Birdys Bible

This trip to Jamaica has been the expierience of a life time. I have loved every single moment of it. From the second i stepped of the bus i felt like i was at home... I was so excited to go to the infirmary because that's where i met Birdy. Birdy was a blind women that my dad had met the year before and he was so excited for me to meet her. He instantly fell in love with her the first time he met her. Last year, when my dad walked by her bed and said "Hi, Birdy!" She instantly knew that it was him... He introduced me to her and i asked if i could read her a passage from my bible. I read and she put her hand on my bible and said... "May I keep?". I instantly said yes and put the bible in her hand. Even though she was blind and couldn't read it... i could not say no to her. Last year when we left for home all i could think about was coming back and seeing Birdy...
When i finally arrived yesterday to the infirmary for the second time, i took a V cut right to her bed and said... "Hi Birdy!", she instantly reconized my voice and i started searching for the bible that i had given her last year. I couldn't find it in her possesion but i'm sure that someone has it right now and is using it more than she could of.
I walked into one of the mens rooms and i sat down on a bench. the man did not acknoledge that i was there except for the fact that he was starring at me. i said hi and asked if i could read him scripture. i saw his lip quiver like he was trying to say something but he couldnt speak and in his eyes i knew he was yelling at me YES. I simply said okay and started reading Psalms 1:1-6. As soon as i started reading it... he started mouthing the words and quoting the passage. I believe that the man was God and he was speaking to me through him. He was telling me that sometimes i just need to be still. And listen for him... and look. That was just so amazing to me.
I can't believe how fast the week went by yet i had so many encounters with the man who created me.
Luke 1:37

-Taylor

soccer and piggy back rides....

You know, there are somes things that you just wouldn't expect to happen. Today i was working in milk river at a job site and we were finishing the third coat of cement on the walls. I was listening to laci and a jamaican talk about being trying to build a room for his kids and how much money it would cost. But as the conversation went on the jamaican started talking about how happy he was with what he had because god had provided everything he needed so far. he said, "i'm not rich but if you are rich you need to be happy for what you have and if you are poor you need to be happy, there are no excuses." That kinda just hot me because we were just talking about that last night and how unhappy we are, for reason at all. It just made me think, if a man who lives in a house smaller than my room and only works 25 weeks out of the year can be happy with his life... why can't i? As the day went on... i started playing some soccer with one of the kids at the work site and i noticed he was playing in sandals that were almost completely ripped in half. And if you saw this place, you were walking on glass and rock, thats it. But as we were playing we were getting pretty hot and so we went to get some bag juice. Well i decided to put him on my shoulders and when he got on... Wow!!! I've never seen a little kid that happy to have someone show that kind of attention to him. after that moment you could just tell that made his day. But tonight my dad asked us, when we go home, how would we convince someone to come next year? I really didn't know what to say at first, but think i would say that you cant experience the joy, peacefulness, contentness, and the unconditional love that these people have show us down here. There really are no words that can describe this place.

mom, zac, and jos...
mom i hope you have actually been working out cause i kinda ratted you out to scott... my bad...
zac i hope you have been good.......... haha
jos...................... well................ ill bring you a present

ty butler, the one and only:)

Jamaican Joy!

Today's devotion in the morning was all about finding bible verses that describe the various people on the mission trip. The team member thoughtfully read many touching, insightful descriptions of many people. I was personally reflecting on the beauty of these people touching the hearts and souls of their friends with strong truthful words of encouragement.The team is blessed with a wonderful variety of strengths. It was such a positive way to start the day! Perhaps you should think of a bible verse that describes someone in your life and read it to them. Think about it.

