Newsletter: Holiday Edition

HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas!!! Enjoy our latest newsletter sent with a digital double portion of holiday cheer.

Winter Newsletter 2010

God's Perfect Rest

We received sad news this week: a church brother and friend died. The news was a shock. Our friend, Mr. Gutsmore, had recently undergone surgery in order to treat a long time illness that doctors were unable to pinpoint and address effectively. From all accounts, the surgery went well, and his strength seemed to be returning quickly. However, Tuesday night he felt ill and was short of breath. Not long after the troubles arose that night, Brother Gutsmore was with his Savior.

Kirsten and I met Bro. Gutsmore on our exploratory visit in November 2008 when we came as a members of an 18-person team to serve in Buff Bay. He drove me to my first preaching engagement. That would not be the last time he would give me a lift to teach. When we landed last year to begin ministering, Bro. Gutsmore was a great encouragement to us. His faithfulness and delight in the Lord was evident and through it was a blessing to many.

Brother Gutsmore was Buff Bay's tailor. There may be others, but everyone knows Bro. G. His shop is on the main road, so Kirsten and I would often make a point to stop in and chat. Gutsmore's health had been on the decline for many months. The illness he faced left him unable to eat and keep food down. Therefore, he was often depleted of energy and very weak and could not keep up his weight. A thin man to begin with, he lost decent poundage since we arrived. Despite the nagging persistence of sickness and fatigue, I never heard him complain once! His testimony and faith in Christ strengthened instead of decreased through his sickness. He trusted in the goodness in God even when the evidence said he should not.

Gutsmore was one of the few male voices in the choir, a deacon of the church, a husband, father, community bulwark, and friend. More importantly he was a child of God and has gone before us to be with Him, for which celebrate and praise the Lord!

It is Finished!...Almost

It is official. We are competent drivers according to the Jamaican government! We have both officially passed our driving tests with only a few scratches and bruises. Most of the bruising was to our egos, but we are thankful for the lesson in humility! All that is left is to wait for our actual licenses to come in the mail (hence the "almost").

Throughout the time of going and taking tests (note the "s"), we were able to get to know one of the driving officials pretty well. After discovering that we are Christians and work with Pastor Allen, he asked us to keep him in our prayers, which we have been. He is a pleasant man who seems to be misunderstood (as you can imagine if your job was to be a task-master and make sure people are not cutting the corners or breaking the standards). We were even invited to a cook-out on his farm next time he slaughters a pig to jerk!

This week has been a tough writing week. As we keep plugging away, the spontaneous and unexpected relationships are great reminders of what God cares about most - people. Jesus came to seek and save the lost - you and me. Kirsten and I often rack our brains over how best to meet address this issue and need (which is necessary and good), but we are ashamed to say that it sometimes leads us to being disconnected from the people of Buff Bay whom God loved so much He gave Jesus to save. When this disconnection occurs, we forget to see and love others the way Jesus does. The agendas, meetings, and Bible studies are great, but if we have not love, specifically the love of Christ (in us and offered to others), then we are forgetting the "royal law," which is to love as we have been loved. Pray with us that we will continue to build on these relationships and earn the privilege and the right to share God's good news of Jesus Christ and that he came to say, "it is finished!"

Refreshing Relationships

(In memory of my beard and the cool fall temperatures. And because we don't have any from the retreat, here is an old photo of your favorite Buff Bay couple!)

Kirsten and I attended a couples' retreat this weekend. It is normally our first thought to think of couples' retreats as including couple competitions, crafts, and awkward stares in order to keep polite company while discussing intimate matters. However, we were relieved that "couples' Survivor" was not on the agenda for the retreat.

The weekend with five other couples was relaxing and encouraging. There was not much planned in terms of activities, so we were able to hang out, talk, and enjoy good fellowship. We were encouraged because we were able to meet others in the same phase of life and spiritual mindset. Buff Bay and the other circuit churches have few young couples so we were thankful to interact with people who are both passionate for Christ and also passionate about their marriage. Kirsten and I were challenged in areas of our relationship in which we need to grow. As we do we hope that we will be driven deeper into Christ and closer together.

Pray for us as we try to love Christ and each other well. Also, pray that our marriage may be an example to others. Lastly, please pray with us for godly marriages and relationships in Jamaica. As it appears to us, the biblical picture of marriage is lacking in the church in Jamaica (indeed, around the world). We hope that this core group of young believers may be a spark for the Church in Jamaica and its married people.

Post Script:
In other news, today marks the 47th anniversary of C.S. Lewis' death (along with JFK and Aldous Huxley). There are few days that go by that I don't quote Lewis or reflect on his writings. God has used Lewis to shape large portions of my theology. I praise God for his goodness in giving the Church such a mind and man as Lewis.

Actions speak louder

“Collision Records in partnership with The Red Revolution, His Voice Global and Rapzilla is releasing the gripping single, “Actions Speak Louder,” featuring Swoope (Collision Record’s artist), LeCrae, Tedashii (Reach Record’s artists) and Jai. The song calls people to respond to the war-torn country of South Sudan, specifically the orphaned. Ending in 2005, the civil war, which lasted over 20 years, left about 2,000,000 dead and many children without parents. We are calling everyone to Speak Loud on 11/16/10 for these orphans by downloading the single. 100% of the proceeds will be sent to His Voice Global to build their fourth self-sustained orphanage. Our goal is 250,000 downloads, which would raise the funds needed for the orphanage. With over 10,000,000 downloads a day on iTunes, 250,000 is a drop in the bucket. Be a part of the movement, spread the word, get on iTunes 11/16/10 and let your actions speak as loud as your words.”

HT: Ray Ortland

Then there were two

It was quite a treat to work alongside the team from Massachusetts this past week. They had their work cut out for them this past week, but they didn't flinch! The weather was cold (smirk if you want, but for Jamaica it was COLD) and wet. From the day of their arrival to the morning they left, the rains hovered over Buff Bay. This is significant because most people walk to church and will typically not come out, especially for extra church services. However, God in His goodness held off the rain each night from 5:00-11:00, which gave people enough hope to make it out to the nightly meetings hosted in three of the six circuit churches.

The team also had an incredibly ambitious schedule each day. They began at 6:30 AM and went straight through until 10:30-11 PM each day. They hosted Bible studies in two communities, vacation Bible school, which on the last day had over 80 children, and various street meetings in different communities each day. The team flat-out worked! Each team does get a rest day during which they do some of the tourist things around the island, but the weather was so bad that we had to skip going to the beach.

I think this is exactly how the team wanted it, or at least that is how they made it seem. They knew that they had a week to do ministry and wanted to make the most of it, and they certainly did. The Bible studies were a great way to encourage the faithful saints in the churches because they are fed spiritual food with extra emphasis. The children were taught substantial lessons at VBS, which we believe is a seed planted for the Sovereign Gardener to water. The street-side meetings and evangelistic conversations were helpful and encouraging, and many were given tracts and the opportunity to ask questions about the faith. Finally, through the nightly meetings, a handful of people heard the call of God on their lives and made professions of faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord! Please pray for the group of men and women who professed faith in Christ. Pray that they would be encouraged and continue to desire to grow in their faith. Also pray that the work of the team would yield a great harvest in and around Buff Bay!

