September 2, 2008

On August 31, we had "Mission Sunday" at Bartlett Woods, where we had presentations on each of the three mission trips church members had made over the summer. I spoke on the Jamaica trip, and what follows are my remarks, along with the pictures that I used.

When we first arrived in Jamaica, at the Montego Bay airport, we were standing around waiting on the vans that would take us from the airport to the hotel. On the ground, I found a Jamaican one dollar coin. And I was immediately reminded of a sermon Stan preached a few years ago about finding money on the ground, and how that is a sign that God will provide for our needs. I thought that was a good sign, that God would be providing for our needs during this trip.

The next day was Sunday, and after church several of us went to KFC for lunch. As we drove in the parking lot, I saw a sign in the window that said "Real Deals Starting at $215". And I thought, "God, you're going to have to provide a lot more, because this one dollar isn't going to go very far!"

But God did provide the entire time, over and over again. It actually started even before we left, as God provided a great group to go on the trip. We had 10 teenagers: Chelsea Brandon, Charlie Dennis, Jason Fortner, Britne Lyons, Lauren Mayo, Andrea Purdue, Ellen Robbins, Andy Sills, Brittany Smith, and Trey Wallace. And we had 9 adults: Laura Burns, Cheryl Dennis, Mike Fortner, Sohn & Angie Lyons, Kevin Mayo, Doug Pittman, JeanAnn Robbins, and myself. I want to especially single out Sohn Lyons for his leadership, coordinating everything and making sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing. We went with a group from the East Brainerd congregation in Chattanooga. It was a great blessing to get to know them and to work alongside other Christians from another part of the country.

And God also provided for us through many of you. We want to thank everyone who contributed clothes and pillow cases that we took to the church and to the infirmary, suitcases that we used to get those clothes there, those who contributed financially to help us get there. And we especially thank all of you who prayed for us before and during our trip.

Jamaica is a tropical island nation in the Caribbean, a former British colony. If you leave Florida and head south over Cuba, you will find Jamaica. It is a popular tourist resort, and seeing some of the natural beauty, it is easy to see why. But it is also a very poor nation, and the poverty was evident most everywhere. The church in the town of Lucea, where we worked, is small, and by our standards poor. But it is active, and it is a church of faith and truth. I enjoyed sitting in the Bible class on Sunday morning and hearing their answers to the questions that were asked. They know and believe the Bible, and it is obvious in their lives.

Once we were there in Jamaica, God provided many opportunities for us to do good, to be examples of his love, and to help out the people and the church in the town of Lucea. One of our main goals was to paint the Lucea church building. Once we got all the supplies we needed, the work went smoothly and quickly, and several people commented on how nice the building looked when we were finished. On the wall of the children's area had been glued old flannelgraph teaching aids which we had to peel and scrape off before we could paint that wall. We talked about sending some more when we got back home, but then God provided us with people in our group with the talents and abilities to draw a mural all along the wall that started with the creation and ended with Jesus ascending into heaven. I think everyone was pleased with the final results.

At the church in Lucea each night was a gospel meeting, which featured various speakers talking about different ways to take control of one's life. Each night before the meeting was a Vacation Bible School for the neighborhood kids. Our teenagers were responsible for two nights, and the East Brainerd group was responsible for the other two nights. Our group did an excellent job of teaching the kids and leading them in songs. I think the kids especially enjoyed the crafts that were made, as it gave them a chance to have something to take home with them.

We also made some visits to the local infirmary to encourage the residents there. The infirmary is basically a place where people go to die. A place for people who are sick and have no place to live and no one to take care of them. Most all of their belongings can be stored at the end of their beds. Not necessarily the happiest of places, but our group did a great job of bringing some fun and happiness to the infirmary. Again, our teens did a great job of meeting everyone, getting to know them, talking laughing, hugging, and encouraging, looking past some of the social and physical conditions that might have otherwise been a barrier to some people.

