FRIDAY IN JAMAICA

Friday was graduation day for the prisoners that had participated in the program with our guys and girls. Everybody divided up and everyone went to a prison. Thomas, Carmen, Thomas, Talore, Olivia and I chose to go to the prison where Josh, Taylor, and David had spent their week.

There were some songs--one by a prisoner who has given his life to Christ and has changed.
David gave the short devotional and an invitation. Mark awarded them their certificates.
They use these certificates of study in Christian Education to present to the judge when they go to court. We also took them NERDS ----they hadn't had candy before Tuesday in over 5 months. The boys who are there awaiting trial get to go into the courtyard which is 40x60
concrete floor with a metal manhole-looking cover in the middle of it. The top of it is covered in razor wire so no one wants to climb out over it. They go into the courtyard twice a month for recreation -----can you believe that??? The rest of the day they are in their cell. These are 12-17 year old boys. Carmen and I wanted to cry. It is so sad. Please pray for these boys. They look just like our children looking back at us. Their only hope is Jesus changing their life.
Pray that those who truly made decisions will read God's word and let Jesus change them.

We headed back to the hotel and waited on the other group. They were at two prisons further away and their programs were longer. It was an emotional day for everyone. Decisions were made --praise God and goodbyes were said.

Then we headed to the Market. This is much like the markets in the Bahamas. The kids shopped for an hour. There were some really pretty baskets and jewelry. It was fun!

Our last supper at the hotel was the best. We had chicken, rice&beans, veggies(veg-all) and the best fish ever. It was pan fried snapper---yummy!!!

We had the last service at House of God. It was really special. They did some Jamaican music and said thank yous to all of us. The dance team from the church did a beautiful dance to
Got down on my knees and sang holy----awesome!!! We presented them with the bass guitar, strings, and drum heads for their band. They were so thankful. We sang Carry your candle----beautiful! Then Pastor Harrison's wife presented each of us with a Jamaican flag. Each member of their church who had worked with us this week said their goodbyes. Goodbyes are hard.

We have made some wonderful friends here and as Pastor Harrison said if we never see them this side of heaven we will see them there.

Trelle

JAMAICA--THURSDAY

Today was such a good day. The schools group left the hotel about 9:30 on a mission for glue for VBS. We headed on an excursion to Mega Mart. It's like Walmart only less stuff. I spent
1500 dollars on 4 bottles of glue and a string backpack---Jamaica dollars are not worth much--the exchange rate is $70 for each american dollar. The kids loved just looking at the different things in the store. Thomas got an icee and Paul got a gatorade!
Stacy got a dress and a belt. Jacob and some of the others got some fruit punch tang mix that we have had everyday here. It is soo good!

Next we headed to Devon House which is a little shopping village with a great ice-cream store. Yummy!!!The kids loved it. We took a group photo there.

Then we took a mini tour of Kingston---the bus driver is great and went to see the ocean. It is so cool to see the ocean with mountains in the background. God makes some awesome scenery!

Then it was time for school. Stacey and Gene went to their school and we headed to St Peters. The kids again did a great job. They acted out the story of the good samaritan, sang the VBS songs, told the kids about the ABCs of salvation and prayed the sinners prayer with several of the kids. Some of the kids today were saved and attended church----it was good to know that they are plugged in to a church. Then we made the foam picture frames that ya'll made in VBS. The kids loved making them. Something so simple was enjoyed so much.

Thank you First Baptist Family for sending us here to Jamaica and for providing the crafts for us to share. Thanks for your prayer support ---we have felt it here.

We were done early and were starving---ice cream for lunch doesn't work! So we headed off to KFC. It was so delicious. Thomas ate 3 pieces of chicken! Jacob and Gene got the "bowl"
Carmen got a snacker---yummy!!



Then on to House of God church for VBS. This was our last night there! Our kids have loved on the kids at VBS. They have really shown them the love of Jesus. There is one little boy in a wheelchair that has been there every minute we have. He is so in need of love and attention and our kids have done a great job loving on him. There is the cutest little girl that is in several pictures --she has loved VBS. We sang songs, acted out the story and prayed with them. Then it was craft time---we did the visors. You would think that we were giving them gold. They were so excited. Our kids loved seeing them and helping them with the craft. It really brought home to me that they have soo little here. They are so appreciative of everything. Then it was time for the puppets. There was a little boy there maybe a year old that loved the puppets---he danced and pointed ---he was precious! The puppets sang Jesus loves me---the kids sang with them. i have a picture of one of the little girls singing. I think that is a face that will stay with me a long time. I know I am where God wants me to be---telling people about Jesus.

