Discipleship | American-Caribbean Experience

A Family Reunion

by American- Caribbean Experience | Apr 28, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

Guess who came back to Jamaica to attend the ACE Men and Women’s Conference? You guessed it – Amber, or, as her Jamaican students called her, Miss Amba! If you have served with ACE in the past ten years, you’ve met this good looking blonde whom everyone asked if she was single. Well, it so happened that Amber married a prince (Prince Brinson) with two young children, and they are living happily ever after in Atlanta. We are thrilled that part of Amber’s heart is still with ACE, so much so that she returned to teach her former students, who are now teens, at our conference.

As you may know, Amber’s aunt, Dawn, also became a member of our ACE staff back in 2014 when she took over the role of Stateside Child Sponsorship Coordinator. Dawn’s job has been to work with D’Vaun and other members of our ACE staff on the needs of children and families in our program. Like Amber, she had not been back down to Jamaica for many years, due to health reasons. Having Dawn able to reconnect with staff and the beauty of Jamaica and to finally connect with “her” children was an answered prayer!

Thanks, Dawn and Amber, for choosing your ACE family reunion in Jamaica and serving at our conference… because it really was “about time” that you returned.

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It’s About Time

by American- Caribbean Experience | Apr 28, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Outreach

February was the calm before the storm. Our annual Men and Women’s Conference held at Galina Breeze Hotel was not only refreshing for the soul but a pleasant surprise for all who attended. Little did we know that this extraordinary team made up of 19 people from across the US would be our last group of volunteers for a while.

Our theme was “It’s About Time!” Who would have thought that within days, the Coronavirus would be a global topic. Pastor Helen’s teaching using Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” was very timely. How fitting that is even now, as we all count our days of quarantine and look to the deeper meaning of how we should spend our time with God.

The men’s side of the conference was our biggest surprise gift of all! Led by the group from Trinity On The Hill from Augusta, GA, we had a record number of attendees – over 50 men each night, and many showed up early! Trinity has been sponsoring this conference for well over a decade, providing printed T-shirts and gift bags for all our attendees, and it has continued to grow – from six attendees year one to over 160 this year!

With music provided by professional musician Paul and a new visitor to ACE, singer Vivian, we were lifted up in songs of praise and worship! Thank you to all the volunteers who brought so many donations through your time and treasure. You truly make the lives of our staff so easy for this conference by your dedicated service. We’ll be looking for you to join us next year! Same time, same place!

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April Firsts!

by American- Caribbean Experience | Apr 27, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

ACE did a number of firsts this Easter season!

FIRST – Through Facebook, we live streamed a Sunrise Service down by the sea at Galina Breeze Hotel. You can still view it online!

FIRST – Sunrise Service for the Jamaicans! No one except Arlene even knew what a Sunrise Service was!

FIRST – We’ve certainly never used a paper plate and duct tape as an intro to an ACE program, but it worked!

FIRST – We’ve never felt so instantly connected to all our friends, family, and supporters of ACE across the states and Canada at the same time!

FIRST – And maybe the beginning of an Easter tradition! We were so grateful to have been able to gather in prayer and song on Jamaican soil in a place of peace among the turmoil. The sun rose as we celebrated the Risen Son!

With our 2020 calendar still so uncertain (all spring teams have cancelled and we expect the same for early summer), we ask that you consider a donation to help ACE with our everyday needs. Trip revenue is how we pay our Nationals, and without that, we are struggling. Many staff members have had hours cut but have been volunteering their time helping on the farm and doing many other projects our teams usually do. We also have a container of donations, farming equipment and supplies we need to get which requires adequate funds.

We feel, even amid this quarantine, God’s Easter promise of renewal and rebirth in our ministry. We know that all of you are a part of this journey, and we thank you for your spiritual and financial support!

VIEW EASTER VIDEO

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Arlene’s April Update

by American- Caribbean Experience | Apr 8, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Education

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 school graduation, but we’re not even sure this is going to happen since our students will still be in school in July. However, I will be returning the end of August to help with the distribution of backpacks, uniforms, shoes, and books to our sponsored children. I will also be working remotely on certain aspects of our Child Sponsorship program assisting our staff with work that needs to be completed. As hard as this will be for all of us, it’s the next step in helping our staff assume complete responsibility for our sponsorship program and other aspects of our ministry.

