Marla’s Minute – How many “i’s” in Mississippi?

Marla’s Minute – How many “i’s” in Mississippi?

For the first time in years, Allen and I did something we wished we would have done before now: travel by car to see friends of ACE who have been MIA since the COVID pandemic hit.

We started out in Ringgold, Georgia, where we spent the night with some friends who, incidentally, are way ahead of us in the farming business. Chicken, horses, cows, fish, flowers, and plants… you name it and that’s what you get when you show up at the Greg and Sheila’s home!

From there we went to Cullman, Alabama, and were treated like family by our next host and hostess. If you ever wondered what a tool barn should look like, just ask David and Valery; they have everything you could imagine to “get ‘er fixed” on the farm. We moved on to Mississippi, where we saw our friends from Tupelo, Madison, and Columbus.

One of our personal highlights was in Louisiana with a friend’s mom and dad who, for many years, ran the Bauxite plant in Manchester, Jamaica, when ACE was very young. Sitting in their living room enjoying lemon cake and coffee, seeing all the Jamaican art and Jamaican décor, brought home the fact that, while life and people move on, God always brings up another generation to carry on the work behind the faithful ones who have served well. Thank you, Zack and Carolyn, for being a living reminder of this.

While we had wanted to stop and visit other friends of ACE in Louisiana, we found it just didn’t work out for one reason or another. We did, however, get to spend the evening with friends in Baton Rouge before heading home via Columbus. Believe it or not, we still stay in contact with the very first Intern ACE ever had: Laura Ladd. She is now fully grown (not old) with three almost-grown kids and a great husband, Breck, who is Senior Pastor of a Baptist church in Columbus. Did I mention Laura is an architect? She sure is, and she is designing our (soon to be released) plan for our Green Life Village homes.

We are back in Jamaica, feeling fresh and looking forward to what God has in store for us and our community. We know, after experiencing such hospitality, that we never have to worry… just enjoy the ride and know that God is in control. Thank you, friends, for reminding us that we are not in this alone, but we have lots of company on the bus called ACE.

Grateful for you all,

Marla, Allen and the ACE team

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Our Patrene Exits, Stage Right

Our Patrene Exits, Stage Right

Patrene, our wonderful administrator for ACE, is leaving for a season to take a position in the work-abroad program that the Jamaican Government offers adults to work in the states.

Patrene will be gone for at least six months. We gave her a party at our own bamboo oasis by the river. We wish her well and she promises to stay in touch. In the meantime, we all will be handling her admin work one topic at a time! She leaves big shoes to fill! All the best, Patrene!

 

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The Seniors of St. Mary

The Seniors of St. Mary

A year ago last month, we were told we could no longer visit our senior family at the St. Mary Infirmary. While it’s understandable, all of us at ACE have felt a tremendous loss. Yet, with the needs mounting, we’ve continued to visit the many “shut in” seniors in the community who are elated that we have found them!

Rose has a sore on her foot that won’t heal. She also doesn’t have anyone to clean it and change the dressing. When Dr. Guy and his wife, Carol, were here, they made house-call visits for this purpose as well as to just cheer our seniors up a little. Most docs and their wives, I’ve noticed, are not so willing to clean and bandage a poor lady’s foot like Rose’s. But Dr. Guy and Carol, who is a nurse, are not the normal medical professionals. They are outstanding, always going above and beyond with a personal touch.

Meet Angus, one of the many blind seniors ACE has taken under our wing. When our friend of ACE, Teresa, was here, she cleaned and sang, and cooked and sang, and… well, you get the picture. What joy she brought to Angus and so many others!

Another wonderful person is Ezra, the uncle to Sheldon, one of our fathers and employees at the farm. Ezra is blind as well, but that never stops him. While he can’t see in the natural world, his supernatural abilities are amazing. Spending time with him helps us all see the world in a new way.

With your help, love and the support you continually send us, we keep the road busy and the paths to their homes well worn. Thank you all for making a difference. Now if we can only get you on the plane to come see us, we can show you the way to the Seniors of St. Mary!

 

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A Silver Lining For Our Families During COVID

A Silver Lining For Our Families During COVID

Every once in a while you read something or see something on TV about how COVID actually helped someone in a way totally unexpected. This is exactly what has happened not just once, not just twice, but several times with our sponsors helping their sponsored children and their families. The children have not been in school, and most of the families, as you can well imagine, have suffered loss of income and many times have nothing to offer their children. Thanks to so many sponsors, ACE has been consistent in supplying food staples to the many families who have nothing to eat.

In addition, some of you, since you could not come in person, elected to send the funds you’d normally spend to come down to Jamaica directly to us to help these families! Beds, refrigerators, tables, mattresses, more food and a lot of love has been coming down this past month. Take a look at the smiles! We cannot thank you enough, and neither can your sponsored children and their families. 

While COVID may have changed how you’ve helped ACE from afar this past year, we still want to see your smiling faces in Jamaica soon! We may have some friends who want to say thank you in person!

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Marla’s Minute – Mother’s Day in Jamaica

Marla’s Minute – Mother’s Day in Jamaica

Mother’s Day always comes in May, right? Except this year… my Mother’s Day came early. My mother (Mommy) and Fred (my dad) and five friends landed in Jamaica a few weeks ago to lend us all at ACE a hand on the ground. I love that my mom is still very much alive and well; so many of my friends have had their moms transition out of this life. Knowing we are all not going to live forever, I cherish every moment I have with her.

When people give me the excuse they are too old to do this kind of work, I smile and think they have no idea how much fun they are missing with friends and family. For example, the ladies were inspired to complete the three tables left over for tiling by the team who came down in February (remember last month’s newsletter article?). Of course, they had to have a little competition to add to the fun! What a great job they did!

After the tables were completed, we ladies made plantain pies with Sue, followed by lots of hikes and laughter. Meanwhile, the men couldn’t resist working the Bobcat and the John Deere tractor. A new water pond was designed and implemented by my dad, Fred, who came with tools in hand. Fred, at one point, looked like he was in time-out sitting on a bench doing the math for a natural gutter drain. At the end of the week, gutters were made, ponds created, and field lines to drain off water were once again working.

So, while May is a wonderful time to remember your mother, anytime is good! If it’s not possible to spend time together, find a neighbor or a friend to enjoy the day! We are never too old to honor our parents or to create lasting memories when the opportunity arises!

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