Belize is where it all began.  Dr. Fred Martin, founding member of the HSM board, began doing work in Belize in the late 1980’s.  Dr. Martin established a relationship with the Belize Council of the Visually Impaired, BCVI, and its director Ms. Joan Musa.  Ms. Musa later became first lady of Belize when her husband Said Musa was elected Prime Minister of Belize.  Initially the HSM work included primary eye care and rehabilitation for the blind.  Later Dr. Martin established a full service optical lab at BCVI headquarters in Belize City.  The ministry began to focus on the southern Toledo District and its main city Punta Gorda due to its extreme need for vision and other services.  Many trips to this area were coordinated by Dr. Martin during the early and mid ninety’s  The operating room at the Punta Gorda hospital was renovated by HSM along with other improvememts and eye surgery was introduced in the late ninety’s.   Dr. Martins son, Rick Martin became a missionary and spent several years working in the Punta Gorda area.  Through Rick’s work many people in the area became Christians and many personal needs were met.  BCVI became able to meet the surgical needs for the nations poorest citizens and the eye surgery ministry crossed the border to Guatemala.  Currently, HSM continues to do primary eye care in Belize and the relationship with BCVI remains strong.  HSM will continue to develop it’s work in Belize.