Short verison:
November 2003: flew out to Jamaica with a small team on a mission trip to Knockpatrick’s CCCD (Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf). Stayed only one week and no idea how touching it’d be! Didn’t even think I’d be back to Jamaica again. Although God did plant a seed in me about doing a missionary work somewhere but I didn’t think that’d be true for me to do.
June 2004: went back to Jamaica, worked as counselor at a Bible Deaf Camp out at Knockpatrick. I was asked to be on a drama team, performing short skits every night. I was the “star”. I secretly freaked out cuz I am not at all involved with theater! But God used me.
June 2005: went to Knockpatrick again as counselor for the camp. Tori Wolfe travelled with me. This was the trip where God has opened my eyes, showing me that I’ll be fine no matter where I am, even if that meant being in Jamaica for more than 2 weeks. Thanks to Cliff and Brenda Tolousa.
January 2006: my Pastor, Randy and his wife, Sue Sanders travelled with me to Knockpatrick. Main purpose of this trip was more of a visit, as well as an “interview” with the CCCD Director.
Around September/October 2006: I had paperwork started to be processed and then God told me to hold that off. As HARD as that was to just accept God’s word and backed off, I did it. I had put the missionary thing on the back burner. Didn’t even think about Jamaica since.
September 2007: Montego Bay’s CCCD’s Hands in Praise team came to Illinois for 2 weeks, about 10 days in Peoria. I had the chance to get to know Ms. Russells, the school principal and Mr. Reid, a teacher at CCCD/HIP’s Director. God has brought the passion back to me after Ms. Russell told me that they had lost 3 teachers before school year started.
**Also, a few months before this happened, Randy and Sue Sanders has given up the Pastor title to become a full-time missionary. He has opened a non-for-profit organization to serve the deaf people of the Caribbean Islands.The organization is called ON TO VICTORY, MINISTIRIES. (OTV)
**In the meantime, DOORS OPENING:
-I had started praying for God’s guidance…so many doors has opened for me. It just was so clear that this is it. Every time something comes up of what I’d need to do, I’d get a bit discouraged, afraid to find out the cost of this or that….but it turns out to be cheap, or doable etc… that’s what I mean by doors opening.
-OTV has offically made me the first deaf missionary of OTV to send out to the islands.
-On top of all this, I had been wanting to find a new church. When the HIP were here, I learned about this church, St. Paul Baptist Church. They had the HIP to perform at their church on a 2 days notice! I learned that there’s an interpreter who had been interpreting since May, for practice, with no deaf in the audience!!! I decided it doesn’t hurt to go to the regular church service. I did…and fell in love with the church! I kept going to few more services, and again, God has opened doors through this church fo rme. So, I’ve became member of St. Paul Baptist Church two Sundays ago!
-As I have done my homework, checking into several things, asking questions to the main CCCD office which is in Virginia, I also have included Ms. Russell in the emails. At one point in early November I believe, she mentioned that she has lost another teacher. Ms. Russell and Mr. Reid are taking over so much more than necessary!
All things listed since September 2007 has put burden on my heart to go earlier than I had orginially thought I’d go. I was thinking September 2008-June 2009 but now I’m looking into going end of January or first of February so I can help them out at the school in Montego Bay.
THE PURPOSE OF BLOGGING:
Now, the purpose of the new blogster is to post blogs of my process and etc… While I’m in Jamaica, it’d be easier for me to post blogs and you could check in when you get the chance to….and know exactly what to be praying for etc while I’m there rather than emailing individually.
I can’t promise I will be blogging everyday but I’ll do my best when I get the chance to. Depending on how often I’d have the access to using the computer, and on how much of work I’d have while I’m there etc…..
As of right now, I ask you to join me in prayers for my mission in serving Him towards others in Jamaica. And I ask you to pray that I’d be able to raise the financial supports for the 6 months stay
Please get yourself a cup of coffee, tea, soda, or whatever you wanna drink before you come and read my blogs. That’s why I chose to call my blog “Amy’s Kofe Break” because I’ll probably have a cup of cold java while I’m posting a blog which will probably be my few minutes break from the routine and spending time with letting you know what God’s doing through me towards others.
God bless!
