Education | American-Caribbean Experience

Marla’s Minute: Back to the Future

by American-Caribbean Experience | Oct 28, 2024 | Book A Trip, Community, Education, Outreach

Before COVID, ACE was rather successful in our community outreach in and around our four partner public primary schools. The model ACE created was based on “going deep and not wide.” First, we form a partnership with one of our rural primary schools in the area that lacks funds and opportunities for their students, unlike the city schools of Kingston, Montego Bay, Ochi, etc.

Second, ACE forms a 10-year minimum relationship with the principal and teachers at the school. ACE receives a list of all of the students in need of sponsorship, and the children get added to our Child Sponsorship Program. Through sponsorship, we dig even deeper into the students’ homelives, where relationships are formed with everyone living in the home. ACE can then also discover any medical, dental, or other healthcare needs of the student and their family members.

From that community, many elderly and special needs members are met by ACE volunteers and employees with a helpful and compassionate hand and heart.

All that and more came to a full stop almost four years ago with the COVID shutdown. Schools closed, infirmaries and hospitals closed their doors to visitors, and for the most part, ACE lost all progress we had spent decades building.

Then God did something fantastic! He opened a door to start creating businesses on a piece of property we now own call Green Life Farms.

For the past three years, volunteers have come to help us “work the farm.” Cutting bushes, discovering ruins, raising pigs and cows, picking fruit, and helping an old farm with history become a modern-day working property for our Jamaican community. With our food court, Buccaneers Jerk and Juice, Treasure Chest, and Cloud 9 Chocolate, we were able to survive the downturn in the economy.

During that time, many friends were probably wondering if we would ever “come off the farm” and get back to what we do best—“changing lives and transforming communities.” Even we wondered that at times. But the time has finally come.

Looking into the future and even starting right now, ACE is back in our communities with open arms from our teachers, neighbors, and infirmary patients. Unfortunately, the government-run infirmary still hasn’t opened to groups and has a strict policy of visitors. Interesting enough, we have found more “shut ins and disabled adults” living on their own and barely surviving right in our own community. So, we’ve started our own elderly ACE Mobile Infirmary (AMI) visits. That’s the silver lining behind the COVID closings of the infirmary.

ACE is now BACK to the FUTURE. We’re getting back into our schools and communities. Just this week, a family from Gainesville, GA, surprised us with a visit and built a homeless man a house, followed by our ACE Board of Directors finishing the home with paint and a single bed. If you are considering a trip down to Jamaica this coming winter or sometime in 2025, please prepare to go back to our communities, see old friends and meet new friends. We are thrilled. Yes, we like farm work, but ACE loves those relationships.

When you come down next, be sure to bring all the hugs and energy you can. We have three years to make up!

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Displays of Gratitude for Backpack Distribution Days

by American-Caribbean Experience | Aug 26, 2024 | Education, Outreach

Long-time volunteer Arlene is currently in Jamaica helping ACE with our annual Backpack Distribution Days as we kick off a new school year. The following article is Arlene’s recap of this year’s event.

If it’s mid-August, then it must be time for me to journey back to Jamaica for our annual Backpack Distribution Days. It’s that hectic, crazy, fun three days when we give our students their new backpacks, complete with school supplies, ready-made uniforms, and/or fabric for ones that need a seamstress. Despite the heat–and yes, it’s very hot this time of year–it is something I look forward to every year.

The process starts with the students expressing their gratitude to their sponsors. We alternate each year between having them make a Christmas gift and writing thank-you notes. Our primary students are given a card with a picture to color and then inside, they write their thank you note. Our Second Story students, high schoolers grades 7-11, write their thank you notes on a store-bought note card. When they have finished this, they go to the next station to have Mr. Gooden review our contract with their parents. This contract lists our requirements for the students in our program and helps hold them accountable.

