Day 6 - July 26

It was hard to roll out of bed this morning – we were up late last night with the MH girls. But it was definitely worth it!  To be able to love on those girls was THE BEST!!

Our first destination today was BG to take 15 “schoolers” to the beach!  I know that I’ve been looking forward to this day for that past 6 monthsJ  We had a bus to take all of the kids and a few team member s – the others team members were in the van.  While on the bus, Ryan sang some fun songs with the kids – BOY do they LOVE to sing!  They were really getting into it and it was a beautiful sound to my ears.  We had the amazing opportunity to take the kids to a private beach just for us!  It was perfect.  We lined everyone up and fitted them with a lifejacket (b/c jamaican’s don’t swim ;)  - and for safety ).  The team went out to the water with the buckets & goggles and then shortly behind us the kids came running down.  They had a blast – so did we!  We were actually right next to the airport and the kids loved watching the planes come in for landing.  We all had a wonderful time just swimming, scooping water & filling up buckets with sand, building sandcastles and searching for shells to collect – all the things “ordinary” kids should be able to do and to think that this is a once a year (hopefully) thing for them makes my heart sad and happy at the same time – happy that EO is here to love on them the way they/we are doing.  Our next surprise was  to take them for a ride in a glass bottom boat – it was exciting for them but scary for some too.  They loved watching the lion fish swim under & around the boat and even more fun was watching uncle carl swim under the boat – our teen boys got to do the same too – it will be a great memory for all! We got back to the beach with just enough time for a snack of fishy crackers & pineapple – yum! And another last minute swim… 

After taking the BG kids back home, we turned around and headed to Granville Girls Home.  I was able to take a picture of the outside – I hope it turned out & will try to post it… we didn’t get there until about 3:00 and many of the “good” girls were on a field trip.  So, when we arrived the court yard (made of dirt) was pretty empty – slowly the girls started to emerge to visit with us.  I brought UNO and was happy to meet “Ashley” – she had a Jamaican name but I had her repeat it about 3 times and then she finally said  - “just call me Ashley – that’s what I go byJ “ and she smiled – her smile lit up her beautiful face.  She didn’t look like the others when we were there the other day – she looked to “nice” – no scars and a fresh face with a twinkle in her eyes.  As we played THE LONGEST GAME OF UNO EVER, I began to ask her questions about her experiences at the home etc… Come to find out, she had just gotten there yesterday – I immediately asked her if she was doing ok to let her know that I knew that this was a rough place.  Throughout our conversation/game I discovered that her mom died when she was 2 (not sure how, yet) and that she’s been living with her older sister.  The social worker took her to the home b/c ashley’s sister can’t take care of her and needs a job L  My heart is breaking for this girl too – I’m worried about her there and if she is safe from the other girls – they are a very rough bunch in more ways than one.  We began to finish our visit around 5ish and ended with worship and a quick devotional.  We said our goodbyes and I prayed with Ashley – I just felt so strongly that she needed it.  She then asked me if I would be coming back and I told her that I sure hoped that I would be next week!  I’m curious to find out what I will see in her eyes then – I hope and pray that it is the same sweet sparkle – please keep her in your prayers too…

After dinner tonight we had a very short time of sharing (everyone is tired) but one thing that was shared that I think that we all agreed upon at our table was this: Now that we are here and have experienced and seen what we have with the plight of the orphan here in Jamaica -that as true Christians, we cannot not do anything.  As Christians we cannot turn our backs.  And you as a reader of this blog – it is my prayer that your heart has been pierced for the orphans too.  Please join us in prayer as to how we can best help. 

Another thing that I learned today is that there are NO child sponsorship programs in this country at all.  World Vision & Compassion do not have programs set up here – I’m not sure why… It seems this country isn’t really getting ANY outreach from very many organizations.  I’m so glad that Embracing Orphans is here and if you would like to help the children here, please pray about contributing to them – they could really use your help.  I’m pretty certain that they would be the first outside organization to own a home & to run a girls home.  Their connections and relationships with the officials here is amazing and I pray that they can continue the work God has planned for them.

Day 5 - July 25

WHAT A DAY!! 

