EC Helme

Born: Santa Monica, CA

Married to Hope, one daughter Hanna

Interests: Sailing, skiing

Favorite Song: Almost anything by Jimmy Buffett, Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes probably #1

Favorite Movie: Gladiator

Favorite Food/ Drink/Restaurant: Anything Thai/Salvation Café

World Traveler: Yes, thanks to the US Navy!

Why I am going to Jamaica: See the Jamaicans continue to grow in their faith and self-reliance

Life Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:18 — So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Bill Montoya

Born: San Gabriel, CA

Married to Christianne, Children – Erin 19, Mathias  11, and Jourdain (JoJo) 7.

Interests: Anything that has to do with expanding the Kingdom of God.

Favorite Song: My Deliverer

Favorite Movie: Happy Gilmore

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant: Taco Bell

World Traveler: Yes,  48 States, 1 Territory, and 9 Countries.

Why I am going to Jamaica: Because God called me to this Ministry.

Life Verse: 1st Tim 1:15 KJV.

Anne Catherine Halm

Born: Danbury CT

Single, No children

Interests: Travelling, being outdoors-hiking, kayaking, skiing, cooking and baking

Favorite Song: Don’t have one

Favorite Movie: If I have to pick, I guess Avatar

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant-Too many!!

World Traveler: Yes!  So far I have been to France, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Mexico, Antigua, Jamaica

Why I am going to Jamaica:  I feel I am being called to the mission field and I travel to Jamaica often, it is my way of giving back to the people in need. 

Life Verse: For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2Tim 7

Janine DelRoss (Nina)

Born:  Springfield, MA

Married my high school sweetheart; we have been married for almost 21 years, very happily.  We have 2 children; Serena, 16 and Jameson, 13.

Interests:  I enjoy playing games, hanging with my family/friends, loving my cats and dog

Favorite Song:  My favorite song is “The House that Build Me” by Miranda Lambert

Favorite Movie: Don’t have one

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant:  Chocolate is my favorite thing to eat.  I don’t really have a favorite drink.  Favorite Restaurant is Mama Leone’s

World Traveler:  Ummmm….No Way.  I HATE planes (they scare me to death).  I go where I HAVE to go and if it takes a plane to get there…I guess I just suck it up!

Why I am going to Jamaica:  It is what my heart is telling me to do

Life Verse:  Still learning, so I don’t have one!  I guess for now, it is the Golden Rule:  “Treat others the way you would like to be treated”

Serena DelRoss

Born in Woonsocket and raised on the island

Single

Interest: I love dance and photography. Anything under the art and music area.

Favorite Song: Your eyes by Peter Gabriel. I love 80′s alternative and folk/indie music as well.

Favorite Movie: Ferris Builler’s Day Off

Favorite Food/Drink/ Restaurant: Chinese food/ shirley temple / TGI Fridays 

World Traveler: I have only been to the best country in the world: Canada but I really want to travel especially to Ireland

Why I am going to Jamaica: I’m going to Jamaica because I feel called to the mission field. I love doing the work of the lord and I can’t wait to see what He reveals to me while I’m there.

Life Verse: James 2:15-16 

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 

Jen Caber

I was born in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, I am married to this man named Jeff Caber lol:) No children yet:) I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, I do not have a favorite song, I enjoy music that I can relate to and that speaks to me. My favorite movie when i was growing up was cinderalla, but I do not have a favorite movie now. I love Panera Bread:) I also enjoy some really good sushi and my husbands habachi food. Since jeff is in the navy we have traveled but it is still my dream to visit countries such as Germany, London, and Paris. Last year was my first expereince on a missions trip and at first I was really nervous that I would not be developed in my faith enough to reach to the people in Jamiaca, Boy was I wrong, The love of the people there who were just as passionate about Jesus and sharing life experience, strengths, and weakness really opened my eyes. This year I am so eager to see the growth of my relationship with the Jamiacans. I can not wait to see what God has done in their lives. I can not wait to worship with them, cry, and laugh.

Jeff Caber

Born: Philipsburg, PA

Married to Jenn Caber, no children

Interests: Outdoor/Indoor sports, music

Favorite Band: Hillsong United

Favorite Movie :Top Gun

Favorite Restaurant: Anthony’s Seafood

World Traveler: Germany, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Canada

Why I am going to Jamaica: To minister to the lives of children; to help train leaders

Life Verse: Philippians 4:13

Brian Rochelle

Born in Newport, RI. graduated Rogers High 1989 (Go Vikings!)
I am married with 2 children, Grace (4) and Charlotte (18mths)
Interests: I love sailing, running, reading and playing with my girls
My favorite song is “In My Life” by the Beattles.
My favorite movie is The Muppet Movie (the one from 1980)
Favorite food is bacon / Drink is Raspberry iced tea
World Traveler: I have traveled to more than 15 countries.  My favorites being Denmark and England
Why I am going to Jamaica: I am going to Jamaica because I feel I have been called to do so.
 
