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.