If you haven’t noticed by now, we are not allowed to post pictures of any of the childrenL  As we are bonding & building relationships with these precious kids – it is TOUGH!  We want to share with you the faces of the children we are falling in love with but if we do we could end up in jail for 12 months – not a risk worth takingL

Today we began our day at BG – our team of 14 split up to visit with the schoolers, toddlers & infants.  I had the pleasure of going to the infant room today.  It is soooo easy to fall in love with these little guys – so so precious!! I had little Kimberly – she is about 10 months old but was born premature.  She is delayed developmentally and I kind of suspect Cerebral Palsy – she has a side that is very stiff but I’m not an expert & it’s not my job to diagnose her – just love on her and that is exactly what I did and it was a blessing to me to be able to do that.  So tiny…  While at BG, we’ve been trying to visit with the Aunties too – they really work hard and love these kids too – the home and children are spotless.  They put on a stern look but once you start visiting with them they really lighten up and start to smile a bitJ

We got to visit “The Father’s House” today – what a blessing that home will be for the children of Jamaica – please pray that God will provide the money very soon for this home so it can open!  We had time to worship & pray over the house today.

After 5 hours at BG, we came home to clean up to get ready for the party that we were throwing for the MH girls (and it is a girls bday too) an even better reason to celebrate!  We were delighted to treat them to dinner, dessert (bday cake with the candles etc..  – most children don’t get a celebration like this here in the children’s home) a little bit of entertainment/devotional, worship songs, a couple of games & they could choose to swim or a movie (6 out of the 8 swam).  WE ALL had a great time!  It was wonderful to get to know the girls better – they really loosened up and had a great time.  It was a great feeling to just watch them laugh and have a truly good time with nothing to worry about!

I don’t think anything too “deep” happened today but keep us all in your prayers as we minister to these 3 homes.  We are heading to BG in the morning to take the children to the beach! And then to Granville Girls home.

Oh – one more thing that I was thinking about the other day… as we drove to the Granville Girls home  (I think yesterday –it’s all becoming a blur) - was how poor this country really is.  There are many many homes that are left abandoned or unfinished, the roads are AWEFUL (it feels like we are 4 wheeling whenever we go somewhere) there are people out on the streets selling ANYTHING that they can to earn a dollar – it is poor. We drove by all of the “all inclusive” resorts on the way to the home and it got me thinking if anyone that ever goes to those places ever ventures out of the walls to really experience the real Jamaica??  So, I challenge you the next time that you come to Jamaica to get out and experience the country!!  I’ve heard so much about how wonderful it is in Jamaica and now that I’m here  - I’m trying to find out why it’s so wonderful? The beach is pretty but this country needs some serious prayer – not only for the children but for the people.  The churches here can’t even reach out to the orphans in their own country because they are needing to reach out & feed their own church family L And  - I could go on…– maybe next time…

Day 4 - July 24

Blogged by Ronnie...

