These were the parting words that Phoebe would give us last year every time we left her presence.
Last year we left hoping beyond hope that these two little girls who had stolen our hearts would at least somewhat remember us when we came back.
This year, they not only greeted us with shouts of excitement, but we were instantly welcomed back into their family, and have created a bond that goes much deeper than mere friendship.
Little did we know when we arrived on the island and established our theme of being Jesus to people, that our greatest mission would be being Jesus to a two and a three-year-old, and their extremely busy parents. Some days it was difficult to wake up and dress, feed, bathe, and entertain these two girls all day until we got them ready for bed and read Jonah and the Big Fish before we said prayers and said good-night. But God has taught us more through these two little girls and their family then we ever could have imagined.
We fly back to America tomorrow and we would greatly appreciate your prayers and support as we come back and strive to continue the life-changes that God has put on our hearts this summer. The last 2 months(ish) have flown by, but we pray that the lessons learned would be permanently ingrained in us and that you who have read this blog have gotten a taste of our experiences.
And don't forget that a more detailed story account of our adventure here will be (hopefully!) published in the memoir. If you're interested in a copy, please email Betsy at nahgwan@gmail.com.
We are leaving the pigeons behind, and our scratching on this part of the world has ended for a time, but God will continue to faithfully scratch on hearts as we seek His will for our futures. Jamaica has made its impact on us forever - we're sad to say goodbye.
But we know that, just like Phoebe and Danae remembered us, we will not forget our time here and we will look back on the memories made and lessons learned with heartfelt excitement because of the deep bonds created. We may leave with tears in our eyes but we'll always return with open arms.
It's time to say "Goodbye my Kingston. Goodbye my Knockpatrick. Goodbye my JDV. I love you."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
With Love, From Me, To You
Please forgive us for our lack of updates. The last two and a half Weeks flew by before we realized it.
Last week we were at the Jamaica Deaf Village, living with Damion and Felicia Campbell. We took care of their three kids (along with some others), helped with VBS, helped with Speech class, and taught sign language to the missionary family.
This week we are back at the Knockpatrick campus with a team from Rachel's home town as well as a team from GA. We work with Erin in the mornings and then go with the St. Louis team to do Child Evangelism Fellowship at an outlying church in the afternoons.
As probably anyone could tell you who has gone away on a long trip, some of the best things we get are letters from home. We want to say a big "Thank You!" to everyone who has written to us (via snail mail or email), sent us packages, or commented on our blog.
It all started the second week. We were working in the office in Kingston and Ms. Leanora handed Rachel two envelopes! One was from her mom. She opened it to find an expandable letter banner that spelled out "YOU ROCK" - she's kept it in our room ever since. The second was from a family friend that had a picture of Rachel and her friend, as well as a newspaper clipping of important Jamaican news. It's nice to know that things like that trigger people's minds to us and encourages them to let us know!
About two weeks later, Betsy got something in the mail, but it was just a packet of schoolwork that she had requested from a professor. That same day, Rachel got a letter from home that included a couple of pictures. She was happy to see pictures of things that have been going on while she's been away.
We arrived at JDV and Mark White handed Betsy an envelope at dinner. She wasn't expecting any mail yet. But inside was a special "I'm thinking of you" card from her mom. It was exactly what Betsy needed that day.
Then just a couple days ago, here at KP again, we were piling into a van to go to CEF for the afternoon when Erin handed Betsy 2 envelopes! She examined the post marks of each so that she would know which to open first. The first one was another card from her mom, but this one was extra special. Inside were individual notes from the members of her mom's sign language group - all of whom have become good friends with Betsy.
The second card was extra EXTRA special - it was from Betsy's dog! Another "I'm thinking about you" card. Betsy's mom said that Minuette picked it out herself. :)
But the best one of all was the huge care package that came to us through the St. Louis team. With joint gifts from both our mom's and one of Rachel's best friends, we were super excited to find candy, snacks, notes, colored pencils, contact solution, comic strips, and various other things. It was like Christmas wading through all of it!
So thanks again to everyone who has corresponded with us while we've been here. We've only got two more weeks, so don't send any more mail now, but feel free to email! We love you all!
Last week we were at the Jamaica Deaf Village, living with Damion and Felicia Campbell. We took care of their three kids (along with some others), helped with VBS, helped with Speech class, and taught sign language to the missionary family.
This week we are back at the Knockpatrick campus with a team from Rachel's home town as well as a team from GA. We work with Erin in the mornings and then go with the St. Louis team to do Child Evangelism Fellowship at an outlying church in the afternoons.
