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Arlene’s April Update
Many of you know that this is my last three-month stay here in Jamaica. However, this is not the end of my work with ACE. I will return periodically for shorter periods of time, 2 weeks to a month, as needed. I was planning to return in early July for Anthony’s high...
Wellness Goes A Long Way
As you can imagine, the first place to close down due to the virus was the infirmary. We hate it, but we understand. I was at the infirmary with some staff two weeks ago when the Matron came over and asked us politely to leave immediately. She had just received the...
Our Children In St. Mary
With this “stay close to home” policy, how can we know if our children and their families are doing okay or have needs? After discussions with the Child Sponsorship team on how we can continue our impact and support from us and from you, their sponsors, we have a...
Marla’s Minute: Working and Sweating
Normally, those two verbs are not something anyone would be attracted to unless you were an athlete. But here in St. Mary, we have lots and lots of hard manual outdoor work to do that keeps us busy for as many hours as a day can hold. For the past two weeks, all our...
ACE has something to say
None of us ever thought we’d be where we are today with such a global event affecting us all. When the virus finally came to Jamaica, there was a panic of everyone looking at each other as if the entire country was a carrier of this strange disease. There is so much...
Marla’s Minute ACE goes to Israel Oct 19 – 27, 2020!!
That’s right, we are going back… and we want you to join us! Dr. Lon Solomon is our tour guide and teacher. Allen and I took the same trip about eight years ago and fell in love with the country. That’s why we want to go again and invite anyone who loves ACE to join...
ACE – Vacation Destination!
When people hear the word “specialty”, they sometimes think that means “only select qualified individuals.” Yes, that’s sometimes true; ACE does have specialty trips with volunteers helping us in Jamaica for specific purposes. But there is a specialty group that we...
Winter may be cold, but ACE Wellness teams were just warming up…
We are not sure if you have ever experienced winter in St. Mary, Jamaica, but if you haven’t, you might want to consider coming down this time of year and joining a wellness trip! Thanks to our ACE Board Chairman, Dr. Steve Guy, we were all fortunate to receive...
MARLA’S MINUTE: After 32 years, she found us!!!
Right after the first of this month, I was cleaning out my emails, and out pops one from someone I wasn’t expecting… and what a surprise! The email was from a young girl named Evete, a name I hadn’t thought of in 32 years! 1988 was not only the year I arrived on the...
Do You Zelle?
Instead of mailing ACE a donation or trip payment with a check through the USPS, you can Zelle! With Zelle, you can send and receive money with peace of mind. Safely and easily transfer money to people you know through your trusted banking app - or the Zelle app if...
He’s Back!
We haven’t updated you recently on Pastor Kermit! We are happy to report that he is back! That’s right… you can never retire at ACE! He’s a little thinner but happy to be back on the job! When Marla and Pastor Kermit were at the hospital to pay the final bill, he was...
Anthony’s Adventures
Anthony’s Adventures For those who have met Anthony Clarke, one of our Child Sponsorship students living at the campus, you will love this article. If you haven’t met Anthony, go to our website at www.acexperience.org and check out the short video clip of Anthony’s...
Happy Fall & Thanksgiving!
Last night, D’Vaun asked a funny question after we had returned to Jamaica. His question was “Is it still fall?” We knew why he was asking; every time we landed or drove to a new city last week in the states, D’Vaun seemed to bundle up more and more in loaned-out...
Volleyball team visits the Infirmary
Did you know that even when teams are not down in Jamaica, our staff and those associated with ACE still make visits to the infirmary at least three times a week? We know the importance of consistent visits, building relationships, bringing food and just spending...
EAST COAST TRAVEL
This month, Allen, Marla, and D’Vaun had the opportunity to visit several of our partners along the northeast coast of the U.S. Partnership with ACE isn’t just about coming to Jamaica and helping us with our agenda’s for success in St. Mary. A partnership is about ACE...
When Things Don’t Go Your Way (Even When You Know They Should)
This month was finally the month that we got to see a well dug for water at the Campus as well as the farm. For those of you who don’t know what is happening, the water pipes from the National Water Commission (government water) do not come to us at the Campus or the...
Have a Team? Want a Team? Need a Team? Join a team!
That’s right, ACE wants you and your family, your friends, your church, your school, and anyone who wants to know what is happening here on the ground in St. Mary Jamaica to come this spring or summer. We have grown and are growing at levels we have never seen before....
iQuest Application page is open…Apply today!
Over the many decades of serving at ACE, I personally have been blessed to get to know so many young adults who have given their summers to serve with ACE, growing so much in the process. You see, ACE isn’t just about spending your summer in Jamaica, it’s about...
Saskia moves away
If anyone has ever been to our Jerk Centre, you know that our former ACE Administrator is called “Brownie”, at least, by her father, MacGyver. We know and love her by her real name, Saskia. We are sad but proud to report that Saskia is moving on to pursue her dream of...
ACE has a fresh new look!
We have enjoyed the multi-colored logo of ACE for many years. Like seasons that change, we thought it was time for a new leaner and simpler ACE look. Let us know what you think! We love it, especially with its nod to the wave from our previous logo! We equate the new...
ACE Adopts a Very Special School….
For years, we’ve been talking about building our own school. Then our plans changed, as God withheld the property we had hoped would open up for a school, at least for now. Believing God’s timing is far better than ours, we pulled back. ACE wanted to build a special...
ACE adds Super Student Status!
For many years now, ACE has focused on helping our students and their families push through the barrier and challenges of living in poverty to achieve a higher level of education through the child sponsorship program. ACE is now on its 10th year of sponsoring St. Mary...
Who does Field Trips anymore? ACE Does!
Not only do the sponsored students get field trips with ACE each year, but we take the entire grade with us — and this season was no different. Students in primary schools study local community and government just like in the states. Remember when you were young and...
Can we can? You bet we can!
Our famous experienced canners returned to Jamaica again this winter to see how our mothers and staff were doing in canning food since last year. All of our canners from the States were pleasantly surprised to find not only was canning going well, but our ladies had...
Summer Surprise
Remember when someone in your class at school, a friend or a neighbor copied something you wore or did to your hair? And when you told your parents, their reply was, “Well, copying someone is just a form of a compliment because they liked what you did and want to do...
Kal moves into his home!!
Some of you may remember ACE building Kal a home in the Galina area a few years ago. During that time, one of his peers who was working with ACE then, Lecepth, ran into some challenging problems where he, his wife and two children were living. Lecepth asked if he...
Marla’s Minute: How Jamaicans Enjoy the Beach
ACE enjoyed a wonderful spring break with our volunteers. We so appreciate individuals taking time out of their lives in the U.S. to give back to Jamaica. As much fun as we have with teams, it is a lot of work, so two weeks ago on a Friday, we surprised our National...
Ever been Caving? (It’s Kinda Scary!)
I have to say, caving and being “captured” in restricted quarters has never been on my bucket list to do. In fact, when I was in my 20’s , I went rock climbing in Colorado with a group of friends. We went to this great place called Red Rock. I was about 20 pounds...
Winter Has Reaped Rewards
While it is now officially spring, ACE had an incredible winter season in Jamaica. Our 10th annual Men and Women’s Conference turned out to be a huge success, even with many changes taking place. For ten years, God has provided ACE with wonderful teachers, musicians,...
A note from Annetta, Stateside Logistics Coordinator
I remember decades ago, watching a famous actress’ late-night commercial repeating, “For the cost of one cup of coffee a day, you can help a child in need.” It all sounded nice, and I was glad there were people participating in these programs. It was a distant good...