Access-Life “Belize Mission Trip Day Three and Four”: February 21 and 22, 2025 – People, People, People…

Now that everything from our two twenty-foot containers that came from Texas and Florida was sorted, organized, cleaned, repaired and ready to distribute, we started taking appointments at 9:00 a.m on Friday. People were at the gate before 7:00 a.m. ready to come into the Hearts of Christ mission facility but we still had a few things to get ready before opening the gate. 

Friday was a full day of seeing kids and adults with a variety of disabilities from amputations (diabetes is huge challenge in Belize so this is very common as they can diagnose but have no medicine for treatment), cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries and other diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions. The health care in Belize is very minimal with only three small non-profit hospitals that are not very well equipped or educated so most people in Belize go to Guatemala for health care which is expensive and unobtainable for most.

In turn, our outreach is so valuable and needed to help them get the basics to make it through each day. Plus, we were blessed to be able to give out Bibles, hygiene kits, Gospel bracelet kits, faith-based kid items, candy and food packets to each family that came as well as pray with many!

By Saturday morning we had already given out most of our mobility items and much of our medical supplies, so we were really grasping to find items that were appropriate and adequate for everyone. However, God always supplied everything we needed even down to the last two appointments in which we basically had to fabricate two manual wheelchairs from the parts we had to meet their needs. Both were spinal cord injuries and what we had was not ideal, but they were thrilled to receive what we were able to give. 

I can still see the smile on the final gentleman we fitted who was a recently injured and had no wheelchair at all. His wife and family came carrying him in a pickup truck and out of the truck into a chair to sit in on the porch where we were distributing mobility items. In the end we were only able to put together a transport chair for him, but he and his wife were so thankful to have something in which she could push him around. They are on the top of our list for next year and excited about us coming back and us hopefully having something that will make his life even better.

With donations drying up here in the USA, we are looking a possibly having to purchase wheelchairs from other ministries who refurbish or fabricate basic model to have enough mobility items to distribute. So, please be in prayer for God to connect us to the right groups to make this happen. :)

Access-Life “Belize Mission Trip Day Two”: February 20, 2025 – Spring Cleaning. :)

Although we were all tired from the traveling excitement of Wednesday, everyone was up and ready to get going with our work on Thursday. 

We started the day like every day with breakfast and devotions and then went to work sorting, organizing, cleaning and repairing the items that had been shipped to the Hearts of Christ mission for us to distribute.

It is always one of the more difficult days as there’s so much manual labor involved and getting things done but our team of which I am one of the younger ones had the joy of the Lord strengthening us to get it all done.  There is just something about that wonderful older generation of Christians who have the mindset of working until the job is done and done well no matter how long or how tired you are.

It always amazes me how God works through the hearts and minds of his people to do such great things and while we were very tired and a bit sore at the end of the day, everything was ready for our appointments that started the next day. :-)

Access-Life “Belize Mission Trip Day One”: February 19, 2025 – From Snow to Sunshine!

Our eighth annual mission trip and outreach to Belize began with quite a bit of excitement as everyone was set to leave early on Wednesday, February 19th and there was snow that was set to start falling early that morning in Tennessee. So, the four folks coming from Tennessee had to hop on their early flights which ended up being delayed and then rushed through the airport in Florida to make their connections going to Belize. However, God held the doors open and everyone was able to make it. Praise the Lord Jesus. :-) 

The rest of us coming from Florida had less fanfare but there were other delays so two of the four of us coming from the sunshine State also had to sprint to make the connecting flights. However, as always God was faithful and everyone made it on board. 

All in all, eight of us made it to Belize on our scheduled flights and were able to make it to the Hearts of Christ mission house on time to settle in, unpack, have our first team meeting together and even do our Blessing of the Hands commissioning service. The service was so meaningful and fruitful as it helped calm us all down from the fast paced day and recenter us on Christ and our mission for the trip.

Our one lone member coming from California had several delays and did not make it until about 7:00 p.m. that night. So, while we had just finished the Blessing of the Hands commissioning service all of the items were still in place and we washed and blessed his hands right after he arrived.

The timing was tight and there was lots of excitement but as always God came through and our entire team made it to the Hearts of Christ mission in Belize on Wednesday, February 19th so we could tuck into our mosquito nets and rest soundly for the tasks ahead. :-)

2025, a New Year of HOPE!

Well, we are all on the cusp of yet another New Year: 2025. It’s always hard to believe when a new year comes but with it always comes that little but powerful word HOPE. 🙂

I’ve always wondered why it is included with the big three in 1st Corinthians 13 where we are told that faith, HOPE and love are the cornerstones of the Christian life.

Then after some prayer, researching verses and thinking I realized it’s true power and why it is worthy of being included as part of the foundation of our life of Christ. Faith is unstoppable, love never fails and HOPE is indestructible. It never dies, it cannot be stomped out and it will never go away. Rather, it will continually grow and bear fruit of the truth which God has put in our heart. My favorite illustration of this fact is Romans 4:18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping–believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

One of Leanne and my favorite Bible verses is Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and the power of the Holy Spirit.” So, it is my prayer that we all go into the new year, every year, every day and even every moment with the highest HOPES in God not only fueling our faith in His promises but sustaining us in the knowledge that Jesus never fails. May we all believe that every day can be better with God so that we will be filled with His joy and peace as we see Him do great, good and wonderful things.

