Jeff, Tiffany and Ann Marie Boyles

 

Email: boylesministry@hughes.net

Website:  www.boylesministry.org

 

 

Boyles Ministry Newsletter

June 2008

 

Dear friends and family,

 

Happy Fourth of July!  I hope you are all doing well.  We are doing well here in Belize.  We have been keeping track of the flooding and wild fires in the States.  We are praying for our country.

 

In Belize, June started off with two tropical storms that caused quite a bit of damage throughout the country.  Tropical Storm Alma was the first Pacific storm of the season.  It brought a lot of rain to the mountains and just hours later Tropical Storm Arthur, the first Atlantic storm of the season, brought even more rain. 

 

There was a lot of flooding all over the country.  Houses were washed away and bridges and roads were destroyed.  There were five deaths due to the storms.  Three of these deaths were family members of Chester and Noelia Ritchie.  Chester’s nephew lost his wife and two children in the flood.  Another man lost his 3 year old son.  The water washed him away while his father was trying to hold him.  One man died trying to save a child that was trapped inside a house.  He was washed under a house and could not get out.

 

The water receded quickly, but it left a lot of damage to houses and roadways.  A major bridge in the Stann Creek District (where we live) was completely destroyed.  This is the only road in and out of the southern part of the country.  People rallied very quickly and brought small boats to row people across the 250 foot span of river.  Buses are the primary means of transportation in Belize.  One bus would drive to the river and wait for people from the other side to cross in the boats.  Everything was brought across by boats – bread, eggs, chickens, etc…it was a sight to see!

 

A temporary roadway was built crossing the river made up of large culverts and river rock piled on top.  This worked very well…for about two weeks until it was washed away.  It has now been rebuilt. 

 

  

Kendall Bridge after storm                           eggs, produce, and bags of flour at edge of river

 

  

temporary pass road

 

The bridge has effected transportation for two of our teams.  Because the bridge was washed away, Brother Gary’s team from Tennessee had to fly out of the small airport here to get to Belize City.  The Blue Springs Team flew both in and out of the airport.  Praise God, they were still able to get their ministry done!

 

Brother Gary William’s team worked primarily at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Independence.  The team visited homes all over Independence, Santa Rosa, and San Roman Villages inviting people to church services at night. The team provided transportation for service and VBS for the children.  It was a fun, busy week.  Jeff, Ann Marie and I were glad to be here to visit with this team again.  Brother Gary is special to all three of us. 

 

Brother Gary during Invitation

 

The Blue Springs team came the week after Brother Gary.  We are also partial to this team because they are friends and family from Alabama.  The team visited homes and gave away packets and Spanish Bibles to people in Garage Village.  They also did some construction on the church in San Juan Village.  We are working hard to expand the feeding program, the team put up the roof to the new addition.  They also worked on plumbing, painted the preschool and feeding program, and had nightly service.  Thank you Blue Springs!

 

Blue Springs Team

 

The first graduation for the San Juan preschool was June 21st.  It was a big day!  We were so excited to see the first class graduate.  I was asked to be the guest speaker and Ann Marie gave the Vote of Thanks.  All of the children from the 4 year old class dressed up, sang songs for their parents, and received their certificates.

 

2007-2008 Graduating Class, San Juan Preschool

 

We were blessed with another team at Mount Zion.  A team led by Seth Hartison from North Carolina came down and worked on the church during the day and had VBS in the late afternoon.  The team and the kids had a wonderful time.

 

 

Ann Marie and Casey at VBS                                         craft time at VBS

 

There is a team leaving today that is also from North Carolina.  This team is led by Brandi DeBusk who was here in January of last year for one of her seminary classes.  Since that time she started working as a youth director.  She brought her youth and several adults to Belize for their first mission trip.  The team has worked for a week in Trio Village.  They have visited homes and had VBS.  They have also had a construction group working at the new camp.  The dorm is now ready for the roof to be put up!  Yea!  Thank you Brandi and best wishes in your upcoming marriage!

 

We are very grateful for all the work done and for all the prayers.  Over the next three weeks we hope to finish the preschool and feeding program expansion.  We have two more teams coming with Mrs. Ritchie to assist with the construction one on the 14th and the other on the 19th.  As you know, we are planning to move home in August.  Please begin to pray for our safety and sanity as we try to complete our ministry in Belize at this time.

 

Thank you for your love and support!  We miss everyone!

 

In Christ,

Jeff, Tiffany, and Ann Marie