VIM in Belize No Longer

Monday, April 02, 2007



News from Belize

Bits of information from Belize come my way now and again, some good and some not so. On the good side, Robert Lyon reports that the Lay Readers program being run through ATI is progressing well. Robert expects to be in Belize until June and then possibly returning in the fall. A few weeks ago he wrote:
In January we revived Belize's Anglican Theological Institute, with 17 students in the introductory course of a two-year program. Meeting on Saturdays we explore the Old and New Testaments, Theology, Church History, Other Religions, and aspects of Ministry, with practical Ministry assignments being mentored at the local churches.
Most of the 7 men and 10 women are already serving as lay ministers in their parishes; many are teachers in the 18 Anglican schools here; two students are in the ordination stream, and two belong to other denominations. People are already asking what courses will be available when our second year begins in September, including further interest from non-Anglicans.


And talking of theological students, I had the opportunity for a brief visit with my friend Lorna Sampson, a student from Belize at Codrington College in Barbados and currently on exchange at Wycliffe College in Toronto, Canada. We have a lunch date in a few days, but she’ll be heading back home at the end of the month, just about the time our nice weather starts! (Here Lorna is presenting a certificate to a graduate at St. Joseph's Preschool.)

On the bad side is word that the vehicle I was using at Punta Gorda was completely destroyed in a fire. It was being used at the time but the passengers all escaped harm. From the pictures it looks as if it was in a nuclear explosion. Finances for Echo, as I called the Econoline Van, had been provided by the Anglican Church of Canada just about a year ago.

Back here I have been able to present my story and pictures a couple of times, once to my home parish and once to a parish in Montreal. These are mostly awareness raisers and difficult to assess. However, there is at least one person committed to spend some time in service in Belize and another who has undertaken to correspond with a member of the congregation.

We are now in Holy Week. May its blessings prepare you for the glory of Easter!

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