Marla’s Minute: Something We’ve Not Done Before

Marla’s Minute: Something We’ve Not Done Before

This month, we did something I don’t recall us ever doing before: polling our past interns with the iQuest program to catch up with them! I must admit, as I read the responses of the survey our ACE office sent out, I got a little teary-eyed. And as most of you previous interns know, I rarely get choked up on anything – I was brought up to “never let them see you cry” (whoever “they” are).

I, like so many of our wonderful past interns, have also grown in my walk with Jesus. After reading the encouraging feedback to Maddie that so many of you sent, please know that I, too, am encouraged by your words. God has used each and every one of you to influence me and this little ministry we call ACE. Stay the course, my young adult friends, and know that I am grateful for the seasons we had together in St. Mary, Jamaica. You made a difference in our garden as you are making a difference in yours.

As the earth brings forth its shoots,
and a garden makes its seeds spring up,
So will the Lord God make justice spring up,
and praise before all the nations.

(Isaiah 61:11)

And perhaps one day, I’ll see you back in St. Mary with your family of next generation ACERs.  Now that would make me cry!

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Marla’s Minute: Finally, a Breath of Fresh Air!

Marla’s Minute: Finally, a Breath of Fresh Air!

It’s been a breath of fresh air this summer with so many volunteers! There is just something about seeing people you admire and love buying into the same vision that God has been giving us for 30 plus years.

We love the photos of friends smiling, especially when we are in them! Allen and I personally needed to experience this summer with everyone to confirm we are all still in this wonderful journey of ACE together! It’s been a good month, a good year so far; thank you for believing in ACE all this time.

We are praying those who haven’t come down will visit us soon. After next week, we don’t have anyone scheduled to visit us for a while and we could sure use your help. We miss you! We have lots of needs that keep us from moving forward until have helping hands on the ground. We hope to see you in St Mary soon. Look at your schedule and make time for us between now and December. ACE can’t work alone. It takes teamwork to make the dream work!

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Families & Friends

Families & Friends

July tends to be a very dry and hot month in Jamaica. This year is no different. However, as friends and families begin to come back down to serve with us, we only feel the warmth of returning (and new) friends everywhere!  We – your ACE family on the ground – are so happy to see you all.

A few of our recent volunteers were so kind to tell us some of their favorite parts about their trip, and we hope this will encourage more friends (old and new!) to plan a trip to St. Mary!

Graduation, VBS, and Sponsorship

Graduation, VBS, and Sponsorship

It’s mid-summer, and while that may not seem like Spring to you, we have felt the subtle changes that normally come with the new growth the season of Spring offers.  You’ve heard of Christmas in July? Well, we had Spring in Summer!

Spring is normally the time for graduation. Instead, Covid pushed things a little. This month, ACE was invited to attend one of the primary school’s 6th grade graduations. We had helped provide funds to build a stage inside their general assembly room where graduation was held.

Marla arrived in time to witness the Enfield Primary’s Class of 2020 walking in their caps and gowns into the hall to receive their diplomas. As each student, all 23 of them, walked into the hall, they had a spring in their step that let everyone know this wasn’t the end; it was just the beginning for them, moving into the next season of their education and life.

For the younger kids in our program, ACE held its first VBS since 2019 and a first at our new facility at Green Life Llanrumney Farms. Each sponsored child that attended came alive as our college volunteers reminded them they are loved and highly favored by God. The theme this year was “Destination Dig” and that’s exactly what happened – our students dug into the Bible, their faith and God’s love for them through activities, songs, and stories! The verse of the week was “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

The Big Finish event for VBS was taking our students on a hike to the historic Ruins on our property where they got to see “old digs” and how ACE was revitalizing the old into the new. Students loved it! We even had a farm moment where the children got to love on horses, donkeys and cows, and even a few puppies! Many of them had never seen such large animals before or experienced the signs of life on a farm!

This summer brought us all the renewed faith and hope of spring, having our volunteers back as our sponsored children experienced new adventures, and we look forward to the changes and new growth yet to come.

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Help Comes in Large Packages

Help Comes in Large Packages

Our dear friends from Rebel Ministries arrived this month to help us out with clearing our coconut trees of bush and debris, all the while assisting a sponsored family with pouring a floor for their new home. While we have been so grateful over the past year and a half for the individuals and friends who have joined us to volunteer their time and talents, we haven’t had a team of friends this size in a long time… and it’s true, many hands make light work! Thank you, Rebel, for accepting the challenge to serve!

ACE in 2021 is looking different and younger. When we say younger, we mean, don’t wait until you are an adult to come volunteer. We need adult volunteers, for sure, but bring the young ones with you!

 Our iQuest program this year is a perfect example of what young people can do. If you, as a teenager or young adult in your 20s, need to “sort out” what’s been going on in your life, why not consider a season in Jamaica with ACE? ACE has many programs available for students as well as homeschool families that would like to help in a new way and yet continue academically through our “living classroom”. 

Start becoming a global volunteer early while learning about world views, clean eating through healthy farming, and see what God is doing in Jamaica.

You might even pick up some secret outstanding coconut dessert recipes to take home.

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