As probably anyone could tell you who has gone away on a long trip, some of the best things we get are letters from home. We want to say a big "Thank You!" to everyone who has written to us (via snail mail or email), sent us packages, or commented on our blog.
It all started the second week. We were working in the office in Kingston and Ms. Leanora handed Rachel two envelopes! One was from her mom. She opened it to find an expandable letter banner that spelled out "YOU ROCK" - she's kept it in our room ever since. The second was from a family friend that had a picture of Rachel and her friend, as well as a newspaper clipping of important Jamaican news. It's nice to know that things like that trigger people's minds to us and encourages them to let us know!
About two weeks later, Betsy got something in the mail, but it was just a packet of schoolwork that she had requested from a professor. That same day, Rachel got a letter from home that included a couple of pictures. She was happy to see pictures of things that have been going on while she's been away.
We arrived at JDV and Mark White handed Betsy an envelope at dinner. She wasn't expecting any mail yet. But inside was a special "I'm thinking of you" card from her mom. It was exactly what Betsy needed that day.
Then just a couple days ago, here at KP again, we were piling into a van to go to CEF for the afternoon when Erin handed Betsy 2 envelopes! She examined the post marks of each so that she would know which to open first. The first one was another card from her mom, but this one was extra special. Inside were individual notes from the members of her mom's sign language group - all of whom have become good friends with Betsy.
The second card was extra EXTRA special - it was from Betsy's dog! Another "I'm thinking about you" card. Betsy's mom said that Minuette picked it out herself. :)
But the best one of all was the huge care package that came to us through the St. Louis team. With joint gifts from both our mom's and one of Rachel's best friends, we were super excited to find candy, snacks, notes, colored pencils, contact solution, comic strips, and various other things. It was like Christmas wading through all of it!
So thanks again to everyone who has corresponded with us while we've been here. We've only got two more weeks, so don't send any more mail now, but feel free to email! We love you all!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
A Halfway Point Picture Review
Well, this blog wouldn't let us upload the pictures through the Internet connection that we had, so we made the picture post at this blog - www.xanga.com/jamaicamecrazy08. Check it out there, but you can comment on either one. Enjoy!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Betsy and Rachel's Infirmary
Since we arrived at Knockpatrick we have had the task of watching many children in the nursery. During the week of camp, though, ages 3 and up went to the children's program and we were left with only 5 kids under the age of 2. Of those 5 kids though, 5 were sick. How we are still alive, I don't know.
Caleb has a cold.
Danae has a virus.
Shania has a throat problem.
Roseanne needed medicine for...something.
and Ashley went from "just a cold" to "just throwing up."
A few days later (after we had banned Ashley from the nursery because she was throwing up) we realized she had a much bigger problem. There were peculiar red bumps all over her face and arms and she was scratching endlessly.
"Um...I think she has the chicken pox." I said.
We went around trying to find someone more in charge than us to tell about this new predicament, and finally I found someone who could go find Ashley's mom. Also, we told Phyllis Jones who is the wife of the head of the organization that we are working with.
Simone, Ashley's mom, came into the nursery.
"Is Ashley alright?" she asked.
I quickly explained about my diagnoses. Simone shook her head.
"No, it's just bug bites. It's just bug bites."
"But she's been really sick for a long time now - those are also symptoms of the chicken pox."
"It's just bug bites," she assured me.
Then Mrs. Jones came in. She looked at Ashley.
"It might just be bug bites," she said.
I explained my theory again.
"What did the doctor say when you took her because she was throwing up?" Mrs. Jones asked Simone.
Simone said that she hadn't taken her to the doctor yet.
"Well, we are going right now," Mrs. Jones said. "It might be the chicken pox, or it might just be bug bites, but she's been too sick. It's better to be safe than sorry."
So we packed Ashley up and sent her out with her mom and Mrs. Jones. Then we immediately disinfected the entire nursery, knowing that if Ashley did have the chicken pox, it was too late to keep the other babies from being exposed.
Later that evening, Simone came back. Ashley has the chicken pox.
So, we started off with "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Kitchen, what may we serve you today?" and moved to "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Day-Care, who can we watch for you today?" and now we have arrived at "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Infirmary, what can we diagnose for you today?"
Caleb has a cold.
Danae has a virus.
Shania has a throat problem.
Roseanne needed medicine for...something.
and Ashley went from "just a cold" to "just throwing up."
