computer problems

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while but my computer is giving me some problems ... it's slow, locks up, and randomly kicks me off. It has been a good computer but I do believe it's time to invest in a new one.
  
I have tried several times over the past week or so and I can't get any pictures to post. I guess I need a computer geek to help me out until I can get another computer.

I'M FRUSTRATED

Amazing workers

For the past two weeks we have had some amazing groups working here helping to get the children's home ready for the first group of boys this fall.

Marvin, the head carpenter, cutting tiles

They worked on the floors and tiled some of it.

This is one of the bathrooms with a pretty floor

There was electrical work that had to be done.

Zach working on the lighting

And the women and teenagers painted.

A couple of the guys knew how to work with bees so they cleared some land to place the bees at.

This was some hard work the guys did

They got a lot of work done in the short amount of time they were here. There were two hives collected and moved so now there will be fresh honey for the children's home.

Everybody had a great attitude and worked very hard.

The end of hard day and still smiling

We appreciated all the help :)

Team from Jackson GA

Pictures of the children's home will be coming soon.

Visiting Schools & VBS

This week we have had a team here that has done an amazing job of reaching out to the Jamaican Children. For three days we got up early and went to a school where we did a morning assembly and devotion.

Day 1, this was the largest school we visited

Day 2, Jacks River School

Day 3, Boscobel Primary School

The children were very excited to have visitors from America. One thing that really touched my heart was the love and pride they have for their country. Every school recited the pledge to the flag and sang their national anthem; I remember doing that in school when I was little. It's a shame that our country doesn't allow our children to grow up learning about our country's foundation.

After school the team did a Vacation Bible School (VBS) type program at the youth center for the neighborhood kids.

Arts and Crafts

There were different stations set up and the children would rotate to the different areas.

Sports and Recreation

Snack time!

Teaching the kids a new song

Every night more kids would come.

It was a good week.

Ms Traci getting hugs

Children were loved on and good memories were made.

Abby has some new friends

It was a busy and tiring week, but this is what it's all about.

Jamaican Sunday

The past few days have been very busy with doing work around the property that I have had little time for anything else. Last week there was a mission team here from Chattanooga and immediately after them leaving we had to prepare for team that was coming from Jackson Georgia.
One thing I have to say is that even though we had a lot of work to do and the days were long and tiring, I had a beautiful view.

The Jackson team arrived this past Saturday so by Sunday we were ready for a relaxing day :)
We had a delicious breakfast Sunday morning and then headed out to church.

I enjoyed going to church with a different culture than I am accustomed to.

We were welcomed with warm smiles and big hugs

After church we ate lunch then headed down to the beach.

We spent almost two hours enjoying the water.

It was a beautiful day of fun, fellowship and relaxation before another week of busy work.

"Catch a breeze" ... my Bahamian friends understand :)

Warm Whispers Ministries

Yesterday was my first full day in Jamaica working with Warm Whispers Ministries (WWM). The day started out with me doing laundry. There is a team coming in this Saturday and the bedding needed washing. The washing machine is old so it took a while for the loads to run then I had to hang everything outside on the line.

Between loads of laundry I did some lite house work and explored the grounds. They have a few animals that are being raised for meat.

Around 11:am I prepared lunch for a team that is  here helping with construction on the property during the day. A cool thing about this team is they are from the same area I'm from.

Splitting bamboo to build a fence

In the afternoons this team has been doing a sports camp with the neighborhood kids.

It was a good evening with over 60 kids showing up.

The group did a great job and the kids had a blast.

The kids broke off in small groups to play

The property here needs a lot of work, but the vision of WWM is to fix everything up and have a full functioning youth center.

This building will possibly have classrooms for tutoring

This building would be the youth center with a full size gym

As you can see there is a lot of work to do but there is also a need in the community that needs to be met. This is a vision that is much bigger than WWM so for it to get done we know that it has to be God.

New Mission?

I'm off again :)

I have noticed that in the past when I have gone on mission trips the openings and planning happened very quickly. It's almost like if I have to much time to think about it I'll back down. Well this venture isn't any different. Literally within a week of emailing a ministry that a friend of mine told me about I was headed to Jamaica.

My first view of Jamaica, headed into Montego Bay

I'm here to check out a ministry to see if this is where God is leading me to next.
My poor dog was not happy to see me packing my bags again.

Buster burying her head in the pillows

My first day was basically all travel. The plane ride went fairly well but it got a little rough when we passed over a storm that is brewing around Florida.

After arriving I still had a two hour bus ride ahead of me. The driving was a little more nerve wrecking than in the Bahamas, LOL

Half way to our destination we stopped for a bathroom break.

All in all it was a nice ride.

My first exposure to Jamaican wild life

By the time I arrived where I'm staying it was dark so I don't have pictures of that yet, but some will be coming soon.

Thank-you Michelle

I would like to continue acknowledging those that had a part in the mission trips I have been on. As I mentioned earlier I was collecting boy shorts for the next time I headed to Haiti. If you read the post dedicated to Rhonda K you can see that nothing is by accident, God has a plan for everything.

Supplies and girl dresses

My whole concentration was on boy shorts but Michelle was prompted to get girl dresses.
The reason I didn't really concentrate on girls clothes is because the majority of the contributions I had seen were for girls.

In Oct 2012 Maurice brought 150 dresses

 But no two trips are the same and on the trip in Feb 2013 I was the only one that brought kids clothes with me.

Showing off her new dress

The reason nobody else brought clothes is because this was a medical trip and anything outside of medical supplies we brought was on our own. The other team members brought other types of gifts.

New clothes are a rare treat

I was very happy to have the clothes for the kids and I'm very thankful for those that gave.

She brought her brother in for clothes and got a new dress herself

Michelle thank-you for your generous gift of girl dresses, you helped make a difference.