New Year, New update

Writing this blog is kind of like organizing your desk, or balancing the checkbook. You know it needs to be done, but it is easy to put off. Then as time goes on, it starts looking a little overwhelming because it has been neglected so long. I do enjoy writing though, so it is not as much of a chore as cleaning up a disorganized mess.

We finally took another group picture in January, but with the way things change quickly here, it is already out-dated.

The last time I wrote was before Christmas. We had a wonderful time with our JRM family. We had sponsors who sent Christmas gifts on the container that we got earlier in December. Thanks to all of you who participated!

Some of Amber's family came to visit after Christmas, so we took advantage of their construction skills. We started a project of building a new nursery and sick room. Our current nursery had as many as 4 baby cribs in a space that was meant to be a hallway, so we thought it was time to have a bigger nursery.

It is now in the process of being painted, so we are almost ready to put it in use.

We also went to visit Mr. Ramford while they were here. We always enjoy seeing his farm, and he is eager to share his fruit, vegetables, and vast wisdom of which kind of plant is good for what.

The Skyline youth group from Canon City, Colorado was here for a week in January. They built a house for a family, and did some other small projects. They spent a day in Montego Bay doing some street ministry, and visiting several schools. We enjoyed having them here, and they were a blessing to JRM.

Jasmine, Chloe, Sierra, and Olivia have been going to French class and Kung Fu class on Saturdays at the church. They have been stretching their brains and their muscles! They recently started ballet classes as well, along with some of the children from JRM.

The annual associate board meeting is always the first weekend in February, and it is a big event for us. This year we were blessed to have 6 young ladies come to do all the cooking. We started the weekend with a work day at JRM on Thursday.

In the evening we had a banquet dinner, followed by some music and verses from the children and aunties at JRM.  We had a time of worship, then Pastor Andrew Pryce had an encouraging message for us.

Friday was the board meeting, then on Saturday we had a "fun day" in the Mt. Pelier community. This consisted of various stations for the children, such as face painting, ring toss, photo booth, card making, etc.

The school teachers cooked lunch as a fundraiser for the Blackburn Learning Centre.

We had family come to visit. Marcus (Carrie's brother) and Andrea and their son Bennett, along with Andrea's parents, Dannie & Laura Gingerich came to JRM for a week. We thoroughly enjoyed having them here, and the time went way too fast!

We visited YS Falls while they were here.

They also did lots of work around here. Marcus built a table from wood that was cut from the JRM property. They also did lots of landscape work and maintenance items.

We visited Mr. Ramford, and we tried star apple for the first time.

We found a car for when the girls start driving...

Emma and Bennett were together every waking hour.

Our gardener (also named Marcus) burned some charcoal for us. This is quite a process. First he piled up the dry wood, then he covered it with freshly cut branches and grass. Then everything was covered with dirt. We had to add more dirt, because as it settled, and we actually had fire coming out of the pile one morning when we checked it. After letting it "cook" for 3 days, it was uncovered and cooled. Some of the big pieces that didn't burn all the way through were put back in for round 2. It was an interesting process to watch.

Our goat herd also multiplied. The four mother goats each had twins, so we have 8 little kids running around. Joe the farmer has been busy!

We also had other changes with the staff and children. We had 3 children leave since I wrote last. We currently have 8 children, but we are expecting a call any day to have more children placed with us.

We said goodbye to Novella a few weeks ago. She served as an auntie for 1 year, and we miss her. Thank you Novella for serving and giving!

Marita arrived from Ohio and will be serving as an auntie.

Pray for JRM as we face all these transitions. Change is never easy, especially for the children. They have done well though, and I am sure it is because of all the prayers.

Also, a big thank you to those who made it possible for Carrie and I to attend the Inspire and Men of Valor conferences in Indiana. We really appreciate your generosity!

I will share several signs since it has been so long since I wrote.

I always enjoy when they write signs in Patois:

This is one of my all time favorites:

Thank you all for your support and prayers!
Kevin

A December to Remember

This month has given us many memorable experiences, and there are still a few days before Christmas.

