Greetings from Jamaica!!! Day 5 is coming to a close. I am in my usual spot at this time of the night overlooking MoBay, uploading video and pictures to my computer and to our photo galleries on flickr. I also get to talk to folks back home on Skype and Facebook. The view from the YWAM Base is incredible especially at night. It is one of my favorite moments of the trip. It’s very peaceful. I can see all the lights from the city and the reflections off the water. Tonight there are flickers of lightning in the distance. It’s pretty cool except for the bug bites.
We had a great day of ministry! We had another great crowd for VBS in the village. Still running around 50 kid’s. Got to see a few folks that have been around in years past, but have had to work or had other things going on and couldn’t be here until today. Blossom has been with us every year, but today was the first day we’ve seen her. She braids all the girls hair, and helps with VBS. She also has 3 kid’s that come to VBS. She stopped by before going to work and braided a little for Sarah Melvin, Sarah Mahaffey, and Amanda Collins. Worship, skit, small groups, crafts and games went really well.
After VBS we went to West Haven Children’s Home. It is a home for kid’s with pretty severe mental and physical handicaps, but they are very sweet and always smiling. There are several colorful characters there. Some of them can communicate and some just make noises. We always play cricket with some of the boys. There are three that we call the “cricket boys”. They all have some form of cerebral palsy, but they don’t let it hold them back from having fun. It’s amazing that they can throw and hit the ball as well as they do. Some of the other kid’s join in too. Some just want to walk around and be close to you. They have no problem invading your personal space. They like to hug you and/or hold your hand. Kevin is really funny. He doesn’t speak much. If he does speak, it’s to tell you to stop talking and focus on what he is doing. He will say, “No Talking, No Talking”. He motions for you to come over and sit with him, and if you try and get up to leave or talk to someone else he will grab you and try and make you sit back down. Today, he was digging up small rocks from the dirt. He had to show you each one, and if you weren’t paying attention he would let you know it. You also have to watch him because he will kiss you too. He usually just gives you a peck on the check. But everyone once in a while he will want to shower you with kisses. As we were leaving, he was walking with Patsy Sheppard and I. He decided to give her a kiss on the cheek and it turned into about 5 kisses. It would have been more if I hadn’t pulled him away at the last second. It was a sneak attack:)
Anyway, I know I’m rambling and I need to go to bed. We had another great day! Tomorrow is the last day of ministry. We have VBS in the village then we are going to a nearby beach with all the kid’s. It will be a fun, but sad day because we will have to say goodbye. Friday is our day to relax, go to the beach, eat out, and shop. Stay tuned for more tomorrow…Thank you for your prayers!
