JAMAICA 2007 UPDATE!!!!

WOW!!! Registration for the 2007 Jamaica trip is in full swing. There are still spaces available for this amazing trip. If you are still considering being a part of the 2007 Jamaica trip, here are a few important items to keep in mind:

• DATES: March 31-April 7, 2007*
• COST: $1250
• Team Leaders: Michael and Linda Creighton
• Application Deadline: January 7, 2007
• PASSPORTS: As of Janaury 23, 2007, passports will be required by all persons to enter the United States.

*Dates and cost may vary slightly.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Each person taking part in the Jamaica Mission Trip will be expected to raise support for the cost of the trip. During team formation meetings that will begin in January, you will be given all of the necessary resources and training to raise your support. The mission trip will consist of construction (no experience necessary) and VBS with a local church and school in Bensonton, Jamaica.

If you have any questions not answered here, please contact one of the following:

Michael Creighton @ 770.505.8720 X.231

Michael Wahl @ 770.505.8720 X.232

God Bless!

DAY 6......TEARS, TRAVEL, AND "TAKE A LOOK" (2006)

Well, this will most likely be the last post from Jamaican soil. I might post in the morning after breakfast, but we will have to wait and see.
Today was part travel day. We loaded the bus this morning in Beechamville and after shedding some tears and leaving our supplies and many personal belongings, we headed for Montego Bay. After a three-hour bus ride with one bathroom break loaded with TING and patties, we arrived in Montego Bay. Once we settled in, some went to the beach while others went to the market. Ahhhhhhh, the market. Part gift shop, part garage sale, and part flee market, this is where the locals own small "stores" where you can buy souvenirs. They have a pretty universal calling to get you to their store....."Come on take a look!" Once there, they try to get you to buy whatever. The fun is in the bartering! Our bus driver told us, "Never take their first price," so we don't! Anyway, much fun was had. Those who went to the beach had a reat time as well.
Later we had our final dinner together at a local restaurant. Yummy, but not as good as Ms. Loretes! She is the one who prepared our diner for us each evening at the Manse, and boy can she cook!!!
After dinner we had our final team metting and had an incredible time sharing and affirming one another. It was extremely powerful.
Also, tonight we called HOPE. We made a phone call and spoke with Thomas Nelson during the service. Boy, technology sure has come a long way!
Well, considering it is 1:15 ATL time and we are heading back in the morning, I am going to close this blog. Sorry, there will be no team blogs tonight, but should be in the morning.
Thanks for your contiuned support and prayers! They mean TONS!
CHANGED,
Michael "sinbad" Creighton

DAY 5.....SEE-SAWS, JAMAICAN FOOD, AND CANDLES! (2006)

Woke this morning to another beautiful Jamaican morning. More cereal. Yummy!
Due to the schools we were visiting being closed and our work being completed, we decided to tak a trip to a local attraction called Dunn's River Falls. DRF is an amazig representation of God's handiwork. It is beautiful series of waterfalls that you can climb up in it's entirety. AMAZING! We then took a little time to scope some local shops. Interestingly, while there we ran into some friends from Westridge Church. Cool!
We did have on work project left open and several of the team members worked on it prior to going to Dunn's. It was a see-saw. Well, actually it was only the pivots for a see-saw. The team members put new wood on it, and bolted them down and then spent some time imagining...imagining the faces of the children when they play on it for the first time, the second time, and so on!
When we arrived back at the Manse, we began cleaning up for a reception and fellowship prepared for us. They had some more of the most amazing food. We then had a time of sharing with some of the people from the church. Then we got a special treat....the "choir" was coming in as we were leaving and we were invited to stay. Good times!
Finally, during team time tonight, we were encouraged to remember that were are the light of the World. No problem. The team then divided into groups and prayed for each other, the team, and more with a canldle in their hand. It was incredibly powerful.
We were once again reminded of how truly awesome God is and how much he loves ALL of us. Now, on with the team posts.....

