Saturday, July 4

This morning we did VBS in Ocho Rios in the same location as yesterday. I didn’t stay for it, though. I went with Roger and Larry to run errands and exchange money for this team. I like doing that kind of stuff, and I’m not really needed at the shows because I don’t do music stuff, etc. And I like to do things when I’m needed. Afterwards we had lunch here at the Sunflower, and then we went to the market in Ocho Rios. I didn’t buy anything, but I talked to Roger and Larry a lot. Big surprise considering that pretty much what I do. J Larry asked me about coming back to help lead the team this fall and about becoming more involved with Next Gen. It totally piqued my interest. I feel like I’m doing what I should be here, and I think getting more involved and going other places would be awesome. Roger asked me though if it was something that I had prayed about or just decided. He wants to make sure I’ve heard it from God. And he’s right. So now I’m here, pondering my future. I stayed back from the night ministry because I’m tired, but I also felt that I needed to spend some quality time with God. It’s been a little lacking lately with being so busy.

Friday, July 3

This morning we did VBS in Ocho Rios or somewhere near there. It was HOT. Roger and I drove to the hardware store to buy a tarp to hang up to try to give us more shade, but we wound up using it on the ground as ant protection and moving to a corner of the field where there was a little shade because it was way too windy for the tarp. Lunch at the hotel and then out again. We went to a girls home here in Ocho Rios. Then Roger and I went to the bus station to pick up Mark who was riding in from Kingston. Then we went back to the Sunflower and caught the end of supper before heading out for a night show. It was a 45 minute drive to where we were going and Mike, Larry, and I sat in the back of the pick up on the way there. On the way back it was just Mike and I and we had a good talk. Mostly we just shared stories about life. It was a good talk and fun to connect with people. Anyway, it’s been a long day and it’s an early morning tomorrow. Big Surprise. Haha.

Thursday, July 02

Last night I wound up staying in at night rather than going to the night ministry because I wasn’t feeling well. So I just slept instead. I felt better in the morning, and we went to an infirmary after breakfast. The show was a little slow and rough around the edges, so that’s something this team needs to work on. But over all they’re good.  Next we packed up from the Gloriana and drove an hour and a half to Ocho Rios to the Sunflower Villas. We will stay here for a week with the team. We had lunch here, which was awesome because the food here is the best. SO delicious. J The afternoon we had off, and then after dinner we did a night ministry in Runaway Bay, which is about 15 minutes from the hotel. There’s no internet here so that’s kind of a bummer. Maybe I will be able to hunt some down soon… Bed time. It’s an early morning tomorrow. What a surprise. Haha.

Wednesday, July 1

Currently I am waiting for the bus to get back from the airport with the next team (Desert Hills). This morning was really chill. We had a super good breakfast, which was awesome because the food at the hotel we stayed at in Kingston was not the best. We were literally served beans and/or hotdogs for breakfast almost every day (it was a little rough). The Whittier team left for the airport in three shifts all relatively close together. I was a little sad to say goodbye to them. After a week of working together it was hard. They were a great team to work with. After everyone got to the airport, Roger and I ran to Mega Mart (remember one of my first updates about the Jamaican Sam’s Club) and got a few more necessities to help make life easier (peanut butter, mountain dew, you know the important things). Now I’m just waiting for the Desert Hills team to arrive at the hotel. Dinner is at 5, and then we leave right after that for a night ministry with them. I have to admit I’m a little nervous about this next week. I’m sure the ministry will go well and the team will adjust, but my role this next week isn’t as clear as it has been. Last week there were two teams on separate parts of the island, so the interns were split up. This week there is only one team so we are all together and the girl who did what I was doing for the second team is more dominant than I am. Also some of the interns are from this church so they have a strong connection with this team. I am just a little worried that I won’t have a place with this team. Please pray that I am still used this week. I now have an internet connection after it being out the past few days in Kingston. So sorry if I haven’t been in touch. I’m not sure how long it will last because we are moving to a new hotel in a different city soon. Thanks for the prayers and the messages of encouragement. The Lord is really moving here. I could say so much more but I don’t have time. Desert Hills/Horizons just rolled in.

