So after our first day of visiting some of the high schools around Montego Bay, part of the School Assembly team went to help out the community projects team at Flankers Middle School. We seriously hit the ground running! We teamed up with our paint brushes, buckets of paints and scrappers to get to work. The members of the community team were sooo grateful for our presences. They told us about how they had waited hours and hours before even getting any supplies to begin working on the school, so they felt behind schedule in some ways.
We had no problem jumping in to things and trying our best to paint, sweep and clean as much as we get them caught up. But here’s the thing! The Sunday before most of us from our school assembly team went to church and learned a song by a young boy, about eight year’s old and his even younger sister. The song simply included the lyrics…”I’m walkin’ n talkin’ with my minddd…SET ON JESUS!” y this young boy sang this song with some much pride and joy and absolute conviction that it reminded us that any and all things we do should be done with our mind’s SET ON JESUS!
So while we were out in the blazing heating, working and working and working some more we found is necessary to start singing “We’re painting and sweating with our mind…SET ON JESUS!” and doing this seriously just lifted every one’s spirit’s and made working and sweating a joy! Sounds crazy, yes I know, but just in everything you do…do it with your mind….SET ON JESUS!
Blessings!
Kaye (School Asembly GROUP BEEEEE!!!!!!! (B) )
Hello. I’m Kaitlyn. I’m about to be 17 and this is my first missions trip. We went to an all girl’s school today and there were 300+ girls. It was scary, nerve racking yet, AMAZING! We did our skit called “Lifehouse Skit” and they loved it. I was also asked to share my testimony, which I’ve never done in front of a group larger then like, 3 people. . so it was quite scary. I gave just a snip it of my testimony and just wanted to let the girls know that no matter what has happened in their life, no matter what might happen, and the things that God has in store for them; GOD WILL ALWAYS LOVE & FORGIVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT!!! and I feel that that is the the message God has put on my heart to tell the kids of Jamaica. So today alone, made this entire trip worth it.
Pastor D began to give a mini-message and it went into the same thing I was saying. He began to tell them how God has a plan for each and everyone of them and how God created them to be a masterpiece. He said Boys might tell us young ladies that we’re not a masterpiece and the only way we can be is if we sleep with them, but Pastor D had all of us hold our hands out and say “pahhhh-leease!” We are masterpieces of Christ Jesus. It was even a good lesson for us on the team to hear as well because it reminds us that we are virtuous women as well. Praise God!
Kaitlyn Kohn. [School Assemblies _ team B! ]
PS : THIS IS ONLY ONE STORY & ITS ONLY TUESDAY
Last week, my husband & I kept checking the weather in Jamaica. Every time we saw the chance of T-Storms get higher. “But we are painting a school next week, Lord,” I kept saying. But I can’t control the weather, but God can. So we told everyone we spoke to, to pray for the rain to stay away even if it was just over the school we were painting. And our community projects team was praying too.
Well, yesterday was completly dry. Which was such a blessing as we started the day a little behind schedule as our painting supplies arrived hours late. Today, I kept getting calls from other teams saying it was raining where they were at. But it was not raining at our school, Flankers. It finally rained at 4:30 today. While a couple areas on some murals got a little runny–overall, the delay in rain helped us get the majority of the painting done. Rain during the day could have ruined the project or at least greatly delayed us. Amen! God answered our prayers. Tomorrow, we should finish the project on time.
How can you capture the events of the first 2 days of this outreach in one entry?
The entire children’s ministry team arrived by Saturday, April 26, 2008. Though most of the faces appeared to be deshoveled, everyone was eager to partake in the week’s agenda. One of the first treats of the week was a visit to The Meeting Place, a church not too far away from Rosehall Resort. As soon as the team stepped off the bus, ushers greeted everyone with smiles, hugs and kisses. What a welcome. What a difference from American culture. After church, the team was free to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and prepare for Monday.
The children’s team of 27 was split up into two groups in order to reach more schools each day. Hosanna Preperatory was one of the first schools visited. Prior to arrival, we were told to expect approximately 30-some children. Clearly, we were in for a surprise and an experience that would show us all the more that God is in control. As the principal stepped out of the school house, something resembling an unfinished brick building “about 120 children” was the response given when asked how many children attended the school. A complete reorder and prep for that many bodies was in order. When everyone came together and the children settled down before us, we proceeded to talk about how Jesus is our friend forever, the children’s ministry team’s theme for the outreach. We quickly noticed that although the children knew the Bible very well, probably better than most of us, the concept of having a relationship with Christ was not entirely understood. “Talking to Jesus like you talk to your friends or family members” was an idea presented to the children. Once again, it was to emphasize that Jesus wants to be our friend forever and we can talk to him just like we talk to our friends to help build that relationship.