As for Kirsten and myself, we had a great time connecting with old friends and making new ones! We shared many refreshing and encouraging conversations with the team members; we also had free dinner for a week at the GLOBE! However, we are now back to our normal schedule and routine. With that, I have a Bible study to study for...talk to you next week!

Side By Side

There are parts of our ministry that are consistent every week. For example, we teach Bible studies, music lessons, tutor, etc. every week. However, a big part of our ministry only happens occasionally throughout the year. This is our partnership ministry. The Buff Bay circuit of churches has many long-standing relationships with American churches that come to do short term trips. Although some of these trips are service oriented (i.e. building projects, medical ministries), most of the teams that come do evangelistic and outreach ministries. The teams host nightly church meetings with music, testimonies, and preaching. They also run a vacation Bible school in one of the 6 churches in addition to going to various schools in the mornings to lead devotions. This is one of those weeks.

This team arrived Saturday evening and is made up of people from 6 states (Mass., Conn., Vermont, NJ, PA, and FL). The core group is from Sovereign Grace Chapel in Southbridge, Mass., which is one of our partner churches. Kirsten and I enjoy when teams come because it is like a little bit of home-cookin' for a week. It is especially great when people come that we already know, like many people on this trip. Many of the people this week have been following the blog, praying for us, and supporting us financially. It is a tremendous blessing for us to work side-by-side with them in Gospel-ministry in a more tangible way.

Two quick stories about God's goodness manifested through the team thus far. On Saturday evening, Kirsten and I were at the GLOBE (the compound where teams stay) welcoming the them. We were talking with a couple who lives in Florida but is originally from NJ. It turns out that they have close friends in Ocean City. These friends of theirs are also friends of ours. In fact, these friends were the people who gave me my first job at Callahan's Cafe (now Arlene's Cafe on Asbury Ave.). Secondly, there is a family that came a mother and her two adult daughters who are all hair dressers. Kirsten has been really wanting a cut but has not gotten one because many of the hair dressers in town don't know what to do with her head of blonde, thin, curly locks! These women actually brought down their scissors and randomly asked Kirsten if she would be blessed by them giving her a trim! "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change," James tells us.

Join us in prayer for the team as they minister throughout the week. Here are some things you can pray for:
1) Strength for the week's busy schedule
2) The gospel of Jesus Christ will go forth unhindered by disruptions and works of Satan
3) Many will attend the gatherings each night (it has been cool and rainy for about a week now, which impacts those who will come out)
4) Members of the Buff Bay circuit will be encouraged by the ministry and also see that they too can minister to others
5) Young people will come to know the Lord (through VBS and nightly meetings)
6) The team will be blessed by serving the Lord and His will in Jamaica.

Tomas Update

Tropical Storm Tomas barely swiped us last night leaving us a little soggy, but with no damage at all. We were very prepared, but did not see the fury of the storm for which we are very thankful. In fact, we did not even lose any power or water!

Continue to pray for our neighbors in Cuba, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands who are still dealing with Tomas. Thanks for your prayers and we will talk to you soon!

A Holy Dip

Baptism is a major aspect of the Jamaican culture and Christianity. Our first Sunday in Jamaica last December was a baptism Sunday. There were about 7 candidates, and it was a great blessing to be present for that service. What we would learn over the next several months is that many people here have a distorted view of baptism (as I am sure many Americans do as well). Of the differing views, two are most prevalent: 1) baptism is the means of salvation, 2) baptism is the seal to your salvation (without it, you aren't official). Biblical baptism is neither of these, but it is a symbol of our faith. The symbol means that we have died with Christ (go into the water), we have been buried with Christ (in the water), and are now raised with Christ to new life (coming up from the water). Through this symbol one makes a public showing and declaration of his or her intent to be identified with Jesus Christ.

As a result of these misconceptions, Pastor Allen and the circuit churches hold membership/baptism classes for those who have made professions of faith and desire to follow Jesus. The goal is to teach the class the basics of Christianity while dispelling misconceptions and guiding them toward a Biblical perspective. Over the past 10 months, I have had the great pleasure of helping to teach with Pastor Allen this group of eager young believers on Monday nights. The class is a group of active, hungry, and devoted students. Monday night class should end around 9, but we often stay until 10 because the students keep asking questions and simply want more!

This group of 10 was baptized this past Sunday. As each candidate went forward to give his or her testimony before the church, it was clear that God had done a real work in every one of their hearts. As such, it was their intention to be identified with Jesus, their Savior and Lord, in this very public setting. After each was baptized, the church congregation erupted in choruses and celebration. The church was excited WITH the baptism candidates and celebrated with them in a great display of sincere welcome to the fellowship of the saints!

Kirsten and I love watching baptisms. Hearing personal testimonies of lives changed by Jesus, sincere desires to follow Jesus, and passion to be identified with Him (as to say, I am dead to self and sin but made alive to Christ and true life) bring great joy to our hearts because it reminds us of our own conversions! Please pray that these 10 young believers will continue to grow into greater maturity and faith! You can view pictures of the baptism here.

The Dark Side of the Moon

There is a dramatic scene from Ron Howard's Apollo 13 in which the stranded crew is coming out from behind the moon. The crew spent days traveling around the moon carried by the gravitational pull in order to bring them back on track to make their approach to Earth after their engines had been destroyed. Consequently, they had to turn off their instruments in order to preserve battery life. Well, Kirsten and I are approaching the far side of the moon today (or at least we think we are) and will most likely be without high-tech communication for some time.

Tonight we are expected to be hit by the western flank of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Tomas. We have already had a good amount of rain, but we expect much more to come! According to the trajectory plans, it will be a swipe more than a direct hit on us. However, we are expecting to lose power and water for at least a day, depending on the amount of rain and the speed of the winds. We have learned from Nicole, which passed through a couple weeks ago, and have stored lots of water, stocked the shelves, and are gearing up for a "cozy?" few days inside.
Please pray for the people, the leaders, and the land of Jamaica as we brace for the storm. Also be in prayer for Haiti as it is in direct line of disaster! We believe that we serve a sovereign God who works all things for good for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). We may not understand how hurricanes can serve any good, but God does. Indeed, He has a much better perspective than we do.

We will see you on the opposite side of the moon! However, for your viewing and reading pleasure we will be robo-posting tomorrow pictures with a run-down of last Sunday's baptism.

Apparently NOT.

We are sorry to report that our driving did not make the grade. We have to give it a second go in two weeks because we did not demonstrate our skills on the parallel parking course. Kirsten was spot on, but in Jamaica, closeness to the curb is not a positive thing, so she got the FAIL stamp. Me, on the other hand, "killed it" (a good thing) on the first attempt but swung out too wide in the back on the second park in the opposite direction. That "too wide" qualified me for the "you can't have a license" column.

Count it all joy when you face various trials... Oh boy, not easy when you have been driving for a long time and your pride has been damaged! The good news is that we can still drive for a bit longer, which is a tremendous blessing.

Nov. 18th here we come! Thanks for the prayers; we will keep you posted!

