Extended Hands Ministries

The End...for now!

2010-02-04T16:04:00.007-05:00

As you may know, our time in Jamaica has come to and end. We are so grateful for all the wonderful times and memories we share with the kids at both New Vision and The City of Refuge. Here are some pictures of our last few days. Thanx for keeping up with us and for all the prayers. We love you Jamaica!

Sweet 16!

2009-12-01T11:09:00.002-05:00

Sixteen years ago, Dulcie and I were preparing to become parents. Where does the time go? Now, here we are, getting ready to celebrate our oldest child turning 16! We are very proud of her and the young woman she is becoming. When we asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, her response took us back a bit. She wanted to go to the beach for 2 days, but she wanted to bring the girls from New Vision and City of Refuge who were also turning 16. She wanted to make sure they had a nice 16th birthday party as well. What an unselfish attitude! She could have made this day all about her, but she chose to include others. As a parent, it really makes you proud when your child comes up with these kind of things all on their own.

What a huge lesson we can learn! Many times we want to make the situation all about us, when we should really be concerned about the well being of others...especially those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

This holiday season, let's all make it a priority to go out of our way to minister to someone who needs some extra attention or love. Too many times we make this season just about us and our family, but let's endeavor to reach out. Work at a homeless shelter, volunteer at a boys and girls club, or visit a nursing home and pass out cookies. Just a few hours or even a whole day can make the difference in someone's life this Christmas season. And really, in light of eternity, what's a few hours?

Extended Hands Ministries motto is: Helping Others Reach Up! Let's do just that this Christmas Holiday.

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! We love you all!

Settling In

2009-09-21T16:11:00.003-05:00

Well time has flown by, but we've been at the City of Refuge for over a month now, and we're settling in very nicely! The Puffpaffs have gone back to the States for their year of itineration, and the Rudy family has come to join us as Missionary Associates. J.R. and his family will be working with the coffee farm, construction, and implementing a pre-school. They have 2 daughters who fit right in with our girls, so all is good! We also have another young lady here, Laura, who is teaching Kindergarden. We're all becoming one big happy family.

The kids here are warming up to us, and we've been having a fun, but hard time getting to know their names...all 60+ of them, plus all the staff! But, we'll get it eventually. They've all been great about being patient with us.

We have now moved into the Puffpaff's house, which is AWESOME! Finally, a real live house with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms...2 stories! You can't even imagine how excited Dulcie is! And it is BEAUTIFUL! God has certainly blessed us!

Our first week in charge here has proven challenging, as this is a much larger operation than New Vision, but we have survived! God has said He will not give us more than we can handle! Altho, at times I wonder!

We are extremely busy trying to manage our time in the office, running errands, homeschooling Jaycee & Hannah, helping Levi & Alyssa adjust to Jamaican school (they go to school on the property), and managing home life! But we are loving being in Jamaica, fullfilling the call God has on our lives. When I think about the fact that we only have one more year left, it actually saddens me a little! But, that's another day!

Anyway, God is good, and continues to provide all we need, both materially and emotionally and spiritually! Everyone is doing well, so we can't complain!
Thanx for all you do for us! We so appreciate your love, prayers and support!
Blessings to you all!

Cool Runnings Pictures

2009-08-20T10:27:00.006-05:00

Time of Transition

2009-08-16T13:20:00.008-05:00

Times of transition come for us all. Sometimes they are easy, sometimes more difficult. We are in the midst of a transition in our ministry. We have just moved from New Vision up to the City of Refuge in the Blue Mountains, near Kingston. This was a very difficult decision for us to make, but after much prayer and consideration, we feel it is what God wants for our family. We have been serving at New Vision for 1 year now and will spend the next year at the City of Refuge. This home is twice the size of New Vision...over 60 kids!...with a coffee farm and many more employees. It will be a challenge for sure, but we know God will be with us.

It was very difficult to leave the kids at New Vision. Many of them call us mom and dad, and we feel like they are our own children. But knowing we will still be on the island, able to call and visit, has made this a little easier for all of us. Since the move, we have already visited them 3 times. It has been so good to see them come running when we pull in the driveway...it feels like a family reunion! Please pray for the kids at New Vision as they have gone through this kind of transition many times before. It's hard for them, but Jesus is able to sustain them.

We were able to take them all on a fun trip to the water park before we left...thanx to the generous donation of a team! It was a GREAT time, and everyone had a fabulous day! It's a time we will all never forget! (I'll try to post some pics soon!)

We will be in training for the next month, learning the in's and out's of this home. The Puffpaffs, the directors, will be returning to the States for a year of itineration, and they will need your prayers as well. They have been at this home for almost 9 years, and it will be hard for them to say goodbye and be gone for so long. The kids here have never been through this kind of transition before, so please lift them up in prayer as well.

As for our 4 kids, they are handling this well. They miss their freinds at New Vision but are doing great making new freinds. Sadly, just before our move, our dog Zeke was hit by a car and killed. As you may remember, we lost a dog in January to rat poison, so this has been very hard for us all. (We've decided to wait before getting any kind of pet!) They will be starting up school soon. Levi and Alyssa will go to the school here on the property with the Jamaican kids, and Jaycee & Hannah will attend the same online academy as last year. We are expecting a great year for them all.

We are confident that this is where the Lord wants us for this time in our lives. He has made that abundantly clear. We know the challege ahead is great, but He has promised that He will give us what we need, when we need it. So we find comfort and rest in Him, and trust that He has everything in control. Please continue to pray for us and all the kids at both homes. We all need it very much!

Wow! We've Been Busy!

2009-05-19T13:26:00.005-05:00

Ok! Let me apologize for taking so long to send an update! We have been so busy lately, but that is really no excuse. In April we had 1 medical team and 1 ministry team...what a wonderful time we had with Dr. Sykes and his medical crew, as well as the awesome ministry of C3 Church in Pickerington, OH! May has been and continues to be a time of relaxing and preparing for a full month in June! (multiple teams in June!)

The kids at New Vision had a wonderful time when the C3 church was here. They focused their ministry on celebrating the lives of the children and teaching them to celebrate who God has made them to be. We had an awesome birthday party to celebrate all of our lives at the beginning of the week, had a bonfire where everyone was uplifted and edified, and ended with a lesson on purity (and the girls had makeovers!) They blessed the home tremendously, not only with their lessons and their love, but with many wonderful donations. It was an absolutely amazing time for all of us!

We've also been busy with normal routine activities in a home of 26 kids, plus our own 4! Doctor visits, dentists visits, counselling sessions, shopping for birthdays, going to devotions, Youth Group, church, Missionettes, choir practice...the list goes on and on!

We've also been able to take some great days off, which is much needed on a regular basis or we'll go crazy! LOL. We've gotten to see some amazing parts of this island! We've been to places that most tourists never see and met some very loving and interesting people. We scoped the Blue Mountains, visited the coffee farm that is known to have THE best Blue Mountain Coffee in the world!, four wheeled the mountain roads, visited beautiful waterfalls on a day when NO ONE was there but our family, visited the location of the origin of Jerk Chicken (AMAZING FOOD!), and visited the beach where we found a star fish which measured 12 inches from the end of one arm to the next! Not to mention the wonderful times we've been having with our missionary friends, or should I say "family"! They are the best and we love them all very much! And the best part of it is that most of it was free! Thank you Jesus!