My personal assignment was to go to "House One", also known at St. Toolies, to continue the construction efforts. We had our three Jamaican men and one volunteer Jamaican woman. Our mission team included Mike, Jeremy, Dennis, Joyce and myself. Upon arriving, we started by sifting the materials required to put the fininishing coat of concrete on the outside and inside walls. Each day I am so taken by the skill and joy that the Jamaican people bring to their work. We need to learn from them and bring joy to our efforts in the USA. These men are very skill craftsmen. At one point, the entire team was actively engaged in spreading and finishing the concrete walls. While the construction techniques are pretty simple, the talent of the workers creates a house of strong and very smooth walls. Us missionaries are happily providing their assistence. Often I think about an old saying I have heard that says no matter how hard you try to give to people, you will always get so much more in return. Here we are trying to give, but our Jamaican hosts continue to give back to us with their love and thank yous and friendship. During our lunch time, several members of our team encouraged the Jamaicans who lived at the work site to eat some of our food, a simple act of charity.They thankfully accepted.

At the end of the day, we sat by the road waiting for the bus. As we waited, Jeremy and Mike joined with two Jamaican boys in a little football/soccer "pepper" session. They kicked and headed the ball back and forth with the boys. Other boys soon showed up and they watched and in one case joined in. I sat and reflected on the way they were touching the hearts of those boys. There was such a feeling of fun, caring, and joy as they played. Joy seems to be a common theme of the trip here. Joy, joy, and more joy in a place with little money. Joy truly comes from living a true christian life and the love we share with our neighbors in our church, community, country and even world.

God bless all of you have supported this trip. You are making a positive change in God's world, both the Jamaicans and the people on this mission trip.

Doug Fiechtner

shopping is mike's calling

It's been great to come back to Harmons. As Ty says, the second time is like watching a movie you have all ready seen. You know the story, but you see more of the little details in the background. I have had a lot of fun watching the others experience and be Gods love. Today Mike was the greatest personal shopper for 4 Jamaicans. He treated them like royalty as they searched thru all the t-shirts and baby clothes. He even helped one lady pick out a "nice nighty". They were given 2 wal-mart bags to fill with clothes and Mike filled them so tight they almost split. Jeff Batson is an amazing man! It's his third time here and you would think that he was a local. All the Jamaicans know and love Jeff and they look forward to his return. Today at the infirmary I watched Jeff love the helpless and elderly, and when he left he said "see you in one year", and he meant it. Laci "Toots" Thurn has been a joy to all of us. Everynight she runs out to talk to people courtyard and hold the children in her arms. And of course Dennis, David and Justin are all keeping us laughing.

Tonight we had a birthday party for "Miss Linda". 20 years ago, her and her husband Henry started Won by One and tonight the entire community came out to celebrate her. A couple days ago Dennis commented on the Legacy that Henry and Linda have created. They have been Christ to hundreds of Jamaicans and have expected nothing in return. Now we have been a part of that Legacy. As I spoke to Linda tonight she told me of how all her kids are coming down in Feb. and how they have passed the baton on to them. Thier son Josh is full time with the ministry and she is very proud. This week I got to serve with my family, Mike and Dennis, and as I think of what this week has meant for me, I realize that we are not only a part of Linda and Henry's legacy but part of Grandpa Jim's legacy as well. We are continuing what those who came before had started, to be Christ to others.

Amie, I love you and I so desperately wish you and Luke were here. Luke would love the bananas. I can't wait to hug and kiss you both on Sunday.
-Jeremy

What do you say when there are no words...

It's true when people tell you that there is no way to capture the experience of going to the infirmary unless you are actually there. We spent an hour there this afternoon and it was one of the most touching hours of my life. I guess I was expecting to see a nursing home with everyone there being in bad condition, but it was so much more than that. The infirmary is also where people with disabilities (cognitive and physical) go when there is no one else to take care of them and some of the residents there were severely handicapped. The ironic part? That the majority of them, when asked, smiled and said that they were doing fine, that the weather was nice, and that they had friends there. I stopped to question... is it a bad environment when, in general, their basic needs are being met? They were clothed, fed, sheltered. We all wish everyone could be shown love every day, but are we so used to being pampered and having so many resources available to us that the thought of a place like this is completely apalling? It was very hard to see these people and not let your emotions just totally overcome you, I know that I wished I had the ability to make it more like our nursing homes back home (never thought I'd wish anything like that!) But I started thinking about how in Jamaica the people lead much simpler lives and how I've come to appreciate that in a lot of ways, so it would come to reason that their dependent care would be simpler too. I think it's awesome how much we want for our loved ones back home who need residential care, but it was also awesome to see the joy and a lack of want in the eyes of these people who expect so much less than us. God seems to find ways to put contentment in the hearts of people in situations we perceive as unbearable. The woman who sings Jesus Loves Me from the bottom of her soul and reads word for word from Psalms along w/ her neighbor despite being blind. She is the picture of love for Christ, and joyful in circumstances she sees through very different eyes than us Americans that came to visit her. I went there hoping to bring some joy to a few people and left having had my heart filled 100 times over. Where the Jamaican people don't have the technology and health care that i am used to, they far surpass in community and simplicity and expression of their love for Christ. I feel like I received a lot more in one hour today than i ever could have given. A true message to me from God.

