My Experience in a Missionary School

8/13/2019 My Experience in a Missionary School

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My Experience in a Missionary School

School of Missionary Development Church of God in Atlanta GA

Today this outreach no longer is.


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1.The Call

The Purpose driven life

I used to have, and read this book a lot. There is a lot of good, and truth in it if we are

open. Read the whole book, and I think you will get the point. It is Christian based, but

much can be applied in other aspects for a better quality of life.

The most basic question everyone faces in life is Why am I here? What is my purpose?

Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams,

but Rick Warren says the starting place must be with God and his eternal purposes foreach life. Real meaning and significance comes from understanding and fulfilling God's

purposes for putting us on earth.The Purpose-Driven Life takes the groundbreaking

message of the award-winning Purpose-Driven Church and goes deeper, applying it to

the lifestyle of individual Christians. This book helps readers understand God's

incredible plan for their lives. Warren enables them to see the big picture of what life is

all about and begin to live the life God created them to live.The Purpose-Driven Life is

a manifesto for Christian living in the 21st century...a lifestyle based on eternal

purposes, not cultural values.

Using biblical stories and letting the Bible speak for itself, Warren clearly explains

God's five purposes for each of us:

Modern life assaults us with an infinite range of things we could do, we would love

to do, or some people tell us we should do. But we are not God and we are neither

infinite nor eternal. We are quite simply finite. We have only so many years, so much

'


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We were planned for God s pleasureo so your first purpose is to offer real worship.

We were formed for God s familyo so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.

We were created to become like Christ,o so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.

We were shaped for serving Godo so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.

We were made for a missiono so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism.

Jeremiah 29:11 God saysI know the Plans I have for youYes God has purpose for

each person, a plan. He has gifted us with free will and choices as well. God does not

force His plan, but in time reveals His plan if we are open, and seek. In 1stCorinthians

chapter 12 it talks about gifts. We each are gifted for specific purposes. We all have a

call to serve in one way or another. We are compared to a body we each have a part,

and each of us together are vital. You would never cut your foot off, just because it

stepped in manual? Would you? No. We all cannot be the mouth, but we are each vital,

hands, feet, Christ the Head. The Call of God is not just for preachers, He calls us all to

something, We were not born for nothing or to just take up space. It is not easy to

fulfill His calling, but where He leads, He opens doors, and will provide what you need

along the way. It will require you to have faith, trust, and patience.

In My experience I have had several prophetic words spoken over my life about

ministry, and travel.. The Disciples were called, but also had to be trained schooled you

could say in various ways. There is the call, preparation, schooling, characterdevelopment. This can take years, The Disciples were first called to follow, learn,

participate, serve, and later on three years later sent. God does not call the lazy, but

hard working, people who are open. Everyday people. Jesus called fishermen, nothing

special according to the worldsstandards, but Jesus saw potential in each, even Judas.


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There is potential in each person, of every age. Peter was not young, John was the

youngest. The Call is to every age. Sometimes we make the Call of God harder, more

complicated then it is. NO , God is not going to audibly speak from Heaven saying this

is my purpose for you. As you walk with Him He puts desires His in your heart to seek.It also says let the Peace of God rule in your heart.


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2. Confirmation

I had for years felt a call into ministry, and even had dreams. If God puts it in your

heart he will open the doors. Where He calls He provides. I can say this is true,

In Oct of 1999 I was in the Sanctuary of the church I went to then. Someone called me

over and said when God puts it into about Missions, let me know. The weekend I

prayed. We talked a week later, and she told me she believed God laid on her heart to

pay for me to go to a Missionary School. The School was in Jamaica, and was a

ministry out of the Church of God in Atlanta. We were in Ohio. Well I applied, had

may passport, was not employed at time and knew I need money to take. Well fnaly a

job opened for me in a factory which was fabrication. I could never do it perfect,and

was cursed out nearly every day. Well I was approved to go, and the lady paid the

entire cost which was 1500- 2000 dollars. I just had to pay my airfare, and my personal

costs. Well by Godsgrace this job covered it. Also I must add a car accident helped too

as I did receive money for my car to be fixed. It was December, snow, slippery

conditions, I just had to go out. Well against better judgment I did, and someone

collided into me. I was blessed not to be injured, although my neck was a little soar.There is a song I used to so love, God will make a way where there is none.