Whit Hagemann…(student)
Respect Mon! Today was a very good day. We woke up and Michael Creighton (Sinbad) took us to a water park called Dunne’s River Falls. When we got there, we got to climb the waterfall, it was so fun. One night before, I shared my devotion. I just read the comments and didn’t realize it was such a big hit. I’d like to thank Melanie for writing about me in her blog. Anyway, after we got back from the water park, we went to the Beechamville Methodist Church across the street from the Mans. We were rehearsing the songs we were going to sing for their church and I picked up the conga drums and I got to play them during the service. These nice ladies fed us dinner and gave us presents. I got a hat, but I traded it for Rasta wrist bands. Then we went home and I spent some quiet time with my mom and the others spent their quiet time with their friends and family as well. Tomorrow we are going to Montego Bay. It seems like we’re leaving too early, but I am anxious to get home. Can’t wait to see my friends and family when I get home. No worries mon.

Jeff Reed….(adult)
Dear Hope Church, You are blessed beyond words (fat lot a good that will do on an e-mail)! Your extension in Jamaica is repping you proud. This trip for me might have started for selfish reasons ( I wanted to do good for some hurricane relief.), but have received a fresher confirmation through the image of your friends and loved ones here. The group here has touched me in a way that I have never felt in my 30+ years and many churches. Guys like a Murl don’t interact with kids like Whit but God loving men like Murl not only connect but can team up to work on projects with no generational differences and be so effective. Women don’t take time to talk to solitary men they don’t know. But God loving women like Joann take a few moments to chat and leave an impression that might last his lifetime. You have energized your foundation with programs like Fusion, Big Stuf, etc. and that has given your church body the fuel to grow not only closer but stronger so that a “ragtag” group could show up and not only work in Godly ways but to also have a chemistry that makes it (the Godliness) apparent. Even though this group might not have been considered “tight” before the trip, you couldn’t tell it now. I started this blog saying your extension is doing you proud and that is what we are; just an extension. Hope is creating missionaries in all of you. Go out in your “Jamaicas” and let God work. This group just happens to have gone to the island of Jamaica. We keep bringing up the fact that we’re impacting people we don’t see or know but truly that is the case with me. Not only is my level of excitement overflowing due to the trip but also by the joy that I am experiencing knowing that this is my church and these messengers in Jamaica, as different as they appear, are a small part of an entire congregation of “ragtags” waiting at home to further develop more “missions”. My joy bag is overflowing because of the gifts my family and I are going to experience at Hope. I’ll end with this: before we left we received a necklace from somebody. I think they were all Crosses. I didn’t see the reasoning in spending money on such a thing when it could have gone to a better cause. I kept it with me and tried to consider where it would go. I thought about giving it tour host (a God fearing man) but then it struck me. We had a driver named Lindon (Maroon) who has taken us everywhere (VBS, Bensonton, and elsewhere). He has an image of Bob Marley around his neck. On our last day with him, I decided to give him the necklace, not to remember us but to have another kid of reminder. Not to insult his favorite necklace, I told him He didn’t have to wear it. It was just a gift and he could just keep it at his house. He smiled his big special smile and said, “Now why wouldn’t I wear it?” It was something so simple and so obvious but I had to want to see it. He might not ever wear it but he might just remember the people who spent more time doing a little for others beyond their own concerns. Thank you Hope Church, now start missionariing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAY 4.....KLEENEX, GLASS, & MORE CEMENT! (2006)

