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