I'm sure all of you have seen at least something about the devastation in Haiti, and I hope you're keeping them in your prayers.  ABC News said Monday that the death toll in Port-au-Prince alone is about 150,000, which is about half of the entire population of Belize. It's a tragedy, to be sure, but I think it also says something about the power of hope and the human spirit.  I've read several stories about people who've miraculously stayed alive for one, two weeks while buried under destroyed buildings.  It's easy to get overwhelmed by the need, but it's through overwhelming odds that God shows just how good He is. 
Also, keep the aid workers in Haiti in your prayers.  I can't imagine what it must be like for one volunteer to see thousands of people in need, but my hope is that those people who have been called to help will stay calm and clear-headed and full of love. 

Happy 2010!  I hope you're all happy and well with your families and thanking God for a year of blessings. It's been a wild, challenging, exciting few months for me, and a lot has happened since this web site thing got up 'n' running.  

So, you might be wondering...where was I in December? What happened in December?

On the 11th of December, 15 great people from Journey of Faith Church in Dallas came to Belize for a week.  They spent their time visiting villages in Belize and Guatemala to provide medical care and pray for the people.  At night, they held worship training and computer classes at Prayer Mountain.  In all it was a great time, and I'm pretty sure they all went home happily exhausted.  I know everyone (me included) was so blessed that they came, and sad to see them go.  As a donation to the ministry, they left several computers, a clothes dryer, a water purifier, clothes and medicine. 


The visit from the Dallas team sort of split the month in half.  Before they came, the Harvest season was winding down, and our church in Santa Cruz had hosted its 3-day Campaña, or revival.  By the time they left, it was practically Christmas.  The temperature dipped into the mid 60s for about a day and a half, which gave everyone a chance to pull out their sweaters and enjoy the cold..er, cool.  A lot of families in Belize use the time before Christmas to clean out their closets and put a coat of paint on their houses, as a way of making a fresh start for the new year.  


So, what about your fresh start?  


Is this the year to lose that last couple of pounds, finally clean out the shed, save a little more money? Or maybe you're just trying to recover from Christmas?
  
Maybe it's something a little simpler, like hugging your kids more often, even if they say they don't like it (they do, trust me).  

Or saying 'I love you' to your spouse right after a nasty fight.  

Or listening to your friends' problems without judgment.  

Or just saying 'have a nice day' to a stranger, and really meaning it.  


 Love is the common denominator here, and only through loving Christ can we really love each other this year.  


Look for God's love in 2010.  You might be surprised where you find it.