Day 6 - Something Like Yesterday

We once again broke into 3 teams and did a VBS, worked at and orphanage and tiled at a deaf school. Here are some more stories:

Lisa Rice

Today about 12 of our team had the opportunity to go to Blossom Garden Children's Center, an orphanage not far from our hotel. We ran a VBS for all the toddlers and young pre school kids. The kids loved to sing and to play the parachute game. It was so much fun playing with all the kids and connecting with them. It was amazing that all you had to do was hold the kids or just stand near them and they were happy. You can tell that all the kids needed was love. They were all so welcoming and wanted to be held. When you would hold the kids they would start laughing and get a big smile on their face but the instant you tried to put them down they would grab on to your clothes and start screaming. Leaving the orphanage was the hardest thing I had to do on this trip. I wish I could've spent more time at the orphanage with the kids.

Olivia Booth

Hey what up, mon?? Today we bob-sledded down to our first VBS and played with all the little tikes from the neighborhood. As our usual day goes, we had games, music, a puppet show, more music, a craft, and then went outside with the kids and played soccer, football, and all sorts of games. At our second VBS, as soon as we got there we realized, due to a miscommunication, that our puppet team forgot the puppets which was going to be our whole message for the day. So Jack told everyone to just go and play with the kids and left it to me to figure out what our message was gonna be. I looked around at what we had to work with and I saw a bucket and some sponges, asked Kenton if he was ok with washing feet, and decided on the Jesus washing the disciples feet from John 13. The program actually went really well for how short of time we had to prepare. The kids seemed to really enjoy the fact that Kenton had to wash a bunch of stinky sweaty feet! After that we just played tons and tons of soccer, until magically all most ALL of our soccer balls disappeared. Jack tracked one down by chasing a group of kids down two streets into an alley way, pretty crazy stuff. But this whole trip has been an awesome growing experience with God and with my group. God has really showed me how to be grateful for everything I have and for who he has put in my life.

Kari Shaw

Today was our second day at the deaf school, Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf, JCSD. It has been nice to see how well kept up the school is and how nice the facilities are. They definitely have a great deal of need though, including new swings, computers, school supplies as well as funds for a new building for the staff. Currently the staff lives in the dorms with the children. There are 37 children at the school, which is one of 12 deaf schools on the island. The families of these children could not afford the cost of boarding school, so JCSD depends on support from individuals and churches.

We were able to finish setting tile in the two bathrooms and will send a few people to grout tomorrow. We also spent time with O.B., Matthew, Amanda and another deaf girl named Shawna May. It has been a little difficult for us to communicate with the two deaf children (O.B. and Shawna May), but our team members have been very diligent to keep trying and have had some quality time with these children. The girls, Allison G., Kaylee, Kelsey, and Victoria did crafts and chalk with the kids. The Mike and Connor played frisbee and soccer with O.B. All of them helped on the work project with great attitudes as well. It has been a privilege to serve with them. It was hard for all of us to leave today. We have met new friends that we will never forget. We hope that the bathroom tile, toys, and crafts we left will be a reminder to them of the people who love God and love them.