Good to Great

That's exactly what it's been this week - starting out good but breaking through the barriers to GREAT!  For those who haven't read the book that our theme for this week was based upon, the premise is that "good" is the enemy of "great" - meaning that when you settle for good being "good enough", you will never make it to greatness no matter what you are doing.  This team took that challenge to heart.  The trip veterans stepped up in a big way and the rookies followed that lead to make this an incredible week.  No injuries, no drama, no whining (well almost none) - as a leader I couldn't have expected better results.  Lives were changed in Jamaica - for Jamaicans and Americans.

If you've been following this blog you obviously know someone on the trip.  When you bump into them after our return home and you have a few minutes to spare, ask them about the experience and watch their face light up.  Thanks for the support, both prayers and financial - I can't describe how much both are appreciated.

Joey was certainly missed by us and his Jamaican friends too.  I can barely wait until he can be back here in Harmons.  For now, the physical labor is finished for this team and we start our journey for home in the morning headed back to the loved ones at home.  Don't expect us to be the same...

Mike

Bottom of the Barrel

In the five trips I've taken to Harmon's, this is the first time for blogging.  Today several of us worked on the foundation for a future house.  The woman we started this house for has had a run of bad luck, which I was very happy to be apart of God's new blessing on her.  To build a foundation we had to dig an outline for the frames, move dirt, gather rocks, and mix the maul/cement/water together to lay the base.  The dirt in areas had several roots we had to go through and in other areas was very hard.  Her land had very few rocks and several of us had to walk further up the hill to find more, which were still difficult.  We needed to use much of her maul to use as a cover layer before we poured the concrete, which meant we had less to use and a neighbor shared theirs.  The water onsite was spent rather quickly, so our lady was forced to use her own drinking water.  I don't want to sound like I'm complaining.  In fact, I just wanted to preface what we witnessed as a total God moment.  Everyone pitched in and was able to get all the dirt moved and all the rocks were found.  While we used all the lady's drinking water, I was very proud of my team who gathered all the water bottles and emptied them into her barrel and again neighbors also gave their valuable water.  At the end of the day I spoke with Barry (one of the Jamaican workers).  He told me that many times they have run out of maul or water.  But today, we had EXACTLY enough!  After reflection of the day, I am in awe of the way God uses everyone to help fulfill his purpose.  I pray that He continues to provide this lady with exactly what she needs.  

My Prayer to God

Heavenly Father I thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to love and serve the people of Jamaica. We have been reading Mark 10: 35-45 this week and I knew from day one you were trying to tell me something I need to change in my life. I know now it was no coincidence that you put me in the greenhouse pulling weeds all day long, you were trying to tell me what you are going to weed out of my life. You know how much I love to come and serve others here in Jamaica and how much joy it brings me, but you clearly reminded me that I don't always serve others at home with that same joy and that should be just as important as serving in Jamaica. I am so grateful that you are a God of second chances and I can show the people that matter to me the most how important they are to me and am happy to serve them with love. I love you Father and thank you so much for the teachable moments you give me.

-Connie

The Best Blog Ever?

Dear readers,
Today I did many things such as building a foundation, eating at a local Jamaicans house, and having a small amount of fun.
I started the day out by taking a half a hour bus ride to my "service opportunity", aka work site. A group of about 11 Americans and I built a foundation for a Jamaican women and her three kids who were living in a house that was falling down, literary. After a fulls day of work everyone on our team split into groups of about 4, spread into the city and ate dinner at one of the local Jamaicans homes. I am sure that every one on our team can say that the chicken that we ate tonight is some of the best chicken they have ever had. Later, we all gathered and bought gifts from the local area at craft night.
Sincerely,
 B.F.T. aka Dayton Thurn.
P.S. Sorry for not righting a novel.