I am not much of a blogger so much of what I wanted to share with you in this entry is directly from my Journal – I hope that it reaches you in some way as God has through just walking where He would lead me. It was a lovely Wednesday morning seeing Debbie arise and smile with no more migraine – Thank you Jesus!! And thank you Saints for praying! We were presented with a lovely breakfast including scrambled eggs, a collard green like substance and mango slices fresh from the tree outside and a cup of Jamaican Java and shortly after set sail for Café Blue and I got an iced Jamaican coffee brew and some hula hoops at the drug store next store for the kids at the Blossom gardens for 350 Jamaican dollars :O we got stamps, water and all the items to get through the week. Our first stop would be at the Melody House where we finished up making some aprons and t-shirt rugs and had a sweet day of victory with sewing machines working when they all decided not to work the previous day,  I was working with a young girl who really wanted to quit along with me with all of yesterdays frustrations – but we both managed to get through the project with restored sewing machines and had a victory in the completions of two aprons which she made for a friend and even stitched her initials into it- so sweet and thoughtful of her- The Melody House is having a fish fry for a fundraiser on Friday so you can be in prayer for  God to accomplish all that concerns the facility and move people to take action to support financially and prayerfully and however else the Lord would impress their hearts. We ate lunch in the vehicle on our way to the Grandville Girls “Home” around 1.With a lovely 45 minute drive and satisfied bellies I was feeling pretty confident in presenting the girls with a smile as well as Jesus love . As we drove up to the gate there was a security guard that authorized our entry in the court yard where we parked and were then enclosed by a maybe 12 ft. fence lined with bobbed wire. The girls were on the other side of the fence that looked more like a prison to me than any facility I have ever seen- they were ruff housing it and hitting and pushing and laughing, quite a mixed amount of emotion all at once. There were around 60 girls there ranging from the age of 10-17. We were all responsible to bring out what we had brought in . I brought a Uno game and a bag of color crayons for coloring- and before you know it the girls had all the crayons out and we were sitting at the picnic table playing uno and coloring. I was greeting and getting to know names and was sure to keep a smile on my face as to bring cheer and a merry countenance to the girls- I held that smile on my face and was sure to keep it there at all times. Then I began to notice things, such as dark sad eyes and scars over every piece of flesh I saw – I began to recognize in the midst of the clay covered ground marked with rubble was  where the feet of these hurting children would spend the next season of their life however long that would be I have no idea- but it was a dagger to think that these girls had never experienced a sense of love and acceptance. It was really hard to take in and I immediately grew sad with  hidden tears that the little 10 year old girl that called me Momma was around the age of my eldest daughter and  I imagined my Hannah behind these bars. This little girl wanted me to walk with her and play with her. We sat and played a round of jenga and then she just wanted me to watch her and tell her what a great job she was doing- I kept praising her and high fiving her and just watched her as she announced “ this is is fun” This is soo much fun Momma” I know that this is what a lot of the girls must call the Nannies or workers but I couldn’t help but respond in my heart “ I am willing,  I will be your Momma” I loved this little girl and I took her under my wing. I will never forget her and will pray for her as she were my own daughter for safety favor and Jesus to be in her and show her great and marvelous things and show her the plans that He has to prosper her and give her a future and hope. This was so hard especially walking away feeling helpless and at the same time accountable. There is no way that I can just turn away and do nothing . I have this awareness and responsibility for these girls. I know that the burden isn’t for me to carry because I also know that the love that I feel fades away in comparison to the love that the Father has for these girls.  I will just end this with this verse James 2: 14- 17 “ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; which doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works , is dead, being alone.

Day 3 - July 23

Today I worshiped with the schoolers and Jessica, Ryan, Carl and Crystal@ Blossom Gardens .We sang old man Noah had an ark eieiO .  Jessica gave the bible study of Noah’s ark she acted it out with the kids help it was great! One girl got up she had asked Carl if she could sing her favorite song it went like this in a little Jamaican accent…”Jesus on the telephone tell him what you need, tell him what u need today ,some want silver some want gold, but I want Jesus in my soul” The words  were so sweet  they hit me hard .These children are so easy to love and make happy! Today I put on a mask and chased them around the playground today and held them and hugged them and sang to them. Just being with them makes them happy!I am blessed .I have a new nickname they call me mrs sweety because they call Candy Sweetie’s in Jamaica.It was cool!

Blogged by Candi

Today we went to BG & then to Melody House for the first time.  MH has about 9 teen girls - we taught them to make t shirt rug & how to sew aprons.  They LOVED it!  We are looking forward to going there tomorrow (tues)

  Blessings - Kirsten

Day 2 - July 22

Ahhh - - what a wonderful night sleep for almost everyone ;) some of us got to listen to the “Sumfest” concert that went ALL night long – it was good music, most of it I recognized which was bad b/c then I would lay in bed singing the tune in my head as I tried to will myself back to sleep – as soon as a foreign tune came on I was able to return to my sweet dreamsJ  anyway – enough of that!!

Everyone made it to breakfast this morning dressed in their finest for church– Praise the Lord that Caleb and Candi were well! We enjoyed scrambled eggs, fried banana, fried bread & toast = delish!!

After bkfst, we caravanned to “The Family on The Rock” church.  Everyone was dressed in their very best!  It was a fun experience – we worshiped for about an hour and really enjoyed the worship.  During announcements they had everyone stand up that had a birthday or anniversary and they were sung a special song and people around them would give them hugsJ  Then it was time for the children to go to Sunday school – they had all of the little children come up in front of the church to be prayed for before they left to their classes and the fathers in the church came to the front to also bless the children as they walked by them – very coolJ  After the service, We had a group picture and then headed back to VH.

