by Kim Mizar
Students from Oklahoma City University constructed part of a high school in Belize during the winter break. The Reverend Charles Neff, Vice President for church relations, lead a group of 11 students and three family members to Belmopan, Belize Jan. 2 – 9. The students, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, vary in their respective fields of study.
“Our primary mission was to help construct the second floor of the Belmopan Methodist High School”, said Neff. The team mixed and hauled concrete by hand, sifted sand, bent and tied rebar to make support columns, and assisted with other jobs as needed.
The team also purchased 100 pounds each of rice, beans and flour and repackaged them in two-pound bags for distribution to the villages surrounding Belmopan. The team also visited Marla’s House of Hope, a girl’s home, where team members helped the girls with homework, played volleyball and exchanged stories about life in their respective countries.
In addition to the mission projects, the team also attended worship services at the Belmopan Methodist Church, visited the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich, attended classes at the Methodist High School, toured the Belize Zoo, visited Belize City and finished the week with a jungle zip line and cave tubing adventure.
Due to a generous $5,000 grant from the United Methodist Woodworth Estate, the trip cost was minimal for students. Participants included Rachel Bachhofer, Brade Bradshaw, Brooke Crutchfield, Lauren Huntley, Katey McMahan, Nathan Moelling, Kourtney Pierce, James Stryhal, Abby Treadway, Hope Wiggs and Kelsey Ricks. Family members who attended were Dana and Julie McMahan and John Neff.
