Update About My Belize Trip
Special Edition
I’m back from my mission trip to Belize, and I’m happy to report that it was a phenomenal trip.
It was a great experience for myself, my wife and our three kids. We experienced many new things, and learned a lot about the local culture.
Thanks in part to many of you who contributed to our online fundraiser, we were able to donate over $10,000 to the ministry, and I will tell you that it was a huge blessing to them. So thank you for your help.
We were working with Laugh Out Loud Ministries, and it was awesome to see what they are doing in southern Belize.
While there, I helped with the construction of the first building on their property. The jungle is amazing, and it’s a very challenging place to build something.
We experienced some flooding from the massive rains that occurred nightly (it’s rainy season), and learned to sleep through loud thunderstorms while nestled under mosquito nets.
We saw tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes. Our son went down there with a cast on his broken arm, but we had to cut if off early after he swam through some jungle streams and it became rotten 
On our final day, we were privileged to eat dinner in the one room home of a native Mayan family, in which the father of nine children was celebrating his 39th birthday. The meal was simple, but you’ve never had corn tortillas like the ones they made.
Here’s a few snapshots:
My wife and I in front of a waterfall.
The building foundation I was working on.
Some Mayan children we became friends with.
I also took a couple hours of video, and I will be making a promotional video for the ministry to use. I’ll post a link to the video when it’s done.
A special thanks goes out to the following sponsors who donated extra during the fundraiser:
Mission Champions:
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, Spiritual Solutions for You
Organics by Design, Organics by Design
Gabriel, beach, air, fishing, sun
Impact Partners:
Carl A. Goodnight, Build web based business
Sherif Elsisi, Affordable webhosting and Wordpress Support
Kevin Koop, Article Marketing Strategies
Paul Counts, Make Money Online
Thanks again for your support and prayers!
I’ll be back to posting more lessons starting tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Hey Eric,
Glad to hear the Missions Trip was a resounding success and that you and your family are now home safe and sound!
Be Blessed,
Kevin
Hi Eric:-)
Nice trip. You look different in the new cut. Look younger. Wish you luck for the fundraiser.
Thanks, younger is good
the trip looks like it could have been a great learning experience and much fun, with some much needed time away from a computer. the hair is no longer rock’n roll but it work, i’m a musician and cut 12 inches of my hair as well but still rock. Glad the lessons are going to start back up for i am ready to start my internet freedom journey and be able to spend more time with my 11 month old Jaden Zane Sansom and my beautiful wife Natalie, bring on the lessons brother bring on the lessons
thank you very much for the time you put in to your work to help people to get to a better place in there life.
Mark Sansom
Hi Eric
What a blessing to have done something like that. It must have been a wonderful experience. This is more or less what I’m trying to do after I lost my job. I just want to do something for children and the aged in Africa through an internet business. I have some grandiose ideas but if I can succeed why not.
God bless.
Jac
Hi Eric,
I had no idea you did missionary work. I grew up in a missionary family. My dad was a school teacher in Papua New Guinea back in the 1960’s when cannibalism was still a favourite passtim in many villages
5 kids in our family and we all survived the mosquito coast.
You just gained instant kinship with me. Funny how that works hey. My Uncle Errol and his wife are currently working as missionaries in Cambodia. He’s a builder and your foundation shots reminded me of some he sent me.
Proud of you. Looks like a beautiful family too.
Thanks for sharing.
Richard.
Richard, that’s awesome
You add a splendid page in your life together with your lovely family, especially for your 3 kids who enrich their life with such a good experience they will never forget in their whole life.
Good Job well done!
Hi Eric,
Great! You have done a good deed,Keep it up!
God Bless you.
onlinedatingcode.com
Love your work, brother!
God Bless you for your work. I have been getting your tips for about a year and using them to help me with my online business that builds orphanages and promotes helping one child at a time. Keep up the good work.
Father Dave you need to upload a gravatar so we can see your boxer face
my name is ravi kiran i am working cad engineer i want extra income
Hi Eric,
Welcome back. What you’ve been doing in Belize is wonderful in itself but raising awareness of such grinding poverty is just as important. It’s great that you are prepared to do that. My wife has been sponsoring an education project in Ecuador for many years now, so we know what a huge difference these projects can make to the lives of some of the poorest people and their communities. You’re an inspiration. You don’t just talk the talk - you walk the walk! God Bless.