A Different Tired

Wow...what a day! I have done very little physically today, yet I am more tired today than any other. We have been reading Mark 10:35-45 and I witnessed service to others on more occasions than I can count...and that's just speaking of today. Today was our day to visit the Infirmary. When we got to Harmon's, Loyd mentioned that we would have the opportunity to spend all day at the Infirmary if we chose, in place of the regular hour and a half. Courtney, Olivia and I jumped at the chance. Much has changed in my life in the 3 years it's been since I last visited Harmons. I can't say the same for the Infirmary. Same smell, many of the same people wearing the sames clothes, looking at the same few decorations on the walls. Being in that place brings almost every emotion to the surface at once. It's an experience that is impossible to explain with words. Amy mentioned a quote that comes close to describing the atmosphere there: "To someone who has everything, Jesus means nothing, to someone who has nothing, Jesus means everything." It's truly amazing to see how very little the residents have, yet they are so filled with faith and love for Christ, it simply exudes from them. We read lots of Scripture, much of which was recited as we were reading. I witnessed Mark 10:44  "And whoever of you desires to be first, shall be slave of all." when one elderly resident bathed another one, in conditions that we would never consider fit for bathing. Spending time at the Infirmary is a blunt reminder to remove our preferences from our relationship with Christ.
          Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
          Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
          Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who had made you, and not we ourselves;
          We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving
          And into His courts with praise, Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
                                                                Psalm 100

Janna

Beyond Amazing!!!!

I had decided on the flight down that "amazing" was my catch phrase for this week, but I am finding that that word does not even come close to describing everything I have experienced.  The clouds, land masses and oceans did provide an amazing view and there are more stars in the sky in Jamaica than anywhere I have ever been (Yes, it even beats out every sand dune I have ever vacationed to.)  But the people here take me far beyond that word.  We had the honor tonight  to participate in the first ever staff night for the entire Harmony House staff,  some of the hardest working people I have ever met, and I was floored at the richness of the bingo prizes given away.  Five pounds of fish, 5 bags of concrete mix, a jar of peanuts, a four roll pack of toilet paper, all accepted with the most genuine smiles and fullness of joy.  These are the items that our prized by our Jamaican family.  These are the items that I take for granted.  These are the items that have humbled me.

The last two days I have had the opportunity to work along two of the most incredible men.  Ganga is legendary at Harmony House.  The first person to begin teaching me and my closest friend so far.  I have been blessed with two days working at the greenhouse alongside him and listening to his many stories.  But the one who really breaks me is Stanley.  Stanley overflows with joy, smiling every time you see him.  He worked as hard as any of us at the job site, taking buckets of marl and dumping them into our sifter so we could remove the rocks from the precious powder used to mix concrete for the homes we are building.  While I came down here wondering how my knees would hold up to the opportunities presented to me here, Stanley worked alongside me with legs weak from cerebral palsy. He did not complain once,  not taking Advil every 12 hours as I am, and works with great joy, so willing to tell his story of how he gave his life over to the Lord when he was able to have a surgery done to help his legs.  Scripture tells us in 1Cor 2:27-31
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;  God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that none may boast before him....Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  I am indeed shamed by this young man as he works harder and does more everyday than I can fathom.  Praise God for showing me that.

There are many more stories of deepening relationships with my team meeting new people and being the hands and feet of Christ at May Pen.  I would love to share the goodness of what God has gifted me with here, so please ask.

Doug, sweetheart. I miss you and the boys.  I hope you and Mary are giving Levi some extra love from mommy.  Raymond, honey, I miss you too.  Tonight "Voice of Truth" was playing and I thought of you. I am so glad to have listened to that voice and come on this journey.  It has been beyond amazing!

...I saw God today

Where do I even begin? I am BEYOND PROUD of this team. I know I say this every trip, every time...but seriously, to see God working in the hearts and lives of EACH person has been so HUGE and yet it has been in the simplest of ways.

Today I had the joy of serving with the House Team. It was really cool the way the 8 of us were able to jump right in and start serving with the Jamaicans right when we got to the house. There was cement slinging, some of it sticking on the walls...some of it...well, we won't go there...let's just say some of us, our gifts are NOT cement slinging! :) The patience of our Jamaican friends is overwhelming. They could of had the whole process done in an hour, yet they take the time to let each of us try {and not necessarily succeed} but they let us try and they encourage us as we go...I SAW GOD IN THEM TODAY. .I was given the name "RockStar" ...all because Bigga said I was not a woman, he said I was Jamaican by the way I mixed cement....hahaha! It was a great time! I had a great talk with Ralston, the man is so humble. He thanks God every time a team is sent here because it enables him to work and provide for His family...I SAW GOD IN HIM TODAY.