Tuesday, June 30

Today was the team from Whittier’s last day so it was their recreation day. We had a later breakfast (9am instead of 6am) and then packed up the bus and van for luggage and drove from Kingston to Ocho Rios. I was in a pick up with some of the luggage with an adult leader (Roger) and an intern (Larry). Three white people driving in Jamaica is a prime target for what might be called under the table dealings with the police force here I guess. We got pulled over while still in Kingston for no reason at all, and they held us  for a while before clearing us.  Though they never asked for it, we suspect they were looking for a bribe. The Lord took care of us though. We told them right away that we were missionaries here with YFC. We also made sure that all the money was tucked away and nothing of valuable was in the open. They could tell that we had nothing to give them, and Roger (who was driving) wasn’t about to give them everything. All in all it probably set us back an hour. When we got to Ocho Rios we ate lunch at Burger King and took the team to Dunn’s River Falls. The other interns went on the hotel in Montego Bay but Roger, Larry, and I stayed with the team because they needed leaders to stay with them. Roger watch towels and things on the beach while Larry and I climbed the stairs along-side the falls and took pictures with the digital cameras people had. They were very grateful for it. After the team did some shopping at the shops at Dunn’s, and then we hit the road and drove back to Montego Bay. We had a late supper here at the Gloriana Hotel and had a little debriefing time for the team. Everyone then went to bed except for a few of us interns who swam in the pool for an hour or two. All in all it was a good “day off” (haha).

Monday, June 29

It was tough to wake up this morning. After breakfast we went to two primary schools. At the second one a girl as asked me if I was from China.  I guess to some all “white” people look alike. Haha. Haley (intern) is sick. She left with us this morning but went back to the hotel with Charlotte when we got to the second school. She is trying to rest. We tease her about having Swine Flu, but I hope she feels better soon. The team from her church is the one that’s flying in this week. After the second school we ate in the bus and went to a prison for women. It was an experience unlike any I’ve ever had. All of us got to go in this time. Roger said it was much nicer physically than the men’s prison they were in the other day. Still I felt a lack of joy and a sense of hopelessness in that place. Even our joy in the Lord seemed to be crushed there. By the end, though, but once we got going we regained some of it, and I think it was contagious. The small church was full of inmates, most who weren’t normally in the church. There was one white woman there. She kind of stood out (like us every day). I felt drawn to her, and I wish I could have heard her story, but we weren’t given any time to talk to the inmates.

Later

Our last night show was at a government home for children. We weren’t allowed to take pictures there because some of the kids are there unknown to their families or to those who have hurt them. Many have witnessed crimes or committed them. Several have defects and mental handicaps. Their special needs may have been there since birth, but some of them are likely to have been caused by others when they were young. It was difficult for the team to be there because there wasn’t as much joy in the kids that their normally is during a performance. I felt blessed to be there though, and I wish we could have done more for some of the kids there. But just playing with them and giving them some attention, letting them know we love them, was a lot.

Sunday, June 28

Today we went to church. The service was two hours with an hour of Sunday school following and then an hour of refreshments and fellowship. It was definitely one of the best Jamaican churches any of us had been to though. The afternoon we spent at the hotel. I played dominoes instead of taking my planned nap because the air conditioning wasn’t working due to a blown fuse. After an early supper we drove to a church that was having an outdoor meeting/baptismal service. Everyone went out along the streets to invite people to come and there was a great turn out—more than I have ever seen before.  The night was long, but I had a lot of fun loving the kids. We went out for ice cream cones after. Now I’m completely beat, and tomorrow’s breakfast is at 5:45. Hmmm, bedtime.

