Don's Thoughts

Belize

After leaving Guatemala, Carla and I made our way to Belize, joined by DLP Positive Returns Foundation Executive Director Danny Sells and leadership from Transforming Futures. When we arrived, we were greeted by PathLight’s Board President, Irv Henderson, who brought us on a tour. Belize is well-known as a highly desirable tourist destination, but he showed us the Belize we don’t see in travel blogs. As he took us through Belize City, we saw that poverty is a way of life for most families in the area. In fact, 49% of Belize’s children live in poverty.

That’s one of the driving forces behind PathLight's mission. Founded in 2007, this groundbreaking organization aims to break the cycle of poverty by providing underprivileged children access to quality education and holistic support. By offering educational opportunities and empowerment programs, PathLight seeks to equip these children with the tools and resources necessary for a brighter future.

Children in Belize aren’t just living in financial poverty–many of them are living in educational poverty, as well. The public school system ends after 6th grade, which was one of the most shocking things for all of us to learn. This means most children have little-to-no hope of receiving a higher education. By the age of 12 or 13, nearly the same age as my two eldest sons, most children begin working on the farms to help support their families. I can’t imagine that for Donny and Alex, and it’s not lost on me how incredibly blessed Carla and I are.

PathLight provides a beacon of hope for hundreds of children by sponsoring private education from 7th grade through college. During our time with the organization, we learned their outreach isn’t just for students. They also provide training in S.T.E.M. and trades for teachers, arming them with essential skills to pass on to the next generation. In addition, they offer spiritual guidance for students to complement leadership and education programs, opening doors to a future of endless possibilities for students who otherwise had little hope of overcoming the systemic poverty they were born into.

We had the privilege of seeing PathLight’s work in action in a small village where the organization sponsors a high school. Here, we saw firsthand how the teachers have utilized their incredible training programs to enrich students' lives. We were given a tour of the grounds, accompanied by a group of construction students who were eager to show us the fence they were building as they learned the trade.

During our final day in Belize, we had the pleasure of watching a play put on by PathLight students. These youth, filled with the Holy Spirit, performed the Easter story, from the crucifixion to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Watching their impassioned performances in costumes they had made themselves was unforgettable, especially knowing the adversity they faced in their young lives. 

Panama

On the next leg of our trip, we joined Dr. John C. Maxwell, one of the world’s most respected voices in leadership. We had the privilege of watching him lead the Maxwell Transformation Process in Panama. This ambitious initiative, led by his organization, the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, aims to enact positive change on a national scale by engaging leaders across various spheres of influence. The process Maxwell has created–and the impact it is making around the world–is truly remarkable.

One part of the process that I particularly admire is the Transformation Tables. It sounds like a bit of accounting work, but they’re actually structured meetings that seek to engage a minimum of 10% of the local population in transformative discussions. Why 10%? The Maxwell organization has researched and documented that 10% is the tipping point for transformation. These gatherings are designed to foster discussions that can ultimately lead to widespread societal change. By bringing individuals together around shared values and leadership principles, Transformation Tables create a platform for fostering community cohesion, driving positive change, and empowering individuals to realize their full potential within a supportive and collaborative environment.

With Maxwell’s group, we had the pleasure of attending a dedication ceremony for a school sports complex that his organization had funded. The school named it the “John C. Maxwell Sports Complex” in honor of his contributions.

We also had the chance to attend a Business Leaders conference with Maxwell, where he shared the Maxwell Transformation Process and Transformation Tables with the audience. His presentation was inspiring, but not as inspiring as what came next. When he was done with his presentation, he extended an invitation to the audience: anyone who was interested was welcome to stay and listen to him share about his faith. Many in the crowd stayed and had the opportunity to hear from him on this deeply personal level. Maxwell ministered to these individuals, sharing his own faith journey and then inviting people to join him in prayer. We witnessed countless individuals brought to salvation by Maxwell, and our group had the pleasure of giving Bibles to those who wanted one. This was a powerful testament to the influence and compassion of Maxwell and how he and his organization continue to change lives on so many levels.

Costa Rica

The final leg of our trip brought us to rural Costa Rica with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation, where we had the privilege of attending a Costa Rican congressional meeting in honor of the outgoing Congressional President, who has been mentored by Maxwell and to whom Maxwell was presenting an award. Immediately following this event, we attended a conference with Maxwell, who met with the country’s top 10 business leaders. Each of these leaders had their own experiences with Maxwell’s Transformation Tables, and they shared their successes with him during the meeting. It was incredible to hear their stories and how the application of the program’s principles had been transformative for them.

We also met Costa Rica's Minister of Education, Sonia Marta Mora Escalante, who made a staunch commitment to integrating Maxwell’s values transformation into the country’s national school curriculum. Her presentation was made at the Museo Penitenciario, a former prison. Once a place of despair and desolation, it’s now a children’s museum, offering enrichment opportunities for future generations of Costa Ricans.

Our final stop was at an orphanage run by the Works of the Holy Spirit Association and supported by the Maxwell Leadership Foundation. Carla and I spent time with the children before the big event: unveiling a new Maxwell-funded project—a swimming pool! The dedication ceremony was already a cause for celebration, but Maxwell took it to the next level when he told the crowd he’d jump into the pool–clothes and all–if they could raise $100,000 for the orphanage. DLP Positive Returns Foundation, along with a few others, rose to the challenge, meeting the goal within 30 seconds–so Maxwell raised the stakes: for an additional $25,000, he would swim across the pool. Our Foundation, with other donors, again eagerly rose to the occasion, contributing to the cause, surpassing the target almost as swiftly as the initial fundraising effort.

It’s hard to put into words just how inspiring it was to witness the impact Maxwell and his organization have made and continue to make in these countries. For those of you who are able to join us in June at our Building an Extraordinary Family Event, I know you’ll understand the feeling when you hear from him for yourself.

As we grow the DLP Positive Returns Foundation, I look forward to continued collaboration with other Signature Impact Partners such as Transforming Futures, PathLight, and the Maxwell Leadership Foundation. You can follow the work of the DLP Positive Returns Foundation on LinkedIn and discover ways to engage with our mission on our website. I look forward to inviting you on future mission trips where you can be a part of these journeys.

Where I'm Going