Chicken Soup for the Jamaican Soul

Hi there! (Side note: If you were wondering where the title came from it was inspired by a random book that is on the desk...)  The retreat last week was needed and wonderful. It has been the first week back since the retreat.When we got back we were so glad to be back in the Harmons with all our friends! It just feels right being back here.

Featured in the picture above is my mento Chelsie and I. Monday was her birthday and it's a Jamaican tradition to be floured on your birthday. Although she may look happy here in this photo... I soon found out that she had never experienced being floured before... Sadly I made her cry, but she was soon back to her cheerful self. Chels is such a sweetheart! Her family is uh-mazing. She has such a great love for others and just a sheer joy for life! As I'm sure you know everyone goes to the infirmary on Wednesday for an hour and a half. Many of the summer staff were accompanied by their mentos. It was so precious seeing them interact with all the residents. Chelsie was one of the mentos that came. It was such a blessing to watch her truly love others. The most beautiful moment ever was when all the mento girls, summer staff, and the residents started singing Jesus Loves Me together. God is so good! He moves in such incredible ways.

I do believe that is all for now. I hope that everyone is doing great back home. I cant wait to meet the next team and see how God continues to move. Oh and also I received the most precious note ever by one of the Jamaican kids that totally trumps  the last note! Probably the highlight of my week! It was so great! I just love being here! God is so good.

Blog Titles are Always Awkward

Ashley Winkler here.  Louden Valley is currently in Harmons with us and it has been fun to get to see them experiencing Jamaica for the first time. (only two of the team members are returning members).

Pictured above: Kimberly, Jadia, Tatiana, Apple-J, and Jardene. (...and I'm the white girl in the middle)

Yesterday, Kimberly, Jadia, Apple-J, as well as some others, walked with me around town to visit their various family members.  As we walked, we talked about everything.  We talked about our families, our classes, our friends, and our faith. We played games, did dances [[when no one was around]], and took walking breaks to pick "plums" from the trees (The plums were not ripe, but we still ate them. They were green and tart, but delicious all the same.)  We were exhausted by the time we returned to the Harmony House.

Today was a much different day.  I got to take Jadia, Kimberly, and Apple-J to the infirmary with me for almost two hours.  For the first 15 minutes, they were very wary of getting too close.  They crowded behind me and watched as I introduced them to some of my friends who live there.  I was impressed as the girls became opened to the residents. They were reading Bible verses, singing songs, and hugging the men and women we met.  Through their humility and willingness to get up-close and personal with the residents, I was able to see God at work in them. We talked about how encouraging it was to see people who are disabled singing songs of praise to their Creator. The conversations that occurred because of our trip together have been awesome. Glory to God!

"May the LORD make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  May HE strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones." --1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Delectable Dining

Meet Shanique (the 13 year old that I mentor this summer)

Hello friends! Now as you may know, one of my main passions is food: I love to cook, am addicted to the Food Channel, read cookbooks for leisure (weird, I know), and of course, I find great fun in trying new foods whenever possible. You will understand my sheer excitement then when I can say that I was able to eat at the homes of two of my Jamaican friends this past Saturday. God has blessed me with so many friends here that are willing to open up their homes to me and the other summer staffers for a delicious meal now and again.
Sunday afternoon, our friend Opal had the entire summer staff over for an authentic Jamaican meal. She made the national dish of saltfish and ackee, which consists of cured cod and a local fruit cooked just right... in fact, unless it is prepared correctly, ackee is poisonous. We also enjoyed yams and dumplings. The menu was amazing, yet the best part about the afternoon was hanging out with Opal and her children. We played dominoes, played with various animals, and were able to enjoy each others company. Opal was so loving to open her kitchen to us, and I praise God for the glorious woman that she is.
As if I wasn't lucky enough already, Shanique (the girl in the picture) and her mother invited my friend John and I to dinner that night. Not only was the chicken, rice, and vegetable gravy insanely good, but we didn't stop laughing for the entire meal. Whether Shanique was singing, her mother was pulling us into some dinner table games ("smash the finger, don't cry" anyone?), or we were doing handclaps, the evening was festive. I am truly fortunate to have these friends down here. I hope that you keep the locals in your prayers whenever you think of us down here in Harmons.
~Stay classy.

Party in the USA... no wait, Jamaica!

Hey everyone! This is my first blog of the summer so I'll tell you a little bit about myself. But first, I would like to share a short story. Tonight the seven of us summer staff were invited to go to a birthday party for one of the Jamaican women we know fairly well. So we went, assuming the evening would be extremely awkward considering we didn't know half the guests and couldn't help but stand out as the only "whiteys" there. As the eating and dancing went on, we were quickly surprised at how much we enjoyed ourselves. Not only did we feel welcomed, we soon came to realize that we were seen as a part of their family. God has blessed me with an amazing family not only at home, but also here on this beautiful island.

Name – Sarah Means 

Age -  18

Hometown – Punxsutawney, PA

High School – Punxsutawney Area High School

College – Lock Haven University

Major –Health Science/ Pre-Physician’s Assistant

Aspiration –To make as many people happy as possible

Hobbies –telling vegetable jokes, listening to music, hanging out with friends, doing back “flicks” (flips) as the Jamaicans like to say, and playing any sort of physical game

Favorite Color – Blue

Favorite Sports Team –ehh, don’t really have any favorites

Favorite Book – I like a lot of books and can’t really pick an all time favorite.

Favorite TV Show –So You Think You Can Dance

Favorite Foods – hmmm, where to start… I love just about any kind of food. I’m beginning to really love me some good ol’ Jamaican curried chicken.

Favorite Music – The clog song, the “in my cup” song, or the Jamaican song we love but don’t know the words to. But overall, anything except country

Favorite Bible Verse –tough one... I really like everything in Ephesians.

My Job in Jamaica – Assistant to the Director

Anything Else? – God is blessing me in so many ways this summer. First of all, I am EXTREMELY blessed to be given the opportunity to come spend my summer serving the Jamaican people. Secondly, the friendships God has given me this summer are some of the best I’ve ever had. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in Harmons helping the people I love most. So, thank you to all my supporters! God bless!

Howdy Everyone!

Hello to everyone that reads our blog, this is my very first time to blog ever and its kind of fun! I have put a little information about myself below for you to read and to be able to get to know me. I have to do a shout out to my new dear friend Krista, thanks for all your support and encouragement and to Mallory from SBU! Miss you girl! Enjoy.

Name – Ashlee B.

Age -  22

Hometown – Blue Springs, MO

High School – Blue Springs High School

College – Southwest Baptist University

Major – Early Childhood and Elementary Education .

Aspiration – To teach our youth to make better decisions.

Hobbies – scrapbooking, scrapbooking, scrapbooking, reading books,

Favorite Color – Purple

Favorite Sports Team –Chiefs and Royals!!

Favorite Book – Lady in Waiting, Boundaries, Bible

Favorite TV Show –Golden Girls.

Favorite Foods – Granny's  Macaroni and Cheese.

Favorite Music – Country, Christian, Pop.

Favorite Bible Verse – Ephesians 2:10.

My Job in Jamaica - I work in the store with the other Ashley.

Anything Else? – I am very excited to be here in Jamaica serving the American teams and the Jamaicans.