Thank You for Taking Stock in our Youth

We're back in the US! Customs has been cleared, bags have been rechecked, and the crew is busy saying "thank you" to the hundreds of you that took stock in our youth this year. As you read the stories in the blog below please know that none of this would be possible without your support. Your giving has made a huge difference in the lives of our youth and in the lives of many in Jamaica. Thank you!

The Long Journey Home Begins

We have a 17+ hour travel day ahead of us.  Here's our schedule in CST (assuming nothing is delayed, of course):

8:30am - meet for breakfast and check out of rooms
9am - board bus to shuttle from Negril to Montego Bay
10:30am - check in at MBJ airport
1:45pm - depart MBJ
4:30pm - arrive ATL and go through US Customs
9pm - depart ATL
11:45pm - arrive MSP
12:15am - load vehicles to travel home
1:45am - back to the ZLC parking lot

Yesterday was a wonderful final day together.  We met at 10am and headed out on a 2 mile walk down the beach to the open air market to pick up some souvenirs.  It has been hot everyday, but yesterday seemed even hotter than the days before.  While in the shops one of our girls passed out from the extreme heat.  Thankfully her friends were right there to hold her up and lower her to the ground.  Other friends managed to run and find a gatorade in less than a minute.  She's doing just fine now, but through the entire experience we got to see the best of the Jamaican culture.  While at the open air market all of the individual shop owners constantly call out to get you to come into their shop to buy their items.  As soon as one of our kids was in need their goal instantly changed and they came running from each of their shops to help out -- laying down a beach towel, fanning her for a half hour, giving us bottles of water that they were selling and refusing to let us pay for them, bringing over a damp rag for her forehead, and letting us use their cell phone to call for a ride back to the hotel. The situation gave the group a good perspective into how a communal culture works together when someone is in need.
 
Our afternoon was spent out in the water or along the beach with a good book.  Kids tried kayaking, sailing with Bob, and paddle boarding.  After another delicious dinner we enjoyed a live Jamaican reggae band.  The highlight was definitely watching a Jamaican man attempt to teach the majority of our kids (and Bob & Sue) how to dance on the beach.

Parents, I will provide a travel update when we arrive in Atlanta.  Please pray for a safe journey as we travel 2,000+ miles today.

A Beautiful Evening

Enjoy some images from our beautiful evening on the beach.

our dinner view

worship on the beach

The cross above was used during one of our VBS lessons.  All of the VBS kids and all of our group signed our names on it - a meaningful focal point as we considered all the people our journeys of faith came in contact with this week.

Next Stop: Negril

Yesterday we completed our final day of serving at the Nest and putting on an amazing Vacation Bible School.  The memories we made and the people that impacted us are countless.  After a sad goodbye we boarded a couple busses and started our trek around the tip of the island to spend a few days in Negril.  We safely arrived at The Grand Pineapple Resort yesterday afternoon and settled in for a fantastic Jamaican themed dinner and some long, hot showers.  But first - a swim in the ocean was called for!  The water is as warm as bathwater and the sand is fantastic.  Glorious!  Minutes after arriving to the beach I met up with Captain Moses and was able to arrange a great deal for a group glass bottom boat tour and snorkeling.  After a good night's sleep and a made-to-order breakfast we boarded Moses' boats.  I've gone snorkeling several times here and this was by far the best experience we've had.  It was as though we were swimming right in Nemo's stomping grounds.

We're meeting for dinner in about an hour and afterwards are going to worship together on the beach.  The work and the experience at the Nest all happens so quickly and you immediately become immersed in another culture that the processing time together at the end of the week is so important.  We've spent a lot of time this week hearing about and talking about our own journeys of faith.  This evening we're going to consider what kind of an impact this trip has had on our own journey and where it might lead us next.

So long from the ocean view on my patio...  

pastor lisa

  

Feeding Babies

Our week at Robins Nest home has been filled with so many beautiful children ... including many sweet little babies. On Tuesday one of the babies needed water. Unfortunately it took me 10 minutes just to find a bottle with the matching lid. After I had gotten the bottle made, I took this little girl in my arms and let her drink. It was just the most amazing thing. She is so little and precious, it was incredible. To go along with feeding the babies, I also helped feed them breakfast on Thursday. Ella, Katy, Meredith and I started walking up the hill at 5:25 am. Before you can feed the babies, they need clean diapers (that’s a lot of diapers)! Cindy and Sam were already there changing and feeding a few of them. I got to feed little Moesha and baby Joshua ... and let me tell you, feeding Joshua is no easy task.  -Megan H.

The Most Prestigious Group at the Nest

If you read Mitch L's blog, I too stay back at the Nest while everyone leaves for VBS. Our highly prestigious group is comprised of the best corn beef and cheese & peanut and butter jelly sandwich makers you will find in a one mile radius of the kitchen. We start each day by making 150 sandwiches. Today's menu was Corn Beef and American cheese sandwiches (which are way too similar to spam for my liking), apples (if you ask a child from the nest what the know about Minnesota they will respond 'apples', so we definitely lived up to that), and a variety of Kool Aid drinks (usually the flavors are mixed to maximize the awesomeness of Kool Aid). Once we finish creating this masterpiece of a menu, we take it down to VBS to feed the masses and come back to the nest to do whatever we please (see photo below). As you can see, we lunch crew ladies definitely have the worst job.  ~Ella N.

Thanks, VBS Sponsors

Thanks to everyone who helped support our mission work this summer and sponsored a Jamaican child for Vacation Bible School this week.  It's been a wonderful experience and we couldn't have done it without all of the support we received from back home.  Catch a glimpse into our meaningful week.

