The Learning Never Ends- Julia Locy

 As we leave Jamaica I have been reflecting on everything that has happened this week. This trip was a challenge to me and made me step out of my comfort zone. 

  It was hot and as a team we were in some tight places but I have never loved my team more than I do now. I have made friendships with people I never thought I would. It is insane about how close we are. These are people I look up to as brothers and sisters and I admire them so much. 

 There were so many things that I have learned this week. Between seeing kids with little to nothing and learning local slang and hand shakes, there is one thing in common with them all. They all find joy in the simple things in life.

  We get so distracted with the technology that we have access too that we don't appreciate interaction with other people. I for one am guilty for it. While in Kingston everyone knows their neighbors. If somebody waves to them it isn't uncommon to wave back and smile. If you do that at home in America, people will look at you like you are nuts.

Some highlights of my week were being ditched at Chick-fil-a, holding Bronte's hand during a bumpy plane ride, having a baby fall asleep in my arms, explaining sunburn to two kids, late night talks with my close friends, playing soccer with Jamaican guys and adding a new scar on my leg, meeting Bianca at VBS and having her follow me, and lastly building relationships and learning from everyone around me.

Shout out to Perry, Kaden, and Kyle for teaching the basics of soccer so I wasn't a total pathetic waste of a team member!

 I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get home. Sorry I didn't blog sooner. I don't really have an excuse I was busy talking to people and sleeping... Not that we slept all that much but still. 

Love,

Julia

Peters blog.

Airport chilling with my team. Waiting to get home after a great week in Jamaica. It's been so awesome to see how God has worked through our team. We have been so blessed to work in the lives of Jamaican children.  Mitch Martin (aka daddy) has been the driving force of the team followed by myself. We have been jug braahs and bunk braahs and just braahs in general. The braah squad has been rolling heavy through Jamaica. It's been awesome to have such an awesome group of dudes to serve with this week. Always watch your head.  

The week that changed my life

If any of you have ever gone on a missions trip you know it's an amazing experience. Obviously, I knew I was in for a good trip because even thought I felt completely unprepared I just had a feeling that the best trips come out of me going in blind, and being completely open for Whatever God chose to do in and through me. That being said, as I was expecting a good trip, I could never have imagined how amazing, life changing and eye opening this trip would really be. Jamaica is unlike any place I have been in before, and it saddens me that most Americans will never see this side of Jamaica. Trash filled streets, shacks made of scrap metal, the smell of weed coming from almost every house.... It's really just heart breaking. The first day we were here I got to walk the streets of down town Kingston, which is the most dangerous part of the area.  My heart was breaking for the cycle of poverty found here, and I wanted to be a light in any way I could. As we were walking we came to a house that had a few teenage girls sitting out front blaring the radio and singing along at the top of their lungs. Beside them was a little girl dancing her heart out. If you know anything about me you know I love to dance and so I took the opportunity I saw God allow me to walk into, and I went over to the little girl. I asked her if she liked to dance and she said yes. I told her that I did too and so we began to just dance around together in the streets of this broken down little town. The smile and joy on her face as we danced around like no one was watching was just amazing to see. I got to dance with her for a good while and invite her to the VBS that we were having later that day as well. That is just one of the amazing experiences that I have had this week. We went to an orphan home yesterday and my heart broke yet again. For a few years now I've been saying that I plan to adopt a little girl from Thailand and now I may add one from Jamaica to that list. God really tugged on my heart about adoption even more than he has been during this trip, and while that terrifies me, I have decided that if he is calling me to it then he will provide for me mentally, spiritually and financially to enable me to follow that calling when the time is right. 

Children were a big part of this trip but God also taught me a lot about myself and my relationship with him during the week too. I thought I was here for the children and yet some how God used them to teach me so so much. 

I can say with confidence that while I came on this trip afraid of how I would sustain a strong faith during college, I am leaving this trip 100% positive that not only am I closer to God than I have been in a long time, but I know for a fact I will only grow closer to him during college as well. 

