sound system in Ontario, the day prior…but God is so faithful, and by the time that we were ready to start we had sound and over 60 kids, with a bus of kids from the Children’s Home on their way!

As we arrived at the children’s home to get the children, the kids were just running to the bus, we brought all ages, from 18 all the way down to 3 months…we loaded the kids, dipper bags and all. The Belize Blast was amazing, and even through the heat, the children had a great time hearing the Gospel.

After the first performance, the team ate lunch and took a quick break at Pastor John “cutie pie”’s house. To hear a man who had only known us for a few minutes welcome us with such love was a huge encouragement. While the meal was delicious, it wasn’t long before we packed up the bus and headed to Maya Mopan for the second performance of the day.

This performance was the last, and had the largest turnout. Nearly 300 children and adults came to the Belize Blast and enjoyed playing games, watching the children compete, and hearing the message of Christ’s love for us. As the team packed up after the final performance, it was hard to believe it was over. After all of the preparation, rehearsing, and praying, it was humbling and amazing to see how much God had done both in the lives of the people of Belize and in the lives of the team members. God is so awesome and gets all the glory for everything!

Following the final performance, the team enjoyed a little time to relax before dinner. After everyone ate dinner, some of the team members went cave tubing prepared to encounter tarantulas and crocodiles. The rest of the team had a great night relaxing in the rooms and by the pool. Today, we plan to enjoy some of God’s beautiful creation at Caya Caulker where the team members can enjoy snorkeling and shopping. Praise God for all of His faithfulness and provision throughout this week! We pray that He continues to bless the remaining time of fellowship!