Belize is a nation-state on the eastern coast of Central America. It is the only country in Central America whose official language is English.

Andrew and his father, Ed Kuderna

By Andrew Kuderna, 2012 Graduate, Frassati Catholic Academy

This year we had ten people go on the trip. We had four women and six men with an age range from sixteen to sixty-nine. My first trip was in 2014.  I went back this year for many reasons. One was simply because I had such a phenomenal experience the first time. I also love the environment where we stay and work in Belize. The people we work with and build for are also worth returning for. The people that are getting houses from Hand in Hand Ministries are amazing people. They are all resourceful and hard working. Considering how much they have been through, it is incredible that they can keep a positive attitude. Just seeing their reaction when they are handed the key, and seeing how grateful they are that we could be part of the experience with them makes you want to come back and do more.

Originally, I went on the trip just because I want to help people. I did not know exactly what I was getting into. One of the main reasons I decided to go the second time is because it is amazing to provide a home for people that don't know what it's like to have a home of their own. It was very eye opening when I first arrived in Belize, and I realized how fortunate we are in the U.S., and how much we take for granted. In Belize City it is a luxury to have running water and air conditioning, which are things we don't think twice about. Interaction with locals was also a highlight of the trip. We were able to build relationships a lot of people that we got to see every day we were there.

We also got to visit a daycare/preschool/medical facility for children who have AIDS or is a child of parents with AIDS. Playing with the kids was a blast. Seeing their faces light up when they saw us was awesome. They came running at us and dragged us to their toys and had to show us everything.

We spent time on the work site with the family we were building for - Ms. Daisy the soon to be homeowner, her son, and her grandson. Her son (who was probably in his mid-30s) was very quiet, but never failed to express how much he cared for his mother. He built her a temporary shelter using only a tarp, some nails, a hammer, and wood from trees. She lived in this for a couple days while he stayed up all night keeping watch over her. Her grandson, who was about 13, was one of the happiest kids I've ever seen, and he was itching to work. He wanted to do whatever he could to help is grandmother. 

By Mrs. Sheila Dalton, Preschool Teacher, St. Mary of the Annunciation School

We traveled about a half hour outside of Belize City each day to do our work to build 

Mrs. Dalton felt right at home!

Daisy her house - a 16x16 structure typically without plumbing, literally from the ground up. Through Fr. Ron Lewinski and generous donations, our team was able to install plumbing in Daisy's house.  A family must own the property before a house can be built by missionary volunteers like those of us from St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish.  Because most of the land in rural Belize is swamp, the family tries to build up the ground, sometimes recycling larger pieces of garbage as fill, then covering it with a layer of soil.  There is no money to purchase rock fill.   

Last summer, I served on a mission trip to Auxier, Kentucy in Appalachia country.  Since that experience, I have felt a greater need of giving back to do "true mission" work.  My parents started my sisters and me in the PADS ministry when we were girls, and that set the path for knowing that service is part of what we do.  I look for ways to give back beyond financial donations.

My St. Mary preschoolers sent love and a gift - more than 1680 miles from their classroom - to children at the Hand in Hand outreach center and preschool.  The gift was a book named "Hello, We Go To Preschool Too!".  I had the opportunity to do circle time with the Belizean children playing the name game, counting and singing songs. 

Upon my return, I told the students how excited our friends in Belize were to have received a book.  I shared how it felt so good to help others and visit a new country to see how other children went to school and lived.  The one thing I found the same was the children all are so happy and have love in their hearts even though they do not have big houses or many toys or even an iPad. The students could not believe how small the house was so I explained that things don't make us happy, but what we do makes us happy.  I told them I hope one day to read about their adventures of going on mission.  Until they get older we can continue to do mission in our preschool ways.  It was a fantastic experience and made me appreciate all I have been blessed with in my life and encourages me to continue to do mission work close to home and far.  It is very rewarding and helps continue to grow my faith.