Feeling De Evening Breeze & More

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze & More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: St_Bess</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Great report and lovely photos. The children seems to be enjoying themselves. This reminds me of when I attended bible school many, many summers ago. We had a &quot;missionary&quot; from the states who came every summer with coloring books, crayons and other stuff. I have to tell you that most of the stuff I have learned about the bible was done right there in that little church in St. Elizabeth. Well done CD who knows - you and your team may have reached some 6 year old child who may learn some christian songs or a bible verse and remember this 'summer' even after say 50 years. </div></div>
Thank you, and re the possible impact, I agree with you. As we plant the seeds in the formative years, the hope is as they get older the lessons learned will serve them in good stead.

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

I can still hear them in my head. The crescendo of voices, the buzz of excitement, them calling us Uncle &amp; Auntie &lt;firstnames&gt;, the smiles on their faces, the hugs they gave and the hugs they craved. When we showed up in the mornings, more and more of them were there waiting; some of the older ones with their sibling(s). Each one of them is important to God, and to us, and as we loved on them, the more we realized the awesomeness of the responsibility we had - instilling lessons and values in these young men and women that would cause them to see themselves for who they really are - children of God with unlimited potential.

We tried to &quot;touch&quot; every one of them, emotionally and physically and boy, did they touch us. Before the sessions started and before they had to go outside to form the line to get back in, we played. Some hopped on my back wanting a &quot;jockey ride&quot;; others wanted to play tag and there were too many of them to keep running after them all. They wanted to take pictures and we took LOTS of them; every child who wanted their picture taken got it, and sometimes more than one. To sit down to catch a breath was an invitation for them to come piling on. They were not mere numbers that we could brag about but little people, each one with their own story.

Some of the stories were heart breaking. Some of the kids hadn't eaten before coming because there was nothing to eat at home. Some spoke of beatings, of not knowing their fathers, of having to take care of siblings even though they themselves needed to be taken care of. In one of our morning team briefings, some team members were so moved by the plight of some of these kids that amidst prayers for each of them, tears flowed freely. It wasn't fair; they deserved to be children with all the rights, protection, and innocence that came with the experience. If only we could take them all and place them in a secure environment where they could be themselves without the worry of hunger, beatings, or too much responsibilities.

On the morning we taught them about love for self, they repeated some affirming words: &quot;I am special&quot;, &quot;I am blessed&quot;, &quot;I am smart&quot;, &quot;I am a child of God&quot;, &quot;There is no one like me&quot;, &quot;I can be anything I want to be&quot;, among others. The voices rose with each repetition, and I recall watching their faces and thinking that if one child remembered any of those things in the months and years ahead, this trip would have been well worth it. If Jamaica was to change the culture of divisiveness, violence, entitlement, fatherless homes, young ladies without a sense of self and self-respect, among other things, this was the generation that was going to do it. We had better pay attention or risk them repeating the mistakes of the generations before them.

Marcus Garvey reminds us, &quot;If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.&quot; That's why we were there; to instill confidence in self and God. With that combination, anything is possible to the one who believes. We tried our best to tell them that.

[applepie]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Love the pictures of the children and your reflections. Thanks very much for sharing.

[evanovitch]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

nice CEW , as usual

[annshan2]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

lovely ((ChurchDude))

[Stormmey]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Reading along here CD and loving the message your Reflections are imparting. Keep it coming

[Magician]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

What a inspiring report CEW!

Sounds like 4 days is hardly long nuff!
Next year unu need to spend a month.
I'm sure there's lessons to be taught (and learned) for the duration.

So what happens at a briefing?

[Magician]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the group leader would push everybody away and say &quot;Mi want wan wid mi wan&quot;. </div></div>

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<span style="font-weight: bold">applepie, vannie, AnnShan2, Stormmey1:</span> Good to know you guys are enjoying the report. Thanks for stopping by and keeping my company. Much appreciated

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix_de_PM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What a inspiring report CEW!

Sounds like 4 days is hardly long nuff!
Next year unu need to spend a month.
I'm sure there's lessons to be taught (and learned) for the duration.</div></div>
Thanks, Magix. The four days wasn't near long enough, but I'm amazed at how much we got done in that time. Next October, God willing, we're scheduled to be in Zambia for two weeks and that should be very interesting.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So what happens at a briefing? </div></div>
This is where as a team we go over what we want to do that day, who is going to do what, probably how we're going to do it, that kind of thing. One of the goal is to ensure that we're all on the same page, so to speak.

