We are David and Karen Rhodes from Florence, SC.  Karen is the Director of Children’s Ministries at Cornerstone Baptist Church.  David owns his own consulting company and is actively involved in men’s ministry as well as children’s ministry.  He is also a former Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) board member.  We have four grown children located in the Carolina’s.  We would like to share the story that God has chosen for our lives.  It is one of adventure, sorrow and much joy.  We cling to the hope that through our obedience and faithfulness that countless lives will be changed by the magnificent God we love and serve.In 2005 we felt led to do international mission work in a third world country.  After much prayer, God led us to a small country (the only English speaking country) in Central America – Belize.  That spring we were able to join a short term mission team that immediately transformed our lives.  In addition to the traditional construction and VBS activities, we were able to spend considerable time at one of the few children’s homes in the country.  It was during this time at the children’s home that we both realized this would not be our only trip to Belize.A few months later the Lord provided the opportunity for us to return, visiting numerous small villages all over Belize. Again, we were able to spend considerable time at the children’s home and the local village where a new Christian High School had just started.  This two week trip confirmed the following:  our love and desire to serve our Lord in this country; the foundational lack of biblically based churches led by trained pastors, lack of any organized children’s ministry, availability of affordable secondary (high school) education and the need for the most basic of health care.  The Lord laid a heavy burden in our hearts about these issues.  Without the church, the people are eternally lost.  Without a basic education, the people cannot be productive and support themselves and without basic health care, children die from the simplest illnesses.  We returned from this second trip and immediately began praying for direction and next steps.  Karen was then invited to move to Belize for a month to teach Bible at the new start up school.  During her extended time in Belize she was able to gain invaluable information and local insight.  Belize is a beautiful, diverse country that borders Mexico to the north and Guatemala to west and south.  English is the official language, though Spanish, Mayan and Creole dialects are common.  Government sponsored education is only offered to grade 8 (4^th/5^th grade US education equal) thus putting most  14 and 15 year olds out on the streets.  The traditional family structure is minimal and almost 50% of the total population is under the age of 18 (literally, “babies” are having babies).   Living conditions in most areas are well below poverty levels and health care for most (especially children) is non existent.  During her stay, Karen watched in shock and horror as the village buried one of her student’s four year old brother who had died from intestinal worms.  The most simple health care and basic medicine could have prevented this and other senseless deaths.  Upon Karen’s return to the US, we prayed and were led to establish a non-profit foundation, Coastal Christian Missions of Belize (www.belizechristian.com).  During the past three years we have been able to return twice a year, always spending time at the children’s home and school along with providing supplies and financial support, including scholarships at the school.  We have also been able to establish a network with local missionaries and pastors, to assist them in working together for a common cause and to support each other instead of being individual silos.