As mango season slowly fades to an end, the avocados begin to ripen on the big tree behind the kitchen and that’s what reminds me that it’s September again.

Last weekend the men were hurriedly boarding up windows and sheltering blow-awayables as we prepared for Ernesto, who was heading our way. Thankfully, the storm turned north and we hardly even got rain. So we enjoyed a week of staff training which included lessons from the past year and asking the Lord to prepare us for what’s coming. We also got to welcome the new staff and have a fun day at the beach in Negril where some of us went snorkeling and later jumped off cliffs. This is such a beautiful island and I thank God I am here. I can totally tell the difference from last year. We have grown closer in relationships as a staff body, the cultural barriers are diminishing, and I think we all have a better understanding of the vision at YWAM Jamaica, I speak especially for myself.

Other than that, I’ve been in and out of the kitchen and mostlyworking on registration for DTS, which begins on the 25th. We now have 21 students from 6 different nations and more continue to apply. I am really looking forward to working with the new DTS leadership team, now headed up by Dave & Nancy Harper, a zealous yet humorous and easy-to-talk-to couple from Canada who have been missionaries in the Caribbean for many years.

One of the girls from our youth camp came to visit for the weekend and she's still here today as I found out some things that make me really uneasy about sending her home. Myself and the directors are working on finding a safe place for her to go and until then my roommate Olivene has graciously given up her bed to stay next door. Please pray that this gets sorted out soon so my young friend will have a place to settle and receive healing and love. I don't know everything yet but what I know is atrocious and sadly, she is one of many thousands in Jamaica.

Please pray for protection and healing for the women and children of this nation and please pray for the men, who need to know Christ and their identity in Him so they stop the violence and perversion that's happening here.

There are still so many people to reach in Jamaica though this country has been "evangelized" over and over again. For this, I am glad to be a part of things here at YWAM and looking forward to the ways we'll be expanding in ministry in this year and in the future.

I trust you are well. Please email me and let me know how I can pray for you!

I promise pictures in my next post!

=0) Em