Home Sweet Home

Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts while the team was gone in Jamaica. The group arrived safely home on Wednesday night, and were in their beds by early Thursday morning. The return flight and travel through customs and immigration went well.

Here are some pictures from our trip. It represents only a small number of the total pictures taken (as I know some people had hundreds or thousands!) and the events that we did on the trip. But it gives you a little view into our time in Jamaica. I tried to get atleast a picture of everyone who went... there were alot of us!

Waiting in the airport for our flight to leave - EARLY Friday morning!

Both groups visited this nursing home, met the residents, and sang to them. A few of the ladies really liked seeing baby Keean!





Both groups visited many schools, and sang songs, did skits and puppet skits, to share Jesus' love with them.






Here is the workproject at the church... working hard!







We also worked on a cement project at the college and the girls stayed to work on this while the guys went to the church. The girls pushed their weight in wheelbarrows and shovel loads!







We also had a some fun times - visiting the beach, a safari river tour, and YS waterfalls...

Weekend....

Our team took the role of tourists on Saturday and found out what it's like to enjoy the beautiful nature of Jamaica. We were up and on the buses by 9am, headed on an hour drive to Black River (named because of the appearance of the river - the river is completely clear but the soil on the bottom is black). Our group took a river tour along the Black River, and saw some little and big crocs, as well as really pretty scenery and birdlife. Our guide assured us that the crocs had a Jamaican spirit - laid back :) We found a calm part of the river - no crocs in sight - and took a dip in the water. Not everyone did, but we had some brave ones! :)

After the river tour, it was time for our buffet lunch at a restaurant. Everyone was very excited about having a good restaurant style meal, and eagerly lined up, to find the same food that we had at lunch each day at the college - rice and beans, fried chicken and potatoes. There was some disappointment upon realizing that! But it still tasted good and there was also a great beef stew on the line.

Our afternoon stop was a 1/2 hr inland from Black River - called YS falls. We took a wagon ride up to the falls, and spent a few hours playing in the waterfalls and pools. It was a highlight of the trip and I'm sure you'll see lots of great pictures from that day! American food (though overpriced) was also available at the snack shop - Pringles, Doritos, and icecream cookie sandwiches - and it was like a little taste of home.

When we got back to the college, it was dinner time, and we had a great surprise - Pizza Hut pizza and rum raison icecream. Both compliments of our host Pastor Kingsley as a thankyou for the work done on the church. It hit the spot for those, again, somewhat tired of the Jamaican fare.

Sunday, we divided into two groups for church. Part of the team went to Bird Mountain church. They figured out that it was named this because the church was literally located at the top of a mountain, and the bus had to pass steep drops on narrow roads to make it to the top. I heard there were some who prayed the whole way up and down! The other group went to Independence Hall Baptist, where we went to Teen Time each evening and did the work project.

For those who haven't heard, I left Sunday afternoon to head back to the US, along with Keean, and Dr. Eggebrecht. He needed to return to Michigan to get his foot looked at, as it was not improving. I'm glad that I brought Keean home with me, since this morning he woke up with a fever of 102 and stomach problems. God knew we needed to be here to get the medicine he needs to get better. Our flight arrived into Chicago about an hour late (partly due to weather), and to St. Joe around 2:15. So hopefully 2am will be a projected return time for the mission team.

Today, the team was heading to their last school presentations, then into Montego Bay for shopping at the market and a visit to the beach. Andy emailed me about today and said, "We had a great day at the market and beach today and were able to stop at burger king for the kids which they loved. The beach was good and alot of people went out on the glass bottom boat and snorkel on a reef. At first the price was $20 and not many were going to go, but Tim got the guy down to $10 and he had a boat full." We had heard from Pastor Kingsley that a guy usually was at the beach to take people out in his boat snorkeling, so we were hoping that would work out for the kids. Sounds like some of their dreams came true.

Tuesday is a rest, pack, and clean day so that the team can head out Wed after lunch to the airport.

The arrival time for the team back to GCS is set for 2:00am on Thursday morning. If it will be after 2:30, we will initiate the calling chain to let you know of a change. Continue to pray for the team, as they spend their last days in Jamaica, for safety in travel.

God Bless and thanks for your prayers so far!
Mission team and Meghan

End of a good first week

Hello family and friends,

The time is flying by here in Jamaica... Here are some updates.