Saturday, June 27

This morning we went to a home for girls here in Kingston. There are mostly teen-aged girls there for various reasons. Some have committed or witnessed crimes and the government doesn't have any where else to put them, and some have been abandoned by their parents. They loved the music, puppets, drama, etc. that we did for them. They also LOVED all the digital cameras which were created soley to take pictures of them as they modeled. :-) I spent a lot of time talking to one girl who was 17 (I feel awful, but for the life of me I can't remember her name). She was finished with highschool (they finish at about 16 here), and was studying auromatherapy and massage techniques to become a masseuse. Learning a trade is the secret to success here, and she hopes to move to New York to be with her younger sisters when she finishes school. Her final exams are coming up before she is licensed. I loved to talk to her about her life and her dreams. If you think of it, please pray for her and her exams and her dreams.
Next we went to a prison. I think it was where they hold those who have been convicted but not sentenced. There was a lot of security and several men with guns. They wouldn't allow more than 10 or 15 people in because of space and security. Because it was a men's facility, they decided it would be best if a group of men from the group went in. The rest of us waited just inside the outer wall (still in prison, but not inside). When the men came out they looked drained. One man told me it was a place without hope or joy. The men there are only waiting to find out where they will be locked up next. They listened to the few songs and the gospel our group presented (what else was there?), but it is still a very dark place. The prisons here are not like those in the states. They are not clean or well kept. Though it was a somewhat frightening situation, I wish we could have done more to bring Jesus into that place.
After a quick rest before supper, we headed out to a neighborhood about a half hour away from our hotel. We set up under the tent of a local church to do our night ministry show. (I should say their show, the Whittier team is very self-propelled, and they do an excellent job with their shows). There were a lot of children there and few adults. I think it was probably just the area we set up in. It was difficult at first because the sight was right by the sewer drainage and the smell was very strong. But after a while the wind started to blow the other way. After the show was over we talked to the people there and played with the kids. There were some boys breaking it down and showing us all up with their dancing skills. Being white and from MN it wasn't hard for me to be impressed. :-) The girls especially here love to play with our hair. It's so soft and straight compared to what they're used to. There was one girl in particular tonight who came and sat beside me and braided my hair and unbraided it and rebraided it a dozen times. Her name was Nikesha and she was from the church with which we were working. I have never met a 10 year old so proud of her church. I am very thankful that there are lights shining from hills here in Kingston.
It's almost midnight and time for me to turn in. Breakfast is at 6am tomorrow so that we can make it to church on time for what looks to be an all day service. As long as it isn't Pastor "Blade's" church I'll survive. (Long story, ask me when I'm not half asleep).
God Bless,
Leisha

Friday, June 26

It's been a long day and I'm exhausted, but here's a little update about the Whittier team. Only 9 of them made it in on Thursday and we drove to Kingston with them. The other 35 were scheduled for three different flights into Kingston today. The first flight finally made it but without any luggage. The second was fine. And the third flight made it after a customs hassle without luggage. The first batch of luggage was delivered later, and the second is expected to arrive tomorrow. All in all I was standing out in the sun outside the airport for 5 hours today.
This morning we took the team of 9 that we had as scheduled to a high school and a primary school in the morning. Everyone else chilled at the hotel in the afternoon. We had trouble working out the night event especially after the whole team wasn't to the hotel until after 7. We ate together and then decided to go to The Devon House, which is a local attraction with shops and ice cream. It's a good opportunity for people to just relax and talk with the Jamaican people.
Hopefully we're done with and big upsets for a while now, but you never know. We are in Jamaica after all. :-)

Thursday, June 25

Hey!
I woke up ridiculously early to eat with the other team this morning before they headed off to do ministry in the schools. Our team doesn't fly in for about another 1/2 hour. Then once they make it through customs we drive straight to Kingston. We have at least one ministry sight tonight after we arrive. It'll be a long night starting off a long week, but the Lord is strong.
I took a walk this morning after early breakfast down to the beach. I sat and took in some of the beauty of Jamaica before the heat got too bad. It's about 33celsius here right now. For those of you who don't speak European colony, I'm pretty sure that's in the low 90's.
All is well and we are all healthy (though very mosquito bitten). Praise the Lord. Some of the incoming high school students with the teams are being picky about the food they serve us. Choosing to not eat can be very dangerous when we have to work so hard. Please pray that everyone would be able to keep up their stregth, even if it means a littls self-sacrifice.
We have a long bus ride ahead of us today. 4 hours to Kingston on very windy roads up and down the hills and mountains. Please pray for those who have trouble with car and motion sickness and also for safety. Tonight is also the first real ministry I'll be doing. Out in the streets of Kingston God can really move. All kinds of people live there, from murders to the impoverished of trench-town to people who have never heard of Jesus before. God is going to change lives, and I'm excited I'll be there to watch him work.

