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Here's what the Mayor of Blue Creek, and the Director of the program told us:

Abe Dyck, Mayor, Blue Creek Village
"What happen here is a project for Harvest for Kids where we were invited to join with different farmers and with the Belize Camping Experience to raise funds for the camping program that is going on in Belize City and we were invited to join them and we they were asking how we could raise some funds for that project and as farmers this is one way that we can try to help support that. We decided that all together we will go ahead and plant 21 acres of corn and whatever the proceeds from that will go towards helping send children to camp in Belize City."

"We are really surprise at the response that we have gotten. We are very pleased with the response. It's a lot more than we expected; we had very positive response from when we started planting, people were excited about and when I got here this morning - we had a meeting as a committee on Monday and then thought that we would have about 5-6 combines and this morning we came here we had 11. I believe there was one that couldn't make it. Four of them are from Shipyard and one from Indian Creek, we are very excited that those people joined us in this effort."

"Some of the combines that you would have notice on the video that you took - we have some combines there on steel tracks - their religion does not allow them to use rubber tires. We have a very good relationship with them in business and such but they do have different beliefs but that is what makes it so awesome that we were able to work together; different churches, different beliefs - we were able to get together and do this. Even though there've been other projects that we have been involve but it's none of them that ever been involve all together at this extent. I am seeing big things happening from here."

Alexander Perez, Director, Belize Camping Experience
"Today is the harvest. We have been waiting for the harvest for 4 months and we have been working hard to make sure that we fundraise for the fertilizer, chemicals and the seed. Today what you see is the hard work that we put in; the farmer planting the seed and harvesting it - but what you saw today is something that has never been done before in Orange Walk, so that is to lined up 11 combines right here in San Carlos Lamanai where we have harvested our corn in minutes. To see this site makes you emotional because the reason why these combines came from so far; some came from Blue Creek, San Carlos, Shipyard, some came from Indian Church is because of the children. Because they want to help the children in Belize and they want to do that through Belize Camping Experience and so a harvest for kids is beginning."

"I believe that these men will get involved now that they have seen our work and commitment."

Daniel Ortiz
"I know that they are certain Mennonite communities out here today which they tend to keep to themselves. How did you manage to convince them that this is a project that they would want to support?"

Alexander Perez, Director, Belize Camping Experience
"One of the things is that I visited them a lot and one of the things that is really interesting is that they know the violence that are happening in Belize City. One of the things that also helps is that they were following up on Harvest for Kids for the 7 months - they have been hearing about it and reading it in the newspapers and so when I visited them last week for the 5th time I ask them to bring their machines for those kids and here is where they drop all differences; this is not about the Mennonites, nor the Spanish, nor the Indians - this is about those kids and I ask them to bring their machines. When I presented it in that way they responded and they said to me in Spanish "El futuro de Belice es nuestros ninos" and they understand that. I believe to see Shipyard involve, that's exciting because that's something that tells you that these men believe in the future of our country and so we just want to say to Belize to please get involve in whatsoever we do. It doesn't have to be BCA or Harvest for Kids, it can be many other ways - get involve and by you getting involve you would bring change into our city. As with the other Harvest, the proceeds of the sales go to keeping the program running. The organizers already have plans to expand the program further."