Today was a long day... physically exhausting. We dug holes in literally the side of a ROCKY mountain for a fence and mixed cement by hand. Then carried it back up the mountain side to fill the holes! Then played with the kids all evening. The team is getting tired today, please pray for energy.
A few team members have written a few thoughts each below. In the next few days all of the team will post a thought! Stay tuned!
Please leave comments below for the team to read we would love to hear that you are following our trip, it would be very encouraging! Also feel free to give shout outs!
The past few days have been transition times. We finished our work project, had a rest day, then got right back into serving. We are right now at an orphanage called the Robin’s Nest. It is an old monastery that is located on the top of a mountain, the very TOP! The location and the kids here are unreal. The Robin’s Nest is a pretty intense ministry, that involves taking care of 30ish kids 24/7. The couple that leads the nest has legitimately given up their life to serve these kids (they have done 6 months straight of no days off before). It’s very challenging and humbling hearing their story. These have been things that stuck out for me right now. Fabian, Denero, and Damien are sitting with me as I type this, and want to play soccer. So Peace, -Levi. (oh and good comments!)
Whenever I think of the orphanages I think of really sketchy places, like the orphanage on the movie ‘Anne.’ The Robins Nest surprised me. It is great to see how much God is behind it and providing support for them.-Geoff
I have been supper encouraged and blessed by the joy and love that Jamaicans show to those around them and their passion for the Lord. We had the opportunity to experience Jamaican Worship on Sunday and it was not something be forgotten. Me and a couple other girls got to dance with some VERY passionate Jamaican ladies. The Lord is teaching me to show joy in all things and everything I do to give it up to him and surrender all. -Julia
I really enjoyed going to see those kids on the second day on the work site. By that point the kids were use to us so they would come right up to us and site on our laps and cuddle with us. They where so happy when we arrived, it was so rejuvenating and exciting. That was also the day we had a tea party. There was lots of garbage laying around so one of the girls found a glass bottle and filled it with the water we used to clean the paint brushes. It was incredible to see the creativity of these kids and how content they are. I miss you all. - Jacey
Wow, God is so good! These past 7 days have been so challenging eye opening and awesome! WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BULT A HOUSE!!!:) Yay! That experience was unbelievable being able to be apart of that community and to bless Karren’s family with a house was so great! One of my highlights was being able to build a cart with my boy Omar who had been saving a broken wheel of a stroller for the right project for a year. It was humbling and made me realize how very blessed I am. Also, seeing how the Christians worship God has been UNREAL! Getting to worship with YWAM staff and students and also going to church here us an incredible experience. I could keep writing till my hands fall off, with all of the experiences I have learned but I wont. Hanging out with the kids here at the Robins Nest requires lots and lots of sleep and energy. That is it for now I can’t wait to see you all to give you the full update of my adventures in Jamaica.- Margaret
It is so incredible to hear that you guys have finished your work project! It looks AMAZING. I have loved being able to read all about your adventures and even through just a few paragraphs it is evident that God is changing your hearts and showing you His heart for the people of Jamaica! It is such a humbling experience to get to build a home for such a deserving family and be a witness to the way the holy spirit is working so strongly even in the lives of people from the community as they witness your service! God is so good. I pray that as your trip continues on that you will all be able to take advantage of every moment and opportunity to serve as it will fly by before you know it! Praying for health and safety and know that people at home are thinking about you all the time! I hope that God will continue to break your hearts in a way that will just push you to want to continually serve Him everyday and bring His justice and love into the lives of everyone and evert situation you encounter. I love hearing that you went to Robin's nest and all I can say is LOVE THOSE KIDS SO MUCH :) and just let Gods love for them pour out of you, love until you feel completely emptied out! I cannot wait to hear about the Jamaica I love through the hearts and minds of you all, blessings on the rest of your time! ( PS, SHOUT OUT TO MA GIRLS KERSTYN AND AMBER!!!) Love you!
ReplyDeleteIt blesses our hearts to read how God is using all of you to touch the lives of people there in such a short span of time! Thank you for posting the picture of the team in front of the house with the family you built it for. What an awesome sight! I don't think we can even start to imagine what the impact of the house will have on Karen and her children. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Rev 19:6)! We miss you Margaret and are praying for you and the whole team daily.
ReplyDeleteMARGARET!! YOU BUILT A HOUSE! YOU CAN CHECK THAT OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST!!!
I can't wait to see you again and hear all your stories! I love you from the moon and back!! - Mariel!
Hi Margeeeeee! We miss you .... the girls say I miss you cause I keep including your name when I call them :-)!
We share your excitement and the blessings you receive there are multiplied as we praise God for all He is doing through you and for you and the team. You truly have an amazing opportunity to see God move and work through so many people and to experience first hand the difference He makes in the lives of those who love Him! Continue to serve Him will all the energy and love and excitement you have! We love you very much! Dad and Mom P.S. it has been quiet around here! :-)
The Ongs
Sooo glad to hear from you each day that you are able. The words "there's a blog" causes us to scurry to the closest computer. We are so thankful that God is giving you abundant opportunities to serve, even beyond those you had planned. Looking good everyone! Jacey, tonight Chad and I decided that you needed to do crazy things so that you get mentioned in the blog, but then you wrote a spot.
ReplyDeleteIt has been such a blessing to read of how God is changing lives in Jamaica. You guys are awesome! Keep it up! It's amazing the things God does through those who have hearts open to his will. (I was going to apologize for this passage being so long but then I thought.. What a ridiculous thing to apologize for!) I read this today and thought of you; "shining stars in a warped and crooked generation."
ReplyDeletePhilippians 2:1-16
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain."
(Shoutout to Tiffany!) Tarzan lonely! Jane home soon? haha. I miss you so much Tiffany! So proud of you! Praying for you and the team everyday! Love Joshua!
thanks for the post! sounds like God is really moving in the hearts of these students and created some pretty awesome relationships with some pretty cool Jamaicans!! love to you Hannah! You're doing an awesome job- just keep serving and laying it all down for Jesus!
ReplyDeleteI eagerly check your blog every day!!! I cant wait till you all come home and Hannah(my sister) shows me all the pictures!!! I miss Jamaica! Praying for you all!
ReplyDelete