Busy Week

It was a busy week getting ready for paintball on Saturday and hosting some heard working Blue Creek men who came to work on our house.

Check it Out!

Thank you very much Blue Creek Church for sending us your men and helping to pay our bill that we may be able to get electricity. May God Bless you for the Blessing you have been to us!

Saturday's paintball game was a success despite the rain.

We had guys come all the way from Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout and even some girls got in on the action too! WE also had the DJ's from the local radio station come join in the fun, and youth groups from around town.

Below is a video of the ending talk Alexander gave during the day, A challenge to the guys, not to be good guys, or even be "really good guys," but to be what God created them to be - MEN of GOD.

This Monday morning the guys from the local christian radio station were talking about the event on the air. They were met with one angry caller who kept calling back about his displeasure that Christians would be promoting "violent games" in a country who has MAJOR a problem with gun violence.

We acknowledge the concern but in no way are we at anytime promoting violence - but discipline and control when using such equipment, as well as team work in completing tasks during a game of paintball.

One person compared it to sex. Which is better to teach, safe sex or abstinence? So is it not better for the church to be promoting abstinence concerning guns, then to be encouraging games of it?

Our response to that: who would you rather have teaching your young daughter about sex? The sly, smooth talking guy down the street or her parents? Who would you rather have teaching young people about violence and gun use? The gangs here in Belize who glamorize violence or the church.

That is exactly what we're trying to do. Provide a safe, controlled venue for games that promote team work, disciple and control. While using the opportunity to address issues young men face, issues that are not being addressed in the church - shacking up before marriage, pornography, violence, abuse... etc.

And lets be honest, the ones causing the problems are not the regular Sunday church attendee. They are the ones you will maybe never get into a church to talk to them about such important issues - but perhaps we'll get them out to a paintball event.

And we're not doing this as a ministry for the sake of ministry. We are doing this as a tool for churches to use to reach out. So that if a young man does happen to make a decision of faith on the paintball Field, they can be connected to a church immediately.

We know the implications and concerns of "Paintball Ministry," and that is why we are being very intentional with how we do things.

Please pray for us as we address these issues and face these concerns and try to take what the devil intended for evil and use it for God's Glory.

Pastors, Puppets and Paint

Pastors Conference - Great Success!

Alexander spoke on some foundational Biblical teaching kids need to know before they reach the teen years and Leah spoke on different approaches to youth ministry, including Contemplative Youth Ministry (thanks prof. Garth).

We met many new pastors there and made many more contacts.
Shared our new curriculum sharing program with children's leaders and our new paint ball ministry with pastors, who welcomed and were even excited about such a creative way to reach out to young men.
Alexander and I were greatly challenged, empowered and refreshed through the many speakers especially that of the Evangelist Andrew J. Willis. (http://www.ajwillis.info/).

Since the conference we've focused ourselves on helping out our churches with encouraging them in their follow-up programs. We spent a few hours meeting with each children's leader and prayed with them. They are each facing many struggles and we try our best to help them in any way we can. One Church is struggling with lack of support from the pastor, another has family issues to fight though, for another it's lack of resources, and for all of them it's lack of helpers to meet the needs of so many kids that show up each week.

One way we are trying to help is by meeting with the young people of their churches regularly to disciple them and encourage them to participate in the church.

Another thing we're starting is a sort of curriculum sharing program, where churches can donate their old curriculum and be free to sign out/photo copy or take curriculum they need to meet the needs of their church's children. We presented this idea to those we talked to at the Pastors Conference and got a good response. SO since then I have been compiling an inventory of what resources we already have, and will be going out looking for more from other churches.
One thing that many churches are interested getting a hold of is puppets. One church even uses the puppets to teach the older children puppet shows that they then go out and evangelize with.
So if you have any good puppets you're not making use of, send them on down!

Belize Camping Experience
P.O Box 161
Belize City, Belize
Central America



We're gearing up for a Big Paintball Event on October 31.
We've done two small games since last last event we reported and both went really well. It may seem like and games but it's not. WE take the opportunity to speak God's truth in to the young men's lives. Gun Violence is a big problem here in Belize City. When Alexander gave a talk to the youth group last week, he asked them - how many of them had a person close to them die from gun violence, and just about all of them had.


The 31st we're expecting close too, if not more then 100 people to come. Some will be "churched" but quite a few wont have. Alexander's working on a "straight up, manly" talk/devo to present the young men who come. Pray for him as he prepares to challenge these guys to step up and be real men power and strength - Men of God, and make some serious changes in their lives.