So many stories I could share (we are currently crammed into a van driving to the beach for a fun day) but I've written enough, find me when I get home if you want to hear more. 

Hello to my parental units and my brother. Can't wait to tell y'all about this trip! Love you 

Madeline Elizabeth Shover - more commonly known as Madz :) 

I Am Broken

This trip has been incredible. Let me say though that I never could have been prepared for what I have encountered. 

I have been a part if MCBIC Group 1 (Byyyaaaah) and our team has worked with kids every day since our arrival (except for one afternoon with a group of old ladies!). First off, we served at a kid's basic school called Allmen where we tackled, sang, prayed, laughed, and loved on a group of 20+ kids. They broke me. Their eagerness to love on all of us is incredible. We also (as I am certain you are well aware by now) have spent meals, free time, and sleepy time at the salvation school for the blind. 

I have a blind brother so, of course, I love and adore him to pieces and seeing these kids around here just functioning to such a high degree is amazing. Two team members and I had the blessing of sneaking into their graduation and encountered Jesus. Literally. Their choir was at the level of singers who have trained for years! I was just in awe of these men and women of God. Just imagine not being able to see but being able to sing like an angel! Oh! How much God can use that! 

Those are wonderful things... But I also have had many hard days here. My hardest day was at one orphanage called "Sister Nikki's". For those of you who know my family you will understand why I am speaking mostly to my mother right now: I walked right in following our group and I heard a baby crying. I walked in to hear the woman in charge trying to quiet him. I walked right up and asked for him and she handed him right over. She didn't even hesitate. He stopped crying immediately. My heart broke and I cried all afternoon holding this baby. I needed to take this baby home. I just had to.

 I needed to give him all of my love. I fed him, I sang to him. His name was Martino and I sang "aye aye aye aye little baaaaby Martino" and he would rest his four month old head on me and I would tear up again. His little face and laugh were all Jesus. This baby broke me. I have never wished so hard that I could take a baby through customs. Honestly, with all the 200 kids I met I would risk it all to take them home with me! 

Today was also similar. We walked though the Jungle (shanty towns outside of Kingston) in a group and prayed for kids and people and invited them to a VBS (we did a lot of those :) ) and made them all smile. This also broke me. All the orphans through the streets broke me. I say this but words can't express... The sewage in streets, the kids with no clothes, the boys from ages 7-45 who eyed me up and cat called and asked me to be theirs and tried to hold my hand just BROKE ME. I will neve understand why Americans are so selfish to think that we have women's rights issues when here... women are nothing but a piece of meat that can be dumped when wished and prized for her looks. I have never felt suh anger when hearing the statistic that 96 percent of the young girls here are sexually abused before reaching adulthood. 

I heard about how the government issues decrees (one that was decrees a few months ago) for the police to shoot any young man from 12-17. Talk about genocide... I will think twice about complaining about our government and how corrupt we are. 

Americans have so much pride and it sickens me. I have so much pride.  I am learning to destroy me pride and Jesus is destroying my pride. 

I realized how much my identity has been in what I do, what I am doing in my future, how busy I am, etc. an I've taken pride in THAT. But I have learned how, when Jesus strips these all away... I ultamitly an nothing without him. Christ is calling me to be love. I am also a servant to him. I am called as a daughter of God and without his thoughts about my beauty and power I am nothing. These kids have nothing and they survive without love, without a future, without homes, without a life! I am so similar to them and honestly, I will never be able to worship Jesus like they can because I have so much. I need to lay my pride down. If I have everything stripped away... Will I still love Christ? Yes! Yes yes yes. 

I honestly have always had my calling but God doesn't need me to do it. He can use anyone. He can call me to anything and I would love him even more. I have understood that and have come to realize how much I don't understand that at the same time :) 

I am so excited I understand how much more I can serve God when I am at home since I have laid down my pride and my life before Christ. I have a heart for him so I'm having a heart for his people and I'm telling you that I am BROKEN. 