Hey Eric,
That is beautiful. What a great experience for your family. It is something I have been considering for my young family. If you dont mind me asking how old are your children and did they enjoy it.
Regards
Rich
http://companiesnow.com.au/
Making registering your new company easy
Our children are 7, 5, and 2 (the first two are closer to 8 and 6 yrs old). The two older children enjoyed it a lot! The missionaries we were working with had children of similar ages, so they all played together.
Our son (the eldest), grew up in many ways on the trip. I think it was a big confidence booster as he trekked through the jungle, and helped a bit around the work site, even wielding a machete at one point.
Our 2 yr old had a harder time with heat, humidity, and lack or her normal food, so she was lethargic and clung to mommy for most of the trip. But she was back to normal the moment we got home.
A good thing about children is they are very flexible, so as long as they have room to play they should be fine.
Hi Eric,
My husband donated for your trip. I was hesitant to do that, not until I have seen the website of the ministry you are connected with.
You got my attention how you raise funds for your mission trip. I’m a fundraiser too here in the Philippines.
I like the way you present yourself on the lessons. You come across like a man of integrity which is hard to find.
I thank God for you, you are a encouragement.
Jill and Michael Smith
Thank you very much. I think I got the attention of the missionaries too… a few of them were like, you raised this ONLINE? I’m actually going to be helping them with their website too.
Hi, Eric we were surprised to read a reply from you. Well, we do it through mass mailing by postal, we rent names and build our donor base through those who responded. I knew online fundraising is a great potential but never tested the waters because I had no idea how to do it.
This idea is definitely very new.
This is our website: http://www.blind.org.ph We appreciate if you could visit the site and perhaps by God’s grace and favor you may want to give us some tips too.
Jill and Michael Smith
here’s a couple of tips…
The home page looks like a banner ad and at first I didn’t even see the navigation links. But the rest of the site is good. A quick fix would be to turn one of these pages into the home page:
http://www.blind.org.ph/blind_phil.html
http://www.blind.org.ph/about/aboutus.html
Then on the donations page, there needs to be a way to donate now. It just says “If you would like to join with us in communicating that message to those who are blind, please contact us for more information:” But nobody is going to take the time to send for information about HOW to donate. It should say “Send a check made out to…” and “Click here to donate via Paypal or credit card…”
Hello Eric,
Sorry it took us for awhile to answer back. Thank you for your tips. Yes, our website is in a serious makeover.
By the way, may we please ask if pay per clicks are good investment opportunity? We started investing already in one paper click and its really making good as far as ROI is concern. We just wanted to hear what you wold say about it.
Thanks for the tips and the sites. We are in the process of making our business online.
God bless you,
Jill and Michael Smith
As for whether its a good investment, it just depends on the ROI, as you mentioned. Its definitely a good opportunity if you know what you’re doing. Just be sure to track your campaigns closely, and if you’re already making money from it, that’s great!
Hi Eric
Wow that hair cut does you much justice, brings out the jungle man in you, I bet your wife/girl friend loves it. So where is lesson 10?
haha thanks, my wife likes it. Lesson 10 will be up later today.
Hi Eric,
This is the first time I post a comment here. You look great with the new cut; change is good especially if we live in a typical community.
I am sure it was a nice trip, experience, and adventure too. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for putting me and all readers in the adventure with you.
Send my greeting to your beautiful wife and kids,
Georgy
Hey, U seems had a great time!!!
So good to hear you are back home safely..Eric and family, hope your sons arm is going to be ok as well. Certainly understand about the weather being from calif here and days over 100 using swamp coolers daily.
cant say i miss the creepy crawlers thou lol so much fun to be with the family where pull closer, making memories I think thats what its all about and when they are good memories can anything be better.
