Jamaican Journals 2013

Jamaican Journals By the Benhams

Thank you for your prayers and support. Our trip was unforgettable.

What follows are typewritten from our actual journals during the trip, little has been changed. So please, be gracious while reading and overlook any mistakes in grammar and sentence structure.

Also, we (Graham and Clark) originally planned to report our travels with only our journals, but you will notice we’ve included our father’s journal as well. Our father decided to journal with us as a report back to the girls at home. After returning home and reading all of our journals, we decided that Papa’s journal gave another perspective to our trip and filled out our journals for the readers.

We hope you enjoy the reading. God Bless. Graham and Clark Benham

DHPC-LEUPP MISSION TRIP TO JAMAICA JULY 22-29, 2013 Isaiah 55:12 – You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

TEAM MEMBERS Brent Benham Clark Benham Graham Benham Min Damm Richard Dietrich Diane Hillwig Linda Keenan Jacqy Kilgore

Jamaican Journals

Tom Lankford Dedrick McCabe Jim Noble Steve Searle Karin Thomas Gerald Todacheenie Jennifer Todacheenie Tiinisha Todacheenie

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Jamaican Journals - Trip Summary GRAHAM BENHAM I really learned a lot about God on this mission trip and saw how He showed Himself through the Jamaicans. The Jamaicans had God in their hearts and were overflowing in the Spirit. They also were very bold in their faith and took every opportunity to spread Christ. My favorite part of the trip was at the street meeting in Swaby’s Hope. I enjoyed the street meeting because out of the small 30 person crowd, about 20 people came forward to give their lives to Christ. The devil also tried to make us lose hope by having the generator run out of gas and the sound board failed multiple times, but God brought us through the troubles and made the meeting a success. Over all, the trip was amazing and I would love to go again in the upcoming years.

CLARK BENHAM This trip has taught me to see God in other people. Here in Arizona you hear a lot about movie stars and what they do. In Jamaica, you hear about people’s faith and what they believe in. I have never seen God more than in the faces of the Jamaicans that we were with. Their powerful passion for God makes you want to sing, shout and dance about.

BRENT BENHAM I would term our trip to Jamaica to be more of a retreat for Desert Hills than a mission trip. Wow! Yes we visited two boys’ homes and a rehabilitation center, walked door-to-door into two communities inviting people out to worship, participated in two street ministries, participated in two bible studies with two different churches, joined in a fasting and then attended the related service at a third church, sang, danced, praised God and ate with our brothers and sisters in Christ, gave and received testimonies, and much more. But really we learned so much about God and his great hand in our brothers and sisters at Ebenezer, at Andrews, and t Mineral Heights. The way that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit works in their daily lives is inspiring - you see it in their faces, in their song, in their community, in their children. Praise God. Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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Airport Dunn's Falls

Mission Trip

8/10/2013 5:24 PM

DAY 1 – MONDAY – JULY 22, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

GRAHAM Today we had a late start getting to Miami, the plane arrived 2 hours late and Clark left a knife in his carry on, which got him in trouble with security. The plane ride was beautiful and I had an enjoyable company to my left and right, my father and brother. We landed in Miami and after a little wait, we walked off the plane into Miami International to be greeted by the busyness of Florida. After a small lunch at Pizza Hut, we boarded. The flight to Jamaica was short and the customs there took a bit of time. Finally we boarded a church bus, a dangerous trip to our hotel.

The bus drove on the left side of the road, had a steering wheel on the right side, and took hair pin turns in the dark around corners you couldn’t see around. We arrived at the hotel close to midnight (Jamaica time), but even in the dark the place looked beautiful. After talking for a while, we split and went to bed.

God Sighting: All of us were protected and got to go on the flight despite Clark carrying weapons.

CLARK Our Jamaica team gathered together right after we got our tickets for the plane at 6:45 am. We then went through security and I was caught with a pocket knife in my back pack. (It was confiscated.) After that we found our gate and then found a breakfast place to eat. After eating we went back to our gate and did a devotion. A while later (after Katelyn had told me about every TV show and video game she had ever played) we boarded our plane. After we reached cruising altitude, 35,000 feet, my dad challenged Graham and I to Risk (the game of global domination – he won several times).

After about 4 hours, the pilot told everyone we were nearing Miami, Florida. There we took the leisure of stretching our legs and getting something to eat (there was a 3 hour layover). We had pizza (don’t like). I ordered a Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham (liked). After eating and charging the tablet they called for the passengers to board. There was a 1 ½ hour flight to Jamaica and then a scary 3 hour drive to our hotel in Mandeville. We arrived 11:30 pm central time. The hotel rooms are nice and clean. We Skyped my mom with many failed attempts (she couldn’t start up the computer).

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We got cleaned up and went to bed after unpacking.