Keep Praying, We'll Keep You Posted!

Sorry for the late update... we've been busy!

First of all we would like to say a special thanks to all of those who have come to help us in fixing up our house over the past month.
Shout out to Father Ron and Mother Mim.
Big thanks to Spanish Lookout men.

Our Appreciation sent to the Ship Yard youth group!

Keep a lookout in your mail - we just sent our semi-annual news letter. If you don't get one, let us know and we'll put you on the list!

Tomorrow! Please pray for us. October 8th -10th is an annual Pastors and Leaders conference here in Belize City. Tomorrow Alexander and I are going to be part of a panel discussion talking about issues relating to children and youth. We will be there for the rest of the days at our booth representing BCE reaching out to pastors and leaders who will be coming from all over the country.

Last Saturday we had a trail paintball game with selected young men and church leaders from around Belize City. To say it went well would be an understatement. The men had a blast and are all asking when we're going to do it again.

So that's the quick update for now... we'll write again when we have time.
Blessings to you all!
Leah and Alexander Perez

“Summer ’09 in Review”

SUMMER SUMMARY

“Unity Presbyterian” Belize City - Camp July 14-16
21 Campers – 5 Helpers
*still waiting on pics from councilors*

“Solid Rock Academy” Dangirga Town – Camp July 22-24
84 Campers – 10 Helpers from Blue Creek EMMC and From Belize City


“Life Church Belize” Belize City – Camp Aug. 7-9
26 Campers – 8 Helpers from Spanish Lookout Fountain of Life Church

Curriculum taught covered – story of Rahab “anyone can come to God”
story of Esther “God defeats evil”
story of Jesus “death and resurrection”

“Ship Yard EMMC” Ship Yard - Aug. 13-15
10 Campers – 4 Helpers from the Ship Yard Church
Curriculum covered: “Heaven”, “the problem – Sin,” “the solution – Jesus”

Totals: 141 Campers
27 Helpers

Those of you asking “How many Children accepted Christ as their personal Saviour?,” our answer is “we don’t know exactly.” We have all of our councillors make the invitation to the kids, and most if not all of them “pray a prayer.” A seed has been planted and more then numbers, we are interested in seeing changed lives as we follow up with these Children.

Here is a wonderful example of changes we’ve already seen:
Word of Life Church, a new Church plant in the city, did their first camp this summer. A mom who had been attending convinced her 14 year old son Gabrial, to come to camp at least to help. Reluctantly he came along, bringing 3 friends for back up.


We had our hands full directing and disciplining these guys for their foul language and misbehaviour. But they kept coming back each day. We were sure that was the last we saw of them.

Then to our surprise, Tuesday evening when the church met for service, all of the guys showed up for the first time. We found out that some had never been to church before and one had never heard about Jesus before.
The next Tuesday meeting, again the boys showed up this time bringing more friends and even came when Gabriel’s mom couldn’t make it. Due to the sudden influx of youth, the church is now starting a youth night to meet the needs of these young people.

Right now, we are trying to organize our selves, by fixing up our house (which is also our office).
Besides our regular follow-up programs, continued youth training and promotion of the ministry, we are looking into a new project – a curriculum sharing program. It would be a library of sorts, where different lay ministers could contribute and borrow Sunday school and camp curriculum and materials. We’ll give you more information as it develops.

Please keep us in your prayers, even though our busy season is coming to a end.

GOD Bless
GO Bless

Alexander and Leah Perez

things keep on rolling....

The summer keeps on moving forward and we’re trying to keep up.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday we have a camp here in the city with “Life Church Belize.” They are a newly established church focusing on young people and it is their first camp, so we are excited to see what kind of fruit this camp ministry can bring to their church.

Then the next week on the 13-15 we are having camp in the Mennonite community of ShipYard. It is their second camp, their first having being held two years ago. We are excited to have youth from the Ship Yard EMMC church ready to be involved.

Please pray for these camps.

There is one more church that is planning on having camp yet this summer, but the details are slow to be worked out. We’ll keep you posted.

On another note, you’ll never believe the special guests we’ve had drop in!
Our dear friends from SBC Henry and Tina Redekopp were down this way checking out the country and we had the pleasure of spending some time with them.