Lord I pray that as all of is teens return home that we are able to live a prideless life and live for you only. Please help us to never forget the horrors we have seen and heard for these hurtig people. Give us your power and make our bodies continuous temples for YOU! Lord give us empty lived that have to be filled with you! Amen  

~Mariana King 

Megan's Voice: So this is Jamaica...

Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to- mountains and flowers and hills and wildlife and beautiful people everywhere you look.  It is also one of the hottest. ;) I don't think I have ever sweat this much in my entire life. We have been so busy serving and hanging out with some of the sweetest kids on earth- I can't believe that it is Wednesday! The Jamacian kids have captured my heart. There's no other way to say it. Their smiles and stories and laughter and hugs both break my heart and makes it smile. I never knew of a place that could have so much joy AND pain. Today we went to two different orphanages. I have never been to an orphanage. These kids have been through so much- desertion, neglect, abuse... I can see it in their eyes. The only thing I know how to do is love them and hug them and show them I care. It's hard saying goodbye to them after a day of loving and laughter and memories. I know that when I come home from this trip, these kids' faces will be engrained in my mind and on my heart. We are having a blast- time is flying. Staying on the campus of the blind school is inspiring and amazing. The food is awesome: I had fresh mango and star fruit this morning at breakfast. I can't wait to see what else God is going to do with us, through us, and for us in our remaining days here. Jamaica is a part of my heart now and it always will.

Thanks for your prayers and support. You are making an impact in Jamaica because of those prayers and support. See you in a few days!!!  

Blessings,

Megan  

P.S. Happy birthday to my amazing mother. I miss you (and daddy) and I'm sad I can't be with you on your birthday. 

I LOVE YOU XOXOXO

Jamaica update-Allison

Hey Pennsylvania (and especially to my possibly worried parents)!

I don't even know what to write because so much amazing stuff has been happening here! I have enjoyed every single thing that we've done here so far. Yesterday morning, we went to a field that our other lovely team cleaned the day before to play soccer...I didn't actually end up playing soccer because I was talking to an 8-year-old little girl about life. Then she asked me if I was allowed to come visit their school, and the next thing you know, about 6 of us were hanging out with a bunch of awesome kiddos at the basics school next door. Bronte and I basically ran a VBS on the spot, and it was so much fun! We did piggy-back ride races, played Simon says, and a bunch of other fun games! God has been great about continually providing us with energy. I got my giant ridiculous sun hat out and the kids totally loved it...they all posed for pictures with my hat and my shades on! I have loved watching how the simple things have brought so much joy on this trip.

See everyone in a few days!

-Allison

My First Day in Jamaica

My first day here (yesterday) will be one that I will certainly never forget. Our team (half of the actual McBic team) went to inner city Kingston into a few communities that were described as the places that most Jamaicans never see or want to see because it is considered to be one of the most dangerous, unsanitary, and saddest areas in the country. We went with a missionary named Pastor Travis who has been working in Kingston for the past 6 years with his wife and 3 kids. He is in the process of converting a theater into a "Dream Center". Once we got to the center, he explained that his center is in the middle of two of the most dangerous and poor communities that have been enemies for years. He hopes that the center can be a place where people (children and youth in particular) from both sides can come together and hopefully create peace later down the road. 

We split up our group into two (7-8 people a team) and went into each community to pray for people and invite kids to vbs. As we walked through the streets, it almost felt unreal. I felt as if I had googled "poverty across the world". It took me until the end of the walk to fully  process the entire community. However, our team got to talk and pray with so many people! The people were honestly some of the most open people I have ever talked to. Although the kids all see us as white aliens, the adults truly know that we are here to help. We got the opportunity to pray for people's health, job searches, families, finances, etc. I was so happy that our team was able to get past our culture shock and sympathy because I really feel like we provided hope and comfort to so many people just by praying for them. We invited every kid we saw to vbs and they certainly did not disappoint.

