First off, we are going through an organization called Jamaica Link Ministries (http://www.jamaicalink.org/). This organization was founded in 2001 with a purpose to connect Jamaican leaders and Christian organizations with churches around the world that are willing to come alongside them and support the work they are doing in their local communities. JLM is a non-profit organization that acts as an umbrella under which many ministries in Jamaica can get the assistance they need to flourish. I have been in contact with a lady named Mary who helps to set up itineraries for the people who are coming to Jamaica to serve. She has been so wonderful and I can't wait to finally meet her. Although we do not have a confirmation on anything yet (that will come later this week), we as a team feel a calling to help with the following things.
The one place that we as a team feel led to serve in would be with the trouble youth of Jamaica along with the orphans. The guys will go to a boys home called COPS where they will hang out, play soccer and whatnot, and help in any way that they need. The boys here are either orphans or are troubled teens. While the guys are serving there the girls will go to a place called Melody House which is a home for girls in their early teens who have been abused and/or are pregnant. At each place we will have the opportunity to spend time with these boys and girls and show the love of Christ. I think that it will stretch us beyond anything that we have done because there will be more opportunities for one-on-one time unlike the usual VBS sort of thing.
We will also go to a government run orphanage called Blossom Gardens and a disabled children's home called West Haven. Here we will serve by helping with the children, feeding them and playing games. We will also help the staff there with anything that they need whether it be doing laundry, dishes, gardening, taking trips to the store, etc.
I know that the most challenging thing for me and many people on the trip will be street ministry. Now, I know that many people get very apprehensive when we say street ministry, but just know that we have God on our side and these people need to see Christ just as well as those children that we will be serving. I have talked with a friend who has been to Jamaica (in fact she is how we found out about all of this. Her name is Lindsey). She has been three times and says that one of the most rewarding things was the street ministry. We will be staying is a place called Fairhaven and just down the way is where the local hang outs are for people around our age. The people of Jamaica are very friendly people and we are going to just get to know them. We are going to go into this as getting to know them as friends and show Christ through our actions.
If you are interested check out Lindsey's blog from her trip in 2007 www.teamjamaica07.blogspot.com. There you will find pictures of the place we will be staying and places that we will visit and children that we might see. We will eventually have our own pictures for you to see.
One week from today will we leave for Jamaica! I am excited and can hardly believe that it is almost here. God has truly been working through this team and is blessing us in so many ways. We have come together as a team to be able to contribute in the ways we best can, everybody doing their part with the talents that they have. We have grown closer together and I know that we'll only get closer while in Jamaica. God has taken care of us financially and I know that it's through God alone that we are. I have seen His amazing blessings in preparation for this trip and I look forward to what He has for us while in Jamaica!
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