“The BMP has given Bonnie and me a sense of purpose. We have never felt we owned the project but were merely participants ourselves trying to make sense of life. From the beginning of this project, Bonnie and I have witnessed the unique occurrence found while giving of oneself. I have found what I call my "Place of Power" while serving in Belize. We constructed the mission statement to include an explanation: To allow participants to have an introspective look into their own lives. People who go on mission trips do so because they feel they want to help others. And while they do help, participants receive far more than they give. This is in the form of peace and satisfaction with oneself. It is intrinsically motivating and rewarding.
We all have a variety of problems and issues in our lives. Participation in a mission project smooths those issues and creates a "Place of Power' in times of need. This project is a real family. People have shared their lives with each other including the good and the bad. Participants have met on this trip and gotten married, brought their kids who will never forget the experience and now come on their own. These relationships don't stop once they go home. Many count their BMP friends as their closest friends in life. And they see the people they know in Belize as true dear friends from whom they have learned so much.
As for the future of the BMP, people will always need assistance either from what professional help we can give or about life which we all can give each other. I see the need for the BMP only growing in a more and more convolved world. Thank you for your continued service to the people of Belize.”

I am the the daughter of Frank and Bonnie Whipps, founders of the Belize Mission Project. I live in Glen Carbon, IL where I have lived for over 20 years. My husband, Charles “Beau” McFarlin, and I have been married since 2002 and we have three daughters: Makenzie, Lainey, and Avery. My husband is a software engineer and has served as the BMP web designer since 2002. He is also our newly appointed treasurer of the Belize Mission Project and has been very integral in the transition of my leadership with the BMP. Makenzie has just started her sophomore year at Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) and is on a Pre-Dental track… hoping to be a dentist/orthodontist one day. It is my hope that she becomes very involved with the BMP and someday feels an inner desire to take over the mission. Lainey is a junior in high school and plays full time basketball both with her high school and AAU club team. Her hope is to gain a D1 or D2 basketball scholarship and continue her love of this sport into college. She is not sure what she wants to do professionally yet. Avery is in 8th grade at our local private Lutheran School.

This will be the last year, of 15 years, our family will have children at our Lutheran School. She is a multi-sport athlete in track, volleyball, basketball and softball (two of which she does year around in school and club). My husband and I are very involved with all of their school and sporting activities and they certainly keep us busy. I am a Physician Assistant, and have worked as a primary care provider for the past 15+ years and in neurology, neurosurgery and orthopedics prior to that, beginning in 2001 when I graduated and entered the medical field While it has been many years since I have been to Belize, I have been in the past both as a ‘tourist’ and as a PA working with Dr Holzem in the medical clinics. My husband and daughters have also been to Belize and have experienced San Pedro and all it has to offer! I am excited to take over this leadership role and look forward to our upcoming trips and getting to know everyone that attends better. I am thankful for our continued team of medical, dental, lab tech, and audiology staff that all come together to help serve those less fortunate. Hope to see you at a future trip!