Congratulations to SHANTEL JONES as she graduates from Memorial University of Newfoundland with the degree of Bachelor of Nursing on October 5th!

The Cathedral mission team that served in Belize in 2007 met both Shantel Jones and Ashley Jones at that time.  Ashley was assisted by our church family until she graduated from high school.  Shantel was financially supported through high school by one of our missioners, Susan Watson and her family.  Then, with help from our Cathedral family, Susan and her family continued to ‘walk along side of’ Shantel throughout her university years at Memorial.

Many will remember the service here at our Cathedral in 2012 when Shantel visited to express her thanks to us for the education she was receiving thanks to the love and generosity of her Canadian friends.  The words she spoke to us were from her heart as she thanked us for our help, and she touched each one of us present at that service with her words of gratitude.

I believe we also have been blessed by our relationship with Shantel and the other Belizean students who have been given the opportunity to go on to higher education.  From this beginning with Shantel and Ashley, the “Canadian Friends of St. Hilda’s” scholarship was established by the members of the 2010 team to St. Hilda’s in Belize.  Today our Cathedral church continues to sponsor four students per year as they go on to higher education after finishing Grade 8 at St. Hilda’s School.

Congratulations Shantel – and well done!

YOU ARE INVITED TO SIGN A CONGRATULATORY CARD TO SHANTEL ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH. The card will be circulated after the service this Sunday.  The card will go with Susan Watson when they leave for Newfoundland on September 28^th to attend Shantel’s graduation.

Greetings from wet Belize.  The rain started a little while ago and has completely cooled down our corner of the Earth (Thank God for that).  I’m very sorry that I did not respond to your last letter but I didn’t have access to a computer.  My computer updated itself and now I can’t use it.  The update wasn’t compatible or something like that and now I’m without a machine.

As I said in a previous email, I will be picking up Anique’s report card on the 22nd and will email you a copy as soon as I get it.  I thank you again for all that  you do for my little girl and I.  your gift is priceless and I pray for you and your church everyday because you are so awesome.  You are a true picture of what it is to be Christ like.  You help me keep my faith going and for that I thank you.  I ask that your church family say a special prayer for me as I embark on my internship this coming September.  I finished up all my courses and now need to complete internship to receive my certificate in Primary Education.  Internship is a grueling 13 weeks and is so very expensive.  With God’s grace I’m sure I’ll meet all expenses and keep my sanity.  :)… Keep me in your prayers.

I had my top 5 students write letter which I typed.  Please find them attached all in one document.  Its a really hard decision and I’m sure you will agree after reading the letters.  Thank you for your yearly blessings.  We at St. Hilda’s love all of you. 

Sincerely Yours, 

 

 Indira Spain 

– Teacher at St. Hilda’s School and mother of scholarship recipient, Anique Hernandez

Best wishes to the 2017 graduating class from St. Hilda’s School in Belize! A special congratulations also to Miss Jocelyn Herrara, this years recipient of the “Canadian Friends of St. Hilda’s Scholarship”.

I am 12 years old.  I live in Georgeville Village. My greatest wish is to go to high school, sixth form and the University of Belize.  I love school and I am praying to get a scholarship so I can get and education which is the first step to being successful in life.  I am very smart and enjoy reading any book I can get my hands on.  

I’m glad I got this opportunity to write to you in hopes of getting a scholarship.  This is probably my only chance at moving on to high school so my hopes and dreams lie in this letter.  I come from a very poor family and if it wasn’t for my teacher Miss Indira my mom wouldn’t have even considered high school.  After coming in first in my class for first and second term, my teacher begged my mom to find a way to send me to high school.  I have goals that I want to achieve so I can lift my family.  My father works part time and the money he receives for his hard work is never enough.  After paying rent and buying food for the house we are not left with much.

I am thankful for this opportunity and your time to listen to what I have to say.  I hope you enjoyed learning about me.  I really want the chance to become a better person and to help my family in the future.  I thank you so much for every child you have given an opportunity to over the years.  It would be great if I got a chance to receive the scholarship this year.

Sincerely yours,

– Jocelyn Herrara, 2017 Scholarship recipient

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“She is the first for her family to have the opportunity to get a high school education. She comes from a very humble single parent household. Her mother would not have been able to send her to high school. I have faith that she will do well as she has the desire to make a difference. Ms. Indira and I have pledged our support to assist her with her schooling. We have made available the internet and computer from the school so she will have access to do assignments. We spoke to her and her mother today and explained the expectations to retain this scholarship. She has enrolled at Eden High School”

– Jane Martinez, Principal at St. Hilda’s