Awoke to another beautiful Jamaican morning. We had a special treat for breakfast, fresh papaya from one of the teachers, Marion, at Basic School, and a delicious fresh pineapple. Jandi Childs led us in a devotional from 2 Corinthians that reminded us that we may be pressed in, but we will not be crushed. We made final preparations for VBS, although no one was anxious to go. In all of our minds was the inevitable and quickly approaching painful goodbyes. Both teams arrived at their VBS's with a multitude of emotions...excitement...sorrow...love...pain. The craft for the day was a Christ Catcher (ask a team member later). It was actually a Cootie Catcher, but we changed the name. The female team members got a kick out of teaching the men on the team how a Cootie Catcher works. For some reason, the kids really liked the Christ Catcher! We also took more sweeties, three suitcases of supplies for the teachers, which included toothbrushes and toothpaste for the children plus many school supplies, and bracelets to give the children and teachers before we left. After a ton of pictures and singing, we began the painful process of saying goodbye. I knew this was going to be a tough process when I looked down into the eyes of one of the girls who had touched my heart, and they were filled with tears. In some strange way and through the power of God, we had brought joy into her world and the world of her classmates, and all she knew was we were now leaving. I pray the joy of the Lord will remain with them forever.

We returned in silence back to the manse for a quick lunch, and then off to work. One crew continued paint preparations and wall repairs for the next team. Another crew attempted to learn the fine art of cement slinging. We don't feel we have a future in this difficult job! :) A final crew cut almost 100 louvers of glass for the windows of the building being built and installed them.

The evening devotional was led by Whit Hageman who reminded us that the mission should not and cannot end when we leave Jamaican soil. The team has formed bonds and friendships that will last an incredibly long time. It has been my blessing to watch every team member minister to every other team member. This has truly been a seed planting rag-tag team of God. Now on to tonight's team member blogs....Michael "sinbad" Creighton

Linda Creighton.... (adult)
Well, today was our last day to do VBS. I never dreamed I would fall so deeply in love with 20 children (the other group had about 150 children) in approximately 11 hours spanning 4 days. As we left our schools today, I don’t think there was a team member with dry eyes. These 170ish children have touched our hearts, and I don’t think a single one of us will ever be the same. Tears fill my eyes as I picture their sweet faces. I consider every hug and kiss I received from those children as a special hug and kiss from God.

I praise God for this opportunity to come to Jamaica. As I was sitting on the hill at the manse where we are staying after we returned from VBS this morning and I was uncontrolably balling my eyes out, I just kept thinking that somehow all the problems and issues I have in my life back in Dallas, GA seem so small and trivial. And it’s not even really because of how these people we are here to “help” have less than we do, or the realization of how “blessed” we are in America. It’s more just because of how awesome and powerful God is – that His love for me is stronger than the love I have for these 20 Jamaican children and their teachers and even stronger than the love I have for my husband or that my own Mother has for me. That, along with the fact that God sees a ragamuffin like me as someone He wants to use to share His love with others. I’m imperfect; I don’t have my act together; I don’t always say the right or best thing; I don’t give God the time he deserves on a daily basis; I go through phases where I prefer to read the fiction book I am reading instead of reading the Bible; I went for 10 years living my life for me, not for God, and there’s so much more I could say, but after all that (and God knows every bit of it), He sees me as worthy and worth it!

I’m beginning to realize that maybe the reason I get worked up over the issue-type stuff that happens in my life is to give me some sense of power or control, and I’m realizing more than ever here in Jamaica that God is the One in ultimate control, and I need to humble myself and hand a lot more over to Him – especially the trivial stuff I get worked up about.

Well, I could write a book here about this experience, but you’ll have to settle for the Cliff Notes. I just have to say thank you to all who are reading this and a special thank you to those of you who have left comments. Your comments have brought us so much joy and encouragement. I miss you too Kim and can’t wait to see you back home.
Love to all!!!

Jada Earl....(student)
I am sad to say that today was the last day of VBS. Those are some of the sweetest, happiest, and most loving children I have met in my entire life. God has blessed me so greatly by giving me the opportunity to get to know these wonderful children. When you look into their beautiful eyes and see their cheerful smiles, you can’t help but to fall in love with them! Today I got to know some of the children that I had not gotten to talk to earlier in the week, it was so hard to say goodbye to my new little friends after only spending such a short amount of time with them. The hardest child to say goodbye to today was Kalya, I will always remember that her favorite color is yellow and her favorite animal is a sheep, the sound of her laughter is priceless. God has been doing so much cool stuff in the past week, he truly is AMAZING! Thank you so much for all of the support everyone has given us, hearing your comments every night brings me (and everyone else) so much joy. I love you all so much!

