Sunday, July 25, 2010

It’s really hard to put into words the thoughts, sights, smells, confusion, heartache, joy and feelings that were shared today at the infirmary. It was humbling to see and everyone that has the chance should go at least once. I had no idea what to really expect and it was really eye opening. These people are the most “disadvantaged” people I’ve ever seen. They have nothing, no families left that stay with them, no luxuries, nothing… yet they have a love for God like I’ve never witnessed. They appreciate the littlest of gestures and just love someone to talk to. This experience has really made me reconsider what I think I “need” and “want”. The people in the infirmary really touched my heart but one in particular was a 67-year-old bed-ridden woman named Rachel. She has been there for 30+ years and was the sweetest most thankful women I’ve meet here. Another one of my teammates and I were reading a Psalm to her and she knew every single word of it and said it aloud with us without looking at her bible. I thought how amazing it was that someone who had, in my opinion, more of a right to be angry with or not trust God than I did, knew His words, were fed, and lived by His promises. Throughout her turmoil’s and the trials of everyone else there she kept her faith and that I feel is what this is really all about. I’ve been so “over focused” and connected to the world that I’ve lost my clear connection with my Creator. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to realize this and to hopefully carry with me a greater understanding that I’m living for someone other than myself. My hope is that through out this week that God will continue to reveal himself to me through the children, the work site, the devotionals, the amazing mission team that I get the privilege to serve with, the beautiful landscape/view, and most of all the wonderful people of Jamaica! The people at the infirmary will continue to weigh on my heart and I hope that through our visit today that we were able to give them at least half the joy they gave us by being there to visit and serve them.

Brianna Tallman

7/25/10

Hello from Jamaica mon!!! This is Melanie Randolph . Today has been such a wonderful yet emotional day. We were blessed to attend the New Life Deaf Church this morning. I was able to join in the worship with sign language. It’s funny how we tend to think of worship as one certain way. But it is whatever glorifies God! It doesn’t matter if it’s with your hands, voice, thoughts, or what language or if you even use a language. When we gather together to worship Him, we are one body. What a glimpse of Heaven I have been blessed to see!!! Brothers and sisters in Christ were gathered with one goal—to worship and glorify our Creator and Savior! I so enjoyed watching the sermon that Sheldon prepared for us. God is using peoples’ hands and hearts in a mighty way here. I was thrilled to visit with the Deaf here. We talked about everything and I made sure they remembered the Texas signs I taught them last year like “y’all”!!!! I talked with Erica about our similarities with raising our children and how we handle different situations. Mom to mom. What a joy!!!! I played with their children and watched their signs. I’ve taught my kids the same signs!!! We are one with one God!!!!

Later we went to the infirmary. That is always the hard part of the trip. It’s an overwhelming feeling of sadness yet joy. Most of these people know Christ as their Savior but the world has tossed them away. They are God’s children!!! He loves them as much as He loves me. He died for them as much as He died for me. I sat with a woman who has been there too many years. She lay contorted in her bed unable to ever get up. As I approached her she seemed to smile. I asked her how she was doing today; what else was I to say? She looked at me and said, “I’m blessed, mon. I’m blessed.” What? Does she realize where she is? Yes, she does. She is more aware of her surroundings and God’s provision than most of us. She thanks God daily for keeping her alive. That I don’t understand. So I sat down next to her to see her closer and allow her to not strain to look up at me. I asked her if she needed anything. She said, “No, mon. I have everything.” Then she breaks into a song that I think she made up about how blessed she is and how much she loves God. We talked about Heaven and how that will be a place of great joy. She breaks into another song about Heaven and how she will sing “Hallelujah!!!” when she gets there. Then my feet started itching. I was being bitten by the same fleas that infested her bed. She didn’t seem to care about them. As a matter of fact, she still thanks God for His blessings and provisions. How can you say that? She is content in her Savior and His love for her.

Moral of the story? Contentment. Gratefulness. Love. Generosity. Unity. And one day, in the not too distant future in the great timeline of eternity, we will all be praising God in our own special way. Via hands, hearts, voices and every other way. We will be praising our Lord and Savior. Praise God!!!!

To my family and friends: I miss y’all very much (HI Jordan and Kiran Ann). I am fine and having the time of my life. I’m in my niche. Hopefully, next year Jason will be able to join me. And our son Jordan has already said he wants to come minister to everyone here. I can’t wait to share the experience with anybody and everybody. This is a time where God and I are doing a lot of talking and it is nice to unplug for a while and get back with Him. I can’t wait to see what else He has in store for me here. Please keep all of us in your prayers.