Physical Education ramps up at Hampstead Primary

Physical Education ramps up at Hampstead Primary

For two years, ACE has been unable to help with physical education in the schools due to lockdowns. And how we have missed it, not only for our own health (who doesn’t get in shape keeping up with kids?) but for the joy of playing with the children through energetic, fun activities. But, just as the school year is getting back to normal, the tide has also turned on our PE opportunities!

Hampstead Primary has a new principal who knew about the PE courses with which ACE had assisted in our area primary schools, and she asked us about resuming our lead in the programs. She was very grateful to hear the answer “yes”, and we will officially begin conducting PE according to the Ministry Curriculum two days a week for all grades, 1st – 6th, starting the first week of October.

We are so excited to once again be part of this much-needed activity. Not only will the kids have a blast, we might even have to go down a few sizes in our clothes by next summer as we run, jump and play our way into better physical health.

Teams, be ready for some fun!  

Marla’s Minute – Big winds and torrential rains

Marla’s Minute – Big winds and torrential rains

That’s the report for this weekend for Jamaica. As tropical depression #9 is gaining strength to enter our personal space here in Jamaica, we are advised to prepare for 65 – 80 mile an hour winds and 6 -12 inches of rain. Being a girl from Miami, Florida, spending most of my young life there, preparing for these types of storms is second nature.

While the preparation is extensive for making sure the animals and the buildings are safe, it always impresses me to watch how a blue sky and calm seas can become grey and stormy in a matter of hours. The sea rages up 10 to 15 feet, while rain is blowing sideways, lightning everywhere. It reminds me of Psalm 135:6-7: “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. He causes the vapors to ascent from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings for the rain; who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.”  

A hurricane to me is a great reminder of the Mighty God who loves me no matter what the weather looks like outside. I find that very comforting inside with my animals and Allen. Next time your storm season rolls through, remember who the Author of such magnificence is.

Back to School!

Back to School!

While the Ministry of Education is maneuvering the system and making changes daily, our students hardly seem to notice as they enjoy the official start of the 2023 school season. It feels great for us and for them to have a sense of normalcy finally. Smiles and laughs greeted us at our annual (again!) backpack distribution event, where we gave out book bags, supplies and books to each student in our Child Sponsorship Program. Thanks to our sponsors, the day was not only well received by the many students but their parents as well.

ACE staff seemed to enjoy the event as our own Arlene was present with her camera, taking pics of each child as they displayed their name on a sign to identify them after all this time. If you have ever had a child, you know they can grow rapidly from one year to the next – try two!! We loved to see how much they’ve changed and how ready they are for this new year ahead!

Remember all that PB&J we ask each team to bring down? Well, every student received their own PB&J to take home and share. ACE will always find a way to utilize what teams bring down, and this has been a long-standing traditional donation from our volunteers. Kids learn better when they are fed and happy, so we are starting the school year on the right foot, thanks to all of you!

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Marla’s Minute: Something Old, Something New

Marla’s Minute: Something Old, Something New

We’ve had our iQuest program in some form for over 20 years, so I can safely say this is an old tradition. Each year, though, brings new life and new energy with every young person who participates.

This summer, we had the pleasure of having Kayla as our one and only iQuest intern. While we have had only one intern the last two years, with and without teams present, we haven’t had quite the same set-up as we’ve had in the past, due to Covid restrictions. This year, as Jamaica started to get back to normal, it finally felt like the familiar iQuest days of old.

We began to reincorporate processes and traditions into our program while enjoying more volunteers on the ground than the last two summers. As the old familiar routines resurfaced, there was a new appreciation for what interns bring to the ministry, and that was very evident this year. Kayla had told us long before applications were due that she wanted to be considered, and we smiled knowing that she would be the first to apply; she ended up being the only one to apply. As always, God sent us the perfect person.

Having Kayla this summer really made me personally appreciate what a young adult with passion can bring to ACE… and it’s all good. This young woman learned things about herself that she never knew, like how to use her “outside voice” inside when gathering a group together for instructions, laughing at herself and understanding what Isaiah 61 really means to her personally. The best part was watching Kayla learn about the habits and hearts of our Jamaican family and culture and loving it!

Her time as an intern is over, but now she joins our iQuest alumni family, with her own stories to tell and experiences to build on. If you know a young adult who would be a great fit for our program and ready for a life-changing summer, tell them about ACE’s iQuest opportunity. It’s an old tried-and-true tradition that helps the staff in Jamaica and provides new perspectives on the world for all involved.

 

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The Village Has Begun

The Village Has Begun

For those of you who have been with ACE since the beginning, you may remember the first draft of our Children’s Village or even the update last year. It seems a long time in coming, but do we have great news for you!

This month, ACE has finally begun building one of the first homes of the Village. While the layout has changed drastically, the vision has remained the same. All along, ACE has been planning for the day and place where we can build a safe haven for families to live, grow, and thrive in life. ACE had faced many roadblocks in finding the right location to begin a community. With the acquisition of 830+ acres just outside of Port Maria, our new Green Life Llanrumney Farm property seemed the perfect fit.

If you recall from a previous newsletter, the first home to be built belongs to LaToya and her children, two of whom are in our Child Sponsorship program. A few months ago, volunteers took apart the home ACE originally built for her and stored it while they stayed temporarily in our farmhouse. We are now ready to move it to its new location in the Village. A generous couple who loves Kingdom work sent down two Jamericans (born and raised in Jamaica who now live with their families in the States) to help our local staff in this process. LaToya’s family has endured many hardships in life, so it was an easy decision to move them into the Village onto the most beautiful spot on the property.

Stay tuned for pictures of the final move in. They will not have electricity and will be off the grid, but we are looking into supplying them with one solar panel and one battery to get them started. If you feel led to help contribute to this purchase, please contact our office. When we told LaToya there would not be any electricity available, her comment was, “It doesn’t matter. I can live without it.” She is fully embracing what we tell our volunteers before every trip, to let go of all expectations.

Please pray for this family as they let God lead the way in their lives. He has blessed us with knowing them and allowing ACE to be His hands and feet. This home is just the start of great things to come.