Jamaica

We continue to get loads of thanks especially from pastors about the books we have given them. Many have had their libraries equipped and many are able to have a library for the first time. Many have told how their ministry has taken a new turn as a result of these resource materials. The Study Bibles and Commentaries have been big hits with them. Even the congregation in many of these churches have found renewed interest in the word. So on behalf of the hundreds of ministers who have benefited, we say a big "Thank You" to Love Packages.

The container was cleared and unloaded into the warehouse. It took us 2 days but it was worth it. The books are great and I know a lot of children are going to have a great time in Sunday School and Children's church. We want to thank you for the Bibles and Pastors' books, They will go a far way in helping pastors to improve their library, especially those who can't attend Bible Seminary for one reason or another.  The two days were exciting as our team to unload the container  was comprised of children from age 3 - 15 and their strength blew us away.

Let me say a big thank you to you and your ministry for the great help that you have given to us over the years, as we minister to children in this land and now to children in all of the Caribbean. It is such a joy to partner with you. As you know we are in the back to school mode and the thrust is now to get the word of God into all the schools in a systematic way. Even though "Religious Education" is taught in the schools, it has reached the point where no longer is Christianity being taught for what it is but merely for its values as with other religions.  No one dreamed that this day would come but it is here. Many children who are Christians have been known to fail their Religious Education examinations because what is being taught in these books and what is required as answers to questions, is contrary to what they are taught in church.  This coupled with the fact that most of the children who go to school don't go to church on a regular basis. Therefore they are not able to counteract what is being taught. We will be flooding the schools with Christian literature, which will be used as part of their reading curriculum. This way they will be given a constant dose of scripture.  Many Christian teachers have been using our materials to do just that.  So we want to expand that.  We know the principals won't object. Thank God most of them are Christians. 

We have been distributing most of the contents and the response has been good. One of the testimonies coming back concerns the VBS from Gospel Light - Kingdom of The Son. One church started using it in their Good News Club for kids. The children had been doing the lessons on prayer and this evening in particular, they got word that one of the leaders of the church would be undergoing an operation for a serious condition. One of the students then suggested that they pray for him and his healing. Based on what was learned in the lessons they prayed. The following day the news came that there was no need for the operation. Many pastors have benefited from the books and have used them in their various studies at their churches. They have been very appreciative, especially due to the fact that books are extremely expensive in Jamaica.

The distribution is going smoothly. The mission team to Cuba have expressed their appreciation for the Spanish materials. They make annual trips there and there is a possibility that it may increase. It's the first time they have been able to carry so much material in.

The distribution of the other material is also going well as many schools, are using the material as part of their curriculum. Some have reported changes in the behavior of some of the little ones as they read the books. There was one boy in particular who was being very disruptive in class. The teacher was trying to get the children to sing "Lord I lift your name on high" but he just kept on interfering with everyone and everything until he took up a book with the Easter story. He opened the pages to the crucifixion, took a look at the 3 crosses and exclaimed, "That's Jesus", pointing to the middle cross. Immediately he started singing the song and has been a changed person from that day! Only God could have done it. And there are many more children whose lives have been affected by the materials. Some churches have been using the materials for their "Sidewalk Sunday School". This is a project where the church goes into the inner city where the kids don't go to church because they have no clothes to wear. Most of them are barefooted and poor. Sunday school classes are kept on the sidewalk with as many as 60 -70 children in attendance. They are taught the word of God and fed by the church as sometimes many of them come to Sunday school without eating. (Our ministry has been able to help in securing some meals for them.) They are also given Bibles material for the parents to work with them on. The main challenge they face at the moment is accommodation (preferably a tent and chairs) to shelter them from the sun and rain during that time. There are 20 such Sunday schools in the city at the moment. Help us pray that the Lord will provide the necessary items. This mission can mean the difference between life and death for a lot of the young boys as the only other alternative is a life of crime in order to survive. However, many have been encouraged to embrace Christ instead of the gun and even those who have not yet turned to the Lord have made a change in their behavior. So let's keep praying and seeking help from the Lord.

At the moment we are still distributing the materials from the last container (the one from last year). We are setting up several distribution points across the island in order to make it easily accessible to all. We are also currently on a move to have the materials used in the schools as part of their educational curriculum. Several Kindergarten schools have already started this and are very excited about it. A doctor at the main hospital on this end of the island has decided that she will use it in the Pediatric ward in order to help with the children's recovery process.