March 29, 2000
Traverse City Christian seniors return from Jamaica trip
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Orphanages in Jamaica do their job. The kids are fed, have a roof over their head and are kept off the streets.
But students at Traverse City Christian School found on a recent mission trip there that when so many children have so many needs, love sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. One orphanage they visited in Montego Bay housed children whose ages ranged from one month old to five years old, some of whom were not even orphans but had been abandoned at the facility by their poverty-stricken parents.
Many of the young missionaries had trouble leaving these youngsters behind when they returned to Traverse City last week after 10 days in Jamaica.
"There were so many children there and they would just run and cling to you," said Karee Shev, a senior at Traverse City Christian School. "They just wanted to play and were so hungry for love. I always left there crying and one I wanted to take home with me, Romano."
Eighteen of the 20 members of the senior class at Traverse City Christian School traveled on the mission trip, where they worked in schools, visited orphanages and performed street evangelism. They also took school supplies, clothes, candy bubbles and toys to leave with needy children in Jamaica.
They spread the message of Christianity to passerby on streets using music, skits, face painting and balloons. They also handed out Bibles they brought to give away, which proved to be in great demand.
"I gave away my own Bible because they went so fast," said Nethanial Ealy. "One man asked me for food but I told him I had something more important."
Ealy and his classmates also had a number of 'DARE moments' in Jamaica when local residents strolling by would ask the kids if they wanted to buy some drugs. Spirited debates with Rastafarians, who tried to convert them to their beliefs, also highlighted the students' street outreach efforts.
"I wasn't concerned about the kids and drugs because I knew they would say, 'No,'" said Tom Broderick, the students' Apologetics class teacher at Traverse City Christian. "I went to Jamaica on my honeymoon and I knew what they would find, so we did some role playing on that before they went."
The students found that wherever they went their message of God's word was welcomed and warmly received. They attended three local church services and danced and sang with worshippers there. Many Jamaican residents said they were already Christians and were very familiar with the Bible but students noticed they did not always apply these principles in daily living.
"For some people, their Christianity was a head knowledge not a lifestyle," said Kristin Waligorski.
For many, this first mission trip was a chance to test their own beliefs and faith and a chance to pull together as a group. Their tight schedule was constantly changing and students quickly learned to go with the flow.
"I learned most that being flexible is important," said Ann Send. "Going to college next year is a scary thing but when you open your heart to what the Lord wants you to do it's okay. That's what I learned on this trip."
The students and their five chaperones also made time for shopping, swimming and hiking around the Montego Bay area. Many returned home sporting a tan, corn rows and island print dresses or shirts.
These outer changes do not compare to the inner growth the students say they had from this trip.
"My perspective changed a lot," said Hannah Bower. "I realized what was important to me, not just having things you want all the time. The world is a bigger picture and I learned not just to focus on me or us."