Over the course of seven days, the students would dig trenches and level the land, mix and pour cement to create the foundation of the new building, and lay blocks to create walls. Another mission group will come in May to finish the roof, windows, tiles, and paint, so next year our students can fill the newly constructed classrooms.

In addition to building classrooms for the local school, the schedule was jam packed full of activities for the students. These activities included a trip to a vegan ice creamery, snorkeling and feeding marine life, swimming in rivers and mountain springs, painting a mural, and visiting Mayan ruins.

The group was hosted by FaithFMBelize, a Christian radio station that broadcasts to Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. The radio station organized an overnight excursion for the students to visit one of their radio towers on top of a mountain. Our students were also able to produce their own radio broadcasts during the evenings of their trip, during which they discussed how taking part in the trip was having a positive effect on their lives. NDAA faculty member Stephan Gray led the students on the trip. “As we gave our farewells to the families we had come to help, we realized that we had been the ones who had been helped even more,” Gray remarked at the end of the trip. “While we came to construct a building, God had us come so that He could construct renewed relationships with Him.”