We made it home late Sunday and we had a fantastic trip!  Praise the Lord!!!

I wanted to share some final thoughts of where we saw GOD working this week and some more pictures with all of you.

First, this year Youth Enhancement Services did not have the same type of programing at the training center. They are trying to transition to a facility to help girls coming out of human trafficking.  They have the facility but are looking for the funds necessary for the ongoing operations for staff, meals, operating expenses, etc. in order to operate in this capacity. Please pray that the Lord move mightily to bring the support to fund this vision. In the meantime, they continue their outreach through advocacy programs against sexual violence (for example, programs targeted at educating preschoolers and elementary age children about good and bad touch, etc.).  They also still run the Teen Mom's center in Belize City and offer computer classes to young women at the training center.  So this year, YES extended an invitation to their teen mom's group and past students to voluntarily come and spend the week with us.  How amazing that 16 girls came!  Many of them had to arrange for babysitting for their children in order to attend.  Most also stayed to help with the painting project!  We were truly blessed with so much help.

I am amazed and thankful that these young women wanted to come and spend time with us. We recognized many of the past students and it was so wonderful to reconnect and see how they were doing. They participated openly in all activities with joy and sharing. We had wonderful discussions about the women of the Bible, how we are uniquely created by God to serve, the good and bad things about social media, and introductions and interview tips (including some practice interview questions).  The Lord brought us such JOY by orchestrating this particular group of women so we could share with them and learn with them. They are wonderful GIFTS of GOD!!!

Here are many of the girls working on a canvas painting activity:

Second, The LORD provided a new lodging location which brought significant reduction in cost. It is such a beautiful story of how the Lord brought this location to the Word At Work and how they are able to use this location for a while. They are fixing it up as it has been vacant for over 2 years. But with just barely a month's work, they were able to get some of the rooms ready for us as one of the first groups to stay.  There is much work left to be done and they can use lots of help - both with physical labor  -just let me know if you want to go to Belize to help.  Or with finances for the supplies - if you are interested, please go to their site - www.twaw.org where there is a link to donate.  Here are a few pictures of the facility today:

A short distance through a trail in the jungle and you come to the beautiful lagoon, with a little work, you may be able to swim here soon.

Here is the road back to the buildings:

Many of the trees and plants are marked with signs to let you know what they are:

 Here is a small meeting area tucked away around a bend:

Here is the large dining area:

 The kitchen:

A path with some of the buildings for the rooms - each one has about 6 rooms with attached bathrooms. Ours was fitted out with 3 full beds.

 This is the entrance for two of our rooms:

 There is also a community bathroom out near the swimming hole (not pictured as it needs a lot of work):

Not only was this location available at a lower cost for us. We actually had less bug bites (even though we were in the jungle)!  Thank you, Lord!!

Third, the work project was to paint the entire building from last year - all four sides with trim!  For a group of 8 this seemed like a large task, but we were ready to tackle it!  Amazingly the Lord worked to that we were able to finish the job and even finish earlier each day. Last year we worked until 6 or 6:30 each evening into darkness. This year we were finished by 4 pm each day!  What a blessing - we were able to get some ice cream as a treat !!  How did that happen?  On the first day, our task was to scrape 1/2 of the building and prime the other. Luckily the paint we put on in 2011 was faded, but did not require extensive scraping - YEAH!!! this gave us some extra time. The Lord is certainly GOOD!
Also several of the girls stayed to help apply the primer after lunch.

On the second day, all of the girls came to help. It is amazing what 9 enthusiastic people can finish in 40 minutes!! With two shifts of 9 people, we practically finished the first coat on the planks in record time. Leaving us the grooves and high places to finish in the afternoon.  Many hands make light work!  So wonderful that the girls were willing to paint - even while dressed in very nice outfits!

Here is the site before:

Here is what it looked like when it was complete:

As always, a rewarding and fulfilling trip...it is so wonderful to see how GOD is moving in Belize and it reminds us to look for his Hand in everything we do whether abroad or at home!  We hope you enjoyed following us via this blog.  May GOD bless you!!

Maybe he is putting on your heart an idea to serve him in some way.  our verse is John 15:16 - 

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

AND versus 17:

"This is my command: Love each other."