We can drive, I promise!

Please pray for Kirsten and myself as we are taking our driving tests today. Our US license has been enough for right now, but soon they will no longer be recognized. Reading the driving book has brought back the old high school fear of not passing the test! Keep us in prayer that the tests will go well and we will be fully legit for the Jamaican roadways. Also pray for the weather for two reasons: 1) if it is raining they will not administer the exam 2) Hurricane Tomas is on a direct path to the northeastern shores of Jamaica..."Hello, Buff Bay!".

We will keep you posted on the tests, weather, and other news soon!

The Delivery Room

Blog news is sometimes scarce, but there are some weeks that we could write a post every day. Last week was one of those weeks, and although we tried to have a multiple-post week, we failed because we were busy making even more news for all you lovely readers!

A week ago we attended the annual youth conference for the fellowship of Independent Baptist churches. There were about 120 young people there, and it was a great time. We were supposed to leave at 5:30 AM to make the three hour drive in order to arrive at the hosting church first (because there is a trophy awarded to the first youth group to arrive...whatever motivates!). The lack of sleep paid off as the Buff Bay circuit arrived about thirty minutes before the other churches! Trophy #1.

The morning began with a worship service and a brief talk by a faithful brother named O'Neil (also one of the summer camp speakers). Two girls responded to the call of Christ in their lives, one of which I had the pleasure of speaking with after the service. Pray for Shanica that Jesus will indeed be Savior, Friend, and LORD of her life. The afternoon included a heated battle between the churches in the annual Bible Quiz. Buff Bay won handily in the Philippians' quiz as the participants had been preparing for weeks. Trophy #2. After a time of fellowship, we packed up the bus with BOTH trophies and came home! CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE CONFERENCE!

Each year at the conference, the young people honor a pastor or someone who has influenced the youth of the "fellowship churches." This year they honored Pastor Bloise, an 84-year old pastor in Kingston (Grace Reformed Church) who has been active with the youth for over 40 years. After all the festivities, Kirsten and I were talking with Pastor Bloise and discovered that he was an alum of Kirsten's alma mater, Philadelphia Biblical University! Pastor Bloise, just this past Friday (4 days after the conference), lost his wife to cancer. Please be in prayer for Pastor Bloise as he and the church mourn their loss.
Last Thursday morning Kirsten decided to give the choir a break that evening by canceling their weekly rehearsal. The choir sings only twice a month, so with a 5-Sunday month there is a bit more breathing room. The choir members were begging for a week off, and last week was a great time to grant their wish. My Thursday class was also canceled due to the weather, which gave us both a night off! However, in the afternoon Kirsten received a phone call that a friend from the Skibo church had gone into labor. We waited a of couple hours (you know, for the baby actually to come out) and then, because we were free that night, headed up to the hospital in our fancy new car to see Yvonne and the baby. When we arrived, however, there was no baby! Yvonne was still waiting for her bundle of joy to make her move! Yvonne asked us to stay because no one else was there with her. Her contractions were less than 3 minutes apart when we arrived. We prayed with her as I kept monitoring the time (I figured I should keep track of the contractions because that is what they did in ER!), while trying to comfort as best we could. About 40 minutes later Yvonne got up to use the restroom, walked into the delivery room with the nurse, and within 15 minutes came out with a BABY GIRL! INCREDIBLE!We forgot to bring our camera with us, so sorry, no pictures of the baby, but here is the blanket that Kirsten made for little Xyiesha Mykhala Cox!

Join us in praying for Yvonne and Xyiesha, especially that they come to know Jesus!

Consider the news...delivered!

Thanks to the Giver of good gifts!

If you are waiting to hear about the car situation...today's post is for you! We looked around in Kingston last week but did not spot anything spectacular or tempting enough to move us away from the Suzuki Jimny. This is quite fine with us because we have loved and thought about getting a Jimny from the first month we arrived in Jamaica! So when a church brother asked us if we were interested in buying a Jimny from him, we were, as you may image, definitely "stoked"!

We praise God for His unending goodness of which this car is only a small example. Psalm 37 tells us that when we first delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart. Many use this passage to support a "health and wealth" prosperity gospel, but then God is becomes a "genie in a bottle." Instead of a means to the end, God should be the end of our delight itself. We are to find our full pleasure in the Lord regardless of what we do or do not have (materially, socially, etc). When He is our great joy and the fullness of our desires, God gives good gifts, as a husband gives flowers to his wife, for no reason other than to make her smile and to demonstrate his affection.

We thank you very much for all your prayers with us as we shopped and deliberated. We also thank you for your support of the ministry financially! We are humbled and blessed by the way God has prepared the way for us by way of so many faithful people like yourselves.

Enjoy the pictures of our, and in a way, your, new car!



Tune in tomorrow for an update about our 2010 Youth Conference...

Car Hunting

Today, Kirsten and I are going into Kingston to check out some fresh new wheels. Please be in prayer with us as we look for a good deal. We test drove a Suzuki Jimny last week, which we really liked. But before we pull the trigger, we want to check out some other deals. Below are some of the options we are pursuing:
Option #1: This says we are here for serious business, but we are also into putting our feet up! Also, there is plenty of extra room to pile people in for a sweet and tranquil road-trip. (Personal driver is still be discussed.)

Option #2: Jamaica has an exquisite coastline drive (think tropical Pacific Coast Highway). Why not drive it in style?!


Option #3: Rugged, roomy, reliable.


We will be sure to keep you posted and let you know how the hunting goes!

The calm BEFORE the storm

Well, if you read last week's post, you will know that Kirsten and I had an incredibly relaxing vacation after my busy week in New Jersey. When I wrote the blog and named it "The calm after the Storm," I thought I was being very clever. What I did not know was that tropical depression Nicole was brewing in our neighborhood. The rains began Tuesday afternoon, not too uncommon, at least until it continued through Saturday!

Although Jamaica suffered from the storm, Buff Bay was spared major damage. We did lose electricity Tuesday night through Wednesday night with sporadic outages throughout the week. We also lost water from early Wednesday morning through Friday night. Since the water outage, we have lost most water pressure (we assume from considerable breaks in main lines and pumps), which makes bathing an effort.


Due to the storm and its effects, many of our ministries were canceled throughout week. However we found work in preparing for life to resume back to normal and storing water when we could. The outage was minor, but it is incredible to me how dependent I am on the basic amenities of life. I would literally check the kitchen sink every twenty minutes in hope of the water being back! What would it be like to depend on God the way we depend on the water companies of our lives?

All in all, Kirsten and I fared well throughout the week. We experienced the grace of God in new ways, which is always a delight. Part of me feels like we have arrived as "Jamericans" as we have weathered the first major storm. Pastor Allen even found a way to comment on our newly acquired ability to catch rain water on Sunday morning, which won the hearts of some in the pews.
Briefly, in other news, tomorrow we are going to look at a car to purchase! We will be certain to keep you informed as to how it goes. Until then...grace and peace be with you.