As we are coming up on our 1 year date of living in Jamaica, we realize that most of the ministry, and the most effective, is that of the day-to-day touching of the children's lives. While we've had our moments of defiance and disobedience, most of our time here has been very positive. We are just loving on these kids to the best of our ability and using daily events to show them what God's Word says. Basically what we do with our own kids. And in the lower times, we are reminded that we're doing a good job, every time one of the kids gives us a hug or tells us they love us! That makes it all worthwhile! So, while we are looking forward to a 2 week vacation in July, we are glad to be here and love these kids more everyday!

New Vision Takes the Prize!

2009-04-01T14:04:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we attended an awards ceremony for a poster competition held in our parish in December. This competition was for all children's homes in the Manchester parish. Several of our kids entered and did a fabulous job. There were 3 ages groups...8-11 years, 12-15 years and 16-18 years. NEW VISION SWEPT THE COMPETITION AWAY! We came home with 5 of the 9 awards! Merlene won 2nd place in the 8-11 age group, Sherika won 3rd place in the 12-15 age group, and we won 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 16-18 age group...Tiffany, Marlon (Roland filled in for his brother!) and Brittany! What an awesome boost for their confidence! They did a great job and we are VERY proud of them all! Way to go guys!

Reunion

2009-04-01T13:48:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks ago we had an amazing thing happen at New Vision. We had a reunion! Not a reunion of past students or staff, but a family reunion. In December we received 5 new children...all siblings ages 18 months to 10 years old. They are precious, beautiful kids. But we were told at that time that there was still one sibling yet to come, and that she was 3 years old. At that time, no one knew where she was living...Kingston was all anyone knew. (Kingston is a city of 1 million people!) We began to pray that God would send this precious little one our way. In January we got word that she had been found, but had been sick and in the hospital, and that she would be coming soon. Again, we went to prayer. In February, we got a call that we could come and pick her up at another children's home in Kingston. Upon arriving, we learned that she had not been sick, nor in the hospital, but had been living there for over a year. ??? We were confused. After verifying that she was indeed the sibling to our other kids, we brought her home to New Vision. Imagine being 2 years old and seperated not only from your mother, but also your 5 siblings and placed in a strange place. Our hearts broke for her.

But, oh what a reunion we had! When we drove down the driveway of New Vision, there sat her 5 brothers and sisters waiting to see their sister! They were overjoyed at seeing her again! Lots of love and laugter! Unfortunately, she did not remember them, as she was too young. We are just thankful that she is with us and is getting to know her family again. It's so neat to see them playing and laughing and sometimes fighting, as siblings do. She is doing very well adjusting and wears a beautiful smile! We are so thankful that God has used New Vision City of Refuge to reunite this precious family. Thank you Jesus...our Healer and Restorer!

Life Goes On...

2009-01-31T17:32:00.004-05:00

Okay, so as I sit here today, totally exhausted, I have a new puppy by my side. Our puppy, Oreo, died about 2 weeks ago. We're pretty sure she got into some poison. It was sad to watch her die, but we are thankful for the 2 months we had with her. Zeke is our new pup. I found him in our yard after he and his 4 siblings and mother ran across our soccer field. He got caught in the thicket, so I rescued him. (I wanted to name him Abraham or Issac, but got out voted!) He's a cute little guy, we've had for about a week now. He's about 8 weeks old and the vet has given him a clean bill of health.

I'm thanking God today for all He is doing here at New Vision. Yesterday was a great day of prayer here at the home. We anointed each child with oil and prayed over them that God would bless each life. We walked around our property believing God to do great things here. The Assemblies of God Bible College came out and prayed with us for about 2 hours. We had a wonderful time just praying for the kids and believing God to save each of them and do great things in their lives. We're believing for answers to those prayers.

January has been a very busy month for us. There seems to always be something to do or somewhere to go! We've been repainting the interior of our team dorm, as well as the girl's bathrooms, and the kitchen in our apartment. I like to paint and have found one of the older boys does too, and does a great job! Since we had so much paint lying around, we've taken advantage of it, and are sprusing the place up a bit!

We also had another medical team come down. Jaycee had the opportunity to assist the team and pull files and count pills. She was so excited after the first day because she got to watch the Dr. lance a cyst on one woman's foot. GROSS! But she enjoyed being able to help out. Of course this meant she was out of school for 2 days and had to make it up. During this week, Hannah, got to go to Kingston to our sister home and spend a week up on the mountain with the Puffpaffs and a team of girls from Michigan. She had a great time, and wasn't quite so homesick after coming home. Thank you Miss Kim!

Of course, after being out of school for 3 weeks for Christmas break, getting back into the swing of things has been challenging. Dulcie has really been working hard to get the kids back on track! She is doing a GREAT job home schooling them!

We started having chidren's church with the little kids this month, as well. We have church with them a couple times a month. We start at 9:30 with the kids under 12. We have worship with everyone at 10:30 and then dismiss the under 12 kids to watch a video (usually Veggie Tales or McGee and Me). Then we have service with the older kids. God has been meeting us and the older kids are beginning to respond to the altar services. We are thankful and grateful that God is moving on their hearts. We are staying involved in the local church, as well, with Awana club, Youth Group, Youth Choir Practice and Monthly fellowships. Plus, we attend Sunday morning when we don't have kids church. We believe it's important to keep them active in the local church, as well.

We're also working hard to get our new kitchen up and running. Hopefully, some time in February we'll be able to cook in there and eat in the new dining hall. That is...if all goes well. You never know what challenges will arise!

For the most part, we are doing well and chugging along. They finally brought cable to our area, so we are grateful to be able to have a sense of America on the tube. The kids are glad to have Nickelodeon and Disney channel again. I'm just glad to watch something other than Everybody Loves Raymond or Home Improvement! (DVD)

As we watch the news and see all that is going on in America today, we refuse to let discouragment take over. God is still on the throne! He is still in control! I'm reminded of the Scripture that says, "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or God's seed begging for bread!" As long as we stay in His will and follow His ways, He will ALWAYS make provision for us! I believe that even tho 2009 may look grim to some, it can be an amazing year! Know that we are praying for God's blessing in your lives this year. Thank you for all you do for us. We love you all!

Christmas in Jamaica

2008-12-28T19:46:00.003-05:00

Well, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! I hope you've had a very blessed time with friends and family. Here at New Vision we have had a wonderful time. Busy, but wonderful. Thankfully, we had many donations this year to provide Christmas for 25 children. We are very grateful for that! We did our best to make sure every child got at least one thing they asked for...Not an easy task. But, we did our best. In the end, they were all very happy.

The children have been out of school since Dec. 17th, and will return on Jan. 5th, so keeping them busy has been a task. We were invited to a local Christian Retreat Center for a Happy Birthday Jesus Party. There were games, bounce-a-bouts, and gifts for all the kids...not to mention CAKE! We also went to the beach, and then for a visit to the City of Refuge in the Kingston area. The kids had so much fun! On the way home, Dulcie and I picked up pizza from Domino's for a pizza party. That was a great treat...thank you Mr. & Mrs. Brown! The kids have taken turns going to town with us to run errands and prepare for Christmas. It's hard to keep track of who's turn it is to go!

