He Intends Victory - Belize Trip May 2009

[He Intends Victory]

View all the photos from this trip

He Intends Victory has visited Belize with outreach and ministry teams since the year 2000. Today the infection rate is currently reported amongst the population as 7%, the highest in Central America. Many people fail to be tested because facilities are limited, equipment breaks down, and the stigma of going to testing sites.

The 2009 team left for Belize City on May 22 for an 8 day adventure in serving the Lord. The consisted of team leader Kathi Winter, Chad Slate, Mike Supple, and Carolyn Libby. Each member raised their own funds but were all committed to sharing the hope of Jesus Christ to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Belize. The team worked with Richard and Rosa Smith, directors of My Refuge Ministries in Belmopan and currently Country Director for He Intends Victory, Belize.

Kathi writes, “We visited the community hospital in Dangriga where one AIDS patient was in quarantine. The nurses wore masks. This young woman had no IV drip, no antibiotic drip, and had been there a week with AIDS related pneumonia. She was alone, without help or others to feed or nurture her. The wonderful thing was at our seminar in Dangriga, Richard Smith challenged the the Assemblies of God church there to reach out and help her with a visit, and seek the Lord on how to really help her out and through.”

In Belmopan, our HIV seminar was attended by 26 people including 4 pastors. Some in the community said they “could” not attend due to stigma of others thinking that they might by HIV+! But those who were there were blessed and encouraged and sat through discussions and testimonies from 9am to 3pm and one participant, Ivy, agreed to start a support group in Belize City.

He Intends Victory is blessed to have the only HIV+ Support Group in the Hattisville Prison and our team of 4 plus more were really blessed to meet them all. After visiting the market, paying for fruits, veggies, fresh water, double yoke eggs, and more we finally reach the Hattisville prison around 11 am. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside, but had no trouble going through the gates to the room where 4 women and 17 men gathered, all HIV+. We shared stories about being HIV+ and a Christian and it was a joy to hear their accents, which were mixed Creole/Spanish and prison talk. But there was great dialogue. Chad Slate’s home church in Mississippi had donated quart -sized Ziploc bags full of toiletries so everyone was very happy when they received such a nice gift. Richard gave some of Clifford Lao’s donation to the prison nurse who promised to get everyone in the HIV group a phone card to call home. The men and women were most appreciative of the gifts and it was such a joy to share in the name of Jesus.

One of the highlights of our trip was joining Richard and his invited 9 other churches to walk the streets of suburbs to take back the authority for Jesus. We joined around 200 others and Richard’s team had a flat bed truck where a live band sang as we walked though the community of Selvapan. It was marvelous to see others coming out of their homes wondering what the noise was about and we prayed as a group, as the local pastors preached from the loud microphone. We all wished we could do this every week - even at home too. What a bold declaration for the Lord.

We then took the time to enjoy the beauty of the natural forest (looks like Costa Rica) and hike through the rain forest. We carried inner tubes to use going down the river through the caves full of stalagmite and stalactite formations of limestone. The caves are full of crystals and waterfalls and beauty as one emerges from the dark back into the forest. It was so fun to raft up together as a team and float for 45 minutes; we were at Jaguar Paw and it was well worthwhile for the team relax and bond. It was so much fun.

Kathi continues, “I want to thank Mike and Chad and Carolyn for working so hard to make this a real team of ministry to those facing HIV/AIDS in Belize. It is so difficult being HIV+ anywhere in the world but when poverty and stigma are added, it makes life a very challenging. But we were blessed to bring a little encouragement along the way. Our team learned from each other and grew in God’s grace together. And a special thank you to Richard Smith who has a heart as big as Belize itself for the people of Belize. God bless you all.”

Be looking for the dates for HIV Belize 2009 “2” later in the year.