P.S. Steve, Nathan, Monica, Kelly, Jake, and Chris…. If you are reading this I love you all so much!

Melanie Ewing.....( student)
WOW!!!
This week has been awesomely, amazingly, incredibly, fantastically, well formed!!!
Words cannot explain the way this week has been for me..! I wish this wasn’t the last day with the kids…I wish we had one more day with these kids!!! Earlier today at the school one of the kids named Ramón looked at me and said “CRY?” and I said “Yes cry” and he said “ Why you cry” and I said “ I’m leaving.“ Later on that day when we were leaving he brought his friends over and said “She the one who cried” and his friends said “It will be alright.” Wow I wish I would understand why just a couple of hours with the kids made a difference in our lives and in theirs! The devotional tonight was by Whit Hageman and one of the things he said was to carry on this mission…don’t stop when we get to Atlanta…keep it going into other people’s lives. Which I can tell that, that has already happened by reading all of your comments!

My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the name of the Lord, the god of Israel. But the lord said to my father David, “Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my name, you did well to have this in your heart. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood-he is the one who will build the temple for my name.” the Lord has keep the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 chronicles 5 (7; 10)

That Verse is about the children at the school…the first day we were at the school, the children sang us a song and that song went “ Building up the Temple, Building up the Temple, building up the Temple of the Lord, Boys come and help us, Girls come and help us, Building up the Temple of the Lord.”

Well that’s it from here. I guess I will talk to you all when we get back from Jamaica!!! See you all very soon…love to all!

P.S. Momma I love you very much and I miss you and Alan! Alan, thank you for that comment it meant a lot to at least hear from you… Ashley I haven’t heard from you yet but I would like to hear from you very soon!

DAY 3......CRUX, BEAUTY, AND CEMENT! (2006)

This post is going to begin with last night...myself and several other team members were the recipients of a spectactular gift from God last night. I had been thinking about looking for something while I was in Jamaica. I have only seen this twice before and they were both while I was in Grand Cayman. I really wanted to get a glimpse of it while I was here. So, last night aroun 10 o'clock Jamaica time, I asked Jeff Reed to help me look for it. AND WE FOUND IT! Right outside the front door! If you're wondering what it is, it is CRUX, more commonly known as the Southern Cross. It is a star formation made famous by ship captains using it for direction. Hmmmm....using the cross for direction.... It was peeking over the mountain top big as life in front of the house we are staying at. It was just a reminder that Christ is with us ALWAYS. The rest of the team saw it tonight and were reminded the same, that Jesus' love for us is even written in the stars.

Now, as for today....

More fun with the most beautiful children you have ever seen! We also spent more intentional time investing in the teachers and they were wonderful as well. Beautiful people through and through. They were very interested in learning more about us as we are them and asked many questions. At our school in Golden Springs one of our teachers brought us two papayas from her tree. It was a very special gift and we will be eating them tomorrow for breakfast. They were also blown away to know that their pictures were on the internet and that people all over were praying for us and them.

As for work, we have come to love CEMENT! Everything is made from cement. Today, we spent some time spreading it on walls for a wall covering that will eventually be painted over. Some of the other team members spent time scraping on and in the church in preparation for a new coat of paint. It clearly had not been scraped in a long time.
We enjoyed two wonderful devotions today from Linda Creighton who spoke on 1 Corinthians 13 about love and then tonight from Jada Earl about trusting in God from Proverbs 3:5-6...you know the one....TRUST IN THE LORD! Yeah, that one.

PLEASE be in prayer for the team as tomorrow will be our last day with the children. NO ONE is looking forward to it, but we know it is coming.

And in case you were wondering how Doug and Martha celebrated their third anniversary, they did the same thing they did on their wedding day....celebrated communion. The team celebrated communion tonight Jamaican style.....with bread and coconut milk. Then we sang around the kitchen table HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! And He truly is GREAT!