On Christmas Eve, the Children all went into town for "Grand Market". That's when all the stores and all the vendors line the street for a night on the town. There are literally thousands of people who come out! (We stayed home and made cookies!) The kids went early as to avoid the "party" scene that comes later in the night. They were given money to spend on their name exchange and had fun shopping for each other! Most of the teens spent their allowance on snacks! (typical teenagers!)

Christmas morning the kids opened their stockings. We had lunch in our new dining room for the first time and then opened Christmas presents! What a sight! 25 kids opening presents all at the same time! Our home church, Freedom House in Trenton, Ohio, sent blankets for all of the kids. They each got a different design and all of them LOVED them! Thank you Freedom House! It does actually get cold enough here to cover up with a blanket or two at night!

After lunch clean up, we watched Kung Fu Panda on the "big screen". A missionary friend lent us his video projector and we used the wall in the new dining area. Later that night we watched the Nativity Story and the next night we watched Prince Caspian. It was a real treat to be at the "movie theatre", without the trip to the actual theatre...and the cost! Thank you Denny & Debbie Seler!

We still have one more week of Christmas break, but we are planning a Sports Day on New Years Day, so that should be fun! For now they are enjoying their new toys and gifts. Thank you to all who sent gifts or money to help us out! God has been good to us and we look forward to what He has for 2009. God bless you all. Have a very Happy New Year!

Digicel Fun Day

2008-12-07T20:15:00.003-05:00

Here are some pics of a fun day the local cell phone company held for kids ages 6-13 in children's homes. It was totally free and a lot of food! We also got to meet a Jamaican Hero...Usain Bolt, Olympic Gold Medalist and World's fastest man. It was a great time and the kids had a blast. The also received a Christmas gift from Santa and a bag of goodies from Digicel.

New Baby in the House!

2008-12-04T22:16:00.004-05:00

Well, we have some great news! We have a new baby in our house. You may be saying, "Aw, more kids!?" But alas, not a new kid...a new PUPPY! Yes, we have finally given in to our children after 2 years of hounding us for a dog. One of our staff members knew of someone who had puppies and volunteered to get us one. Since it was Thanksgiving week and I knew we'd be gone both Thursday and Friday, I asked that the dog be delievered on Saturday. That would give us plenty of time to prepare for her arrival. Well, as Dulcie and I were driving home from Kingston on Thursday, Jaycee called to tell us the dog had come. Of course she (and the other 3) were so excited all we could hear was screaming and excitement. Once we got home we found a very adorable little black and white puppy that looked like she was only 5-6 weeks old. YIKES! But, thankfully, she had already been weaned and was drinking from a bowl.

Since we were not at all prepared, we scrambled around to find her a "bed"...she sleeps in a RubberMaid bin. The first night was very hard on her...and us. She cried ALL night long. So, the next night we found 2 small stuffed dogs to put in with her, and she slept all night! Thank you, Lord!

Because her head is black with a white stripe down her face, we named her Oreo. The Jamaican kids thought that was hysterical, and no name for a dog, but we like it. It suits her. Some of them are having a hard time with us having a dog in the apartment and loving on her so much. For a lot of them, dogs are only for protection, not playmates. So, we're trying to explain American pets to them.

Oreo is doing well. The vet came and checked her out and gave her a set of immunizations. She's as cute as can be and we are falling in love! If you know our kids at all, you know she is being "loved" to death! It's challenging having a "baby" again, but the kids are getting a good sense of responsibility...and some parenting. (Alyssa has dubbed herself "Oreo's mommy"!) All in all, we're glad for the addition.

Pluggin away

2008-11-19T20:39:00.004-05:00

Okay, so a lot has happened recently and nothing has happened. There really isn't much exciting news to tell, but we have been very busy. Mostly, it's the day to day operation that keeps us so busy. We've been diligently trying to get our teen boys moved in to a new building...little things like having sofas made and staining them, looking for foam cushions, material to cover them, etc... We've also been trying to lay some stone on our playground as it gets way too muddy for the kids to pay on after it rains. Not to mention, going to the cambio, and the bank, and the market, and the grocery store, running kids to and from school, and so on and so on.
We did just have a medical team here for a few days, so that kept us busy...tending to the needs of the team, having all of the kids seen by the doctor, running for lunch for the patients who had been waiting all morning long, etc...
And then there's the constant business of homeschool...Dulcie has been VERY busy with that. In the process, we are looking for a vehicle, which can be exhausting. I found one, but by the time our mechanic could go check it out, it was gone. The hunt continues!
So, while we've been busy with life in general, nothing really exciting has happened, which is kinda good. Life's been busy enough. We are getting away this weekend for a few days, and we're really looking forward to some R&R, and a visit with friends.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are very thankful that we are here where God has called us. We're thankful for our children as well as the Jamaican kids in our care, and we're very thankful for our friends and family who support us and pray for us. While we cannot possibly communicate personally with all of you, please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers and we love you all very much.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!...and eat some pie for us!

Like chickens with their heads cut off!

2008-10-30T21:57:00.006-05:00

Okay, so we totally got to do something I never thought we would do. We butchered chickens...yes, that's right, we actually helped. Last Monday, we helped to slaughter 150 chickens. I learned how to catch them by grabbing their legs and holding them upside down. Then we hung them by their feet. Next comes the unbelievable part... I, Paul Bushhorn, actually cut the heads off of several chickens! Okay, nasty! Those birds flopped around slinging blood all over my clothes! Then we had to dip them in a pot of boiling water and pluck them. This is where the girls came in. Jaycee did the most plucking, but Hannah and Alyssa helped too. Dulcie wouldn't even come down close to the coop and Levi was so totally disgusted that he just went and played with the pigs. Smart kid! So, after the initial shock that I had just murdered one of God's creations, it wasn't actually that bad. Now we have a freezer full of chickens in which to feed the home, so bring on the Jerk Chicken!

Welcome Back!

2008-10-30T21:49:00.002-05:00

Well, I must apologize for not blogging sooner. It's been CRAZY!
Ok, so, we arrived back in Jamaica on October 16th, and we didn't let the kids know we were coming back. Our friends,the Yoders, picked us up in the Bible College van, so when we drove down the driveway, the kids just thought it was someone from the College. I waved, but no one responded, so I stuck my head out the window and yelled, "Hey Mon!" They immediately began screaming and running! They ripped open the van and were climbing in on top of us. I've never seen kids so excited, you would've thought Santa has shown up in person!

The next day, we had a crazy party. We dressed in crazy clothes, colored our hair crazy colors with wash out gel, and had crazy food and crazy cake. It was a blast! I wore black athletic pants with my swim suit over top, my "fire" shirt with a tank top over it, one tennis shoe and one flipper, swimming goggles, a pink belt with a spatcula and a wooden sword. I had red, white and blue hair, and a red gotee. I was looking pretty crazy, let me tell you!

I can't even begin to tell you how happy we are to be back with the kids. There were 7 kids who were on holiday when we were here before and we've enjoyed getting to know them too. We've already had a few movie nights and sleepovers. Even the staff are glad to have us back...one older lady about knocked me over giving me hugs and a kiss on the cheek...I couldn't believe it! But we are glad for the warm welcome...who knows what's yet to come!

