Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Jamaica Bound


In less than two months, we will be on a plane headed for Jamaica. It's crazy to think that this time has come upon us so soon! It feels as if just yesterday we brought the idea up and now it's full speed ahead!

We found out last week that our plane tickets are being purchased and the dates are set for July 22nd- August 1st. Saying that I am excited would be an understatement. I'm thrilled to see what God's going to do and so glad that I get to be apart of it.

Along with finding out about our plane tickets, we also found out about a couple of scholarships that the church offering funds. For my mom, she is getting money as a short term missionary and I am getting money as a first time student missionary (I believe). All of that, and the plane tickets were less than we expected, equals this: we are going to Jamaica. We have our passports. We are soon to have our tickets. And we have the money needed. Praise God!

We would ask for your continued support and prayer as we continue this journey.

Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Monday, May 16, 2011

We Have Our Passports!





We have our passports! Praying for God to provide the money for us to go to Jamaica has been a big part of the whole process, which started a year ago when my mother and I first started talking about going to Jamaica.

When we first discussed the possibility of going to Jamaica, it seemed like a far off idea. A thought that one day, Lord willing, we would go to Jamaica. But now that We are leaving in less than two months, I should be able to grasp the reality of going. I still cannot. I am thrilled, but I don't feel it is actually going to happen. I probably won't until we are sitting on our plane flying to Jamaica!

But back to prayer. Without prayer, we wouldn't be where we are now. One day, a few months ago, I was praying about our trip and asking God to provide all the money that would be needed for us to go. I wanted Him to provide for us so we knew it was not our own strength. After praying about the financial aspect of our trip, I started talking to my mom about our needed passports.

Obviously when you leave the country, you have to have a U.S. Passport. And they are expensive. We started looking for applications to fill out and figuring out how much it would cost. (We had raised some money at that point, and had enough for our passports at the time.) Once we stopped talking about it and got back to school, my grandma came up stairs and asked us if we would need passports for our trip. Without even hearing our conversation! I told her yes, we would need passports. That we were just getting our applications filled out. She responded, "Well, that's what I am going to pay for. I'll pay for your passports. Is that enough support from me?" Wow.

God is good. That's the least I can say!

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Jamaica VBS


You have probably heard of Vacation Bible School (or VBS) before in your life. Every summer, there are churches all over the United States who host some sort of VBS. But what about VBS in other countries? This summer my mother and I will be traveling on a missions team to Jamaica to host VBS for the kids there.

Jamaica VBS was started many years ago as a means of giving children in the Mt. Pleasant Church of Christ area the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ. The mission has greatly expanded since it’s beginning. For the last several years, VBS was presented to over 500 children in three different churches in Jamaica by a team of about twenty teachers and helpers. Our two-week trip will focus on reaching the children in this area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jamaica VBS, Inc.’s mission is:

· To reach the children of Jamaica with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

· To present the Good News of Jesus Christ through regular mission trips to Jamaica

· To expand the outreach of the Gospel to the homes of the children attending.

· To train and provide opportunities for people to participate in this mission work.

· To provide the tools necessary to conduct VBS in Jamaica.

I’m thrilled about this opportunity and what we will experience while in Jamaica. I am also thrilled to serve others and see the Good News spread to the children, and people of Jamaica. Through this trip, I will be watching to see if God will be leading me to missions work in the future. I hope you can see the value in this ministry and the fruit it will produce (Mark 4:1-12). We desperately need your prayer support. Because without prayer, how can we expect these children to receive the Gospel? Please pray for the children’s hearts to be opened to Jesus, as well as their parents when they share the news.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24-26.

For those who haven’t heard the Good News.