The calm after the storm

The week in New Jersey was intense to say the least. It was a blessing to catch up with, run into, and visit many of you while I was back. However, the shortness of the visit only intensified the schedule, which made for an whirlwind of a week. The week was truly a blur as I began early in the morning and crashed late. Nevertheless, there were great moments that were enjoyed. Some highlights of the week were attending the Ocean City Bible Conference, sharing meals/coffee/laughs with family and friends, visiting supporting churches, and attending my 10-year high school reunion. Needless to say, when I arrived back home in Buff Bay, I was in desperate need of a vacation! So, that is what Kirsten and I did.

We were able to get an incredibly low rate on a sweet all-inclusive resort about two and a half hours away from Buff Bay. We enjoyed great weather and all-you-can-eat (American) food! So we did what we set out to do on our vacation - NOTHING. We lounged around, read good books, ate good food that we didn't have to cook, watched Mythbusters and Jeopardy (a treat since we do not have a TV), practiced the art of the flying trapeze, all while decompressing and recharging our batteries after a very busy 10 months.


We are ready for the fall to fall! Pray for us as we reengage in ministry. We are excited about what God is doing and will do in the upcoming year!

For some more photos click HERE!

One Big Thing

Well, I have been enjoying the beautiful September sun and breeze of Ocean City while attending the Ocean City Bible Conference. The sun and the breeze would be more refreshing if Kirsten was with me too, but she is pressing on in Buff Bay with piano lessons, music classes, Bible study, etc.

I have one thought that has been pressing on my heart throughout the conference. It comes from a song we sang yesterday:

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ! Hallelujah! Jesus is my life!

This is what God-Centeredness looks like. That we may know Jesus Christ in this way!

Cookout, Conference, Coolin'

The past week was a calm one. We enjoyed a nice day Saturday at the river with the Youth Fellowship (PICTURES HERE!!!). We cooked out, swam, played volleyball, and soaked in some sun. In addition, we welcomed Pastor Allen back from his much deserved vacation. He was able to take a couple of weeks off in Canada visiting family and friends. The circuit of churches is very excited to have him back and so are we. We hope that having us here allowed him some greater freedom to relax.

He is not staying long in Buff Bay, however, because he and I are heading up to New Jersey for about a week this coming Saturday. Our home church (Ocean City Baptist) is hosting the 2nd annual Ocean City Bible Conference (click here for the conference site). Pastor Allen will be preaching Sunday, September 12th at Ocean City Baptist Church (at 10:45 am), which will serve as the pre-conference kick-off service. OCBC has very graciously offered to bring me up with Pastor Allen to attend the conference. I am looking forward to the conference, largely because many of you will be attending! Several of our supporting churches will also be in attendance, so it will be great to connect and update them in person as to what God is doing in Buff Bay. In addition to attending the conference, I will be trying to connect with other supporters, family, friends, and also attend my 10-year high school reunion. Before heading back early Monday morning, I will be preaching at OCBC's Sunday night service on September 19th at 6:00 pm.

It will be a busy week but, I trust, a good one. I am flying solo, however. Kirsten is going to stay in Buff Bay because many of the ministries she does are just starting back up as school just started on Monday. When I return, we will be taking a couple of days off, so we are trying to miss as little ministry time as possible. Please pray for Pastor Allen and myself as we travel. Also, pray for Kirsten as she continues here alone during that time. Lastly, pray that the conference will be a success. Pray that the attendees are encouraged, challenged, and equipped to shine brighter for Christ and His Kingdom!

Hot off the presses!

We hope you enjoy staying updated with our ministry. Below is our newest newletter, enjoy!

Summer 2010Newsletter

Beautiful things in an ugly world.

I have been preaching on and thinking about 1 John 2:15-17. John writes about hating the stains of worldliness. The reason behind this necessary hatred of the world (that is, the world system which is stained with sin) is that it is not from God and will not last forever. The things of this world are shadows or fool's gold compared to the splendor and riches of the things of God. In other words, the things of this world are vulgar and cheap, and the things of God are elaborate, eternal, and beautiful.

In a day-to-day attempt to set the compass of my heart toward God, I have tried to seek after what is truly beautiful. I have tried to take into account more of my surroundings, which if you have ever been to the Caribbean, you know are quite beautiful. I have been on a steady music diet of John Coltrane, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan's "Saved" and "A Shot of Love" albums, and ancient hymns remade by modern artists. I have even been reading a large dose of fictional yet substantial stories: The Hobbit (Tolkien), Out of the Silent Planet (Lewis), and Perelandra (Lewis). Listening to, looking at, and doing beautiful things has been a great exercise in spiritual discipline.

How? Well, as we face the daily temptations to settle for the world and the things in it, I find that on my own I cannot fight the battle. However, when I see Jesus as more beautiful and fulfilling, the "things of this world grow strangely dim." Hating this world (the system) is not simply an attitude, but it is a reorientation of our focus to see things as they really are. This happens as we are "transformed by the renewing of our mind" (Romans 12:2).

The great struggle and work we have before us (and Christians everywhere) is not simply to advocate a change in behavior but a change in vision. To proclaim the one, true gospel that man is freed by grace through faith in Christ is to set his mind on beautiful and eternal things above and not things of this fleeting, decaying world. Pray for us as we seek after beautiful things of God in our own lives while holding up Christ as the most elaborate demonstration of God's beautiful grace, mercy, justice, and love to those in Buff Bay that they too may see what is truly beautiful.

God over all.

Sunday was my birthday. I preached 3 times throughout the day, received calls from the family, messages on Facebook, a very juicy 1/2 pound of jerk chicken, and a surprise cake from my wife! It was a good day. However, God saved some really great gifts to share with us this weekend that we were not expecting!

Rewind a couple weeks... Kirsten and I had been feeling like the wheels are spinning, but we are not really going anywhere. As you can imagine, this led us to feel frustrated and confused about the work. We kept plugging along, though, throughout the weeks of camp and then through our normal routine. It was this week that God allowed some great beams of light to shine through that have given us new energy and hope. That said, back to real time...and a list worth reading to the end!

1. Our trip to the boys' home with the Youth Fellowship (YF) was very good. We were able to see some growth and maturity in the young people.
2. A movie night at YF went really well. The film engaged the youth and has them asking good questions about what it means to live out their faith in everyday life.
3. This past Sunday I was asked by two people to write letters of recommendation for their granddaughter/daughter to get into the local high school. This is significant because people are beginning to trust us and are allowing us to share their lives with them.
4. Kirsten and I were approached by a girl in YF who asked us to hold her accountable in her faith as she goes back to school and to support her in prayer. Again, this was a total shock as we believed the girl intended to keep her distance from us. We thank God that she desires to walk together with us in her faith. Please pray with us for her as well.
5. Kirsten has a dear friend and peer in a woman named Shauna. Shauna and Kirsten are cut from a similar cloth, and they have formed a great bond. We praise God for this friendship as it has been a great encouragement and blessing in some of these frustrating weeks!
6. The YF threw a surprise party for me yesterday! We also celebrated Kerri-Ann's birthday (another missionary that has been here for 2 months now) at the same time. It was a really great night of food, cake, fun, and more food! Some words of blessing spoken to me, and indirectly to Kirsten, were incredibly encouraging because many members of the YF see us as the spiritual leaders of the youth fellowship. We again praise God for this and thank Him for establishing us beyond what we could hope or think!
7. Lastly (at least for this week), as I was preaching Sunday in the Tranquility church, a man named Brenton gave his life to Christ. To be honest, this is a first for me. What a truly fantastic birthday gift from the Lord! Pray for Brenton that his faith is sincere and that the Lord strengthens and draws him to Himself!

