Date and Time Posted: Sunday March 18, 2012 - 9:42:42 am

Good morning and blessings from Belize. Preparations are being made for us to go home, this morning. Yesterday, for those of us left, we enjoyed a trip to Xunantanich Maya Ruins, shopped along the market, shopped at the mall, went to the Art Box, saw/petted a Quash, ate at chinese/belizean restaurant, and ended with another great devotion. Thanks Brittany and Rachel. It was awesome. This has been a gratifying week filled with God's love and mercy. We arrived strangers and leave as a family in Christ. From the first foot that stepped off the plane to the last foot that loads the plane, I like to think that we have been the hands and feet of Jesus. Though, Prince Harry visited Belize last week, Jesus was here this week. He worked through the hands and feet of UVA Wise Medical Team. I can, personally, say it has been a pleasure to work along side these college students. We don't, generally, get the opportunity to watch young adults flourish and grow in such an environment. No harsh words spoken, kind words only. Smiles abounding. When asked, they jumped to the tasks without question or complaining. New skills have been obtained. Doctors, nurses, med lab techs, teachers, chemists, biologists, etc are in the making. There have been opportunities to see or hear murmurs and bruits, Trisomy 21, apply dressings, do 12 lead EKG's, do finger stick blood sugars/hematocrits, take vital signs/heights & weights with head/chest circumferences, remove cast and apply casting material to forearms and check circulation, apply new/experienced skills, do ultrasounds in pregnancy and find probable cysts in the cervical lymph, assist in female GYN exams, do surveys, and the list goes on and on. There have been so many opportunities to grow, learn, and abound. Now, let us, return home and apply what we have learned here. Let us be His hands and feet. Let us witness, love, offer hope, have compassion, and share the love of Jesus as we have or have seen here in Belize. There is no greater love or hope than that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Saturday March 17, 2012 - 1:31:35 am

Today has been a bitter sweet day. A reminder of Gods love and mercy has been shown all week. A bond has been formed between our teammates. Lives have been changed. Blessings have been bestowed. We are, forever, family...In Christ. This morning we took a trip to Belize City and road a charted boat over to Caye Caulker (kee kawker) to enjoy a day of fun, relaxation, snorkeling, and shopping. Caye Caulker is a small tropical paradise. Our team had 26 who chose to snorkel along the reef and in shark alley. The rest of us rambled along the streets enjoying the shops, local foods, local crafts, and coastal life. We had our lunches at two, different, restaurants...The Sandbox and Bamboo. Both, had wonderful service and food. Though, we had rain showers, it was a very nice and relaxing day. As the motto in Caye Caulker says; "Go Slow." So, we did. And, we had a wonderful time. We arrived back at the compound to find a wonderful dinner of BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, and yellow cake with chocolate icing. Another yummy meal from Yvette. Mmmmm mmm good! What better way to end the day than to be together, enjoy our last night sitting around chatting/sharing stories, and devotions. And, to top off the week...We saw a TARANTULA!!! Talk about funny. There was squealing, screaming and lots of cameras flashing. I have seen this team grow in Christ, in knowledge, and in love. What a wonderful experience that each has had this week. There is still work to be done, but, seeds have been planted. And, God will see them nourished and grow. Tomorrow, our team will split and part of us will return home. We will, sorely, miss our friends. But, for those of us who are left we will go to Xunantanich Maya Ruins, do a little shopping, and return to the compound for a relaxing last evening. Blessings to all from Belize. In Christ, til we meet again.

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Saturday March 17, 2012 - 12:45:04 am

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Friday March 16, 2012 - 1:15:13 am

Another wonderful day of service in Belize. Today, we started out a little earlier. We traveled, approximately, 2 hours to a remote village near the base of a beautiful mountain range. We set up our clinic in Yal Bac Village. Surprise, we had 2 buildings with electricity. Sheets and tarps were hung for exam rooms and privacy. A dental clinic was set up, as well. Students were brought from their school for well checks/illnesses/dental exams with treatment. Many women were seen, as well as, all week by our GYN Clinician. Erra has done an awesome job with our female patients. We are so blessed and take so many things for granted. This week, we have seen women who have never had a female exam, some patients have never seen a physician, injuries without treatment, disease (chronic and acute), abusive situatioins that had not been discussed before, a blind man praying for us as clinicians and asking blessings on us when we were attempting to assist him...What more can you say? God is good. We give him all the glory, honor, and praise for each hope, help, treatment, and blessing received or felt/known by our Belizean friends. Today, I offered a Bible to a nice young man. He was very thankful. It was in English, so, I offered him a Testament with Psalms in spanish, also. I explained/suggested to him that he may want to share this with others or give one of them to someone else. He said; "Oh no, mam. I will keep them for my own. I have never been given a Bible before. Thank you, so much!" I have take so many things for granted, lived excessively, and thought to less of the most important and simplest things in life. Who are we to whine, beg, cheat, steal...when we, in the states, are so blessed??? It is so evident here, in Belize, that God is at work and people only need Him in life to make it. Troubles, illnesses, death may come...But, in Him, we have all we need. Back to the compound for a quick and tasty beefstew with biscuits and chocolate for dinner, then, off to Uriah Spanish church. Now, realize, that this is a spanish speaking only. So, with faith, Rachel Endicott stepped up to the plate and interpretted the message for our congregation tonight. This was her first, most nervous, and wonderful experience. She did an awesome job. I cannot say enough about our team. Teamwork, perserverance, faith, compassion, love, and list goes on and on. There is not enough space or time to type in all the things done by everyone this week. And, I cannot wait until your family, children, spouses come back to the states and shares their experiences with you. Life is good, but, God is better! Stay tuned for more exciting news from Belize. For, tomorrow, we go to Caye Caulker, a tropical paradise off the coast of Belize for snorkeling, swimming, shopping, and relaxation. Love to all in Christ.

