Day 12- Sunday, March 17

We left Catadupa yesterday morning, since we finished all the work available to us on Friday, and headed for Negril, Jamaica for a much needed break.  We're staying at hotel that is right on the beach; its nothing luxurious but nice enough.  We walked a mile down the road and went to their straw market.  It has been fun to interact with the locals and see all of their creations and products.  In the evening, we had supper on the beach of our hotel.

Today, we had a private boat tour to the corral reef where we were able to snorkel and see many colorful fish.  In the afternoon, we went to the "world famous" Rick's cafe which is a place that is built up for various heights of cliff jumping.  We had a lot of fun jumping, swimming, and watching others jump.  It's been nice to have this time to spend together and reminisce of all we've seen and done on this trip.  This evening, we went down the beach to a different restaurant which had an all-you-can-eat buffet that we enjoyed.  We're all exhausted after a couple days of site-seeing.  We'll head to Montego Bay tomorrow to position ourselves for our flight home on Tuesday.

We thank you for your continued prayers and support.  We've enjoyed our time here immensely but are definitely looking forward to getting back home.

Jamaica Mission Team

Day 11

Today was our last work day in Catadupa. We finished the fencing around the new basketball court (at least as much as we could do). A few of the fence posts were not in place yet.  We also finished a few projects around the church complex.

This being the last day in Catadupa was difficult for us. We have grown to love the people here. We are in the middle of a rain forest, so there is fruit hanging from many of the banana, coconut and mango trees along our mile walk to the school where the athletic field is located. Most days start out a little cool, but by 10:00 am we have all worked up a pretty good sweat. On our way back home, some of us stop at the spring for a cool, refreshing shower. The past few days, there has been short rain storms just before supper.

This evening we took part in some cross cultural training sessions led by our leader, John Sanny. A group from “Experience Missions” joined us for a great time of laughter and being engaged in the training.

Tomorrow, we will be heading off to the town of Negril. We will greatly miss the people of Catadupa.

Thank you all so much for praying for us and supporting us. Each member of our group has had a blessed time here and we are eager to actually show you some pictures of our experiences here in Catadupa. God bless you all.

Wade Nelson
Jamaica Mission Team

Day 10

Today we helped put up eight foot high fence around the basketball court. We cut the post off then put the top rail on.  Then we put 150 feet of fence on. We got back to the church and it started to rain.

Michael Christophel
Jamaica Mission Team

Day 9

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!  The Jamaica team greets you again from the island paradise.

Each day, the temperatures are cool in the morning (68) and by 10:00 am, the sun and the humidity are out in full force. The temperatures in the afternoon are in the mid to upper 80’s. We hear about ‘snow bombs’ and torrential rains back home. Fear not, we will be joining in all the fun by next week when we return to ML.

Today we finished the road (long driveway) from the main road to the back part of the church property. Roger and Brent moved a few more banana trees to a different location so we could finish the driveway. In the afternoon, we all worked on odd jobs around the church property. For example, with power tools being non-existent, we take an hour (with 4 men) to rip an eight foot 2x4 with a dull saw. But that is the norm here in Jamaica.

We had a wonderful fried chicken supper, followed by a teaching by our Servanteer leader, John Sanny.   Mike Nelson shared his testimony and we finished with a time of prayer.

The sun has set over the mountains and the usual cool breeze begins to blow. We value your prayers as we continue to work here and interact with the people of Catalupa. God bless you all richly out of  His storehouse of amazing grace and mercy!

Wade Nelson
Jamaica Mission Team

Day 8

For those who won’t get to the bottom, here is an abbreviated version.

Woke up, weather was humid and sunny with some clouds, had devotions, consumed breakfast, received work assignments, devoured lunch, worked some more, free time (spring, playing cards), had supper, debriefed, went to Tuesday evening fellowship, went to bed.

To those who will make it through this entire post.

This morning was the start of a new day, yet it began like any other day here in Jamaica, sunny and warm. The team woke up, spruced up their sleeping arrangements, and then had devotional time. We often scatter all over the church when we wish to read and reflect, but when the time rolls around we all reconvene at the breakfast table for morning muster. John led us in our Bible Bullet this morning and we had a treat in the form of corn meal porridge.

Once we finished breakfast we prepared ourselves for the coming work day. Due to our victory over Anna’s house, we were energized to continue our work on our new project, the athletic field. However, we were told that the field wasn’t ready for us, but they relocated our efforts to the church.

Pastor Gordon was recently able to purchase a plot of land next door which needed some hands on work. Our number was then split as some hands began working on the land others assisted Rose, our supervisor, in the assembly of his brand new tiller. He was very excited to get it running and he was quick to use it on the plot to create a garden plot in a piece of it. Pastor Gordon was so excited when he saw it he raced to grab his sweet corns seeds to plant a patch. Naturally, Coach Nelson jumped at the chance to assist.

Lunch time came around and we enjoyed a meal of cheeseburgers with fixings. We appreciated the taste of home and discussed the next portion of the job. Michael was asking if he could do some small repairs around the school including fixing toilets, doors, and fencing. The rest of the crew began working on leveling a road for future cementing. It required digging up roots, rocks, and more buckets of dirt being carried elsewhere. Some of our number even helped to replant a few banana trees that were in our way.

When the work was concluded for the day, we were surprised by some ice cream from our hosts. Afterward, we scattered for free time including walking to the spring to cool off, playing Uno and other card games and calling home for a few minutes for updates (Rain....Really).