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

Of course, as great as VBS was, it wasn't the only thing going on. One of the ladies in the group was hosting pre-service women's only meetings discussing the practicalities that came with being a Christian woman, wife, mother, among other things. Of course, I didn't sit in on these meeting but heard that they went extremely well. I quite like the idea of having these small group meetings because women got a chance to share things among themselves that we men couldn't/wouldn't understand. Definitely something that will be a part of future missions.

While the women were doing their thing in the sanctuary, a couple of us guys were spending time sharing with new believers. Introducing people to the faith is at the heart of missions, and it was an incredible opportunity to have shared &quot;Chrisitanity 101&quot; with these converts. I think of Stacy (not her real name) very often. A delightful and intelligent woman to speak with, she was in a relationship with her partner for over 20 years, had two children with him, but he had no desire to marry despite there being no doubt in her mind that he loved her. In her words, he was a &quot;good man&quot; and an &quot;excellent father&quot;, not only to the two kids they shared but the two she had when she met him. Those two were babies then. She wasn't comfortable with their living situation, but was not willing to abandon her faith to stay in the relationship though she dearly wanted to keep her family together. I admired the strength of her convictions though it was obvious she was a woman in conflict. Yet there was a peace about her that made me think everything would work out right for her. She is working the situation though with the local pastor, and I believe we will hear of a happy ending

Then of course, there were the services I always look forward to these and as you guys know from previous reports, I think Jamaican worship services are among the best anywhere. From Sunday night onwards, Tryall AOG didn't disappoint. Packed and overflowing every night, these people - led by the local worship leaders - knew how to have a praise party! Services started at 7:30 p.m. and the singing/praising would last until well past 9:00 some nights. This after a day working with the kids! Yet, as the &quot;inner man&quot; was refreshed so it seemed the &quot;outward man&quot; was also refreshed. It brought to mind the opening verses of Psalm 34, &quot;I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.&quot; To praise wasn't about a feeling; it was a decision we make regardless of how we feel and inspite of whatever else that is going on.

And there were the testimonies. The usual suspects were still at it and even before some of them opened their mouths, I had started to chuckle. The one that really had me laughing tears was from a guy who on this night said words to the effect: &quot;Praise di Lawd, saints. Mi nuh need nuh baddi fi tell mi fi praize di lawd becawse mi kno' mi bless. Mi have wan shap and mi kno' seh if God nuh sen smaddi fi buy, Him will sen smaddi fi chuss!&quot; Laughing spoil, and thinking about it now still provokes . But, I loved his faith and the simplicity and sincerity (he wasn't laughing) with which he shared his reality.

One other thing that was really cool was that every year they seemed to have a couple of songs that I absolutely love. They sung them in patois so it took a while to figure the words out, but the two that really got people on their feet and moving were &quot;Massa God a God&quot;, and &quot;He's My Daddy-O.&quot; As a matter of fact, those two songs closed every service, with some of the folks coming down front and dancing up a storm, Sometimes they would grab a hold of different people, and it wasn't unusual to see little groups hugging and dancing all over the floor. It was great; we danced with them and I loved every minute of it.

<span style="font-weight: bold">ETA:</span> I got these end of service pics from another team member.

[Magician]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Next October, God willing, we're scheduled to be in Zambia for two weeks and that should be very interesting.</div></div>

Make sure you take time to visit Vic Falls and post a trip report!

[QK13]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Amazing what you can pack into 4 days don't? I haven't even thought about a 4 day trip since they quit flying non-stop outta Boston!

[Magician]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q.K</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...since they quit flying non-stop outta Boston! </div></div>

Bwaii QK is grudge yuh really grudge AirJ fi stranding yuh a Boston, don't? Every week yuh a grumble pon dem and is how much years now that route cancel!

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Lunch time at VBS. On this day, every child got one cheese and one tuna sandwich plus drink. To keep things organized, the helpers told them only the kids seated would be served. It worked.








Funnily enough, after day one, the kids said they wanted these &quot;bag juices&quot; and they wanted them frozen.