FAQ's about Jamaica

I thought I would take a moment and answer a few of the questions that I most frequently get asked:

Q. When will you be leaving for Jamaica?
A. I will be leaving for Jamaica in March. I do not know the exact date yet because I will have to apply for a work Visa from the Jamaica government. I will be sending in my visa application the first part of January and will then have to wait on the response from Jamaica before I can book a one way flight.

Q. Are Aaron and Melissa Black and family going at the same time?
A. Yes, and I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends to work, live and serve God with.

Q. What will you be doing in Jamaica?
A. CSI Ministries mission statement is "Mission Experiences in Jesus' Name". So we will be hosting short term mission teams. This means; making the connection with those in Jamaica who have needs and the teams who will serve them. It also means, food, transportation, cultural experiences, supplies for  the work projects, etc. need to be in place before the teams arrive. CSI also has a Student Support program which provides funds to help kids get to and stay in school. I think this involved visiting schools, teachers and children to check on grades, attendance and also help them with home work. And I'm sure that God has plans that I don't see fully right now. So this answer is to be continued...

Q. Where will you be living?
A. I will be in living Saint Mary Parish, town of Highgate which is in the interior of Jamaica. As far as I know right now I will be living in a block house down the street and around the corner from the Mission House. And yes my house will have electricity and indoor plumbing.  I will have hot water!  (This is picture of the house I will most likely be living in with Jamie Barton.)


Q. How do I join you in ministry with prayer and financial support?
A. I have prayer cards which I would love for you to put on your refrigerator or in your bible as a reminder to pray. I will also be sending out a monthly news letter by e-mail and I will be contacting my partners with prayer requests. If you want to send financial support mail a check to CSI Ministries, 1714 W Royale Dr. Muncie, IN 47304 with my name in the memo line. Or ask me and I will give you a response card and envelope. 

Q. How long will you be gone?

A. CSI requests that you make a three year commitment, however I really hope that I will be in Jamaica much longer. This doesn't mean that I will be gone three years straight. I will be home for about six weeks each year. Four of those weeks are used to reconnect with those who are partnering with me in ministry and continue to raise support. Two week are vacation time.

Q. What do you think you will miss the most while in Jamaica?

A. My family and friends of course! But I will also miss fresh milk, the change of seasons, the ease of shopping we have, and I'm sure there will be other things also.

Feel free to leave a comment with your question.

Departure Date

Last night our Executive Director at CSI Ministries announced that I will be leaving for Jamaica in March. This is what I have been waiting for. It was just over a year ago when I knew that the Love God has given me for the Jamaicans required action. But now that I know when I will be leaving there are many mixed emotions and tons of thoughts running through my mind. Will I be home for Christmas next year? Boy Oh Boy is it going to be hard to say goodbyes. I'm praying that there will be many Good times within the goodbyes. I wonder how involved the visa application process will be. My comfort in this is that many others have successfully completed the visa process before me. I wonder if I will be fully funded before I leave, right now with earthly eyes it sure doesn't look like it. But I say, God is more than able, after all everything in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. I wonder how many suit cases I will want to take with me? I don't have many possessions left, at least by American standards but still, it will probably be more than a couple of suit cases. How do I let all those who have come into my life know just how much I will miss them? What is in store when I arrived in Jamaica? What wonderful acts of God will I witness?
What? How? When? Where? Why? Many, many questions.

Right where I'm at

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task,

 but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks

 as if they were great and noble."

 Helen Keller

Jamaica

Today my heart is full of love. Do to my journey to Jamaica and the need to raise support I have a greater understanding of the importance of interdependence of the body of Christ. Without others coming along side me and offering their prayers and financial support I would never be able to accomplish the dream God has placed in my heart. That dream is to live in Jamaica and to love the Jamaican people with the love of God.

Added Value

Today a friend that I had met in Colorado at missionary training joined me for worship service. By taking the time to make almost an hour drive to come to church with me he added such value to my life. I know that he has family, co-workers and many friends to say goodbye to before he leaves for the mission field at the end of the month, but he took this morning just to see me and say goodbye. Each and every one of the 42 adults and 16 children that I had the privilege of getting to know and loving during this three week training hold a piece of my heart now so I understand why he came.  

I have learned a great lesson today from a great man of God. I would normally think that it would not matter much if I went to see someone who I will not be around again for the rest of my life on earth, but not this man. He knows how important it is to love well and say goodbye well. 

My prayer for this wonderful man is that:

 "The LORD bless you 
       and keep you;
  the LORD make his face shine upon you
       and be gracious to you;
  the LORD turn his face toward you
       and give you peace." 
Thanks for making me feel special. God Bless!

Training

On Monday morning August 3rd I will be boarding a plane to Colorado Springs, Colorado where I will be picked up by a shuttle and transported to three weeks of training on cross cultural ministry. My training will take place at Missionary Training International (MTI). You can check out what MTI looks like here. I will miss being home with my both my family and my church family, but this will be a good chance to practice being away from home.

