Michael Wittkamper, Director

Our Lord has blessed Mission Jamaica with faithful servants and has guided us to significant accomplishments this season. Each week wonderful things happened and I want you to see the depth and breadth of what has been accomplished at 12+ sites. I give thanks for each one of you and praise God for your sacrifices, your labor, your Christian witness, your flexibility and your faith. Please take note of the activity at each site and then take a minute to read my closing comments.

Kingston

Hope Valley Experimental School – Beneficial work for the children of this special school continued as we re-roofed the computer classroom (our previous one didn’t last the hurricane) and leveled the floor ready for tiles. And a small computer room was built in the special needs classroom area. Adjustments and repairs to the pipe handrail in the special needs area were made. Mr. Nelson and Ms. Williams were grateful for our good work.

Calaloo Mews Basic School – We were able to complete the second classrooms power, lighting and ventilation needs. This makes for a near miraculous improvement in learning environment for these kids who have little else going for them. They will have a chance because of this school, its warm atmosphere, wonderful teachers and daily lunch. Angie Simms aided this work and assisted in the following.

Calaloo Community Biffy – The need is obvious for a sanitary facility for this “ghetto’ area in the unwanted land between the flood control ditch and the ‘freeway.’ While the kids get a good education at the basic school there are no toilets and showers in this area of maybe 500 people. Joe Kiesling and Larry Gruenwald did great work taking extra time to sketch out, lay the foundation and begin building the walls. Joe managed to get a backhoe in to dig the trench for the water line and everything was going along well to finish with the Build-A-Biffy team. Kudos to Joe Kielsing for complying with Jamaican labor demands of a “Red Stripe at 11:00, chicken lunch at 12:30 and a Red Stripe at 3:00.”

Montego Bay, Falmouth, Anchovy and Copse

J”Abode (Habitat for Humanity) - Falmouth

To see a home, not just a house be ready for use is enormously satisfying. In Orange Valley a strong team of Jamaicans led by Westcliffe and Arne accomplished this in 3 days. In Salt Marsh the “Thursday” house built in a long morning was slept in by a family that night. And the foundation next door was poured the next week. In ‘Racetrack” a ghetto of Falmouth, much of a bathroom was built for a man immobilized from a stroke – this is the first time anyone has ever come to help them – truly a ground breaking event of trust and cooperation. Delcie was greatly moved by this event. In addition to the partnering of Arne and Delcie as they provided great leadership, the equal sharing of the work was gratifying to see. We celebrated by taking 12 Jamaicans on our traditional catamaran ride one Friday and the next we shared a tasty Jamaican meal in Rock at the S&H restaurant with 25 people in attendance. Delci and “Nozzie” ate with us at Tobies as we celebrated the work at Racecourse. It was a remarkable J’Abode season with goals for work exceeded and very moving fellowship and increasing friendships with old and new Jamaicans.

Garland Hall Orphanage - Anchovy

The orphans at Garland Hall were beside themselves anticipating the coming of the Mission Jamaica Team and Pr. Tom. Much maintenance was done along with painting and general upgrades by this slightly smaller team. This Wednesday to Wednesday group’s highlight is Sunday when they take the kids to Mt. Carey Baptist Church in the morning. Then it’s off to MoBay and the Movies – this year, “Madagascar Two” which was enjoyed by all the kids, staff and missionaries with a bag of popcorn and a soda. Still hungry everyone enjoyed a chicken dinner at KoKoNutz on the way home – those kids really clean their plates! And a tuition payment for one Garland Hall graduate was paid - soon she will become an accountant and we pray a successful graduate of Garland Hall. Also 5 laptop computers were set up and working just fine with educational software in the computer room – and an interactive game too. Fine tuning of computers was done on the added work day..

