"Watch For God" in Jamaica
God is special in many ways.
Lauren with family & friends
This July, my family and I went to Jamaica for 10 days to work as Franciscan missionaries for Fr. Jim Bok, OFM, in Negril. Deacon Tim of St. Andrews recommended to my father that our family would really enjoy Fr. Jim Bok, Jamaica, and helping the less fortunate children of Negril. He could not have been more right.
Fr. Jim Bok, OFM, is pastor of Mary, Gate of Heaven church in Negril, Jamaica.
Fr. Jim was kind, welcoming, and accommodating to our family. He took us to meet people and see sights that we would never have experienced on our own. Jamaica Jim, as he is referred to by some, is truly a Gift from God.
In preparation for our mission work, we were blessed to meet Miss Barb (Father Jim’s childhood and lifelong friend) and Miss Mary (Father Jim’s sister) before we left. Miss Barb organized the vacation bible school that we would help run when we were in Negril. The theme for the week was “Gifts of God”. The Jamaican kids, ages 4-18, came from many miles away to attend the vacation bible school. Not only was it life changing for them, but for my family and me as well.
Miss Barb reads to the children
The bible school lasted five days and always started the same way. Each morning we met with the 40 children in the small non-air-conditioned Catholic Church, Mary Gate of Heaven. Miss Barb, the leader, taught the children lessons about God and read stories from the children’s bibles. Many children who attended the camp didn’t know much about God or had the opportunity to attend church so it was interesting to see how they answered questions about God and the Holy Spirit.
We also had a daily craft that focused on messages from the bible. The crafts were very special to each and every child no matter their age. We incorporated the gifts God gives us (Jesus, family, friends, you, nature, life, and earth) into each craft. The kids protected them like they were worth a million dollars.
Inexpensive bracelets that said “Watch For God” were considered prized possessions and every day they came back with them on their wrists. We wore the bracelets as well. I could easily see how appreciative they were with every small thing we gave them.
I was also struck by how quickly the kids came to trust us. After only a few hours they were completely comfortable with us and just needed to be loved. The kids would jump on me and hold me all day long. Some of these kids did not get much love at home. I believe this mission trip was completely set up through and with the help of God. God sent my family and me to Negril to love the poor children who had such big and open hearts to share with us. We played games such as cricket, jump rope, soccer (futbol), sack races and water balloon fights.
I really began to appreciate the fun in simple games again. We kids living in the United States take for granted how much fun just playing games can be. These children were amused with these activities for three hours each day for the whole week; something we kids in the states would probably grow tired of after an hour or so.
I saw God in many children but especially one. His name was Tyrice, a four year old from White Hall, Negril. The day I met Tyrice my life changed. Tyrice came from a very poor and deprived family and he lived in a tin shack for a house. One could not have guessed the poverty this fun and loving child was living in. A permanent smile was present every day and he bonded well with each child. Although he was less fortunate (from a monetary standpoint), He and his family were strong believers in God and that strengthened him to continue living life to the fullest and being thankful for all the gifts that God has given him.
It is interesting that we all wore bracelets saying “Watch For God”. God was everywhere on the trip from Fr. Jim Bok, Fr. Bernard, Miss Mary, Miss Barb, all the children of Negril, the natural beauty of the land and ocean, and my family. God was everywhere.
I learned many lessons from Negril but also from Tyrice and although I was devastated to leave them, I cannot wait to go back next year.
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