Today was the day at the Infirmary. We all definitely experienced the presence of God there. My friend Orville {for a year now I have thought his name was Oliver...oops!} was the 1st one I saw off the bus. I had brought some pics from last year of him to give to him...you'd of thought I had given him the world...as I walked around with him, I saw the entire team loving on those that don't get loved on all too much. I saw my team letting themselves be stretched and being the hands and feet of Jesus to these precious people. It was a sight to behold. I found myself looking for Patricia...she is usually the 1st one to greet us off the bus, she wasn't there. However, one of the workers overheard me asking for her and she called me over to tell me she wasn't there...in my conversation with her I thanked her for helping these people and her words struck my heart to the core...she said, "no, I am blessed, I CHOOSE to work here. I have always wanted to work with the elderly and it is a blessing to me to get to work here." WOW! She CHOOSES to be in that place. I had no words...I just took her hand {and Orville still had a death grip on mine} and just prayed and thanked God for her. I SAW GOD IN HER TODAY.

Let's just say....TONIGHT WAS THE BEST COURTYARD NIGHT EVER!  Tonight's courtyard was Staff Appreciation Night. They invited the WonbyOne Staff to the courtyard {there was 41 of them} and they had a Bingo Night. There were prizes all along the way...give a ways and door prizes. Nick and Courtney were are Bingo Callers {and they did a phenomenal job...had the Jamaicans and Americans in stitches all night!} The thing that blessed my heart the most was the smiles on all the faces...seriously, to see someone get excited over Toilet paper, baskets of food, soda pop, calling cards, batteries...you would of thought they'd been given a million dollars...we were all so humbled by their gratitude! There were smoothies and ice cream for everyone...it was such a precious time! The grand prize was 5 bags of Cement...that Gloria {one of the cooks} won...you would of thought she had been given the world by her response! And then to top it all off...someone anonymously gave 1 bag of cement to EVERYONE who was there...I'm so glad Janna captured the excitement of that announcement on video...it was PRICELESS! I had brought the ONE bracelets {that Joey had given us at church} to pass out to my team. My thought originally was to give 2 to each team member {1 for them to keep, 1 for them to give a way} When we realized that giving things away wasn't going to work, I just held on to them...asking God how they could be used...wouldn't you know there was 41 Jamaicans there tonight and when Bobby and I counted the bracelets...there were exactly 41 in the bag...coincidence??? NOPE! The team lined up in 2 lines outside the courtyard, we prayed over the Jamaicans and as they left we were able to hug each one and give them a bracelet...thanking them for the impact they have had on our lives and the impact they are having here in Harmons...it was Amazing! I SAW GOD AT COURTYARD tonight!

We are all having the time of our lives...God continues to break us and He is molding and shaping us into what He wants us to be! We are learning so much about serving with Joy! Thank you so much for all the encouragement cards...every day, someone is relating a Scripture that someone has given them to how it applies to that day...your words are speaking loudly into our lives!

Love to you all!
~Laci-we've decided to flour Dayton in your honor on Friday...hehehehe!
 Joey-all the Jamaicans are asking about you and several have told me to tell you they are praying for you!

Serving with JOY!
~Amy

Time Stand Still

NOOB in just about every sense of the word...while I wasn't making fun of Dayla, I happened to be nearby at the time, so now I'm writing.  I spent the day with Dayla and Bobby so I did the same things that they did.

This is my first time on a mission trip, I brought my son along as well.  Speaking of being outside of comfort zones...we are both very introverted and much of the work we are doing involves making conversation, not just with people we don't know (we actually aren't terrible at that), but lifestyles we don't know and customs and phrases that we don't know.  Sam is doing outstanding and is getting a lot of positive feedback, I'm very grateful for being able to bring him...thank you Cindy Skeen for your encouragement to come.

I am good at rambling when I write, so I'm going to spare you a little...tonight we were asked how our experience here might be brought home.  So I'm going to send part of it home with sections of a song that has meant a lot to me since Sam was born...I hope you get it.