Work Permit is on the way!

2008-10-04T14:38:00.003-05:00

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord...our work permit is on the way! We received word on Thursday that our permit had been approved and they were sending it to us here in Ohio. Once it comes and we take care of paperwork in Chicago...it's off to Jamaica! We can't wait to get back. We've missed the kids so much. It has been a trying time, but God is faithful! We'll let you know when we get "home"!

Weathering the Storm

2008-09-17T16:52:00.005-05:00

Ok, well, we've been home for a month now. There hasn't been much word on our permit...no new news actually. And we were beginning to get a little frustrated...actually, a lot frustrated. Here we sit, visiting family in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with little to nothing to do. Kinda boring. Our kids homeschool curriculum has finally arrived, so they start tomorrow...Hallelujah! But in the midst of it all, we are hit (in Ohio) with the remnants of Hurrican Ike. We had gusts of winds up to 80 mph! Trees down, power gone, no water (well pump won't work without power!) and no phone. (we have no US cell phone and my mom's died...no car charger!) Luckily, Dulcie and the kids were in PA thru it all. After 3 days of no power or water...losing all our food, taking showers at the neighbors who had water and electric (?), we are finally getting back to normal. Dulcie and the kids return today! Yes!
But, as I was walking down the driveway today, I began to take notice of the trees. Just 2 days ago, we were cleaning up mass amounts of fallen limbs and debris. Things did not look that great, but today...today the trees were beautiful! The sun was shining with a light breeze and they seemed to dance gently. I was amazed. What a difference a few days make.
Then, it was if God spoke to me, "Sometimes it takes a storm to get rid of the dead weight." Wow. You know that's true. Those trees looked healthier and more beautiful than a few days before...the "dead weight" was gone. Now they could really flourish.
Last weekend I went to a men's Encounter weekend, and God removed some of my "dead weight"...things I'd been carrying around for years and didnt' even realize. This "storm" of being home has been hard, but thru it God has done a work in my life. Dulcie goes to her Encounter this weekend. It'll be cool to see what "dead weight" she leaves behind! Maybe this is why we are home. Maybe we needed to be freed up from some things to be able to do a better work in Jamaica. Only God knows, but I tell you what...I'm grateful for this storm.

Following the Cloud

2008-08-28T18:49:00.004-05:00

Recently a friend was retelling the story of the Israelites wandering in the desert, following the cloud by day and the fire by night. She told of how the people had to be ready to move when the cloud moved and willing to stop when it stopped. There are seasons in all of our lives, and sometimes we're put into a season of waiting and being still. That's where we're at right now.

We don't know exactly why God has us back in Ohio right now, but we know it's just a season. We will be going back to Jamaica. God has promised it to us.

On September 8th, there is going to be an inspection at the New Vision City of Refuge by the Work Permit Office of Jamaica. They are visiting to determine why we are needed there. There was recently a change in political parties in the government and sometimes that means a change in the way things are done. We are not worried about this inspection. We are just waiting and trusting God. We are using this time to meditate and prepare for our return.

Many have asked about giving of monthly support. My advice to our supporters is to continue to give, as if we were there because it's really just a matter of time before we return. WE WILL RETURN SOON!

Also, please pray for Jamaica and the children's home as Gustav hits the island. The workers there are making all necessary preparations, but we just need to pray for minimal to no damage of the buildings and safety for everyone. Although we don't look forward to being in a hurricane, we wish we were there with them.

All we can do, and all you can do, at this point is pray and wait on God. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles." We hold to this passage of Scripture. We hope you'll take comfort in it as well.

We are Victorious!

2008-08-21T19:33:00.003-05:00

Well, things have been a little "crazy" to say the least. We are currently in Ohio for an undetermined amount of time. We received word that our work permit was approved, but for some unknown reason they are not releasing it. Last Sunday night, we had an awesome prayer meeting and God came down! We know that there were some spiritual walls that came down with the kids. You could feel it. So, on Monday, as we were on our way to the airport, we got word that our permit was not being released. Then at the airport we were told that our flight from Atlanta to Cincinnati had been cancelled. We would have to spend the night in Atlanta. Upon getting our bags, we discovered that 2 of our 4 bags had been lost. Great! That means 3 of us had no clothes. We were not allowed to file a claim until we got to Cincinnati.

When we got to the airport the next morning, we were met by more opposition at the ticket gate, but it was eventually rectified. We checked our 2 bags and went to our gate. The gate that was supposed to be for Cincy said Ft. Lauderdale. Our gate had been moved to the opposite end of the terminal. Upon finding our correct gate, we were told the flight would be delayed because they could not find any of our flight attendants. What? Apparently they had both called in sick. Once new attendants were found, we were on our way. We got into Cincinnati on Tuesday at Noon.

It is now Thursday and our bags arrived at 2:45 p.m. today, so for close to 4 days, 3 of us (Paul, Hannah & Alyssa) had no bags...and no blanket for Alyssa! YIKES! We did hit a great sale at Old Navy and got a few things.

We are just thankful all has been found and we feel whole again. We know Satan is a liar and a defeated foe! We have victory in Jesus and know that our permit is going to come soon, so we can be on our way to Jamaica! Just keep us in your prayers. Thru all the "craziness" we continued to laugh, because we knew it was just the enemy's way of trying to discourage us and we were not going to let that happen. God has promised and we believe His report! We are coming thru in Victory! Amen!

Butcher's First Day?

2008-08-01T19:43:00.002-05:00

Well, Here is a picture of a pork roast we had tonite. Notice what's attached...pig hair! As we were all completely grossed out, Alyssa said, "Well, maybe it was the butcher's first day!" HA HA! Welcome to Jamaica!

Birth Announcements

2008-08-01T19:19:00.002-05:00

Well, our family here has grown! We now have 4 new children and boy are they precious! Of course, the boys (especially the baby) keep everyone hopping! But, all of the other kids here have really welcomed them and everyone wants to hold the baby! They are all adjusting very well, and we are seeing lots and lots of smiles and hearing lots of laughter. The baby is not sleeping through the night, but is otherwise doing great! I'm really proud of our New Vision kids and how they have accepted these little ones. Things are not as quiet here now, but that's okay. We took them all to a church fellowship last night and introduced them to the church family. It was a lot of fun.

2 Weeks Later!

2008-07-26T22:14:00.003-05:00

Okay, Wow! We've been here for 2 weeks now and I can't begin to tell you all that's happened. We've been at New Vision City of Refuge for about 1 week now. The day we came it was POURING down rain all day. The steps to our apartment are concrete and slippery when wet. Well, you guessed it, someone fell down the steps...Dulcie. OUCH! She was wearing her slippers (Jamaican for flip flops) and fell on her wrist and bottom. Needless to say, she was laid up for a few days. We've sent up lots of prayer and she is 100% healed now! Then Levi fell off of his scooter and chipped his front tooth which is, you guessed it, a permanent tooth! We're planning a trip to the Dentist. We've got the apartment arranged the way we want, and are all moved in, thanx to the help of some of the teenagers here. They've been very helpful. We've gotten to eat a few meal together and had a movie night. They really seem to be accepting us and our kids are loving being here!

