Time Flies...

So we're to the last day of official ministry for our trip...

This morning we woke up to a hot, sticky Jamaican day.
We began the morning by splitting into small groups and prayer walking the community around the base where we were staying. The freshmen were really great about listening to the Lord and interceding in response to the things they felt they heard. About an hour later we returned to the prayer chapel on the YWAM base and prayed corporately for the nation of Jamaica. I cannot even describe to you the incredible view of the city we have from this base, but the view combined with the passionate prayers of these students was impactful, to say the least.

After prayer, the team going to Homes of Hope headed out to complete the house while the rest of the team had a little free time until their afternoon ministry times.
We had multiple options to choose from for our special Thursday adventures. One group went to Westhaven, a home for mentally and physically handicapped people who have been abandoned by their families. This home is a difficult setting to be in, but the experience was quite powerful for the students who chose to go there. Another group went to an infirmary (like a hospice), and they were able to visit with and bring some joy to the patients there. The students who went were intially very nervous, but they conquered their fears and were a blessing to the people. The final group, besides Homes of Hope, went to Blossom Gardens which is a state funded children's home. We had a great time there getting to play with the kids and love them a little extra today.
The Homes of Hope team rocked it out and finished the house today! Who knew you could build a home from the foundation up in three and a half days? The family we built the home for was incredibly blessed, and I know our visit will impact their lives forever. Annette and Mark, the couple who we built the house for, were blown away by the unity and joy our group brought along with us, not to mention Mark coming to know the Lord this week.
We are so proud of the freshmen and the hard, hard work they put in this week. They are amazing! The Lord is working here, and we are so blessed to get to be a part of it. Thanks for your prayers!

Great work, but we are sore!

The past 2 days have been amazing work days down here in Jamaica! The students have all been so servant-hearted in their work on our sites, and the Lord has truly blessed their efforts.

Yesterday we finished the foundation at the Homes of Hope, and today we got the walls up and painted! These have both been huge accomplishments and the teams have worked tirelessly to make them happen. We will be sending a team back there tomorrow and they will hopefully finish the house! The team at Robbin's Nest (the children's home) finished the trench for the water system and have been working on a few other projects there at the home. They have also had some great opportunities to hang out and love on the kids there throughout the day. At Canterbury, the team has spent some amazing time talking and ministering to the Jamaicans, as well as completing 2 beautiful murals. We will post pictures when we get back! Lastly, we have had a team here on the base helping with some cleaning, clearing, and painting projects- we love having the opportunity to bless the YWAM base.

Today on the Homes of Hope work site something huge happened- 2 Jamaicans prayed to receive Christ as their Savior! Some of the students have invested a few days in talking with these people, and today they made the decision to ask Him into their hearts! Praise the Lord!

We are all doing well and staying healthy! The Jamaican cooking is always an adventure, but the students have been so awesome about trying new things! Tomorrow we are spending the morning praying together for the nation of Jamaica, and then splitting up for a few different ministry opportunities. We will post the reports from each site afterwards. Thursday is always an awesome day as we pursue many different ministry opportunities.

Keep us in our prayers! Please partner with us as we continue to ask the Lord to move in each of our lives!

Work Days...

Yesterday we were able to attend five different churches as smaller groups. Everyone had a great experience whether the service was an hour and a half or four hours! The Jamaicans were so accepting and welcoming. We came back to the YWAM base for lunch and then did a couple hours of work on a home we're building for a family and on the base. In the late afternoon, we spent some free time relaxing and soaking up the sun. We had a great team meeting and preperation for the week that night.
Today was day one of hard work! One team worked on a home for a family that desperately needs a home. By working on it, we mean we moved giant piles of rocks to help fill in a foundation. Nine hours later we have some exhausted freshmen and leaders, but a great amount of work done!
Another group went to Canterbury, one of the poorest communities in Montego Bay, part of the students painted a mural while the rest of the team helped clean a home for a blind man. The home desperately needed our help, and the team was able to see a distinct transformation in the man from the morning to when they were leaving in the afternoon.
The final group went to an orphanage called Robin's Nest. There they were able to play with the children to begin the day, and then, they were helping to put in a water system for the children's home.
Everyone is safe, happy and healthy! We're having a blast! It's perfect here!!!

We're Here!

The whole Montego Bay team has safely made it to the base, and we are already loving it!

The flight was great, and the process of getting into the country was smooth as it can be. Miraculously, all the luggage arrived with us to our delight. The weather is perfect in the low 70s and breezy. Our first meal was a version of spaghetti. We're getting ready for the first team meeting in Jamaica of 2010, and we couldn't be happier to be here.

Tomorrow we'll be going to some different Jamaican churches and getting to experience the amazing Jamaican culture!