Dear Family and Friends,
Let me begin by thanking you all for your financial support and commitment to pray for myself and my fellow work and witness team members during the month of November. As part of our 8 days in Jamaica, we spent many hours forming and pouring foundations and columns, building masonry walls, and preparing the earth to receive aggregate base and concrete floor slab. We also made great strides in building relationships with the Jamaican workers, housing staff and the district superintendent – Lionel Brown and his wife Jennifer.
God definitely used this time to build our faith and show us his more of his wonderful creation. The people of Jamaica as well as the country are truly beautiful. God went far beyond our expectations! As we ventured out to this foreign country, we knew we would be building a church addition. We also hoped that God would use this opportunity to open doors to share his word. As I reflect back, I believe now that God used us to build His church, but not the one with bricks and mortar, but the church of believers in Jesus Christ. The building project, although very important, became secondary to building team relationships, reaching out our Jamaican counterparts and witnessing to those needing Jesus in the community of Llandillo in Westmoreland.
I have so many stories I can tell, stories of how God renewed my strength daily preparing me for each days work, to how He revealed Himself to me through his creation during our 1 day excursion to Negril on the west coast of Jamaica. It was at the beach in Negril that I snorkeled along the coral reefs for the very first time. As amazing as this all was, there was one particular event to which the others cannot compare. God had a bigger plan to use me to expand His kingdom. By being obedient to go to Jamaica and to be willing to be used however God desired; God saw this and allowed me to be used as the vessel that He would speak through to reach the heart of a Jamaica woman named Tracy.
Tracy is an unmarried mother of five beautiful children from a 12 year relationship to the man she lives with. During the evening of our home visits, I was able to share with her the importance of accepting Jesus as Savior. Although Tracy was at first hesitant, she soon saw the hope in Jesus and his ability to accept her where she is in life. As this truth was revealed to her, Tracy surrendered her heart to God and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Praise God! I am so thankful to be used by God and to share in this experience as I was able to witness the hand of God move in Tracy’s life right before my eyes. Please pray that Tracy will be able to bring her children’s father to Jesus, that their relationship will be made right before God through marriage, and that Tracy will be able to publicly profess her faith through baptism as she eagerly desires to do.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for giving to the Lord’s work. Your support and prayers were vital to make this dream of mine become reality. Because of your generosity, the Lord was able to reach the heart of Tracy and further advance His kingdom. Thank you for doing your part and for trusting God. As the Psalmist says, God is faithful to those who are faithful!
I have enclosed a few pictures (which you may view under the "Photos" tap, Jamaica - November 2008) so you may see some of the highlights of my trip. I hope you enjoy them as I promise I enjoyed going and being part of what went on. May God richly bless you all, as without your help this trip would not have been possible.
Your Friend and Brother in Christ,
David
Numbers 6:24-26
24 "The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."