Our last morning here in Jamaica as we prepare to head home today. It has been a great week and God moved in incredible ways. Please pray as we travel and that these students will carry their passion back to the hallways, classrooms and athletic fields at Southfield Christian.

Today was our last full day. We started out by stopping at Discovery Bay on the way to Dunn’s River Falls. The guys all had a blast climbing the falls and we saw some interesting people, and sunglasses wearing animals. After the falls we hit Ocho Rios and spent some time at the market. When we returned, the guys sat out on the sea wall and watched the sun set. This has been a great week and God has done great work both in us and through us. See you all tomorrow night!

We had a fun day today. We started our day at the park again and continued to meet and talk to new people. The boys have really gotten very comfortable at sharing their faith ever opportunity they get. It was fun because we saw some of the people we met at the park this week as we were in town and they came up and said hi, and it gave us a sense that relationships had really been developed. After the park we went to Jimmy Buffets for lunch and played on some of the toys out in the ocean. They had a water slide that went into the ocean and the guys just spent the afternoon enjoying each others company and hanging out. We walked back to Fairhaven and did a little shopping on the way (the guys seem to muchly enjoy buying fake ray-ban sunglasses). When we got back some of us did some snorkeling and some just hung out. We had a great devotion this evening where everyone shared something positive about another member of the team and then spent some time in worship. Good night!

Today was the reason that we have been preparing for all these months. We started out the morning at the park! The park was a little bit more low key today. It was not a holiday here today so there were not as many people at the park today. But we still met some new people and shared the love the Jesus with them. After the park we had some Jamaican fast food called Tastee. Then went headed off to the bible college for our final day of camp. Garrett and Frank gave our devotion today at the camp and did a great job. After their devotion we had the chance to ask if anyone wanted to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We saw an immediate response of 43 kids accept Christ today. God did more work through us than we ever could have imagined. We are so thankful for being able to be used by Him in this way.

What a day! We headed to the park around 9:30 this morning and when we arrived the park was empty. We contemplated leaving and going back but decided to stay and see what happened and within 10 minutes, we were fully engaged in a game with about 8 other people. The people continued to come and by the time we left at 11:00 the boys had led four people to Christ. We were amazed how God answered our prayer of providing opportunities for us to share our faith. We left the park and headed out to West Haven, a special need orphanage, to meet up with the other team. The boys did a great job of engaging with the kids, they played ball with them, walked with them, sat and made them laugh, and were just “all in”. This evening we all headed out to Glistening Waters and were in awe of just how creative our God is, it is truly an amazing thing. After a great devotion tonight led by Derek Adams and Evan Carter, the soccer guys spent some time in prayer asking God to prepare us for tomorrow as we will be presenting the message of salvation at camp as well as returning to the park in the morning. Please keep us in your prayers.

Today was another day in paradise. This morning we had the opportunity to serve the other part of the SCS team. We did their breakfast dishes, then when they left for their work project we hung back and made all the lunches for our team and theirs. Then we headed out to meet up with the other SCS crew at the Jamaican Christian School for the Deaf. Everyone had lunch together then we got a chance to play some soccer with some of the deaf students. After that we got the opportunity to stop at a little shanty shop on the side of the road. We bought some sugar cane, fresh oranges, and fresh bananas. From there we went straight to the Bible college to put on our soccer clinic. The boys did great today! We had 85 kids and it went more smoothly than we could have ever imagined. The way is definitely being paved for the Gospel on Thursday! The kids hearts are quite evidently being softened. After the camp was over we headed back to Fairhaven for a delicious Jamaican dinner of salt fish and goat!

While we were finishing this blog post we had an exciting interruption. Frank, Kevin, and Eric came in and told us that they had just led a young man on the street to Christ. Therefore, we just made this other video of Frank and Kevin telling us about their experience!

Today was awesome(irie in Jamaica)! Our morning started off by heading out to one of the public schools with the other team. We hung out with the students while watching our peers do a great job of ministering to the kids through music and a great skit. After heading down to the strip, checking out the shops, and then coming back for lunch, we headed out to the bible college for our first say of soccer camp. We had approximately fifty kids come today and our students did a great job. The evening was highlighted by our students leading small groups and praying with them. We truly saw answers to our prayers today and Gods’ hand was evident it the way things worked out. ” Never once did we ever walk alone”!

I Timothy 2:3-6
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

After all the time spent in preparation and practice we are finally here, safe and sound! We all made it through customs with all of the gear we are going to be giving away with no problems. Fairhaven welcomed us graciously this afternoon, where we were briefed on the rules and got a chance to spend some sunny time on the beach. The boys were able to snorkel for a bit right by our beach, then later had the opportunity to play some beach soccer with a group of Jamaican boys. So far everything has gone flawlessly, but tomorrow will be the real test: our first day of soccer camp. Thanks for checking in and we will fill you in on more tomorrow! Thank you for the prayer and support!

The bags are packed…and as we near our departure for Jamaica, we are finishing up some last minute details, making sure that we are fully prepared for what God has in store for us. As we leave , we ask you continue to pray this week that our team will allow God to work through us and that He will prepare the hearts of those we will encounter. Eric, Ryan, John, Garrett, Frank and Kevin have been working since November to prepare themselves for the next seven days, and it is our prayer that they come back changed men who have used a sport they love to impact lives for Jesus.

I Peter 3:14-16
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.