We gathered again when it was supper time and we ate some fried bananas, corned beef mash, and mixed vegetables, with a side of PB&J. We debriefed and then entered the church to join in with the Fellowship Service. We listened to some testimonies and sang more songs for much longer than it felt before it ended and the churchgoers went home. This took us to nine o’clock and we all agreed it was time for bed to be prepared for another day of work.

Hope that all your basements are still dry or at least that your pumps work and you’ll hear from us again soon.

With best wishes,
Andrew Fast
Jamaica Mission Team

Day 7

Went to the house today to pour the concrete floor.  First the bigger rocks had to be leveled and then we had to go up the hill and dig up sand and carry it down to the house . Then you level the gravel so it was four inches below the string. The young men then mixed the cement and we carried it in pails inside the house.

Went to the springs to take a nice cold shower. Then relaxed the rest of the day. 

Michael Christophel
Jamaica Mission Team

Day 6

Today we got to worship with the locals. Sunday school started at 10:30 followed by church at 11:30. Church was loud and lots of music with pastor Leroy giving a sermon on delayed blessings. After lunch we hiked for a tour of the Croydon in the mountains plantation. 

Day 5

Today began as normal with private devotions from 7:00-7:30, followed by a Bible bullet, prayer and breakfast.  At 8:30 we began the 1.25 mile walk to the worksite. We finished hauling the rock up the hillside while final preparations to the roof forms were completed. 

Rose, the foreman of the project brought in his own concrete mixing crew of three. Pastor Leroy stopped by with the gloves and helped as well.  The concrete mixing took place on an open flat spot where the combination of the black river sand, white rock, cement and water were mixed together. Once mixed we lined up people to form a bucket brigade and began hoisting soupy concrete up on the roof.

We took a short break for lunch where we were served cheeseburgers. The crew especially loved the lunch!!! 

We finished with the concrete and then hit the road for the 1.25 mile hike back at about 1:30 pm, an early but welcome end to the workday.  We all walked down to the “springs” to shower and some washed clothes.  Once cleaned up several walked to a local soccer game.  We then had a Bible bullet and prayer followed by dinner.  After dinner John led a class with daily debrief, songs and a lesson.  Everyone was dismissed for the evening.

Day 3 and Day 4

How would you like to live where the temperature is 85 every day and 68 every night?  Where your front yard has a few banana trees and mangoes in the back?  When you look out your front window you see mountains and palm trees?  This is Catalupa, Jamaica. Our group is staying in a church complex which also has an elementary school attached. We walk everywhere we need to go.
The past two days, Thursday and Friday, we walked a mile and a half to our project.

There is a woman named “Annie” who has worked at the church and at the school as a cook for many years. She has raised her family in a very small house. She is in the process of building another house next to her present home. This will be a cement block home with a concrete roof. This will be a great upgrade for her.

Where we are, everything is hand labor. We spent the last two days hauling sand and gravel from piles next to the road up the steep hill to where the new home is being constructed. What would have taken a truck to drop a load of sand and gravel in a construction site back home, has taken us two grueling days to move all the material and set the forms for pouring the concrete roof.

The people of the town have been welcoming and seemingly always happy. These people know how to work!  Keep praying that we would stay healthy and make a positive impact for Jesus Christ as we continue to meet new people and become engaged in their lives.

We have heard news of an impending snow storm for SW MN. We would be happy to send a little of our heat your way if that was possible. God bless you all!!

Day 1 and 2

Day 1 (March 5):

We met at the church at 2:15 am MN time and despite slight engine trouble with the van (it wouldn’t start) we were able to leave soon after with a packed van. We arrived at the terminal and checked our bags before zooming through security. We had nearly a half an hour before our flight boarded and before we knew it we were off. The flight took only an hour and we were on our next plane within fifteen minutes. The second plane leg was four hours long but it was on a larger airplane and we had more open seats. We arrived in Jamaica at 2 pm and had a quick lunch since most of our party had missed breakfast before continuing to our temporary home. The weather was significantly warmer than in Minnesota (85F) including humidity and a very bright sun. There are beautiful foliage and trees, roads are bumpy and winding, and the people are very friendly. Driving is packed and liberally sprinkled with honking horns and street salesmen. The Christian Fellowship Church was prepared for our arrival and welcomed us with open doors and a hot meal of chicken stew, rice, and vegetable mix. We set up our sleeping arrangements since we all were feeling a little worn from our travels and almost everyone turned in early for bed.

Day 2 (March 6):

We woke up to the sound of roosters crowing. Near six in the morning, the sun was bright and there was a slow cool breeze. After a brief devotional, a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bananas, and coffee was served. Today was Ash Wednesday, which is a national holiday here in Jamaica (meaning no work for us), so we discussed what to do with our day. John gave us a tour of his earlier projects which he had completed with prior teams. Upon our return, we had a lunch of grilled cheese and watermelon. We agreed to stay in playing card games and relaxing in preparation for the upcoming week’s work. Supper was rice and pasta topped by mystery meat and vegetables on the side. This was then followed by devotions and singing as a group before all retreated to bed.

Sincerely,

Andrew Fast
The Jamaican Mission Team

Leaving Mountain Lake

The team took off early this morning, March 5, for Jamaica. Please be in prayer for them.

Back row from L to R: Brent Therkilsen, Dilly Rodney, Roger Winker, and Andrew Fast.
Front row from L to R: Mike Christophel, Mike Nelson, Wade Nelson.
Joining the team in the Cities is John Sanny and Joel Peterson