The next stop in our Backpack Distribution Days event is always the childrens’ favorite part—getting their backpacks. (See below for a couple of photos showing the children’s delight when looking into the backpack.) Of course, my favorite part in all of this is that I get to interact with each of our students while I take pictures of them including full-body photos for their personal page in our database and head-shots for their sponsors’ Christmas gifts.

Out of 157 students, there are always those reluctant few who just won’t smile, no matter how hard I try! And on the other side of the spectrum, we always have those charmers who want to do some extra poses. But the most noticeable takeaway each year is how tall they’ve grown. Some of our young men are now so tall that I jokingly said I might need a stepladder next year to take their head shots.

This year, in addition to the school supplies, each family went home with peanut butter, jelly, and two packs of fortified rice. We are so grateful to our friends in the States who purchase these rice packs for us. They are definitely a gift of mercy and love.

What stood out to me most this year was the overwhelming gratitude of our parents for our assistance in helping them care for and educate their children. One mother was so grateful that she had her child put on his school uniform to have us take and send pictures of him to his sponsors thanking them.

I am so thankful to God for the strength and stamina He has given me that makes it possible for me to return each August to be a part of Backpack Distribution Days!

Backpacks lines up for our Backpack Distribution Days

A Student in our ACE Child Sponsorship Program Receiving a Backpack

ACE student in our child sponsorship program

Student in our ACE Child Sponsorship Program

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A Sponsor’s Story

by American-Caribbean Experience | Jul 29, 2024 | Book A Trip, Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

BY TINA STUBBS

In 2011 the school where I worked, Heritage Academy, began sponsoring Anthony, or Antonio as he was known then. He was ten years old, and we were told he was very shy and hesitant to speak. He was at Hampstead Primary School and eventually began attending Edgehill School for Special Needs.

When I first met Anthony in person, he was indeed quiet, but, when encouraged, his smile made my day! He thrived at Edgehill and grew in height A LOT! Each year when we visited the school, I would look for him. There he’d be, a head taller than most of the other students. I’d catch his eye and there would be a twinkle in it as he gave me a quick smile. When we got the chance, he’d give me a hug.

Along with academics, Anthony learned life skills at Edgehill, like carpentry and gardening skills to build garden boxes. In the fall of 2020, my current employer, Sugar Hill Christian Academy, my family, and another ACE sponsor began co-sponsoring Anthony. After graduating out of Edgehill a year later, Anthony became part of the ACE Apprenticeship program. He is learning farming skills, personal responsibility, and is being mentored by some of ACE’s best!

Over the years, we’ve been able to provide many necessities to him, but this past December, Amber, ACE’s Stateside Sponsorship Coordinator, reached out and shared Anthony’s Christmas wish. He asked for a bed. All his sponsors came together and provided the funds for a new bed. While in Jamaica this past June, Diana Kissing and I were able to visit Anthony at his home and give him a set of sheets provided by Diana!

What a joy it has been over the years to watch Anthony grow from that shy little boy to the confident young man he’s become!!

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The Harvest is Great

by American-Caribbean Experience | Jun 24, 2024 | Book A Trip, Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

Before 2008, my perception of Jamaica was based on the cruise ship port in Ocho Rios and commercials for the huge all-inclusive resorts. All of that paints a picture of a thriving culture where everyone is living the dream life. It was not until June of 2008 that I really experienced the true heart and culture of Jamaica and its people.

In the beginning of 2008, Brandon, my son, who was 14 at the time, expressed an interest in going on a mission trip through our church. The idea of a teenage boy wanting to go on a mission trip to a strange new place, serving others and getting closer to God — who would say no? So, we started looking at the options, keeping in mind that my wife hates flying. We decided to investigate the trip to Jamaica, as it was the shortest flight option. After the first meeting with the trip leader, Teresa, we chose to take that leap of faith and sign up.

Fast forward to June of 2008, when we went down to Jamaica. Little did we know, our perspective of Jamaica was about to be radically changed for the better. Working with ACE, we all experienced the true heart and culture of the Jamaican people, from the schools to the infirmary and their homes. Being able to show God’s love to the Jamaican people and the joy they had was amazing.