It has been easy to think that nothing is happening because we are only seeing the surface, but we have been reminded that God is always at work. We were turned onto this song the other day, and it is an important reminder of this very principle. The song reminded us that God is God of Buff Bay, and there are great things to come! Pray for us to remember this and work for the glory of His name well! Enjoy the video and remember that God is indeed God over ALL!

Back to Normal

Well, after four weeks of being really busy, we are settling back into our regular schedule, kind of. This week Kirsten began an English Camp, which is for 4 hours a day through this week. The camp is small, but I think it will be really helpful for those who are attending. Although English is the official language of the country, Jamaicans speak a dialect called Patois. Patois sounds something like creole in that it uses English words strung and squashed together. If you want a sample click HERE to hear the Gospel of Luke spoken in Patois. All this to say, the grammar and structure of Patois is very different from standard English. Therefore, when students are in English/literature class, many have difficulty making the leap. Please pray for Kirsten and the camp as she hopes to give the high schoolers various study aids to help them in English.

In other news, Youth Fellowship is beginning to branch out and do some more service ministries. One of girls that Kirsten has been disciplining arranged a visit to the local hospital where the youth prayed with, read Scripture to, and sat beside those who were ill or recovering. The students did a great job of ministering there. We will have another opportunity to serve this upcoming week as we are going to visit a boys' home two hours away. We will most likely be serving by way of devotion and song at the boys' home as well as cleaning and other needs they may have. Please pray that the Youth Fellowship may gain a greater understanding of the love of Christ. Pray that this may be the beginning of lives of service in Christ's name and by His power. Also, we ask that you will pray that the youth both at the home and serving with Youth Fellowship may hear the call of God's grace and be saved!

Grace and peace be with you all!

For your learning pleasure...

Our Crazy Month Part 3

As soon as we arrived back in Buff Bay, Kirsten and I were on the move again out of town to attend Youth Camp 2010! Youth Camp is the highlight of the Youth Fellowship calendar. The camp is not only for youth from Buff Bay but also from several other areas around the island. This year our camp hosted about 85 young people for 5 days at a college campus about 30 minutes away from Buff Bay.

Throughout the week of camp, two chapel services were held each day based around the theme of "Reflecting the Image of God." About 8-10 people surrendered their lives to Christ!!! Please pray that they may continue to pursue God in their daily lives away from camp. Jamaica is a very culturally Christian country. As a result, there is strong belief on simply being good and following Christ's example as the means to salvation. However, the emphasis of the teaching was that apart from God's saving grace and work through Christ, no one can reflect the image of God! It is not by ourselves but the work of God alone. Please pray for all the young people that heard these messages. Pray that they will completely surrender their lives to Christ while leaning on the Holy Spirit to guide them in their lives.

Camp games and activities were a blast; we hung out at the beach, had a massive water war fight across the campus, and competed against each other in various competitions. We were able to build relationships with some young people from other youth fellowships as well as deepen some with our own students. Because of the close quarters, we were able to observe and identify some of the needs of our students for future ministry. Pray as we try to speak the truth in love in ministering to these young people.

A couple specific prayer requests from camp follow. One of our own Youth Fellowship students (and Kirsten's star piano student) heard the call of Christ in her life over the week and was saved! After hearing about God's grace she realized that it is an irresistible grace that could not be passed by! Pray for Diedre as she begins her Christian walk. Also pray for Javi. Javi is a great young man that is lost. After a couple conversations in our small group time after the chapel services, Javi's mind pricked, and I believe is reevaluating some things. Pray that he may see his need for Christ and will be drawn to the Lord and be saved!

Lastly, pray for a Peku, an extremely kind, polite, and gentle young man. During Saturday night's chapel service the director of the camp received word from Peku's mother that his brother had died suddenly while abroad in Europe. Peku's brother was 29, his mother's only other child, and the main supporter of the family. Myself, the director, and one of the chapel speakers told Peku the news on Saturday night. Needless to say there were tears and confusion when Peku heard the news. Earlier in the week I had delivered a message concerning God's sovereignty over all things and His goodness in all that He does. In these situations it is hard to understand how these are true, but pray that Peku will be drawn close to God (even unto salvation) and that God's peace and grace will be a support in the family's life through this difficult season.

Pray for us as we hit the ground running back in Buff Bay. And while you do, enjoy some of the pictures from Youth Camp 2010 by clicking here.

Our Crazy Month Part 2

In between children's camp and youth camp, Kirsten and I were back in the States for an incredibly fast 5.5 days. We did get to see some of you but certainly not all. Much of the week in Ocean City was filled with family events surrounding my brother's wedding on July 31.

It was great to see, smell, and taste the flavors of home even for a short time. We were blessed to worship with our home church, Ocean City Baptist! Due to the quickness and full schedule of the visit, we were unable to check out our other supporting churches. Although it was great to be "home," it did not entirely feel like "home." God has done a tremendous work in our lives as we have become very accustomed to and comfortable in Buff Bay. Sure, there is not an abundance of pizza, sidewalks, or traffic lights, but it is certainly our home. Therefore, when we arrived at 2 East Avenue, Buff Bay late at night after a long day of travel back to Jamaica, we were excited to be back home!

For those we missed on the trip, we will hopefully catch you next time!

Our Crazy Month Part 1

As for the past month, Kirsten and I have not fallen off the map but have been going at break neck speed. Much of the time over the past weeks has been spent away from the computer so updating was not much of an option. However, it was an eventful time, and we want to share the work with you, while not overburdening you with too much. So, over the next three days you we will be filling in the gaps. Here is Part 1.

Our long month began with children's camp. The original plan was to go away to a rustic camp site with no showers for a week of overnight camp! However, because there were too few campers to cover the cost, we ended up staying in Buff Bay to have day camp at the church. As a result of the decrease in price and location, camp attendance went from 8 to 45 kids in no time!

Due to the change, many of the original camp preparations were in need of alteration or were thrown out altogether. However, the other counselors and campers made the most of it, and we ended up having a fun yet tiring week. I was in charge of teaching at the camp. The lesson theme was "A Special Son" looking at the life of Joseph as a way to look to the finished work of Jesus Christ. Kirsten was in charge of the music of the camp. The campers learned several Christ-centered songs, which they still walk around singing!

Despite foiled plans of overnight camp and one day stuck inside due to heavy rain, the camp went pretty well. We were able to get our feet wet in the camp scene (as neither Kirsten nor myself were ever real campers) and build relationships with some of the smaller children of the church and surrounding neighborhoods. We were blessed to help some children answer and struggle through great questions about Jesus and forgiveness; 3 children desired to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

Please pray for these boys and girls. Many do not have any infrastructure at home to follow up what has been taught in the church, therefore, it is easy for them to be distracted and led away. Pray for Trey, a boy who is very bright and has tons of questions. Pray that he will trust in Christ for salvation and grow into a godly young man. Also, pray for Anthony. Anthony is a stubborn, angry bully. Throughout the week of children's camp, we saw the hard shell begin to crack (at least around us). His heart was pricked by the end of camp as he became increasingly more interested in his need for Jesus to save him.

