Belize House Blessing - Saturday, 1/22/11

The Pittsburgh House of Charity was blessed on Saturday Jan. 22, 2011 at 2 pm. Bishop Dorrick Wright blessed the house. The recipients of the 150th Hand in Hand Ministries house were Nichole and her children Devante and Kolleen.

The gathering was well attended by our SCN's in Belize City, Hand in Hand staff, family, friends and neighbors.

The volunteer group will return to Nazareth on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Please pray for their safe travels home and check back here for more photos and video after their return.

Belize Immersion Update - Thursday, 1/20/11

Sister Luke reported that, on Thursday, the group finished constructing the walls, painting the house "Steeler's" yellow, and raising the walls.

Today, Friday, they will finish putting on the roof and window slats. Tonight, the group will learn a bit about Garifuna culture and be entertained by Garifuna dancers.

The blessing of the house is scheduled for Saturday. Bishop Wright will be a part of the house blessing commemorating the 150th house built through the "Building for Change" program of Hand in Hand Ministries in Belize.

Please continue your prayers for this experience and check back for more updates and photos.

Belize Immersion Update - Wednesday, 1/19/11

Wednesday, we arrived early and began measuring, sawing and planking the walls of the house. As you can see by the photos every one is hard at work. Under the guidance of Beto and Alphonso, our two supervisors, everything is going smoothly. We are remaining safe and hydrated in the tropical heat. Our homeowner, Nicole, has been working side by side with us every day; she is so excited each step of the way.

Belize Immersion - Monday, January 17, 2011

The group of twelve travelers arrived safely in Belize on Monday afternoon. Pictured above are: Front (L-R) Alida Coughlin, Lindy Kubic, Carole Kretschman; Back (L-R) HHM, Dan Horan, Katie Kretschman, Midge Bash, Janet Cosby, Kathy Weatherford, Sister Nancy, Debbie Snapp, Donna Gambol, Sister Luke

After settling into the Starfish House and a brief introduction to the week, they visited with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth at SCN Center in Belize City. On Tuesday, they begin working on building the home. Please continue to hold them in prayer and follow us throughout the week.

Belize Immersion Trip - January 17-25, 2011

A group of volunteers, accompanied by Sisters Luke and Nancy, will leave for Belize tomorrow morning to build a house for a family in need in Belize City. They will return on January 25.

Sisters at St. Louise Convent in Pittsburgh, PA raised $8,750 for all the building materials for the house and to equip the home with plumbing and electricity. Additionally, they are sending one of their employees to represent them on this trip. The house will be named "The Pittsburgh House of Charity".

The group met today at Nazareth, KY for an orientation, and during morning liturgy, SCNs and all those gathered offered a blessing for the volunteers.

Check back here for updates on their progress.