What makes Mission Jamaica most impactful is our longstanding relationship with our key Jamaican partners. For more than 30 years we have developed ongoing relationships that allow us to be responsive to the needs of our partners.
Work Experience: Real Life Work Skills in Action
News from friends at West Haven
Site Location – Kingston Teams fly into Montego Bay on Saturday followed by a 4 hour scenic shuttle bus ride to Kingston which includes a stop at a local Jamaican restaurant. Upon arrival, teams check into their hotel for 4 nights. After completion of service days, teams return by bus to Montego Bay for 2 days of rest and reflection at Sunsets Resort.
Callaloo Mews Basic School – The 2008 season marked the beginning of this great new partnership for Mission Jamaica. Our contact with Calalloo is Angie Sims, former principal of Maranatha Basic School. She has reached out to residents of this community with the Good News of Jesus Christ while providing a Christian Basic School for children in the area. A Basic School in Jamaica is similar to a preschool with 3-5 year-olds. All children are required to attend Basic School. However, transportation, cost of uniforms, and the inability to pay for lunch may cause parents to hold their children back.
What we do-Missionaries provide maintenance, painting, some construction and have interaction with the basic school children and teachers.
Calalloo Mews is a below poverty level, residential community of “squatters”, set up by the Jamaican government, and is located on the edge of Kingston in an industrial area. Approximately 800 people live in Callaloo Mews. 80% have no running
Calalloo Mews Community is located 20 minutes from our hotel.
What we do in Calalloo Mews -2013 was our first year to start and complete a J’bode project in the community. Our 2014 goal is to continue to offer homes to this areas based on local J’Bode organization and planning. A sewing clinic will continue to encourage cottage industries within the community that one day may be a source where residents can purchase school uniforms at a reduced cost.
Clifton Boys Home, Darlingston, Jamaica – Boys, 8 to 18, live at this Christian home where safety, education, and Christian values are fostered. At age 18, boys typically leave with renewed hope for a more positive future with an education, job-worthy skills, and what it means to have a loving family.
Site Location -Clifton is located approximately an hour from our base hotel.
What we do-Building and maintenance is ongoing at the home. Animal and outbuildings have been provided under the Heifer International format to provide the home with food, funds and self-reliance. Mission Jamaica missionaries also provide VBS opportunities, craft sessions and may learn the game of cricket from the boys.
Second Suitecase donation needs
Belts and Socks– Boys and mens new/gently used black or brown
Cleaning supplies– General detergents for cleaning floors, clothing, & kitchen
Sheets– Single, flat and fitted
T-shirts- New, white child size 8 thru adult medium
Underwear – New briefs child size 8 thru medium adult
Hygiene items– Soaps, shampoo, deodorant, razors
School supplies– pens, pencils, paper, markers, folders
Copse Basic School – A Basic School in Jamaica is similar to a preschool with 3-5 year-olds. All children are required to attend Basic School. However, transportation, cost of uniforms, and the inability to pay for lunch may cause parents to hold their children back. 20 children attended in 2013, with increasing numbers in 2014.
Site Location -Copse Basic School is located next to West Haven Children’s Home, 45 minutes from our hotel. Teams going to Copse Basic School can also serve at West Haven Childrens Home.
What we do-Mission Jamaica missionaries are able to provide classroom assistance, VBS type activities, and help with maintenance issues such as painting. A fresh coat of paint inside and out, ABC stenciling on the outside walkway, and several maintenance items of the building are planned for our teams
“In A Second Suitcase” packing list–
Pre-School classroom aids
White boards, white board books and markers
Lined and construction paper, markers, pencils, pens
Kitchen pots and supplies (for classroom lunch)
Wall clocks
Site Location – Kingston Teams fly into Montego Bay on Saturday followed by a 4 hour scenic shuttle bus ride to Kingston which includes a stop at a local Jamaican restaurant. Upon arrival, teams check into their hotel for 4 nights. After completion of service days, teams return by bus to Montego Bay for 2 days of rest and reflection at Sunsets Resort.
The Earth Angel Breakfast Feeding Program -A program started by Ms. Angie Sims to provide a nutritious breakfast program for the students within the community and was extended to provide meals to the elderly and shut in for the Waterhouse community. Children served come from below poverty level homes and have a very difficult time learning while at the Calalloo Mews Basic School due to their extreme hunger.
What we do-Teams members have the opportunity to rise early to prepare and distribute breakfast daily while interacting with the community. 50 to 150 children will receive breakfast based on availability of food. Following breakfast, team members will be transported to their daily work site for the day.
Garland Hall Orphanage – 24 orphans call Garland Hall home. Garland Hall projects have included carpentry, plumbing, tile work, electrical, painting, plastering, concrete, and other construction, maintenance and repair needs. Sustainability projects for Garland Hall include a chicken coop of layers and fryers as well as goats.