PAPA Travel Day. Mama and the girls wake up early with us to take us to the airport…5 am departure to meet the group at 5:45 am. We ran late but made good time to the airport. Quick goodbyes and the boys and I are off.

Flight to Miami was delayed awhile - shortened the stop-over in Miami to board our flight to Jamaica. It was a long day of travel as we arrived in Jamaica 12 hours later.

Then the fun really began – 3 hour bus ride to Mandeville. Stopped off for water and hit the road. The ride was dark and a bit scary with a chance for motion sickness. Narrow roads are hardly enough to fit two cars. With 100 km to our destination our driver made good time. People walked the road as we went, sometimes watching the road from house perches. Hair pin tight turns up mountains and down through villages. The road made for a natural speed bump with its sometimes kept but pot holed, sometimes pedestrian lined, sometimes but rarely straight.

Hotel is beautiful - made it safely around midnight. Rooms are more than expected – kitchen suites without the appliances - two bedrooms and two bathes with lots of beds and living space - much nicer than expected. Rooms are open to outside with wooden shutters.

Set out by the pool in the center of the hotel. Frogs made a weird high pitch sound all around – somewhere in the trees. Called mama and the girls over Skype – showed off the room. Went to bed for an early morning start with the group.

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DAY 2 – TUESDAY – JULY 23, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

GRAHAM Today had a tired beginning: we woke up at 6:00 am (Jamaica time) after a late night. We were an hour early and went to get an early breakfast. After a delicious breakfast we left for an orientation with the Jamaica team. Then we went to the Boscoe boy’s home where we sang, gave testimonies and played with the children. Two hours later we went to go get a well deserved lunch. Our group split into two and we either went to Burger King or KFC. We then went to the second boy’s home which held a much smaller amount of children and another church group. The rain prevented us from brining in most of our supplies, but still we sang and enjoyed ourselves. We received powerful testimonies there and met the group from Indianapolis. After the rain slowed to a sprinkle we raced out, into the bus, and back to our hotel for a little break. We then went on to have a delicious dinner with the Jamaicans where Clark gave a great testimony. Tired as we were we managed to stay awake for most of the ride back to our hotel where we got to finally get some sleep.

God Sightings:  During our prayer at the second boy’s home one of the Jamaicans said “God is great” and God responded in a clap of thunder.  The Jamaican Jackie gave a powerful testimony that even though she was sick, God gave her strength to “sing, dance, and jump” - that showed she was able to do God’s work.

CLARK Today we had breakfast at the hotel and did a devotion and prayer. After that, we got on the bus and drove to Andrews. There we talked about what we were going to do. Then we got back on the bus and drove to a boys’ home where we set up. Then Mr. Dietrich played some songs to the boys and I helped do puppets. Then we separated into groups. In my group we Jamaican Journals

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did paper airplanes. After about 1 hour we left and went to eat lunch at either KFC or Burger King. I chose the latter. Then we went to another boys’ home. Then we went home to rest. Then we went to Ebenezer and ate dinner and shared testimonials. Then we went home.

God Sighting: I had brought my paper airplane book otherwise the boys would have colored.

PAPA We started the day with a group breakfast at the hotel. I had not reset the time zone, so we were up an hour earlier than anyone else.

Because of the openness of the room to the rest of the hotel noises floated thru.

Breakfast was somewhat lackadaisical as the group gathered with coffee, juice, food and water being slow to come out. Dick and Gerald led devotion after a breakfast of eggs, bacon, bananas, muffin balls, greens.

First stop of the day was the Boscoe boys home, home of about 160 boys, some orphaned, some discipline problems, some the parent can’t afford to raise.

Led by sisters of the Catholic Church, the boys range in age from 7 to 18 years. The buildings are extremely colorful – differing colors of blue, red, orange, and yellow on doors, walls, and stairwells.

Speaker system is set up on a small stage in a room full of Disney characters and wooden benches. T he boys are clothed in t-shirts, shorts and orange uggs. All are worn with holes.

Some of the boys carried backpacks to hold all their belongings - looked like this was the only way to protect personal items. They are taught to farm, raise pigs, chicken and the beef is sold through an onsite butcher. Not sure where else they send their goods to sell. Boys were entertained with song, puppet shows and two testimonies from our group. At the end, the boys were asked to stand if they wanted Jesus in their lives, and almost all stood including our team. We broke the boys into age groups of which Clark and I went with the 10 to 14 year olds, joining Min, Linda, Steve, Tom. The original plan was crafts but somewhere along the way Clark had convinced Karen to use his paper airplane book Jamaican Journals

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and so we taught 30 some boys different paper plane folding. The boys loved it, paper airplanes all over the room as each was tested. I looked up from helping a few boys (each with a “sir” constantly being thrown out to get my attention) and noticed Clark surrounded by at least 10 to 12 boys all piled around him while he made a complex plane for each. Finally I attempted, although only partially successful, to hold a distance contest with bouncing balls as prizes – some of the boys went along. But for some reason I had twice as many winners as I had players.

