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Belize

Transforming a Village, One Student at a Time

The transformation of a village started last night. One might say it began four years ago when a few students shyly stepped onto a bus and headed to their first day of high school. But that was the beginning of their personal transformation, not the village.

The village transformation began last night when Amalia, Danald, Concepciona, and Sulema graduated from high school during a traditional ceremony at the Belmopan Civic Center. All four live in Armenia Village, a small community on the edge of the Belize rainforest, created twenty or so years ago to handle the influx of refugees from …

Belize, PathLight,

Off to Belize!

I’m off to Belize tomorrow for the first ever PathLight International graduating class! Hard to believe it was four years ago that we selected our first group of students. They have put in a lot of hard work leading up to the commencement ceremony.

The ceremony is on Tuesday night, but our big PathLight blowout graduation party is Sunday night. It’s going to be fun to see the proud parents and excited students! Hopefully I can post pictures soon afterward.

The kids have overcome a lot of odds. Born into poverty, living in a rural setting, and attending poor schools …

Belize, PathLight,

Building Our PathLight Team

For the last nine months PathLight has been searching for a new Belize Program Director. The search was international in scope and included dozens of good candidates. The process took longer than we anticipated, but that’s common when it is so important to find the right person.

The great news is that an incredible young leader has filled the position. Bryant Kong is our new Belize Program Director. He and his wife Hyojung, along with their young son, will be moving to Belize in late June.

Bryant brings great passion and energy to this position. Born and raised in San …

Belize, PathLight, Random Thoughts, The SOLD Project,

Holy Week Reflections – Pigeon Monday

What did Jesus have against pigeons? Or more specifically, against pigeon traders? To kick off Holy Week, I though I’d share an idea.

On the Monday of Easter week Jesus entered the temple grounds and tore the place up. It was always one of my favorite Bible stories when I was a kid. The vision of the Messiah overturning tables, driving people out, blocking people from bringing anything through the temple … it was all so exciting compared to the meek and mild stuff I was told about Jesus in most Sunday School lessons. This was a God who would …

Belize, PathLight,

You Are Fabulously Wealthy

You are fabulously wealthy.

We are all fabulously wealthy. Well, okay, not all of us. But if you have a computer and internet access and live in the USA, you are almost certainly among the most wealthy in the world. I could go on with stats about that … but you’ve heard them all before.

So don’t argue with me. I’m calling you fabulously wealthy.

Last Friday I wrote about a conversation I had with a young Silicon Valley business leader who asked, “Am I really following Jesus if I spend my time making more money for billionaires? Wouldn’t it …

Belize, PathLight,

Hurricane Update, Year End Request

Hey all! You have probably heard about the hurricane damage done to the PathLight mission and conference center in Belize. Well, I have great news: the funds needed to repair the hurricane damage have been received or pledged! The response has been so fast and so encouraging … all of us at PathLight have smiles on our faces! Thanks to everybody who helped in this effort. The repairs are well underway and will be done in time for the busy season. Thank you again!

A special word of thanks to Paul Qualls, a friend of PathLight and member of our …

Belize, PathLight,

Christmas Gift for PathLight

Many of us are running around the malls and stores these last few days before Christmas. In the midst of the chaos, why not stop and think about a gift for the truly needy? I like how PathLight has set up a special Christmas gift page on their website. Simple, easy, affordable (as little as $10). For a season when we celebrate the King of Kings coming to Earth as a poor child … doesn’t this just make sense?

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Belize, Family, PathLight,

PathLight Christmas Letter

A year ago I sent a letter to friends of PathLight, and it was so well received that I’m posting it here as my Christmas wish to you. I hope you enjoy it.
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David L. Fleming writes, “The son of God became poor by becoming incarnate. He embraced poverty in the circumstances of his earthly life. God was born in a stable manger and was given the name Jesus. His parents fled with him as refugees to escape a murderous tyrant. Later he lived a simple workman’s life in Nazareth. He became an itinerant preacher and teacher, without wife …