What we see as impossible, is possible with God, and those who believe.


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3. The School

Jan 5th2000

I flew in on American Airlines from CLE, to MIA, and onto Jamaica for 5 months out

of the USA. % months out of my comfort zone too. The morning I left there was snow,

and it was so cold. I was happy to board, and sit in a silver flying tube. I was happy to

have window seat. As the plane pushed back,after listening to the safety briefing, I

began to wonder ,OH what am I in for? The thought immediately came to me Into the

furnace, and onto the Potters wheel. Yes this made me nervous indeed. I however

enjoyed the flight over very much. We flew near Cuba. The Atlantic Ocean is beautiful,

and warm to down in Jamaica. Well arrived, and took one hour to get through customs.

It was warm indeed, Then waited another hour for my pick up. We flew into Mantego


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Bay, and our journey was to Orcho Rios into the mountains. We made one stop, and all

together 3- 4 hours drive, LOL. Needless to say I was famished, as well as tired,

The School was also with a school for the Jamaican boys. It is truly a different culture.

I learned a lot. They speak patwah if I am spelling it right, They are very good to

guests, living there is and can be hard especially for westerners, and Americans. Dogsare not treated very kindly, and they hate it if you place a plate of food. They eat last

and food is in their own bowl if it is a pet, and if not thrown on the ground. If you do

it, lets just say you get a tongue lashing. The School sits on top of a large hill, There is a

trail you can walk to the mountain top. It is beautiful as it is in a valley area.

Mountains surround you. The school had a basketball court., an outside but covered.

Our classroom was some distance from main building and sleeping area. We had 6 of us

ladies to one room, bunk beds. For the first month and a half, we called it the

honeymoon period, after that was learning to really live, and function together 24 hours

a day. This was not our only living area as in our third month we would go for a week

10 days to Kingston, live in a church, After that we cam back for 2-3 weeks and in the

fourth Month or right before we went to another area for two weeks, and then another.

One was a church again, the other a empty home in the nowhere place. Weather warm,

hot, and could be very sticky. In the School there was bible studies, book work, drama

classes, out reaches, and work duty days. We all took our turn at KP duty as teams, We

worked the kitchen, cleaning chicken which had the hearts and stuff inside. Showers at

base occassionaly warm to hot water, most lukewarm. Other places we used hose,

which was cold water. The School was run by Roger, who was also x Military, Yesmany days seemed like it was military runned. Every day is a chance to deny self, deny

ego, really think about your words and actions as this is not home, we are guests here to

serve and to learn. Once a week we could choose to ride free into town , go to beach,

shopping etc. We had chapel once a week Sundays morning, and night which it was

also required. Chapel or church, was many time other places. It was very interesting and

church there can be 4-5 hours. Evening was optional for us to go again.

Days could last from 7am to 1030pm in the evening 5 to 6 days a week.


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4. The Team

We had two teams, and there was only three of us who white Americans, the rest

Jamaicans, locals. Each team was 8-9 including two leaders for each grouop who

were in their twenties. Leaders had meeting once a week with Roger going out etc.

Jamaicans love to stay up late and rise early. One learns quick to be very flexible and

tolerant too. Our team definitely had different personalities, I learned to play some

games, a little bit of their local patwah( If I am spelling this correct). There was team

building activities such as walking down a waterfall, a slippery waterfall together as

a team. We walked up, and then down.. I was the one who slipped and got an infection

in my foot, could not walk on it for a week, in pain. They sent me to the Drs and got

medicine and few days better,walking, and pain wise. It hurt for a week straight and

then had three days bed rest. I was carried during the week to class .The Waterfall is in Orchio Rios, St Anns


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We learned to live together,play together,work together,and serve together,

Serving is not just preaching, it is helping, taking care, meeting needs,

We helped with a church completion, we cleaned up a church, big one, we fed others,weeven visited schools, shared, help teach. I recall one day we were walking, and saw a

man who lived on the streets he was sleeping under a bench so sad.

In Jamaica, you smell the reffa= pot much of where we went. The poor there which is

mostly everyone lives in tin houses, with some concrete, that is if you are lucky.


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5. The People and Culture

This is useful for anyone researching Jamaican culture, customs, manners, etiquette,

values and wanting to understand the people better. You may be going to Jamaica on

business, for a visit or even hosting Jamaican colleagues or clients in your own country.

