Outreach | American-Caribbean Experience

Back in the Saddle Again

by American-Caribbean Experience | Jan 28, 2025 | Community, Discipleship, Outreach

This month seems to be all about using farm verbiage to express how the beginning of 2025 is going for ACE. We mentioned last year how we are all relieved to know the COVID years are now behind us and we are now positioned to do what we do best in St Mary once again. That is to go deep and not wide in serving our neighboring communities.

Schools are back in session. Our AMI (ACE Mobile Infirmary) visits are met with great appreciation and a feeling of security that someone in the ACE family cares about them enough to check in on them. The micro-businesses are growing, so employment is increasing locally. That means Nationals are able to grow and earn and learn.

We are firm believers that when God gives you a vision, you stick with it. Not based on the difficulty of the task at hand or the time it may take to accomplish. ACE always finishes what we start. And that creates patience in our ministry.

If anyone spends any amount of time with me, you will know that learning patience is important to me. And this may not come as much of a surprise to those of you who have quite literally grown up in ACE, but one of the greatest compliments I was given at the end of last year by a board member was, “You have really grown in your level of patience with projects and people.”

I’m continually reminded of the Bible verse that says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).

I used to think that meant that God will make things happen in a month for ACE. Now that I’m older and hopefully wiser, I cannot help but better understand the old saying, “It’s not the destination that counts; it’s the journey to get there.”

ACE is back in the saddle, enjoying God’s journey once again. We are all so excited to see volunteers this year signed up to help us accomplish all the good things God has set in play for ACE so that He alone gets the glory. We are looking forward to seeing you in Jamaica, where the weather is nice and warm!

Happy Trails!
Marla

Serving Mr. George with Christmas Dinner

Ms. Denise Richards was so happy to receive a hot meal

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Now That’s a Bunch of Bull!

by American-Caribbean Experience | Jan 28, 2025 | Outreach

Starting a micro-enterprise going into the cattle business was no joke, as we knew nothing about raising cattle. We went in blind. The lessons taught were hard to swallow. We made plenty of mistakes; but now, we are reaping the “beef steaks.”

Growing the herds, as well as discovering how to efficiently separate the heifers, bulls, calves, and pregnant mothers, were just a couple of lessons we had to learn. Pastures had to be recreated for them all. Our farm staff work tirelessly each day to feed, water, and restrain fences to keep the cattle in their pastures.

Due to the large number of bulls we had, we needed to sell some off. We sold our second set of bulls this past week, which will help us finance a slaughterhouse that will humanly butcher one cow at a time and is built to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health. The funds raised will also allow us to create a “shoot” that will guide the cattle straight into the trucks, significantly easing the load off of our farm staff, as well as the cattle.

We could not have done this alone. Over the past several years, our teams have assisted us in making the pastures, clearing them out (especially after the hurricane), and building a holding area for the cattle. Thank you to ALL of our sponsors who believed in us over the years, assisted in purchasing the cattle, came down to give advice, and lent a helping hand.

God is in all of this and yes, it’s a lot of bull, but for us, it’s a also a lot of supernatural direction. We never do anything without asking for God’s coverage and guidance, and He has made it happen over and over again. Praise God! We have to take the bulls by the horns and sometimes by the tail. That’s just life, and we are so grateful.

Blessings,
Althia Foster

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Marla’s Minute: All I Want For Christmas

by American-Caribbean Experience | Dec 23, 2024 | Outreach

The economy has been skyrocketing to the moon these days. A single head of cabbage is approximately $20 US at the grocery store. While our farm staff plants as much as possible in the rich soil, ACE and its micro-businesses consume every vegetable grown. We even make natural drinks with our fruits. What is not used is given to our families in need with homemade soups and drinks. Needless to say, food is in high demand.

People ask us all the time what they can do to help. Lately, it’s all about providing and growing pure, clean food. ACE is preparing to grow food from 9 ft. aeroponic towers inside our greenhouse, which has been restored since Hurricane Beryl blew by in June. Each tower can grow food from planting to reaping within 52 days. We’ve done our homework and believe this will be a game-changer for all of us. Lettuce, carrots, peppers, micro-greens — you name it, we will grow it for the hotel, the food court, the neighbors, and the supermarkets. It will be a defining moment for all of us in 2025.

What do I want for Christmas this year? You guessed it, more aeroponic towers! They ship from Memphis, TN. Each tower costs approximately $850 US, including shipping. Our goal is to purchase 100 towers, and we currently have enough funds for 52 towers. Would you consider purchasing a growing tower for Green Life Fresh as an end-of-year tax-deductible donation?

Donate Here

If you want to learn more about the aeroponic towers, you can check out this PowerPoint here or watch this video here.

Thank you for helping us focus on making healthy and real food for our community, so we can in turn build healthy and real relationships with the people we serve. Merry Christmas!

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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

by American-Caribbean Experience | Dec 23, 2024 | Community, Outreach

So many miraculous things have happened at ACE in 2024 that listing them all would turn this last newsletter of the year into a novel. Instead, we decided to share highlights with pictures below, since photos tell a thousand words.

Starting with the most recent highlight, we hosted a fantastic Christmas party at the ACE office for all of our sponsor children and their families. We even had some ACE friends/donors volunteer for two weeks to help provide a lot of fun and act as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

2024 ACE Child Sponsorship Christmas Party

Throughout the year, we’ve seen the hand of God answer prayers that we’ve asked for and provided help from our ACE family like you. Our 840-acre farm, where our micro-businesses begin, was paid in full. This allows ACE to focus on impacting more families and giving individuals who are within walking distance a chance to earn and provide for their families.