Providence, Hobbits, and Jamaica

"Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out to be true, after a fashion!" said Bilbo.

"Of course!" said Gandalf. "And why should not they prove true? Surely you don't disbelieve the prophesies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!"

J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit or There and Back Again (HarperCollins e-books).

It is easy to think of the details of our days as a series of disconnected and random events. As Kirsten and I are in the daily grind, we sometimes feels like we are just spinning wheels because we do not see how our role is helping the larger picture. When we think this way we are, in fact, missing the forest for the trees. However, God used Tolkein and story to help me realize that God is weaving a wonderful, beautiful tapestry that will tell of His justice, grace, and, of course, providence. The reason people love a great novel or film is because it takes seemingly disconnected events and brings them together in a way that points to one message. This is providence on display. God does not use fiction like we do, he uses life and lives to accomplish this!

God has placed us here, at this time and is using us here as He sees fit to fulfill His plan. It pleases God to use men to fulfill His purposes. It is easy to lose our grounding and become distracted to think we are only a "little fellow in a wide world." However, let us find our footing and realize something much bigger than us is going on! Soli Deo Gloria!

News, Photos, and Prayer Requests

The past couple weeks have been busy ones (Click here to see some of the pictures). A friend of ours from Ocean City came with Kirsten (when Spirit Airlines pilots decided to start flying again) to visit and see what exactly it is that we are doing here. We had a great time with Mary and tried to show her as much of the area and ministry as possible (although the rain hindered quite a bit). The day Mary left to go back to the states, a small group from Virginia arrived to help move in Kerri-Ann and her son, TK, to live in Buff Bay and join the ministry full time. Please pray for this partnership as we are still arriving at each others' roles and discovering how God will blend our skills to be most effective for His purpose in Buff Bay.

Camps (both children and youth) are also quickly approaching. Kirsten and I are playing major roles in the carrying out of these camps. We have heard a lot about camps from both the kids and youth as "camp" is the main event for the year; everyone wants to be a part of it. Kirsten and I were not campers in our years past and are feeling our way through the planning of the camps. We are not alone in the planning committee, which is great, but there is much to do before we are ready to hit the bunks! Please pray for us as we are in charge of the teaching and "spiritual" elements of both camps. Pray with us that we approach the camps with an attitude that the children are not too young to have their lives saved and changed forever by Jesus! Pray with us that these children and youth do not just have a great week at camp but are brought into the Kingdom and that from this week the Church of Christ may gain life-long disciples!

Some other prayer requests:
- We will continue to learn and grow in our understanding of Jamaican culture and how best to minister to the people of Buff Bay.
- We thank God that many in the church see us as people they can come to with various issues of their lives. Please pray that we will give godly wisdom and guidance seasoned by His grace.
- Continue to pray for the summer ministries as July is already flying by!
- Pray that we will be like Mary before we are like Martha (Luke 10:38:42). There is much to be done, and it is easy to get distracted with the tasks of the day without sitting first before Jesus' feet and being strengthened by His love and grace.

Grace and peace to you.

Lean on Me

Well, I have spent a week by myself in Jamaica. Kirsten has left me to bear the heat and has headed up to Ocean City for a couple of days to attend her brother's graduation. I am thankful that we were able to arrange it so that she could go and be with her family for the special occasion, but Jamaica is lonely without her. To make the situation a bit more complicated, Spirit Airline's pilot association has decided to stop working and strike! Therefore, Kirsten's stay is going to be an extended one (great for her and the family, sad for me).

As I have posted before, one of the greatest things about us being here together is what God is doing in our lives. There is a great deal of learning in my heart regarding dependence. I have spent the better part of my almost three decades trying to break free from the reins of dependence to become independent. This is the great cause of our national history, isn't it? I do not doubt that independence is a wonderful goal in many aspects of our lives (Who wants to be dressed by mom when you are 35?), but I do doubt its efficacy and benefits in terms of the Christian life.

Sin, at its core is a desire to be independent from God. It is our rejection of God's rightful rule in our lives, that is our dependence upon Him and His grace. Therefore, we must become more dependent in our Christian lives and give more of ourselves to our King. This is not the case simply with our vertical relationship with God though. I believe this is also the case in our horizontal relationships with other people.

In our personal relationships we must learn to become more dependent, more vulnerable. When we strip down our external barriers and fully enter into a relationship with another person, we do experience what God has designed to share with us through relationships. It is here that marriage has taught me more about God and ministry. Honesty, humility, vulnerability, and being others-focused all matters in our relationships if we are to experience truly the fullness of God and joy of relationships. When we try to maintain our independence and claim our "right" to keep an area to ourselves, we close off an area that God or others could bless, change, or even use! Ironically, however, when we give ourselves to God and others we actually find what we are looking for - real freedom!

I miss Kirsten largely because she has become a part of my life that I need in order to function properly. Sharing stories, laughs, tears, bearing each others burdens, etc., is difficult from a great distance. What might this say about God in our lives and our lack of joy in all aspects of life? Perhaps we are still trying to force our independence like a 17-year old with a new car but with no gas money. We have the desire to be free, but do not have all the means to do so. The truth is we were made for dependent lives, not independent ones.

One of my favorite lines in Forrest Gump comes when Forrest and Bubba Blue are on patrol in the rainy tropical forest of Vietnam. As they are trying to get some rest Bubba says, "I'm gonna lean up against you, you just lean right back against me. This way, we don't have to sleep with our heads in the mud. You know why we a good partnership, Forrest? 'Cause we be watchin' out for one another. Like brothers and stuff. " Lets lean on the everlasting arms and also on each other.

A YF Roadmap

Every Friday night Kirsten and I head down to the church to lead Youth Fellowship (YF) meetings. The meetings are a mix of praise & worship, teaching, and games. We have met and gotten to know many great people through YF. When we arrived, Pastor Allen placed YF under our direct care, which is our primary responsibility. Out of respect for the group and by way of becoming acclimated, we observed more than controlled YF for the first six months. I did take on the main teaching role each week, but we allowed the member leaders to plan and execute their game plan. This 6-month period allowed Kirsten and me to get a pretty good grasp on the strengths, weaknesses, and focus of YF. This observation period has given us a great snap shot of our role in the mix.

With this said, we believe that Saturday may be a watershed moment in the YF ministry. Over the last couple months Kirsten and I have been thinking, praying, and talking about a long-term vision for the YF. It was this past weekend that we had a meeting with the member leaders in the group to discuss this vision. We knew that it could possibly be met with some resistance and even animosity, but anything worth doing is worth doing despite the possible opposition.

We proposed a three-fold vision statement for the YF:
- Bring young people into the body of Christ - Our desire is not simply to increase attendance numbers on Friday night, but to increase those who are a part of Christ's everlasting Kingdom!

- Nurture their growth in Christ - Our passion is develop and guide believers into a solid and applicable faith grounded on the finished work of Jesus.