Remember this is only a very basic level introduction and is not meant to stereotype all

Jamaicans you may meet!

Facts and StatisticsLocation:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Capital:Kingston


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Population:2,713,130 (July 2004 est.)Ethnic Make-up:black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%,Chinese0.2%, mixed

7.3%, other 0.1%

Religions:Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%,Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%,

Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other

including some spiritual cults 34.7%.

The LanguageEnglish (official),Creole.English is the official language of Jamaica. However, Patois

(Creole), a combination of English and some African languages, is spoken in rural areas

and is used increasingly in urban areas. Most Jamaicans can speak or understand

Patois, but it is not a written language. Jamaican speech, even in English, has a

distinctive rhythmic and melodic quality.

Jamaican Society & Culture

The Family

The Jamaican family includes a close-knit web of aunts, uncles, cousins andgrandparents.

Families are close and provide both emotional and economic support to its members. The family is the most important group a person belongs to, and as such, it the group

with whom a person spends most of his/her time developing and maintaining cordial

relations.

Trust
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Jamaicans have a healthy distrust of those in authority and prefer to put their faith inthose they know well, such as their extended family and close friends who are treated as

if they were family.

This can be seen in the fact that many still prefer to form a "partner" with friends andfamily rather than go to a bank to secure a loan. A partner is a financial arrangement

between friends and neighbours. Each person in the group agrees to contribute a set

amount into the partner for a specific number of weeks. Accumulated funds are used to

make down payments for large purchases such as buying a house or a business.

The basic requirement of the partner is trust. To become a member of the elite group, aperson must be recommended by a friend or relative.

Religion

Religion is fundamental to Jamaican life, which can be seen in the references to Biblicalevents in everyday speech.

The island has the highest number of churches per capita in the world and more than100 different Christian denominations. Most Jamaicans are Christians; the largest

denominations are the Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Brethren and

Roman Catholics.

Christmas is typically observed by various denominations with Communion services,candlelight ceremonies, concerts, all-night prayer meetings and the singing of Christmas

carols.

Rastafarianism

Rastafariansbelieve they are one of the lost tribes of Israel who were sold into slaveryand taken to Babylon (Jamaica) and that they must return to Zion, which they hold to

be Ethiopia.

The movement does not have organized congregations, it does not have a paid clergy,and it doesn't have a written doctrine.

There are three types of Rastafarians in Jamaica:

1. Members of the Bobo Shanti order wear long robes and tightly wrapped turbans.
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They function like an independent nation within Jamaica with their own constitution.

Their lifestyle closely emulates those of the Old Testament Jewish Mosaic Law, which

includes the observation of the Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on

Saturday, hygiene laws, and special greetings among themselves.

2. Members of the Nyahbinghi sect focus mainly on Emperor Haile Selassie and theyproclaim that he is the incarnation of the Supreme deity. They push for their

repatriation to Ethiopia, from where they believe all black people came. Ethiopia plays

a major role in this sect.

3. The Twelve Tribes was founded in 1968 by Dr. Vernon 'Prophet Gad ' Carrington

and is the most liberal of the Rastafarian orders. Members are allowed to worship in a

church of their choosing or within the privacy of their house. They consider themselves

the direct descendants of the 12 Sons of David.

Etiquette and Customs in Jamaica

Meeting and Greeting

The most common greeting is the handshake with direct eye contact, and a warm smile. Use the appropriate salutation for the time of day: "good morning", "good afternoon", or

"good evening".

Once a friendship has been established, women may hug and kiss on each cheek, startingwith the right.

Men often pat each other's shoulder or arm during the greeting process or whileconversing.

Address people by their honorific title (Mr., Mrs., or Miss) and their surname until apersonal relationship has developed.

Always wait until invited before using someone's first name. As your friendship deepens, you may be asked to call the person by their nickname.

Dining Etiquette


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Table manners are relatively informal. The more formal the occasion, the more strict the protocol. When in doubt, watch what others are doing and emulate their behaviour. Do not sit down until you are invited to and told where to sit. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the

right while eating.

Meals are often served buffet-style. Do not begin eating until the host invites you to start. When not eating, it is acceptable to keep your hands in your lap. Try everything since it demonstrates graciousness. Always use utensils to eat. It is considered polite to finish everything on your plate.

