Ministry with Belize
Francis Wilson and her husband Vernon are missionaries from National Episcopal Church serving in Belize. Vernon is a retired jeweler who is now teaching design and production of jewelry in the Belize prison. Francis serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Belize. Last summer they took on the additional daunting task of championing the building and operation of a new primary school that opened September 2006 on Ambergris Caye. We have adopted Holy Cross Anglican School as our mission project as part of the Belize Companion Diocesan Mission in our Southern Diocese. To learn more about Holy Cross Anglican School go to www.holycrossbelize.org or read updates on their blog. Francis Wilson's update letter also describes their activities. A new benefit for Ambergris Caye is an Eye Mission begun through the local Lions Club who secured help from US volunteer ophthalmologists and a grant from the Retina Research Foundation.
REACH FOR THE STARS
The Outreach Committee is soliciting donations for its gala silent and live auction which will be held on September 27th. Please consider making a donation to make this auction a success. You might have an antique piece of furniture that is too good to throw away but that you never really liked, or a piece of jewelry that you never wear. These would make excellent donations. Also, if you have an unused time-share or vacation property that you could donate a week or weekend, that would be great. We will also accept gifts of service such as yard work, car washing, etc. if your children would like to make a contribution.
Our church outreach budget is only seven thousand dollars. The needs in the community and in Belize where we are helping to support a school are much greater. Please see the donation form in the newsletter for more information. Please fill it out and return to the church office or contact the church office or any member of the Outreach Committee. Thank you for your support, and watch for future announcements for the auction which should be a grand evening.
T-Shirt Pictures
We received wonderful pictures via email of the school children wearing their new T-shirts. Francis wrote not long ago that they are giving them out to students who are the high achievers : "We're using the shirts as awards for our most improved student from each classroom (15) each month. We did it the first week in November - during Chapel - and it was a HUGE success. The winners get to wear their t-shirt anytime at school in lieu of the standard white shirt. The kids are thrilled - smile."
