Belize 2020

A Word From Abel Vargas
Director of Operations (Belize)

Greetings from warm sunny, and almost normal, Belize. As we go through this challenging
episode in our lives, it brings to bear so many realities and so many epiphanies. I am so amazed
at how quickly and how easily, our lives and the entire world could be turned upside down, and
how all thing we consider normal could become so abnormal. As we navigate these rough seas,
we know that Jesus is here in our Hand In Hand boat and will once again awake, take his
position at the head, raise his hand and will quiet the storm. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up
with my victorious right hand” Isaiah 41:10.

Here in Belize our Building for Change construction crew is taking this time to do the long
needed repairs at the Starfish house, fixing doors, plumbing, chairs and beds, after which they
will work on cleaning the storerooms, check and record all assets, equipment and tools. We
relocated a house this week for a family in need and will look into relocating another next week.
The caregivers from the day care are engaged in the building for change program scanning and
converting all hard files to electronic files, whilst assisting in the usual follow up, assessment and
verification of those on the list to build and those in discussion. The outreach centre continues
with the delivery of the food provisions via the global fund grant. The nurses continue to follow
up on our infected children, and in the last two weeks they have ensured that the children have
the adequate supplies of vitamins, food provisions, and that they are prepared to deal with the
Covid19 challenges. At this time, they are completing their reports and updating the Belize
Health Information System data bank, whilst checking on the families via telephone. Though we
are unable to have tutoring session, we are in connection with our scholarship students offering
the moral support they need. So, though we are unable to serve as usual, we are serving the best
way we can.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33. As we ponder the many
mysteries that surrounds this virus, we are left with many uncertainties that only create more fear
and anxieties than hope and faith. What we can learn from this virus is that we are all connected.
It doesn’t matter how different you think you are from people across the world, how isolated you
think you are from your neighbours, how distinct you think you are from the people you pass on
the streets or how disconnected you perceive yourself to be from the least favoured in our
society; this virus has proven to us that we are all connected and we all affect each other, every
single one of us affects every single other person in the world. We now realize that we cannot
ignore humanity and live as if people don’t matter…we are all one and each of us matter to
everyone. As the Catholic faithful prepares for the most important season in our liturgical year,
we realize how different things could be this year. What is happening to our Lenten preparations,
our Palm Sunday gatherings, our Easter Triduum, the Paschal mystery that reminds us of Gods
unconditional love for us. Have we been taking these for granted and given them less and less
importance, forcing the almighty to create a pause in our lives for us to truly contemplate these
practices, and remember what they really mean to us as people of God? How is this virus
speaking to us as humans, as people, as family? “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Romans 15:13. “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'
Julian of Norwich