Site Location – Kingston Teams fly into Montego Bay on Saturday followed by a 4 hour scenic shuttle bus ride to Kingston which includes a stop at a local Jamaican restaurant. Upon arrival, teams check into their hotel for 4 nights. After completion of service days, teams return by bus to Montego Bay for 2 days of rest and reflection at Sunsets Resort.
Hope Valley Experimental School – This was Mission Jamaica’s first service site in 1990. It was the first school in the Caribbean that incorporates children with special needs into the classroom and serves over 900 students K-6th grades.
What we do at HVE – HVES has opportunities to serve on construction and maintenance projects at the school. Past projects have included construction of covered outdoor seating, building handicapped accessible walkways, repair/replace of fencing, painting, playground and track-field updates, classroom tutoring and student interaction during recess and gym.
Ja’Bode (formerly Habitat for Humanity) – Ja’Bode is a short for “Jamican Abode.” Mission Jamaica missionaries help make simple, decent and affordable housing a reality for families that are in the greatest need.
What we do-Digging footings, pouring concrete and tying steel are some of the tasks MJ is asked to do. The focus in Jamaica is to build 16’x20’ one room homes or add-ons to existing homes. We work side by side with future new owners and the community.
Costs-J’bode homes cost $4000-$4500 to cover the material cost for one home.
“In A Second Suitcase” list–
Donations that will be given to Delzie Murry, J’Bode director, to distribute to J’bode families:
Bibles– King James Version
Household items– pots and pans, plates, cups, flatware, dish towels
Towels and Wash cloths
Flat sheets-Single and double, new or used
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Underwear – New briefs child size 4 thru Large adult
Camisoles- Girls and women
Gently used clothing
Baby bottles, nipples, and bottle brushes
Empty suitcases
Mission Jamaica provides free medical and spiritual health care to different communities several times per mission season with a goal to reach as many Jamaicans as possible with the potential to have follow-up care.
Kingston’s Penwood Medical Clinic – MJ has sent doctors, nurses, therapists, dentists and dental hygienists to Kingston since 1993. Hundreds of patients from the community are examined and treated with no cost to them during a MJ week. Currently one clinic is scheduled during the mission season. Additional clinic options are available to expand this ministry to allow for greater access to the Jamaican community and to provide follow up care.
Mobile Site Locations -The mobile medical clinic provides the opportunity to serve separate locations:
Montego Bay-St. John’s Medical Clinic – Part of St. John’s Methodist Church. This facility serves the Montego Bay area providing free medical and dental health care to the community. St Johns is 15 minutes from our hotel.
Burnt Savannah’s Medical Clinic – The Burnt Savannah community is Mission Jamaica’s newest site and home to Pastor Douglas’ second church. The clinic site is further up the mountain at Vision Chapel and serves the community of Burnt Savannah. Location 1.5-2 hours from our hotel
Copse Community Health Center– Free medical clinic to the Copse community with the option of providing medical care and checkups for the staff at West Haven Children’s Home. Location 45 minutes from our hotel.
Sunsets Resorts Hotel– We serve those that serve us every day– the staff of Sunsets. We give back to those that have served us for the week in recognition of their very long days, hard work and difficult schedules.
What we do: Medical– Licensed medical and non-licensed lay people are needed for a clinic to provide proper intake, triage, medical care, pharmacy, and education in addition to offering prayer support . Reading glasses and hand and foot care can also be provided. Medical ministries requires a minimum of 1 MD with a maximum of 3 providers ( Dr, PA and/or NP). Additional medical credentialing required
What we do: Dental– Licensed dental and non-licensed lay people are needed for a clinic to provide proper intake, triage, medical care, pharmacy, and education in addition to offering prayer support . Due to size of the clinic, space will allow for 1 dentist and 1 hygienist is needed per clinic. Additional lay people help with intake, provide spiritual care and assist with prescriptions. Additional dental credentialing required for dentists and hygienist.
“In A Second Suitcase” packing list–
Exam gloves
Prescription labels
Brown paper lunch bags
Toothbrushes and tooth paste
Exam table paper
Tongue depressors
Cotton Balls
Band-aids
Medical tape
Gauze
10 Pregnancy test (available at the dollar store)
Additional over the counter items will be provided closer to your travel dates
Bibles– King James Version
Reading glasses
Educational handouts– Diabetic, hypertension, STD’s, Prenatal, and dental care
West Haven Children’s Home is a residential facility located 30 miles from Montego Bay in Copse, Jamaica. It is home to approximately 80 children and young adults with moderate to severe special needs, including those diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities. The staff is adequate to meet only the most basic needs of the residents, such as bathing and feeding. The open air dormitories are over-crowded and funds are needed to help with renovations. There is no hot water available.
The government of Jamaica provides only about one-half of the budget necessary to meet these most basic needs. West Haven depends on charities such as CDFI to help bridge the gap in this funding deficit.
Mission Jamaica Volunteers have served at West Haven since 1995. Teams serve on construction & repair projects, assisting the staff, helping at the on-site school, and aiding in the care for the residents.