Medical Missions: Montego Bay, Irwin, Copse

Five Medical teams deployed to St. Johns Methodist Clinic [7 days], Riverside Church of the Open Bible Campus[5 days] and outreach site [1 day] and the Copse Community room [2 days] and two Dental teams at St. John’s [3 days] and Riverside [3 days]. Each did incredible work during long hours. Medicine was in abundance thanks to team contributions and customs complimented us with our manifests and organization each time we entered the country. Efficiently assembled manifests and well structured clinics provided maximum service. Riverside is coming into its own with the clinic building (container) painted, roofed and dedicated to being finished. The community outreach offsite was overwhelming and gratifying. It has been especially pleasing to serve the Copse population – our friends from Westhaven, Place of Safety and the Basic School. We are pleased to see the desire and flexibility of teams to bring medicine to this rural population – in addition they checked out several Westhaven residents.

Westhaven Disabled Children’s Home (Child Care) Copse

Once again great care was given the children of Westhaven. In a devotion one evening I related that as I came to Westhaven that day it seemed to be “humming.” That describes lots of kids on the verandas, wheelchairs rolling up and down the lane, cheerful greetings shouted here and there, construction noise from Cottage 1 and 5 and God’s love clearly evident. Of special note – some kids got outside for the first time ever, some got their first wheelchair ride ever and the boys/men in Cottage 3 got great attention.

Westhaven Disabled Children’s Home (Construction) Copse

Great work was done on Cottage 1 as the roof was reinforced and repaired and a 12’x12’ solar chimney added and all shingled. Better light, ventilation and cooling will greatly improve their quality of life..

Cottage 5 saw its roof finished, the floor poured (5 - 8 yd loads of Redi-Mix) and many of the walls were rendered ready for paint. Columns for the veranda were poured. We were getting ready for the electrical as I left. The big item left is tiling the floor with a non-skid tile Miss Grant has in mind. Lots of smaller finishing jobs – wiring, windows, painting were completed including the new ramp to the school. Thanks to the Kiwanis group from Pennsylvania who helped the bucket brigade pouring the floor.

Copse Basic School - Copse

Several classes akin to VBS were held by four teams and students enjoyed the extra help as well as a visit from Pirates, who were scary and funny but brought the Bible in a Treasure Chest. Many Bibles were given out here and at Faith Chapel

Riverside (Church of the Open Bible Campus) in Irwin

The Riverside campus saw in the off season the athletic court professionally laid with asphalt and hoops put up. In February a 20’ by 30’ roof was put over the deck serving the soon-to-be finished Clinic Building (container). Much had been accomplished as the Jamaican team worked on the Basic School over the year. 5 laptop computers were given, set up and running by the time the team left. The medical clinic performed well and is excited about progress on the clinic arrangement. The much needed Dentist rounded out the season. A new effort at outreach in the community (they are working on a new locale – that was not a fire pole!) went very well, meeting much need and very satisfying for our team and deepening our relationship and commitment to the Riverside community

Moravian Church Basic School – Moravian Heights, Montego Bay

Per their committee’s desire we came to dig on two Mondays and Tuesdays and got the foundation started. When the plan is more clear we will continue our work on this Basic School

Other Goals

Our hope was to increase Jamaican participation in each project, better partnering with their leadership and understanding common goals and objectives. This was begun in the Fall trip as our project point people sat down with Jamaican leadership for each project and discussed hopes and dreams and came to a common workable plan. As each team came on site this was the building block for the actual work. In each case we enjoyed broader understanding of our goals and achieved a 50/50 work force. This was so immediately gratifying to both parties that the second goal of increased fellowship was easily realized. Two fellowship activities of 12/12 and 12/12 occurred, Jamaican leadership shared in several meals, bonus trips were shared with Pr. Douglas, his wife Rose, and Nozzie on the catamaran. On touring trips our drivers often made the meal the high point.

We hoped to increase the awareness of team members in things Jamaican and a tour of historic sites was taken by 5 groups. Each remarked about things they learned, things they were happy to finally see and all were glad to know more history. All agreed it was a valuable experience and great fun. This goal was met in an unexpected way by those staying at Tobies Resort. In addition to the intimacy of a small place the opportunity to walk the Hip Strip was well received. Part of it was getting away from being self-contained and having to take 2 hour shopping trips to now just strolling, bargaining, chatting with Jamaicans and window shopping. People indicated they saw another side of Jamaica and they like it.