- Equip them to serve Christ and His Kingdom - Our conviction is that we are called to make disciples; therefore training young men and women to serve Christ and His church is essential to the ministry of YF.

These things we can only do by God's grace, which we strive to do to the glory of God alone!

Saturday's meeting went very well, and the young people attached themselves to this vision. In order to meet this vision, it does mean rearranging the infrastructure to facilitate each prong of the vision. Therefore, pray with us for this ministry. Please pray for:
- the transition, as it will take time to work through.
- our leadership, as we take more direct control over the schedule, activities, and training.
- guidance from the Holy Spirit that we will be sensitive to the needs and feelings of the group.

Grace and peace.

Slow and steady...

To be honest, there is a great amount of anxiety that pumps through my heart, mind, and fingers as I sit down to write each week about our time in Jamaica. The reality is that each week is very much like the others. Our mornings are spent primarily at home in preparation for afternoon and nightly meetings and classes. Our weekends are typically busy in study and teaching. So what is new? Well, not much.

I did throw away my favorite hat this week because it was covered in mold. I apparently sweat a lot in this Jamaican climate, which has left my hat damp - a prime target for mold to grow on in the intense, humid heat.

Kirsten and I also celebrated Memorial Day. We did not organize a parade of any sort, but we did eat pizza and beef! We were able to break away from Buff Bay yesterday to enjoy a day of mini-vacation, including some time on the restaurant's water slide.

As this is the second post I have written today (although the other one you may never see) I get this intense anxiety to write things that are shocking, startling, incredible, and fresh. Well, life is not always lived on the mountain tops; ministry, I am learning, is the same way. It is a consistent, faithful plugging along that we do. We strive to live well for the sake of the Gospel while praying that others will see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.

The longer we are here, the more we see that consistency and faithfulness are the foundation to the Christian life and specifically for the ministries here in Buff Bay. Change is neither occurring at record pace nor are conversions of souls being tallied in the hundreds like a Billy Graham crusade. But these are not the point. The way God pulls in the harvest are not really up to us. I have recently heard it said that we can only control two things: our faithfulness and our effectiveness, meaning we can only give it our all. We must be diligent and consistent in our lives (which is faithfulness) and evaluate whether or not we are doing all that we can do in our lives to be faithful (which is effectiveness). Kirsten and I are trying to do both to the glory of God and the good of the people of Buff Bay. Let us be faithful people; that is what God truly desires.

Dis...trac...tions...

Distractions are a part of everyone's life. Distraction defined is "a thing that keeps someone from giving full attention to something else." Now I think about distractions more than most people because I am distracted more than most. You can call it ADD, caffeine overdose, at times even laziness, but the fact remains I get distracted more than others. (As I write this post, you can bet that I have changed the artist on my music player twice, checked the news three times, and checked with sadness and frustrations at last night's Mets scores wondering why they are always the most disappointing team in baseball OR at least waged war with myself to fight the urge not to do so.)

To be honest, it took me a long time to admit to myself that I had/have a distraction problem. People would hint at it or make jokes about my being attracted to "shiny objects," but the comments were met with a laugh and not much thought (probably because I was looking at something shiny). I used to make excuses that I was just "that busy and needed to change hats often." As a result the problem took deep root, which makes it that much harder to break. The distractions were not only time-related either. The distractions in which I would get caught were those that would draw my heart away from things that truly mattered as well.

In his book The Screwtape Letters (an absolute must read-if you are a Christian or not), CS Lewis, writes from the perspective of an older, experienced demon (Screwtape) teaching his young nephew (Wormwood) how to be a successful tempter. Screwtape advises Wormwood that no elaborate plan needs to be developed to keep the "patient" (a human) from responding to God's call but that the slight distraction of his appetite or the morning headlines are enough to completely pull him away from the pursuit of God in his life. I have found this to be incredibly true in my life as you may be finding it true with yours even now.

This past Sunday potential distractions were at an all-time high. I was sent to two churches to preach. As we were in the taxi on the way to the first church, the skies looked like rain. Most people in Jamaica do not go out in the rain, especially for Sunday church, as the paths flood and shoes would become muddy and tattered. Before we even began, my mind was racing as to whether or not anyone was going to show up. The first service went well with the rain holding out until about 15 minutes left in the service. However, it then started to rain pretty hard as we headed to the second church. Again the thought was...this is going to be a wash (pun intended). To our surprise and delight, the church was open with people waiting to worship the Lord!

As we began the service, distractions abounded! The rain on the zinc roof was so loud that I was screaming just to greet everyone and commence the service. When the rain slowed and I was able to speak in a normal voice, more people shuffled in, which was distracting. As I began to preach, candy was distributed to the children in the service, which caused a small feeding frenzy. As I was nearing the conclusion and application of the sermon, a girl in the back began to "faint." It took all my energy not to want to simply stop in the middle, call it quits, and/or laugh out loud. There were many things that were trying grab my attention, but I kept reminding myself of God's call for us to be faithful, not necessarily successful by our terms.

Here is the point: I have been thinking about how so many things steal our minds from that which we are called to be focused on and faithful to. Distractions are not always bad; in fact, God might use distractions to get our attention, but the distractions we choose to busy ourselves with often pull us away from what we have been given the responsibility of doing. We may, in our self-inflicted distractions, be creating a white noise that keeps us from the intimacy God desires in our lives. We are scared of quiet time with the Lord so we distract ourselves with being busy instead of truly resting and nourishing our souls. Remember the definition of distraction: something keeping us from giving full attention to something else. "Multi-tasking" is a euphemism for distracting ourselves; multi-tasking with Jesus is always a bad idea.

Join with me in an effort to fight against the temptation to busy ourselves with good things when God desires great things for us. As CS Lewis classically put it, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

There are many thoughts, activities, attitudes, etc. that can be distracting to us here in Jamaica, especially as our cultures are not the same. Pray with us that we will be focused on God in our hearts and minds so that we are not wooed by the headlines or other, lesser, appetites. Grace and peace be with you.

Lightning Bolt

Jamaica's Usain Bolt ran his first 100m race of the track season today with a time of 9.86. We were able to see him run a 200m race a couple weeks ago which was a real treat. Here is the video of it for your viewing pleasure... The quality is poor, but you get the idea.




In other (sad) news our pineapple, the joy of our yard, has gone missing. The only sweetness we tasted was the joy of watching it grow.

Are you still there?

So, this is a long overdue post. We should probably pull out all the stops (pictures, videos, updates, announcements, etc.) to win back your affection and attention. We cannot promise all of these things today, but we will do our best to satisfy your hunger for the news in Buff Bay.

It is getting hot! I mean really HOT! Not only is the mercury rising but also the pace of our schedule. Kirsten and I have picked up some more classes/Bible studies to teach, which every night for at least one of us. Although we have to guard ourselves against burning out, we are enjoying the various ministries and find joy in them.