A few days later (after we had banned Ashley from the nursery because she was throwing up) we realized she had a much bigger problem. There were peculiar red bumps all over her face and arms and she was scratching endlessly.
"Um...I think she has the chicken pox." I said.
We went around trying to find someone more in charge than us to tell about this new predicament, and finally I found someone who could go find Ashley's mom. Also, we told Phyllis Jones who is the wife of the head of the organization that we are working with.
Simone, Ashley's mom, came into the nursery.
"Is Ashley alright?" she asked.
I quickly explained about my diagnoses. Simone shook her head.
"No, it's just bug bites. It's just bug bites."
"But she's been really sick for a long time now - those are also symptoms of the chicken pox."
"It's just bug bites," she assured me.
Then Mrs. Jones came in. She looked at Ashley.
"It might just be bug bites," she said.
I explained my theory again.
"What did the doctor say when you took her because she was throwing up?" Mrs. Jones asked Simone.
Simone said that she hadn't taken her to the doctor yet.
"Well, we are going right now," Mrs. Jones said. "It might be the chicken pox, or it might just be bug bites, but she's been too sick. It's better to be safe than sorry."
So we packed Ashley up and sent her out with her mom and Mrs. Jones. Then we immediately disinfected the entire nursery, knowing that if Ashley did have the chicken pox, it was too late to keep the other babies from being exposed.
Later that evening, Simone came back. Ashley has the chicken pox.
So, we started off with "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Kitchen, what may we serve you today?" and moved to "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Day-Care, who can we watch for you today?" and now we have arrived at "Welcome to Betsy and Rachel's Infirmary, what can we diagnose for you today?"
Sunday, July 6, 2008
We're Still Alive!
Last Monday we said good-bye to all of our Kingston friends and piled into a bus with some of the teachers to go to the Knockpatrick campus. The teachers had teacher training as well as Red Cross training, and we were going to help out where we were needed.
Betsy was excited to arrive because the team that was at Knockpatrick was one she had met two years ago and she was able to reconnect with some old friends. Both of us spent the week taking care of the children of the teachers while their parents were in classes all day long. In the evenings, once the parents were out of teacher training, we joined with our friend Kristi to teach sign language classes. Kristi, an interpreter from Ohio, focused on the higher level signing with the wife of the missionary couple here at Knockpatrick. We were able to teach beginning sign language to a couple of the boys on the work team who soon became good friends.
We had to say good-bye to that team early on Friday morning, but were soon making preparations for two work teams, a group from Grenada, a group from St. Vincent, as well as Jamaicans from all over the country who were coming to participate in camp.
In the middle of the day we realized that it was July 4th! Keri, the wife and mother of the missionary family here at Knockpatrick, invited us over to their apartment at night for a make-shift celebration. We were there with Erin, another long-term missionary here, and a deaf Jamaican who works in the kitchen. We had a nice evening of sharing stories while drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies. There were no fireworks, but we decided we could wait until August when Jamaica will be celebrating its Independence Day with extravagance.
Now all the new people are here and eagerly awaiting camp's official opening tomorrow morning. Our job will be to take care of the kids who are too young to fully appreciate the camp activities.
Please be praying for our patience as we attempt to control and entertain a large group of kids. We also need patience for times when our jobs are vague and communication is difficult. Also be praying for all the students and visitors who are here for camp. We had the opportunity to share the gospel with one young man the other night, and there are many more like him who might be confused or unsure about salvation. Pray for their understanding and open hearts as well as our ability to take advantage of conversation opportunities.
Sometimes the little kids can teach us the most profound things:
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need, tell Him what you need.
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need right now.
Some want silver, some want gold,
But I want Jesus in my soul
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need right now.
Betsy was excited to arrive because the team that was at Knockpatrick was one she had met two years ago and she was able to reconnect with some old friends. Both of us spent the week taking care of the children of the teachers while their parents were in classes all day long. In the evenings, once the parents were out of teacher training, we joined with our friend Kristi to teach sign language classes. Kristi, an interpreter from Ohio, focused on the higher level signing with the wife of the missionary couple here at Knockpatrick. We were able to teach beginning sign language to a couple of the boys on the work team who soon became good friends.
We had to say good-bye to that team early on Friday morning, but were soon making preparations for two work teams, a group from Grenada, a group from St. Vincent, as well as Jamaicans from all over the country who were coming to participate in camp.
