Welcome to the Living Tree Academy Blog

With this blog we will keep you updated on our daily events of building a school in the Country of Belize. You will also be able to jump in and help with this adventure of a life time.

And anyone that is so inspired might find some of this information helpful in your efforts to build a quality school in any community or country around the world.

Stay in touch and lets change the lives of young people, one at a time.


Saturday, June 4, 2011

Under the Sea (Snorkeling)


Today was a first in many ways. It was the first day of the rainy season, and I snorkeled for the first time out side of a bathtub. 
Getting Ready to Snorkel
Snorkeling in the Rain

"Go Under the Water So You don't Get Wet!"

There is a lot of snorkeling and SCUBA diving on the barrier reef in Belize because of the marine life. Being the second biggest barrier reef in the world, it spans the entire length of Belize. It is a barrier that protects the islands from being sunk by waves. 

We snorkeled at 2 famous dive/snorkeling spots on the barrier reef: Hol Chan (which means little channel in Mayan) and Shark Ray Alley. Both are marine sanctuaries. Although I have seen many documentaries about marine life and reef life, there is nothing that compares to feeling the warmth of the water and being surrounded by fish and coral. 
Nursing Sharks

Hidden Ray
Snorkel Instructor Showing Us the Reef and Fish

Seeing all the abundance of life down under the sea made me so thankful to God for all of His abundance that He has made available to us, His kids. This was absolutely an Ephesians 3:20 experience for me. Although the detail that God put into these underwater creatures is so meticulous it doesn’t come close to the detail in His Word. He magnified it above all His name!


Friday, June 3, 2011

Gumbalimba Tree


Today was a blessed day.  We continued to work on the bridge then after stopped by a small bird watching sanctuary to visit a new friend.  He introduced us to a new tree called the gumbalimba tree that the locals call “the tourist tree”.  When we asked why it was called the tourist tree he replied “because if the tourists don’t stay out of the sun or don’t use sunscreen they look like the tree”.  (It looks like it is peeling). 

This tree is also used to make the antidote for the Belizean Poison Tree.  Farmers often use the tree for fence posts. When it is chopped down and placed in the ground, it sprouts roots and often becomes another tree which doesn’t rot.  Likewise the stump of the original tree continues to grow as well. 


While standing around sharing his knowledge of birds and trees, he also shared his heart on the difference between religion and having a relationship with God.   


Matthew 12:34b "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

Matthew 7:20  "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Bridge Builder Across the Jordan

The crossing of the Jordan continues.  As we continued working on the road/bridge today,  I was reminded of the following poem.  The road across is by no means a perfect bridge, but our goal is to cross getting to the other side.  Today we leveled it out as much as possible getting ready for the cart to pass in the near future, then later children as they go to school.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support!



The Bridge Builder Poem
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
Author: Will Allen Dromgoole


Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Over the Jordan Continues


So the work continues.  We worked the longest day yet (literally all day in the sun!) and saw great accomplishments.  The Jordan is not drivable yet but we have past it with wheel barrels!  The road continues and gets longer everyday as we look at the main road and the progress from when we started.  We often pray for the rocks to be multiplied and today the progress continued.  Thank you for your support and prayers!

Free Hardwood Saw Dust

Saw dust

The Road continues over the Jordan

At the Turn Around Before the Jordan

Monday, May 30, 2011

Over the Jordan


The day started slow.  We were up early to order some more core (large gravel).  Once we received the call back that the truck was on the way to the bridge, we headed to the bridge to meet it.  The Town Council has given us a pass for both our cart and the dump truck to pass (otherwise you pay every time you cross the bridge).  Needless to say we waited almost an hour for the arrival of the truck.  God’s timing is always perfect so we waited with patience. 

Arriving to the LTA road, the truck successfully backed further than before (the driver is always happy to be able to inch back further after our first incident).  After the delivery was complete, we were busy for several hours with the goal to cross the Jordan. 




Successfully we crossed and looked over to the other side.  Our God is able!


Sunday, May 29, 2011

LTA Sign Complete

Amazing local artist helps LTA with our sign.  We are very thankful to have found him and appreciate his work.  Keep looking down the road....



Stepping Out on the Jordan

We are getting closer to crossing the Jordan.  One day at a time.  Here a a few pictures as we get closer to the water's edge.