See Pictures Below!

Update 6
Dedication Ceremony!

Today was "pay day" again for the volunteers on the Jamaica Project and what a pay day it was!  We have learned a new phrase for those times when emotions overtake you, your eyes well up and words are difficult to deliver - "The allergies are really kicking in!"  The staff at Blossom Gardens brought out all of the school age kids and toddlers for the ceremony.  We were joined by a few guests and everyone in attendance was very excited to see the new playgrounds that were provided to these children.

Carl Robanske from Embracing Orphans led the ceremony and asked Cara Grimm from Life Church (the church that raised the majority of the funds), Miss Hilton the Assistant Mgr. from Blossom Gardens and Mike Young to join him.  There was a brief ceremony that included singing the Jamaican National Anthem and comments from each of the 4 speakers.  It was fun to see the kids sing their National Anthem and watch them patiently wait for their time to play.  As Carl and 2 of the kids cut the ribbon to conclude the ceremony, the kids were allowed to play on their playground and our team of volunteers stood in amazement as the scene of laughter and play unfolded before them.  This was the first KIDS' trip for most of these volunteers.  These same kids who were unkown to most of us less than a week ago had now won our hearts and made every sore muscle, every bump and bruise, every bit of hard work and long hours suddenly seem insignificant.  Needless to say for everyone this morning, the allergies were in full bloom!

So on behalf of the entire Kids Around the World staff, thank you to each and every one of you who prayed, supported and in so many ways made this project the great success it was.  God's hand was all over this entire week and as I shared during my dedication comments, "We pray that God will bless the children of Blossom Gardens!"

I look forward to working with all of you again someday.

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young

Update 5
January 1, 2010

"This was the coolest, warm day ever!", was the comment spoken by one of the team members. Our goal was to still be able to hold the dedication on Friday morning before many of the volunteers from Life Church went home. That meant we needed to dig holes, erect the playgrounds and spread the surface materials in 1 day! It was a worthy and challenging goal. Ten of the volunteers left for the orphanage at 5:50am to get a head start on finishing the holes. A handful of the ladies headed over to Windsor Girls Home to visit and encourage the young ladies there. They ranged in age from 13 to 18. Some were orphans, some were victims of abuse and others were troubled girls who had very few options for survival. The rest of the team arrived at Blossom Garden's around 8:30am. By that time it was clear we wouldn't come close to our goal of installing 2 playgrounds today unless something incredible occurred - mainly because the ground was solid rock! We borrowed a small jackhammer from a neighbor but that we were barely making a dent.

So Carl Robanske, Exec. Director of Embracing Orpans, called in a contractor with a backhoe and breaker bar. He tried to break through the rock so we could move ahead. His breaker bar hydraulics worked so hard it broke down...twice. The second time he said he was not going to be able to repair it as easily as the first time but the team's spirits remained high. Everyone there stepped up and found solutions to each challenge that came.

By early afternoon the playgrounds were almost completed. The last shovel of gravel was spread and we had completed the playground construction before 5:30 Thursday afternoon! Everyone was amazed we installed 2 playgrounds under these circumstances in one day!

I must admit, God had shown us a lesson in a very real and hard way. By not letting us have the playgrounds until late Wed. afternoon, we had more time to minister to the children at Blossom Garden's - but He also allowed us to complete the task He called us to in regards to the playgrounds. It was "People first - tasks second." The same lesson Jesus showed us many times during His walk on earth and in following His lead He blessed us with success in both areas of our work with the people and the gift of the playground.

I would like to add 2 notes to the final update for this trip. Embracing Orphans (and their team of volunteers) live up to their name in every way. It was the perfect partnership for KIDS. We were fortunate to have the privilege to work with them. Secondly, I owe a great deal of gratitude to the KIDS team for ALL of the work they did throughout this week. A special THANK YOU to Randy Bruder, Lee Fitch, Alan Rae and Joan Connor who accepted the challenge to lead certain aspects of the build. They did an incredible job! It was an honor to work with them this week.

Finally I invite any and all of the Jamaica team to join KIDS again on future builds and I invite the rest of you to join us as well. You will truly be glad you did!