Now, on to tonight's team member posts....

Kaley Harper.....(student)
This morning when I woke up, the first thing on my mind were the children at Golden Grove. Any thought of them brings the biggest smile to my face. I was so excited when we arrived this morning and could not wait to get in the school and start singing and doing crafts with the children. There is a girl, Tashana, with whom I’ve become big buddies with. When I stepped out of the van, I turned and looked towards the school and there was Tashana running full speed ahead. Before I could think, she jumped straight into my arms with her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck…and she wasn’t planning on letting go any time soon. This not only brought a smile to my face, but tears to my eyes. It was another reaffirmation of how big of an affect we’re having on these kids. Seeing them so excited to see us gives such an amazing feeling. It’s almost an indescribable feeling that I get when I see their smiling faces. God is definitely doing some amazing things in my life, as well as in the lives of the other team members, through the work we’ve been doing and the time we’ve spent with the children. Thank you for the prayers and the comments; it’s more encouraging than you know. We love you all.

P.S. Mom, Dad, and Loren- I LOVE YOU and MISS YOU!!!!!!!!

Jandi Childs....(college student)
Wow! What an amazing adventure! As I look back on all that we’ve been through over the past couple of days, I sit here and smile and say to myself, “I would do it all over again.” God really is amazing! Working with the smaller group of children at Golden Springs has meant so much to me. Just thinking about them brings tears to my eyes right now, because tomorrow is the last day that we will get to spend time with them. I have made so many bonds with each of them through singing songs about Jesus to playing “Duck, Duck, Goose!” It was so funny – the other day one of the little boys went around and named each of us a duck and then right when he came to Linda, he said “Moose!” instead of goose! Memories such as these will forever be engraved into my heart. I have come to know their names and their smiles and I love them all. The work on the Beechamville Church is coming along great too. We’ve done a lot of paint scraping on the inside and picking up trash on the grounds. We’ve also helped with the cement process. I’d like to thank-you all for reading our postings and commenting on them. It is very much appreciated! Can’t wait to see my sweet hearts tomorrow! Lots of Love!

P.S. I’d like to give a shout out to my Life Team! I’d also like to thank all of you who have made this trip possible for me!! I love you Mama, Dad, J-d, Mariah, Austin, and Jordan! Miss you tons!

DAY 2.....CRAFTS, WORK, AND SWEETIES!! (2006)

Most of the team stayed up late playing a card game or tinkering on the blog (notice the pics), so, we didn't wake as briskly as we did the previous morning! However, this morning we had MILK for our cereal after the ladies shopping expedition. Yummy. It reminded me of being a kid.

After breakfast, we had a morning devotional by Ashley Watts reminding us that "this is the day the Lord has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it!". Fitting.... We then made final preparations and headed to our VBS's. This time with "sweeties", the Jamaican word for candy. And boy do the children love sweeties! Another great day by both teams. We made a stained-glass cross (see pic) which the children had a great time creating, and reminded them that they were the light of the world. We then left, assuring them that we would be back tomorrow.

When we arrived back, we went to the church and several other team members were already working! We were so excited about being able to work. A major part of the delay has been a shortage in cement. Strange considering we can get any amount we want at anytime at Home. But we got some today!!!! I never thought I'd be excited to see a bag of cement! Anyway, we have several projects we are working on. Everything here is made out of cement, and we are working with some locals to apply cement to the inside of a room on a building project. Some are working on some much needed cleaning and cosmetic work in the church. And tomorrow, a team will be installing glass and frames in windows of the building. Everyone has followed Kaley's (and God's) advice and "done all without complaining."

