Work Team

We were blessed to have the Bethel Youth Group from Holmes County, OH at JRM last week. There were 32 in the group, and they got a lot of work done in a short amount of time!

They built a storage shed here at JRM on Monday. The foundation was in, but that is all. Some of the group worked in the banana patch picking up rocks to fill in the foundation before the floor was poured. It was hard, hot work pushing wheelbarrows full of rocks up the hill, but they were willing workers. 

The metal didn't come in time for them to finish the roof.

There was also lots of painting done. There was painting done in/on every building on the grounds.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, they split up. Some of the girls went along to Blossom Gardens, while some of the guys built a new house for a family at Mt. Pelier. Others stayed at JRM to finish the painting projects. They also "remodeled" the tree house, and beefed up the diving board for the pool.

On Thursday they had devotions at 3 schools, then passed out tracts in Sam Sharpe Square downtown. In the afternoon they visited the residents of the infirmary. Friday was a day for fun and relaxation, and Saturday it was eerily quiet around here again. :)

We really enjoyed having them here. Our girls especially enjoyed making new friends and getting some extra attention.

One of the trees burst into color this week.

The sign of the week is a Toyota vehicle. I am guessing that Toyota will be quickly looking to rename this vehicle. Until then, do not be concerned when I say that ISIS is on the streets in Montego Bay.

We are looking forward to having family here later this week, and hopefully we will have a new staff member arrive next week. Thank you for your interest in what is happening in Jamaica. Keep praying for us as we serve the children of Jamaica.
Kevin

Family Time

March continues the visitors season. We enjoyed hosting family this time. My sister Renita, her husband Dave Yoder, and their four boys (Josh, Drew, Austin, & Jordan) came to visit us the beginning of the month. The cousins had a grand time together swimming, playing, and goofing off.

They made their fabulous doughnuts for us one evening.

 One day we went to YS Falls, then to Negril to watch the divers at Rick's Cafe. The platform the diver is jumping from is 85 feet from the water. On top of the stone wall is a platform at 35 feet that anyone can jump off of. One day, I will do it.

We really enjoyed having them here, and hope to see them in Jamaica again! :)

Olivia celebrated her 4th birthday on March 8. She loved the princess dress she got, and the princess cake that Carrie made.

We also said goodbye to Clarissa Orendorf. She had served at JRM for 3 months. She will be missed.

The kids had nerd day at school recently.

A group from Fayetteville St. Christian School in North Carolina came to visit JRM one afternoon.

Sunday evening was "water night" at Awana. Everyone was soaked, but they had fun.

The girls have been going to Youth With A Mission (YWAM) every Tuesday evening for a dance class. It was a class for missionary kids, and they had looked forward to it every week. Last week they had a recital.

The class with their teacher, Miss Michelle.

We had a pizza party afterwards. It was the last night with their friend Ayla, whose family was moving back to the States the next day. We will miss the Doyle family, but we bless them as they follow God's leading.

The sign of the week comes from the parish of St. Elizabeth, close to YS Falls. Do you think it is ok to speed if you don't want to spend time with your family?

Also seen on the road to YS Falls. The scenery never changed for the three guys in the back.

Continue to keep us in your prayers! We appreciate your interest in the work at JRM! Pray the God would be glorified, and that we could build His Kingdom here in Jamaica.
Be blessed!
Kevin

Visitor Season

January and February are definitely visitor season at JRM! In January, we had 4 days without company, and in February we had 2 such days. We have been enjoying having family around, and getting to know new people. Carrie's mom came the end of January and stayed with us for five weeks. It went by very fast, too fast! Carrie's siblings, Josh and Audrey came toward the end of her stay to spend some time here.

Tammie's whole family was also here for a week. We enjoyed spending time with them as well. They did quite a few projects around here, and helped us out quite a bit.

Becca's sister and brother in law, Kristina & Aaron Yoder were on the island during the same time. They spent several evenings with us, treating us to their fabulous, huge doughnuts!

And during all this, there were 2 work groups building houses for needy families. We had everyone (around 50 in all) here at JRM for a dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 18. One work group was from Yoder's Building Supply in Fair Play, SC. The other group was from Team Construction in Goshen, Indiana. They were able to help 3 families with their housing needs. The evening of the dinner, we had Brian Burke here to lead us in some worship music, then Pastor Andrew Pryce shared his testimony with us. It is a powerful story of what God can do in a person's life!

While Carrie's family was here, we took off one day and went to YS Falls. It is a beautiful place! We rode a tractor & wagon through some pastureland back up into the hills where the falls are.

A tree with a hole in it.

It truly is a piece of paradise.

It was a fun day, and we could have easily stayed longer.

One evening we decided to have dinner on the roof.

We thoroughly enjoyed having family around, and are looking forward to having more family come soon.

Spring is here! The weather has definitely warmed up (from the 70s to the 80s) in the past week.

Sign of the week:  Who wouldn't want to eat at a "low budget kitchen?"

Continue to pray for us! We now have our children's home license from CDA, so we are an official children's home. Pray for wisdom as we set goals, care plans, and look at how to best help the children in our care.

Thank you for taking an interest in what is happening in our lives and at JRM!
Until next time,
Kevin