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