When It Became a Direction

Belize had been in the background of Amy's life for over twenty years.

It started with someone close to our family who talked about it often. At the time, it didn’t seem significant, but serious consideration of Belize remained.

Over the years, it came up again from time to time, mostly as an idea worth looking into. When we began thinking more seriously about how we wanted to use our time and resources, Belize came back into the conversation.

With John’s background in financial advising, we looked at what it would take to invest in something that could serve others in a practical way. What would be difficult to do in the U.S. seemed more possible somewhere else. Belize made sense on several levels—language, cost of living, and the ability to do more with what we had.

In November 2023, we had a rare night out and went to see a movie. Afterward, we stayed up talking and praying about what it would look like to be part of a solution for vulnerable youth in a more direct way. By the next day, we agreed that if we were going to do something meaningful, it would need to be closer to where the need actually exists. Belize became a clearer option.

A few months later, Amy's mom passed away. We found ourselves responsible for two homes, along with years of belongings to sort through and decisions to make.

During that time, we chose to simplify. We reduced what we owned down to what would fit into a 30-foot travel trailer and a truck, along with our five cats and two dogs.

There wasn’t a single moment where everything was decided.

It was a series of steps over time.

Belize moved from being an idea we revisited occasionally to a direction we were willing to act on.