We went to the grocery store and took a wrong turn. Luckily, we had one of the Jamaican boys with us and he was able to get us where we needed to be! Thank you Roland! Our bill at the grocery store was $11,700 (Jamaican), but what a shocker, eh? That was about $170 US. Food is kinda expensive here.

In the midst of moving in, we've had to travel to Kingston...got lost...to pick up a crib...WE'RE HAVING A BABY! Well, not us, but the home. We are actually getting 4 new kids on Tuesday the 29th. a girl who is 7, and 3 boys age 5, 3, and 8 months. Everyone is pretty excited, especially my kids and Dulcie...you know her and babies! Anyway, we've been preparing for them. Just pray for a successful assimilation into the home.

Oh, for those of you who really know me, you'll get a kick out of this...I replaced a light switch! Go ME! It actually works! I'm so amazed. And I painted my very first refrigerator. It was beginning to rust and just needed a new look, so I painted it! Aren't I becoming the handy man!

Well, I could go on and on, but it's getting late...church tomorrow. Just know that things are well and our internet and phone are FINALLY working properly! We'd love to hear from you!
Blessings to all!

WE MADE IT!!!

2008-07-14T17:29:00.002-05:00

Well, we finally made it to Jamaica! Praise God! As I sit here on the top of this mountain looking over the Blue Mountains, I am amazed by so many things. First of all, by the beauty of this place. If you've never been here, it's hard to describe, but all we can see for miles and miles is the mountains around and the valley below. Kingston is only about 15 miles away, but it takes about 45 minutes to get up the mountain. I'm also amazed by all the has taken place over the past year to get us to this point. God has certainly done some awesome things. I am very amazed by the fact that God would choose us to do this work.

Our flight in was very uneventful...just the way we like it. We made it thru customs and immigrations. They looked in EVERY one of our suitcases...all 14 of them, but we had no problems. Thank the Lord.

Today, Dulcie and I went into Kingston to do some grocery shopping for a team that is coming in...27 people. Wow! 7 shopping carts. Plus, I drove a mini bus down the mountain and thru the city of Kingston. It was a little nerve racking at first, but we made it safely. If you go to far to one side you hit the mountain, the other side and you fall off the mountain...Pastor Fultz can tell you!

The kids, our 4, are doing very well. They are loving playing with all the kids, especially the toddlers. We went to church in Kingston and so they've been up and down the mountain a few times. They seem to really be enjoying themselves, but they are anxious to get settled in Christiana.

We should be going on to New Vision in a few days and will be getting settled soon. Please keep us in your prayers. We love you all.

You've got to be kidding!

2008-06-26T15:17:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I'm totally stessed and overwhelmed! I can't go into all the details, it would take too long, but we are not leaving for Jamaica on July 3rd. :( At this point it looks like it will be a week later. Still waiting for the permit to come in and for the van to sell. We are still standing on the promises of God and know we are in His timing, but we're just a little frustrated. We just keep reminding ourselves of all that has happened in the past year and what God has done for us, so there must be a reason for all of this. We know He has a plan! :)

Just keep praying for us that God will work out all the details. We want what's best! We'll keep you posted!

Crazy Times

2008-06-10T16:11:00.002-05:00

Well, things are getting a little crazy around here. While we await the arrival of our Jamaican work permit, we must plan like it is already here. We leave in two days to go to PA for about 10 days to say goodbye to family and friends. But before we leave for that we must: 1. pack 2. 3 doctor visits (1 foot, 1 dentist, 1 eye doc). Got to get it all in before we leave the country. Plus, we just finished our summer newsletter, changed the look of our website, updated this blog, kids going to VBS and we finished our last day of work. In our spare time, we are preparing for our farewell dinner at church on June 22nd, (practicing songs and getting power point ready) and preparing to present to the kids of our church on June 25th. Not to mention trying to decide what to take and what to leave with Paul's parents. We also can't forget trying to see all of you important people in our lives! We are trying to find airline tickets...which one has the lowest of the new baggage fees (we'll each have at least 3...3x6=18!) and we'll have to take our work permit to a Jamaican Consulate (probably in Chicago) to have our passports stamped with our visa. Hopefully, in the mix we will sell our van...how will we get to Chicago? But it will all be worth it when we board the plane and take off for sunny Jamaica! Please pray we don't kill each other before then!

Where has the time gone?

2008-05-27T13:05:00.002-05:00

Wow! Where has the time gone? It's been 2 years since our last blog, and in that time we've been to Jamaica twice. Shame on me! Anyway, we are going back for a 2 year term with the Assemblies of God to their home called New Vision City of Refuge. You can learn more about it from our website www.extendedhandsministries.com Anyway, please pray that our Jamaican work permit will come in soon, so we can leave around the end of June. All money is raised and all support pledged. Thank you so much! God is faithful! As we get closer, we will keep you updated on our goings on....I PROMISE!
If you haven't had a chance to view our blog from 2006, go ahead and check out the archives. It was such a blast and we look forward to what God has for us in the next 2 years.
We'll keep you posted!
Blessings.

2008-05-27T13:04:00.001-05:00

The Final Stretch

2006-08-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

Wow! Where has the time gone? In just 6 short days, our time in Jamaica will be over. It doesn't seem possible...or fair. To date, the Mighty Lions are leading the summer competitions, followed by Powerstrikers, then Starfire. Last week we played a game similar to the show "The Amazing Race". It was awesome. On the final event, it came down to a running match between Lions and Starfire, with Lions coming out on top. It was great. Only 2 more days of competition left. Tuesday evening will be our ice cream sundae night. Everyone is getting two scoops with all the toppings. That night we'll announce the winners who will go out to eat with Mama Penie and Papa Jim. Then it's off to the airport on Friday.

This past week was one of our highlights. A team of 12 from our own church, Freedom House, came for a week of ministry. It was powerful. They came charged up ready to make a difference and leave an impression, and that they did. I was so proud of each of them...especially the teenagers. Rarely did I hear a complaint when asked to do chores, or perform a task. Their spiritual readiness and maturity surpassed that of any other group of teens I've met. (Keep in mind I was a youth pastor for 10 years!) As a whole, the group focused on deliverance. Their testimonies and devotions, as well as one on one conversations and skits were all about being set free from the chains that bind us spiritually. They laid hands on and prayed for every child in My Father's House, as well as Jim and Penie. They spoke the Word on the streets and in the church, passed out clothing, spoons,and bowls, prayed with the elderly and infirmed, and genuinely loved people. Many people were ministered to. It was not about what they could get out of Jamaica, but what they could give to Jamaica. Many times, they were in the right place at the right time with the right word for specific people. Their hearts were right and their attitudes pure. Oh, I'm sure within their group they had some issues...no one is perfect, but after having been on 10 mission trips myself, I must say I was especially proud of them, and glad to have been a part of what they did. Dulcie and I did have the pleasure of ministering along side of them all week. Freedom House...you did an OUTSTANDING job! (you can see pictures of their week at www.jaminjamaica.com by clicking on the Freedom House folder under the Photos option.)