Once we completed the work day, we came back and ALL took cold showers. Someone had turned off the hot water heater! We followed with another great Jamaican dinner of baked chicken, carrot salad, and....you guessed it......rice and peas!!! Still delicious. We closed the evening with a devotional by Morgan Dyson reminding us to always be thankful for what we have. Many team members shared special God moments they experienced throughout the day. GOD IS MOVING! We also read all of the days comments to the entire team! Powerful!!! KEEP 'EM COMING!!!!
Below is a pare of blogs by a husband and wife that are on the team, Martha and Doug Hendrix. Shhhhh, they're about to celebrate their 3rd anniversary.....here in Jamaica....while serving God....COOL!

Martha Hendrix....(adult)
Last night as we were finishing up our nightly devotional, all of a sudden it was as if the angels were singing in heaven. The Beechamville Methodist Church was having choir practice. Their voices could be heard, along with their pipe organ, throughout the valley and up the hill to the Manse It was amazing!

JoAnn and I have had the experience these past couple of days of traveling into Ocho Rios, for groceries, with Serge. I'll be the first to say that if Serge ever decides he needs a second job, I do believe he could go straight to the NASCAR Nextel circuit and win some races! Talk about learning to trust and have faith in the Lord! Actually it wasn't "that" bad. During these drives we've learned a lot about the different Jamaican customs and people. We've also gotten to see what I'd truly call God's country. We went through a place called "Fern Gulley". Serge told us that before Ivan hit, the trees completely blocked out the sky along that pass. It is still completely breath taking!

Our group continues to grow closer everyday! We are truly misfit pieces that are coming together to make one awesome puzzle. God is doing some amazing things to us and through us. As much as we miss everyone at home, by week's end, it's going to be extremely hard to leave this place and its people!

Tomorrow will be mine and Doug's 3rd anniversary! I could have never dreamed three years ago that we'd be celebrating as missionaries in Jamaica! We can't wait to see where God will carry us in another three years! Our God is an awesome God!
P.S. For what it's worth, I'm fully convinced God was already talking when we landed in Charlotte. While changing planes, what should appear right before our eyes? Elliott Sadler's #38! This just happens to be the race car driver I am a huge fan of. Not another car in sight, just his! Talk about a sign! Or could it just be a sense of humor? Hehe!

Doug Hendrix.....(adult)
It does not take a long time in Jamaica to see how extremely blessed our lives are. Hot water, ice water, or just clean water is hard to come by here. Most cell phones that we have do not work, although we do have a couple that are getting signals (they are definitely not Nextel's). Washing machines are luxury items as well as indoor bathrooms with actual plumbing. All these things are material possessions, and yes you can live without them. To see these children at VBS so eager to see us and love on us is amazing. You see they don't need all the distractions of our world to know God and to please God. These children are pure at heart. All they are worried about is pleasing us and showing us what they've made at craft-time. What could we do everyday in our daily lives if we were as eager to please God and serve God like these children. The team is growing stronger everyday and being blessed more than words or pictures could ever do justice to. Can't wait until tomorrow to see what God has in store for us.

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION!

9:06 Jamaica time.....
Prenote: Your comments have been greatly appreciated and the team has been encouraged by reading them. Keep 'em coming. Now on with the blog.....
The end of our first full day in Jamaica is here. A lot has and has not taken place. I'll explain....
Before the team went to bed on Sunday, we made final preparations for the day ahead. Then off to dreamland.
We awoke to a wonderful breakfast of instant grits and oatmeal eaten with a fork in styrofoam cups. No worries, final supplies were also bought today including bowls and spoons. :) Also had some fresh papaya...mmmmmm.
After a morning devotion by Patty Williamson about being humble based on Phillippians 2:1-11, we loaded up and drove to our VBS destinations. 15 team members went to a town called Golden Grove while the remaining 4 team members went to Golden Springs. The team was enthusastically received by not only the teachers, but ESPECIALLY by the most beautiful children! We helped each child create and decorate their own name tag to help us get to know them better. Norm lead singing with his guitar at Golden Grove while Linda, Jandi, Ashley, and myself lead singing at Golden Springs. After the ssinging, the children had a snack time and then we PLAYED!!! Boy did we play. Jeff Reed is a machine on the monkey bars and Ashley Watts didn't know kids liked spinning in the air so much! I will let the team say more on that as the days unfold.
Now on to the work project. We returned to the manse to discover that our cement (our main supply) was not ready, so, since their is no real prep work, we went on to the next plan. While the team has not worked on their work project, GOD HAS!!! We are praying that work be ready for tomorrow, but as we ALL AGREED tonight and were CLEARLY reminded of God "knows the plans He has for us!" (Jeremiah 29:11) and as Kaley Harper shared in her evening devotional, we must "do all things without complaining or arguing" from Phillipians 2:14. We, the team, long to simply be obediant.
In the afternoon, part of the team traveled to another location where some previous mission teams have worked. Met more students and spent time with Maxie. Let's just say he is awesome.
More from me tomorrow, but for now, here are some thoughts from several team members....

