Phase IV Near Completion

With Phase IV almost complete, we will now provide an overview of the progress on the road since we began almost two months ago.  Some of the phases have gone quicker than others. 

Volunteers started on Phase I which was to build up the road so a golf cart could pass about 100 yards.  The Second Phase was to reach the River Jordan including a turn around before it.  Phase III was to make the Jordan passable and then cross over it by golf cart.  By this time the road is definitely looking like a road instead of a driveway.  Phase IV was to reach the property’s edge.  Phase V will be an ongoing phase for several years including widening and smoothing out the road as well as planting trees along the side. 

After reaching the property, we will begin Phase I of the LTA property development.  The joy of working on this project is believing one day at a time and seeing God supply the need.  

Phase III Complete and Prayer Answered

We drove over the Jordan today - Phase III is complete!  See link below for more details:

http://lta-construction.blogspot.com/

Crossing back over the Jordan

This past Sunday a scripture was posted:  Luke 10:2 - Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.  Today that prayer was answered with another fellow-laborer who worked by our side all day.  We have been able to share the Word with him this past week, and he (by his freedom of will) volunteered to help us today – what a blessing.   

The weather was perfect.  This morning it looked like it might rain, however we claimed a dry day (which it was).  In the afternoon the sun popped out, and it was much warmer.  Our new local volunteer didn’t bring a hat and found a palm leaf (not sure of the specific name) to use on his head for shade.  We all had a good laugh then he said, “God gave us a mind to use it”.

Shade from the sun

After working all day we were blessed with a local Belizean meal that was cooked on an outside stove known as a “fire hot” in Creole.  

Outside stove = fire hot

Belizean stew chicken and beans with rice

Interviewing Schools - Belizean Grades

We have interviewed two schools in the past couple of school days to learn from their experiences and to know more about the island education.  These schools are called Primary Schools (elementary and middle).  Below is a breakdown of grades in Belize compared to the US:

Infant I             =          Grade 1

Infant II            =          Grade 2

Standard I        =          Grade 3

Standard II       =          Grade 4

Standard III      =          Grade 5

Standard IV     =          Grade 6

Standard V       =          Grade 7

Standard VI     =          Grade 8

Most of the classes have a 25/1 (or higher) student to teacher ratio.  One school interviewed had 320 students in 10 classrooms.  The other school had more students with 17 classrooms. 

Most schools on the island are government funded schools and several have church affiliations.  Only one is considered a private school at this time. Both schools we visited are government funded which means the teachers salaries are paid by the government. The teachers generally come from the mainland; one of the schools had concern about the high turnover rate of teachers at their own school due to expenses. 

LTA has been informally invited to the Principals’ Meeting on the Island next week to get to know the some of the principals.  

Scripture and Picture

Luke 10:2 - Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.