Sophia Horton

Born:  Newport, RI

Single

Interests: Singing and spending times with friends and family

Favorite Song: Ours, Taylor Swift

Favorite Movie: The Notebook

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant Food-Pasta, Calamari Drink- Soda Restaurant- None

World Traveler: No

Why I am going to Jamaica: To minister to the people in poverty and help them

Life Verse: Romans 6:23

Erik Horton

Born:  Newport, RI

Single

Interests: Anything that helps me to get closer to God, Football, Music, Art

Favorite Song: Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance

Favorite Movie: The Taking of Pelham

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant Food- Calamari Drink- Mountain Dew Restaurant- None

World Traveler: No

Why I am going to Jamaica: Carry out God’s commands to impact the world by making disciples in all the nations and to restore the lives of the people.

Life Verse: Psalm 23

Josie Horton

Born:  Sofia, Bulgaria

Divorced; Children – Sophia, 16 and Erik, 13

Interests: Music, water sports

Favorite Song: I do not have a favorite song; one of my favorite bands is Hillsong United

Favorite Movie: The Blind Side

Favorite Food/Drink/Restaurant Food- Seafood, Restaurants – The Boat House

World Traveler: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Canada

Why I am going to Jamaica:  God has placed this in my heart the desire to go and work in Jamaica. I love helping people and there is no bigger joy than the joy of bringing somebody to Christ through the love and compassion you are showing….. We’ve got to move outside of our comfort zone. This is not easy. Being a missionary means to have a pure heart, to love and to give until it hurts…

Life Verse:  Ephesians 2:8

WHEN: December 8th, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

WHERE: Evangelical Friends Church, 70 Bliss Mine Road, Middletown, RI 02842

TICKETS: $8.00 – adults, $4.00 – children

Come and enjoy a great meal, a chance to take home some great prizes and help support our Jamaican Mission Trip.

A team of 14 people from EFC with be in Jamaica from Feb 7 to Feb 14. While there we will work closely with another Evangelical Friends group that has been partnering with Jamaicans in less-fortunate areas of the island.

Bake Sale Fundraiser!!!

When: Saturday, November 26^th , 11:00am – 2:00pm

Where: Ernie’s American Karate Academy, 3001 East Main Road, Portsmouth

Please join us to purchase delicious baked goods and sweets!  Remember that all the proceeds from the sale will benefit our Jamaican Missions Team 2012.

Work has begun on JMT 2012!  Please pray for:

• Grace and peace from the Lord as the team goes forward with the mission trip.
• Preparation of hearts, for our EFC Missionary Team.
• Financial support.

The Jamaica Mission Team welcomes your support through donations of the following items:

• New or gently used clothing (spring/summer) for men, women and children
• Bibles and Christian reading material
• Packets of children’s underwear (new)
• Stuffed animals to take to the orphanage
• Children’s books, coloring books, crayons and Sunday School materials
• Hard candy (candy canes are great)
• Toothbrushes, toothpaste and bars of soap (travel sizes are perfect)
• Extra suitcases

Together, with God’s grace, we can make an incredible impact in Jamaica.

Salt Marsh School

First thing after breakfast we visited a local public school called the Salt Marsh School.  Allen led a bible study, while Bill continued to praise in worship. The children at the school were an inspiring example of young Jamaican ladies and gentlemen in the making.  We had the chance to watch them sing their national anthem and give their pledge of allegiance to their flag. As the morning routine finished, a car pulled up and a few kids in uniforms jumped out hurrying towards the assembly. We all took notice as a glowing white little girl with afro features joined the assembly. She was an adorable snow white Jamaican albino, the only one in attendance at the Salt Marsh School.

Sophia, Jenn and Anne hard at work

Allen

After doing the morning devotion at the school we went to Zion Friends Church to finish up our work.  We worked on building a new fence along the road, continued to move the back fill, and finished painting the annex building.  We went back to the villa for a late lunch and some relaxation before heading back to Zion for our last service.