Meanwhile ... Back at the Nest

While most of the group departs for VBS at 8:45am, a few people remain behind to act as the "work crew." The work crew has been working on a variety of projects, from painting to home renovation (mostly painting). Now, there's nothing wrong with painting, but there is SO MUCH TO PAINT. Every time we cross a painting project off of the list, three more take its place. 

On top of the never-ending stack of painting projects, the children at the Nest seem determined to distract us at every possible opportunity. Those who don't attend VBS are always nearby, watching us perform our duties and constantly asking, "What are you doing?" On one occasion, I was painting a railing while a curious young boy decided to stand on my back and inquire what I was doing. He remained there for a while before finally climbing down and running off. 

We've managed to get a lot done, the to-do list seems to be dwindling, and our efforts are finally paying off in the form of a more beautiful place for the children to live. We've made a lot of progress, and I hope our efforts will be appreciated and remembered for years to come.  -Bennett R.

professional painter Ann

and her apprentice Syd

Dave could work 24 hours fixing things around the Nest ... and Bennett is learning all sorts of new skills (oh, and painting, too)

Mitch's Work Day

What do you do when 35 people are running low on safe drinking water? You need to select a willing victim to stay back in the air conditioned apartment. Today the victim was me. The punishment was watching water boil. While waiting for the first 10L pot to boil, the lunch crew and I discovered that the bread which was to be used to make sandwiches was still frozen. Even though we enjoyed the coolness of the bread we knew the bread needed to be thawed in order to spread peanut butter on 150 sandwiches. The bread would take too long to thaw inside, so we decided to throw it in the Jamaican heat. But, the bread needed to be protected from the resident dog, Sheila. The solution: hang the bread on the clothesline. This bread soon became not only thawed but sun toasted. 

When the water came to a boil, I preceded to filter every drop of the water through a coffee filter. This process was slow but well worth the effort if it means no one gets a bug. I repeated this slow process three times for a total of six jugs (2L each) of clean water. Clean water is a lot of work but it is worth it. 

VBS Day 2

Enjoy some photos from VBS Day 2.  It was another great day!  As expected, more kids showed up today for the fun, the crafts, the singing, the music, the Bible stories, and the lunch.

ready and waiting for the kids to arrive

and here they all come!

 all the kids went on a journey to find the Samaritan woman at the well

the kiddos love seeing these pics of themselves up on the big screen (well, the big bed sheet) at the end of the morning 

all smiles during games

Mary Jo and Samantha led some great discussions with each of the small groups

the crafts today were a hit with all ages of kids

red rover, red rover...

Courtney O and a new partner

the theme for today: even when you're different, Jesus loves you!

the kids loved making their very own socktopus

VBS Day 1: Success!

Day one of VBS is complete.  It was a great morning, but oddly enough there was nothing chaotic about it.  Perhaps this is what happens when you have done something before and know which tricks to come prepared with!  It is also a testament to the fantastic adult and youth leaders that are along on this trip.  Everybody chipped in and did their part on their team, and together we pulled it off.  Throughout the course of the morning about 40-50 Jamaican kids showed up to learn today’s theme: even when you’re left out ... Jesus loves you!

Cailyn J., Jonah A., and Sue J. had all the kids' attention during Bible story time

Allison R. sat down with this young boy and talked with him about the ways God made him special and unique

 whether you're from Jamaica or the US ... games are always fun!

everyone had a great morning

Meredith G. made a special friend

One of my favorite things that we do during the week is feed all of the children that show up a decent lunch.  Today's menu was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, and fresh oranges.

Ella N., Katy L., and Linda S. filled up this entire suitcase with lunch for the crew

this little guy found a friendly lap and joined Jackson R. for lunch

thanks for helping to feed these kids!

fresh fruit is always a hit

As we reached the end of our morning I was reminded of why we do what we do.  Nicole L. has been on many mission trips.  She called me over to let me know that one of the little girls had tucked her sandwich into her backpack.  Nicole wanted to see if we could get her another one, knowing that she was saving the first sandwich for later or for someone else in her family.  As I knelt down next to her I learned that this little girl lives with her grandma and she was keeping the other sandwich for them to eat for supper.  As I filled her backpack with another extra sandwich and a baggie of fresh fruit I thanked God for all of you that adopted a Jamaican child for VBS this summer.  Yes, your giving really does make a difference.

We're on a Journey

Whew!  We made it!  Hey, everyone.  Courtney O. here.  After pulling out of the church parking lot around midnight Saturday, we began our 2,134 mile journey to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home nestled deep in the hills of Jamaica.  We arrived safely thanks to our awesome drivers back home, our fearless chaperones that guided us through security and customs, our skillful pilots, and Audley, our driver once we arrived in Jamaica. 

This time we were lucky and got to stop at the Pork Pit, a Jamaican style BBQ place!  They were great at accommodating our large group, and it was fun to get a first taste of authentic Jamaican food.  

Raelynn O. steps up to the grill for some Jamaican jerk chicken.

just like the grills back home (or not!)

jerk chicken or pork over rice and beans = mm mm good

After lunch we stopped at the MegaMart for drinking water for the crew and some supplies for lunches at VBS. 

our suitcases were filled with peanut butter, jelly, and granola bars ... a stop at the store finished off our lunches with bread, fresh fruit and some kool-aid

Then we started our 45 minute bus trip to the Nest.  The trip up is never dull!  We got to see the types of houses the locals live in and the incredible rainforest-like vegetation.  We also got to first hand test out the roads, and for those of you who don’t know ... they are quite bumpy!  And by that I mean they are narrow, there are random patches of pavement, very large potholes, and large rocks scattered everywhere.  As someone who has been here before it was entertaining to see the first timer’s reactions.  We finally got to the Nest at about 4:30pm, and like always the Nest staff was incredibly welcoming and the kids were super excited to play with a new group of volunteers.