Alan Ewing...(adult)
Most of us were awakened by a rooster. Our first discussion of the day was if rooster for breakfast was appropriate (ha ha ha). I guess grits and oatmeal will have to do. After breakfast we took off for VBS. On our way I realized my group had forgotten our supplies (name tags for the children). Patty W., myself and our professional driver named Maroon went back to the manse to retrieve them. When we got back to the school, Norm was playing guitar and leading our group and the children in singing. The children (ages 3, 4 and 5) were singing as loud as they could. It was a wonderfull praise to God for me and Patty to witness and to join. Words can not express our instant feelings for these children of God. After the songs,we sat with them and helped with their name tags. Amazingly almost of them knew how to spell their names. We gave them stickers and they went crazy. They just couldn't get enough. What a thrill for all. We hugged them and they sqeezed us. The children were not camera shy what-so-ever. The more pictures we took the more they would smile and pose. When it was time for us to leave they said "good-bye tourist" with the biggest of grins. God is truly doing good things thru us and within us. God bless everyone of you back @ homebase and we all can feel your prayers.

Jeff Mott...(adult)
My day turned out great today. Day one of the VBS was at Golden Grove Basic School. There were 15 of us that went there. The other four went to a smaller school called Golden Springs Basic School. I watched the eagerness and excitement in their faces as I was passing out supplies for our craft today. It was name tags that the kids could hang around their necks. I handed out the name tags at the first table and they looked up at me like "what's next?" As soon as I could, I found Morgan with a bag of the stickers so I could start showing them how to peel the backs and stick them to their name tags. Seeing them reminds me of my own sons and the eagerness in their faces they have when I'm doing crafts, games, reading, or showing them something new.
We'll I just finished my COLD shower and fixing to go to bed. I miss my family so much and look forward to sharing what I've experienced with them once I get back. Good night.
(I love you Cyndi)

WE'RE FINALLY HERE!!!

Well, we arrived safely this morning in Montego Bay! After a long travel day culminating with a 2 1/2 hour bus ride that was INSANE, we arrived at our final destination. The Manse. This is where the pastor in the community lives. It is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We will be posting pictures as soon as possible, but Jamaica is a beautiful island. We had a fantastic reception dinner of Jamaican food including baked chicken, fish, and pork, and of course rice and beans. Then we spent some time recovering from the travel day and took a look at where we will be working. We closed the evening with a short devotional and were reminded by way of Norm's $80 guiter that it is not what the world sees as valuable, but it is what God sees as valuable.

The following are some thoughts from two team members:

Alisa Hagemann...(adult)
This mission has just begun and has been so incredible in just the first twenty hours or so. All travel connections went well while sharing A LOT of laughs - especially during the crazy "bumpy bus ride" - better than a rollercoaster. Amazingly, a few of us "snoozed" a bit during that very crazy ride. We were REALLY tired!

The scenery is absolutely beautiful and no matter how tired we are, it seems to inspire and amaze us. The walk to the church site, the evening devotion and songs on the front porch will forever remain in my memory. I am so excited to be a part of God's awesome plan.

