Daniela’s mother, Nadia, has made her best effort to try and keep up with the school costs, though that has been hard.  Nadia works at a local jewelry shop where she earns approximately $430 per month.

Her husband fell afoul of the law sometime back.  That problem is now settled but his record and poor health make it difficult for him to find a stable job.  It takes a major chunk of their wherewithal to keep Daniela in school.

Presently, Daniela is in her second year at the SDA academy where she is so thankful to be.  Her mother is willing to make every sacrifice to send her beloved child to the Instituto Centroamericano Adventista.

Nadia would be very grateful to our Partners if we could cover half of the tuition during this present school year.  She promises to faithfully fulfill on her part.  With your help we propose providing $100 per month for this case.

 Teacher’s Salary

Most schools in Belize are Government Aided, this means teachers are paid by the Ministry of Education.  However, Bethel SDA School does not receive full assistance from the government.  We depend largely on payment of Registration, Monthly Contribution, fundraising and most important of all, in God’s care, for the operational expenses and for the salary of three of our teachers.  But only about 20% of our population can afford the fees levied.  Ms Kimberly Warrior, Ms. Les Wakefield and Ms. Eva Chi have been giving their time and skills through these months teaching our students.  We provide a small salary, $350, $250 and $200 respectively.  But they deserve more, especially because they use part of their own salary to provide school supplies for their students, prepare class material and assist their family with their needs.  With a monthly contribution of $250 for each you can assist these
teachers as they give of themselves to the children.

Salam Family 

Reginald Foste and Amalia Salam.  Reginald does not have a steady job yet.  They came from another community and are still in the process of settling in our community.  Amalia suffers from asthma, and because of a recent flu and cold she has been ill at the hospital recovering.  Older sister Nurciana (13 years old) stays by her bedside at the hospital because mother has a young baby who needs breastfeeding.  These four girls need your backing.  Together they need $170 for tuition and another $494 for a decent meal at school for the rest of the school year.

    Amalia Salam     Teodora Salam       Juanita Salam         Nurcina Salam

       April 9, 02         October 28, 1997     July 30,2000     November 12,1995

              K1                 Grade 3                Grade 2                  Grade 6

Pow Family

Lone mother: Nolberta

These children live with their mother.  Father does not have a stable job and his contribution to the children’s nurturing is sporadic.  Ms. Nolberta sews clothes for the neighbors to earn a little income.  She wants to keep her children in our school to expose them to a spiritual atmosphere.  Felecita, Kenroy, Linston and Anisha need $200 for tuition this school year.  With an additional $532 you can help feed them a nutritious lunch for the remaining part of the school year.

    Felecita Pow      Kenroy Pow           Anisha Pow          Linston Pow

October 16, 1994    August 24, 1999  August 25, 2004  December 6, 2003

     Grade 5                 Grade 3                     K1                       K2

Avila Family 

Ms. Alberta Avila suffers from epilepsy, but is a hard working woman.  She does cleaning in offices, schools and houses, but due to her illness many do not employ her on a regular basis. Tanisha and Delvin need $50 for tuition for the remainder of the school year.  With an additional $266 you can ensure a healthy lunch meal.

         Delvin Avila                      Tanisha Avila

       August 8, 1999                  October 18, 1996

            Grade 3                                Grade 5

 King Balak was livid with rage….  ‘I called you to curse my enemies and instead you have blessed them three times. (Numbers 24:10-13.)The Living Bible

“Balaam replied, ‘Didn’t I tell your messengers that even if you gave me a palace filled with silver and gold, I could not go beyond the words of Jehovah, and could not say a word of my own?  I said that I would say only what Jehovah says!’

The King of Moab and a wayward prophet from the Euphrates valley hatched a plan to pox the encampment of Israel.  You remember the story– an angel with drawn sword poised to pierce the clueless seer, the miserable beating and plaintive defense of a long-faithful donkey, followed by seven-fold sacrificial performances with impressive blood-lettings near overlooking cliffs.  Yet, that day’s efforts to voodoo the Hebrew hoard resulted in total fiasco.  It would have shown a bit of intelligence had those frustrated schemers saddled up and ridden on home permanently resigning themselves to God’s sovereign will. 

Balak had already shown a surly lack of consideration to Israel by refusing the weary Canaan-bound travelers safe-passage through his kingdom.  Down the path of history, that hateful meanness would net Moab national squelch.  In the case of apostate Balaam, he practically did a u-turn upon reaching home and then tore back to Moab, enticed by the lure of filthy lucre.  Whereas once he spoke only the words Jehovah planted in his mouth, this time he was on a mission for Satan designed to suck Israel into sex-sin and idolatry with the intention of turning the Chosen People into depraved rejects, easy pickings for their enemies.  Thousands went partying with Midianite Mata Haris obligating God once again to lay divine wrath on them.  Moses’ last military action before his own demise on Mt. Nebo, called for near-extermination of Midian.  Five enemy chieftains were slain, and among the massacred lay renegade Balaam.

 Balaam was once greatly respected because of the God-given gift of prophecy which he possessed, but like Judas, he threw that all away.  Balak could have assisted God’s people and assured his nation’s future.  Midian could have stayed close to Moses’ family and inherited the Messianic hope along with Israel.

 What spiritual gifts has God bestowed on us?  Do we cherish those gifts more than material riches?  How do we respond when faced by the pleas of God’s careworn people needing safe passage or a helping hand along the highway of life?  Is our hope focused on holiness to the Lord, or do the pleasures of this world ensnare us and others who take their cues from our words and actions? 

Palaces filled with gold and silver mean nothing compared to the opportunity of bestowing blessings on those God loves.  The Savior was anointed to give good news to the poor (Luke 4:18).  He did exactly that during his earthly ministry through miracles of healing, feeding great crowds of His listeners, and teaching wonderful lessons that lifted the hearts of the common folks and the oppressed.  With THANKSGIVING for all that He has done for us, perhaps we can change the course of our own personal history–living, and if necessary, dying “as happy as a righteous Israelite” (Numbers 23:10).

 “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for he is loving and kind, and comes to us with armloads of salvation.” 

 Psalms 130:7.

“Praise him who led his people through the wilderness, for his lovingkindness continues forever.”  Psalms 136:16.

“He is the God who keeps every promise, and gives justice to the poor and oppressed, and food to the hungry.  He frees the prisoners, and opens the eyes of the blind; he lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads.  For the Lord loves good men.  He protects the immigrants, and cares for the orphans and widows.  But he turns topsy-turvy the plans of the wicked.”  Psalms 146:6-9.  The Living Bible.

Thankfully yours,

Mike Lynch

Missionary Partners in Central America