We also offered a “Theological Conversation,” which was taken by only one group. And it far exceeded expectations. We dined with Pastor Glenn Stoddard (Pentecostal) and spouse and Fr. Toby Stoddard (Anglican) and spouse. All four were wonderful to share during the meal and very insightful in the discussion that followed. The conversation went much longer then anticipated and everyone said it was amazing – certainly one of the high points of the trip.

TOP TEN MEMORABLE MOMENTS

· Twelve missionaries breaking bread (steamed Fish stuffed with Calaloo) with 12 people from Salt Marsh in Rock (opposite side of Bay for Glistening Waters) as we celebrated the ‘build’ in Salt Marsh.

· The joy of watching the Orange Valley J”Abode building team on the Catamaran, first time out in the ocean for many, and on another trip with Rose and Pastor Douglas who said, “This is the most relaxing thing I’ve done this year.”

· Extraordinary evening with the Stoddard brothers – one Pentecostal Pastor, one Anglican Priest – sharing Jamaican history, culture and religion. Their spouses were remarkably insightful observers and shared to the delight of all.

· Conversations with three men on different teams as to their personal journey to become comfortable in caring for the ‘men’ in cottage 3 at Westhaven.

· Listening to, observing first hand, and seeing missionaries and Jamaicans “get it” as to the momentous culture shift as we showed up to work on a bathroom in Racecourse/Falmouth. These people had not seen nor believed that North Americans would give of themselves in Christian love to them.

· “And there was light, and the light was of God” said again and again as the second classroom became well lighted, ventilated and a very suitable learning environment for children at the Basic School in Calaloo Mews, Kingston .

· Standing on the (recently poured) floor of Cottage #5 and looking up through its Solar Chimney and then looking across and seeing the new roof and Solar Chimney on Cottage #1.

· Hearing the grateful words from a family of 4 who had been sleeping in their sheet plastic house, “We are going to sleep in our new house tonight,” as we sufficiently finished the extra workday, “Thursday House,” in Salt Marsh.

· The Customs Official from Kingston met our first medical team as we processed our medicine through customs. And I asked if there was anything more that we could do? He replied, “Nothing you’ve done everything very well.” And when our meds were detained on another customs day, his later admitting it was their fault – he had left our paperwork in Kingston.

· Week after week watching 1^st timers, repeaters and long term missionaries “get it” that this is what it means to have Christ living in you, working through you.

· Seeing the partnering of nearly a 50/50 mix in each team on nearly every project – Albion Heights, 3 J’Abode projects, Build-A-Biffy, 5 medical and 2 dental teams. Even the paid labor at Westhaven seemed to be more of a partnership.

· Missionaries attending Albion Heights Moravian Church, Faith Chapel, St. John’s Methodist, Falmouth Baptist, Jacob’s Well, and hearing at Church of the God of Prophecy – that God has a mission for you as a missionary, “God wants no slackers on your team, there is work to be done.” Amen to that. Somebody (everybody) Praise The Lord!

It has been a wonderful season and I pray that this work will continue to grow. Given Mission Jamaica’s unique financial base and the current economic situation it has been determined that Mission Jamaica needs an economic re-structuring to continue its ministry. The positions of Director and one Associate have been eliminated. That means that Cathy Schwarze and I will not be on staff as of May 1, 2009. The Board is still reviewing various economic and structural models and the shape of Mission Jamaica for 2010 will become clear soon. For me it has been an incredibly rich and wonderful position to be in and to see all the wonderful work of Mission Jamaica. I am grateful to have served for two seasons and pray continued blessings on this ministry. I pray that God will write a new and glorious chapter in your history as I look forward to the new chapter God writes for me.

Yours in Christ, Michael Wittkamper