Jamaican Culture, People & Music.

Jamaica has a rich and diverse culture blended from around the world. Jamaica's motto

is "Out of Many, One People". Nearly ever different race is represented here. This

diversity is most apparent in the various foods. African and European influences

dominate the culture; however, the spanish, Irish, Indians, Chinese and Germans have

all left their mark. The Jamaican people are inherently friendly telling it like it is.

Due in part to its strong British influence, Jamaicans are modest and conservativedressers. The display of skin is frowned upon in formal environments.

The official language of Jamaica is English. However, most likely you will hear traces

of what sounds like a foreign tongue. The language on the streets is called Patois.

Patois is a combination of English, spanish. Portuguese and African phrases which

sounds more rhythmic then traditional English.

Jamaicans have a musical heritage that stems from their African and European roots.

Reggae music is Jamaica's most recognized sound. These thumping sounds are rich and

infectious and encompass expression of personal freedom, independence, religion, and

gossip. Jamaica's most famous is Bob Marley whose influence helped bring Reggae

music into the Jamaican main stream.


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Jamaica's lush colorful landscapes act as muse for its people. These vibrant colors are

reflected in the visual arts. Jamaicans have produced some of the best paintings,

sculptures, and pottery in the Caribbean. Jamaican artists draw influences from their

diverse culture. These colorful works of art include precious treasures produced by

unconventional artists ranging from the academic to the self-taught artisan.

Source :http://www.jamaica-travel-vacation.com/people-culture.html

7. The Challenges

There was many challenges, and I see it as opportunity growth.

I am more layed back, in some ways not a perfectionist. Not lazy or dirty, but more

layed back. Jamaicans the ones I lived with are taught young about chores and being

extremely clean, and neat people. Including your shoes. I ad some always seemed to find

fault in my shoes LOL, My suit case for sme reason smelled after getting in , and boywas it fun trying to find reason , and them razzing me. I ended up having to wash all

my cloths in one day, I also learned the best way to keep your tennis shoes white, real

white

I am one who needs to sleep. They do not have such needs many of them on my team.

We were supposed to be lights out at 11 pm, often lights went out 130-2am

Having to waken to share bathroom, and showers at 7am, or even 6 am.

I did eventually learn to go with flow,

The Challenge, I love dogs, and love to protect them. We had a mother dog two cute or

three cute puppies, Mother so skinny but always had milk for babies.

Id hear them cry all night as I knew some of the boys were hurting being ruff with

them. One did something with one of them and I found out later it was killed.
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Yes a lot of that kind of stuff which I covered myself and just cried silently

That was truly hard.

I am compassionate want to give to othersIn Jamaica many will on the streets take advantage, it is wise to give with a team, a

church, or actually provide food or clothing. So many homeless, I often teared and cried

for them. See them as humans and this just should not be.

Language can be a challenger, but it also can be learned even if it is just enough to ask

help-, or a drink I do love their language as it is unique.

Dressing

I love pants, my overalls jeans. Women should always wear skirts, dresses. Many view

women in jeans in various places as hookers, or hores. My challenge was I had to also

on out reaches sleep in dress or skirts

Food can be a challenge, as a a famous dish is chicken foot soup. I will say it is an

acquired taste, I did eat it as I wish not to offend my hosts.

Another challenge for me was submitting to young leadership I was 39, the leaders of

our team were 19-22. Very interesting. I also had to learn my own humility too.

I was brought here for a reason.Challenge Learning to use the commode, which was out side, and stunk.


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8.The Lessons

When living in another country, learn the customs learn what is taboo. Learntheir beliefs, and practices.

Flexibility is a must, from travel, to living with one, or 6 people of anotherculture.

Humility, it is not about me, Servitood- Being a servant to those you live with is just as vital serving those

whom you came to minister to.

Self -centeredness at any level will never work on a mission team There is no I in team period. Great things can be accomplished as a team, more

than an individual. To be a team takes time, and flexibility as well as work.

Other cultures have great things to teach us as Americans, and when I wasleaving I also grew in being very grateful for what I have, who I am, and where

I live. Freedom is one in Jamaica women have little too. They just cannot hop

on a plane and leave.

Compassion, and Empathy I grew a lot in. Especially seeing so many in need, inpoverty.It is a hard life in Jamaica, and not all paradise.

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My Experience in a Missionary School