As Leanne would always say: pray the best, think the best and believe the best which comes from her favorite verse Ephesians 3:20 “Now glory be to God and by his mighty power I work within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires thoughts or hopes.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL IN A NEW AND SPECIAL WAY IN 2025. HOPE for the best because the best is yet to come. 🙂

Christmas has come but Christ was already here!

We at Access-Life pray that everyone had a God blessed Christmas and was impacted in the special way by the knowledge of God sending His one and only Son for each of us! We also hope that every day we will enjoy the matchless gift of Jesus that God has given us and all that it means to us. From forgiveness, redemption, rebirth and life in Christ to protection, provision and the meeting of our every need so we can walk in the light of his love living in the holiness, goodness and purity of His life of abundance. :-)

Congratulations, Hannah!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Look who just graduated from college, our super senior ministry intern, Hannah Grace Spradling ! She has work so hard with a Philippians 4:13 attitude and prayed, been persistent, persevered and patient. Now with God’s help she has achieved it. Congratulations, Hannah!

Unfortunately, now that she has graduated and will be working full-time as a teacher in January, she will no longer be our senior ministry intern. However, since she is such a multitasking busy bee she’s going to be transitioning into our East Tennessee area ministry lead in a part-time position. We are so excited to have her continuing to work with Access-Life as she has been a blessing to so many for over 2 years. So please join us in congratulating her at hannah@access-life.org on this great achievement of graduating from college as well as transitioning into a new position with the ministry while she works full-time as a teacher.

Way to go Hannah and looking forward to the great things God will do through you in the future. We are always amazed how God does so many good things through the hearts and minds of His people!

Access-Life “East Tennessee Christmas Jingle and Mingle”: December 7, 2024 – Ministry in Action!

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Our annual Access-Life Christmas Jingle and Mingle in East Tennessee was back at Jefferson City Christian Church this year, with many new variables and not typical in many ways. However, God was there as always blessing people with His love and joy.

There were smiles at the fun activities but the picture above of the group surrounding and praying with one of the participants speaks volumes of God’s presence working touching lives and meeting needs. That is ministry in action and a very special site and moment that I hope everyone will notice and enjoy. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who came together to help our ministry intern, Hannah Grace Spradling make ministry happen and we pray that everyone continues to enjoy this wondrous Christmas season.

By the way, for those of you with the heart for prayer. The young man in the picture who is surrounded anf being prayed for by ladies at the event is having surgery to remove a rod from his leg today per his father. I’m sure all prayers are appreciated. 

Thanksgiving is coming!

Well, the big week is finally here! That’s right, this coming Thursday is Thanksgiving. 🙂 It was always Leanne‘s favorite holiday and we both enjoyed it to the fullest with faith, family, friends and fellowship.

It is such a wonderful time of the year when we become more aware of the many gracious blessings that God pours out upon us everyday. As we see these many blessings through our eyes of faith, it makes us realize how good God is and how much he loves us. When we focus on these two facts it brings about a true humility where we can not only better walk in the light of His life in which we as believers live but also rest in Him knowing that He is taking care of us in such a unique and tender way.

I hope and pray that the verse below (Jeremiah 32:40) and the artwork that I drew earlier this year not only encourages you in these facts but inspires you as the verse references.

Finally, I will leave you with my favorite Thanksgiving Day verse: “There in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your family shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy” 12:7

ENJOY GOD’S MANY GOOD GIFTS AND HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Access-Life “East Tennessee Fall Fun Day”: September 21, 2024 – Go Shady Grove!

Hey there guys and girls well ages and abilities! In case you missed it, September 21st (the Saturday after our North Texas Expo), we held our annual Fall Fun Day at Shady Grove Church in Dandridge Tennessee. 

As usual it was an amazing God bless success with volunteers opening up the autumn season with blessings of arts, crafts, games, food and more on individuals and families living with disabilities in the area in Jesus’ name! 

We have been doing this almost as long as the Expo in East Tennessee and it has become a real community tradition. That is one of the things I love about our East Tennessee Outpost team as they have built a wonderful community of friendship, fellowship and fun for individuals and families living with disabilities all centered in Christ. 

Although, personally I’ve only been able to attend a couple I can tell from the smiles in the pictures I see that God is there touching lives and meeting needs that only he knows. 

A lot of folks think disability ministry is complicated but Shady Grove has figured out quickly that it’s all about the Golden rule and just loving on people with the love of the Lord. No special training needed as God tells us he will equip the called. :-) 

Thank you so much Helen and those at Shady Grove for making this special event happen every year. Coming from East Tennessee myself I think it’s best if I close this post with a happy fall y’all. :-)

Access-Life 2024 Fall Newsletter – One Life, Countless Impact!

Hey there boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Our Access-Life fall newsletter is in the mail. It is a very special edition as it highlights not only my number one and only girl, Leanne Goddard but the recent North Texas Expo that we did in her honor. Since we cannot mail it out to everyone we know, I thought posting it would be the next best thing. I hope you’re encouraged by the words and pictures as well as the life testimony that Leanne lived for our Lord Jesus. I also pray that God will continue to grow her legacy and make a significant impact on individuals and families living with disabilities for His kingdom.