What's up ladies and gents?! Thanks for logging on so you could check out today's post, it truly means the world to me! Did you know that while on The World Race my squad and I will have the opportunity to serve in 11 different countries over the course of 11 months?! That's 11 new groups of people we will get the honor and joy of getting to know. 11 different countries that we will get to embrace for a month and claim as our temporary home. 11 different ministry opportunities with lasting and impactful memories that we will cherish! Over the next 11 days I want to introduce you to each of these 11 countries and give you a bit of background information on them. The term for The World Race is 11n11 to represent the 11 countries in 11 months, so think of this as a condensed 11n11... 11 countries in 11 days! Are you up for the challenge?! I sure hope so because it is with great honor that I present post #15 to you, the country of... BELIZE!!
GEOGRAPHY & POPULATION:
Belize is a country found in Central America with a population of 366,954 people.
LANGUAGE:
The official language of Belize is English, which is due to it being a former British Colony. However, only 5.6% of the population speaks it as the main language at home. Spanish is commonly spoken at home by roughly 43% of the population.
RELIGION:
Roman Catholic- 40.1%, Protestant- 31.5%, "Other" (including Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian)- 10.5%
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
Male- 67.9, Female- 73.4, total life expectancy- 70.5
FOOD:
Some of the staples of Belizean cuisine include tamales, tamalitos, pibil, rice and beans, and panades!
FUN FACTS:
*Many Belizeans avoid swimming in the ocean or rivers on Good Friday because it is seen as bad luck. Local Mothers can often be heard telling their kids they "will turn fish," if they swim on this day!
*The tallest building in Belize is a Mayan temple, and Belize has OVER 900 Mayan sites!
*There are NO McDonalds', Burger Kings, Starbucks, or KFCs in the ENTIRE country of Belize!
PRAYER POINTS:
*Belize is an "over-evangelized" nation with few true disciples and little fruit. A high proportion of Christians are claimed by multiple denominations, but only 10% of the population actually attend church regularly.
*There is widespread legalism within the church, where appearances and knowledge hold more power than a true spiritual transformation. PRAYfor a revival and a holy dissatisfaction with the spiritual status quo.
*PRAY for the less-reached people groups of Belize and that there would be more culturally appropriate ministries that would appeal to them and draw them in. These people groups include the Garifuna, Mayans, Indians (almost entirely Hindu or Muslim), and Chinese.
*PRAY for nominalism and syncretism within the church to be SHATTERED with the true reality of who Jesus is!
*PRAY for doctrinally-sound, affordable, and centralized training programs for pastors.
*PRAY for ministries that are diligently working to educate and care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
-Meagan
