Why Belize?
In 2003, Rev. Lydia and Mark Brown’s son, Daniel, survived a non-fatal drowning at Vaca Falls in Belize. A series of “coincidences” and miracles led to his survival and full recovery. The Brown family came to see Vaca Falls not as the scene of a terrible accident, but a place of divine intervention. As a way to give back to the people of Belize who played a key role in their son’s survival, they have sought opportunities to make a difference for good in this tiny, beautiful country.
Our ongoing partnerships in Belize include Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro, The Anglican Church in Belize, especially St. Ann’s Anglican Church in Belmopan, Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center in Belize City, and the Tumul K’in Center of Learning in Toledo District.
Belize Mission 2012
St. Anne’s will be returning to southern Belize in 2012 to finish the Maya language radio station project they began in 2010. Fifteen members of St. Anne’s will be volunteering their time to build this radio station which, when complete, will reach all of the towns and villages of southern Belize including Punta Gorda, the largest town. Southern Belize continues to experience extreme poverty; over 85% of the population is below the poverty line according to a recent government report. The radio station will help coordinate development efforts of the Mayan population, the poorest ethnic group. The team will work on the radio station and will work with staff and students at Tumul K’in, a Mayan residential high school. The trip is planned for January 28 – February 6, 2012.
Belizean Dinner at St. Anne’s: Saturday, January 7, 6 pm. $10/adult, $5/5-12 years, under 5 free. Tickets available from team members or through the office.
Raffle for iPad 2 or Kindle: The St. Anne’s Mission Team is selling raffle tickets for $10 each. First prize is a 16GB iPad 2 with WiFi. Second prize is a Kindle. The drawing will be held at the Belizean Dinner on January 7. You need not be present to win. Tickets are available from anyone on the Belize Mission Team or from the office. Dinner tickets are also available from the team or at the office. (You will need to be present to eat!)
Click here to learn more about the dinner and raffle.
Belize Mission 2010
January 23 – February 1, 2010
Helping to build a radio station in the Toledo District of Southern Belize
As part of its community outreach program, Tumul K’in Center of Learning (a Maya residential high school) seeks to establish a self-sustaining community radio station capable of empowering community members in the Maya villages of the Toledo District, with information on their cultural identity, traditional healing, indigenous rights and other topics that will improve their lives.
St. Anne’s 2010 Belize Mission Team of 16 hardy workers traveled to southern Belize in January, 2010, to help relocate the country’s only Maya Language radio station so it can reach more Mayan villages. Some unforeseen circumstances put the radio tower project on hold, but we were able to help in other substantial ways with building and classroom support. We’re still in conversation with the Belizeans and hope to complete the original project in 2012.
Learn about the project – download brochure.
YOU CAN HELP! Every dollar you donate goes directly to building materials and other expenses that directly benefit the Mayan people.
Send your tax deductible gift to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 2035 Charlton Road, Sunfish Lake, MN 55118. Write “Belize Mission” in the memo.
THANK YOU!!
Previous Belize Mission Trips
2008 – Holy Cross Anglican School
2009 - Holy Cross Anglican School
2010 – Tumul K’in Center of Learning
We continue to support Holy Cross Anglican School through our Millennium Development Goals Funds, providing scholarships for Holy Cross graduates to continue on to high school, and also in 2009 $1,500 for the ongoing programs at the school.