On Thursday, each group went to schools in the morning. Then the boys plus Rhonda, Melissa and Sarah J, went out to the church (about a 30 min drive) to pour the concrete on the roof of the new room. They took lunch with them and worked most of the morning and all afternoon to get it finished by about 5:00. The girls stayed on the college campus with Dr. E and Andy, and moved more sand, dirt and cement to the new roof addition here. Both worked very hard and had sore muscles from shovelling, moving wheelbarrows, and lifting buckets of concrete. Some of you moms will be surprised at what your kids can do when they put their minds to it!

Today (Friday) it was great to say that most of the manual labor is completed.
Group 1 went to a school of about 200 kids, and did the program. After a day of no batteries in the CD, group 1 decided they like singing better without it. So they sang and did their skits and the kids listened really well. At each school, we have been bringing a gift bag of supplies that we brought from what we collected. It has been fun to see the excitement of the students and faculty. And Jamaicans seem very open to Christianity, more than the states in many ways. They allow praying and talking about God in the public schools, and the teachers often get up after we are finished and encourage the children to think about what we said. It's really neat. Group 1 got a much needed 2 hr break until lunch after the school, then went to an orphanage near Montego Bay. All of the children were between 5-18, and we just played with them - balloons, beach balls, jump rope. Sang Won, Shawn, and Mike got tied up with the rope after the girls were done with it! Alli and Sarah E got very involved in coloring with the girls. They all played with the kids so well and made a good afternoon for them.

Group 2 went to a primary (elementary) school with ALOT of kids - I heard 1,000. They were in the middle of a courtyard, and had to use microphones for the students to hear them. It was one of their more difficult performances. Then they went to a baby home, for children in foster care waiting for families. There were about 60 babies there, from a year under. They played with them and held them, and brought lots of baby clothes and stuff for them. It was a touching experience! Then they got afternoon naps!

Ever had goat? We have now! For lunch today, Pastor Kingsley took us to his church, and some members of the church made us curry goat and chicken with rice and beans. (By the way moms, I'll just warn you that your kids will be ready for something OTHER than RICE AND BEANS, when they return! :) They've been great. We've had them for 1-2 meals a day along with other things since we arrived! But some are on overload :) Most people tried the goat and liked it. No goat soup though for those who went last time!

The last teen night is tonight. According to Liz, it's her favorite thing, and I've seen alot of the kids really making connections with kids. On Wed night there about 90 people at the church including our team, so there have been A TON of teens showing up for it. The kids have made some friends with the Jamaican teens there. It's been fun for them.

Tomorrow we are going all day on a "fun day" - the kids have worked so hard. They haven't really had any down time all week to even play basketball, they have been so busy. So tomorrow will be great. A river tour, lunch out, and a waterfall to visit. Pizza and icecream for dinner (don't tell - it's a surprise!). Sunday will be church in the morning and afternoon. Swisher says that he has done enough church for 4 Sunday because they spent 4 hrs in church last Sunday :) It's Jamaican style! But most of it is new for them and keeps their attention, or they are the ones up front because the team has been asked to sing, share testimonies and do their skits.

Monday they will visit a few more schools in the morning, then off to Montego Bay to the market and beach, and maybe snorkeling. We were supposed to go Wed but they worked on concrete instead. So they're looking forward to it.

Kristen and Kristyn have gotten their hair braided the Jamaican way - more girls to come! So be ready for them to look different when they return. Carter is feeling alot better. Dr. E is still struggling with his foot - pray for him if you think of it. I know I didn't mention everyone, but they're doing great. Very little stomach problems considering all of the new food we've eaten.

Well, the sun has been shining here. It's only rained once since we arrived, and it's beautiful. I hear that is not the case in Michigan. We'll enjoy it for you here! :)

Love to all-
The team
and Meghan

Mid-week update

Hello All!

I hope all is well in Michigan. Everything is going well here in Jamaica! The work project really picked up yesterday and today. The students have moved huge piles of stones and sand, and bags of cement, at both the church and college where we are staying. They are helping move these things to rooftops, to make new concrete roofs. One group began pouring the concrete at the church today. They will finish tomorrow. The other group got supplies in the right place and will start moving it as concrete to the roof tomorrow. The students have been spending the second half of the morning and all afternoon at the work sites.

