Coming Home!

Having spent 8 months in Belize Central America, we are coming back to the Chehalis area until Autumn while we wait for our self-employment permit to be issued. This will allow us to avoid the costly monthly tourist visa fees while waiting. Belize has stopped issuing missionary permits, leaving us the option of self-employment. While in Chehalis Grady will be receiving some I.T. training for our new business here. During this time we also will be able to follow up on Amanda’s medical care which will include some testing which is not done here in Belize.
We are leaving most of our belongings behind in Central America and will be looking for some basic household items to borrow or purchase. If you have any items which we could use for this time could you contact us at grady@heartforbelize.org or Jeremy King at jeremy@cascade-computers.com ? As well as needing basic household items, we will be living in a small apartment which needs a stove, fridge as well as one bunk bed and mattresses if anyone has those as well. In addition, If you know of a house in the Napavine/Chehalis area which is empty or in need of some minor repair in exchange for rent we would be interested in knowing more about that. Grady has experience in home repairs and minor remodeling and both he and our older children also have experience with house painting.
We look forward to being ‘home’ for a time but also look forward to returning to Belize and the ongoing mission work which is here. With his training, Grady will be able to provide a much needed service in Belize as his tent making profession which will continue to support us as we do our Father’s work. We would love to share what the Lord is doing here in Belize and our future plans if anyone is interested in hearing about it. Please feel free to contact us. Thank you so much for your support and help! May the Lord bless you.
Love, The McDonald Family

Earning a Living, San Pedro Style

Meet Erica, a Guatemalan woman who makes handcrafted items and brings them to San Pedro once a month to sell to tourists. We spotted her on the road walking with a huge bundle balanced on her head. She stopped to open her bag and show us her hand embroidered blankets, table runners, purses, bags, backpacks, dolls and more! Grandma purchased a nice table runner and also bought the children a few things. While pulling out her beautiful things, a well worn bible tumbled out of the pack as well. We asked if she were a Christian and she said yes she was! She gave all of us hand woven bookmarks for our bibles and urged the children to read from the word every day! Later we met up with her and she had just sold a lovely hand embroidered blanket (which had taken her 3 months to create) for $350.00 US! She was so excited about that! What a blessing to have met a dear Sister on San Pedro.

Erica's well worn Bible

Grandma ended up with this lovely runner

I found this lovely hand embroidered baby blanket especially pretty

Here is Erica again, down by the beach near a tourist area


Gracie wears her new backpack with her Guatamalan baby

Here is Amanda's bag and bookmark. Thank you dear Erica!

Proverbs 31:24-26
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Ambergris Caye with Grandma Bonnie

When we first started telling folks that we were moving to Belize we were told about this beautiful paradise where the daily temperatures range between 85 and 90 and where the skies are blue but the water is even bluer! Where palm trees wave in the sea breeze and where you live in flip flops. Well we finally were able to visit that part of Belize! It was absolutely beautiful!

'Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, and the main destination for travellers to this western Caribbean nation. San Pedro is the only town on the island. Ambergris Caye has been the hub of Belizean area maritime trade for centuries. Fishing, coconuts, and chicle were historic means of islanders support, but the last thirty years have led to a large growth in both the Belize dive and scuba trade, and ecotourism.'

We were blessed to stay for four days in a very nice resort which Grandma Bonnie was able to secure with her time share group. Our family was blessed to stay in a lovely 2 bedroom apartment with a pretty view of the gorgeous ocean. The highlight of the vacation was the trip to the reef in a glass bottom boat where we visited Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Grady and I were able to snorkle with the children with the sharks and rays as well as explore the coral reef amidst the colorful fish and creatures. Our favorite was the sea turtle who we saw grazing on the sea floor and also the 200 pound grouper who opened his huge mouth and lunged toward Grant! Having the glass bottom was such an amazing blessing also.. the little girls and Grandma were able to view some of the sights without getting wet! :) Thank you Grandma for treating us to a lovely time ♥

Amanda and Ashley

Rye-Bo



The little girls could have stayed all 4 days at the beach digging!



