Thursday, February 26, 2009

February 2009

This month has been that of ups and downs.
Alexander was sick for two weeks with Dengue Fever – but thankfully he was well enough in time, to head to Cuba as planned to meet with leaders about Children’s programs in there country.


While Alexander was away, I was holding down the fort here in Belize City. A couple of days into Alexander’s absence my sister Becky came out to keep me company since she was on spring break. I spent the time alone preparing for a workshop I was asked to do at a Belizean Youth Conference in Balmopan. Last minute they didn’t end up needing me, but my sister and I hoped on a bus to Balmopan anyways. It was a good chance to meet other youth workers in the country and connect with the youth we’ve been working with over the past year.



Alexander’s adventure in Cuba was a bit more interesting. I’ll let him tell it in his own words:

(*above: I flew from Cancun; I got to Havana and ride the bus for 12 hr to the City of Holguin. Then I visited churches and camp site on all the Orange Stars. I visited 4 cities and 2 were poor. I also got taken into place where the Government do not allow foreigner.)


"Thanks to God for the opportunity to represent CCI in Cuba. It happens that I was going to meet with Ray Wieler and Steven Zacharias in the City of Holguin and the Representative of World Server - the Organization CCI is partnering with to reach Cuba.

Unfortunately Ray and Steven missed their flight because of a snow storm. So I got to observe the Cuban Church on behave of CCI with goal of planting camp ministry into the heart of the Cuban Church.

Some things I got to see in the church: their were more youth than children, their were some children programs and lots of interest on the development of children outreach, need of Children resources and training, the churches are oppress by the Government however there is a big movement through house church plant, 95 % of church are poor, a pastor gets 35$ U.S dollar a month full time ministry. (*above: Small village of Cacocum. 1 hr drive from Holguin we visited the Church by Name of “En Espiritu Y Enverdad” 200 hundred members not including the children. )

I visited 4 cities in Cuba with ministries and I meet the most outstanding leaders and pastors of two denominations. I visited many churches and camps site that were run down. House churches in Cuba were 18 ft by 24 ft with an average of 200 people. Cuba government does not allow building churches on empty property. The only way to have a church is in a house.

(*above: "Play Guardalvaca was where I visited the church that was hit by the hurricanes 6 month ago. To Sad to say that the church does not have any roof since then. Lack of mullah")

In other words, Cuba Church is trusting in the Lord, and doing good, and they feed on God faithfulness."

Since being back Alexander spoke at a Children's Rally that had been planned for January but was postponed to this past saturday.
Also: this past weekend Spanishlookout youth visited us again and here Elsie and Nancy are doing the object lesson for the kids.

Coming up:
Training in Blue Creek this saturday
Soccer camp on March 9th Baron Bliss day
Cross-current comes on March 27th
Easter camp, April 6-9th

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Into 2009!

These past two months have been full of blessings and opportunities.
In November we had many plans that fell through, which was a great lesson on how we needed to wait on God’s timing and schedule. We then saw that what God had planed was much better.

In November we were blessed greatly from a visit of a Bayridge Church member, and we got to see the Spanish Lookout Church bless the kids of a Belize city church with two baby chicks for each kid! The next weekend we then had the opportunity to visit Spanish Lookout and do a training with the youth.

On the first day of December we received our first Christmas gift - a visit from Leah's mom and Aunt, and they came baring gifts from friends and family for the ministry (and some personal treats too!) Thank you to all of you who gave! We received almost everything on our ministry wish list and we even got the Mac Laptop. God is Good!


In December, while showing mom around we had the chance to speak at the Blue Creek High school for chapel and then invite them out to our training that Sunday. We were very pleased with the turn out as we had about 13 youth show up and a record number of boys -3!

Lately we've been receiving calls from Churches to come and speak to them about what BCE can offer them. We even had the opportunity to speak to an elder's board about starting to train their youth this new year. How Exciting!

We had a great holiday season busy with visiting friends and family. Thank-you for all your personal and ministry support that you have shown us this past year. Your prayers and financial gifts, or gifts of balls, sports equipment, art supplies or soup mix... all have been such an encouragement to us. May GOD Bless you as you GO Bless others, as you have already done with us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from Alexander and Leah Perez
Looking ahead to January 2009:
6th Leah’s Birthday
9th Denis and Janice visit
12th Visit Church in Dangriga
16th Speaking at a Children’s rally
17th Youth Training in Orange Walk
31st Youth Training for Belize City

NOTE: This will be our last Blog at this web site – we have a new Blog site:
http://alexanderandleah.blogspot.com/