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.