The Holy Spirit was very apparent in our last service with our new “family”.  Bill led us in some songs and really gave way to the moving of the Holy Spirit and we all joined with excitement.  Ms. Paulette prayed for our service with the power of Jesus Christ and Baston gave a very challenging devotion on “hope”.  Pastor Ed followed with vigor and enthusiasm with a sermon about submitting to Christ and letting Him prepare us to receive Him.  The Holy Spirit led Pastor Ed to give the congregation time to pray with each other or come forward for prayer.  Melanie was able to pray with a 12 year old boy, who everyone seemed to have a tender heart for, named Demaine.  As she prayed with him, tears flowed down his cheeks, which showed how sensitive this young boy was to the Holy Spirit.  We all saw something very special in him, and hope you will partner with us in praying for him to do tremendous things for Christ as he has all the potential in the world.

Saying good bye was filled with prayers and tears, and “one last hug”.  There was confidence in the team that we have made friends and partners for life.  What a privilege to serve our Lord in such a rewarding way!

Saying goodbye

Children’s Church at Zion Friends Church

Today was a gorgeous day and an amazing day of ministry at Zion Friends church!  The children’s church had over thirty children and all were given a clear presentation of the gospel.  When the children were asked if they wanted to ask Jesus Christ to be their personal Savior, they all raised their hands, and Melanie led them in a sinner’s prayer.

Allen gives his testimony

Eric gives the sermon

During service, Melanie, Will, Jennifer, and Allen gave testimony that lead into Eric’s sermon.  Eric spoke on the power of a story, and how God intervenes in our lives, and gives us all a story of redemption.  Meanwhile, back at the villa, Jess was sick with the Jamaican flu.  With a few suggestions from the warm and wonderful staff at the villa, the chills, fever and aches began to subside.

Sophia and friends at the service

It soon became clear to the missions team that we took more from the congregation of Zion than we gave. The children at Zion were always learning more and more about the team and Jesus too.

Cynthia’s baptism

After service, the team traveled to a nearby river with some of the Jamaicans, to see our dear sister Cynthia baptized by Pastor Ed.  We then returned to the villa for lunch and some R and R.  Sunday evening we had the privilege of putting on a movie night for the Jamaicans.  We used a projector to show the movie “Gifted Hands” with Cuba Gooding Jr.  The people were excited to experience a film in their own church, and the message in the movie truly touched their hearts.

We were more than grateful to be able to bless the Zion Evangelical Friends church with the DVD player and projector, following the movie.  The church leaders were overjoyed and humbled by the blessing of the gifts.  The day was hugely rewarding all around!

Allen with the children at the Zion church

The team has come to love all of the children, and they are all so affectionate and ambitious.  Our special friend Lamar has been so kind to everybody and another boy named Chuckie has also been very involved.  We kicked things off with a couple of fantastic Bible stories which grabbed the attention of the many children present.

Campbell, Anne, Sophia, Julie and Eric at the Bible school session with Bill on guitar

Pastor Ed played the part of David and Will played Goliath.  The performance of this duo was hilarious to children and adults alike.  Following the story and devotional time, the children colored and spent quality time with the team.

Melanie and friend

After completing our Bible school session at Zion, the team had lunch on the bus and got ready for the upcoming experience that awaited them at the West Haven Children’s Center.  This is a school/orphanage for the physically and mentally impaired.  Many of these children are brought by their parents and are visited by them from time to time.  Others are dropped off at the school or left on the streets to be found by complete strangers, who then bring them to the West Haven school.  At first, the depraved mental and physical state of the children took us by surprise, but we were greeted so warmly and these special children are so loving, that we soon found ourselves mingling and enjoying intimate connections with them.

At West Haven Children’s Center

Sophia and friend

Jenn, Julie and Will  (top of the photo), Sophia (bottom left of photo) with the children and Bill on guitar

Pastor Ed, “This is my special girl, Shantel Williams. It was such a special time reuniting with her today.”

These kids have the love of God with them, and they know it.  Jesus is the one who is their help, and Provider, and all they desired was attention and compassion.  The time with the West Haven Children will remain with all of the team and it truly left a sense of how blessed so many people are.  We saw how impared individuals are often among the strongest and most blessed of God’s children.

JMT 2011 – (Back Left to Right) Sophia, Jess, Melanie, Will, Anne, Bill, Allen, Campbell, Julie, and Eric (In Front) Pastor Ed and Jenn

ChuckE hasn’t been carrying his weight, and since the team was exhausted from all our hard work, we decided to delegate

Wow!  Day 3 is already complete!  We had the privilege of spending a short amount of time with an eclectic group of kids at the Naz Children’s Center first thing this the morning.

