Category: Belize

Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Returns from Mission Trip in Belize

2/7/2024

Thanks to You, They Were Able to BE THERE

Last week, the following Northern Illinois District, Lutheran Church Charities LERT team members returned from their mission trip of service in Belize, which involved removing multiple dead and storm-damaged trees from properties of the LCMS mission Camp Concordia, the education center of the zoo, missionaries and congregation member homes.

Larry Zagorski, Max Metz - Lord of Life, Elburn
Marty Johnson and Anna Piro - St. John, Wheaton
Pete and Christel Springmire - Immanuel, DeKalb

Camp Concordia is the central point for various LCMS mission groups who come to help Pastor Herb Burch, his wife Markie, and GEO Missionaries Gary and Sue Kessler (from Lord of Life, Elburn) share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the country of Belize. Mission groups also help Pastor Benjamin and Karina Flores, along with GEO Missionaries Jordan and Justin Langston, who serve at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in the Valley of Hope. Most of the families from this community are refugees fleeing El Salvador and Nicaragua.

The Lord of Life LERT team had purchased a new Echo 355T chainsaw and extra bars and chains to use in Belize. At the end of the trip, the saw and a pick-a-roon were given to Eleuterio Muzul, Camp Concordia’s construction manager, to maintain the properties.

He and all staff felt they better understood how to safely use the chainsaw and the proper technique for felling trees because of the willing teachers. Marty and Larry also purchased and replaced worn parts and repaired their older camp saw and equipment.

Eleuterio is a skilled carpenter and his first usage of the new saw was going to be cutting a cross in a tree stump. He also took much of the wood from the many trees cut down to be milled to make items for the church or those in need.

He built the altar and area at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in the Valley of Hope using different types of wood to show the diversity of all God’s children. He is a willing servant, at the camp, church and pastors homes. He also brings his son and nephew to work every day to teach them how to work and serve with their hands.

LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry team from Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Illinois, sent several mini stuffed LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs with the LERT team to pass to children.

They gifted one to GEO Missionary Langston’s child and the rest to Pastor Flores. He plans to give them to several special needs children he visits with in Belize.

Anna Piro shared the team's sentiment, "We all worked well together, falling into the tasks at hand. As you can imagine, there has been much joy and laughter throughout our trip with each other and those we worked with. Belize was good to us, and we have loved the people we met at Camp Concordia and Good Shepherd."

The Northern Illinois District and Lutheran Church Charities thanks each of these volunteers for their willing service in Belize. The Lutheran Mission Belize posted the following thanks on their Facebook page: "We are so grateful for the hard work of these Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) volunteers this past week! They took down damaged and diseased trees in several locations throughout Belize, including at Camp Concordia. They have been a blessing!"

Please prayerfully consider donating to help with costs accrued on this LERT mission trip to Belize that served those in need.

DONATE - Help Fund LERT Mission Trip to Belize

Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Serves In Belize To Help with Multiple Property Cleanup

1/30/2024

Help them continue to BE THERE

Lutheran Church Charities was invited by Gary Kessler, Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) Missionary to Belize, and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District President, to remove multiple dead and storm-damaged trees from properties in Belize, which included the Concordia Mission House grounds in Belmopan, a local partner church in Orange Walk, and the Belize Zoo in La Democracia.

The following Northern Illinois District, Lutheran Church Charities LERT team members spent the last week in Belize:

Larry Zagorski, Max Metz - Lord of Life, Elburn
Marty Johnson and Anna Piro - St. John, Wheaton
Pete and Christel Springmire - Immanuel, DeKalb

Camp Concordia is the central point for various LCMS mission groups who come to help Pastor Herb Burch, his wife Markie, and GEO Missionaries Gary and Sue Kessler (from Lord of Life, Elburn) share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the country of Belize. Mission groups also help Pastor Benjamin and Karina Flores, along with GEO Missionaries Jordan and Justin Langston, who serve at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in the Valley of Hope. Most of the families from this community are refugees fleeing El Salvador and Nicaragua.