Also Alexander’s mom, who he hadn’t seen in 20 some years, surprised us with a visit yesterday. She is only on the country for a week and we are trying to spend as much time with her as possible between sharing her with Alexander’s brother and camps.

Something else to pray about, I Leah, put my papers for my Belizean Nationality in on Monday and have and interview scheduled for next Monday. Not sure what to expect, or how quickly this means the process will go, but please pray that everything will work out well.

Sorry for not having any pictures up, I know some of you only check on here for the visuals but, I will upload them when I have the time and the internet available.

Keep in touch,

Alexander and Leah Perez

CAMP 1. July 14 - 16 was our first camp here in the city. We did camp right at the church property and had approx. 64 kids our second day. Because of the lack of organization and leadership and organization on the church's part we were not able to provide the kids with lunch, but after we sent them home, we always had more kids come back after lunch for the fun.

The topic's for this summers lessons are: Jesus came to seek and to save the lost - the story of Rahab; Over come evil with good - the story of Esther; and Romans 10:9,the message of salvation. Each one of these lessons is showing to be quite relevant in the kids lives as they are learning about God's love despite people's reputations, loving instead of revenge, and how they can be part of God's family.

MOVED IN. During our first camp we moved into our new home. It took a bit of coordinating but both camp and moving went very smoothly. Please continue to pray for us as we live "back-a-bush" (as they would say it in creol). So far God has been very faithful in protecting us and we have no reason to believe he will let us down in the future.

CAMP 2. Just yesterday we returned from doing our very first camp in Dangriga. We had great support from Blue creek, sending 5 youth plus their youth leader Blaine. We also had some extra hands come from Belize City as well as a handful from Dangriga. We had lots of kids, starting with 53 kids on the first day, and we ended up with 84 kids on the last day and ranging in age from 4-13. We are so very pleased on how the camp went with most of the kids praying with their councilors desiering to follow Christ. Please pray along with us that these seeds will have fallen on good soil and take root in the kids hearts. We look forward to working with them again soon.

CHECK BACK SOON FOR PICTURES.


NEXT. The next camp is planned for August 7-9, but I'm sure atleast one more camp can fit in before that. And we're working on organizing more camps for after that.

US. Alexander and I (Leah) are doing really well. We are in good health and our sanity is almost normal. Thanks very much for your prayers and emails of support.

$$$. It's the thing we hate talking about most, money. BUT the subject is a necessary evil that we subject our selves too just because we love each of the kids soo very much. Our work would not be possible if it were not for your financial gifts. Please do not forget to send in your pledges and donations to:

Children's Camps International
300-571 Main Street
Winkler, MB, R6W 1E8
Canada
Phone:(204) 331-4003
Email:info@ccicamps.com

GOD Bless

GO Bless

Alexander and Leah

Ready… Get Set…

Update.

EQUIP, EMPOWER, ENERGIZE!

The children’s and youth’s seminar, months in the making was a huge sucesss. There were 62 people in attendance representing about 17 different churches. Issues related to young people were discussed and ministry workers were encouraged. Due to the great responses we are getting we are planning on having another one in November. We are also considering on gathering resources to have a sharing library of children and youth material. God has started something great and we are excited to see where he is going to take it.

TRAINING
We completed three summer trainings in preparation for the camping season that is upon us. The first in Belize City, we had 7 youth and leaders come from 2 different churches. IN Blue Creek we had 8 young people come out, and in Spanish Lookout we had 14 youth and leaders attend from two churches, EMMC and Fountain of Life. We are excited at the many new people who are interested and willing to help us out at camp this year.

Sp.Lookout Training

CAMPS
Dates are starting to be finalized. Our first camp is scheduled for only a week away, and much planning has yet to be done.
Unity Presbyterian Church will be starting their three day camp July 13.
On July 20th we will be in Dangriga preparing for our first camp in that area, scheduled to start on July 22, going until the 24.
And Life Church Belize will be holding their first camp (currently scheduled but most likely to be changed) on July 29-31st. More dates to be set for August.

HOUSE
This week we are starting to slowly move into our new house. Our house has a long way to go – it’ll be a few months yet before we have electricity, and we’re praying for rain that we may have water to use out of cisterns, and Alexander is going to set up a make shift shower outside cuz we don’t have a bathroom – the real missionary experience, so Alexander says… please pray for patience and endurance of the bugs.

We’ll keep in touch as best we can. Once moved our internet access will be limited, so rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you to pray for us until the next update.

GOD Bless
GO Bless