Julie Williams

Dear Friends, Family and Supporters,

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

These verses are so comforting to me. I am running the race, focused on Jesus, and He is there beside me. During the times when I am weak, He is carrying me. I feel that He is carrying me now. I know that it would be impossible for me to continue pressing on if it weren’t for His never-ending love and compassion.

The past month has been a month of testing and a month of growth. Honestly, I feel stretched and exhausted. But God is rebuilding me. During all that has happened He has never left me or forsaken me. God is good, all the time.

School came to an end two weeks ago. My life was busy with preparing exams and working with students after school. Suddenly those students who had never paid any attention in class, had an extreme desire to learn, and they expected to learn a whole semester’s worth of information in a week. The exams went well though, and grades where about as I expected. There were several first formers (ninth graders) that will be repeating their freshman year because they didn’t pass. For many of them I think that it will be a good opportunity to mature and grow as well as be a stronger member of their class. There were also several first formers that failed and will not be allowed to repeat because of probations or because of failure at other schools. This was the hardest thing for me to see. I know that rules must be abided by, but my heart ached for these students. Without an education many of them have very few options for work. However, they were provided the opportunity of an education and some chose not to apply themselves. There must be consequences for actions (or lack there of) as hard as it might be.

When I look back over the past school year I have so many mixed feelings. Tonight I was thinking about the past year in Belize and all that has happened, and I broke down crying. God has done so much in my life and changed me in many ways. Many of the feelings that I have cannot even be expressed. I am thankful for every minute though that I had in the classroom with my students. I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to be apart of their lives and to share the love of Jesus Christ with them. I am thankful for the struggles that were put along the path to challenge me. I am thankful for the all encompassing forgiveness of our Savior when I managed to mess things up.

Of all the things that I have been involved in here in Belize, the relationship building aspect as been the most satisfying and fruitful. I love being in the classroom, but I love even more to sit with the students one on one or in small groups and really talk. I remember, at the beginning of the year, being extremely frustrated because the relationships were taking so long to build, and the kids seemed to be unwilling to open up. However, I have seen the fruit of being patient. My timing is not always God’s timing. While the relationships took time to build they were worth the wait. I just completed the 7th week of a Bible study on the book of John with three students. This has been a gift from God. We are studying a chapter a week and then meet on Saturdays to discuss it. I make a brief study guide with questions to answer during the week and then questions to discuss during our meeting. Seeing these students desire to truly know God makes my heart leap. I have seen huge growth in their lives over the past months. I am so excited about continuing this study with them and witnessing God working in their lives. I have also been meeting with three other girls on Thursday nights for a time of prayer and Scripture reading. This has been an open forum for them to ask questions about the Bible and for us to discuss them together. Two of the girls from this group are moving to Puebla, Mexico this week. I feel like there is so much more to work through with them, yet I know that the seed has been planting and that God will bring the increase.

With school now completed I will be returning to the states to work on support raising for next year. I have had such mixed feelings about returning home. I am so excited to see my family. I miss them extremely and cannot wait to be with them again. Yet, at the same time, I am sad to leave the relationships here behind, even for a short time. I feel like I am leaving home to go home. Please pray that God will bring me peace in leaving. I know that this is His will and that He will bring me back to Belize in His timing.

I fly to Florida on Tuesday of this week (the 3rd.) I will be staying in the states until all of my money has been raised for me to stay in Belize for an additional year. I am so excited about being in Belize for another school year. I cannot imagine leaving now with no plans of returning in the fall. However, in order for me to return to Belize I must raise 100% of my support. This support does not all have to be given at the time I return to Belize, but instead it can be pledged to be given during the school year while I am here. Many of you have been financial supporters this past year during my time in Belize. I am so thankful for your gifts. I couldn’t be here without you. I would ask those of you who are currently supporters to pray and consider supporting me for an additional year. For those that are currently not financial supports, I would ask you as well to prayerfully consider joining my financial support team. As said earlier, I will be back in the states on Tuesday and would love to meet with you, whether in person or over the phone, to talk about the work that is occurring here in Belize. Attached to this update is a support card if you are interested in financially supporting me at this time.

I would plead with you to keep me in your prayers. Pray that God would give me strength to continue pressing on. Pray that He would fill me up and lift up my weary soul. Pray that He would comfort me as I leave behind close friends and “family” here in Belize. I would also ask you to pray for traveling safety as I return to the states. Pray that the time with my family and friends there would be restful and encouraging, both for me and for them.

Thank you for your prayers, your gifts and your love.

Blessings,