Back to the hotel and we waited on the prison group ---they arrived about 30 minutes later.
They had had a long day of travel but a good day of ministry. Cody preached, Woody and several others gave their testimony. Several made professions of faith----God is so good!!!
Mark and Chris said that lunch which followed a snack was the best meal of the trip so far!!!


Thank you for this awesome group of kids. They have truly been a blessing to me on this trip.
Thank you God for allowing me the opportunities I have had and the group has had this week.
We give you all the honor and glory for each decision that was made. I pray that you would water the seeds that have been planted.

Continue to pray for us as we finish our visit. Pray for traveling mercies, safety and good health.

Some one said today that riding on the bus is like a video game---they drive on the wrong side of the road and there are no stop signs or red lights. The road is hardly big enough for 2 cars. But our drivers have been great!!

Trelle

Thursday Morning in Jamaica

God is so good! We just got news about Karen Head and it is awesome!!
Karen--we have been praying for you and will continue.


Please pray this morning for the groups going to the prisons. They go to a different prison and it is about a 2 hour ride. They left here at 6:15. The prison is at the top of a mountain so also pray that noone gets motion sick. Also pray for traveling mercies and safety.

The schools group get a quiet morning since we don't have to be at church till 10.

We are headed to breakfast now.

Please pray for opportunities and for us to see them.

If you have not seen many pix of your child I apologize. The prisons do not allow cameras at all so there are not pix! But I have tried to get each kid at least once ----at least at VBS at the church. Keep looking!!

Trelle

JAMAICA---WEDNESDAY

Today was a great day. The kids were so good. I am so proud of them and I know you would be too.

All of the school groups had good days. There were several kids saved---Nancy and I and our group had a whole classthat was not saved listen to the story of Jesus and then pray the sinners prayer. Jake did a great job with the Bible story today!Praise the Lard ---that is how they say it here!

The prison group and detention center had good days---Olivia and Jessica led four people to the Lord. They were very excited! David and Mark's group did some Bible study and shared stories
They also passed out Bibles to the ones who were saved on Tuesday. They said the prisoners are so hungry for the word of God.

We had fried chicken and rolls for lunch provide by the House Of God church. It was good!!

VBS was a hit tonight. We did music, rec, puppets, balloon swords of the spirit--thanks Mark--
and salvation bracelets. Talore led a little boy through the sinners prayer. God is so good!

Now we are back for a relaxing night out by the pool. Supper was beans & rice, chicken, mac&cheese, salad and fish. Chocolate cake for desert.

Your children amaze me. They are bold and vocal about their faith. I love seeing this side of them and I know they have made God smile this week. I love that they are so excited about sharing their faith.

Please pray for our health, safety and rest. God has been so faithful to meet us this week as the kids have stepped out in faith for him. Thank you God for your promises that we can rest on.


Trelle

JAMAICA----TUESDAY

On Tuesday the groups started---one group was prison ministry and one group was VBS in the schools.

Each group was then divided more and we went to two male detention centers and one female detention center. The schools group went to 5 different schools.

Lauren Hanky shared last night at church about getting to know the girls in the detention center she went to. They go back there today to talk with them again. Pray that these girls will
be receptive to the word and that there will be decisions made.

David shared that they played soccer with them---Josh played four games on the winning team---he was drenched---then they broke up into small groups and shared Bible stories
with each group. Each of the youth that went had Bible stories prepared for that. David said they did a great job. Several prayed the sinners prayer and accepted Jesus.
Today they go back and Mark is going to teach the ones who accepted Jesus.

Logan, Paul, and several others shared about the schools. They are very different from ours.
There is a lot less structure. The kids are also taking exams and it is the last few days of school.