Posted By:Renee

Date and Time Posted: Friday March 16, 2012 - 12:55:25 am

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Wednesday March 14, 2012 - 9:51:53 am

Good morning from Belize. First off, I would like to apologize for the lack of pictures being posted. We have run into a snag with the pictures wanting to post. As for the rest, BLESSINGS all around. We started out with another wonderful breakfast Tuesday morning. Clinic started at 8:00 am and we saw medical patients and approximately dental patients. Talk about blessings and seeing our lives impacted, WOW! While we have medical assistance in all areas, all costs, with insurance and assistance in other means: It is humbling to see what some people live with everyday and survive. They have no assistance and/or financial aid as we are blessed with in the states. Tuesday touched us with a 4 month old, no mother around, being taken care of by his aunt who is younger than our UVA Wise students. She has no income, no job, and is now a single parent. But, what an awesome job she is doing. Please keep her in your prayers, as she has requested the same. And, the 6 year old male with Down's Syndrome who has a very significant heart defect. He has touched my life forever! What love he showed to me. While we were in the clinic, we had 4 students to go with Teresa and Hope to the schools. They met sponsored students, measured the students, and allowed students to write letters to their sponsors. What an awesome experience they had! Another grand experience is when students & other team members went into New Valley Village to visit with and hand out beans, rice, and dried milk. Along the way, they met a very special elderly female. She is was full of love and joy, handing out hugs and kisses. The story is, she fell and broke her hand last week. She had it casted and some of our wonderful UVA Wise Nursing Students, immediately, recognized that there may be a major problem with the cast, the pain, and the swelling. They took matters into their own hands. You find true love, missionaries, and compassion when you have a student take off her shirt, rip it, and make a sling for another. Thank you Allie for being such an inspiration. I, truly, can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for us today. More school visits, more clinic patients, more village visits...The work goes on. But, we here do not consider it a job. We consider it a privilege. In Christ, we send our love. Keep us in your prayers. Stay tuned for more exciting news from Belize.

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Wednesday March 14, 2012 - 9:39:02 am

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Tuesday March 13, 2012 - 12:32:12 am

Sorry, we have had a few technical difficulties...no phones working & a few internet glitches. But, all is good & God is working here in Belize! The day starts out early withing getting up at 6:00 am, breakfast at 7:00 am, & clinic at 8:00 am. But, those pancakes with bacon & pineapple sure makes it easier to get up. YUM YUM!!! We had 88 patients sign in for medical & dental, today. A busy day for all. Thanks to Dustin for keeping all the kids active while clinic was open. He does an awesome job! Teresa & Hope worked tirelessly on sponorships & preparing for school visitation, starting tomorrow. TEAMWORK, thats we saw today from the UVA Wise Team. Everyone joined in & pulled off a wonderful day in the clinic. We saw the usual diabetes, asthma, sinus, allergy, to the dog bite and scorpion sting. And, as usual, the Belizeans were so appreciative & happy. And, thats not counting all the gynecology patients who were ecstatic to have a Gynecology Practitioner. Thank you, Erra. There is no greater feeling than seeing & knowing that you may touched a life & offered hope. We ended a great day with a great devotion prepared by Dr. Mullins, as well as, filling bags of beans & rice in preparation for visitation into some villages. Stay tuned for more exciting news from Belize. We shall retire & rest in preparation of another great day of service.

