By Joe and Linda Schnorr

As we pass the 5 week point in this year’s trip, we have been able to get quite a few projects completed as we await the return from the holiday break and the return to school.  The return to school triggers a lot of activity in the sewing centers.

As children complete their schooling thru Standard VI many of then continue to high school while others enter the work force at various jobs.  In order to get a job that will help them develop skills, they need to go through the process of securing social security card. We found that many of these young folks have not had the opportunity to register for various reasons.  Last week we gathered a group of 5 young men who were not registered and have not been pushed by their families to register.  At age 14 they can register and not have to be accompanied by a parent.

Last week on Monday we took these young men to Belmopan to the Social Security Office, had photos taken and completed the registration. We returned on Thursday to pick up the completed cards. We saw 5 proud young men when they received their cards.

As school returns we can concentrate more on the uniform project in Los Tambos.  With a completed census in hand, Monday this next week will be “measure day” day and then determine material requirements and place an order.  Ms. Marisela, one of the teachers in Tambos, will work with us to coordinate the effort at the school this year.

Daisy and her mother Brenda will be working on uniforms this year and spent some time learning new machines. They both are very talented and are excited about getting started.

One of the families in the village with 5 children occupies a very small house and have carried water to the house from a ground faucet for years – for cooking, dishes and laundry. We felt they needed an upgrade so for Christmas our gift to them was 2 new water lines to the house and a disposal system.  They were very grateful and rewarded us with a meal of tamales.

The new Threads of Hope group in Duck Run II still has the same 12 girls who started last year. The community building there is shared with the medical team who frequently visits so the ladies must vacate the area after every session.  They needed more table space for the ladies,  so to make things a little easier for them, we added 2 new wall mounted 36” x 72” tables. This group is pleased with anything you do for them – all they care about is sewing more products for the pregnancy center.

Its been a privilege to work with the Hope For Life Pregnancy Center in Belmopan for the past 5 years. They care for close to 200 ladies in prenatal and post birth situations throughout the area. Word of their work has traveled so they are now opening 2 new care centers in the south of Belize – – in Indian Creek and Trio Village. Last week Linda and Joe had the opportunity to travel with them to make deliveries of baby supplies to these villages.  Along with supplies, Jadine also provides counseling to these ladies and they progress through their pregnancy. Quite and experience to travel with them and see the work Jadine and her husband Pastor Craig have been doing in Belize for close to 20 years.

As it happens every year, there are new challenges that God puts in front of us every year and it is always exciting to be a part of how they play out!

Please keep us in your prayers.