Athletes’ Christian Basketball Mission

Building Up Nations for Christ hosted a one-day mission called “Young Athletes for Christ Camp”. The U.S. team has hosted mission camps in Belize over the years, but this is the first time they have engaged primary school students. The day of fun activities, games, motivational talks and basketball was held at the Trinity Methodist School grounds. News Five’s Andrea Polanco stopped by to talk with the organizers.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

Over one hundred and thirty kids spent today at mission camp in Belize City. The young boys gathered on the basketball court to learn some basics basketball skills and the importance of education. The instructors are two visiting teens playing high school basketball in Kentucky, U.S.A.

Marques Warrick

Marques Warrick, Henry Clay Blue Devils Boys Basketball, Kentucky, U.S.A.

“We just wanted to come out here and have a good time with the kids and teach them about basketball in the fun way. We don’t want to go too overboard, but we just want to have a fun time with the sport they like.   My mom has told me that there is a lot of drop-outs and we just want to tell them that it is good for them to stay in school and good to have the grades and that it is important moving forward in life.”

Terron Hughes, Henry Clay Blue Devils Boys Basketball, Kentucky, U.S.A.

“We are basically teaching them right hand layups, left hand layups, crossing the ball left to right and shooting pull up jump shots and all the stuff you need to go to the next level.”

Andrea Polanco

“What do you hope these kids take away from this experience today with you guys?”

Terron Hughes

Terron Hughes

“Just to basically stay in school and put God first. If you put God first and stay in school, you can go a long way in life.”

Andrea Polanco

“And you hope to come back to Belize and workout again with these kids?”

Terron Hughes

“Oh yeah, we coming back next year. I think it is going to be like an every year thing and try to be here every year as much as we can and as much as possible.”

The mission also hosted sessions with the girls. Therese Wright explains how the girls were engaged at today’s camp.

Therese Wright

Therese Wright, Mission Camp Organizer, Building Up Nations for Christ

“I will be talking with the girls about being modest. They don’t have to expose their bodies to think that they are beautiful. It is just keeping them encouraged and let them know that they are beautiful and it starts with the inside. That is what modesty is about. We have the younger girls doing coloring, different activities. We will just be interacting one on one and having some laughs.”

Wright is a Belizean who now lives abroad. She has been doing mission work here for several years. She says she is only giving back because she has been blessed by others.

Therese Wright

“I am a Belizean by birth, so all my family is here in Belize City. Just growing up, people always gave to me and my family. I have always said that I wouldn’t be where I am at today if people didn’t invest in me. That is one of the things that I have always wanted to do. God has blessed me tremendously. I believe it is my duty to give back to my country and that is what I am doing and plan on continuing to do that.”

Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.