After a quick lunch at Burger King or KFC we were off to the second boys’ home, Olivet. As we arrived the rain came pouring and we waited for it to pass as we waited for a group from Indiana visiting to finish their bible story. The rain did not relent causing our previous show and plan to change. We gathered at the front of a dining hall. Smaller, the boys’ home housed only about 50 boys, none of which were discipline problems but orphaned or from families unable to afford their care. At first the singing was not taking off but a couple of our Jamaican sisters got up and moved the mood (best way to describe it), taking the singing up a notch. We heard a couple of testimonies, one from Graham and then Tanisha. Another Jamaican sister, Jackie, drove the mood, praising God, moving amongst the boys, touching them. Then we sang more songs and all really joined in. The rain began to lessen and we were ready to leave. God’s way of telling us not to rely on our puppets, our base guitar, and rely on the tribes gathered: Leupp, Ebenezer, and Desert Hills.

Our journey finally brought us to Ebenezer where a tent was setup with dinner cooking as we mingled.

The church sits on a hill overlooking a valley all around with dirt roads leading to it. The bus goes out to pick up and people walk to it from nearby. I talk to a 90 year old woman - she is vital and talkative Josephine talks to Diane and me about pieces of her life – stories really. How interesting, each with how God directed her - God sightings in a life in Jamaica. Dining is served buffet style with varying rice, yams, fish, jerk, spicy curry, and a drink that may be a sweet papaya. There is singing prior to dinner and then testimonies from all the visitors after dinner. Clark’s testimony is the most powerful as he talks about how God entered into his life, including his sickness and the miracle he was given. He chokes up some but for the most part is matter of fact. He is crying by the time he Jamaican Journals

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reaches me and I hug, kiss, and bless him. Jackie, a Jamaican sister, demands a hug and holds him. We have hope if the children have faith. I talk to Sister Jackie at the table as we eat and she shares her ministry of taking in children and raising them. A prior teacher, Jackie and her husband started taking in children a long time ago. Now they have two – we were interrupted before we could speak more, so plan on getting with her Thursday to share her stories.

We head back to the hotel and go to sleep.

God Sightings:  The boys at Bosco may not be in the best place, but they are not in the worst. They appear to be fed and have work, play and learning time. Their faces shine with hope and the sisters are doing good works in these boys.  Paper airplanes – I thought how interesting Clark happens to bring a book on making paper airplanes, of all things to bring. Later I find out Karen brought reams of paper and there was a suggestion from Kathleen to make airplanes prior to our trip. What are the chances?  Listening to Sister Jackie give Word at the boys home – how God is working in her – how vibrant.  Listening to Clark’s testimony. A real high light to the day and brought tears to my eyes. He is brave, thoughtful, and honest. A large heart.

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DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY – JULY 24, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

GRAHAM Some of us woke up hungry this morning, but no breakfast for us, we were fasting.

We took a long drive to Mineral Heights from our hotel. Once there we sang, prayed and danced to God. The Mineral Heights pastor then gave a sermon about Daniel and the lion’s den which opened very new insights. During the service God took away our hunger, but a ½ hour drive to our lunch, Juici Patti, gets us hungry. After a long wait in line, we finally got our food. I got a beef patti which is kind of like a pastry with meat and cheese on the inside. Satisfyingly full we split up, some to the hotel and a few to go teach music. I was one of the many to go back to the hotel where I napped. Close to 6:00 pm we left for Ebenezer for a bible study. The bible study was on the death of John the Baptist which showed corruption and sin. The study ended and we headed back to the hotel for a delicious dinner with great ice cream. Then we went to bed.

CLARK Today we went to Mineral Heights and fasted from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Then we ate at a place called Juici Patties. I had a shrimp and mega beef patty. After that we went to the hotel and rested. Then we went to a bible study at Ebenezer (about Mark). Finally, we came back to the hotel and had dinner. (Fast Fact: To get to the price in Jamaican money, take the decimal out. American $3.50.

Jamaican $350.)

God Sighting: In the wind at Mineral Heights while the pastor preached PAPA We started the day fasting which did not end until 1:00 pm. We drove to Mineral Heights church at 10 am to join Ebenezer in praise, prayer, and thanksgiving.

The church has been relocated by a highway and now sits under a tent. The service was full of song and prayer and finally a sermon.

Ebenezer pastor led most of the 3 hour service Jamaican Journals

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(Psalm 136) with some members of both churches going up to pray. A call to the altar was made for any that wanted their prayers met – James 5:13-16 – and anointing by oil.