In the middle of the day we realized that it was July 4th! Keri, the wife and mother of the missionary family here at Knockpatrick, invited us over to their apartment at night for a make-shift celebration. We were there with Erin, another long-term missionary here, and a deaf Jamaican who works in the kitchen. We had a nice evening of sharing stories while drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies. There were no fireworks, but we decided we could wait until August when Jamaica will be celebrating its Independence Day with extravagance.
Now all the new people are here and eagerly awaiting camp's official opening tomorrow morning. Our job will be to take care of the kids who are too young to fully appreciate the camp activities.
Please be praying for our patience as we attempt to control and entertain a large group of kids. We also need patience for times when our jobs are vague and communication is difficult. Also be praying for all the students and visitors who are here for camp. We had the opportunity to share the gospel with one young man the other night, and there are many more like him who might be confused or unsure about salvation. Pray for their understanding and open hearts as well as our ability to take advantage of conversation opportunities.
Sometimes the little kids can teach us the most profound things:
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need, tell Him what you need.
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need right now.
Some want silver, some want gold,
But I want Jesus in my soul
Jesus has a telephone, tell Him what you need
tell Him what you need right now.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
You Said Goodbye and We Learned How to Say Hello
We couldn't begin to retell you each of the goodbyes we both had to say before we came on this trip and the myriad of ways that people said "Bye! Have a good summer!" There was one salutation, though, that permeated through to the heart of our experience.
Many people offer advice and words of wisdom to someone embarking on an extended trip or overseas endeavor, but this particular one was a command. It was spoken with such sincerity and intensity that it captured Rachel's attention so much so that she couldn't get it off her mind. When she shared it with Betsy, we decided to make it the theme of our summer and soon after God brought our attention to a set of verses in Colossians to partner with that theme and solidify it in a Biblical basis.
The command was, "Go be Jesus to people,"
The verses are Colossians 3:12-17:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
This idea of (metaphorically) clothing ourselves with the same attributes that Jesus demonstrated is vital to a ministry where people will only see Jesus if they see Him in us. Our time on this Island is spent interacting with kids, staff, teams, and even Jamaican people on the street who may or may not know Jesus personally but who are looking for Him in us. As Christians, we are never "off-duty." We should be constantly looking at people through Jesus' eyes and be such a light for Him that they can't help but look heavenward. No matter where we are or how difficult the situation is, we will always be called to be Jesus to those He came to save.
By taking these verses to heart and remembering the command of that special goodbye, our gaze has been focused and we are striving to daily live the love that He has shown us to every person we encounter and through all situations. If we aren't here for anything else, we are here to be Jesus to people.
It was a simple goodbye with a lasting lesson. Now we have learned how to say hello to our summer, to our work, to our teams, to our kids, to our neighbors, to our elders, to our strangers, to our ministry, to our Christian purpose, and to the entire world.
Join us as we make this our prayer for the summer. We obviously aren't saying "goodbye" because our summer just began, but we are saying a different kind of "hello."
Go be Jesus to people.
Many people offer advice and words of wisdom to someone embarking on an extended trip or overseas endeavor, but this particular one was a command. It was spoken with such sincerity and intensity that it captured Rachel's attention so much so that she couldn't get it off her mind. When she shared it with Betsy, we decided to make it the theme of our summer and soon after God brought our attention to a set of verses in Colossians to partner with that theme and solidify it in a Biblical basis.
The command was, "Go be Jesus to people,"
The verses are Colossians 3:12-17:
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
This idea of (metaphorically) clothing ourselves with the same attributes that Jesus demonstrated is vital to a ministry where people will only see Jesus if they see Him in us. Our time on this Island is spent interacting with kids, staff, teams, and even Jamaican people on the street who may or may not know Jesus personally but who are looking for Him in us. As Christians, we are never "off-duty." We should be constantly looking at people through Jesus' eyes and be such a light for Him that they can't help but look heavenward. No matter where we are or how difficult the situation is, we will always be called to be Jesus to those He came to save.
By taking these verses to heart and remembering the command of that special goodbye, our gaze has been focused and we are striving to daily live the love that He has shown us to every person we encounter and through all situations. If we aren't here for anything else, we are here to be Jesus to people.
It was a simple goodbye with a lasting lesson. Now we have learned how to say hello to our summer, to our work, to our teams, to our kids, to our neighbors, to our elders, to our strangers, to our ministry, to our Christian purpose, and to the entire world.
Join us as we make this our prayer for the summer. We obviously aren't saying "goodbye" because our summer just began, but we are saying a different kind of "hello."
Go be Jesus to people.
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