Youth Mission Dreams
June 18-25, 2016, our high school youth seek to travel to St. Mary Jamaica to work with the group, American Caribbean Experience (ACE), in an effort to reach out to those living in poverty to show the love of Christ through the work of their hands and hearts.
ACE enables volunteers to join in its outreach through a variety of hands-on experiences. Individuals and groups from all over the world come to volunteer their talents and know-how, which help provide self-sustaining solutions to local problems– in turn, empowering the people of St. Mary, Jamaica.
As part of the process of preparing themselves for mission work, the youth will participate in local outreach projects throughout the year. They will plan and work through fundraising activities and they will build lasting friendships with one another as they work towards a common goal. Additionally, they will be reading and studying the story of ACE in Marla Fitzwater’s (founder and Executive Director of ACE) book, “The Mango Tree Gospel.”
For 25 years, American Caribbean Experience has been serving the people of Jamaica through education, health care, enterprise and discipleship. From teaching children to read, to pulling teeth, to financing small businesses, to training the island’s future chefs and teachers, ACE has taken every measure necessary to “love their neighbors.” While this is a story about a particular place and its people, it’s also a story about all of us: How God works through broken people and in broken places to do beautiful things.
“It takes someone who has been working with the people of Jamaica for over 25 years to accurately portray the complexity, challenges, beauty, and courage that make up this country. In “The Mango Tree Gospel,” Marla presents Christ and Christianity in a practical and real way while answering the question: “what can I do”. Anyone considering spending time in a third-world country really should read this book. You will gain a real sense of the incongruous lives of the people of Jamaica, while developing a real-world view of the complex issues surrounding this country. Above all you will not be disappointed.” (Dr. Marie Underwood; Ed.D., CCC/SLP | Educational Leadership & Administration, Speech-Language Pathologist, Educator)
Marla arrived on the island in 1988. During the early years, she quickly observed that those receiving the primary benefit from volunteer efforts were actually the people and organizations who were serving. These visitors were touched by the experience and inspired to continue serving others upon returning home. Ironically, the local community had not experienced any long lasting change, despite the projects and improvements, the community inevitably returned to a poverty state physically, mentally and most of all, spiritually. She also learned that poor healthcare and lack of education was a reality and that without improvements in those two basic areas, people just wouldn’t have a chance to grow and flourish the way God intended.
Through these tough lessons, the strategy for ACE’s outreach was born. To this day, their ministry focuses in four main areas of Impact: education, healthcare, enterprise, and discipleship. The work they have created focuses on sustainable projects where not only those who participate in mission experiences are benefiting, but the native Jamaicans who go on living in these poverty-stricken communities after we have gone.
Please consider lending your support to our youth in their efforts to serve the world out of their love for Christ as they represent each of you in the world.
Blessings,
Tracy