Less Leads to More

We have been preparing the store with donated items since our arrival and we were finally able to open it up and help the Jamaicans shop. They are allowed to fill 2 Wal-Mart bags of clothes that they and their family need. It wasn't always easy, and sometimes impossible to find what they needed. They were grateful for what they received even though it may be another 18 months before they get to shop again. They have less, and are more appreciative for what they have.
The second part of our day was spent visiting residents of the infirmary. I have heard stories from past experiences, and this visit was a big reason for me wanting to come on this trip, yet nothing but prayer could have held me together for what I saw. This place lacks homely surroundings, it lacks privacy, and it lacks cleaning. What isn't lacking, however, is so profound...it isn't lacking Jesus! I thank God for allowing me to love on these people and to be loved on by them. Scripture was shared, prayers were spoken and songs were sang. I see that when you take away everything one has, all they have left is Jesus. We have so many distractions, that it usually takes us longer to call on Him. They weren't just crying out to Him though, even in their state of being, they were praising Him!! What a lesson!
Tyler, Luke and Bryce...I miss you so much and I have been taking comfort in knowing that the same God that is watching over me, is watching over you also. I love you all so much and am excited to see you again!!

Relationships, Compassion and Basketball

After three full days in Jamaica it is hard to know where to begin to communicate what myself and others have experienced here. After building a foundation and working on a house the first two days, I was excited to see what God had for me today. So, David Skeen and I built a wall at the local school so that they may have an additional classroom for the children. Having the children run up to me and almost tackle me because they were so excited to see an American help them was wonderful. They ask all kinds of questions and wonder what America is like. But even greater than helping the children was getting to know the other Jamaicans that were working alongside us on the project. Little John, Dash and Bigga are all about my age and found my lack of skills with power tools their morning entertainment. Yet, they put in a great amount of energy in order to develop a relationship with me. I found it incredibly convicting that these Jamaicans are willing to open up to me about their families and past with no hesitation, and assume that I should be willing to do the same. I enjoyed my time with them and David incredibly beneficial. And then we went to the infirmary this afternoon. There are no words to describe the infirmary. After I walked in there I decided I was going to pour out all of the compassion that I could in an hour on these people. I spent most of my time with eleven men that shared one room, some of them sitting in their own feces. All of them begging you to read scripture and love on them. I will need a few days in order to process what we saw and did there. That's all that can be said at this point on the infirmary. Lastly, tonight, I played 2-on-2 basketball with David Skeen against two Jamaicans. I did not know that Jamaican basketball is similar to Jamaican Dominoes in that it is full contact, but I figured it out quickly. I went ahead and ran with it, realizing my best option to win was to put one Jamaican in a headlock and plow my way through the other to make a basket. David Skeen and I ended up beating Team Jamaica 15-12 in the end, but more importantly, we bonded with the Jamaicans in a way that we don't see too often back home. To my family, I cannot say how much I miss you. I thought of Hannah all day yesterday hoping she would have a wonderful birthday, and I'm sure she did. I pray everyday that God will watch over you as He is watching over me here. Katie, I miss you terribly. Not hearing your voice everyday has been tough. Please tell Sarah, Hannah, Steph and Annie that I love them very much. I have so much to share and I hope that when I come home you see a change in your husband and father. Thank you for your sacrifice so that I may serve here.

God Bless.
Dave B.