All this had been decided, and then COVID-19 reared its ugly head. As it stands now, I will not return home April 9th since all Southwest flights have been cancelled until at least May 22. I have not rebooked since this date could change, again! As of now, like many of you in the states, I’m confined to the house and our ACE property. Fortunately, our new office is on our property and I can walk to work, so I have been busy working there. Also no one can come into our house if they have used a route taxi. I am very thankful that Marla and Althia are taking all of this seriously and are doing all they can possibly do to keep us healthy. As it stands right now, I believe that I am safer here than in the states. The Jamaican government has also been very proactive, which has helped to keep the number of people with the virus at a minimum. The latest directive is that no one can be out and about from 8:00 pm-6:00 am.

In addition, I am now homeschooling Anthony. The Ministry of Education just began offering classes on the TV, so we have been watching 1-2 lessons each day. It’s basically just instruction and sometimes given so rapidly it’s hard to take notes. Although recently, an English Language teacher’s slow, laborious presentation came very close to lulling the two of us to sleep! Fortunately his teachers have sent some study guides for the national test he will take in July, so we are working through those together. I have spent a lot of time on Google to find correct answers for some of the questions! Anthony has continued to mature beautifully and has become a diligent, hard worker in both his studies and work for ACE. He is saving his money for a second visa to travel to the USA.

We are hoping that in the fall his next trip will be a week in New Jersey with me and then a week in Atlanta with Marla and Allen. I also love that he is very concerned about my health and that he really appreciates all I am doing to help him. When I finally get to travel home, the hardest thing for me will be leaving Anthony. He has a very special place in my heart.

As some of you may know, my middle name is Esther, chosen by my parents because they wanted me to have a biblical name and because it also has a family connection. So Esther’s story in the Bible has always been one of my favorites. This following verse has taken new meaning for me in light of my extended stay here in Jamaica and all the challenges we are now facing here with the ACE ministry:

“…And who knows but that you have come to (Jamaica) for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Thank you again for all your prayers for our ministry and for your messages of encouragement. You will never know how much all this has meant to me. God has been faithful and will continue to remain faithful!

Wellness Goes A Long Way

by American- Caribbean Experience | Mar 25, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Outreach

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 word from the Ministry of Health and was acting quickly.

As we loaded up to leave, we smiled as Bo Bo asked when the next field trip was and would we put his name on the list. Then Christopher ran out to assist me in turning the key on the bus to start the engine and take us home. There was silence for a moment as we thought about those precious souls so thrilled to see us so often. ACE got the chance to say goodbye to our seniors from a good distance but reassured them that we will be back and, next time, with a big celebration with cake and music!

The Matron and her staff have been working countless hours providing comfort and protection to our friends at the infirmary who really don’t quite understand our absence. We give thanks for all of you who have continually supported the infirmary and the hundreds of you who have taken them out on mind stimulation trips. Everyone sends their love and thanks. And ACE is very grateful for the Depends. We have not only shared them with the infirmary but with Pastor Kermit who sends his love and is house bound, and Shirley, our GB cook, whose mother lives with her and needed them as well.

Thank you for allowing ACE to be your hands and feet on the ground. Good goes around.

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Our Children In St. Mary

by American- Caribbean Experience | Mar 25, 2020 | Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

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 plan.

Beginning this week, we are calling all parents and guardians of children in our Sponsorship program to see how they are doing, where they are staying and how many are in the house – just a small survey in regards to health and welfare. With the cancellation of our teams, we decided that instead of holding a thrift sale this month (we normally hold three a year – March, July, and November), ACE would put an individual suitcase together for each child and other relatives living in the house. Next week, D’Vaun and Laneka will drive to the house and deliver the suitcase (in the yard, of course) and then sit outside to visit, encourage and, most of all, pray for the family. We will be delivering lots of soap, toiletries, and women’s personal products.

See how valuable your donations have become to those in need? We know you will be back soon, so please keep saving those toiletries, soaps, shampoos and ladies’ pads. Thank you, also, for so many books you’ve given us over the years. We are taking two age-appropriate books per child and reading them from the yard while visiting, then leaving them with the family along with some simple activities to enjoy while they are home.