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Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and México

Population: 273,000. The second smallest and least populated country Central America. Size: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Ancient: Archaeological evidence in Belize indicates that the famed Maya culture began to emerge in this lowland area of the Yucatan Peninsula around 1000 BC. It was originally inhabited by Amerindian groups such as the Caribs, Arawaks & Mayas.. Modern History: Belize became a colony of British Honduras in 1855 and the country's name was changed in 1973, from British Honduras to Belize. It gained its independence in 1981.

Religions: [Encyclopedia Wikipedia] Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5% other 14% 2000)

The Watchtower 1990, April 15, Page 22 says of Belize, "Belize is a small subtropical country nestled between México and Guatemala. Off its coastline, the turquoise-blue Caribbean is dotted with atolls and coral reefs that form the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Most of the land along the coast is dry and flat. But inland toward the south, the Maya Mountains reach an altitude of 3,680 feet [1,120 m]. This once thickly wooded mountainous region is characterized by ravines, river gorges, and beautiful waterfalls....The 175-mile-long [280 km] barrier reef, with its brightly colored corals, castle like turrets, and caves, harbors a wide variety of sea creatures that delight the eye and the palate. These offshore fishing grounds are one of the country’s largest natural resources. Likewise, with its wide variety of people and culture, Belize has proved to be a productive ‘fishing’ ground for those who respond to Jesus’ invitation: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."—Matthew 4:19.

Continue reading entire article for interesting history of the preaching work and experiences of missionaries and other needgreaters who have gone there to serve in Belize. Pages 22-25.

BRANCH: Since 2002, Belize has been part of the Mexican Branch, located at:

Av. Jardín núm. 10, Fracc. El Tejocote, Texcoco, 56239 Edo. de México.
Mailing Address: La Torre Del Vigía, A.R., APDO 896, 06002 México, D.F.

Our needgreater experience started many years ago, in 1977 when we took then three of our four kids to an International Assembly in BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA, and never came home until 8 wonderful years had passed. We spent 6 of those 8 years serving the English congregations in the circuit work and our little girl, who is now 21 and about to get married, called her Daddy "the Circus Overseer". I think she was probably just about right on!

In 1987 my mother had serious health problems which required that we move back to the states to care for her which we did and we survived living up there 5 very long years. Thankfully, her health improved and we proposed that we all move to ECUADOR.

She had opposed me in the truth all those years but someway Jehovah's spirit moved her to agree to the move and we came. Now with just the two younger children, Nanka and Josh. We came here in 1992 and for 5 years more mother fought the truth but finally Jehovah's spirit won out. She studied with my wife Jean and in 2 months finished the Knowledge book. Started to publish via mail and was baptized at our English D.C. in Guayaquil. One month later she died of a heart attack! So we moved to the jungle town of Macas, ECUADOR, where we NOW live.

WE HAVE SURVIVED ECONOMICALLY some 25 years in the full-time service by every means of Jehovah's spirit and our imagination. In BELIZE, we started a Yogurt business which still is a going concern!. We also cleaned carpets and grew food and what ever else it took to keep us going. Here, we sold everything we had in the states, invested the money and can live on the interest, WHERE ELSE CAN A FAMILY OF 4 LIVE ON $500.00 US A MONTH and enjoy the blessings of service we have!!

Friday while in the service and man approached me asking if I was a Jehovah's witness. He's been reading the Bible and hence has learned that the major religion here isn't the true one. He has been observing J.W.'s and feel they have it! So we started a study on the spot leaning on the back of our pickup!

I consider myself a fisherman...but I like catching fish not just fishing! I'm also a pioneer but I LIKE HELPING PEOPLE LEARN THE TRUTH NOT JUST DRIVING AROUND TERRITORIES!

The environment and culture do present challenges but none as big as I find up the in USA. We live presently in probably the most pleasant climate I have ever known. The scenery is incredibly beautiful.

The other night driving home from a speaking assignment in another congregation...we had a newly arrived Japanese sister with us. She suddenly shouted and climbed outside on the window saying...I've never SEEN the Milky Way before. We turned off the car lights to get a better view:

It was unbelievable! BUT THE CULTURE CHANGES ARE A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MINISTRY!! I wouldn't not change it for anything in the world!

MY CHILDREN--ALL OF THEM-- FEEL THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM was to grow up where we were, doing what we did--serving where the need is great in BELIZE and ECUADOR!!

They had incredibly rich childhoods, developed real character and a strong love for Jehovah and his organization. Yes, we have had our share of difficulties, Satan sees to that no matter where we live! When we lived in BELIZE, our kids published a newspaper called The Hilbig Herald. It captured their young lives, our adventures in the service as well as living in a foreign country. Now many years later, how we all enjoy reliving those stories.

No place is perfect, every place has its problems but the blessings we have enjoyed FAR outweigh the problems. Here we have disorganization and uncleanness to deal with and things often don't work very smoothly. We've been attacked by mobs...pretty scary I must admit!

Many times we are without water or have to take a dipper shower because the pressure isn't enough to come upstairs! But these things are "TINY trouble makers" in exchange for our 90 publishers, enjoying 407 at the memorial and this month having even more publishers!

We see a lot of young people aux. pioneering while in school...really setting good examples, progressive, happy kids. Yes, we thank Jehovah everyday THAT HE WAS SO GOOD TO US TO MOVE OUR HEARTS MANY YEARS AGO TO TASTE THE JOYS OF FOREIGN SERVICE!

No for us, there IS no better or other life and we would invite and encourage
all our brothers to consider experiencing such a blessing.

"The natural beauty we saw in Belize attests to our Creator's loving kindness!"

My husband & I went on our 2 week vacation to Belize, met wonderful friends in the truth there, and all-in-all, had a great vacation--snorkeling, swimming with rays & nurse sharks, watching manatees...

and especially enjoyed our visit with the pioneer sisters in Caye Caulker, Belize. They could certainly use a brother or two down there to help with the work! We got good incidental witnessing in with our guides on the reef tours:

If anyone is interested in vacation pioneering in Belize (previously known as British Honduras), why not contact the sisters who are presently pioneering on the little island of Caye Caulker? Sister Leah M. Pittman and sister Sheila Pratt are on Caye Caulker, Belize, Central America.

Also, another sister who previously pioneered lives there, Reina Patt, Caye Caulker Village, Belize, Central America. The streets are paved with sand, it is a quiet little village, and if you like to eat spiny lobster broiled on a grill, or lobster pie (secret recipe made by Reina); or lobster omelet, and you like to fish, swim, and hammock swing between return visits, Caye Caulkers "Go Slow" attitude may be just the vacation pioneering you might enjoy.

I hope others will share the scriptures with the friendly people of Belize. Jehovah's promise that He will, at His appointed time, act as judge of "the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth." offers us hope that he will act as a merciful great Protector of the earth. The natural beauty we saw in Belize attests to our Creator's loving kindness and mercy in that he has given humans an opportunity to live not only in a spiritual paradise now, but in a literal paradise in the future, if we obey his laws.