Missing the lessons but i have been thinking about them and all the things you must do to have your own online business. Pulling on my own real life memories. Welcome home!!
and just where did the ‘old’ Eric disappear to?! Glad it all went well, hopefully the standard you are setting will be followed by many others, myself included, who are aspiring to become financially free. Life is just not about taking is it? Giving helps to free the inner you..
It always good to be back to nature and see how the native live especially for children. they will learn not to take things those daily consumable things for granted.
Hi Eric…
Great work you are doing…
It reminds me when i was working with Raleigh International i was the site builder while building a School that would withstand a Huracane for the Vilagers in San Roman Reohondo (Orange Walk Districk) neer Corazel
My Regards
Louis Eckersall
http://www.mymembersvault.com
http://www.1kings.net
Hi Eric
Is that really you in the photo!! - the haircut will take a bit of getting used to but it suits you.
What a wonderful trip and a wonderful opportunity for you and your family. I will be interested to hear in the future how the Missionary project develops.
I think its great that you are able to support this project in this way. My one burning passion in continuing in online marketing is to provide funds for a Mission in South America that seeks to bring physical help now and eternal hope in the future to street children in Brazil.
I am not in your league yet but I keep going anyway!!
Thanks for sharing your life experiences with us
Thanks Maureen, it is cool to see that a lot of my readers are mission-minded
Eric,
The haircut was a good decision. also, I was happy to read about your families experiences on your trip.
Keep up the good work.
Mike
Hi Eric I am glad you enjoyed your trip,and thanks for showing off your photos I really like seen photos,any way I am glad you are back, it was a good venture out into Belize.
Hello Eric,
Glad to hear things went prosperous for you on your Missions Trip and that you and your family are back home. We need more people like you in this world!
Nice hair cut I like it.
Thanks for letting us share your world with you and your family.
Hey Eric,
What a great Ministry! If you think a link on my blog would be beneficial to your fund raising efforts for this Ministry, just let m eknow.
Mick
I always appreciate links
You could link now, or wait until my next major fundraiser.
Glad you’re not just all about making money. Good luck with your ministry work.
Nice haircut Eric! That’s really cool that you are doing mission work. Bet your glad to come back to Colorado and the cool, dry air.
Thanks, I am glad to come back to Colorado, but I miss the humidity. While in Belize I had no sore throats, no seasonal allergies, and didn’t need to use my post-Lasik eye drops. Now that I’m back, I’m all dried up again
Hello! Eric
You do amazing thinks, your desire to help is inspiring, I cannot recognize you with your hair cut, but I recognize you by your actions. A big BRAVO for you for Belize Mission.
Now back to our little problems here. I follow your free course, I need it as water and bread, (to correct my finances, they are disaster at this point), from the 8 lessons, I have only 7, lesson number 7 is missing, I don’t know why. Probably I deleted by mistake. (I get 50-60 emails per day and I delete the majority of them, probably by mistake I delete lesson 7. There is any way you can send me lesson 7 one more time?
Sorry for inconvenience, I know you are working with autoresponders, and this is an extra effort on your part.
Thanks and keep up the good work, you will inspire others for sure.
Regards
Michaela
Hi Erick
I discover lesson 7 in the right column, you don’t need to send me again.
Regards
Michaela
I’m glad you found it… yes they are all archived here on the website.
Eric
You actually look better with the new hair style.
May God bless you in yur ventures.
Hi Eric
Go to see you back.Hope it was a good trip for you and your family.Wishing the best for you.
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Eric,
Welcome home to you and your family from your mission trip.
You have emphasized the saying,” I had rather SEE as sermon all the time, over just HEARING one.
God Bless!
Jim
Eric -
May the Lord richly bless you for your willingness to do this.
Glad to see your return
Dave
keep up the good work
Eric,
I enjoyed buying the Ebooks to help with your fundraiser. Even though it was not close to my marketing niche I looked at it as an offering. I see that you definitley put the money to very good use and look forward to seeing more from this project. Look forward to seeing more Tips! Keep up the awesome work!
Shane at binaryburn.com
Eric-
Thanks for the update. Was praying for you and the family. Glad to hear it was a success.
-Travis
Thanks for the prayers Travis… we definitely had some divine intervention at times!