As we boarded the bus to head to the next school, New Haven Children’s Home, sad faces followed us out and waved goodbye. If another moment could have been spared to spend just a few more minutes with these children, we would have. However, nothing could have prepared us for what was waiting at New Haven. Little information was given about this home and it seemed the bus driver and local guide knew exactly where we were heading. As we pulled up to the gate and drove into the driveway, we began to see who lived there. The children of this home suffered from every possible illness and more. Team members found it difficult to hold back tears as they stepped off the bus and began to immerse themselves in the environment these children live in. One of the most memorable highlights of this visit was that the children of this home knew modern praise songs. As soon as the radio turned on, everyone, the team and nurses included began to dance and sing alongside the kids. What was supposed to be 20 minutes turned into 3 hours and lunch. It was a complete blessing that more time (definitely not enough) was given. We didn’t have to scramble for more supplies because these children just wanted to be held, touched, played with and loved. They were so simple and impacted our lives in more ways than one.
Our last stop of the day was the Safety House, a juvenile boys’ home. The age of these boys ranged from 4 to 18. As soon as the boys turned 18, they were found jobs and sent out to live on their own. We were a little concerned with the general demographics of these boys, but once again to our surprise they were completely receptive to our presence. We had a lot of fun singing praise songs, playing games and spreading the gospel through a couple who teaches using balloons. Even though these boys have experienced much in their young lives, they too just wanted to be loved. Many were curious of our home and asked questions regarding the week’s events and the crusade. Hopefully, their confinement to the compounds will be loosened so they, too can hear more of the gospel at Pastor Miles’ crusade on Friday and Saturday.
It has been an incredible first two days. The rest of the week still stands before us with many more humbling moments. Why we were called to come out here to this particular outreach, we will never know. However, God continues to show us more of who He is through our teamwork and through these children who have one major thing in common with us: the love of Jesus Christ.
Today I was blessed with the opportunity to go to an orphanage for children with severe mental and physical disabilities. While there I stumbled upon several young boys who were bedridden for several different reasons. I found myself filled with frustration as I could not imagine why God would allow these poor children to have to live like this. I was praying over a young man named Marlin. Marlin is a 17 year old boy who is dying of cancer. His nurse told me of a beautiful young man who used to love to run, jump, and play, but over the past year his health has declined, and recently he has not been able to move from his bed due to his advanced cancer. At this point they are just waiting for Marlin to pass. I spent majority of my time sitting by Marlin’s bed holding his hands and praying for him. I talked to him about Jesus and told him about the mansion that the Lord has waiting for him and how the angels that will meet him and how he is going to have a new body, no pain, and be reunited with his friends and family, and one day I will meet him there again too. I stopped talking to him for a while so that he could rest. I finally asked, “Marlin, are you trying to sleep?” He lifted his finger and waved it back and forth to say, “No”. I had to laugh to myself as it was like a mother shaking her finger to say “no, no, no, my child” Then I asked him, do you want me to talk to you, if yes, squeeze my hand.” He squeezed my hand. So I started to talk to him some more. I told him how blessed I was to be here and meet him. I told him that I was from California and that my friends and family made it possible for me to be here. I said, “isn’t that cool?” and he shook his head as to say yes. I was racking my brain for questions to ask him. Marlin is a twin so I started to talk to him about his twin sister. All of the sudden he started to talk to me. He started answering questions I asked, and then asked me to rub his back. I felt so honored that after all this time of a group of us praying over him and the other boys that he choose to talk to ME, but he wanted me to rub his back?! Normally, rubbing someone’s back would not be an issue, but I have to say I was caught of gaurd and even scared to rub Marlin’s back as he has a huge tumor growing in his lower back and on his neck. I think more than anything I was scared to hurt him or his incredibly fragile body (he was literal “skin and bones” where the cancer had not grown in a mass form). I sat on my knees rubbing Marlin’s back for a while, to the point that my legs were in pain. As I felt the pain in my legs all I could do was pray and thank God that I had know idea what TRUE pain is. From what Marlin’s nurse says, he is in intense pain, which I can only imagine. Throughout my time with Marlin I was completely redused to tears. There were times when I could not even talk to him because I could not stop crying long enough. My heart just broke for him. I wanted to touch him like one of Jesus’ diciples and heal him on his bed. Ultimately, I had to realize that all I could do is hold him and pray for him. I gave him my Jamaica bracelet before I left. I explained to him that I have been wearing it for the past few months to remind me and my friends to pray for the people/country of Jamaica. I explained that the other side of the bracelet said “Miles Ahead” and that was who I was here with and that it could remind him of me. I figured it would be a good reminder for each of us to pray for each other. While I my heart still breaks for Marlin and all of these bedridden and disabled children, I have now come to realize that one reason God allows these children to experience life in this way to help humble me, and others who have come before, and who will come behind me. I sit here tonight completely humble, never wanting to complain about pain again, while axiously await the day I get to see Marlin in Heaven sitting on Jesus lap wraped in His arms of love.