Asking the boys if they wanted to go up, Graham said to pray for Grandma and her sickness to be healed. Feeling so inspired by such a quick unselfish thought, we went up and Pastor Bailey prayed for us. Standing there reminded me of Clark’s sickness and resulting miracle. Thinking of Cheryl and Clark I was brought to tears. I asked in addition that she find Him. The Mineral Heights pastor gave the sermon – Daniel 6 – on Daniel and the lion’s den. He preached on standing up for what is right and not sitting quiet, that even in politics the church and its people need to speak out against corruption.

We ended the fast in the bus to Juicy Patties with snacks from our bags. Juicy Patties reminds me of a McDonald equivalent in Jamaica, popular and inexpensive. We ate patties with meat or shrimp in them, a pastry like shell with a blended, spicy meat or shrimp.

After a rest at the hotel, we headed for Ebenezer for bible study. We mingle for a good hour at first. How wonderful they are. Bible study was on the beheading of John – Mark 6:14-29. Pastor Bailey broke us into groups and we discussed then came back together to share: mood, songs and smells we felt from the passage, overriding theme. Conclusion was that things are not worse today, they have always been bad and people have always been corrupt. We need to stand for the Word but to do with no malicious intent and do so with love. We should be bringing people to us not pushing them away as we stand for what is right.

We head back to the hotel for dinner at 9:30 pm. Fish, potatoes, rice, salad was served. Off to bed.

God Sighting: Returning to Ebenezer we mixed and mingled like old friends. A child came up to me and began talking. The older ladies grabbed my hand on the way by. Our bus driver pulled me aside to talk for a few minutes. Wow how God works in all our spirit.

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DAY 4 – THURSDAY – JULY 25, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: 1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

GRAHAM We woke up just in time for breakfast and were almost the last ones. The meal was delicious as usual and we left for Ebenezer. Once there we took a group photo and then were given an orientation on street ministry by Sammy. Getting the general idea, we left for Berry Hill and split into three groups to tell about the show, my group was led by Pastor Bailey. She made it look easy as she casually talked and called out to people in the neighborhood. Some admitted to being a Christian, but few had accepted Jesus. We invited many people and by the end we knew that we would have a big crowd. We head next to Swaby’s Hope to tell people about the show on Saturday. We established conversations and in the last house, a little girl tried to walk off with Pastor Bailey. We headed off to a delicious lunch at the Star Grill. It was the nicest restaurant so far and I ate a pulled pork sandwich. Our group left while Gerald and I were at the local fire station, so we had to rush to get everybody back to the hotel. We split into 2 groups, one goes to the rehab center and the other, including the kids and musicians, go to Ebenezer. Clark organizes the kids, Papa makes paper airplanes, and I take guitar lessons and later helped Gerald with them as well.

When our groups joined again, we headed out to Berry Hill to start our show. We began with songs and moved to testimonies, a sermon about “trouble spots” and the puppet show. Towards the end, before Jamaicans started to leave, we called up people to claim Jesus in their life. 9 in total came up including Deedge (Dedrick) who went to renew his faith.

We ended in song and slowly Jamaicans left, I feel, happier than before. We then packed up and headed to the hotel to get some rest.

God Sighting: People in Jamaica were very open in their faith. I would like it to be that way in America.

CLARK Today we got out of our hotel room late and had 15 minutes to eat. Then we traveled to Ebenezer and took pictures. After that Sammy sung some songs with us, informed us what we would do, and prayed. Then we headed onto the road to go house to house on Berry Hill to inform them of our street meeting. We did the same on down at Swaby’s Hope. We met one person who had not given their life to Jesus and said she wouldn’t until she was ready. Sammy said that he would come Jamaican Journals

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for her on Sunday. We then drove to the Star Grille where I had a patty melt and a ginger beer. Then, being late, we rushed straight to Ebenezer instead of going to the hotel. We arrived and a little while later kids showed up. I then started a game of frisbee 5,000. After that game was over we made paper planes. Then we played 5,000 again. Later we ate hamburgers and then left to go to Berry Hill for our street meeting. There we sang songs, prayed and then we heard a sermon. After that Dick played some songs. Then we did puppets. It got cramped behind the curtain because so many people wanted to do puppets. I left and handed our bibles. Then I danced to the music.

PAPA Late to breakfast, we were almost last to eat -up and away today. I am feeling much better today. Yesterday was harder than I thought probably due to the fasting.