In the mornings both groups have been going out to schools, nursing homes, and children's homes to do their presentations and spend time with people in need of love and attention. The students have done so well at adapting to each sitation. Often when we arrive, they don't know the sitatuation until we get into the school. The groups have performed outside next to highways, inside classrooms, for groups of 200+, at high school, elementary and little nursery schools. So they have adapted for each time.

The schools here have a devotion time each morning, so that is when we have been going to the schools to share our programs. We think we have it all prepared when we leave in the mornings, but that isn't always the case! Group one got to our first school on monday morning and realized they forgot the curtain for the puppet stage. We were able to borrow one from the school. On Wed morning, the same group turned on the CD player at the school and the batteries were dead, and the spares were not to be found. So they sang accapella and did soooooo great anyway! Group two performed at a high school for their first event, and decided to totally change the program to meet that audience, so they improvised and did great. They also went to a disabled children's home, and had a really impacting experience. They played cricket with a boy in a wheelchair, and pushed crippled children on swings, and just spend time with kids who needed love. Both groups also visited a nursing home already this week, and were able to sing to the residents and talk with them. Ultimately, we've really seen God working in these places, with working out the kinks, and in the responses from the students in the schools as we share with them. We're praying that our testimonies are making impacts on these students.

The evenings have been a really neat experience for the GCS kids too. Pastor Kingsley is our bus driver and coordinator for our ministry time. He also is the pastor of Independence Hall Baptist Church, where we have been doing the concrete roof. In the evenings, he has invited his youth group, and local teens, to come to the church and spend time with our group. They Jamaican teens lead some songs for us, which we are learning, and some we already know. Then the GCS teens lead some songs and teach them to the other group. Dr. Kohns speaks after that, and finally we play a game to get to know each other better. Monday night was a rock paper scissors tournament, last night was a beach ball war. For some of the GCS kids, it's been a highlight of the trip so far.

Here are some prayer requests:

- Dr. Eggebrecht hurt his foot on Sat. He went to a doctor in Montego Bay and got medicine and treatment. It is feeling better but still needs to heal more. It is hard for him not to be able to fully participate in everything. Pray that his foot will heal quickly.

- Carter Brown got a particle of metal in his eye yesterday and went to an eye doctor today to get it removed. He has medicine and should be healed soon. Thank God that we were able to get him treatment in a timely way (and didn't have to go to the ER).

- For safety on the worksites tomorrow since the students will be exerting alot of energy in the roof project. Since they are so busy with ministry in the morning, work in the afternoon, and teen time in the evening, they have the potential of burning out. So pray for energy and using their freetime to get rest and recover.

- For the ministry times, as these seem to be excellent opportunities for the kids to use their gifts of singing, speaking, and sharing. That God would plant seeds through these times in the lives of kids and adults.

- For our relationships with the Jamaican college students. It has been fun for the GCS kids to get to know the college students here, that they are living in the dorms with. The Jamaicans have been so hospitable. We are trying to be considerate also, considering we took over their campus with 40 more people :) Pray that we can consider others.

- Relationships on the team - it's hard to "live" with everyone for almost 2 weeks, and we've had our share of conflict resolving to do. Pray for the students and adults to be willing to continue the process of caring for each other, and working together on the trip.

Overall it's been great so far. The weather is awesome! We're looking forward to a "fun in the sun" day on Saturday at a river tour and waterfall, and hopefully a trip to Montego Bay to the market on Monday.

Love to all -
The mission team
and Meghan

We're Here!

Hello Friends and family!

As you hopefully heard from the calling chain, we made it to Jamaica safe and sound. The internet is not easily available as I had hoped, so I won't be able to update the blog very often. But I will tell you how things are going up to this point...

When we arrived in Jamaica, we first had to get through immigration and customs. At immigration, some of the groups were given a little bit of a hard time, but we made it through relatively quickly. But when we collected our bags and moved to customs, they wouldn't let us through with our mission suitcases. So we had to leave these with some of the adults and go through. Four adults stayed while the bags were looked through, and they finally convinced the customs officer that we were really giving the items away, so that we got all the bags.

We rode in 2 buses from Montego Bay to the college - with AC! It has been in the 80's, some sun, some mugginess, and it rained yesterday afternoon for a short time. The students have made friends with some of the college students, and played some serious games of bball and soccer (football here). Friday and Saturday we got acclimated to our surroundings and practiced for our times in schools. By Sunday morning, almost everyone is feeling rested and ready for more activity after our LONG trip here!