"Time stand still
Not looking back but I want to look around me now
Time stand still
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer, make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Make each impression a little bit stronger, freeze this moment a little bit longer
The innocence slips away
Summer's going fast, nights getting colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Time stand still"

Fred Taylor

Great to be back here

3rd Day here and I am loving every minute of this trip. This is my second trip and I know I was supposed to be here again. I got to work on the house today which included putting on the first and second coats of concrete, and no I am still not very good at it, even the second time around:) Was VERY blessed today to meet the woman's house we were working on, Tina...She was out helping us as well as giving us fruit, super nice lady, also got to meet her dad, who just totally rocked me....He had 9 children and was very excited to share his stories. Best I cant believe I just saw that moment was when a car pulled up backed in and unloaded 5 goats out of the back of this little car that were hog tied, they were getting ready for the slaughter house...Now there is something you don't see everyday :) Dayton and I led the group discussions this morning thanks to Amy :) always getting people out of their comfort zones. Really loved leading this morning. Also got picked to write this blog since I made the mistake of laughing at Dayla for getting picked. We had kids night this evening where the kids came in and played games and ate ice cream and danced, I got to hang with my little buddy Deneika, who before she left proceeded to write on my hand her name and than a love me heart, I love this little girl!!! I am amazed at everything I learn and get shown everyday that I am here, cannot wait to get back and share stories, defenietely feeling Gods presence this week!

Bobby Gilliland

Philippians 4:13

Answering Prayers and Building Dreams

Can you say that you have been an answer to someone's prayer to God?  After today, I can.  A lady named Tina from Red Berry, Jamaica prayed to God for her own house - just a little house that she can raise her daughter in - nothing grand - it does not even need to have running water or electricity.  Just four walls, a roof, a few windows and two doors in less than 12 ft x 15 ft.  For most Americans, this is smaller than our bedroom.  For Tina, this is a prayer that God has answered after two (2) years of waiting.  After today we are one day closer to giving her a home of her own.  On  Friday, we will give her the keys to her prayers and she will paint her prayer white, with burgandy trim.

God Bless,
Dayla

The mad bladder to the pit of despair.

Gulliver... please, his travels were a breeze compared to my Jamaican trip thus far.  The scenery is enough to have absolutely no doubts that Jamaica is God's country.  The bus ride from the airport to harmony house however, is no hop skip and a jump... especially when you have a full bladder and no relief in sight.  I can gather there are roughly around 3,000 potholes on the windy, curvy, death defying road to Harmons, I know personally, I felt every single one.  But we made it in one piece, what a relief, literally.  On the first night of all new sounds, sights, and our Jamaican adventure, the sunset over the lush green mountain tops was like God saying, "Okay it's time to do my work."  I only wish God could of warned me somehow that my first day's service opportunity would be in the dreaded pit.  The pit is about a 14x20 sized hole that has about 4-6 feet of unwanted limestone that has to be removed in order to build a solid foundation.  Before I had received my work assignment, while eating lunch, I made the mistake of trying a Jamaican soda called Ting.  Ting is a highly acidic, grapefruit flavored soda pop that tasted pretty darn good with my peanut butter and jelly.  Having said that, it did not taste so good coming back up while chucking rocks in the pit.  I then heard a cackle of laughs from the entire Jamaican crew followed by a few, "are you okay mon?"  I eventually got back to work after proper hydration and also got to know my crew members further whenever I felt I needed a break... so every 10 minutes.  I never said I was a sloth but the way those guys worked along side me made it look like I was standing still.  I got to witness the ingenuity of my counterparts when the jackhammer hose punctured on a sharp rock and to watch them fix it was like a grand concerto from Liberace himself.  I was secretly hoping they would give up and call it a day, but no such luck.  Who'd a thunk that flinging big ole rocks around could wear you out?  But anyway, I made it, and now in my blogging reflection phase I would have to admit that I wouldn't trade this experience for the all the american conveniences that we all take for granted rolled in one.  K.I.S.S. keep it simple stupid, and love and life will be but one!!!  Praise Jah my broddas and sistas, one love!

-St. Nick-  

The Cat Lady Returns.

Oh....hey there. What's goin' on, guys? Just kidding. I'm supposed to tell you what's going on....