I am in a group with Nancy Hiers, Jacob, Paul, Brian, Katie Rondello, Jamie, Jeremy--they did a super job yesterday. God started us off way out of our comfort zone. We went to a school called Boys town. The first class we went in were the same ages as our kids. The kids did a good job with the story, games and then each one of us prayed with the children who wanted to accept Jesus. That was so awesome. Pray for one boy who wanted to but he had lots of questions about believing when you can't see God.We go back there today. The best part of our day was when we went to the school across the courtyard and sang Jesus loves me and made Ocean pictures with the four and five year olds. They were so precious in their uniforms!!!
See the pictures on snapfish.

We went to the church next--House of God---we hada few minutes of rest and bless David's heart he went and found us some Pepsi!!! Caffeine will get you through and we all needed a little boost! Bible school was good---I missed our VBS when I was in Nicaragua so I have finally learned the songs and motions---Outrigger Island. Katie did a great job teaching the motions and words and meanings to the songs!

Supper was shepherd's pie and chicken--the food is good!

Then back to church for a worship service. The music is awesome and it reenergized our kids and us! Cody won the Bible drill---his new name is Coby!



Pray for our strength and patience----the days are very long and jam-packed full of activity.
Pray for health and safety also.

God thank you for bringing us here safely. Please use each of us today. Take us out of our comfort zone so that we can be where you want us to be.

Trelle

JAMAICA--MONDAY NIGHT

Today has been the craziest day. As Brother Jack said the devil is working overtime because he
is anticipating God using us to do great things for God's kingdom!!

After David and Jack got the luggage--about 2 hours---- for Reid's group from the airport that group was able to shower---Reid said that made him feel like he had had 4 hours more of sleep.

We met with the commissioner of prisons and the chaplains for the detention center. The group was given pretty exact instructions on what to wear and dos and don'ts. Then all of the sudden we were all going to go into the prisons and detention centers.

The kids were so greatwith the change & we all went and changed and ate a quick snack and then ----we weren't going because it was decided by the commissioner that it was too late.
God is so in this......

So then the first question was----can we have lunch?



The kids got a day to plan for VBS, the messages for the prisons---but they also got to relax, swim and just hang out. We had pizza from pizza hut for lunch--yum!

I am so proud of the kids they are so excited and so prepared for each of their areas. I can't wait for tomorrow! I can't wait to see what God has planned for us.

We had a praise and worship service and played some icebreakers with some of the church members after supper. Supper by the way was pork, chicken,goat, rice and veggies.
The pork and chicken were great---Gene and Reid said the goat was good.

We've learned several new songs that I am sure the youth will share with Karen Kelso and Rick Jordan.

We are having fun too----Carmen, Nancy, Reid and I went with Fabian and Jasen to Mega-Mart
to grocery shop. That was like going to walmart.

I am excited about VBS, being in the schools and hearing from the prison groups tomorrow.

Please pray for our safety and for all the plans I know God has for us this week.

God thank you for getting us through this day. Thank you for sending us this wonderful group
that is so flexible and so willing to do anything for your glory. amen

Trelle

WE ARE IN JAMAICA---MONDAY

-GOOD MORNING!

Everybody made it to Kingston----hallelujah!!

Yesterday was a character building day for the youth ----and they came through with flying colors!

The Coneheads and Reid's group spent more than 10 hours in the Miami airport waiting.....
Carmen's and the Ridolfi's group left out about 3 or so from Miami and spent another 4 hours in Grand Cayman's airport. Reid's group went through Montego Bay.....When they got there the tickets had been cancelled and they thought they had missed the flight. We got the text at the airport in Kingston----- about midnight about 30 minutes after Carmen's group .....we prayed as a group for Reid and his group and for a flight. Less than 5 minutes later Josh texted me that
they the tickets were being printed-----Thank you God for hearing us when we pray!
Reid's group got in about 4---24 hours after getting up in Jacksonville.....what troupers!!

This morning we have had breakfast---it's almost 10 here---the hotel is very nice.
Everyone is in good spirits, good attitudes even the ones who are getting their luggage in about an hour.

Keep praying for us as we plan this morning and go this afternoon.....

I am adding pictures on snapfish. I will try to add everyone's email that the kids give me but
if you do not get the email from snapfish with pix please call Alicia at FBC and she will forward them to you.

Mama Trelle