The birth of a home June 20th-21st

On Monday we arrived in the village around 8:00 AM. This is the village where Paula, also known as Onesha, lives. The road to the village is rough and at some points impassible without 4-wheel drive. Our van made it most of the way up and then we had to pull over and walk about 1/2 mile into the village, which was well received by all. The foundation and cement floor had been finished and all the materials we bought already brought to the sight so all that was left was for us to get started painting, sawing, nailing and creating. The village conditions were typical of most third world countries characterized by survival: bottles and food packages strewn about, barefoot children in torn clothes, houses made from whatever was available and a mixture of curiosity and suspicion from the some of the adults.

We decided to move at a medium pace, not only on account of the intense heat but also because of our emphasis on cultivating relationship with the families of the village and involving them in as much of what we're doing as possible. We divided the group up into four teams: framing, roofing, painting and service\endash consisting of checking up on the teams water supply, sunscreen, other needs and playing with the children who lived there.

It was surprising to us that we are impacting a whole community. We figured that just the woman, Onesha, and her children would be there. However, when we showed up on Monday slowly the whole community from the village showed up and watched for a while and then many of them started to join in and help us hammer nails and paint boards and saw 2x4's. It was an answer to prayer to have such a good start to the project and the relationships.

I think some of the men were among the most impacted. Like was said in an earlier post, Jamaica is in a desperate fatherless state\endash men have forgotten what it is to be a man and don't know who they are. But seeing our community with so many men serving and protecting and honoring and loving our sisters has been a stark contrast to their "survival at all costs culture." You could see in their eyes something come to life as they watched us and talked with us and began to serve alongside us. Yes this is much more than some house for a woman in need. This is a community of Jesus followers showing a community in bondage and confusion who Love really is, showing them a new way to be human. Please continue to pray for people of peace to be raised up among this village community. We met one person of peace already. His name is Marco, 19 and works (sometimes, like all the men, when work is available or if they want to) at a water bottling company. After praying with one of our team he recommitted his life to Jesus and we got to minister to him more today, even had him pray for one of his friends to be healed. We need these forerunners to be set on fire for God to continue to bring the community of God's Kingdom to the village.

After day two of construction we have four walls up, one internal dividing wall in, all the rafters made and painted, and the trim painted. We'll probably finish most of the construction tomorrow and go into town to buy some basic furniture items for the two room house.

Lee shares with Marco

Ryan on the framing crew

The team raising the first wall.

Some of the village shows up to help

Jake the gentle loves on some kids

Andrew and Christy with some of the children from the village.