May 16, 2024 //
Greetings from Belize!
Our mission team of 17 made it to the island safely last weekend in time for our work to begin on Monday at Holy Cross Anglican School (HCAS.)
The team is made up of a great group of people from St. Stephen’s and beyond! The group includes Jim, Gabby, and Zack Bizal, Larry Smith, Jim Korslund, Rosie Sackor, and Brian Ostenso from St. Stephens, plus Jackie Larsen and Danica Sarff, roommates at Bemidji State, Jan Lamb and Isolene Bailey from North Carolina, who also serve as Board members for the Holy Cross Education Foundation. Isolene is a graduate of Holy Cross and just graduated with her MBA from Virginia Union College! Lastly, we’re excited to have 3 couples from Mason City, Iowa, who are longtime supporters of HCAS, with us too.
Our work has included helping build the roof for the new church/community center, fixing a floor in a
storage building, painting the exterior of the house of Grace, installing trim, re-painting the St. Stephens mural, and many other projects. The team has also enjoyed spending time with the students reading in class, playing at recess, and connecting with the staff. Each night the team gathers for dinner and fellowship. With the completion of the new church/community center approaching, we have also been fortunate to be onsite the same week as a candidate for the new priest position is at the school touring and interviewing.
Please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers as we return home this weekend.
God Bless,
Jim Bizal
Vice Chair, Holy Cross Education Foundation Board