A 40' shipping container was packed in Minnesota in early November and shipped to Kingston, Jamaica. This container was being sent through JRM since all the items were for charitable causes, and some of the items were specifically for us here. The customs broker had told me that it would be good if we were at the port when the container was "stripped." This is where they unload everything and inspect the items to verify what is coming in. 

So, one morning I got a call saying that the container is being stripped that morning. We quickly re-arranged our schedule, and I started for Kingston along with a fellow missionary friend Paul Barton, who also had items on the container. We arrived at the wharf after noon and met the broker's clerk, but our container was not at the dock. They had trouble locating it, and by the time they found it, the dock was full. When a spot opened up, they brought the container up and parked it, but it was 4pm by then, and time to close for the day.

So we had to decide whether to stay in Kingston, or travel back to Montego Bay, and return to Kingston in the morning. The clerk offered us a place to stay with him, so we ended up doing that. He was a gracious host, preparing us dinner and breakfast. He gave us a tour of the neighborhood, and we felt like we were among friends. Thanks Rodney for the hospitality!

The container was unpacked throughout the day, and the inspector finished up in the late afternoon. They just started re-loading the container when it was time to close again. Inspection was over, and we decided two days of sitting in a warehouse in Kingston was enough.

Over the same time, we had a group of retirees arrive from Wellman Mennonite Church in Wellman, Iowa. Joe's brother, Dean Shetler had arranged for a group of friends to spend some time in Jamaica. They did quite a bit of hard work during their time at JRM. The re-sided a building at Mt. Pelier, replaced some rotten wood above the main entrance at JRM, and filled holes in the road outside the gate.

I still think about how much smoother the road is every time I drive over it. Thank you!

We also had several other guests this month. Daniel & June Pollard spent a night at JRM. We got to know them when I spent some time in New York 15 years ago with Choice Books. It was wonderful to connect with them again.

JD & Julia Miller also spent a week here. They served at JRM for 3 years (I think 2005-2008), so they enjoyed re-connecting with old friends all over the island. We enjoyed getting to know them, and hearing about their experiences.

We were surprised to see David & Melanie Graybill last week when they stopped in to visit one day. They were also in New York when I lived there. It was wonderful to see them again.

Former auntie Becca Graber came to visit for several days, along with her boyfriend Kyle Quill. They blessed us in many ways, including Kyle replacing a torn belt in the bus.

December means lots of Christmas dinners.

The Child Development Agency held a dinner in Kingston for all the residential children's homes. Carrie & I made another trip to Kingston to attend this event. We stayed overnight again, but this time we made prior arrangements for lodging. :)  It was a very nice event, and we felt honored to represent JRM, and all the people who have made it the success it is today.

It was great to get away for a bit. We calculated that it must have been 3 1/2 years since just the two of us spent a night away.

We hosted a Christmas dinner at JRM for the Child Development Agency workers in our region, and for the workers at Blossom Gardens. We had an enjoyable evening. The children sang several songs for everyone.

 The aunties were all able to attend the Christmas dinner at Blossom Gardens this year.

We had a potluck style church Christmas dinner at Baylife Baptist. It was nice to interact with church people in a different setting than the Sunday morning service.

This past Sunday after church, we joined others from Baylife Baptist at the St. James Infirmary. We passed out bags with practical items for the residents, food, toiletries, etc. It was a good opportunity for the children to give to others instead of just receiving.

Then, the container again. After taking 2+ weeks going through the customs process, it was finally released. It was trucked from Kingston to Negril, where its final resting place would be. We took a truck to Negril to load our things. In the container were 300 bikes to be given away to children across the island. Word had spread, and when we got there, there were at least 30 children lined up, expecting a free bike. We had to explain many times that we were only there to load some things, and the bike distribution was being done by someone else. We waited to start loading until the police arrived to help us keep order.

We had to keep order at JRM too when we were unloading. :)

We were blessed with many items that we needed. Thank you to all who contributed to the cause, and made it happen. Many of the children's Christmas gifts came with this as well, so thanks to all who sponsored them.

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Kevin

Sign of the month:

This advertisement speaks well of the quality of the product, but no so well of the quality of the Jamaican roads.