Peace, Love and Blossom Gardens!

The rain finally subsided enough for all of us to bring the children back onto the porch. The newly found freedom from the indoors must have done something to the children’s spirits because suddenly there was chaos surrounding me. In the corner, a child screamed and winced in pain as a nurse attempted to comb through his coarse hair. Two children fought loudly over one of the few toys found in a room full of children. The older, mentally handicapped kids were running around getting into trouble because of a lack of anything else to do, and a lack of anyone who could really understand them. There were fifteen children unattended and without toys to play with, not including the four that lay bed-ridden and forgotten in their cribs. I lay there on the mat as young Ava, fully equipped with her soccer ball, climbed all over me energetically pressing on my full bladder. “Jesus loves you, this I know…” I began singing quietly, as she rested the ball on the floor and her head on my chest. “For the bible tells me so…” She looked deeply into my eyes. “Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong…” Her gaze shifted from my eyes as she watched my lips form every word of the song. “Yes, Jesus loves you, yes, Jesus loves you…” My voice trailed off as I noticed how captivated she was by the melody. It was as if, at that age—the tender age of two—she completely understood the message behind the melody. As she lay there quietly studying my face, perhaps reflecting, I looked around at the room I had just known as chaotic. In the corner, where there once was a child screaming in pain, a nurse sat alone. With his hair freshly done, and his cheeks stained with tears, he was laughing hysterically at a silly face that Jen was making. The two children, instead of fighting over a toy, were instead taking turns getting thrown on the mat by Sam. Each of the teammates had at least two children under their care, and each child’s face, whether or not it was smiling, was beaming. I turned my head to the right, and saw Samantha playing with one of the older mentally challenged girls in her lap—the same girl that was deemed ‘difficult’ by the staff because of the ignorance of her condition. I soon learned that Tyler and Stefene were in the toddler’s dormitory showing love and care to those precious bed-ridden youngsters.

For the past two weeks, our team has struggled with fleeting thoughts of insignificance. Why are we here? What are we really doing? Now, in retrospect, I see it; we see it. This is what we’re here for. We’re here to do the best thing we can for these kids—show them the love of Christ. Many of these tiny bodies have gone through so much in their short lives; many of these wounded souls have never seen or felt true love through their inexperienced eyes, or have only received limited doses from the paid staff of the orphanage or from their unprepared parents. Today was our last day at an orphanage. Next week we’re ministering at different schools, and we may or may not have the time to visit Blossom Gardens one last time. It’s really hard to leave each orphanage knowing that we may never see the fruits of our labor. But, I think the Lord is finally showing us that while some of us (including me) may have come to Jamaica with our own version of this ‘mission to the orphans’, God had His plan. He had (and has) a plan that is far more reaching and longer lasting than any of us could have imagined—a plan with everlasting results. “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27 NLT) <-- courtesy of Tyler’s devotion this morning…

Later on this evening, we went out again for street ministry. We encountered some we had previously met, and we met some new ones. En route we got some ice cream at a gelato place, we were entertained by a country-singing Rastafarian man, and we moseyed our way down a private beach, singing songs into the midnight sky. We returned to our ‘home away

from home’, Fairhaven, for worship and team reflection time, and ended the night with the reading of last night’s blog and the wonderful comments all you supporters leave daily. I hope you’re all doing well; it’s hard to believe that we’re going to see you all in just about a week! ♥



Shout out time: Dad, Mom and Angel I love and miss you all soooo much. Mom, thanks for showin so much love on the blog comments. Dad, I should tell you that the camera is amaaaazing. It’s pretty much become the “team camera”—many of the pictures you see on the blog and the hundreds of others you will see come from that great generosity you showed before we left . Angel, you should really start getting in shape now so that when we start training together you’ll be ahead of me (cuz I’m not really running that much.) Oh, and I can’t wait to kiss your soft, chubby cheeks.

Ruuuuth, Bundie, Rachbbgirl and my Homie Leigh: Where my girls at, from the front to back?? Haha…you girls are great and I love all the love you show us. Oh and I love you guys too but keep the comments coming!........or else

For anyone else I certainly didn’t forget, but I may not have mentioned, I’ve got nothing but love for all of you!