Hey Eric,
Thanks for sharing your pictures…diffently looks like a humbling, life enriching experience. I have a lot of admiration for you as it seems like you’ve accomplished many great things…looking forward to seeing the video you mentioned above.
PS- I took a look at your prayway website…keep the good work up!
Best Wishes,
Gary
Thanks Gary, it is a humbling experience and huge blessing to be able to do stuff like this. Part of me hates writing about it because I don’t want to seem like i’m taking any glory for it, but I know a lot of people like to read about it.
Eric, I just wanted to say: “That is what the money is for”. I mean, if you have been blessed with all sort of things you own a little help to the less lucky people around you.
Personally I love Mayan people, they are very noble culture.
Talk to you on the next lesson.
Amen and amen…
Hey Eric,
Welcome Back! I hadn’t thought about Maya corn tortillas in years. I lived in the Yucatan in my early twenties and had the pleasure of having hand rolled corn tortillas cooked over a flat stone with a fire underneath…YUM! You’re right, they were truly were awesome.
“Co-osh!” (Maya for “Let’s Go.”) Eric, I believe taking your family on a missions trip was a God-given divine appointment. We haven’t done anything like that yet -mostly because this mama hasn’t been open to it.
I keep thinking “Once we have no kids in diapers, or when I’m not pregnant,” or some other excuse. But your family and your trip to Belize illuminates the fact that my excuses really don’t hold water. I’ve probably denied my family a few Kingdom experiences of a lifetime…
So we’ll be praying and watching for God’s leading for our family of seven. Thanks for sharing your journey with us…God still continues to use it.
In His Service,
Sabrina
Yes that’s how they made the tortillas and they are awesome.
See my comment above about taking kids on a mission trip.
My wife did have to overcome some fears, as any mother would (letting your kids run around the jungle, etc). Oh, and she’s 4 months pregnant too, so she’s especially brave.
It is definitely an enriching experience for the kids; something that will stick with them.
Maybe your experience in the Yucatan would be a good excuse to take a mission trip down there…
Wonderful experience…and great job you are doing over there.
God Bless you
Hi Eric,
You and your family are a blessing and inspiration to many. The importance of life is not in our financial successes but how we use those successes to glorify God through helping others. Money will come and go but salvation is for eternity.
God bless You & Your Family
Love ya’ll my brothers & sisters in Christ
Hi Eric!
Wonderfull to hear that you and your family had a good mission trip. It is a blessing for me to hear that you have raised so much money for a mission, Bless you, you have blessed a lot of people.
Me and my family are missionary in Ecuador, working with the indians in the mountain. There is a lot of needs here in South America. I am working online business to raise funds for water filter and help children to have a hot meal every day.
May God bless you so much, I enjoy your teaching!
Merryann
Merryann that’s wonderful to hear. Bless you in your work!!!
Congrats on your trip, Eric. I myself have witnessed similar experiences before, and they are life changing. I recommend anyone take such a trip if the opportunity presents itself.
Gosh! This is not you.
This is not Eric..You must be joking.
Where is Eric? The well-known Eric?
Tell us the truth or i stop being me.
The not anymore…Bounama
I am glad you made it back safely. It is great that you gave to so many. Good karma will follow you
Hi Eric
Great Job. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip.
that’s a great mission and I know you are
blessed. Welcome back home and I await your
Lessons. they are very informative.
to Your Success
Hi Eric,
I seldom post on forums but I felt a need to let you know that you are an inspiration to me; and I discovered this when you told everyone you would offer training for free because you were tired of the hype on the web…Well said.
I’m even more impressed with you since your trip to Belize. I’m glad I found you. You know how to give back to the planet.
I love the lessons and look forward to each of them.
Hi Eric,
Welcome back home after doing such a wonderful charitable job, it sound you & your family enjoyed to be in entirely strange surroundings such as living in jungle among freely moving wild animals, thunder storm and floods etc, which you don’t face while living in developed countries, it has given you a clear picture of what they face off & on.
Great change in your appearance, definitely you look lot better & younger without beard.
God bless you & your family for helping needy people.
Mohammad Arif
Congrat’s on the success of your trip.
J.R.
