Tuesday, July 22, 2008

We're back!

We are back from Jamaica. It's taken us a few days to recover (as you can tell by the date of this post :), but we wanted to give everyone a final update.
A big thanks to everyone for their support and prayers! We felt that the trip was very successful, and we enjoyed ministering to the people of Jamaica.
If you would like to hear a full update on our trip you are invited to attend Calvary Presbyterian Church this Sunday, July 27th, at 6:00 pm. We will be giving a full presentation of our trip to Jamaica with tons of pictures and testimonies from different team members.
Again, thank you so much for your support and prayers! Check back soon to see the next Calvary missions opportunity!
-Sarah

A few more comments from the team

I really love it here at CCCD. I really have enjoyed talking in sign language, going to VBS, doing construction, and most of all just being in Jamaica. All the sweat and tiredness is worth it because I know it has touched hearts (both mine and others around me). I will really miss it here when we leave. God has truly blessed me with the opportunity to serve Him and others here in Jamaica. Miss you all and see you soon.


Megan



We are spreading scum!!!


Marilee



Jamaica has been awesome! It has been a neat experience being able to serve and hang out here. See you soon, family! :)


Amanda



The opportunity to serve here at CCCD has truly been a blessing. This week has been an amazing experience. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Love to all our family and friends. God bless!


Col./Dr. Mike

Uncle Bubba,
Do these two shades match?
Post office red and tile red.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Thursday, Last Day of Work



So, today was our last day of work. We completed many of the classrooms, which included moving everything out of them, scrubbing them down, cutting and painting everything (including the floor), and putting everything back in them. We also completed painting the front of the building and the entire railing down the front. We completed everything by about 6:30 today (no working by headlights like the Biloxi trip). Yesterday’s VBS was crazy! There were a ton of kids running all over the place and little place to put them. It was hard to keep order even with most of our group and some of another group helping. Today was much more calm and contained, and many of the people working with VBS were much more encouraged by this afternoon. Here’s a bunch of quotes from different people, as well as some pictures (we'll have more later).

This has been a great trip, and it makes you realize the poverty in Jamaica. It has been great to help and also “sign” with the deaf kids. I hope to come back to CCCD some time, because it was great even though I’m exhausted.
-Ryan

This trip has been a BLAST! We have done so much work. It has been very hot compared to NC but not too, too bad. I have loved meeting all the CCCD kids and helpers. Thanks to all that have helped us get here and thanks for keeping us in your prayers. Thanks again and I can’t wait to tell y’all about this wonderful experience.
-Chris
P.S. Y’all is not a phrase they use here.

We’ve had a great week, making friends with other believers from different places, playing with Jamaican children at VBS, and working hard to improve the buildings at CCCD. Everyone has worked well together, with very few complaints about the heat. God has been good, protecting us from the sun and with cooling rainstorms, and kept everyone from serious illness. Some cool flora and fauna too!
-Jay

This week has been absolutely amazing!!!!
-Megan

July 2nd Update

All is well with the Calvary MoBay team. We have more pictures and stories but no easy way to share them with you. Everybody is healthy, has good attitudes, and is working hard. We have all been rotating through various work projects: painting, yard cleanup, carpentry, cement work, etc. Lisa and Mike have been outstanding team leaders!

Unfortunately, Internet service on campus is down tonight so we cannot post new content to our blog.

May this message find y'all seeing and hearing more of Jesus, we are here!

Tom

Ps I apologise if I have not replied to e-mail sent to tgyori@usa.net. I am about one day behind. I usually only check my BlackBerry once a day, after lights-out.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Another Great Day

Today was much of the same. More painting, raking and working with concrete. I was able to do a lot of sieving which is definitely hard work but I enjoyed it! The deaf kids never run out of energy helping with the construction work, and it is fun to try to communicate with them. We were able to accomplish a lot of the painting and then stopped at two o’clock to do VBS/soccer camp.
Two Jamaican soccer teams showed up at the same time. So they combined everyone into one huge game. The Jamaicans won 9 to 4!
God’s hand was definitely evident in VBS: about sixty kids attended VBS! It went very well and the kids seemed to love it! We are definitely recruiting more guys from the soccer team to help us with “crowd control” tomorrow.
It is very hot and humid here. We are sweating constantly even at night. So, after a long day’s work we are ready for bed. So, I will sign off with a few pictures and comments from some of the team members.
-Sarah
P.S. Uncle Bubba, the tinted safety glasses came in handy today – thanks!

It is a lot of fun interacting with the deaf children! It’s a new and exciting experience!
- Marilee

I have really enjoyed being here in Jamaica. It has been an amazing experience and I am thankful God gave me this opportunity. It has been awesome to spend time with the deaf kids, the other teams, and the local Jamaican kids at VBS. Miss you all!
- Megan

It’s been a fun couple of days so far! I have enjoyed the work (surprisingly) and the soccer and picking up on sign language. I scored a goal in one of our soccer games! I am looking forward to the rest of the week.
-Rob C.

I have not had time to read any blog entries to date, but I am sure everyone has heard that the trip so far has been amazing. Being blessed with an early morning “body clock,” I was given the opportunity to coordinate all breakfast meals. Besides having the first shot at the shower, this also affords me the added blessing of witnessing some amazing and beautiful sunrises from our vista of the bay here at CCCD. I also wanted to thank God for our youth – their cheerful and willing spirits and servants’ attitudes are a clear demonstration of God’s work in their lives. They demonstrate God’s love through their hard work and love for others in all they do daily with the folks there in Jamaica.
Thank you for your continued prayers. God bless!
-Dr./Col. Mike



Rob C. painting the ceiling.








Singing during VBS











One of the boys from the deaf school giving us a demo of a dance move.









Kyle and Daniel playing soccer this afternoon. It was hot!!!