Our Jamaica

We have had many "snapshots" this week: making balloon animals, playing baseball, and horsing around with the boys of Matthew 25:40 who are stricken with HIV and AIDS; breaking up cement slabs and then moving tons--literally--of dirt to lay the groundwork for a new yard for the children displaced by the fire earlier this year; morning cups of Jamaican coffee as we got to know our fellow volunteers and prepare for the day with them; and feeding a lollipop to a boy who has no coordinated use of his hands and has never tasted one before.

It is very difficult to quantify the impact this trip has for us and all those we work with, play with, laugh with, sing with, pray with, hold, hug, touch, love. The beauty of these moments is that they will last much, much longer than the moment in time they took to actually occur. They leave an impression, a footprint, a memory of God. New friendships are created; old ones are strengthened; earth is moved; hearts are renewed; children are held; souls are refreshed.

And this *is* our week with Mustard Seed Communities in Kingston, Gordon Town, Spanish Town, and Ocho Rios, JAMAICA. "Is" -- not "was" -- because eight days pass, but the week lasts so much longer than that.

~ Andrew ("Sweetie Mon" and 3rd year mission tripper)