I’ve been getting your email tips for the past couple of years and have really been blessed by your invaluable teaching. I’ve been greatly encouraged by your example in business and ministry. My wife and I work from home and have three great little girls, 7, 5, and 2 yrs old plus an 18-yr-old son who’s on the way out the door.
Your mission trip looked to be fantastic. Keep doing what you’re doing and God bless you and your family.
W. Matt
Eric,am a new comer but from what am seeing so far God must have our paths crossing for the good of the body of Christ. Looking forward to learning from you about having a profitable online business.
Eric,
Good on you man, it’s great to see people like you giving something back to help humanity.
Well done,
Ken.
Hi Eric:
A job well done with the mission work. You are truely an inspiration to me and to others I am sure. I am trying to follow your lessons, but I’am such a cluts with my computer. I have learned a lot of little tricks and I hope to continue to do so. I wish only the best to you and your’s.
Gus
Eric,
Awesome! Thanks for being so open about your relationship with God! That is awesome! I am so blessed to be able to support you. I am also actively working to promote an online ministry called http://www.allaboutgod.com that has a ridiculous reach online. They are doing some amazing things to further the Kingdom, as you are! I am excited to see more believers step out and tell people where they stand! Keep up the amazing work, and thank you for sharing! God Bless!
Hey … who hijacked Eric’s Blog! Who is that guy in the pic! Wait till Eric gets back… he’s gonna kick your… Welcome to the JUNGLE Baby! Cool.. glad you guys had a safe successful experience! Would love to help out that project in the future. My site needs a little altitude first. But now you have a perspective of the world I live in… and that’s cool! Pura Vida! Nico
Yup… I was very close to Guatemala too… so I’m inching my way closer to CR
You look alive in your new picture, zest,vigor, energy! good for you and the family! and CONGRATS, did you say Melissa has another little Holmy on the way? To all you folks..If you ever meet Eric’s family in person, they are one of the most beautiful and vibrant families you will ever see… they just glow! Amazing! No other words!
That’s right dude, another Holmy on the way
What an amazing trip! It’s been ten years since I’ve done anything like that (an orphanage in the Philippines) and I know it was life-changing. Your family is a tremendous blessing and inspiration. I’d love to hear more about your time in Belize.
Welcome Back to Action. We appreciate your entire family physical presence and generousity to the Hope for Tomorrow - the next generation. Keep it up.
Together we shall win!
Adesegun Akitoye
http://www.repeatrichrelief.com/pips.html
I’m so amazed that you could put in so much effort s and self denial to help out the less privileged. May God bless you and your family real good! And welcome back!
Thanks! and honestly it is more blessed to give than to receive… so I don’t view it as self denial
Hello:
Glad you are back & the trip was successful. May God bless you & your family for such selfless act
Hello Eric,
I have been reading your messages for sometime, now & I enjoy them very much. Hoping to learn a lot more & make a success of something.
Glad you all are home safe & am looking forward to your lessons.
Would you & your wife care to send a picture of you & your family to my E-mail so I can print it off? Would like to have it to keep,for you have been a blessing to me through your information.
Thank you
Jeanette
I’ve posted some pictures of my family in the past at:
http://www.ericstips.com/abouteric/
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/orlando/
http://www.ericstips.com/tips/back-from-vacation/
Kudos to your beautiful wife for her courage in taking toddlers and the whole family into a very different environment. Your photos show that making the world a better place and putting Christian stewardship into action can be an adventure.
Hi Erics,
What’s a wonderful adventure you’ve experienced? A very nice place to visit. I saw nobody around! Is it an absolutely jungle? If you’ve money you can go anywhere any place in this world. Thanks for your great posting.
LIKE the haircut dude!
Seeing you sporting that new doo makes me wonder what Frank Kern would look like if HE cleaned up - ;D
Glad your back and that you all had a wonderful trip!!!
Hi Eric,
I can feel the cool and cold environment when watching you and your wife in front of the waterfall. But I haven’t seen your kids before.Next time put your kids’ picture too!I think they are also good looking like you…aren’t they?