There were 80 kids at a vbs that we started advertising for (just through word of mouth) that afternoon. As we hung out with them and took them to song, story, and game stations, we realized they really were not like most American children. First of all, these kids were obviously seeking attention and love. Pastor Travis mentioned the fact that they don't get enough love at home so they may be searching for it from random white people, but we didn't actually understand it until it happened. I personally never walked anywhere without 2-3 holding onto me (which I did not mind at all). Second of all, most of them have never or rarely seen white people so they were totally fascinated. They asked questions like "Is the white real?", "How did you get white?", and "Is your favorite color white?". Jamie actually got told that he "smelled white". For a solid 45 minutes several little girls just played with some of our hair because they were so fascinated. All of us came back with huge knots, but it was worth it(: However, the main thing I learned from being with not only just these children, but also just the Jamaican people altogether is that God provides joy in all situations. Sometimes we don't recieve His pure and perfect joy, but it is always there. As these people walk through their lives with smiles, love, hope and community, it amazes all of us because of the poverty they live in. They truly live out Romans 15:13: "The God of hope fills you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." We all have so much to learn from these kids and I am overwhelmed with the feeling of thankfulness as we continue on with this trip. 

Mitch Martin says hello.

Maggie Anthonyrintg

God uses little old me to do not so little things

Hey everybody this is Jordan Knepper, we want to thank you guys so much for your prayers and support for all of us here. I personally have seen God orchestrating things in ways that I never expected and before I expected things to even start. I hope you don't mind a story because I have one for you. On our second flight from Atlanta to Kingston. I sat next to a stranger and me being the social butterfly I am, I struck up a conversation with him. As the talk continued I learned that he works for an outsourcing company and that he has four kids and is a Christian and was on his way to an important meeting with a top person of Microsoft and so by the end of the conversation I got to pray for him and that God would give him the right words to say and the right choices to make. By the way his name is Dan, so it was really neat just seeing how God used me to impact something that is so much bigger then me or Dan or even his meeting. We both left that plane feeling Gods touch on our lives. So keep praying and keep checking for stories. Today we split into two groups and my group ministered to a preschool which had about 25 kids and we just played with them and loved on them and let God use us. Even In the extreme heat, humidity and some tiredness. But for now I must go we are all finished working for today and we are now gonna play a good game of ninja. God bless! We love you all, don't forget to check back! -Jordan Knepper 

First Day

Hey everyone! This is Dani Shover.

So far, Jamaica is awesome!

Our team has been split into two groups for ministry time. My group spent time doing VBS at a preschool this morning. All the kids were ADORABLE and so loving! They wore a lot of us out, and a few people almost passed out from the heat, but we are relying on God to give us our strength. :)

Later, in the afternoon we spent time at a nursing home. Most of them were napping, but the few women that were talking with us were amazing! Their faith encouraged all of us and I can only hope to be like them someday.

We are all trying to adjust to the non stop sweat coming out of our bodies, but we are all enjoying ourselves just as much. 

I miss you mom and dad! Love you both! 

Thanks to everyone praying for us!

~Dani

Leaving & Boarding

I'm not one to post on blogs but I must say how great God is in guiding our travels. We had one of the easiest, smoothest travels one could dream! Delta even offered to check all of our bags for free! 

I'm not one to brag about things, but I will brag about how great God is to us! Even if we have a horrible experience in our travels (which we have) we still come out saying how GREAT God is to us! He knows what's up! 

It is our duty to have Faith and walk blindly some or most times. In the end, no matter what happens, He takes care of us because we walk along side of Him in our faithfulness. In what seems to be our most trying times, He might be carrying us when we can no longer walk beside Him. 

I can speak for all of us in saying, nothing is more honorable in this world than battling the enemy in the name of Christ!! Battles may not always be pretty or even successful, but the war will always be won in Jesus' Name!

Looking forward to the battles we face in Jamaica  and the reliance and trust we place in our Heavenly Father!!

Off to Jamaica...

Photo credit: John Anthony