It is with great joy and excitement that I share the location of our IMPACT Summer 2025 Mission Trip: Belize! Our high school youth spent Sunday night in a Candyland-themed escape room (designed by our Jr. Board leaders), tasked with solving a puzzle to unlock the lockbox that contained the flag of our destination! Though it admittedly took the youth a minute to determine exactly which country the flag belonged to, they were nevertheless overjoyed to learn that we would in fact be heading to Belize. Witnessing this group’s unfettered enthusiasm to do the work of Christ in this new place was a deeply heartwarming experience.
For those unfamiliar, Belize is a gorgeous Central American country bordered by Guatemala. It is the only Central American country whose national language is English (which will come as a relief to those of us whose foreign language skills leave something to be desired). Belize’s national language is a result of its former status as a British colony from the 17th century until its independence in 1981. Yet the story of Belize started long before the British landed on their shores. This area was historically part of a large Mayan civilization, the echoes of which remain a presence in the cultural landscape today. Though the country is located in Central America, Belizean culture also has strong Caribbean influences from its island neighbors to the east. Though it is extremely poor, Belize has the highest literacy rate in Central America. Though it is a small country, it boasts the world’s second largest barrier reef system. All this to say: Belize is a country that refuses to be put into a box. It remains a unique mix of cultures and influences with a strong sense of self. We have so much to learn from the people, history, and natural splendor of Belize.
This won’t be Kenilworth Union Church’s first visit to this unique and beautiful place. The last time IMPACT led a mission trip to Belize was in 2017. The youngest members of that team are college graduates now. So much has changed since then, and yet our church community remains committed to sending out our young people into the world to share God’s transforming love. Eight years later, we return to this place to strengthen the foundations of the relationships we have built across our two cultures. One plants a seed, another waters it, yet it is God who makes it all grow (1 Corinthians 3:6). We will have a lot of new faces this time around, yet we carry with us the legacy of those who have gone before us to continue the sacred work that God calls us to. I can’t wait to see what God does with the Belize 2025 team!