The last week of February, our family traveled to Jamaica to serve at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf. We are blessed to learn about the ministry and the beauty of the deaf community, and each of us left a piece of our hearts in Jamaica.

The staff introduced us to the ministry and we visited 3 of the 4 CCCD locations during our first days in Jamaica.

Two CCCD sites house children and provide schooling. One site serves as a vocational training center, while the 4th combines vocational training with transitional housing. Also, the Kingston site, along with teaching deaf students, houses the CCCD’s deaf operated coffee roasting company, Deaf Can Coffee.

Why did we travel to Jamaica to serve at the CCCD for 7 days?

The benefits for the CCCD are numerous. The highlight of serving at CCCD was found in developing relationships with the deaf community and children there. Caroll, Daniela, and David thrived. They used the sign language we learend beofore leaving to make friends, participate in activities, play, and encourage. Caroll even started a Spanish class, had 5 baristas at Deaf Can laughing, and became part of the kitchen crew on the campus where we served. Chris, on the other hand, befriended and hung out with the maintenance crew.

A second highlight in Jamaica was worship. We attended chapel services where deaf pastors presented emotional sermons through the art of Jamaican Sign Language (JSL). I don’t use the term “art” to describe the signing done by the deaf pastors and the hearing interpreters. Sign language involves facial expressions, movements of the entire body, hand gestures, and creative interpretation of what is being said. The experience is on the level of watching a monologue drama on stage.

Our family was abundantly blessed as we provide nightly worship for our missionary group and once for a chapel service. Daniela and Chris played guitar, David played a bongo, and Caroll sang and prayed in the spirit. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us to humbly serve you with music.

A third benefit for the CCCD and ourselves through our trip is financial support provided through our visit and the funds we raised to go there. As missionaries, we raise money through the body of Christ to go and serve others who are in need. Along with prayer, this incorporates the entire body into the mission field. Thankfully, we raised more money than we needed to take the trip, and every penny extra was spent for materials and supplies on the CCCD campus.

Also, this program is strategic for the CCCD. Not only does is build relationships and spread the message about their ministry, they are also able to use a portion of the funds required to be raised by each missionary.

Click here if you’d like to support the CCCD financially.

Finally, we also worked alongside the staff at CCCD. We layed out a running track, wrapped a green house in plastic, built a bunny hutch, de-rocked a field, and watered another field of pumpkins. Caroll worked in the kitchen and learned some Jamaican cuisine trade secrets.

As a family, our heart is to serve God. Whether through missions, music, writing, and serving, our prayer is that the Lord leads us into His service.

As we look for and plan our next mission, and if you’d like to support the work we do, click here to access our PayPal donation page.

Keep an eye on the Sing Write Read You Tube channel. A video of our trip will be uploaded soon!