Bill with his guitar

Pastor Ed and Sophia with the children

Bill led the children with some songs, and Anne shared the story of “The Good Samaritan,” while the children formed features from the story with our home-made play dough.  It was encouraging to see value given to the children with special needs, the way the Naz Children’s Center does.

After morning devotions, we headed over to Zion to tackle the projects that were fresh in our minds. We arrived and hit the ground running.  The team moved over 2 tons of rock and dirt from one enormous pile to a spot behind a new building to set the foundation for a new basketball court.  Simultaneously, hours were spent painting the new building that will eventually be used for medical and dental offices, as well as ministry work.

Allen and Jess : “Will we ever reach the bottom of this rock pile?”

Will ministering to Jamaican children

Knowing we would be there again today, many women, men and children were waiting to fellowship with us and many even helped with the work load.

Melanie sincerely enjoyed an impromptu hymn singing session with some of the Jamaicans, Bill oversaw the backfilling behind the medical building, Jenn focused on the painting, Jess demonstrated her hard work ethic, jumping in each project as needed, and Will, recently deemed “White Soul” by one of the locals, was a key factor in moving the backfill.  All of us served with grateful hearts, understanding the great blessing and responsibility we have been given.

Anne went with Alex, the chicken man, to see how a couple people in the community are doing with their chicken coops.

Yvonne and her thriving chicken business

Yvonne, a next door neighbor to the church, has made a successful business of selling chickens since receiving her first bunch about four years ago.  With the money, Yvonne is able to send her children to school, pay for medical bills and recently, she even bought a washing machine!  Yvonne is the perfect demonstration of how the chicken ministry is designed to work!

Thank you all for your continued prayers!  We are living in the answer to each of them!  Please feel free to comment or offer your questions under this blog and we will be happy to respond.

Anne gets busy with the paintbrush

Sophia drills in preparation for new door hardware

While some of us collaborated on that, others of us joined forces on painting and installing locks on the doors of the new building.

Rocks, rocks and more rocks!

A couple hours into our day, a dump truck full of “dirt” (which was really mostly very heavy rocks) was delivered to the church.  This dirt is used as back fill for what will eventually be a basketball court behind the new church building.

“You can do it, Sophia!”  Melanie, Jessica and Allen

Eric and a helpful volunteer

We “dug” (pun intended) right in.  Wheeling barrows of rocks from the mountainous pile to the soon to be new home of the basketball court proved to be a very laborious task, but we took it on full steam and soon worked out a system.  Given the time we had, we made a big dent in the rocky mountain.

Jenn Caber shared a devotional with the Jamaican children, and one boy, Lamar, even asked Jesus Christ to forgive him for his sins.  They happily colored with her and enjoyed some special attention, bubbles, lollipops, candy canes, bubble gum…and most of all hugs and love.  Many of the team partook in meaningful conversation with the locals who helped us with the projects throughout the day.

In addition to all the work at Zion, some of our team accompanied Alex the chicken man in his travels, to disperse the flocks of chicks to the assigned families.  Many more people have been blessed by these efforts!

Friday (tomorrow) looks to be a full day of work, completing the many projects we began today.

Campbell, Allen, Melanie, Will and Anne are so excited to be in the glorious Jamaican sunshine!

Safe travel – CHECK
Fast settling-in at our headquarters – CHECK
Connection with Pastor Bill Lawson, our local guide – CHECK

PRAYERS ANSWERED!!

Thank you so much for your prayers for our travel to Montego Bay today!  We had two uneventful flights, and this afternoon we arrived at the villa where we will be situated for the week.  After meeting up with Eric and Julie, the two members of our team from Ohio, we gathered together to get a scope on the week’s work ahead.  There is much to be done both on the ministry front (VBS program, morning devotions at schools, multiple services), as well as on the construction front (build up the terrain surrounding the Zion church building, construction on the new ministry building, chicken coop building, etc.)

We are so excited to find that Alex, the main facilitator of the chicken ministry program, was able to get an early start with the program this week, and has already blessed 26 families with chicks and supplies!  And so, instantly, we learn that last year’s numbers have already been matched!  Experience and practice sure do pay off!  With God’s continued favor, we will certainly return home this year with ground breaking statistics.

Tomorrow will be a wonderful day of reuniting with the local Jamaicans in the Zion community, and lots of work on the church grounds.  The whole team is so excited to be here with the privilege of serving the Lord by serving those around us!
We anticipate and are grateful for your continued prayer support; and you will hear from us tomorrow with an update of the day’s progress.