Dear ODBC Family and Friends 

How is it possible to be exhausted and energized in the same? My sincere apologies for not communicating more faithfully. I’ve been analyzing what is different about this trip. I’m still dropping into bed by midnight and rising at 5:45, but have not had an uninterrupted block of time to collect my thoughts (always a painful process) and write a report.  

The work here in Jamaica has been incredibly rewarding. Every facet of ministry has been packed with surprises, challenges and then ultimately rich blessing. Directing and coordinating a multi- front missionary team is much like untangling a 100 foot extension cord. There are so many twists, turns and even knots, but if you are patient and follow the Spirit’s lead, in the end, everything falls into place. 

Let me walk you through our daily schedule. We have breakfast at 6:30, pack our lunches and are out the door by 7:15. A bus takes a majority of the team to Cornwall Mountain All-Age School and a van takes our deaf members to JCSD (Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf). The deaf team has been teaching, tutoring, and ministering in the classrooms. During free hours they have been doing crafts and games with the students. There are about 40 students at the school.  

Jacob has been an invaluable addition to the team. He has serviced the JCSD computer lab, fixed electronic devices and taught computer literacy classes. Having a deaf person who has traveled internationally and has a PHD has both inspired and challenged the deaf community here that with God all things are possible. I think he is hooked and may one day lead our deaf team in Jamaica ministry. Tomorrow we will be delivering a generous cash gift to the school. 

Every day after concluding at JCSD the deaf team travels up to Cornwall Mountain for our after school program where they teach signs for the songs and engage in one on one ministry with the children. 
The Cornwall team has been plenty busy too. We arrive at the school by 8:15 in time for devotions at 8:30. Today we had class devotions with every team member ministering in their assigned classrooms. Tomorrow is general devotions to the entire 260 students at the school. The principal said that after devotions the teachers and students have presentation for the team. Today I accidently walked in on a secretive music practice. I played dumb (comes naturally, I know…) and greeted the students and quickly withdrew. From 9-12 we tutor, teach and assist in the classrooms lavishing one on one attention on the students. In the afternoon it is not uncommon for several of us to be working special projects. Jim Myers has given the computer and resource room a tune up and Lance and Jake have been prepping the walls for the student painting project that happens after school while the elementary students are in the after school program. Debbie, Jennifer and Adam have been conducting the KISSN program for the 7-9th graders. Jake and Josh have been a big hit with the students at recess and lunch breaks.  

By 2:30 the bus travels down the mountain to Mount Stewart Baptist to pick up our Jamaican colleagues. It has been a joy to see them grow and lead various components of the after school program. As well, the van brings the deaf team to the school and picks up the Melody House team. Debbie and Delores go back to Montego Bay to this home for physically and sexually abused girls. There they bake cookies, do crafts, and lead discussion groups. At first the girls were cold and guarded, but they were no match for the powerful love of God flowing through Delores and Debbie. Smiles, tears and deep, meaningful impact have marked these precious moments at Melody House. 

Up at Cornwall, school lets out at 3 PM and the afterschool program begins at 3:30. Adam and I lead the opening program of welcome, singing and introducing the Bible theme and memory verse with Josh assisting with the music and Jake running the PowerPoint. Shannon anchors the craft, Judy and Linda alternate teaching, and Jim and Lance direct the painting project for the 7-9th graders. 
Let me pause here to describe the painting project. The 7-9th graders at Cornwall Mountain are students who have failed the 6th grade entrance class into secondary school. There are 20+ students who struggle with every part of the education process and have basically given up. Most are boys, many are functionally illiterate, unable to read well or do basic mathematic functions and all of them act up behaviorally. Jim and Lance have taken this group and taught them to paint while weaving in the gospel, life skills and fatherly mentoring. This ragtag team has repainted over half the school. These students who have failed academically have worked unbelievably hard. Our prayer is that every time they enter their school and see the beautiful freshly painted walls, they will remember our team’s message that they are unconditionally loved in Christ. Many of them are succeeding for the first time in their life, and it shows.  

The after school program wraps up, we pack up and all jam onto the bus to head down the mountain. On the way we drop off our Jamaican hosts at their homes (at church on Sunday there were 150 at worship and only 1 car). We reach MoBay by 6, eat by 6:30 and have a team meeting at 7:30. By 9 pm we are done and relaxing for a few minutes as we swap stories, look at pictures and laugh, laugh, laugh. Adam, Shannon and Delores have us in stitches 90% of the time. No one is exempt from zingers. 
Tomorrow I will give a $700 cash gift to our host church, Mount Stewart. We will also be purchasing and installing three bookshelves to kick off a library at Cornwall Mountain. Thank you so much for your generosity that makes all of this possible. 

Keep us in your prayers as we finish up ministry and return home. 

Steve for your 2010 JAMAICA TEAM