The Jamaican kids love to play soccer, or football as it is known to them. Our group would play soccer with the kids, much to their delight. They enjoyed the fun and games, and probably just the fact that someone would get out there and play with them. And after the game, everyone would gather together for a prayer, to encourage the kids there further.

Amid all that work, we did find some time for a little fun here and there. We visited two beaches and an old fort, hung on for dear life while riding through the crazy Jamaican traffic. And found an oasis in a store called Mega Mart that had most all of the comforts of home. You will have to ask some in the group how much they enjoyed that store, and how many trips we made there. They even had 20 ounce bottled Cokes for $33 Jamaican, which is about 50 cents American.

But getting back to our work, our main goal of the trip was to encourage everyone there and help out the church. But we also received some encouragement ourselves. And I have three specific examples of that.

The first was back at the infirmary. On what was my first visit there, we were going to sing songs to the residents and have a prayer. When we arrived, a gentleman named Brother Jackson was sitting outside waiting for us. But instead of us singing him songs, he wanted to sing us songs, which he did. One image that will stay with me for quite some time is this man at the infirmary, a place for the poorest of the poor, singing "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine." And to know that no matter our position in life here on earth, we all share the same eternal hope. And I heard earlier this week that Brother Jackson passed away. So now he has moved on to a better place, a home in heaven, making that blessed assurance a reality.

Our second encouragement came from the community. There was a small store across the street from the church building, and several of us would go there to get cold soft drinks and snacks. The lady that ran the store was probably happy for all the extra business that we brought to her. Many of the people in our group invited her to the gospel meeting at the church each night. And on the last night, she was there. Not only that, but she also came forward and said that she wanted to study more about obeying the Gospel. That was fantastic for her, but it was also a great encouragement to those who had invited her to attend.

One afternoon, a few of us went to visit some of the shut-in church members in the neighborhood. We were led by the two men pictured here. The older gentleman on the left is Brother Ferguson. Brother Ferguson had his 80th birthday not long after we were there. But despite his age, he was very active, coming down to the church building every day when we were painting to see how things were going. He went with us to the infirmary, and he was at the church services every night. He kept up with us youngsters quite well! The other man in the picture is Colin, who is 21 years old. Colin was the main one leading us around to the different houses. And as we would walk along the street, other men sitting along the street would call out to Colin, making fun of him for what he was doing. Basically persecuting him for being a Christian. As we would later find out, Colin used to be one of those same guys who would sit out there doing nothing, looking for trouble, looking down on others. Then he became a Christian and left all of that behind. But it has cost him his old friends, and they don't let him forget it. That is a great example to us of the cost of becoming a Christian, and what it means to leave the old life behind.

But despite this persecution, he went on and did a wonderful job of escorting us around. At each house we would sing a few songs, and then Colin and Brother Ferguson would take turns leading prayers. It was uplifting to hear these two men, young and old, to lead such beautiful, heartfelt prayers. Especially knowing some of the difficulties they face each day. Again, those of us who went there to encourage everyone received much encouragement ourselves.

On a bit of a personal note, and I would imagine most everyone who went on the trip would say the same thing, I now feel a very personal connection with Jamaica and the church there. Since we have been back, not a day goes by that I don't think of something about the trip. Most often about the congregation of people there at Lucea. Wondering how things are with them. Hoping they are still strong in the faith. Praying about them this past week as Tropical Storm Gustav passed right over the island. Perhaps God provided this trip to be a reminder that we aren't isolated here at Bartlett Woods, or even here in the Memphis area. There are Christians in Chattanooga, in Jamaica, and all over the world, who have the same beliefs, the same struggles, and the same hope that we have.

The Bible verse chosen as the theme of the trip was James 1:22, which in one Bible version says, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only." We had many opportunities to put this into practice, and our group, and especially our teens, lived this verse the entire time we were there. God was glorified, and people were encouraged, because of the many good works done in His name.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. - James 1:22

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