HOPE to JAMAICA
(and
JAMAICA RETURNS the FAVOR)
Written by Bill Warner, Hope
Lutheran, River Falls
Spring Break 2011,
Nineteen members of Hope Lutheran Church in River Falls, headed south
to Montego Bay, Jamaica to serve at Robin's Nest Children's Home and
Melody House orphanges. This intergenerational group was blessed to
share a week of intense work projects, emotions, and connections with
the children and staff.
Several experienced
Jamaica mission travelers helped organize the many logistical
challenges of fundraising, transporting supplies, and arranging
customary international travel details for team members.
The group was amazed at
the skill of our bus drivers as they navigated the rough and narrow
roads of the hilly St. James Parish countryside. The hospitality of
our lodging hosts and cooks at Fairhaven, a downtown Montego Bay
villa, was remarkable. The smiles and waves of school children and
construction workers along our bus route continue to warm our hearts
even after our return.
But perhaps the deepest
impressions were given to us by the children and staff at Robin's
Nest and Melody House. Even in a setting with severely limited
resources, the bright light of their friendliness, cultural and
national pride, and positive attitudes was the surest testimony to
the presence of Christ and our common humanity.
The Robin's Nest staff asked Hope's Jamaica team to
paint a map of the US and Jamaica on their playground wall so the
children can see where their visitors are from. River Falls is shown
on the map and future groups will be asked to identify their locations
as well.
Teams tackled several
improvement projects around the Nest property including painting
beautiful murals, refurbishing shelves and cabinets, painting and
installing new doors and windows, framing and tiling bath enclosures,
and working with the children at preschool and recreation time.
Robin's Nest Children's
Home was founded in 1997 by Michelle Robinette of St. Paul, MN. More
deails and photos about the Nest, how to sponsor a child, and other
trip opportunities are available at www.robinsnestchildrenshome.org or on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Robins-Nest-Childrens-Home/363292092357.
