During our month in Jamaica team scraps and wildflowers worked with Pastor Raymond and his wife Sharonia. Our ministry for the month was evangelism, which consisted of going out into the community and forming relationships with locals and sharing the love of Jesus with them while also inviting them to church. Jamaica was one of my favorite countries by far because of the relationships we were able to form and I couldn’t help but want to share these people with you guys! Pictured below are a few of the people we formed relationships with and some of my favorite memories there:
Meet the beautiful people that I got to live with for my month in Jamaica. While staying in Jamaica team Scraps and Wildflowers stayed with Pastor Raymond, his wife Sharonia, Kadian (Sharonia’s soon to be sister-in-law), and with their two kids Daniel and Paul. They welcomed us in their home with incredible hospitality and made us feel at home during our time in Jamaica. Living with our hosts was such a beautiful experience because it felt like one big family. Each night we would have dinner together, cut up around the table, and we’d have occasional family game nights which consisted of cupcakes and ice-cream! This family was so very loving and made our experience in Jamaica wonderful.
This family, wow were they special. Meet the Gayle family, one of my new found families in Jamaica. One day, about a week of being there, a few of my teammates and I walked up the hill past where we were staying and walked up to a snack shop and met this beautiful family. Kirk, the one at the very top of the photo has a recording studio and his sister (not pictured) told us that day that we had to come back and visit again to meet Kirk and to check out his recording studio. Thankfully from that day on we practically lived at their house each evening, forming relationships and making memories that we will never forget!
These girls were such sweethearts and I loved every minute spent with them! Paris, the one to the right of the picture, would run down the hill every afternoon and call our names to come and play.
Off to church we go! Keke, far right, was one of the kindest and happiest kids and loved to come spend time playing with us as well.
Would you just look at this cutie? This little guy is named Ky-Mani! Ky-Mani has the sweetest smile and always welcomed us with showing us his contagious big grin. Ky-Mani was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from birth and His mom, not pictured in the photos, goes above and beyond to take care of little Ky-Mani. The amount of love that they show this little guy is overwhelmingly beautiful and I’m so grateful to have experienced it and to have met them.
Kirk, Tim, Bekah, and I went to the store and bought ingredients to make supper and guess what was on the menu?! The ever so famous Jerk Chicken!! Mrs. Evadne taught us step by step how to make it, so guess who’s bringing home the jerk chicken recipe, THIS GIRL!!
Got my game face on…
Time to EAT! And yes it was the most magical thing I’ve ever tasted… (sorry mom..hehe)
Kyreme, this little kid melted my heart! With his front tooth missing and his little Jamaican accent I couldn’t handle the cuteness overload. The very first week we were in Jamaica Kyreme ran down the hill with Paris and both of them introduced themselves to me, I then proceeded to play a game of tag with them and from that day on they met us at the same spot just about every day, yelling our names for us to come and play with them.
BEACH TIME WITH KADIAN! Quite possibly one of my favorite days in Jamaica, just us girls spending time with each other and beach bumming it! Kadian is super outgoing and funny and she’s so much fun to be around! She’s a FABULOUS nail artist, we know from experience (hehe), and she spends each day helping take care of the house and kids. I loved every minute that I got to spend with this girl!
Each week we formed different groups within our two teams and went out and walked the streets day by day forming relationships with different people. One day Kendra, Jewel, and I were walking and met a guy named Taz. When we first walked up he had the biggest grin on his face and was so very welcoming, we couldn’t help but stop and meet him. Taz is an owner of his own snack stand and wakes up every morning and stands outside his house selling snacks to those who walk by. Kendra, Jewel, and I got to visit with Taz several times throughout our time in Jamaica. Taz loved to talk, and we loved to listen, so we got to hear some of his story and hear what his beliefs were. We also got to pour into him, share scripture with him, and pray over him. I also got to share parts of my testimony with him, sharing with him how with the strength of the Lord we can overcome the power of sin and temptation. Meeting and forming a relationship with Taz was one of my favorite parts of Jamaica and showed me that if you choose to be intentional with those you meet you can make such an impact.
NO BIG DEAL but I’m officially on a gospel track IN JAMAICA! Huge thank you to Aaron Miller and Kirk Gayle for allowing me to be a part of such a beautiful project, I’m beyond honored!
Nothing like some quality team time with the Wildflowers!!
Overall, Jamaica was such a beautiful month. A month to allow the Lord to holy spirit to move through me, a month to see so much fruit in the relationships that were formed, and a month to grow closer to the Father. The Lord placed several people in our paths for us to pour into, but while we poured into them so much love was being poured into us. I will never forget the memories and relationships that I made while in Jamaica. Not a day goes by that I don’t question “how in the world is this my life?!” But I’m sure glad it is!
