(May 12, 2008) — Serving Jamaica changes you. Serving anyone changes you, of course. But there’s something about being part of a massive operation, in which everywhere you turn you see lives being transformed. Lives of Jamaicans. Lives of Americans.
Some of us may not return physically to this beautiful jewel in the Caribbean. But we will never really ever say goodbye. Thank you, readers, for letting us share a bit of our wonderful experience there. Thank you for letting us come, Jamaica.
(May 6, 2008) — Back home, it feels like a dream.
Did we really take nearly 300 volunteers from San Diego to Jamaica? Did we really bring to that beautiful western Caribbean island $5 million in healthcare and equipment? Did we really draw 75,000 people to two nights of concerts and gospel? Did we really get home safe and sound? How did we do that? In fact, a tally of what the Miles Ahead teams accomplished may make you tired just thinking about it!
Medical
• The medical team came with the ability to provide more than $5 million in free medical care and equipment to 10,000 people in four free clinics. More than 6,000 patients were treated.
• The 80 professionals included specialists in the areas of dental, optometry, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, internal medicine, pathology and physical therapy.
• The team brought a portable pathology lab, enabling the pathologist to process some 172 pap smears within 24 hours.
• An estimate $325,000 in pharmaceuticals and drugs were administered free; and $74,500 worth of eye glasses were given out.
Construction
• At least 60 volunteers tackled two primary and junior high school projects, donating thousands of dollars in materials and uncounted hours of labor.
• The construction team focused on the repainting and renovation of one school; and the building of a 400-foot-long wall around the school, plus the renovation of its student lavatories.
• The lavatories were nonfunctioning; the team replumbed the site and replaced the commodes, painted the interiors and installed lighting (there had been none); and hung doors on the stalls.
Assemblies, Sports, Outreach
• Forty volunteers performed at school assemblies throughout Montego Bay to promote education and making good life choices.
• A team of deaf and interpreters held a class in deaf education.
• Three dozen volunteers hosted children’s programs in parks after the school day.
• About 40 volunteers hit the streets to talk with people and share the love of Jesus Christ.
• Sports clinics were hosted throughout the community by 40 athletes, in addition to a free exhibition soccer game and a free exhibition basketball game.
• Athletes included a former NBA professional basketball player and NFL American football player, along with former Jamaica national football (soccer) stars Warren Barrett, a former national captain, and Paul “Tegat” Davis, a formidable striker.
• A media team created this site, www.MilesAhead.tv, on the fly during the ministry week; shot eight videos; took thousands of photographs, issued two dozen news releases, supported daily presentations, and orchestrated two mights of live-streamed concerts.
Two Days of Festival
• Two free daylong festivals including a family fun zone; a food court; a huge Extreme Sports Park including skateboard and motorcycle stunts; and a Community Care Area, providing information and health screenings.
• Both festivals culminated in a huge concert featuring top Caribbean and American artists headling the festivals, including Papa San, Israel Houghton and New Breed, Carlene Davis, Omari, Prodigal Son, New Generation and TobyMac.
• Evangelist Miles McPherson spoke about the love of God to the crowd, which Jamaica authorities estimated at a total of 75,000.
• Volunteers registered 3,515 decision cards (individually completed to signal one’s faith in Jesus Christ), and handed out 6,000 copies of 21 Jump-Start devotional books, written by McPherson.
Of course, statistics don’t tell the stories, thousands of them, of how individual lives were changes. This blog could go on forever…
