04 Mar Four UB Women, 8 Days in Jamaica

Four women from Bethel UB (Elmore, Ohio) traveled to Jamaica February 16-23 to work at the Craighead United Brethren church: Melissa Blausey (over a dozen previous visits), Vicki Kreinbihl (her first trip), Paula Shaffer (3rd trip), and Betty Brown (6th trip). They worked with a Bible School in the church and built relationships in the area.

They took $651 to help pay for steps to the church, which are being finished now. They also took about 55 pairs of shoes, 136 boxes of crayons, and other supplies.

The Bethel church has been involved at Craighead for many years, since Dave Datema was the pastor. Several years ago they put a good-sized addition on the church, minus the floor and roof. A group of women returned about three years ago with $6000 so they could add a roof. The men of Craighead did all the work. Last year they took money to get the windows put in.

Follow the link to read excerpts from Betty Brown’s journal, starting from their arrival at the Montego Bay airport on February 16.

Betty Brown writes:

Wendell, Lloyd and Karl were there to meet us. Big hugs all around as we were all so glad to see one another once again. Just like coming back home. Luggage was quickly loaded in the back of the truck. After a stop at Burger King, we are on our way up the mountain. The rain starts, darkness comes. We arrive at Wendell and Natalie’s home about 7:30 and we are all tired. Too dark to see across the street to the church. Morning will come.

Pastor Bryan and Rhoda come over after prayer meeting to welcome us to Craighead. He thanked us much for the donation from Bethel; the men are already at work on the steps. They will be having a conference there in March and it will be so nice to have the steps in. It is a building they can be proud of and invite the other churches to come to, now that there is room.

Wednesday. Vicki, Missy, and Paula take a taxi to Christiana to get some more water and groceries. I stay home and rest a bit. We will be doing Bible School at 4:00. This will be a busy time.

As I sit here writing these notes, I hear the bray of a donkey. A rooster is crowing in the distance. The songs of the birds and a doctor bird sipping nectar. Dogs are barking. I notice many more donkeys than on previous trips. Some walk down the road with a heavy load. People walk down the steps to the Post Office.

I am alone on the porch and have time to meditate a bit. “Thank you Heavenly Father for bringing us together again. These too are your special people. They love you just as much as I do Lord and your love for them is the same. Help us to be an encouragement to them. You have taught me much from them.”

We still have rain. We all wear sweatshirts. It is damp and chilly. Missy fixes chicken salad for lunch and we get a loaf of bread from “the store.” It tastes very good.

Time to get our things ready for Bible School. Vicki has things well prepared, so it does not take long. People stop by the gate. We remind them 4:00, Bible School at church. We know they will tell their friends, and they will be there in spite of the rain.

We take a walk over to the church to look things over. The transformation is amazing. The wall is out. Florescent lights are in and 3 fans with lights are down the middle. Even on a dark rainy day, we could see well. Next will be tile on the floor. It has a clean, warm, welcoming invitation to “come and worship with us.”

Vicki chose the story of Zaccheus. She had a tree for him to climb and a piece of yarn to pull him up into the tree so he can see Jesus. What do you and I need to be able to see Jesus? We had 21 students. Not bad for a rainy day. Missy fixed mac and cheese for supper, after which we all played games.

Thursday. There are 55 children in Bible School today. A young girl of 15 comes to Bible School with her mother, and she has a baby in her arms. Chrissy is just 5 weeks old. She comes to Bible School. I hold the baby most of the time.

The story is about the Good Samaritan. We do a little skit about how everyone left the traveler along the side of the road except the Good Samaritan. I am the traveler, and Vicki used markers to make blood and bruises on me. I lay on the floor and moan and groan and keep asking for help. The littlest children are so concerned that I am really hurt. I am sure they will all be Good Samaritans as they grow up. It was so precious. I know they will remember the story.

The men are still working on the steps. They are taking shape. Lots of hard work and sledgehammer swinging to break up rocks. We get a cold drink for them from Wendell’s store.

Friday. We had well over 65 children in Bible School today. They just kept coming in and we lost count. We put a box of crayons, aBible story coloring book, and some treats in a bag to give each child on the way out.

Friday night there was a wake for a dear lady that died. It was interesting to see how the different cultures do things. This is done at the home, and there were lots and lots of people. I would guess a couple hundred. The funeral and burial was Saturday.

Saturday. Early Saturday morning and the sun is out bright. The porch is quiet. I sit with my coffee and listen to the sounds of Jamaica. I try to imprint them in my mind so I will not forget these dear people. There is so much to learn from them. I have so little to give.

Missy, Paula, Vicki, and Lloyd go to Black River (tourist area) on Saturday morning. I stayed and got my packing organized and just rested for the up-coming trip home.

Sister Jean comes by and gives me a receipt for the money that Bethel sent. They are so appreciative. Now the steps can be finished. I pray there is enough to finish them.

Pastor Bryan calls to check up on how we are doing. He will be up for the funeral and will stop by then. He will pick up the things we have for Owen Gordon. Dr. Gordon called and apologized for not being able to come see us. Those that go by stop and ask about others. I have a church directory that I took along and they enjoy looking at it and ask more questions. They ask about the big tall guy. I show them a picture of Al: “Yes that is the one.”

Pastor Donald Dacres comes by to see us, too. He reminds us that he was at Bethel at one time. He too thanks us for coming to help Craighead.

Sunday. We go to the church early to visit with people. Every bench is full. A Men’s group sings about heaven being a beautiful place. The song brings tears to my eyes. They gave us a little thank you gift and asked us to say a few words. Vicki kept mentioning the good message pastor Bryan brought from 2 Peter 1. There is baby dedication.

Wendell fixed a delicious Jamaican lunch for us, and then we rode in the back of his truck to see his house. He is fixing rooms for us to use when we come down with our own kitchen. Missy asked when he planned to have it finished. Two years, 3 years, 4 years? Of course there can be no deadline, because he does not know how he will be able to come to the States to earn the money for it. I tell him, well, 4 more years and I will be 80, so I may not make it. Ha!