Grady catches the big one!



Grant flies the kite grandma bought him







We spent a bit of time at this beach- it was somewhat private and also very clean



The funniest thing- San Pedro town is filled with Pit Bulls! But we determined that they are definitely nicer Pit Bulls than in the U.S. On two separate occasions, Grant had a Pit Bull following him. Both of them adopted him and stuck to him like glue. Now I can see why the Pit Bull has a following of loyal owners. These were some sweet dogs!

Amanda is feeling a lot better, praise the Lord!

A local boy runs down the beach

Another friendly Pit Bull beach dog

Someone is growing up!

Grace and I in the golf cart



There are only a few motorized vehicles on Ambergris Caye. The common mode of transportation is via bike and golf cart.


We used to think that photos like this had been photo shopped!







Grandma with the older children















We stayed on the third floor of this complex

Here the glass bottomed boat is waiting for us to board

Grace was very excited to go on a boat! We were concerned she would be scared with the glass bottom and the loud motor but really she did great!

San Pedro Town from the sea. We didn't know this color of blue even existed!

..or this color of blue

Grandma Bonnie

Here the boys look through the glass bottom. The entire bay which is between the shore and the reef ranges between 6-20 feet so you could see through the clear water to the bottom.

Here we see a 3 foot long nurse shark. The children and Daddy snorkled with a school of these as well as sea rays! Sure wish we had some under water photos.. hmm maybe I can borrow a few from Google....

We saw a Sea Turtle just like this one, grazing on the sea floor

Blue Tangs were everywhere among the coral

The Sting Rays were unbelievable! SO pretty!

This young man, Samuel became our wonderful friend on the trip. We had quite a few conversations with him. Please pray for him and his family.. and that he would draw closer and closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus!

Goodbye Ambergris Caye!

As the sun set and we sailed away on the ferry which took us from the Cayes back to Belize City, we saw a group of dolphins, playing in the wake of the ferry. I wish I could have caught it with the camera.. What a blessed time together, enjoying the creation which God has created.

Amanda Nicole

There have been many inquiries about Amanda recently so we thought we would give a quick update on her health situation. After travelling to the U.S in January and finding out that her vitamin D level was extremely low we have been giving her 50,000 international units twice weekly. We also found out that her atlas vertebra was completly out.. that was the culprit for the migraines. After getting a few adjustments, the headaches have almost completely disappeared! Her energy level is up and she has a lot more strength which most likely is due to the vitamin D vitamins. She is still suffering from the tachycardia which is a mystery but we are so grateful for the improvements! We are also so grateful for everyone who has helped us through this and have been praying for Amanda. Mostly we are thankful to the Lord for the many lessons that he has taught and is teaching us through it all.

We love you Amanda!

Maria's House

Maria and her family need a new home. Their roof leaks and the outdoor kitchen has little ventilation and fills with black acrid smoke when they cook. We have been able to visit a few times to sing and pray for the elderly wheelchair bound grandpa. This past visit the family told us that they were hoping to build a smaller home behind the current one in order to have sleeping quarters which is not always leaking during the rain. With a recent donation we hope to help build the smaller home and to improve the current one.. to convert it into a kitchen with better ventilation and a new tin roof.

Here is Martha, cooking in her smoky kitchen

Grandma came with us to visit Maria and check out the place where they hope to build the home

Here Maria (the older Maria) shows me her prized possesion.. a lovely hutch that she received for her wedding.. her husband later left her with three children to start a new family. She has such an amazing attitude about it..she even sends bread over to her husband and his family because 'it is not the children's fault that the adults made bad decisions'. She keeps praying that he will return to she and her children. Unfortunately she suffers from seizures and other serious health problems which does not allow for her to work and provide for her family.

This is the spot where Maria and their family hope to build a second smaller home behind their current one.. which will enable them to have dry sleeping quarters.

Goodbye for now Maria! We hope to start on the building project soon!