We've made it. After a morning and early afternoon of travel we arrived from Houston into Montego Bay, Jamaica. We are excited that we've finally made it.

After being picked up at the airport and checking into our new homes, and yes they are literally homes, we ventured out to the St. James Infirmary. Having the opportunity to minister to those who have "nowhere else to go" was a great chance to show the love of Jesus to other.

We took a quick trip across Montego Bay to Westgate Hills Baptist Church to see where we would be serving for the week. Pastor Sharpe greeted the group during orientation and shared his vision for the church in the community.

A quick dinner of BBQ chicken, rice, and salad we headed back to the homes for an early night. Tomorrow is worship. Praise God.

Today being Sunday, it was a great day to praise the Lord. After waking from a restful sleep we traveled to Westgate Hills Baptist Church for breakfast. How could the cooks possibly know that pancakes, bacon and fruit were our favorites.

We started serving today by setting up the chairs for the church service. This task used to be the responsibility of one of the husbands of the homes we are staying at this week. As we waited for Sunday School to begin we tried our hand at Jamaica trivia. The ladies eeked out a victory over the guys this time.

Sunday school has us breaking into groups to learn more about God's word. Some sat in the children's session while others participated in the adult session focusing on witnessing to others. Very appropriate considering what the day would entail.

Service began and we were treated to some words from Pastor Dustin shared the word and Lindsey and Scott shared their testimonies.

We ate a light lunch of sandwiches and fruit and prepared to do some street service invitations. We walked to the Mt. Salem area of Montego Bay with some youth from the church and shared with others about the street service happening later that evening.

To escape the sun we spent some time back at the church sharing Life Stories. This was a great way to get to know each other even better as we share out lives this week.

Dinner presented us with some curry goat. Yes a little unusual by American standards but a common meal in Jamaica. We finished the meal and headed out to Mt. Salem again for the Street Meeting. This was really a fancy name for an evangelism service. Gandy shared her testimony and many from the group helped with singing.

What a great day. We are thankful for the blessings that God provided us today. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us tomorrow.

Monday morning started with a quick breakfast at the church in Westgate Hills and off to devotions at Montego Bay Prep School. Grant treated the kids to some fun children's songs. The kids ate it up and he did a fantastic job getting the kids involved in the songs and actions.

When we returned to the church the sand and gravel had arrived and we took time to move it bucket by bucket up to the top of the church so that all the walls could be completed before the next hurricane hits the island. If the walls can be completed then the wind will not be able to get under the roof as easily. Rev. Dr. Sharpe spent much of the day affirming the group for all their hard work.

During the afternoon many of the team headed back to the school to get a glimpse of what school in Jamaica is like. There were astonished faces as they saw how closely the desks are packed next to each other and how many kids are in each class. Not a lot of room to spare. After our tour of the school we had a chance to play soccer with some of the students while others were treated to 15 minutes of dance and song from other students.

While this group was at the school the rest of the team unloaded a dump truck full of cinderblocks into the church. Several hundred blocks are now ready for us to set tomorrow.

Dinner brought us a treat from home and we enjoyed pizza. It was a favorite a quickly devoured. What a great treat.

Tuesday morning was an early morning as we had school devotions at 7:00 at the Mt. Salem school. As with many schools in Jamaica, due to lack of school buildings the schools work in shifts. So we would be doing devotions twice this day at the same school so that the afternoon shift would have the opportunity to hear God's Word the same way that the morning group did.

After returning to the church from morning devotions it was time to wish Morgan a happy birthday. The group sang to her and Pastor Grant thanked God for her life. How many people can say they woke up on their 15th birthday in Jamaica across the street from a sandy beach?

With the birthday wishes completed we picked up on the construction projects were we left off the day before. Cement blocks were moved, buckets of gravel and sand were hoisted up to the second level, and the new cement roof above the kitchen was started to be laid.

As a special treat the group received another taste of home as lunch was provided by the local Burger King. To say the group was excited is would be an understatement (kind of like it is warm in Jamaica).

As early evening was provided for the group as we know that tomorrow will be another early morning for school devotions. But before the lady's house went to sleep Morgan was again treated to a birthday surprise. The Pelican Staff brought her a cupcake ablaze with 15 candles and again wished her a very Happy Birthday.

Thank God for your protection again this day.

Well, Wednesday morning was upon us before we knew it and it was our finally day of ministry. After being encouraged and inspired to not leave any ministry opportunities left undone the group started the day at Flanker Elementary School for our first school devotions of the day.

We left Flanker and headed to Hemmingay Prep for our second school devotions of the day and immediately bonded with some of the young kids who were attending the school. It was hard to leave these precious little ones after we were done.

However, the church construction was calling our names and we we back hard at work finishing the cement roof over the kitchen (no more leaks for the cooks), hauling supplies for the final wall to be finished and starting on dressing the walls. This group is very experienced in many sorts of construction to be sure.

Dinner of jerk chicken was a treat to be sure. Jerk is a fantastic Jamaican spice and we all devoured the meal.

To end our ministry time at Westgate Hills Baptist Church we had a closing with some of the leaders of the church that Pastor Sharpe brought together. Donations were left with the church for future ministry and prayers we shared for the continuation of Pastor's vision and ministry.

After an amazing week of ministry, the beach is calling us tomorrow...

Well, Wednesday morning was upon us before we knew it and it was our finally day of ministry. After being encouraged and inspired to not leave any ministry opportunities left undone the group started the day at Flanker Elementary School for our first school devotions of the day.

We left Flanker and headed to Hemmingay Prep for our second school devotions of the day and immediately bonded with some of the young kids who were attending the school. It was hard to leave these precious little ones after we were done.

However, the church construction was calling our names and we we back hard at work finishing the cement roof over the kitchen (no more leaks for the cooks), hauling supplies for the final wall to be finished and starting on dressing the walls. This group is very experienced in many sorts of construction to be sure.

Dinner of jerk chicken was a treat to be sure. Jerk is a fantastic Jamaican spice and we all devoured the meal.

To end our ministry time at Westgate Hills Baptist Church we had a closing with some of the leaders of the church that Pastor Sharpe brought together. Donations were left with the church for future ministry and prayers we shared for the continuation of Pastor's vision and ministry.

After an amazing week of ministry, the beach is calling us tomorrow...

Well, Wednesday morning was upon us before we knew it and it was our finally day of ministry. After being encouraged and inspired to not leave any ministry opportunities left undone the group started the day at Flanker Elementary School for our first school devotions of the day.

We left Flanker and headed to Hemmingay Prep for our second school devotions of the day and immediately bonded with some of the young kids who were attending the school. It was hard to leave these precious little ones after we were done.

However, the church construction was calling our names and we we back hard at work finishing the cement roof over the kitchen (no more leaks for the cooks), hauling supplies for the final wall to be finished and starting on dressing the walls. This group is very experienced in many sorts of construction to be sure.

Dinner of jerk chicken was a treat to be sure. Jerk is a fantastic Jamaican spice and we all devoured the meal.

To end our ministry time at Westgate Hills Baptist Church we had a closing with some of the leaders of the church that Pastor Sharpe brought together. Donations were left with the church for future ministry and prayers we shared for the continuation of Pastor's vision and ministry.

After an amazing week of ministry, the beach is calling us tomorrow...

Brittney made special friends at Hemmingay Prep today.

Kate made a new friend at the St. James Infirmary earlier this week.