Upon arriving at VH we got our lunch – corned beef sandwiches, cheese sandwiches & sweet bread.  We had a few minutes to change into our swim suits to get ready for 1 of our fun days of shopping & beach days.  As soon as we stepped out to meet everyone, the rain came pouring down!!!  It didn’t stop us though – the group was dropped off at Doc’s Cave.  We decided to dodge the rain drops as we ran into stores and got a few souveniers.  Low & behold the rain stopped!!! We enjoyed about 2 hours playing in the beach.  The kids had goggles to see under the water.  Apparently they saw a sting ray, fish & a star fish around the area we were swimming!! Cool!  They were pretty jazzed!!  One thing that we realized is that there is no surf in jamaica – no waves to ride etc… weird!

Around 4:00 the group headed back to VH where we cleaned up & sorted through the 14+ bags of supplies that we brought.  We got it all “somewhat” organized and now have a plan for what we will do tomorrow – it will be interesting to see if that is God’s planJ  We are planning on visiting BG in the morning and Melody House (MH) in the afternoon. Looking forward to that!  While the adults were sorting,  the teen boys (Brayden, Caleb & Jethro) went swimming and had a great time with a gecko that they found.  You will have to ask them about that!

Dinner was delish again! Jerk Chicken, rice/beans, potato salad & shredded vegetables (kinda like a coleslaw)  We had a time of worship with the team – Candi & Ryan (from EO) led us – they did a great job! And then a little devotional from Carl J

breakfast at VH

church

Please keep The Father’s House in your immediate prayers!  The loan that they were hoping for did not come through and EO is needing some MAJOR SUPPORT to get the value of the loan down so the interest won’t be outrageous.  Please join us in prayer for this desperate need.

Day 1 - July 21

Wow!  What a whirlwind of a day it was!  Praise goes out to God the Father for paving the path for us to get here! In addition to the bus & luggage fees, we pretty much went went unnoticed about the 10 matching army looking bags filled to the brim with stuff  - only 1 person was questioned about what we have in it and that answer was sufficient – Praise Jesus!  After we made it through customs – we then had to figure out how to get all of our bags/luggage out the door without our luggage carts (they were not allowed outsideL)  I’m sure the Jamaican men had some great stories to tell when they got home about how these American women tried to carry 2-3 50 pound bags 4 feet and barely made it!!  It was quite the sight!  But the best sight for us was to see who was waiting for us out the door – Julie & Carl!! Woo hoo – relief  - we had officially arrived!

After the short jaunt to The Verney house, we got somewhat settled in our new home for the next 2 weeks.  We are definitely not staying in a 5 star hotel (maybe a 2-3 star on the room but 4-5 stars on the hospitality!) But I think its good – we are here on a mission trip to serve Jesus not to be serving ourselves in worldly accommodations!  To confirm that notion – I was greeted with a dead 2 inch cockroach in my closet – suffice it to say that I will be zipping up my luggage every night and not getting up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom! J

WE only had about 30 minutes before we went to visit Blossom Garden’s children’s home.  WE had a short tour of the facility and then was quickly put to work feeding, bathing & playing with the kiddos! It was great!  The smiles on these children are precious and their willingness to be held & picked up by anyone is nice & helpful for us to feel comfortable but as I sit and write this I’m thinking about all of the other people that may have come in & out of their lives as quickly as we will be –it makes me sad.  So sad that they may never experience the constant love and compassion of a mother & father – I pray that they will someday have that and also know that they will always have the love & compassion of our heavenly Father.

It was a sweet sweet site to  look out at the team – each & every one of them engaged in a child’s precious life – playing with them, giving them the eye contact, human contact and attention they need.  I had to hold back the tears for a moment watching this and it will be etched in my mind forever.

The team did quickly start to fade after 2 hrs at blossom garden – we then headed to a market for snacks etc… it was then back to Verney House for some rest & showers before dinner. We had alovely meal at VH (verney house), reflection on our moments at BG (blossom garden) and some time of worship.  It was really cool to hear everyone’s reflection on BG J

Please keep Candi & Caleb in your prayers for healing of sickness – they came down with colds & icky stomach stuff after we got home from BG.

Team in Jamaica

The team made it safely to Jamaica! Praise God there were no issues
with customs. They are going to have lunch and then they are off to
Blossom Gardens to see the children!!