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Monday March 12, 2012 - 9:21:58 am

Good morning from Belize. Our second part of our team arrived Sunday without incident. Stepping off the plane, we were met by 85 degree sunny tropical skies with a slight breeze. There's nothing like entering into a place where you feel the presence of God and welcomeness. Our team traveled to Body and Soul's compound with a pitstop for lunch at Cheers. YUMMY!!!, describes it best. Our Sunday team travellers had our orientation, unpacked and relaxed. All the while, our Saturday team members had an outing to Xunantanich Mayan Ruins with shopping along the river at the street market set up by local vendors/craftsman. Plus, they had a stop at the Belize Zoo. We, all, met back at the compound, shared a wonderful dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread, and chocolate cake. Thanks to Yvette, who is our compound cook, wonderful at that. A little rest under our belts, we entered into the house of worship, Faith Baptist that is located on our compound. WOW! God was there from the get go. It was so good to see old friends again, sharing hugs/kisses, and tales of how this past year has gone. Our night ended, as a team, with a short meeting/greeting of both teams. Looking forward to clinic work today. This day has been made a holiday, so no schools open today. There will be much today. We will catch up later and, hopefully, daily. God Bless and continue to remember us in prayer as we attempt to do the Lord's work here in Belize.

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Monday March 12, 2012 - 9:11:40 am

Posted By:Renee Easter

Date and Time Posted: Saturday March 10, 2012 - 9:32:07 pm

Well Doc Smiddy and 19 others arrived in Belize safe and sound. The team stopped at Cheers for a wonderful Belizean lunch and a tall, cool glass of lime juice. Yvette fixed a great dinner of nacho salads. Everyone is getting settled in, devotions have been done. We are now being entertained by Doc Smiddy, Ralph Digman and a young man named Denny with songs, guitars and mandolins. Can't imagine anything better! The rest of the UVAWise team arrives tomorrow. Wishing you all a safe journey. Good night from Belize!

Posted By:Teresa Hayden

Date and Time Posted: Wednesday March 7, 2012 - 3:46:22 pm

Oops! It's Wednesday and I am just now getting back to posting. Everyone is doing well. The Ohio and Indiana Wesleyan teams are working in the clinic. It has been a little slow but hopefully will pick up. Hope, Jerry, Darlene and a couple of ladies, Rachel and Lisa, from Indiana have been working on school sponsorship program. We have done fairly well considering the weather. It has absolutely poured down rain for the last 3 days and the mud is everywhere. However, the sun finally came out about 3 hours ago and already the mud is starting to dry up. Today is election day and a national holiday - no schools and no businesses open so it is kinda quiet. But this made it an excellent day for me to catch up on this narrative and also with the help of Hope and Darlene catch up on a ton of paperwork and get things organized for next week. For those of you who have been to Belize before - Rosita and baby Xander are doing well. He is so sweet and has a head full of hair! Mireny is growing and her and Clowy are having fun "entertaining" team members! Grandpa, the Reyes girls all send their love and we have exchanged hugs and kisses! They were sad that you were unable to make it and they understood why. They are looking forward to seeing you soon. We are looking forward to all our UVAWise buddies to arrive! Gotta go! Heading out to Maymopan to visit the Martinez family. See you later! Oh yeah, I will try to post some pictures later!

Posted By:Teresa Hayden

Date and Time Posted: Sunday March 4, 2012 - 2:29:30 pm

Well, we made it to Belize! Hope Guy, Jerry Greene and myself left Tri-Cities early, early, early on Saturday and flew to Charlotte. It was a bumpy flight because of all the bad weather but we made it on time. We met Darlene Capps in Charlotte and although we had quite a bit of turbulence we made it to Belize a little ahead of schedule. After leaving the airport, we took the "scenic" route to Roaring Creek because Prince Harry - yes, THE Prince Harry of England -- was in Belize and some of the roads were blocked off because he was coming back into the airport to fly out at 4pm. They even rolled up the red carpet - yes, actual red carpet for him at the airport. The four of us with our host Dave Almen stopped at Cheers for a delicious lunch and tall glasses of cool limeade. We all got settled into our rooms before the OWU and IWU medical teams arrived at the compound around 7pm. Supper consisted of cake and coffee! Then most of us retired for the evening. Yvette fixed us breakfast of fried jack and refried beans and we had. We had a good church service at Faith Chapel this morning with Rev. Rhaburn bringing the message. Well, everyone knows that rule #1 in Belize is "BE FLEXIBLE." How true. This week is being completely revamped as far as the sponsorship program goes. Belize has moved up elections (by a year) and have decided that the schools will only be in session Monday and 1/2 day Tuesday . . . so all the measurements, letters, etc. that we had planned are going to be crammed into 1 1/2 days this week! But the rest of the week we will deliver gifts, cards, letters and bicycles from sponsors to the children. Next week will definitely be busy, busy, busy. It was definitely a treat to see all my friends, and babies! Looking forward to working with the teams from Ohio and Indiana Wesleyan next week and can't wait for all my buddies from UVAWise to arrive next week. And, oh by the way, for those of you in the know -- I Beat Bob Brake to Belize . . . PRICELESS! Well, got go! Check back soon.

Posted By:Teresa Hayden