As the Bible studies, tutoring, and other activities progress, it is a joy to pass on the message that God has been growing us as well. On a relational level, Kirsten and I have become more dependent on God and each other. We are learning what it means to carry each others' burdens together in a more practical way. The two of us are also beginning to see a larger picture develop for our time here. We do not envision spending our entire lives in Buff Bay. Our purpose and plan has always been to support Pastor Allen and help to train others to come alongside him. As we hit the 6 month mark in June, the focus and means of this vision are becoming clearer. Please pray for us as we wait on the Lord's guidance and wisdom to press forward.

One of the classes that has me really excited is a young men's Bible study. There are 6 guys that I have picked out to disciple/train. These are young men who have shown some enthusiasm or ability to lead others. As Paul instructed Timothy to entrust the Gospel to faithful men so that they may do the same, so is the idea behind this Bible study. We are praying that these guys will take away from the study a sturdy foundation on Scripture and a hunger to serve the Lord.

Kirsten has also begun tutoring students. Many have great difficulty reading on a basic level, so English/reading instruction is a needed ministry. The difficulty many have in reading and comprehension plays out in an inability to study the Scriptures fully or in a deeper way. Please pray for this new arm of the ministry that Kirsten may guide and encourage those who have shut out the joy of learning due to the frustration of not being good at it.

As the summer approaches Kirsten and I have been planning on running a summer softball league for the youth fellowship. We hope that this will give the regulars an opportunity to practice evangelism while enjoying playing the game. We are also planning on carrying out a week or two of English camp. We are hoping that this will benefit many young kids, teenagers, and even some young adults. Please pray as we prepare for these ministries. We are hoping that God may bless these things and will draw people to Himself through them. We also are hoping they will be well received and people will have a blast!

Until next time...here are some pictures of the Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt, our pineapple, and (introducing) Liquid Metal and Super Bubble at youth fellowship Superhero Night!




More pictures can be found by clicking here.

Some photos for your viewing pleasure...

Here are some photos of the team from Atlantic Christian School along with our homegrown pineapple and a bowl of Jamaica's national dish (aki and saltfish).

Enjoy (click here)!

The young and the restless...

The past week and a half was a wonderful treat for us because we were able to host students from Atlantic Christian School. For some who do not know, this is the school where Kirsten and I taught for four years. Not only were we able to see our former students, but we were blessed to see how much they have grown as young men and women, especially in their relationships with Christ.

Their schedule was full and very ambitious. However, despite the obstacles of this intense schedule, extremely hot weather, and cultural barriers, the team worked tirelessly and very well over the past week. Their ministries were geared toward youth in Buff Bay. They hosted a soccer tournament, baseball clinics, and nightly church meetings with skits, singing, and short sermons. It is our hope that the youth in Buff Bay may experience God's grace and be saved.

From our vantage point, the youth in the Jamaican church are dwindling and being lured by "lovers less wild" than Jesus himself. The next generation of the church is thinning out as the culture is seemingly losing its Christian moorings. As many see this a problem, we see this as a wonderful place to begin. There is a fresh palate to which the Good News of Jesus may be applied. We can start at the ground up. That is what this past week was about.

Throughout the week we were able to meet, engage, reach, and show the love of God to the youth of Buff Bay. Some have expressed a desire to be saved and have already begun the process of learning more about Christ by getting involved in the church's instructions class. Others asked honest and sincere questions about the faith. In all, we probably interacted with about 200 youth from the community. Please pray for these young people and the ongoing effort to reach this generation. We hope that they will come to know, love, and serve Jesus with us!

We thank the ACS team, again! Until next time...

grace and peace.

What happened to March?

He is Risen, indeed! Happy (belated) Easter!

Our apologies for such a long delay in posting. We have been very busy with short term teams, a visit from dear friends, and of course the busyness of church during the Easter season. In all of these things we have been greatly blessed.

The teams that were here worked very hard doing vacation Bible schools, school devotions, and nightly meetings at two of the circuit churches. Two weeks ago, the meetings at the Tranquility church went really well. The last meeting was made sweeter when six people desired to surrender their lives to Christ. The meetings were a great springboard for us to begin an instructions class for people in that community. Essentially the instructions class is a fundamentals of the faith/assurance of salvation course. I have team taught this class with Pastor Allen in the Buff Bay church since our arrival, but now we have added the Tranquility church and another class in the Orange Bay church! This course is part evangelical (in that not all attendees are saved) and part discipleship. We are excited to see what will happen with these courses as we move forward. Please be in prayer for the students and classes.

After the team left we were pleased to have good friends come visit over their spring break. It was great for us to be with them, and together we enjoyed being tourists. I drove for the first time in Jamaica, which was a lot of fun. If you want a mental exercise: drive in the left lane and then make a right turn at an intersection without worrying if you are going to have a head on collision. Anyway, having Kate and Karen here was refreshing and encouraging to our hearts and minds.

On Good Friday, the youth fellowship hosted a "Stations of the Cross" activity. Instead of using traditional icons we used actual items (photos to come) such as a crown of thorns, purple robe, etc. to walk people through the Passion Week. There was a great mix of adults and young people who came to the event. We were very excited to see quite a few young people who do not come to youth fellowship. There was one guy I got to talk to after who did not want the event to end because he was so interested and moved by Jesus' passion. We are praying for those who walked through the event that the Holy Spirit may open their eyes to see and submit to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please pray for those who heard the gospel message not just from the "Stations" event but also the Good Friday and Easter services.

Lastly, we are about to leave to go to the airport once again today to pick up our former students from Atlantic Christian School! We are very excited to see them and are looking forward to working alongside them during the week. Please pray for their ministry over the week. There will be nightly evangelical meetings that will be youth focused, a 6 v. 6 soccer tournament, and Bible school. The schedule is packed so pray for stamina for the team (and us) as well as empowerment from the Holy Spirit to share sincerely and lovingly the Good News of Jesus.

Grace and peace,
Jon (and Kirsten)

Our house in the middle of the...

Well it is clear that we are not planning on beginning a career in film-making, but we do hope you enjoy the tour! Grace and peace.

VISA UPDATE!!!

Kirsten and I are very happy to report that immigration has approved our visas!!!  We will not have to be exiting the country, as we were hoping and praying.  This is a huge relief that will allow us to keep the ministerial momentum moving forward.  Please pray for the ministry as we seek to continue onward.  The approval confirms God's promise to equip and provide for those He sends!  Thank you for your prayers!

But we have a work permit...

As I have been recently reading through the book of Job, one thing is certain by the end of the book: God is in control.  We so joyfully reported the other week about our work permit status, and we then anticipated smooth sailing to get our working visas.  This is not the case.  Kirsten and I, along with Pastor Allen, went to Immigration to apply for our visas and were informed that we had applied for working documents backwards.  We knew that we were going the circuitous route, but we did not anticipate immigration's policy.  They would like us to leave the country in order to apply for our visas stateside.  The government is cracking down on some of their immigration policies; this is an example. 

We will find out Tuesday if Jamaica will grant us a discretionary waiver and issue us the visas on their soil.  Please pray that this will be the case so that we will not have to leave.  Kirsten and I would certainly love to see you, but we are finding a groove and feel like leaving would be taking two steps backwards.  We have seen the power of prayer and trust that this is another opportunity by which God may show His faithfulness and provision in this ministry.  To God be the glory whatever the outcome may be.