Each morning the Hotel serves up a celebrity breakfast buffet. We hear it’s the best breakfast in Jamaica, perhaps even the world. But the Rock youth didn’t travel to Jamaica to eat french toast and waffles, they came to go visit schools. It was 6am and our team of Jr. high-through college age students were heading out to do another school assembly and see what adventure the day had in store. Our bus driver doubled as our morning workout instructor, as he nearly took out a dozen early morning pedestrians giving us reason to believe the lord was already going before us. An hour later we arrived at Farm School, the first school of our day. We rolled up where our bus was surrounded by hundreds of smiling faces dressed in army style issued school attire. Our team was ready to meet and make little Jamaican friends and learn what the spiritual gift of flexibility. At this moment our students realized the possibility that in just a few minutes, they would get the chance to perform the skits they had practiced for months, share their 3-5 minute testimony or transform into a worship team and lead out in songs. They were ready for all the above and we usually found out what we would be able to pull off as we walked into the school yard just seconds before “GO” time. With a mic in one hand and a stick in the other, the school director commanded silence to a courtyard of 100’s of students. And like seasoned missionaries and trained thesbians our students performed their skit, followed with a few testimonies, a rap, a stunt and a “who’s the man…Jesus”, a few minutes later we were done, but a lifelong experience had been solidified in both their students lives and in the lives of our Rock Youth students. I could list a hundred things our students learned but it was one of those things where you just had to be there to get the full experience. We loaded up and I could tell that there was a maturity in our bus. A spiritual notch on their belts that they each shared. Perhaps it was the simple miracle of getting there, a smile on a kids face or the willingness to step out grab the mic and share their story and life with 100’s of faces, I am positive that memories were solidified in every students hearts today, and it was only 10Am. Thanks for helping our students get to Jamaica!
Dru Teves
Jr. high youth pastor
Steve Poppert is used to running big projects efficiently.
So when the paint for the Miles Ahead painting project at Flankers School in Montego Bay wasn’t delivered at the start of the work day, Poppert, a busy San Diego contractor, knew he could react in either of two ways. He could blow up, or look for a blessing.
He chose the latter, and here’s the blessing he found. In the five hours that went by before the paint showed up, Poppert’s 50 or so volunteers cheerfully began to look for ways to redeem the time. Without complaint, “they started to think of plans themselves,” said Poppert, a friendly barrel-chested man who looks as he’s used to working outdoors. “Somebody came up with the idea of cleaning up the school yard. They started picking up rocks and broken concrete. Someone found a broom and began to sweep. They pulled weeds. It’s neat to see.”
The “God moment” is why he volunteers on a regular basis. “I love watching people become empowered by these situations. You have people who have never gotten into this sort of work, and it pulls them out of their comfort zone.”
He was pulled out of his comfort zone many years ago, and now regularly “gives back what the Lord has given him. God wants us to be the body together,” he said. In fact, he has a construction operation that donates time and materials for needy projects. “I see a light switch come on in them. They suddenly get it.”
The Lord moves in amazing ways, and the enemy is tricky when you are out on the street. Meeting and sharing with the people of Jamaica has been extremely exciting. When sharing on the streets, I’ve experienced spiritual battles that I’ve never experienced before. It creates emotional highs and emotional lows, but through it all its a total blessing.