Nik Nasruddin N.M
http://www.easyartscraftstips.com
Hello Eric,
Glad to hear you are home safe and everything went well. I like your pants (in the first picture. I used to do missionary work years ago. God always moved.
I want to thank you for reminding me to tithe. I used to all the time but fell away. Since you metioned the tithe a couple of weeks ago, I have been faithfully tithing and God is just amazing me! Blessing after blessing, out of nowhere.
I just had back surgery 4 days ago. I could use some prayer for the pain cause the pain pills sure aren’t working, and for a quick recovery. I would appreciate it. Thanks
Once again, thank you so much for the nudge!
Ron Marzuolo
Hi Eric;
Not enough space nor time to express my sincere appreciation for having found you and your tips.
So glad you and your family had such a great time on your trip. Trust that I will be able to build an internet business that would afford me and my
(nurse) wife to go with you and yours in the future.
By the way when we be getting lesson # 119?
Sincerely- Warren
Eric,
- he’s nearing retirement age) we will use the funds provides to help others go for us.
Thanks for sharing this! It is such an encouragement to me. I am working to develop an online business that will allow my husband to come home from work so that we can have the freedom to serve others, as you have done. If we’re too old or feeble by the time he comes home (not that I think it will take *that* long
My heart was blessed by what you & your family did, your humble attitude and also by the comments you have received.
Continue to keep your focus on Him, brother!
Sue
Hi Eric,
Interesting to read about your mission trip. Great for you and your family.
Say, I’m trying something with my chip carving business related to the fund raising you did for this trip. I’ve started the My Chip Carving Foundation to help would be chip carvers around the world who don’t have the money needed to learn this skill. It doesn’t take much but many I’m getting to know are having trouble making ends meet much less having extra money for a skill/craft.
I want to do it to help others and I’ve requested my subscribers to donate. After the first announcement and request, responses have been very minimal. 6/400 replied positively, 2 have given $$, 2 have replied asking for help. I thought it would be more. Maybe it’s a bad time of year with vacations and all. Try again? and again?
Do you have any suggestions for me in this e-letter Foundation endeavor?
How can I get more to give so I can help more people?
Peace,
Marty
http://www.MyChipCarving.com
Thanks Marty. First, you need to have a good relationship with your list. Second, it needs to be a compelling offer, whether it’s just a donation or if you’re giving them something in return. If you’re not giving something in return, it needs to be extra compelling, because there are a lot of charities competing for peoples donations these days. In other words, they really need to get a feel for why its vitally important for them to donate to your cause, and what impact it will make if they do. And in general, you don’t want to sound too “salesy” in a donation request. I’m not a fundraising expert, but those are observations I’ve made.
Hello Eric,
I am Prakash from the island of Mauritius. It’s really nice to read about your vacation.You are a very generous man and full of determination.
Keep up the great work that you are doing and God Bless
hye eric,
and on the sdubject of practical sacred ness,easy to romanticise it,and to omit that its about mozzies and scorpions,and rotting plaster……….castingoff,and embracing,beyond what is our own known, and is someone else knowing.
eric i really like the cut the crap approach which you use,makes refreshing,rahter than the overkill.
and eric im a newbie………and it seems ;like hacking through the undergrowth,in the rainy season,about sums it,as the experinece of building a web business in the virtual ecology of the internet……oops there goes another mosquito,difficult to know what is up to scratch,when youre netting leads but no conversions.
and its early days.
and eric,id like you to contact me cos i want to include some of your affilate products.
all the best,
trine
Eric .. Very impressed with your efforts,
It is great, good and altruistic work that you do.
You are a good guy and god will bless you and yours!
I am so glad that I found someone that we can all learn from and be inspired by.
Roger
Hi Eric,
With Cultural Anthropology being a ‘heart of heart’ passion of mine, I now realize why I appreciate you so greatly as a marketer. The information and marketing info. you provide reflects your heart and spirit. Thank you so greatly for all.
Richard
[…] did a write-up of the trip at his blog, here… but look at the picture of […]
Almost launch time and can’t wait
Glad to see the trip was such a success, and good to know that the fundraiser was a hit too! I look forward to the continuing lessons, keep up the good work…
- Gonzalo