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Jerry McMurray

Downtime and Youth Outreach

Updated: Jul 23, 2023

Friday, July 21, 2023 The day began like all the other days this week (it seemed) with rain in the morning and concern about the day’s events. Since this was our “day off,” the Team had decided that we wanted to go to two of the local tourist attractions – the Mayan ruins at Lubaantun (meaning “the place of the fallen stones”) and the waterfall in the Maya Mountains at Rio Blanco National Park. Both locations were not extremely far from Punta Gorda and Jacintoville, and we had a good breakfast to start the day before the short ride to the Mayan ruins. Lubaantun is, in one sense, a little disappointing due to the actual “fallen rocks” of the temples. The ruins are from the late Classic Mayan Period (AD730-830 was the city’s peak) and were located near the village of San Pedro Columbia in the midst of the Rio Grand and San Antonio Indian Reservations. It is believed that this city was an administrative center regulating trade and that nearby Nim Li Punit functioned as the regal entre of religion, ceremony, and ritual. One difference at this ruin site is that others have stelae carved with hieroglyphics, but not here. The surrounding areas were rich in soil that would grow maize (corn), cacao, and other fruits. The area also is rich in limestone and they would have access to granite from the nearby Maya Mountains. The area also has a high rainfall conducive to crop growth. The environment of the ruins is bounded by the seacoast on the east, the Maya Mountains on the west and north, and swampland on the south. The site is well known and has a mass of mould-made relic figurines (we saw these in the small museum). It is conjectured, based on the layout, that it had a permanent population with periodic increases that came for festivals, feasts, ceremonies, speeches, and social dances. One portion of the layout is a huge plaza that could have held up to 5000 people. The excavation was started in 1915 by R. E. W. Merwin of Harvard University’s Peabody Museum. Merwin produced the first sight plan and exported three ballcourt markers from the south ballcourt. These were dated to AD 780-7900. Thomas Gann visited the area in 1924 and named it “Lubaantum” – it is a shame that he used dynamite to excavate and remove rock and soil, resulting in the destruction of many artifacts in the process. It is likely that, during this time, many special artifacts, meaning those of silver and gold, were stolen. In 1927 G Laws surveyed and mapped the site to an accurate longitude and latitude. What is special about this site? It was also alleged to be the location where the Crystal Scull was alleged to have been found. It was reported in 1924 that Frederick Mitchell-Hedges unearthed a quartz crystal artifact that represented the human skull. This artifact is supposedly in the possession of his daughter in Canada. (Reminds me of the Indian Jones Movies but in real life!). The weather somewhat cooperated, with periodic short-term showers (no downpours) allowing us to see the tree from which the rubber compounds for the balls for the games were made; to see a cacao tree with budding beans; to see the game areas where the winners of the games were beheaded in order to go to their heaven; and to see the ruins, though many were in a “collapsed” state not allowing us to climb on them. The guide pointed out the “curved” corners of many of the ruins, stating that one leader (politician) had the corners built square, and the next replaced the corners with round ones (just like politicians today!). Upon completion of this tour, we boarded the bus for the ride to the larger waterfall. We stopped in the village of San Antonio for drinks and snacks, and then west in the mountains to the Rio Blanco National Park, where we stopped to have a short hike to the waterfalls. There was also a swinging bridge (though in need of repairs) that some of the Team crossed; the key feature was the waterfalls, and their natural scenic attraction. It was a good visit, and upon leaving, we drove back to TFOCC for lunch, and then a return trip to the hotel. Our respite was short-lived as we had to be aboard the bus at 430 for the return to the TFOCC and the youth rally at 0630. It was wonderful to see the young people conduct the service. It was also impressive that Elijah Gentry was bringing the message to the youth tonight. He took his texts from several verses of Esther, among which were the following: Chapter 3, verse 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring. 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. Chapter 4, verses 14-16 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. In this story, we see that Esther was told of a plot against the Jews; Esther was simply a teenager, very beautiful, that married the king. In this true story, she is told of the plot by Haman to kill all Jews, herself included there are many today that are plotting against God’s people to stop them, to stop their message from the Word of God, and to even kill them if possible. If you are a believer, you are hated by many in the world. Lots of men do not like us, nor think like us – giving praise in the House of God is foreign to them. God will do good things for those who follow Christ. His people stand on the Word of God, a truth that will never change or fail. This degree from the king was against all Jews in all provinces that day. We need, in today’s world, to be ready for that day that might come soon when evil people may try to take our lives. We need to be of strength and courage, for the degree in Esther’s day was for death. Will you be ready to stand if persecution comes? Esther was willing and ready to die in order to confront the king. God has raised us up, like Esther, for such a time as this. God has a plan for each and every one of us and our lives. No one was allowed to go into the inner court of the king without an invitation, and to do so was to risk one’s own life. Esther risked her life for her people and to uphold the word of God. An end to this world is coming and we need to stand in the Word no matter what anyone says or tries to get us to do. Esther could have stood back and let her people die, but she would have also been killed. We are to love God with our all souls and mind. Will you be ready when challenged? Satan is trying to kill and destroy us as believers. Look what Esther did! First, she took the time to count the cost to serve Him. She determined it was worth even her life. Next, she set priorities. She made a plan on how to approach the king. The next step was to prepare with prayer. Once you do that, take action – GO. In Matthew 24:4 (forward), we read: 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. We are in those days. This world is not going to last forever. We have a better world awaiting us if we are His. Jesus died on the cross for you and me! Be ready to go each day. An invitation was given, and many came forward for prayer, including three youths who gave their lives to Christ! Brother Mike Thomason gave his testimony – today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow, next week, or year. Amanda Rhoton came forward with her testimony – one of the uncertainties of life as evidenced by the death of her boyfriend at age 23 from a car wreck. Once again, the call is for the lost to come forward. The service was closed in prayer, and the joyful team had supper at the church before the drive back to the hotel. God had wonderfully blessed this Team this week with over 300 people professing their acceptance of Christ as Savior. The Team thanks all those in the US, and around the world, that have prayed for our mission this past week. For some of us, we are off tomorrow to Crooked Tree, and the preparations for a revival and VBS at Biscayne, a village in the northern part of the nation of Belize. Continued prayers for those returning home to the States and for those who are remaining in Belize to continue to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the coming days.



Posted By:Jerry McMurray


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