The food... rice and peas (beans to us) have been a staple at lunch, along with chicken or fish. Breakfast has been american style - eggs, pancakes or french toast so no complaints there! We've had some fruit (oranges, pineapple) for those moms worried about the healthy stuff. Evening meal has been smaller, bread and cheese with chips, but most of us have made it down to the local jerk chicken/pork shop for some local goodness. Even the "picky" eaters are finding something to their liking! :)

Sunday was morning and evening church, where the students sang and performed their pantemime skit. Today (Monday) was our first day out in the community visiting. Group 1 (Liz, Kristyn, Sang Won, Shawn, Steph, Alli, SEan, Easton, Josh, Sarah E, KRisten L, Mike, Nate, & adults) went to a nursing home. They sang songs to the residents and visited. They were surprised I think how much they enjoyed the experience. We've found it easy to understand Jamaican English, though the local dialect they speak to each other we don't get a word of!

Group 2 (Marga, Mel, Jess, Andrew, Taylor, Amanda, Claire, Ben, Carter, SArah J, JEnnelle, Clint, Ron & co) went to a high school with hundreds of kids who all watched from balconies, while they shared their testimony and sang for them. Then they went to a disabled children's home, and wow - that was an experience in loving the children. Some played with balls, while others just spent time sitting and caring for them.

We've already swum in the beach this afternoon. Beautiful and salty. We did some work around the college earlier in the day but are waiting for everything to be ready at the church project. Should begin tomorrow.

Pray for us that we are bold in sharing our faith, and also relational in spending time at the children's homes and nursing homes. Pray for the building supplies to all come as needed and safety on the worksite. Pray for students' relationships with each other, as putting 26 teenagers together can be an occasional source of conflict. :) Pray that we are being a blessing to the churches and college that are hosting us. God bless you! Love from the team - your kids miss you, I promise! :)

Oh- some geckos and an occasional cockroach have been visiting the rooms, but nothing that a good scream and a broom can't handle. :) And the evenings have been cool and enjoyable to sleep in...

From Jamaica...
Meghan

PS - Keean is doing great in his first international trip, eating rice and peas with the best of them, and sleeping like a champ! :) xoxo

Info from Mon 3.23

We have officially met for the last time before our departure on Friday morning. Here are some things that we talked about at the meeting...

- Spending money: There will be a breakfast on the plane, but you'll want money for snacks/food at the airport, possibly buying some at the college, and a meal out in Jamaica (count on $20-50 for this depending on what you buy to eat). The falls has a zip line for about $30 if you want to do that. Hair braiding for girls will be about $50. Also, we will go to a market if you want to buy souvenirs. Overall, we are recommending $30-200 (depending on how many "extra" things you want to do and how many souvenirs you want to buy).

- At the college: The bathroom floors are slippery so consider flip-flops for that area. No mirrors so bring your own if you want one. Levis and Browns are bringing clothes lines to hang wet things on, but you might want to bring some clothes pins for hanging your stuff. It's humid so thinner towels will dry faster than thick ones. Claire and Alli are bringing hair dryers.

- Travel advice: Sleep on Thursday at some point if possible. Even a few hours will help you feel better. Also, plan to drink lots of water during travel (even on the plane), as this will help you recover easier from traveling.

Be at school at 1:30 Friday morning. We'll have ribbon for your suitcase. Wear your GREEN MISSION SHIRT for traveling - pack the other ones.

Airport/Travel Details: You are responsible for YOUR own luggage, including your mission bag. Your travel group is your small group. This will help us account for everyone more quickly than just counting. No joking about destructive things (bombs, guns, etc.) in the airport as this can quickly lead to trouble. Take care to be calm and listen during travel.

Chapel on Wed: Group 2 is performing during elementary chapel (9:00-10:00), and Group 1 is performing during high school chapel (10:10-11:10) this Wednesday. If any parents didn't see it last week and want to come, you're welcome.

See you Friday morning! :)
Call me if you have questions before then: Meghan 269-492-4786

Emergency Contact Info for Jamaica

Meghan's email: mvanlente912@yahoo.com
Feel free to email me with any information you would like passed on to the team or your child.

In emergency call:
Fairview Baptist Bible College
Merle - secretary who answers the phone
1-876-997-5545 (It dials out just like a US number, on my cell phone I didn't need any other numbers).

Here is the College's website if you want to learn more about where we're staying:
http://fbbc.synthasite.com/