I'm in awe

This little house that God has allowed me to take care of has been listed with a realtor for just eleven days. Amazingly I am expecting an offer tonight, a second showing to someone else tomorrow afternoon and also a good friend is interested in this lovely little home for her parents. In my opinion this is God's hand at work and I am in awe.

My expectations were that in this economy with the housing market depressed it would take a long time and a miracle to get this house sold for what I have in it. I think I may be about to get my miracle in short order. God is so awesome!

To me this is one more confirmation that I am to go to Jamaica!

Can't wait to see how God works all this out.

View of the Cross

While in Jamaica on our mission trip I asked the members of our team and the missionaries there to each take a picture of the cross using my camera. I did this simply for my own entertainment, but thought I would share some of the pictures on the blog.

I love the contrast between this photo of the cross and the picture of the cross I posted before. The cross in this photo is integrated into the picture so much so that it becomes a part of the background and in the previous picture the cross is definitely central to the picture. I wonder if the photographers see the cross in the way it is portrayed in the photographs. Maybe this photographer sees the cross as so much a part of their life that is completely integrated into their life. And maybe the previous photographer sees the cross as big and powerful and clear as it looks in the picture.
Feel free to share any thoughts you have about these two photographs.

View of the Cross

Still

Ok, here is the update after my CSI Executive Board interview on the 17th. I am still waiting. It has been 5 months this week since I first applied for a full time missionary position in Jamaica and I am still waiting to be approved. I knew that this could be a long process, but still it would be nice to get to the approved stage so that I could begin the next phase. There is still so much to be done before I ever have a departure date. Oh well, I guess I will just be still. After all this is God's idea and His timing is perfect.

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

News

Well as many of you know I have been in a waiting pattern with the process of becoming a full time missionary to Jamaica. A couple of weeks ago I received a call from Christian Service International (CSI) saying that there was no news and that it would be mid March before I would hear anything more. So I thought, I have news, at least the news that there is no news and there won't be any news for at least a month. I relaxed and felt good in at least knowing that there is nothing happening and won't be happening for a month. Well a week later I really got news. At least the news that the executive board of CSI would like me to come meet with them. So now my news is that I have a meeting next Tuesdaythe 17th at two with the board of CSI. So after this meeting I hope to have real news-something like,you are approved and can continue the process and take some next steps. I will let you know when I actually have real news.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song

Don't watch this unless you are willing to sit quietly and watch the entire video with an open mind and heart. I guarantee that you will be moved.

1 day to Jamaica

1 day to Jamaica.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer Psalm 19:14

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:25

Lord, my prayer is that the FFC mission team will show your hands to the Jamaican family we will meet and build a home for. May our attitudes be the same sacrificial attitude as that of your son so that those we minister to may be touched by you and believe.

2 days to Jamaica

2 days to Jamaica. I hope that all those going have their bags packed. I also hope that each one has also prepared spiritually for this trip. I am extremely grateful to all of you who have been and are praying for this trip. We need your prayer support and the preparation and protection that it provides.

3 days to Jamaica

3 days to Jamaica and some time for quite reflection. This truly is a spiritual journey as much as it is a physical journey. I know that each participant will experience God in new ways.

4 days to Jamaica

4 days to Jamaica and a stop at Yow's for amazing views and the sound of the Caribean sea, jerk chicken, rice and peas and a rest from the three hour drive from the airport to the mission house.

5 days to Jamaica

5 days to Jamaica and a weeks stay at the CSI mission house.

6 days to Jamaica

6 days to Jamaica and a cultural experience that will change each participant.

7 days to Jamaica

7 days to Jamaica and another "Juicy Patty"
(Juicy patties are filled with your choice of beef, chicken, shrimp, or cheese and are a bit hot and spicy. They are great when placed inside coco bread.)

8 days to Jamaica

8 days to Jamaica and the opportunity to experience worshiping with our Jamaican brothers and sisters in Christ.

9 days to Jamaica

9 days to Jamaica and a new roof to protect a Jamaican family

10 days to Jamaica

10 days to Jamaica and more of Arthur's antics.

11 Days to Jamaica

11 days to Jamaica and more of Pinto's culinary delights, coconut chicken and pumpkin soup, Yum!

12 Days to Jamaica

12 days to Jamaica and more rides in the work truck.
(the views from the back of the truck are amazing)

13 days to Jamaica

13 days to Jamaica and a little rest for PK

14 days to Jamaica

14 days to Jamaica and gecko's

15 days to Jamaica

15 days to Jamaica and a new group of individuals whose lives, hearts, and minds will be changed by the experience.

16 days to Jamaica

Sixteen days to Jamaica and another opportunity to reconnect with new friends.