Fast forward to today. It has been 17 years since our first trip to Jamaica with ACE. The work we did on that first trip touched our hearts in a way that kept us wanting to return, which led Brandon and myself to continue to do these trips. Over the years, we have gone with various size teams down to just ourselves and meeting up with other teams. The relationships we have created over the years with other US teams and more importantly the Jamaicans, has been a true spiritual blessing.

The experience ACE can show someone in the first year is eye opening on how God can work, but the true benefit comes from going back over the years to see how HE continues to use ACE. The work a team does in a week may not seem like much, but each week another team builds on your work and before you know it there is a house for someone to live in or a classroom for the children. Each year you see how that cornerstone that you put in is now a structure that God created through you. These trips not only allow us to bless the Jamaicans but also the people that go on them. My greatest experiences on these trips have been seeing Brandon getting baptized in the pool and because of doing these trips he was able to meet his now wife, Danielle. If we had not listened to God and did not take that first trip, I would not have a God-loving daughter-in-law and 3 beautiful grand babies.

As I look back over the 17 years at all the changes, I see how God has worked through us, a little bit at a time. It may be hot and the work hard, but it is well worth it for the spiritual reward you receive. I can testify that God is at work during that week because the things I am able to do could not be done without His power in me. The vision that Marla has for ACE has been amazing to watch blossom over the years. It has amazed me how God gives ACE the visions, and supplies them with the staff, volunteers and finances to carry out those visions. I also give a shout out to Allen. He has to be a godly man to support his wife, 1200 miles apart most of the year, for so many years.

The verse that came to me back in 2008 when this all started was Matthew 9:37: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few”. I have held this verse close to heart as I want to be a part of the harvest.

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The Mission & Vision of ACE

by American- Caribbean Experience | Oct 26, 2023 | Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

We’ve just released our latest video detailing the mission and vision of ACE. Even after 35 years, we’ve remained focused on our four main impact areas — education, wellness, micro enterprise, and spiritual development.

Please take a moment to watch the video below and discover what we’re currently doing to strengthen each of these impact areas.

Thank you for being a part of our mission and helping us meet the educational, physical, and spiritual needs of people in St. Mary, Jamaica. There’s always a way for you to be a part of what we’re doing at ACE. You can volunteer and plan a trip, sponsor a child, or show your support with a financial donation.

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Marla’s Minute –God Gives Me Grace

by American-Caribbean Experience | Feb 22, 2023 | Book A Trip, Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

This is the month of valentines! I can recall those paper valentine punch-out cards where you write on the back and then give to your teachers and friends. They always seemed to say the same thing: “from _________ “to ________ — Would you be my Valentine?”

A special valentine arrived this month from Virginia just for me. While it wasn’t a punch-out card or even chocolate – remember, Cloud 9 is already here — it was in the form of a sole intern named Grace.

ACE has never had an iQuest intern come in the winter. Grace just graduated from James Madison College and, instead of jumping into her career, she asked if she could join us for the winter season and become our first winter intern.

Grace is my Valentine. I have been without an assistant for four months with Sarah in the states, so administration tasks have been bogging me down in the office. Grace arrived in Jamaica with a big smile and lots of energy, saying “perfect” to every request I asked her to help me with. She loves collecting data and putting it in great graphs and excel formats. She thrives in math and can count money almost faster than a machine!

Grace will be in Jamaica until April, at which time, she will return to begin her career in… well, just about anything she wants, smart enough to master anything and eager to be wherever God leads her. Thank you, Grace, for being my Valentine for these 75 days. You are a blessing, and maybe, just maybe, I can convince you to be our house mother this summer for our new iQuest signups.

Which reminds me… I’m hoping we will get some summer interns who want to grow, thrive, and serve with ACE this summer. Now is the time to sign up and get ready for a season you will never forget in Jamaica with ACE. Teamwork makes the dream work and we need you on our team!

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