We are off to Ebenezer on the way to Berry Hill. At Ebenezer Sammy takes us through some songs and a prayer, then prepares us on what to expect in Berry Hill. We break into 3 groups once we arrive with a Jamaican leader for each of us and set out going house to house. Sammy makes it look easy as he approaches each house and asks to talk. People laugh with him as he asks how “they be”. Eventually he lets them know about tonight’s street ministry at 7:00 pm. Some ask his business before that and he deftly responds with “the Lord’s business”. Some are unwilling to come tonight, those he pushes harder on to understand why they don’t want the Lord in their life. At the second stop are two men, one admits he is a Christian and yes Jesus is Lord of his life. The other man is not so sure and so Sammy asks him why not – what happens if you go tomorrow – are you so sure about where you are going – don’t you want to allow Jesus to help you…and on Sammy goes until he invites him and then asks if he will come. The man is unsure, so Sammy asks if we can pray for him in case he does not attend. I do the prayer and then we are off. We stop and talk to about six or eight homes and then head back to meet up with the other groups.

The Saturday morning street ministry is at Swaby’s Hope and so we set out for there to visit homes to invite people out. We break out into our groups again and hit maybe four homes. One home a 17 year old girl and two younger girls are outside.

Sammy approaches and the girl will not invite him over, he goes anyway asking for at least a smile if no invite to approach. Finally she begins to Jamaican Journals

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talk to him and they enter into a back and forth on Christians and hypocrites. Jim prays over the younger girls to the side while Sammy continues to try to get her to church. Finally he just tells her Sunday he is coming for her…he is coming for her.

She smiles and agrees. Karen gives the prayer over the girl, so powerful in the understanding and the ask. Certainly we were meant to see that girl, you could see the need. Karen rightly says that God had made such a beautiful young woman and to allow her to open to Him and for Him to work in her. Off we go to see houses where they are active church goers, one couple admit they have not completely received the Lord.

We head off to lunch at a grill and Donavon and wife meet us. More jerk chicken, fish, BBQ, rice, potatoes, and vegetables…Jamaicans eat so well every day.

After lunch we were off without a hotel rest to either Ebenezer for music ministry or a rehabilitation center. Volunteers were requested to assist with the multitudes of children that would be waiting at music ministry, given the boys could not attend the center, I was an obvious volunteer. So, Clark, Graham, myself and Jackie become responsible for a lot of children with a wide variety of ages waiting in line for their respective lesson. Gerald had a guitar in the side porch with a few groups, something like 5 students at a time. Karen had piano on keyboards with a similar amount, looked like Diane was helping.

Dick was moving between base, guitar and drums as the children filtered through. Clark took immediate control of the kids using the collection of Frisbees to form two teams competing in 10 point games in a 500 type game. Jackie joined in to play along with Graham. Eventually Graham went off for guitar lessons. I ended up handing out buttons, ribbons, pencils and making paper airplanes. The church fed us hamburgers (spicy) with salt fish, yams and watermelon off in a side room away from the members as they waited.

After dinner we were off to Berry Hill where Dick and crew were almost set up. Graham helped with the sound system while Clark helped finalize the puppet setup. Crowd was maybe 20 to 30 people gathered. Latoya started the mike, singing before the sound system was ready. Positioned in front of “Dinah’s shop”, we were standing road side in front of a small 12x12 metal shanty building - well known by the locals and a church member at Ebenezer.

Pastor Bailey joined in and then the music started pumping. The puppets never stopped with Graham, Clark, Katelyn, Diane, Min constantly dancing their puppets around. Children were everywhere laughing, jumping, running. One of the Ebenezer elders I overheard telling another that she has never seen the Jamaican Journals

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children so happy. As it became darker I looked out past the semi circle noticing more people off into the shadows. Testimonies were called forth by Pastor Bailey: Jennifer, Karen and Clark gave theirs. We sang and sang. The Bishop was introduced and he preached on “the trouble spot”- the trouble spots in Jamaica: men not being men, no one parenting, media reporting on fights at the church doors and disgraced members but not the miracles (that is not news as they say), lying becoming common, murder as normal as sugar and salt on the tongues of the youth. Felt like he went on and on – then the altar call – one, two came forward, then three, five, eight including one of our own. Pastors Bailey came forward and she asked if they were truly ready, to raise their hands, acknowledge their desire for Him – “I see you” she would say. Then he gave the prayer – “Almighty”, “Lord”, yelling it out with passion. Then we sang and danced as bibles went to those and more – we did not have enough bibles as the woman next to me brought her whole family over for bibles. The young mother had been standing next to me, near the puppet stage off to the side slightly in the shadows, the whole time. During some of the “turn to your neighbor” requests with “tell them the Lord loves them” and “tell them they are loved”, she had grabbed my hand. I waited for them to go to the altar call, but they did not. However, when I pulled out bibles, they were all over me. The music show ended with three songs for the puppet show which had the crowd jumping and dancing, literally. Just prior, Dick and Karen took the mike and they just rocked the house with known songs by all. We cleaned up, loaded up at 11:00 pm and were off, a 3 hour show. Exhausted we returned to the hotel and passed out.