Morgan Dyson...(student)
We're finally here! The trip was long and tiresome, but when we got here it was all worth it! The scenery is absolutely breathtaking! The people here are amazing, they are so kind and generous! They were so welcoming! They cooked a great welcoming dinner and after that we played a game of volleyball with Serge. Serge is the pastor and lives in the manse (where we are staying). I hope that God will have a huge impact on my team, the church, and all other people involved. Also to carry out Gods name with a humble heart.

SEE YA TOMORROW!
TEAM JAMAICA

They have arrived!

Michael has called and the team arrived this
morning in Jamaica at 10:30 AM. They will go
through immigration and then on to the 4 hour
bus trip to Bensonton.

"Seeds will be planted"

Jamaica Trip Day 1

The group came together in the wee hours
(1:15 AM) this Sunday Morning! The first leg
of the trip took the group to Charlotte, NC
and then off to Montego Bay!

Last 1 from home....

Just woke up about 30 minutes ago.....it's midnight.....final check.....heading to Hope then to the airport.....

Next post will be from Jamaica!

Pray!

God Bless!

Michael Creighton

Family and friends send-off night!

Tonight, the team members, along with their family and friends, will come together for a time of prayer and fellowship as the team makes final preparations for their trip to Jamaica. Please continue to not only pray for the team members, but for the families as well.

 

Michael Creighton

Continued Preparations

Passports are being secured...dog sitters are being arranged....supplies are being purchased.....prayers are being lifted.
Tonight is PACKING NIGHT! The team will meet at HOPE tonight to pack luggage and supplies. Over the weekend, the team was commissioned during the worship celebrations in preparation for going to Jamaica. It was a powerful reminder that God is not looking for perfect got-it-all-together people, but rather those ragtag among us who simply say, "Here I am. Send me."
Please continue to keep this team and their families in your prayers as final preparations are being made.

YOUR PRAYERS MATTER!

God Bless,
Michael Creighton

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Who we are...

Please be in prayer for the team as they are preparing to travel to Jamaica and during the actual trip. There are many challenges that will arise and obstacle that will be thrown in there path this week. Your prayers make a great difference to the entire team.

TEAM JAMAICA

PS Check back daily for updates and thoughts from team members!

Where we're going...

This is a view of some of the local scenery in Bensonton, Jamaica, where the HOPE team will be traveilng to.

Why Jamaica?

For those living outside of Jamaica, when we think of Jamaica we think of sunny beaches and cruise ships. For those living in Jamaica, there is a much different reality. The vast majority of Jamaica is NOT the thriving and busseling tourist areas. There is much need throughout Jamaica. It is the desire of the Hope Church Jamaica Mission Team to be a light to the people of the Bensonton community located in the heart of Jamaica. We will be serving in the areas of general construction and VBS programs for the local school children.

Trip Itinerary (UPDATED)

Saturday- Travel day
Depart Saturday AM
Arrive at Montego Bay Airport
Travel to The Mans (parsonage)
5:00 arrive at house

Sunday- Culture day
Attend church with host (1 mile walk) 9-11:30
Church ladies will host luncheon
Spend day with people from the community

Monday-Wednesday- VBS/ Work days
7:30 AM Breakfast/pack lunches/devotional
8:30 AM Depart for school/VBS
9:00-10:30 VBS
10:45-4:30 Work on project with break for lunch
5:00 PM Return to The Mans to clean up for dinner/ evening devotional

Thursday– VBS/ Ocho Rios
7:30 AM Breakfast/pack lunches/devotional
8:30 AM Depart for school/VBS
9:00-10:30 VBS
10:45 Return to mans/clean up/ travel to Ocho Rios

Friday– VBS/Work/½ Travel day
7:30 AM Breakfast/pack lunches/devotional
8:30 AM Depart for school/VBS
9:00-10:30 VBS
10:45-2:00 Finalize projects
Pack/Depart for Montego Bay @ approx. 4:30 PM
Spend night in Montego Bay

Saturday Jamaica/Travel Day
Arrive at airport 2 hours prior to departure
Return to Atlanta and families