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young

Update 4
December 31, 2009

What a Day! God is SO VERY GOOD!  As the team bus left the villa this morning going to Blossom Gardens Orphanage, the cell phone rang.  It was Jim Rosene from the KIDS' office - "Good News!  The playground has been released from customs and should be on its way to you today!"  We were so excited!  After that phone call the team began singing songs of praise and thanks to our Faithful Father.

During the morning, a few of the members headed over to an orphanage for physically and mentally disabled children where we installed a playground a few years ago.  They went there to inspect the playground, clean it up and spend some time with the kids.  They were greeted with smiles and hugs.

The rest of the team remained at Blossom Gardens and finished cleaning up the grounds and the painting and just spending time with the kids.  In the afternoon, part of the team took the school aged kids to a private beach that was opened just for them!  Those who stayed back helped spread pea gravel onto parts of the play areas and prepared to unload and begin the process of installing the playgrounds that were soon to arrive.  About 4:30 the truck pulled up and the team quickly sprang into action.  After we laid out the main components and marked the holes, we began the task of digging the holes.  (Maybe chiseling and jack hammering is a more accurate description!)  We finished around 5:45 pm and headed back to get cleaned up before going out for pizza.  Afterwards, we shared some highlights of the day.  Marty told us about the flannelgraph training he conducted for the lone teacher who was available that day for training.  As Marty explained the training to her and shared how to lead a child to faith in Christ, the teacher prayed to accept Jesus into her life!  She is now excited to begin her new journey and teach the other teachers and children about her new King!

The plan is to finish the playgrounds tomorrow in time for Friday's scheduled dedication before some of us head home.

Thank you for all of your prayers - for the playground and the many other aspects of this trip.  God is so amazingly good - all the time!

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young

Update 3
December 30, 2009

We continue to see God's hands in many ways here in Jamaica.  The playground team finished the retaining walls for the 2 play areas, replanted some bushes near the playgrounds, painted the existing swing sets and monkey bars, finished building the shelves and other items for the new library.  A few members took the school aged kids for ice cream this afternoon while the rest played with the kids until we were exhausted.  What a GREAT way to get worn out!

The family from Washington State who is adopting an orphan name Matthew met with the government officials this morning to begin the final steps in obtaining approval for the adoption and taking Matthew back home with them.  God has answered our prayers and it looks like he will be leaving with his new parents in a few days!

Tonight we shared again the highlights of our day and our hopes for tomorrow.  Please keep praying that God will have the playground delivered to the orphanage on Wed.  We are chomping at the bit to get these units installed so we can bless the children of Blossom Garden Orphanage with this gift before we return home.

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young

Update 2
December 29, 2009

The day began with 1 of our team members leading a devotional during breakfast.  We spent the rest of the day at the orphanage.  Several of the team members spent the day with the children; teaching, holding, feeding, changing and playing.  Others worked on assembling cribs, changing tables and shelves while some began painting the outside of the orphanage.  The rest of the team finished clearing the areas for the playgrounds and laboring with the local help digging, mixing concrete and building retaining walls around the larger play areas.  That work will continue on both areas until the playgrounds arrive on site. 
 
By the end of the afternoon I think everyone had lost their heart to at least 1 of the kids!  We all worked very hard in the warm Jamaican sun and by 4:30 we were ready for the 1/2 hour ride back to the villa. 
 
Please pray for the release of the playgrounds.  We love ministering to the kids, but would also love to give them the playgrounds we came to provide.  Thank you for your prayers and support!

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young

Update 1
December 28, 2009

The team spent the first day with Clark Kelly (a trip participant) leading the group in a song of worship and Marty DeRoche (another trip participant) speaking from the book of Joshua with an in-house church service before heading off to Blossom Gardens Orphanage. There we spent several hours holding and loving the kids.  They are so special and so dear to our Lord!  We took the school aged children outside to teach them Bible lessons using our Jesus Film Flannelgraph and lead them in some songs.  It was fun to see the kids singing Christmas songs while enjoying the heat and humidity of the Caribbean climate.

After we left the orphanage we headed over to Dunn's River Falls where most of the team actually climbed up from the beach to the top of the falls in the water falls! A few of us less adventurous souls walked the dry path along the side of the falls and took photos of the team enjoying their climb.

Tomorrow we will begin constucting the retaining walls until the playground equipment arrives. Please be in prayer for the playground details and for the impact we can each have on the precious children at Blossom Gardens Orphanage.

For the Team in Jamaica,
Mike Young