And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

[JamBrit]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="color: #000066">Well wishes to mom....((((CD))))

Great pics so far...love the one of the falls and though I don't like spiders, that picture is awesome!! </span></span></span>

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives


Love the roof...






First saw these at YS Falls some years ago and now there seems to be a prolifertion of them everywhere. They do make for good pictures.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

After several hours spent eating mangoes, climbing the falls, swimming, lazing around, being mindful of the time and the full day ahead of us the next day, it was time to go. I had spent the entire time with my camera, shooting pictures of team members in the different activities. Places like these I am good for a couple of hours before boredom starts to set in, especially under the hot Jamaican sun. I tend to get headaches when in the sun for long periods so I try not to stay in it for too long. So while team members were doing their thing, I was content with being the camera guy.

So here we were, thousands of miles from our church back in Canada and who do we run into? A friend from the church and her daughter who were in JA visiting relatives! Like, what are the odds???? It was quite the surprise but thankfully we weren't doing anything illegal.


Mission newbies...


Loved the greenery...


Restrictions everywhere...

Of course, once we hit the road we had to find somewhere to eat.




I've never seen meat being jerked under two sheets of zinc. It was really cool and the jerk pork was awesome!


&quot;Team bonding&quot;

[Bandana]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

Wonderful pictures, so bright and vibrant!!

Can't wait to read and see more!

[Compry]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wonderful pictures, so bright and vibrant!!

</div></div>

Agree...ChurchDude what type of camera do you have?

I am looking forward to the VBS pics.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JamBrit</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="color: #000066">Well wishes to mom....((((CD))))

Great pics so far...love the one of the falls and though I don't like spiders, that picture is awesome!! </span></span></span> </div></div>
Thanks for the wishes and for tagging along. Much appreciated.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wonderful pictures, so bright and vibrant!!

Can't wait to read and see more! </div></div>
Hey Bandi, it's been a while! Thanks for stopping in and for being so sweet (((Bandi)))

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wonderful pictures, so bright and vibrant!!

</div></div>

Agree...ChurchDude what type of camera do you have?

I am looking forward to the VBS pics. </div></div>
Thanks for stopping in. Same camera - Olympus E500 Digitial SLR. By camera standards, it is a &quot;senior citizen&quot; but it is such a terrific camera, I am reluctant to part with it. VBS was a blast and those pics are coming up.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

As in previous years, I am all about the journey, the people, and things that happen on these mission trips. Now that our one day of &quot;tourist&quot; activity was out of the way, it was time to focus on the reason why we were on the island. As always, feel free to skip over the personal reflections.

Sunday morning started off with complimentary breakfast from Ocean Breeze's management, and that was awesome. This year we had negotiated that into our package, this being our third year at the hotel. As was the case on Sunday mornings, the team would be spread over multiple churches and it was my privilege, accompanied by two team members, to be going back to the Treasure Beach AOG. It was a thrill meeting up again with Pastor Campbell and his lovely wife, along with the wonderful congregation that I have connected with on a number of levels.

Reconnecting with the people I met on previous trips is something I loook forward to. This was like my home church whenever I am on the island and the lovely reception from the people there confirmed that we had become more than passing acquaintances. In 2008 we sponsored two girls to youth camp, and it was a treat meeting up with them and seeing how active they were in different ministries in the church. It was greatly encouraging to know that the seeds planted in their lives were bearing good fruit. We had an excellent service that morning.

In the hours before the night service, I was on edge. I had been replaying different testimonies in my head from previous services and I wonder what good stories we would be hearing. As was the case at Treasure Beach, the reception from the folks in Tryall was like people greeting old friends. They were still &quot;simple&quot; folks wwith the same passion for God that I had come to admire. As the service progressed, it reawakened in me the longing for what they had; the simplicty of worship and the child-like faith that is such an integral part of walking in victory in the christian experience. Spending a week with them was going to be a blast and I was looking forward to it.

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

Boy, we were excited. Group devotions at 6:30 and like good troopers everyone flocked to Command Central, my room. This was where we ate, talked, prayed, cried, and reflected. We learned some important lessons in 2009 and though VBS was scheduled to start @ 9:00, we wanted to get there for 8:00 to meet with the helpers and do some prep work. Armed with working material we left the hotel at 7:30 and made it to the church for 8:00. As was the case last year, we would be providing every child lunch every day - a gesture made possible through fundraising we did back in Toronto.

The kids started rolling in by 8:30. Last year we had 105 on the first day and we were a bit overwhelmed as we were expecting 30-40. What started out as a trickle became a steady stream and by the time we got started we had registered 119 kids! We were in awe but we loved it! With the volunteers in place we were ready for them and with that, VBS 2010 was off and running.

What follows are some of the many pictures and video clips captured over the days, along with anecdotes and reflections from VBS as well as the services.


Getting things ready...


This would be the 6 and under group...


Registration


They were still not camera shy. Team Rosetta members were the kids between ages 6 and 10.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives


Such great smiles...




My drummer friend Junior (blue shirt) and his brother. He is a great kid and that smile is so typical of most of the kids we interacted with. Not much had changed with Junior; he was still shy but it was so good to see him back again for another year. Check out his story from last year.


A surreal moment - all paying attention.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

VBS ran from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon and was a buzz of activity at any given time. From formal lessons to impromptu talent display, the kids were always engaged. And they loved it. We couldn't help but notice that even though they were from different parts of the community and different churches, they all got along. If only the adults could follow the kids' example, Jamaica would be an even greater place.

In this video they are singing the old favorite - &quot;Love is a Flag&quot;
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Qv7rcI8kxQ"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Qv7rcI8kxQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

Here they are singing the theme song - &quot;One True God.&quot; It didn't take them long to learn it; this was on the second day.
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8LvwSwAPF_w"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8LvwSwAPF_w" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

This year's theme was centered on the story of Joseph in Egypt and some of the primary lessons we wanted to convey were God gives us hope, a future, gifts, and wisdom. Basically, with God given gifts and wisdom we could succeed and make a difference in the world. Secondly, no matter how difficult the circumstances, God's plan for our lives includes giving us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). These were important lessons we would reinforce over the next several of days.

Going through the lesson in a practical way. Note the coat of many colors...



Mmm....planning something sinister, it seems. A very bright kid nevertheless....


What would Egypt be without mummies! These ones are wrapped in toilet tissue.

How it's done
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RJThftPz1k0"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RJThftPz1k0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>


This is what happens when the mummy is wrapped at the wrong end of the room!

Or when you need to move them...
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5Gk0BwWh58"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5Gk0BwWh58" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

[Jazz]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

CEW I always look forward to your reports... Fantastic narrating (not lazy like me)... Stunning pictures and OH I just so LOVE the pictures of the children - I always leave feeling warm and uplifted

Carry on - I am along for the ride!!! (mussi mi Bizi ah trow wud afta )

[sistactry]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

soo sorry to hear about ur Mom~

CD, ur pics and narration are fantastic,

cant wait to see the rest of your pics..........i remember pics of the children from last year, and cant wait to see them again this year....btw, great job, good vibes, what cudda nicer!!

[Bandana]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wonderful pictures, so bright and vibrant!!

Can't wait to read and see more! </div></div>
Hey Bandi, it's been a while! Thanks for stopping in and for being so sweet (((Bandi))) </div></div>





Love the kids singing and dancing and @ Mummy Carry

Great stuff CEW