On a different note, the reflection of the summer and our time here has begun. We've learned more than can be told here. More than we can share in a 20 minute window of a church service. Much of it is personal. God has definitely brought us here to teach us about ourselves...our strengths...our weaknesses...our likes...our dislikes. We are grateful to have been able to serve in such a place as My Father's House. Our hosts have been so generous to house us, feed us, provide us with transportation to "get away", and cause us to feel like a part of their family for the summer. The children have opened up and made us feel welcomed...making us feel at home with them. We are going to miss their smiling faces and bright eyes; their constant hugs or tickles or jabs when they pass us by; their wanting us to play games, watch a movie, go for a swim or go for a walk. Our lives have been touched by 26 Jamaican children, and we, as a family, will never be the same. Thank you, My Father's House, for a wonderful summer experience. We will never forget you!

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to seek God's will about the future. We want to be where He wants us, when He wants us. Also, please pray for My Father's House, as they currently do not have any interns for the coming school year. This will mean Mama Penie will have to home school 25 children by herself! She will need much prayer, as you can imagine! Please pray that God will provide for them and give them the grace and strength to make it through. There have also been some changes in the home...please pray for Daniel (8 years old) who has been moved to another home for the time being. He has been at My Father's House for 7 years. Please pray for his protection and that God may open the doors for his quick return. Also, please pray for the kids and adults here who love and miss him. There are many needs here at any given day, and God seems to provide for each one. After having been here for 2 1/2 months and seeing what goes on here, I know they could use your prayers.

Thank you for joining us in this amazing adventure. Your love, prayers and support have been so appreciated. We love you all and look forward to seeing you soon. ...until then.

Impressions

2006-07-31T19:25:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that June and July have come and gone so quickly. In only 18 days, our time here will be over and we'll return to life in the States. That life, however, will not be what it once was. So much has happened here, and we've experienced so much as a family, that we will never be the same. At least, I hope not. Hopefully, we have grown as a family because of our time here at My Father's House.
I know this time will leave a lasting impression on the lives of our children. They will never forget spending the summer in a beautiful land, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. They have learned about new cultures, new foods, new animals, new ways of doing things, new people, new challenges, new answers. Hopefully, we have taught them to trust God in the middle of new surroundings and circumstances. They've had their up times, getting along with new friends, doing exciting things. But they've also had their down times, feeling different from everyone else, fighting with new friends and having to learn how to make things right again.
For us (mom and dad), we've learned a lot too. We've learned that full time missions is much harder than we ever imagined.(We never thought it would be easy.) We've learned to give a little more of ourselves, to figure out what to deal with and what to let go (sometimes!). That there is more to life than our little world in Ohio. We've had to trust God a lot more than ever before. To believe that He knows what He's doing, even when we don't think He does, or that He is listening when it feels like our prayers are hitting the ceiling. We've learned that we have to keep doing what He's asked of us even when we're tired and don't want to. We've also learned that He blesses abundantly when we do His will, and that He rewards us for our faithfulness to Him; that there are wonderful blessings that come when we pick up our cross and deny ourselves (even in the pain of doing so). We've bonded together as a family, and appreciate each other more than before. We've served as a family...ministered as a family...worshipped God as a family. We've even fought as a family and reconciled as a family should.
Hopefully, we've left an impression on the 25 children in this home, too. Oh, I'm sure they'll remember some of the harder times, but our prayer is that they'll remember the love we've shown them. The times they were hurt, and we comforted them and fixed the injury. The times we sat and played cards when they were bored (even when we were really tired of playing cards!) The times we tried to teach them to talk or act in a way that would make Jesus proud. The times we reached out to them when they were upset by someone (maybe one of us) or something. I hope they'll remember the tickling sessions, the fun in the pool, the walks around the neighborhood and the days at the beach. Mostly, I hope they remember Jesus in us.
All in all, we are grateful for the time we've spent here, and we look forward to the next few weeks. A team from our church arrives on August 4th, so seeing some familiar faces will be great! I know that will be an awesome time. We don't know what the future holds for us or what God will have us do, but we do know He's brought us here this summer for a reason. I just pray we've accomplished that goal.

Still Alive

2006-07-19T19:51:00.000-05:00

Well, we find ourselves still alive and well after a week of being "in charge". We had quite the eventful week. (No the kids didn't tie us up, thanx for your prayers there!) :) We did have a few kids challenge us, but that's to be expected. The week started off with the commercial size freezer not working before Jim and Penie left. The repair man came the day they left, Tuesday. He told us not to use the freezer and that he'd be back the next day. He still hasn't come back! The next day, it seemed to be working, so we used it...After all, there are over 30 people here; we need a freezer! Since we weren't sure it would stay working, I had to go to the store every day for chicken and chicken back. (yes, they eat the back...the bone) Anyway, going to "Paul's Market" is not one of my favorite tasks. It's no problem doing the shopping, it's parking the bus. (their 15 passenger Toyota van is called a bus here) The local taxis like to park forwards and backwards and sideways, keeping you from getting in or from getting out sometimes. I started parking in the lot across the street. It's just less complicated.

On Saturday, the electricity went out about 4:30 p.m. over the entire island. It came back on around 1:30 a.m. We were concerned about all the food in the refrigerator and freezer, so we tried to start the generator up. For some reason, it wouldn't keep running (no, it wasn't out of fuel...we checked) so we went without lights. Now it gets dark around here between 7 and 7:30, so imagine keeping 30 kids occupied until bed time. After the little ones went to bed around 8:30, the older kids conned us into playing "Murder in the Dark". That was fun...for a while. I got murdered everytime! So, the lights came back on at 1:30 AM, nice wake up call. I had to get up, wake up Adrian, the handyman, and find all the breaker boxes to turn everything back on. (No fans at night make for a LONG night!)

So around comes Sunday...off to church, that was good. I had to make two trips to get everyone there and back. On my second trip home from church a woman I've never seen and her child climb in...okay, I guess I'm dropping her off at home. It was like 2 blocks away, but sure, not a problem. After lunch, we get this killer rain storm...Miniature hurricane if you ask me...the garage floods. Yep. Floods. Remember we just had a container arrive and the garage is full. The main worry was all the bags of cement and chemicals for the pool. Sure they were sitting on a pallet, but the water is rising to almost the top of the pallet. Yep. 60-100 lb bags. Guess who got to lift all those - Me and Adrian. After about half way, I had one of the teenage boys help me as I lifted the bags UP to where Adrian was standing. Dulcie and the rest of the kids were running around sweeping water and getting boxes up off the ground. Finally, I plopped myself down in the middle of the garage and went for a little swim. Why not? I was already wet. Then it turned into a water fight and playing in the rain. It really was quite the ending to a rather "busy" weekend.

Tuesday found us cleaning, as Jim and Penie were to come home that day. The afternoon was spent...at the beach! There were stressful times, and there were a few really unpleasant times, but we made it. We survived.

It's really hard to believe that we only have about 3 1/2 weeks left. Part of me is ready, part is not. It will be hard to leave these kids after all we've been through with them this summer...the games, the fights, the discipline, the tickling, the loving, the walks, the talks, the laughter, the crying, the screaming, the chores, the pranks, and yes, even the floods and power shortages.

