Two weeks ago I returned home after leading the Jamaica Ambassador team in Kingston.  We lived on the Salvation Army base where there was a nursing home and orphanage on site. One thing I had forgotten was how difficult it was to love orphans at times. They are some of the worst behaved children I have ever had to deal with. We were in charge of VBS while there. It would have been easier to teach bible stories to a room full of squirrels. I found myself frustrated more than anything. I was irritated with the children that wanted to climb all over me instead of listed. I was annoyed...

The Ambassador Jamaica team (The JamFam) arrived in Kingston last Monday after an intense weekend of preparation at the Adventures office in Georgia. The way this team took every challenge that was thrown at them was more than impressive. They have tackled each ministry given to them with  enthusiasm and have chosen joy in every situation. They continue love each other and encourage one another through it all. It has been an amazing time of renewal and breaking down walls within themselves so they can pour the Father’s love out on Jamaica. Here are some of...

This is what started our trip.  🙂  In Clarissa’s own words:                    Oh my goodness!! God is sooo good all the time! And all the time, God is good! This trip changed my life in so many ways. I think everyone knew going into this trip that our lives would be changed forever, but none of us realized to the capacity that they would change. Those kids in Jamaica touched each and every one of us in different ways and I saw every single person on the trip change and grow so incredibly much! God worked through...

While the majority of our team spent more time working at and around the School for the Blind, the mornings usually found me and a few of our team at the home for the aged, a nursing home/assisted living facility for 20 or so women in varying conditions of health.   One morning, I was playing my guitar outside on the small porch by the sick bay along while Elijah played his cajon and Sam sang along.  Ms. Malcolm and Ms. Taylor (or Ms. Florence if you go by first name) were in their usual chairs and Ms. Taylor was gleefully clapping along with “I’ll Fly...

Aw man, Leah beat me to a new post!  She’s the organized one, so go figure  😉 Can it really be that we’ve been back over a week already?!?  I’ve been in recovery mode ever since I had to bid farewell to you who are carrying part of my heart with you, whether you know it or not.  I’m just starting to emerge!  There’s been so much to process.   Since I’m not sure who to write this post to, I’m going to take a cue from Leah: Parents – Thank you for sharing your son or daughter with us.  I have come home in...

Hey everyone! God is good! We had an amazing trip. We went through a lot and worked hard. We had some hard conversations, but good. God did a lot of amazing things during our trip. To the Parents: Thank you! I, and the other leaders, could not have asked for 13 better students to be on this trip. I was so blessed through the interactions that we had and I will never be able to explain the lasting impact that each of these students has had on my life. They truly are an amazing group of kids, and I miss each one of them dearly. To our supporters: thank you for your paryers! Many of times we...