The team did chainsaw work for several days at Camp Concordia, the homes of each of the pastors and missionaries, and a congregation member.

They removed several storm-damaged, dying (due to parasitic air plants) and leaning cedar, palm, and mango trees that posed a danger to homes and outbuildings that all have been in fear of coming down in the next storm.

A boom lift and CAT skid steer were rented, along with chainsaws. The team brought their own personal protection equipment, several bars and chains, and rigging for the lift.

Marty Johnson also provided proper and safe practices of tree removal to the camp construction and landscape managers as they worked with the team. They have been very eager to learn and helpful in clearing the debris.

The LERT team also worked at the Belize Zoo in very hot and humid weather. The zoo has 30 acres that serve as a refuge for injured or abandoned wild animals native to Belize, nursing them back to health to return to the wild or remain at the zoo if they could not survive otherwise.

More importantly, it is also an educational center that all school children visit. The “public” schools in Belize are run by Christian groups, which is why Gary Kessler included the zoo in the request for assistance.

The team, with Xavier (the CAT operator) assisting, took down many trees that were dead, diseased, and/or leaning near the entrance and driveway into the zoo. The Zoo manager was most concerned about a very large dead tree near the entrance that they feared could come down and block the main entrance, land on their main building (office, ticket area, museum, cafe, store), in the parking lot with cars, or injure people.

Zoo employees helped direct traffic and visitors away from the entrance and part of the parking lot so that they could safely cut and remove these dangerous trees. They even had an audience on several occasions watching the work being done. The zoo manager and staff were very grateful for making their grounds safe for visitors.

All of the families served by the team expressed their deep appreciation that their properties are now safe for their children to play and that they would not have to worry about falling trees causing major damage in the next storm. The team feels blessed to be serving their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Please continue to pray for the team, Pastor Herb and Markie Burch, Pastor Benjamin and Karina Flores, and GEO Missionaries Jordan & Justin Langston, and Gary & Sue Kessler, as they each serve the people of Belize in the Name of the Lord.

The Northern Illinois District Missions and Lutheran Church Charities, through donations, have committed to fund this team’s trip expenses, which are estimated to be approximately $8,000. Gary Kessler and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss appreciate LCC’s disaster response team's commitment to serving in Belize and the opportunity to help support this endeavor.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help fund this LERT mission trip to Belize to serve those in need.

DONATE - Help Fund LERT Mission Trip to Belize

Help Fund LERT Mission Trip To Belize

1/2/2024

Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by Gary Kessler, Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) Missionary to Belize, and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District President, to remove multiple dead and storm-damaged trees from properties in Belize: Concordia Mission House grounds in Belmopan, a local partner church in Orange Walk and at the Belize Zoo in La Democracia.

The storm occurred many months ago, but none of the organizations could afford to hire crews to do the cleanup. They are all very happy to finally have their properties made safe for visitors.

The following Northern Illinois District Lutheran Church Charities Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) members volunteered for this mission trip to Belize and will be serving January 24 – 30:

•   Larry Zagorski, Max Metz - Lord of Life, LaFox
•   Marty Johnson and Anna Piro - St. John, Wheaton
•   Pete and Christel Springmire - Immanuel, DeKalb

The teams will be taking their own chainsaws, ropes, rigging, and personal protection equipment. Once in Belize, they will also be renting a tractor with a grapple and lift to use for the week.

The Northern Illinois District Missions and Lutheran Church Charities, through donations, have committed to fund this team’s trip expenses, which are estimated to be approximately $8,000. Gary Kessler and Rev. Dr. Allan Buss appreciate LCC’s disaster response team's commitment to serve in Belize and the opportunity to help support this endeavor.

Please prayerfully consider donating to help fund LERT mission trip to Belize to serve those in need.

DONATE - Help Fund LERT Mission Trip to Belize

Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Returns from Mission Trip in Belize

Thanks to You, They Were Able to BE THERE

Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Serves In Belize To Help with Multiple Property Cleanup

Help Fund LERT Mission Trip To Belize

Categories

Archives

Location

Contact Us

Follow Us