God Sightings:  House to house whether Christian or not, everyone was open to God. God is well known – giving life over to Jesus was the real issue, but they spoke openly. Religion is a given - So different than in our country.  Working with the children (although I do think they were “working us” as they hugged us, sir-d us, begged us for attention), you see the active work of the church to bring these children up, educate them in the church, God and Jesus. Some of them are “imps” but they are so cute. They are all well mannered yet crazy and out of control. Oh what God must see in us every day of our lives – aren’t we so similar?

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DAY 5 – FRIDAY – JULY 26, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: 1 Chronicles 16:24 – Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

GRAHAM Despite today being our recreation day, we still had to wake up early.

We ate a quick breakfast and were off to the falls. It was a 2 hour drive and we stopped off to eat lunch at KFC. When we first arrived, we changed and went to wait in line. We had to wait for a long time in the hot, humid air because of a couple mix-ups. We slowly descended by the falls which weren’t like the water fall I was expecting.

There were many large rocks and boulders from which water poured down from crashing onto rocks and water just a foot or two below. The rocks on the left side formed steps for an easy ascent and on the right had a more dangerous route. After taking the steps down to the beach, we put down our stuff at the bench and Clark, Gerald, Reggie, and I headed towards the falls. The water was colder than the sea water and for the first 2 levels we took the left side, but were later encouraged by climbers on the right side to climb that side. For the next 3 times up and once down we stayed to the, more fun, right side.

There was one part that I enjoyed the most – when you go up and cracks in the walls for hand holds and slippery foot holes and water splashes you in the face so much and so hard, you can’t see. We also went to the salty beach, which was clear blue salt water which stung at the nicks and cuts from each expedition up the falls. After 3 to 4 hours we left. On the way out Papa found ice cream which he bought for everybody. The car drive back had most of us trying to sleep, but the bumps and turns kept us awake. By the time we got back to the hotel, I was ready for bed, but instead went for dinner. After dinner and devotions we all headed up for a great sleep.

CLARK Today we woke up at 8:00 am and went to eat breakfast. Then we left and rode in the bus for 2 hours before stopping at a gas station. There I bought a Gatorade and some cookies. Then we went into town and stopped to eat. After that we go back on the bus and arrived 10 minutes later at Dunn’s Park. There they struggled to find the information about our group rate. After about 45 minutes we made it into the park. After descending 100s of steps we arrived at the beach. After our group got organized, Gerald, Graham and I decided we were going to climb the falls/river that fed the ocean. It was a brutal task having to climb one particular waterfall that was almost straight up with a lot of water pounding at you making it hard to breathe. (We did everything the hard way. There was a path going up the side.) After climbing the falls 3 times and going down 1 time with intermediate Jamaican Journals

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beach breaks it was time to go. But before leaving, Papa insisted on buying anyone ice cream. After a brief snack we left on our 3 hour trip back to the hotel to eat dinner. There I did devotion with Mr. Lankford. After a quick dip in the pool it was time for bed.

PAPA Up and at breakfast at 8:15 am for an 8:45 am bus to the falls at Ocho Rios, Dunn’s Falls. Added some people with a stop at Andrews and joined the car pool.

We arrived at the falls around 1:30 pm. The park did not have the letter for discount from a Jamaican Christian organization, so we waited and finally gave up paying the group rate. The park includes a beach at the bottom and then a hike up the falls with several off points. Most of our group stayed at the beach. The boys headed off with me in the rear but Katelyn and Latasha were unable to keep up with them. Jim caught us and he and Katelyn got out at the first point. Latasha and I managed to climb up to the very top, never catching the boys. Later I climbed with the boys, Gerald, Reggie (Latasha’s brother) all the way to the top with the boys showing me the most difficult route. I did hurt myself several times on the ascent.

Back at the beach and prior to our final climb, I sat in the shade with Sister Jackie and talked about fostering. She has taken in over 30 children and still has two at her house now. All of them were happenstance. Some have gone onto do great things in their life: fireman, banker, minister of labor for Jamaicans in Canada, doctor, a few have been unable to turn the corner. She worried about us fostering. She related for us to watch out and take care of ours first. I described to her the medical, how we got to fostering, about the girls. She related that the boys are obviously precious and would love to meet the girls. I feel our calling is to help those, like at the boys’ home – a sea of faces but a lot of them want and can get out if separated from those that never will. She was happy to hear me. She said as she didn’t want to sway my thinking. She also told me she was happy I sat with her and made her feel a part instead of forgotten in the shade. Jackie is so very special. I learned that fighting cancer she spent several million J, her brother is a renowned surgeon in the US and was able to get her the best care to beat the cancer from breast, kidney, and pancreas. She has little left but her spirit, Lord, and a farm.

