Good Friday morning to you!  It’s hard to believe that it’s Friday and I’ve been so negligent in updating you on our trip.  Hopefully you’ve been seeing some pictures go up on Facebook.  When you are out of internet access from 7 AM to 6 PM, it’s hard to discipline yourself to pull together an update!

So let me give you a little summary of each day.

On Monday the team went to Garden Blossom orphanage, a state run orphanage here in Montego Bay.  It was a good introductory experience for our team.- 52 orphans ranging in age from birth to 9 years. For 5 hours we played with, held and fed the children.  The greatest need of these young ones is attention.  One or two care givers among a room of 18 two and three year olds or a room full of babies is barely enough to provide even basic care.  Fortunately, we met some Mennonite missionaries who were serving 6 month terms at the orphanage to assist the overtaxed staff.  Talking with these quiet, confident and determined women was inspiring.  In the afternoon we worked with the older group of children, playing soccer, blowing bubbles and skipping rope. Our teen girls thrived in this environment and touched many young lives.

While the team was doing this, Brian Ganzert went to the lumber yard to purchase wood and then returned to Fairhaven to rip the lumber for the 9 tool boxes the teens at the school would sand, assemble and paint all week.  Brian did an amazing job with a dilapidated circular saw and a power drill to craft all of the components for this project.  By the time we got back, Brian was sweaty and covered with sawdust, but triumphant.

Tuesday was our first day up at the Cornwall Mountain School.  We safely unpacked and assembled the copier and TV we had brought and met the teachers and students we would be serving.  After school we held a VBS style program for the 1-3rd grade.  It was a little glimpse of the praises of heaven to hear these children sing in their Jamaican accents… “Let the glory of the Lord rise among us, Let the glory of the Lord rise among us, Let the praises of the King rise among us let them rise… OOOHHHHHH, Let them rise!”

Wednesday Mr. Miller, the 7-9th grade was sick so Brian stepped in and taught mathematics and social studies all morning, all the while protesting, “I’m not a teacher!”  Well, Brian discovered that he IS a teacher and a darn good one.  This is a small class of 7 boys who have not passed the GSAT test and are not allowed to go into high school until they do.  Most would be labeled learning disabled in our country and come from extremely difficult home situations.  The boys in this class have no positive male role models.  Most every boy doesn’t even know who his father is and is living with his mother, grandmother or another relative.  They really respond to Brian’s “call it like it is” manner.  Brian took time throughout the day to connect with them and hear their story.

Amanda and Miki went to the deaf school and several of our teens went next door to the basic school- a preschool of 52 students.  As Lindsay and Jordyn approached the little school with their beautiful long blond hair they could hear chanting from the children who were waiting at the door jumping up and down with excitement.  What were they saying with their little Jamaican lilt?  “White peo-ple, white peo-ple!”  No doubt for many of them, this was the first real life American they had ever seen.  “This is what its like to be a rock-star” I told the girls as they went to mingle among their adoring fans.

Pam, Kathy and Rebekah settled into their classes assisting struggling students, teaching and reading stories.  Rebekah has one little 4th grade boy who really loves her.  I’m going to have to make sure that T.J. hasn’t snuck into her suitcase on Saturday when we fly out!

The after school program progressed well again.  The children loved the New Testaments that our children’s ministry had prepared for them and the little backpacks they decorated with Sharpies and glitter pens.  Rebakah and her team of Jamaican workers are doing a great job in that department. The teen boys LOVE their tool box project and Brian and Mr. Campbell (a man from Mt. Stewart Baptist church) are working well together.

On Wednesday night we met Michelle Robinette,  a cheerful grandmotherly woman of boundless energy who is the Jamaican equivalent of mother Theresa. Nineteen years ago she made her first visit to Jamaica where she met a disabled homeless boy on the streets of Montego Bay.  After several years of taking mission trips she gathered her 5 children in her comfortable home in Minneapolis MN and said, “I’m investing your inheritance in Jamaica for God’s kingdom!”  She sold her home and everything she had and built the Robin’s Nest Christian Home for Children.  For almost two decades she has poured out her life for “the least of these.”  We all walked away from our meeting with her amazed at how God could use a retired grandmother in her golden years to make such a significant impact.  How might he use you?

Thursday and Friday’s summary will come out tomorrow!  Sorry this is so late.

Much love from the whole team!

P. Steve