Jamaica part 1 (beware: massive post :D)

Recently, my family has had the awesome opportunity to go to Jamaica on a mission trip!!! Dad and Mom took D, E, and I. (A and W stayed with some friends.) We went to a deaf village called JDV, where they keep families who have deaf parents, but the children can hear. If you want to hear a little bit more of our trip visit here.



While I was there, Mom encouraged me to journal my experience. I didn't really see the point of doing it, but I did. and I'm SO glad Mom encouraged me!!! It makes it SO much easier to remember everything!!! I thought that I would show you guys what I wrote in my journal. Although, I don't think that anyone could ever explain our time there well enough to do it justice. No words could ever describe how amazing it was to actually feel GOD's presence there with us. Whether we were having a group devotion or we were with the deaf. I especially felt GOD's presence when we were at the church. It was just so...IDK...powerful. I'm so glad that we could go and I don't think that I'll ever forget the time we had there. I hope that you enjoy what I managed to journal during our busy schedule there. Thanks for viewing!!!



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Saturday -

We woke up at about 5 o'clock and some friends came to take us to the airport. When we got to the airport, we spent about 2 hours waiting for our flight. Dad treated us to Burger King for breakfast. :) I wasn't very hungry, so I had some hash browns. They were really good!

After breakfast, we boarded our plane and were on our way to Montego Bay. Dad, Mom and I were on the same row on the airplane. They left me have the seat next to the window! It was really fun to watch out the window as the cars and houses get smaller and smaller as we grew higher and higher. When we flew above the ocean, it was fun to see how small the cruise ships were.

When we got to Jamaica, we met the people we were going to work with. They were from Indiana. After we all got our bags and such, we got on 2 big buses and headed to a Burger King for lunch. Pretty soon after we got to Jamaica, I started feeling alittle sick to my stomach, but it passed pretty quickly.

Here in Jamaica, the driver drives on the wrong side of the road. After Burger King, we kept on driving to JDV (Jamaican Deaf Village). It was a 3 hour drive and very twisty!

When we got there, we all picked a room and a bunk and got settled in, (which took a long time.) and then we ate. The food is very good! The missionaries here have hired some very good Jamaican chefs! After we ate, one of the missionaries gave us a little orientation and introduced us to some people. I am very tired, and need to get some sleep so I don't get sick again.

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Sunday -

We woke up and for breakfast we had eggs with bacon and peppers. It was good! After we ate, Dad gave us a group devotion. We sang a few songs and had a really good time. Shortly after that, we walked over to their deaf church. Our legs were all hurting us from the long walk over. It is very mountainous here in Jamaica. The service at church was very spirit-filled! You could just see GOD's love on their faces!

They sign songs with their hands. They follow the song leader Cresmore as best as they could. He can hear only a little bit, but enough to start them off on their signing, and keep them up with the music. Even thought they couldn't talk, it was their words and you could tell that it was coming from their hearts!

There were about 30 deaf Jamaicans who attend the church regularly. One of the missionaries said that there are 40,000 deaf Jamaicans, and only 3 deaf churches.

The pastor's name is Damian. His wife is Felicia and they have 3 adorable kids. We will have their kids at the VBS. This Sunday at the Jamaican church was probably one of the neatest experiences in my life. The preacher was so expressive when he signed. Watching them sign like that really makes me want to learn! All the deaf Jamaicans are so nice!!

After church, we went to the infirmary - a Jamaican nursing home.

It was very sad. They had beds lining the walls, inches apart. The smell was horrible and you felt so bad when you thought about them living there every day. We sang them a few up-lifting songs and reminded them that JESUS loves them.

When we finished at the infirmary, one of the missionaries took us back to the deaf village. There, he gave us a tour of the factory. The purpose of the factory is to give the deaf men who live at the village a job. Off of the factory, there is a sewing room where the deaf women who live there can work. They make these really cool purses in there that say "Jamaica" on them. They are REALLY neat!!! I want to buy one.

One thing that we have noticed already is that they have BEAUTIFUL sunsets here!!!

Today was our last day of fun before we start working!!!

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Monday -

Today, we start our work! We headed to the cafeteria to have some breakfast. After we had breakfast and done some other things, we started heading out to the work sight. We are working on a building that will eventually be a place where the people on a mission trip can stay. It should be pretty nice. I'd like to come back and see it when it's all done!!!

Anyways, everyone works really hard, and I would like to help as much as possible, but I'm not very strong. So, since I'm not very strong, I do the job that nobody wants - chinking. Chinking is when you take a hammer and you chink the ceiling. It gives the plaster for the ceiling something to grip on to. It is SUCH a boring job!!! Sometimes, I also help dad with the little things he's working on.

Later today, we get to do a VBS for the kids who live here. The kids themselves are not deaf, but their parents are. We do the VBS after lunch.

After we worked, (for what seemed like forever :D) we went to eat. When we finished eating, we went out and worked some more. Feeling nice and refreshed from lunch, the work seems easier and a little more fun!!!

We work for about another hour, then we go back in and shower (in cold water) to get ready for the VBS.

The theme for VBS is, "Be Strong and Courageous in the Power of HIS Might".

Today, the story was "Noah and the Ark". The little kids are SO cute!!! VBS went pretty smoothly. Some of the kids love you and do whatever you say and some of them - well - they have a mind of their own. :)

By the time we finished vacation bible school, it was almost time to eat supper. After we finish supper, we sing a few songs, and whoever wants to can share their testimony of how they came to CHRIST, how they were called to go on the mission field, or anything else. The testimonies are really neat to hear!!! After we finish that, we're free to do whatever we want! Everybody usually moves to the snack table (which was literally overflowing). Some people also play card games. It's pretty fun!!!

Well, I keep yawning, so I should go to bed. ;)

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Tuesday -

Yesterday (Monday) kinda set the routine for the rest of the work days.

One of the main jobs that E and I do, other than chink, is pulling nails out of boards so that the workers can re-use the boards.

Pulling nails out of the board is a very tiring job! But it isn't really that hard. I think that it might have something to do with being in the hot, hot sun for a long time, which gets you tired?!?!?

Anyways, VBS has been going really good with the kids. For the most part they are very sweet.

We split the kids up into 3 different classes, which each teaches in a different level of difficulty (if you know what I mean).

--The oldest class--

--The middle class--

--The youngest class--

I should probably go to bed soon, so good-night!!!

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Wednesday -

We kinda did the same as yesterday, today. Everyone is getting the hang of their jobs on the work site, so it's going a little smoother. (At least from what I saw.)

Once again, I chinked the ceiling and pulled nails out of the boards.

After lunch, we went to VBS, the teachers told the Jamaican kids that tomorrow, they need to be ready to ride the bus by 3:00. We are going to an orphanage tomorrow with the kids!!! We are gonna give the kids at the orphanage some pillowcases/pillows that the Jamaicans kids had been working on. They were excited!!!

Today, my family and I have "KP duty". We signed up for it at the beginning of the week. When we signed up for it, we didn't realize that today, the Jamaicans do the dishes as a thank-you to the work team for all that we did. Ooooopss!!

Tonight, the Jamaicans did a program for us after the dishes were done. It was really touching!!!

They signed a few songs and did a skit about "resisting temptation". They were both really good!!!

Right now, a few people are playing card games. They sound like they are having fun. :) They will be going to bed soon, since it's almost 11:00 ("lights-out" time).

I should probably get to sleep, too!!!

--------------------To be continued---------------------