Beekeeper with a fresh honeycomb making honey

Another prayer answered: The ACE Mobile Infirmary program has located and started helping over 100 senior citizens around our community in great need of housing, food, love, and tender attention.

Lebert in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Denise in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Ezra in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Pastor Lawrence in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Clive in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Gloria in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

James in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Julieth in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Marita in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Pauline in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

Our leadership has been growing in leaps and bounds as Marla and Allen take more of a back seat on the ground with ACE to focus on developing and promoting ACE. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have everyone on the move, cross-utilizing jobs and introducing our hotel staff to the real “why” of service by taking them out with our ACE team to visit those neglected and needy in our community.

While the economy continues to suffer here in Jamaica, ACE is doing our best to stay ahead of the price increases with prayers of wisdom on how to spend what we receive. That is very important to us, and we never want to forget that it’s because of your generosity that we are able to make such a big difference in the lives of the families God sends our way.

Our motto at ACE is “Love God, Love People.” We at ACE believe it’s the only way to live life. We hope you feel the same way and remember that the main reason for Christmas is always about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas won’t be complete without the story of why God sent His only Son to get us back to where God created us to be, and that’s to be free to live and love a God and Savior that has never left us hanging.

We wish all of you a happy Christmas and one in which you impact someone in your family or community with the good news of Jesus. The “why” behind the true holiday.

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Let’s Put Love In Action

by American-Caribbean Experience | Nov 25, 2024 | Community, Outreach

The Christmas season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and giving. As we approach Giving Tuesday, we’re reminded that love isn’t just a feeling—it’s an action. At ACE, we’re committed to putting the love of God in action every day by serving the community of St. Mary, Jamaica, through healthcare, education, discipleship, and sustainability initiatives.

From mobile infirmary visits and child sponsorships to supporting single mothers in our Children’s Village and more, every program we launch is a reflection of God’s love in action. But none of this would be possible without your help.

Together, with your support, we can continue to strengthen our programs and transform more lives. Please prayerfully consider partnering with ACE this Giving Tuesday by helping make a greater impact in St. Mary in the following ways:

1. Donate to ACE’s General Fund

Your contributions to our general fund enable us to meet urgent needs as they arise. Every gift, no matter the size, plays a vital role in building stronger communities. Whether it’s providing a warm meal, purchasing medical supplies, or repairing homes, your generosity makes it happen.

Make A Donation

2. Sponsor A Child

ACE offers six sponsorship opportunities to assist children, adults, and families in our community to reach their fullest potential. As little as $45 a month can help change the course of a child’s life by sponsoring their education and providing them with the essentials they need, including school uniforms, lunches, and access to annual medical and dental checkups. With your support, they can receive the education and opportunities they need to thrive.

View Sponsorship Opportunities

3. Shop ACE’s Amazon Wishlist

Putting the love of God in action can even look like sending socks, diapers, hygiene products, canned goods, and school supplies to those who need it most. ACE’s Amazon Wishlist is filled with items that directly support the people we serve in Jamaica. It’s a simple way to make a tangible impact from wherever you are.

Shop ACE's Wishlist

Every Act of Love Makes a Difference

The beauty of putting love in action is that even the smallest contributions or the most simple gifts can create ripples of hope. Thank you in advance for choosing to support ACE this Giving Tuesday. Together, we can put the love of God in action and empower the people of St. Mary, Jamaica, to reach their full potential.

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Vision Casting Into Reality

by American-Caribbean Experience | Nov 25, 2024 | Book A Trip, Community, Discipleship, Outreach

November started with some spectacular visits to Jamaica by our ACE friends and new leaders. If you recall from our October Newsletter, ACE is literally “back to the future” with our outreach efforts. For the first time in years, two vision trips were scheduled for interested leaders who wanted to see what 2025 was shaping up to be for St. Mary and ACE.

The participants got to see and hear from our school principals and how hopeful and grateful they are that ACE is getting back into their schools and assisting with the needs of their teachers and leadership. Sponsored students are on the rise as the needs continue to grow. Our senior adults in the community were met with love, rubbing lotion on their arms, hands, legs, and feet, food, and even haircuts by Gary, the owner of Travis Salon in Atlanta. It was his first time visiting ACE, and we are sure it won’t be his last.

Edgehill, the special needs school that ACE and Galina Breeze partner with, opened their doors for all of us to hear from the teachers what needs they have, as well as receive big hugs from our many students who love to sing, play, and learn. Laura, a pastor’s wife from Mississippi who happens to be an architect, met with the acting principal about designing a computer lab for the desktops they were given from E-learn, an NGO that focuses on teaching tools for the teachers to use.

At the end of the trip, everything was good. We dodged the rain from tropical storm Sara, and our spirits were warmed from meeting so many wonderful leaders who have a heart to grow with us. All of our staff at ACE, Galina Breeze, and Buccaneers smiled over the incredible generosity of these leaders. This is really encouraging and made a huge difference to all of us, considering how much we have grown since we were there last.

How do we move forward from here? The same way ACE has moved for years — from vision to reality. It all happens because of each of you who believe in the progress ACE has made over the decades. If you were not part of the vision trips this year, that’s okay. Call us and we will fit you into one of the 2025 trips we are preparing.

A vision is just a vision unless we have the hands and feet on the ground to make it a reality. Thank you, leaders, for your time and commitment with your teammates.

We are forever grateful.