20TH ANNIVERSARY Medical Mission & Build a Biffy
Medical Mission: Jan. 31 - Feb. 7
Build a Biffy: Feb. 28 - March 7

Mission Jamaica celebrates 20 years of service in Jamaica this year, and we have two special projects to honor this miracle of service.  Please help support a Medical Mission led by Pastor Cindy Senarighi and Dr. Jill Linse.  Your contribution will go towards medicine and making sure a complete team gets there to conduct the clinics in more rural areas of Jamaica.

Build a Biffy
In a very poor area of Kingston named Calaloo Mews there is no sanitation for the nearly 500 people living there.  We have reviewed the site and had several discussions as to how we might help.  After we got good buy-in from the people living there and a commitment to work with us, we developed a plan.  The organized community group there is the Parent-Teacher Association generated from the Basic School, our old partner in the many projects Angie Simms directs.  As they reviewed the design they thought it would be two insecure, especially for their children.  They thought it through, and one idea was to build attached to a house.  Given that the houses are mostly plyboard and zinc (corrugated metal roofing material) and squeezed together, they discovered there was no room to build.  The eventual plan became a very simple four-door facility measuring about 6-by-12 feet. Two rooms, each approximately 3 ft by 6 ft for showers, and two rooms, also 3-by-6 feet, would contain a toilet and sink.  Each would have a door and a key.  Two of the families will be the monitors and check the keys in and out.  Think what you might, this is what they want and what they will use.  It is as safe and secure as possible.  It will be monitored and our design is easily cleaned.  As in all things, we want our projects to work for the Jamaicans using them.  We want them to be low maintenance and maintainable.  This meets all requirements and we are excited to get on with it.

The “Build a Biffy” Project needs your help.  A contribution during January will ensure the materials are there.  We also welcome your participation.  Come help us build this very valuable resource that will improve the health of all in the community.  Pastor Michael Carlson will be the spiritual leader for this trip. Let him know you are interested, drop him a check or send it to the Mission Jamaica office. Sign up and join the “Build a Biffy” Team. 

Blessing for the New Year by Michael Wittkamper, Director

I had the great pleasure of enjoying the National Lutheran Choir’s Christmas Worship Concert and near the end of the incredible music these words of Teresa of Avila were read.

Christ has no body on earth but yours,
 no hands but yours,
 no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which
 is to look out
 Christ’s compassion to the world
Yours are the feet with which
 he is to go about doing good:
Yours are the hands
 with which he is to bless people now.

Come join us in Jamaica as we serve our Lord in Short Term Mission Trips

Jan. 17 -24: Pastor John and Ruth Hogenson 
This is a budget trip serving people in J’Abode (Habitat), Westhaven Disabled Children’s Home and the Boys Place of Safety.  Three options to get deeply involved in ministry, child care, mentoring and sweat equity as we build houses together.