Angels are among us

We have been actively working on a wheelchair project for the past several days and haven't been able to get to the blog, so here's an update. This last week Kelvyn and Kay Cullimore, LDS headquarter humanitarian specialists in the wheelchair and food production program, came to Jamaica to work with us. We are setting up delivery of 500 wheelchairs and providing what's called Level II training to those who will receive and distribute the wheelchairs. This is the first of its kind in Jamaica and one of a handful that have been done in the world. We feel privileged to assist with this opportunity. However, coordinating this event will have some challenges. We are now in the process of writing the proposal, it will then have to be approved (the Cullimores are our angels here because they will work with Church headquarters), and the training is scheduled for the week of Oct. 25 and it consists of two physical therapists from SL coming here and they will train about 25-30 people. Our job will be to assist our NGO (non-government organization) partner in all the logistics for this training.

As part of this visit, we traveled to Mustard Seed Communities Jerusalem campus (they have 10 around the island). Mustard Seed is one of the places that will receive wheelchairs. They are a Catholic organization that works with disabled, abandoned, and children with HIV. We visited their disabled children ward and saw the many, many children that are wheelchair bound. The one little boy who scoots along the floor that could not handle a wheelchair, the little girl who shuffles along and has such a deformed face that it takes you back at first glance. These children are angels that live among us. They are pure and wholesome struggling with a deformed body and mind and are special in our Father in Heaven's eyes. They will meet us in the celestial kingdom. The other angels are the caregivers. These men and women work tirelessly in giving care and get very little thanks and reward from their efforts. We have met many of them and they are all so cheerful.

The next day, we traveled to our shadehouse project. Our new friend Nehemiah Rowe is the full-time overseer of this property for the 4-H. He has had a challenging time getting this project finished. It has been a year now just to get 220 power installed for the pumps. He's going to be an angel for us getting this project completed.

Just about 3 weeks ago, we attended the baptism of Brother Reed. Today, Brother Reed baptized his 9-year old son. This was a miracle, it hardly ever happens here. Isn't the Church wonderful that worthy brethren receive the priesthood and can quickly be prepared to perform baptism ordinances. These are two more angels.

The only thing challenging about this week was that our mission president was released. That's all we know for now. What an ending to a week.