March 29, 2026
In February 2026, our family traveled on a Christian mission trip to Jamaica to serve at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf. During the week, we worked alongside staff and students, worshiped with the Deaf community, and learned far more than we expected about ministry, service, and relationships.
We were 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 Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf exists to reach, teach, and nurture the Deaf of Jamaica. Their mission is to enable full language access and affirmation in an inclusive community whereby knowledge is empowered to know the Lord, appreciate diversity, and understand the functions of the world.
The CCCD comprises four campuses, three of which we visited.
Two CCCD sites house children and provide schooling. One site serves as a vocational training center, while the fourth combines vocational training with transitional housing. Also, the Kingston site is home to the CCCD’s Deaf-operated coffee roasting company, Deaf Can Coffee.
Our family spent the week working alongside the staff and students at the Knockpatrick campus. We helped with construction projects, spent time in classrooms, and participated in their Sunday worship service — one of the most moving worship experiences of our lives.
We laid out a running track, wrapped a greenhouse 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.
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 learned before 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 lightly. 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 provided 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 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.
Click here if you’d like to support the CCCD financially.
Not everybody can go into the field. There are many ways to serve the nations. As a family, our heart is to serve God. Whether through missions, music, writing, donating time and money, 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.
Check out the video about our trip and the CCCD below and Subscribe to the Sing Write Read YouTube channel.
Chris Long is a Christian author, songwriter, and speaker dedicated to spreading the Word through music, writing, and faith. He is the author of Guided by Wisdom and the creator of the Every Step Series.
Chris Long is a Christian author, songwriter, and speaker. He writes to encourage faith and spread the Word.
Gold Medal Award Winner — Finding Wisdom for Life in God’s Word.
2 Responses
I cant wait to go back and share more with our Jamaican friends. Learning basic ASL has been a door to go into their quiet isolated world.
Hi Caroll. Watching you at CCCD filled my heart with, first, the joy of the Lord, and second, a renewed amazement of you! God has gifted you with amazing capabilities and a heart of love for others. Keep shining for Him.