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We hit the road back at 5:45 pm after finding and buying 24 ice cream cups from a motorcycle ice cream vendor. I negotiated him down Mexican style, but think I left a lot on the table. I did not care, the grape nut was tasty and I heard the cookies were as well.

We made the hotel just in time for 8:00 pm dinner. Normal course of fish, this time a sweet-and-sour, rice, vegetables, fried bananas with a cherry chocolate cake. Clark and Tom gave the daily devotion for the down now past.

We are off to bed for an early day of street ministry.

God Sightings:  Listening to Sister Jackie. She is wise and her concern was well received.  Talking to our Jamaican sisters on the way up and back from the falls. After so many days around them talking and sharing, they feel like old friends.

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DAY 6 – SATURDAY – JULY 27, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: Philippians 2:15 – so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

2 Corinthians 5:20 – We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

GRAHAM We had to wake up at 5:30 am to leave in time for the street meet. We arrived, set up, and began calling people down to our street meet. We started with songs, a prayer, and a testimony from Gerald. About that time the generator ran out of gas. While Sammy ran to get some more gas, Papa also gave a testimony. Rejoicing followed and while Latoya stepped up to speak the generator was able to come back on. But more troubles plagued us: the soundboard wouldn’t turn on, the microphones wouldn’t work, but we finally turned everything off and proceeded without. Despite the technical difficulties, we had a great time. After packing up we went to breakfast at Ebenezer. With a reflection, we all enjoyed the thoughts of each individual and a story by one of the Ebenezer women.

Afterwards we got gifted with a t-shirt and a hat, both were handpicked. We gave thanks and goodbyes and left back to the hotel. After swimming for a while, Papa, Mr. Searle, Diane, Jennifer, Gerald, Clark and I went into Mandeville to get souvenirs, but were unsuccessful. At Captain’s Bakery, we ate while the rain outside subsided. We then headed back to the hotel with a quick ice cream stop. With full stomachs we arrived at the hotel and boarded the bus to the bible study. Clark, Katelyn, and I weren’t allowed in so we sat outside. At 8:30 pm we headed back to the hotel and ate dinner and finally went to bed.

CLARK Early start today, waking up at 5 a.m. We got straight on the bus and drove to Swaby’s Hope. There we did street ministry in which the generator failed thrice (and Satan failed to stop us thrice). After many songs, testimonies, short sermon, and a puppet show, we tore down everything and headed to Ebenezer. At Ebenezer, we ate breakfast and played before reflecting on what we have done in Jamaica. After that they presented us with Jamaican Journals

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shirts and hats. Then after a long good bye we headed to our hotel. There we changed clothes and went for a walk and to go shopping. We stopped at a pharmacy and saw 3 ice cream shops. Our shipping trip was unsuccessful. But we did manage to get some good food at a bakery called The Captain’s. We ate inside because of rain. After we ate we got ice cream and headed to our hotel. Then we got dressed and headed to Andrews. While Papa participated in the bible study, Graham, Katelyn, and I played on his tablet. After 2 ½ hours they finished and we came back to the hotel for dinner. After dinner we Skyped Mama and went swimming. Then we went to bed.

God Sighting: PAPA The morning begins with a 6:00 am pickup and we are off to Swaby’s Hope for a 7 am street ministry.

Ministry starts slow with an out of gas generator, mikes that go on and off, and a guitar in and out - feels a lot smaller without Dick and his gear. But God prevails and eventually the grass and road around are packed. I give my testimony, primarily around becoming a husband and father once I found God, the Word, and Jesus. I am cutoff by the mike and lose my thoughts. Gerald goes next followed by a Jamaican sister. Pastor Bailey goes on a short sermon and then Sister Latoya goes off on a theme of “go back” – go back to where things worked, don’t give up, go back and if she “could say…go back to God.” - more singing and then puppets, without the normal music of “Jump”.

We arrive before 10 am for an Ebenezer served breakfast. Salt fish and eggs, greens, yams, fried bananas, salt fish in a green sauce, sticks of fruit including watermelon, grapes, mangos, pineapples, all with coffee, hot tea and orange juice. Then we sit around and sing and talk. Pastors ask that we share our thoughts of the trip one by one from both groups. I loved the house-to-house with Sammy, singing, street ministries, the work the church is doing, but primarily liked the bible study together and all the singing – really being with brothers and sisters in Christ sharing the Lord. We are presented with individual bags of a shirt and hat to remember our visit.

Off to the hotel for free time. We head into Mandeville on foot along with Jennifer, Diane, Steve, Gerald. Nothing really to find but we search the downtown and side streets. We separate to eat lunch and then find ice cream and head back to the hotel for a quick swim.

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We left for Andrews at 6:00 pm to join a 21 to 40 year old bible study. The day’s lesson was on Matthew 28 and the sharing of faith. After a few songs we broke into small groups. We led two 20+ year olds, Nigel and Mellissa. Good conversation with them, Karen, Gerald, Pastor Bailey.

