Julie Williams

The start of the school year has marked a new beginning for me as well. I have felt more rested than I did last year at this point. I had so much work to do last year developing the English and social studies curriculum that I taught from. It is so nice, this year, to have the basics in place and be able to simply build upon it and better it. I have been able to add and modify yet not be overwhelmed by starting from scratch. I am also in charge of teaching the music classes on Wednesday. This has been a new challenge for me, but it has also been fun. This morning I worked on drawing out posters for the music room showing the different musical notes and symbols as well as the parts of the recorder, which is the musical instrument we are learning to play this semester. I had really struggled with the idea of not being with my students from last year during this coming school year. All but five of them passed and moved on to second form, or tenth grade. I had this vision of it being extremely hard to adjust to not being with them and teaching them. However, it has been a surprisingly smooth transition. Already my new class has become so near and dear to me. There is something refreshing about starting with completely new students. I have learned a great deal from last year's experience about things I would or would not do in the classroom. I have 51 students this year divided into an "A" and a "B" class. Everyday I am awed by these students. Their curiosity, love and desire for learning and serving is amazing. Each day after our final attendance and prayer I dismiss them and then stand on my balcony watching them walk across the campus to the bus stop. I stand there watching them and thanking God for how wonderful they are. He has blessed me with some incredible students once again this year. I would ask you to pray for these students with me. At the end of this pray letter is a list of my 51 first form students. I would encourage you to take one or two of these students and to lift them up by name daily to the Lord in prayer.

September 21st was a big day for Belize. We celebrated 26 years of independence from Britain. Each year all the high schools get together and march about 2 miles through Corozal Town. This happened last Friday and was a neat event. Each of the homeroom classes created a banner to carry with them when parading. The students really do have pride in their country!

Things are recovering quite well after Hurricane Dean. Thank all of you for your prayers and for your financial gifts to the people of Belize during this time. It has been a struggle for many families financially. We have seen the great impact this has had on the school in the payment of tuition. A large amount of sugar cane and papaya was destroyed by the hurricane. These two crops are a primary source of income for many families in Belize. It has left men without jobs and having to search out work in other areas. The destruction of the crops has a huge impact on Belize, as sugar and papaya are its two major exports. Please pray for wisdom for the governmental officials as they evaluate the situation that this country faces. Please also pray for the families who are without a steady source of income because of this.

Church life has been going well. We have started a praise team that plays on Sunday mornings for Sunday school. We practice Wednesday nights each week. We have been playing both Spanish hymns and then some English praise and worship as well. It has been challenging for me to learn the Spanish hymns. I have been playing the keyboard as well as the guitar. My parents would be glad to know that all those music lessons growing up are finally paying off. I am also playing keyboard at youth group on Friday nights. Somehow the youth have managed to convince me to sing as well as play the keyboard. And I am not just singing English songs- I get to lead the singing of Spanish songs by singing them into a microphone. I guess it is just another way that God is stretching me out of my comfort zone. I keep telling the youth leaders that me singing in Spanish is not going to draw anyone to youth group. If anything it will make them want to make a quick exit. :-)

An upcoming big change for me is that I will be moving out of my current house next weekend. My MTW "boss" Carla Stevens is returning to the states for furlough for the next six months. Her house will be sitting vacant, and it was decided that I was the best candidate to live there while she is gone. It will be a change for me, as I have never lived by myself for an extended period of time. I am used to the ciaos and commotion of having family members or roommates or someone else in the house. However, I think it will allow me to concentrate better on my work as well as allow Erica to have some extra space. I already told Erica that without her cooking for me I was going to end up being as skinny as a stick, as I am not too prone to cook for one person. Living by myself will give me a bit more freedom, however, in having students over and not having to worry about distracting Erica. It will be an adjustment though, so please pray for me as get used to this new lifestyle.

I suppose that is all the news for this afternoon. Thank each of you for your passion and interest in Belize and in the work God is doing here. Please continue to lift me up in your prayers. May God continue to greatly bless you as you closely follow Him.

Blessings,
Julie Williams

Below is the list of 51 first formers. I would ask you to pray for one or two students daily by name, lifting them up in your prayers. Pray that God would work in their lives and would put in them the desire to truly live for Christ.

First Form Students at Cornerstone Presbyterian High School

1.    Amparo Campos
2.    Elvira Enriquez
3.    Sherly Galdamez
4.    Darlina Castillo
5.    Haidi Centeno
6.    Leysi Chable
7.    Rennel Burgos
8.    Danny Cawich
9.    Rodel Chan
10.    Dair Aban
11.    Arheniz Castillo
12.    Christian Castillo
13.    Perla Ku
14.    Joana Loza
15.    Jeneize Mossiah
16.    Zetsy Inestroza
17.    Andrea Lopez
18.    Nayeli Moralez
19.    Patrick Chavez
20.    Isai Che
21.    Ervin Cowo
22.    Marcos Cawich
23.    Aimer Che
24.    Gideon Correa
25.    Wilbert Villanueva
26.    Isayiri Novelo
27.    Arelie Patt
28.    Darwin Patt
29.    Daisly Noh
30.    Ada Palomo
31.    Mariela Patt
32.    Joel Loria
33.    Gian Matu
34.    Dennis Mendizabal
35.    Emmanuel Cunil
36.    Isidoro Maldonado
37.    Omar Medina
38.    Alex Teck
39.    Neiza Reyes
40.    Mariah Summers
41.    Alina Williams
42.    Elizabeth Shish
43.    Micaela Vasquez
44.    Shaney Yah
45.    Hector Osorio
46.    Abner Ruiz
47.    Archibald Swasey
48.    Jeremy Zantingh
49.    Victor Noble
50.    Kevin Romero
51.    Abisael Serrano

Julie Williams
Email: JWilliams9586@hotmail.com
Phone: 011-501-605-9936
MTW Personal Webpage: http://www.mtwla.org/people/jwilliams.htm
Address: P.O. Box 232 Corozal Town, Belize Central America