Whitehouse, Jamaica

In March 2009 Solomon Johnson's family of 11 was left homeless after an electrical fire destroyed their house and many of their possessions. Solomon's family was given land to rebuild on, the only problem was it was in the bush and would need to be cleared first; a difficult task for a man with only a machete.

That's the point where 23 Lansing Christian School students and adults entered the scene. With shovels, pick axes, a chain saw, and the generosity of a local contractor and his "bobcat", the land was cleared in one day. During the week of service, footings were poured; cement block laid and rocks carried to fill in the foundation. The sun was warm, and the work was hard as students had to carry heavy bags of sand and rock up the mountain to the site. Hand mixing concrete and mortar taught the students new skills and an appreciation for cement mixers! The team was able to complete the foundation for the new Johnson family residence as well as begin the hole for their latrine.

While in Jamaica the LCS team was able to present two chapel services in area schools. They sang songs and students shared about life in the USA. The group also attended an energetic Palm Sunday service (over two hours long) complete with the waving of palm branches. All week long this team had the privilege of demonstrating love to Jamaican kids. Whenever they had a break at school the kids would find the LCS group for more time coloring, blowing bubbles, and playing Red Rover, soccer and even cricket.

The LCS students were challenged each day to see God at work around them. Some examples included a bobcat showing up at the worksite to help clear the brush, the true worship that took place at a small Jamaican church, the chance students had to help each other carry heavy loads, and the joy on the faces of all the students as they ministered to Solomon's family and the children in the area.

The week ended as the LCS team gathered together to pray with Solomon and his family. They all stood around the foundation of his new home and lifted up prayers of thanksgiving to our wonderful Lord. It was another amazing week filled with amazing stories of God's faithfulness.

Upcoming Ministry Schedule

June:
• Jamaica – From June 13-20, a team from Westwinds Youth Ministry will travel to Montego Bay to work with the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf (CCCD).
• Jamaica – From June 16-24, a team from Jackson Christian High School will travel to Whitehouse to work with KBM.
• Jamaica – From June 16–25 a team from Rivertree Community Church will work ½ a week at KBM and ½ a week with CCCD .

July:
• Guatemala – From July 12-19, a team from Shiloh Community Church will work in Guatemala City, Guatemala, with Global Soccer Ministries (GSM). Their focus will be working on homes in the slums, repairing soccer fields, and ministry with children.

August:
• South Africa – From August 12-19, a team from Westwinds Community Church will travel to Johannesburg to work with various ministries.

Good times & God moments

In April, I had the privilege of taking Laura along with me on a trip to France. With our young family, it’s not easy to make that happen very often but it is always a blessing when it works out. We led a spring break trip for a small team of high school students who have been studying French. Our first night there we participated in a youth rally where several churches gathered. That event formed the foundation for relationships to develop over the course of the following days. Spiritual conversations were sparked, seeds were planted, and friendships budded. I was pleasantly surprised at the way these students sought to minister to their new friends through simple conversation.

At the end of the trip, my plan was to stay in France for a few extra days after the team left. I had some arrangements made but didn’t know what I would do for my last evening. Early in the week I contacted an old friend who I knew was a missionary in France and, as it turns out, he was going to be in the Paris area that day and was able to meet me. We spent a day catching up and talking about his ministry. They need teams to come help with camp, and it just so happens that I lead teams. God is good. On my last day in France I was able to stay at their facility just outside of Paris and he took me to the airport the next morning. It was one of those moments where I trusted God and the result was more than I could have imagined.

If anyone is interested in a trip to France, the camp is desperately in need of some skilled construction workers to do some renovation of their guest housing. The project is already underway and supplies are already at the location. Now they just need help installing windows, laying tile, installing drop ceilings, repairing plaster, and lots more. Contact me if you are interested in helping out!