Sagebrush Church

A team of specialists from the United States, part of the Belize Mission Project (BMP), provided free medical services in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, from January 20th to 24th. They were joined by local volunteers and specialists offering medical, audiology, and dental clinics.

It was a sight to behold! Island Donors Squad (IDS) is more than thrilled with the success of the World Donor Day Blood Drive Challenge on June 29th at Ambergris Hope Hospital in San Pedro. Twenty-seven units of blood were collected. Two teams faced off: “Parishioners vs Public” for a chance to win 20 seats on a sunset cruise with Seaduced by Belize.

With San Pedro’s first responders leading the way, the Love FM Christmas Parade brought cheer, music, and bright lights to the streets of San Pedro. Held on Sunday, December 17th, the special holiday event saw island establishments coming together to bring joy to the community. The parade started shortly after 7PM from Boca del Rio Park and went through Laguna Drive onto Pescador Drive and Barrier Reef Drive, ending at Central Park.

A consultation seeking to know the pulse of San Pedro regarding mangrove restoration engaged a group of islanders on Wednesday, October 25th, at the Sagebrush Church. The session is part of the National Mangrove Restoration Action Plan. This project aims to develop a five-year national action plan to enhance the protection and preservation of these essential coastal trees. The meeting was very interactive, with participants sharing the challenges mangrove ecosystems face in San Pedro and the need for enforcement and penalties against those illegally clearing this vegetation. It was clear that a permit must be obtained from the Belize Forest Department before any mangrove trimming or alteration occurs. All those in attendance noted that almost no one involved in coastal tourism developments follows such requirements per the law.

March is Women's Month worldwide, and in San Pedro Town, several activities are held to celebrate the special occasion. Some events ranged from sports to special gatherings in which women's efforts and contributions to the island community were highlighted.

On Friday, February 3rd, the annual Bowen and Bowen Spelling Bee Belize District Zone Eliminations were held at the Sagebrush Church auditorium. Participating schools included Holy Cross Anglican School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), San Pedro Roman Catholic School, The Island Academy (TIA), and Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES). Three topped the spelling competition. In third place was TIA’s Mille Fuson, followed by New Horizon SDA’s Valarie Najarro, and in first place ACES’ Wesley Padilla.

Two different organizations on Ambergris Caye were the recipients of donations to improve their services and continue to work closely with the island’s vulnerable youth.

In an effort to raise relief funds for our Mexican counterparts, the San Pedro Town Council, in collaboration with the San Pedro Lion’s Club, Projects Abroad, Sagebrush Church and the San Pedro Branch of the Belize Red Cross embarked on a massive humanitarian fundraiser.