Keepin' on

2006-07-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything, as you can imagine we've been soooooo busy. The container finally arrived from America after being tied up in Jamaican customs for quite some time. Although we weren't here when it arrived, (we were in Negril on a family day) we have been helping to put things away. The day the team from Texas left, a group of 28 from Cincinnati came. The first day they were here we set up a tent in town for a 3 day VBS. Since the van only holds 15, we had to make multiple trips into town taking the team and the kids here to VBS and back. One day it rained like crazy and while the team was trying to keep the tent from falling down, Dulcie, Penie and I (along with a few teens) were trying to unload the boxes in the garage that was flooding! Luckily we were able to move everything onto crates and nothing was majorly damaged.
On Wednesday evening we set up a projector and screen at the tent. The projector was just donated to KBM and really blessed them. The screen was a sheet. Since we'd been having VBS there all week, everyone was told about the movie night with popcorn and kool-aid. The main feature was Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They loved the movie, but I learned something I never knew...Narnia is a comedy. They laughed at things I never would have, but found myself enjoying their sense of humor. It was fun to see them reacting with enthusiasm.
The team leaves tomorrow and on Tuesday, Jim and Penie leave for the states for a week, so Dulcie and I will be in charge. Please pray that the kids don't tie us up and feed us crackers! No, really, they are great kids who are just that...kids. It gets a little nerve-racking once in a while, but we grow to love them more and more everyday.
It's hard to believe that our summer is half gone and we'll be returning home in just a few weeks. We are really looking forward to a team from our church coming down the first week of August, but we also know that a week after they leave, we go home. We're still praying that God will show us just how we fit in to the grand scheme of things here. We want to do His will for our lives, and are willing to follow Him where ever He leads us. Until next time...God Bless us every one!

Feeling at home

2006-06-27T18:40:00.000-05:00

As I sit here looking out the window at the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea, I'm reminded just how awesome God truly is. He is a God that is so amazing that it seems impossible to know Him, yet I feel as if I'm coming closer to Him everyday. As we are praying for God's perfect will for our lives, I'm blown away by the fact that He knows everything about me, even what is yet to come. We are beginning to feel more and more at home here in this quaint town of Whitehouse, Jamaica. The customs, though different, are coming more into view. (Though it will take a long time to understand them all, if ever!) The people are friendly, and the country so beautiful. The kids at My Father's House are becoming more comfortable with us and beginning to trust us more and more. We've both had some opportunities to minister to the kids here in tangible ways. The teenage girls are beginning to open up to Dulcie and ask advice. And God is using her to help reinforce some of the lessons Mama Penie has been teaching them. We've been challenged as their competiveness comes out during summer camp activities, and as typical kids, the arguments fly. Helping them remember to act and talk as Jesus would is something we do everyday...Especially with our own kids. But this has been a great week overall.

We may not be doing the type of ministry that is in your face evangelism or doing skits on the streets, but we are helping to instill Godly principles in the lives of 30 kids. Day to day life-living ministry is much harder to do than one day events, in my opinion. Even when I'm tired and frustrated, I must teach and live Godly standards. Jesus impacted the world by impacting 11 men day to day for 3 years. Those men in turn, took the world for Christ. Some may look at what we're doing as "fun stuff", and in a sense it is, but it is also a lot of hard work. The devil recently tried to discourage me by telling me we weren't doing much, but God has reminded me that we are impacting the lives of 30 children.

I'm beginning to see different doors that God may be opening for us to minister to some of the adults in the neighborhood. A few weeks ago, we walked through the house across the street that some Jamaican men have been renovating and we met a man named Elvis. The house has been empty for about 5 years, so it needs a lot of work. Anyway, Elvis and his friend were kind enough to show us through the house. Every time that he is there, he makes a point to stop and talk to us. Sometimes it's just a simple hello or to ask for water, but I believe there's a reason. I am praying for an opportunity to talk more significantly. Only the Lord knows.

Currently we have a team from a Four Square church from the Dallas, TX area with us. There are 20 of them. What an awesome group! Dulcie and I had the privilege of driving to Montego Bay to help pick them up. They have been a real blessing to the house, and have such a heart of servanthood. We are hoping they will be able to help us unload the container, as it STILL has not come. Jim is having to go to MoBay several days a week to work on releasing it. Please pray they will release it soon, as the drive is very tedious, over the mountain on very narrow and windy roads. Not to mention the stress of dealing with corruption in the governmental departments. But God is working, and we are praying it will be here soon.

We had the honor of attending a sport's day on Saturday. One of the local churches hosts this every year. There were over 400 people split into 4 teams: red, white, blue and purple. We were on the purple team. They do foot races, bag races, egg and spoon races (for all ages, even us adults). They also play football(soccer), cricket, cheerleading, volleyball, food eating contest, pop drinking contests, etc... It is an all day and night event. Our girls helped the girls from My Father's house in the cheerleading event. They won first place! We were so proud of them all. A few of the kids won some of the races. It was really a fun day, but was too long for us to stay the whole time. Plus, it was really hot!

Our kids continue to amaze us. They are doing great. When asked if they miss the states, their reply is always, "just my family and friends". Alyssa said she missed McDonald's, but only sometimes. Jaycee misses air conditioning. Overall they are adapting very well. Levi really made us proud this week. On Sunday morning before church, Penie passes out tithe to the kids based on what their allowance is. Levi did not have any chores this week as it was one of his off weeks. Dulcie asked him if he had gotten his tithe and his reply was, "Mom, I didn't think it was fair for me to get tithe when I didn't work." Remember that he is only 5 years old and already has a concept of: I didn't work so I shouldn't get paid. He received double tithe. What a kid!

As you can tell, we're having a great time. Please keep praying for us and check out our pics on www.jaminjamaica.com. See ya soon.

Back to routine?