We're in the airport right now. My team from Whittier, CA was split onto two flights. One of the flights arrived with 9 of the team members, but the other 30 had their flight canceled and are stuck in Memphis. Please pray that things will work out and they will find a flight. We are still going to Kingston with our small numbers today to minister tonight. One man band anyone? ;-)

I saw children playing in an old dirty river today in Spanish Town. They lived in a shanty town and were naked. My heart is a little weakened by the poverty here in the mountains.

Wednesday, June 24

Just a quick prayer request:
There are several other interns with which I am working down here. We are all from different parts of the country and come from different backgrounds and possess different leadership styles. Today I was just aware of all these difference and the conflicts that can arise because of them. Please pray for unity in our leadership teams and for the hearts of servents in all of us. Please also pray specifically for me that I would serve those around. Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers;" pray that I would be a peacemaker for the people around me.
-Leisha

Tuesday, June 23

Fun Update:
Today is a chill day as we wait for the next ministry team to fly in tomorrow. So to pass the time we went to the Jamaican equivalent of a Sam's Club--Mega Mart. Everything was pretty regular to me, but when we got to the check out a friend of mine was buying a box of granola bars and a case of soda, and the woman opened the box and the case to scan and individual item. Apparently they don't bulk price here. Haha. The only thing I got was real Cadbury chocolate from the UK, but that added on with previously mentioned friend's food came to several thousand dollars (Jamaican of course). Who knew cash registers had numbers that went so high? I just thought I'd fill you guys in on how I'm enjoying some of the differences in culture down here. ;-)

Monday, June 22

I’m in Jamaica! Thanks so much for your prayers! My traveling went pretty smoothly today, and I got here just fine. Immigration and customs were a breeze. My knee started aching this morning in Minneapolis and it wasn’t looking good for the rest of the trip, but once I flew out of Chicago it was hardly a problem. I hope it stays that way for the rest of the trip, but either way God will take care of me. Some of you know that there will be two different teams down here at the same time this summer and therefore two teams of leaders and interns. Tonight I found out that I’m going with the team to Kingston (the capitol city) rather than the team that will stay in the towns in the north. I have never been to Kingston, but they tell me the ministry there is awesome, and I’m really excited. God really moves in remarkable ways down there. With these great opportunities come new hurdles as well. The trip itself is a lot more difficult and more challenging. Also, when Jamaica is hot, Kingston is HOT because the asphalt holds in the heat. It’s very draining, but such an amazing opportunity. Sometime in the next few days we will be making the very winding drive (think motion sickness) down to Kingston with a team. Please pray for the amazing things God is going to do and the lives he is going to change. Thank you for praying for me and please continue! Please also pray for me this first week as I make mistakes and try to figure things out. Pray that I can continue to rest in the peace of God the surpasses all understanding.

-Leisha

Sunday, June 21

Sunday, June 21

Well here I am only one night's sleep away from flying out. I am almost finished packing and I almost feel ready to go. :-) My flight leaves Minneapolis at 11:30am tomorrow. Thank you so much to everyone who has committed to praying for me. :-)
I have a "bad" knee from an old skiing injury years ago and it aches still sometimes. Today it started giving me trouble and now it's in full swing. Normally I just wait for it to fade, but it could be very painful tomorrow spending hours on a plane where I can't stretch it out. Please pray for healing for my knee and comfort during traveling. I am prepared to deal with it while I'm down there, but it would also be nice if I didn't have to worry about it. :-) Pray for the Lord's healing and for my perseverance.
Thank you for blessing me with your prayers!
Love,
Leisha

Sunday, June 14

Howdy! :-)
Here we are, one week (well 8 days) til departure. I'm a little scatter-brained trying to get everything together. But the Lord is good! So far everything is coming together and I just need to get my act straight and start packing (how much clothes do you bring to be gone a month?) :-)

As my departure draws now, please continue to pray.
Pray that I am prepared physically and spiritually for this trip.
Please also pray for my physical health while I'm gone. I'm a small person and I get exhausted easily when the weather is hot hot hot.
Pray for the teams who are preparing to fly down there too. Some of them are very last minute with vital information, so please pray that they would be getting things together and in to us.
Pray for Jamaica! Most people are surprised to find out that a huge majority of what we do down there is street-corner ministry, face-to-face contact with people just talking about Jesus and faith.

God has already opened up so many doors for me, and I know that only he has the power to continue that. Thank you so much for your support and prayers! It means the world to me. :-)
In Christ,
Leisha