Team Jamaica

Responding to needs and requests, the Office of World Missions made a quick decision to add Jamaica as a mission destination for 2005. Team Jamaica used what little time they had to prepare and fundraise wisely, meeting weekly for team-building activities and prayer. In conjunction with Jamaica Link Ministries, the team focused their efforts primarily in two locations, including a local school for the deaf and Robin’s Nest Orphanage.

For the first two days, half of the team finished the roof of a new classroom at the school while the rest of the team repainted girls’ dormitory. Next, it was off to Robin’s Nest Orphanage, where the dedication and faithfulness of the staff greatly impressed the team. But with 28 children, almost all under the age of six, the team’s extra help was needed and appreciated. The team considered their most important job to be showing love to the kids, whether that meant changing diapers, helping with physical therapy, or just holding them.

God unified the team to keep them focused on serving each other and the new culture they encountered. Yet the group was most impacted by the people who were willing to share their stories of how God had changed them. Their only regret was that they wish they could have done even more to help, which is why they nominated Robin’s Nest for ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover. While they are waiting for a response, some team members are now preparing to return soon and further the work started this year.

For more information about Jamaica Link Ministries, please visit www.jamaicalink.org.

Posted: September 13, 2005