2006-06-20T16:08:00.000-05:00

Wow! What an awesome week we've had. As I've said in the last post, we had a team here from the Eastgate, Cincinnati area for a week. They left on the Saturday before Father's Day, and Jordan, Jim and Penie's daughter came home from an extended stay in the states. It was good to see her again. Hannah and Alyssa have connected with her and are having a blast.
On Wednesday, we had the privilege of going to Negril with Jim and Penie for dinner and a visit to the chiropractor. Negril is 7 miles of beautiful white sand. Dad, you would LOVE it there! We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant overlooking the beach, and then took a stroll up and down the beach. It was sooooo relaxing.
Father's Day was great for me. My four kids all gave me a homemade card, and my lovely wife wrote me a beautiful letter. Then the church here recognized all the fathers (a total of 4) with a pen and our choice of two gifts. I wasn't expecting anything, so their token was really special. The gifts weren't much in American standards (I got a comb and shampoo), but the idea and love that came with them is what touched me. Then to top it off, they had a cake for us! YES! After church, we just kinda laid around and rested after having the team here. I was going to take my family to a nearby pay beach, but the weather turned nasty, so we'll put that off for another time.
Yesterday was a bit of a rough day in the house for all of us. We were ALL tired and a bit grouchy, so we took time out of our day to pray and ask the Lord to help us show the love of Jesus. After that, we went to the other extreme of being loud and silly! Boy, the power of prayer! We all were in bed earlier than usual.
Today was great, though. During team competition, the teams did two major games. While one team was doing an obstacle course, the other two went on a scavenger hunt at the beach looking for conk shells, sea urchin shells, hermit crabs, etc... They had to find 1 lizard, 2 crabs, 3 clam shells, and so on up to 10. They had a great time and it kept us busy all day! Every team did the obstacle course, but the Mighy Lions came out on top. StarFire won the scavenger hunt, but PowerStrikers are still in the lead overall!
Dulcie got to go on an adventure with Penie today...grocery shopping. As you ladies know, shopping for an entire family is alot. Imagine a family of 26 plus the 6 of us! They went to another town called Savanna-la-mar. Dulcie said that one man approached her and began to rub her arm over and over while saying, "hello, whitey". She replied "hello" and pushed the cart away from him. I guess he got the hint, cuz he left her alone. That was a first for her. Thank God he was with her. I was in charge of the house most of the day while they were gone, because Jim was in Montego Bay. One of the social workers showed up...I was a bit nervous at first, never having had to deal with that before, but it went great. He was only here a few minutes to see a few of the kids.
Tomorrow is a really big day because the container from the states is supposed to arrive. It is a tractor trailer filled from front to back, top to bottom with supplies for the home and some to give to other ministries. When it gets here, we only have two hours to unload it. I guess I'd better get my sleep tonight! All of us here at the house (kids included) will have to help, as well as a group of college boys from Taylor University who are down. We've been getting the house in order so that all available space can be used. We've been getting rid of old clothes and shoes, and skates, etc... to make way for the new. The next few days will be really busy!
On Friday, we have another team of 20 coming down for a week from Texas. They will be giving us a little "break", as they will take over team competition for us. Perhaps we'll get some new ideas from them as well. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of the island while they are here. The day they leave another team of 20 arrives from Cincinnati, so the next two weeks will be busy.
We're still loving it here, but a few of our kids are beginning to get homesick. Please pray for them. We know we're where God wants us, but that's hard for kids to grasp sometimes. I know they'll be fine with the prayers of the saints covering them. We are still battling the bug bites, but Praise God it has not been as bad as when we first arrived. I guess they're getting tired of us! My driving is getting better as well, but I haven't driven in the city yet! I'm really enjoying everything about Jamaica. To my mother's surprise, I don't really miss the fast pace of city life. These kids keep me too busy to think about it. All I really miss about the states is my friends and family.
I have posted some pictures on KBM's website. www.jaminjamaica.com click on the photos link, then click Bushhorn internship. I will post more pictures periodically. Please keep us in your prayers. We need them! Love you all. See you soon.

June 13, 2006

2006-06-12T18:33:00.000-05:00

Hello again! What a wonderful week we have had! We began our summer camp program with three teams of kids. Paul's team is called "The Mighty Lions", Dulcie's team is called "Starfire", and Miss Yanique's team is called "Powerstrikers". (Yanique is a young Jamaican lady who works for the Koch's) After a week of competition, Powerstrikers are in first place! The kids are accumulating points to win an ice cream sundae, but the winning team will get to go out to dinner with Papa Jim and Mama Penie. What an awesome treat for them! The kids are very excited and doing great with the games. In the mornings, after family devotions, we go outside to play active games for about an hour to an hour and a half, if it is not raining. After lunch, we have an hour of quiet reading time, followed by another hour or so of inside games. Most games allow the teams to earn points. We also have a weekly Scripture for them to memorize to earn points. We are currently learning 1 John 4:9-10 (last week was 7-8). The kids have amazed me with their enthusiasm in learning Scripture!
On Saturday, June 10th, a team from the Cincinnati area came down for a week of ministry. So Saturday was cleaning day! We worked hard until after lunch, then it was pool time! Once the team arrived, we spent time getting to know their names. Fortunatley, we already knew four of them; two of them are students of mine from CCA! Today, Monday, the team went to some local schools for ministry, while we had camp, and then after lunch, they put on a VBS program for some of the local kids here at the house. Dulcie and I were in charge of snack, while our four kids particpated in the VBS.
Our four kids are doing so well fitting in with the kids at My Father's House! Jaycee has started a friendly "pranking" with some of the teen girls. Hannah and Alyssa have got friends galore, and when Levi isn't playing with the boys, he's with the teenage girls! Of course, there has been lots of pool time and Sunday afternoons seem to be beach day! I'm loving that! (sorry dad!)
Dulcie and the girls have had an on going battle with the bugs! Please pray for them as they have been eaten up pretty badly. At times, it looks like they have broken out in hives, due to all the bites. Luckily, our deet arrived with the team from Cincy.
The food has been really good. Lots of rice and lots of chicken. The kids have been challenged in this area alot, but they are doing great! Today we had chicken foot soup, and yes, it has chicken feet in it...lots and lots of chicken feet. It also has dumplings, green bananas, corn and chicken noodles. I did break down and try a chicken foot, skin and all...I felt like I was on Fear Factor! I did it, but probably won't do it again.
Other than that, things are great! God is good and we are loving our time here. It's hard to believe its been two weeks. We are feeling right at home, except for the driving. I'm still getting used to being on the wrong side of the car and the road! But I'm getting better.
Please keep praying for us! We'll write again soon!

Arrival

2006-06-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

Well, we're finally here! It was a great trip! We flew out of Indianapolis at 7:30 am, which meant getting to the airport at around 5:30. We flew to Atlanta and then on to Montego Bay. Thank God our flights went perfectly. Customs in Jamaica went very smoothly and without a hitch. We spent the night in Montego Bay at a beautiful hotel called Hotel Gloriana. We swam at the pool and even made it to a nearby beach for about an hour. On the plane from Atlanta, the pastor's wife (Christine) of Lighthouse Evanglistic church sat right behind me. (This is Jim and Penie's pastor's wife!) She also stayed at our hotel and showed us a quaint little place to eat dinner. God had already started hooking us up with key people!

On Thursday, 6/1, we met up with Jim and Penie and thier intern Steve and made the trip over the mountain. The kids did great sitting cramped around luggage (no seat belts here!)for over an hour and a half. When we got to My Father's House, the kids all came out to greet Momma Penie and Papa Jim. It was great to see them all again. A few even remembered us! We spent the day just playing with the kids.

Today 6/2, we have orgainzed our kids bedroom (we're all 6 in the same room until Sunday, when a few guests will leave), played, swam and just got to know the kids. Paul went to town with Adrian (a Jamaican worker at the House) and Alex (an American who is on KBM's board and here until Sunday)to try and located some reverse and blikner light bulbs for Jim's truck.

The kids are having the time of their lives and already have a ton of friends. They are doing great in the heat and eating new foods. They are so excited about being here and are looking forward to spending the whole summer here. The Jamaican kids are really accepting them well. WE'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME! The real work starts on Monday, so we have a few days to get acclamated. Please keep us in your prayers!

family picture

2006-05-18T13:37:00.000-05:00

Thursday, May 18, 2006

2006-05-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

My family and I are preparing to go to Jamaica for the summer to work in a children's home called My Father's House. We will be leaving on May 31, 2006 and returning August 18, 2006. The purpose of this blog is to update people who are sponsoring this endeavor on what we are doing while we are there. I hope this touches your hearts.