First thing when we arrived on the street Monday morning, we took off down the street in teams to pass out fliers to the events. The people here are spectacular. Everyone here loves to share their culture, and they are very proud of their culture. Right off the bat, a very aggressive Rastafarian was explaining to me HIS beliefs. One day maybe we’ll talk again, but in the end, I told him the Jesus I know and love is not the one he is describing! Later that morning, we found a little girl who was absolutely gorgeous. We were able to take pictures and attempt to give her toys. One of the women in our group talked with her mom and the conversation ended with Lynn praying with the woman (Suzie) giving her life to Christ!
Our second trip out Monday afternoon, was amazing! People were getting off of work, and obviously more relaxed. A young lady named Dominique stopped by and shared with us her excitement with the event here and in Kingston where her family lives. She’s a college student, and she’s planning on attending the Firday event because “That is the night with the best music”.
All in all, there are emotional highs and lows, but in the end it was fantastic to do the Lord’s work! We’re here for Him, but he’s working on me as well!
Mike
Wow what a day. Ok so this was the day that we had the most schools with little time to get to and from each school and we didn’t know what to expect. We arrived at Herbert Morrison School. We waited around for a contact person. After about 10 minutes a man came, introduced himself and then went away. When he came back he told us that we could not speak. He said, “we have trouble.” Apparently we needed to be wearing long pants and dresses. So, the first school we were sent away…but God is so good because we were still able to stand out front and speak with the kids one-on-one. That was a huge blessing and gave us the opportunity to get our feet wet.
The next school we arrived at I decided that I would pass out the 50 pounds of candy that I brought with me. Big mistake. The kids swarmed me yelling, “Miss, Miss, please give me sweetie.” It was like 100’s of kids yelling and grabbing candy from me. In the meantime, the teachers had sticks and were hitting the kids, yelling at them to go to devotions. It was a mess. But Pastor Ricky and his team spoke and sang worship. It was wonderful.
The next stop was an orphanage for special needs kids. It was amazing. Keep in mind that we are on the school assembly team, so when we were expecting schools, and high schools at that. I walked out of the bus to a boy jumping on the bus, hugging and kissing me He kissed the camera, he kissed our hands, he kissed everyone he came in contact with! That was the start of an amazing time. The team sang, danced and loved these kids. What was so amazing is that we were loved up by them!
The next place was a place called Copes. It was a place for boys who are in trouble, abused or abandoned. It was awesome for me especially, because this place was like Polinsky Children’s Center which is San Diego’s shelter for abused and abandoned kids. At home, this is the population I work with! I got to do in Jamaica what I do at home!! I gave my testimony. First time to kids I tried to have another person do it but God wanted me so I went. He went ahead and prepared that place for me to speak. After I spoke, the rest of the team was able to interact with the boys. So many stories of abuse, neglect and crime. So many boys who have raped, beaten, stole, and done drugs. So many stories of boys who were abused themselves, or abandoned by their mother and fathers.
Even more stories of boys who now love Jesus. So many who have turned their lives away from the world and to God. They still have no family, but they showed us that they have hope in Christ. It was an amazing day. The kids were so wonderful and happy to have people to talk with them. God showed up today in a mighty way.
Thank you for your time. God Bless.
My name is Kelly and I am serving on the school assemblies team. Today was our first day going out to schools and nothing went that way we expected. One school would not allow us to speak, and the other was a school that we later discovered we should not have been at. This school was a huge joy for us! It was an elementary school with students who were filled with joy from something as simple as a hug. We got out of the van, and it seemed impossible to even get back in it. My teammates and I were all surrounded by children the second our feet touched the ground. We got out of te van no problem, but getting back in it is hat seemed to take a lfe time. They were either pulling us away from the van, or shoving hemselves into it. They acted as if they never wanted us to leave their side.
All we had to do is hug a child, and their day was filled with joy and excitement. One of our teammates pulled out candy, and she could not go anywhere without at least 50 kids surrounding her. Us simply being there and showing them attention filled their day with joy. We began to sing worship songs they were familiar with and I was overwhelmed with the love of God. I have not been able to feel God’s love that strong since I was a child myself. The best part about this story is that was only the beginning of my day, and today was only the beginning of what I’ll be blessed with experiencing this week! I can’t wait for my teammates and me to experience God through serving him the remainder of this week! The devil thought he was messing up our entire day by the way it began, but all he really wound up doing was creating a day that changed our lives!
