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
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.
When we arrived at Flankers School, the atmosphere was buzzing. The 50 volunteers had gotten there an hour before us, but were in a holding pattern due to the fact that the supplies had not been delivered yet. So, they followed the number one commandment of mission work Blessed are the Flexible and made themselves useful by picking up trash and talking with the locals who had gathered to see what the raucous was about. Kevin Loomis, the general manager of the construction projects spoke with us about what they hoped to accomplish at Flankers campus. Not able to stand still, I could see the excitement pulsing through his body. He told us of the thousands of dollars worth of supplies that were donated to the project, and of the murals that were going to be created around three themes; the nation’s seven heroes, the children’s favorite cartoon characters (Sponge Bob…really?) and corresponding biblical scripture. Then Kevin introduced us to the principal of Flankers School, Hugh Miller. A humble and focused man, Mr. Miller left a lasting impact on me. While small in stature, his persona emitted power and respect. Immediately I could tell he was someone of influence in the community. He spoke of the needs of the community and the ways his staff has served; but that they need so much more. He said the Miles Ahead service project has been an answer to years of prayer. After 20 years of serving at Flankers, he said this would be his first Labor Day (their national independence holiday) that he would NOT have to spend on the school grounds. Every other year he has stayed on campus to conduct repairs and restorations. But this year, because of Miles Ahead’s efforts, he will be able to spend the holiday with his family. Incredible. My parting thought is not that Miles Ahead helped him, but that he has helped so many students and family of which he probably wont receive the appreciation for. He truly blessed me today. Thank You Mr. Miller. You are loved.
T. Teves