Okay, anyway. Today's been kind of a long one. After breakfast and our huddle time, we went on a walking tour of the community. Although it's only been six months since the last time I was here, it felt like forever. It took be a while to get readjusted to my surroundings. I forgot how welcoming yet reserved people are towards us in the beginning, how sweet and humid the air smelled, the itchy sting of Courage (the Jamaican's equivalent to poison ivy - but don't worry, the Leaf of Life saved me from it) being rubbed on my arm, but mostly how beautiful not only the island, but the people are. All of the staff and people that we walked by during the tour were saying hello, waving, and even approaching those that they remembered. It's hard to get used to everything, but I guess that's the whole purpose of this trip - to get out of my comfort zone and serve where I'm called. Well, I can assure you I am in no way in my comfort zone. For those of you that know me well, extremes make me uncomfortable. So the fact that I've gone from really cold to extremely hot has indeed taken a toll on me - my skin is seeing sunlight for the first time since August. And I'm getting off course, back to my day. After the tour we had the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the entire world and then were assigned our jobs for the day. I was put with my dad building the house. Luckily, the house isn't at the top of a mountain, like the others have been, but that doesn't make it any less difficult. Over the course of about four and a half hours, we hauled and shoveled (so much more difficult than it looked, my dad was right...) marl, put up the walls for the house, put in the door frames, and cut out/put in the two window frames. Of course with many water breaks, and a few breaks to hang out with kids, eat (or drink..ish) bag juice, and check out chickens. The most challenging part of all of this, in my opinion, was getting on the latter and cutting out the window holes. While the foundation wasn't on a mountain, it was still on a bit of a slope with nothing but rocks around it. This, of course, made having a sturdy latter very difficult. The Jamaicans had no problem with it, but I definitely did. I looked at the man holding it for me and said, "Uhhh....you're expecting me to get on this?!" And what was his reply? A smirk, a giggle, and, "Yeah, man." I then went on about how unsafe this was and how he shouldn't expect me to get any higher than the second step and he just kind of laughed at me. Little did I know, he wanted me to go to the fifth step. Worst. Thing. Ever. Being afraid of heights did nothing to help my case. So all that was left to do was to put my trust into someone I barely knew, who I could hardly understand when he was instructing me on what I was supposed to do. But I think that what God's trying to show me this week. Through thick and thin, fears and failures, I need to learn to put faith in things that I'm not to sure about. He's got my back, no matter what. And when I got off that latter, there was not greater feeling that knowing that I just made a window for this family's new home, and I wasn't afraid anymore. So for the rest of the week, I guess I just won't second guess when God's telling me to put my faith into something. It's time to fully surrender, not halfway, and what better place to do it than Jamaica, right?

And I'll leave you all with a thank you, for all of your prayers and cards. We all really appreciate every single one of you.

Lots of lovesies (especially to you mom, I know you're reading this),

Courtney Buttress / Cat Lady / The Tally Maker

WOW...what a great 1st day here in Harmons. God is really at work in this community. After a much needed nights rest, the morning started with some quiet time, breakfast bar & yummy Jamaican coffee! My group assignment for the day was to help build a house for a lady and her child. The foundation had been poured by a previous team here in Harmons. We passed some buckets of marl and dumped them on the foundation and then helped build the walls. It was amazing to see how it went up. The Jamaicans that worked with us showed a lot of patience as they taught us what to do! I think I could definitely learn something from them! I took some time to play with a couple of little boys that lived on the property. Them and their grandpa took me on a walk in their backyard to see their chickens and pigs. When I started calling the chickens, the boys just looked at me smiled great big! They helped me catch a chicken! Actually felt a little like home! There are lots of chickens here!

This is such an awesome experience, I cant wait to share with those at home. It is a different pace of life being unplugged from the normal day to day "stuff." While I miss Scott, Chase and Ashley like crazy, it is much needed time for me to reflect on what God's desire is for me. I pray that I will take my experience here, home with me and continue His plan for my life.

I am so excited to see whats in store for tomorrow.....

Big hugs & kisses to my family and friends, Love you!  Sarah

safe and sound

...just a quick note to say we have made it to Harmony House safe and sound...I hear a spoons game taking place in the background, if that tells you anything. :) Everyone is settling in, all the bags are unpacked and sorted and the only thing confiscated in customs today was a bag of beef jerky...all is good! Thank you for all the prayers today, we are exhausted but ready for a great week of serving here in Harmons. Keep checking in for stories!