We arrived back at the hotel for dinner at 8:30 pm. Same food but dessert changed to ice cream and cherry chocolate cake. We head off to pack and to bed.

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DAY 7 – SUNDAY – JULY 28, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: 1 Peter 2:4b-5 – As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

GRAHAM We woke up at 8:30 am to get dressed and ready for church. Another delicious breakfast was ready for us and afterwards we put our packed luggage down in Pastor Noble’s room so when we got back from Ebenezer, we would have an easier time getting ready. We left the hotel and arrived for church at 11:00 am. We began with praising hymns (all were printed in the bulletin), prayer, and then we split up into age groups for a bible study. After about 20 minutes we read the sermon passages and Pastor Noble preached. Over all it was a 2 hour service, but seemed like a regular 1 hour. After words we celebrated Ebenezer’s 174th anniversary with cake and food. Long good-byes followed and we sadly left. Colin picked us up and we changed quickly at the hotel, loaded our luggage and we were off. When we arrived at Montego Bay, we found our hotel: the Verney Hotel. We unpacked and went to dinner at the Twisted Kilt. The Irish restaurant served many things, so I settled with a burger. We headed back to the hotel where Clark, Papa, Deedge and I roomed together for the night.

CLARK Today we woke up and went to eat breakfast. After breakfast and devotions, we went to our room, did last minute packing, moved everything to Mr. Noble’s room, and go on the bus. We drove to Ebenezer and passed out some knick knacks, which everyone wanted. Afterword, the service started and we sang, prayed, read bible verses, and then broke up into groups of ages in which we studied the bible. After, we got back together and listened to the sermon. When the sermon was over, we handed out place mats of the other times we have traveled to Jamaica. Then we went outside and had lunch and cake celebrating Ebenezer’s 174th birthday.

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was packed, we boarded and got ready for a 3 hour bus ride in which I played on Papa’s tablet for 1 ½ hours then we arrived at our new hotel and found our rooms. After that, we ate dinner at a restaurant.

Then we went back to the hotel and went to bed.

PAPA We packed the night before, so the morning was relatively free with breakfast at 9 am.

We went early to journal and enjoy the outside seating. Breakfast was the normal fare. Jackie gave the daily devotion.

We arrived at Ebenezer at 10 am for service. This gave us plenty of time to hand out wrist bands, buttons, crosses, and mints to everyone. Steve and Diane sang the prelude music. It was the 174th anniversary of the church. We heard a list of pastors and occurrences of church history. Jim gave the sermon on the Lord’s Prayer – longer sermon than what we are used to at about 30 plus minutes. We sang as a group to Ebenezer a song called “The Stand”, our hearts were really in to it. The service ended after about 2 hours. Celebration continued with cake and ice cream, giving us plenty of time to mingle, take pictures, and praise God. We were fed a smattering of lunch since we would not have time to eat. Our bus arrived at 3:30 pm, extremely late, but Colin was busy with the back and forth of Sunday pickups and returns.

Changed at the hotel, loaded up, and were off to Montego Bay arriving just before 7 pm. Drive back to Montego Bay was much better as we took our time so we were able to see the housing and villages in the daylight as we traveled back. We checked into our hotel and headed to dinner at Twisted Kilt (a knock off of Tilted Kilt but more appropriately dressed staff so the boys were okay to enter). We sat outside over the ocean, ate, talked, and laughed.

Early bed time as our departure was scheduled for 5:15 am. Rooms are nowhere near as nice and set up dormitory style.

God Sighting: A little 7 month old nearly jumped into my arms from her dad. She studied me, my hand, really giving me the once over. She would not let go of my finger as I held her. Her father left us for something like 10 minutes standing in the shade. She Jamaican Journals

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just stared at me and held on tight. She was beautiful with a purple dress decorated with roses, while hose, while patent leather shoes.

Her father finally came back and she jumped back to him and then waved good bye to me.

God works in all of us and I hope we still have that connection when we meet again.

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DAY 8 – MONDAY – JULY 29, 2013 DAILY DEVOTION: John 15:15 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

PAPA Travel Day. No problems getting through the airport, only 10 minutes from the hotel.

We have a short travel to Miami where we wait for 6 hours. Custom clearing and all that it includes is fast. We were offered $500 each for the boys and me to take another flight through Charlotte, arriving in Phoenix twenty minutes earlier, but we don’t want to take the chance of not getting to Phoenix today and we did not want to travel separate from our group.

In Miami we split up for food and to wait out the hours. Diane and Karen join us at Islands for some more fish. We all join back together at the gate and continue to wait.

Mama and the girls meet us at the airport in Phoenix. How good it is to see them.

God Sighting: Seeing my girls…my family back together…God is working here at home.

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